Dartmouth Events

"American Studies in Asia, Asia in American Studies"
by Rey Chow, Andrew W. Mellon Distinguished Professor of the Humanities and Former Director of the Program in Literature, Duke University

Thursday, May 5, 12:30 - 2 pm on Zoom

Sponsored by ASCL (Asian Societies Cultures and Languages Program) and the Helen E. Yuu and William H. Gates Fund

Using her own experience of giving a lecture on American Studies in Japan as well as two Japanese films as examples, Rey Chow will lead a discussion of what it means to read and talk about Asia in relation to the United States and American Studies in this workshop. In reference to the work of the philosopher Naoki Sakai, she suggests that reading and talking about Asia means acknowledging the irreducible but constructive distance between the addresser and the addressee, embracing the radical heterogeneity of the audience, and summoning an ever-changing, inclusionary community of “we.” What does the encounter of the “Asian” and the “American” mean for you? We welcome colleagues and students who are interested in Asian Studies, American Studies, and Asian American Studies to join the conversation.

Register in advance to obtain Zoom link and readings via this survey:

https://dartgo.org/reychowtalk5-5