Asian American / Asian Research Institute
The City University of New York
Amitava Kumar will read from his new non-fiction work, A Matter of Rats (Duke University Press, Spring 2013). It is not only the past that lies in ruins in Patna, it is also the present. But that is not the only truth about the city that Amitava Kumar explores in this vivid, entertaining account of … Read more
As the world’s population and consumption of goods continues to grow at an exponential rate, waste management and storage has rapidly become one of the most pressing, everyday issues of our time, local and global. Dr. Song Tian will discuss the case of Lake Lugu in southwestern China, with a view to theorizing garbage as … Read more
Since 1978, Bamboo Ridge Press has published literature by and about the people of Hawaiʻi that reflects Hawai‘i culture, an island sensibility and ultimately a sense of place, all of which distinguishes it from other regional literatures. While regional literature’s value lies in its ability to validate the way of life, culture, and values of … Read more
Rev. Dr. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki believes that Asian values such as “listening” are as valuable as the western values of “talking.” “Express yourself” seems to be the way of Western society, but this tends to create a more selfish society with little respect for others, and inattention towards people who don’t express themselves strongly. We … Read more
The Asian model minority stereotype is like a bikini. What the myth reveals is suggestive, but what it conceals is vital for its use and perpetuation. What is the model minority stereotype and how does its ideology and logic fit within a Black/White racial paradigm? How can a “positive” stereotype of Asians be considered racist? … Read more
Visual artist Tomie Arai will shares her thoughts and observations about art, activism, and the Asian American movement in a dialogue with poet and editor Russell Leong. Tomie will discuss the process of being an artist, creating a new visual vocabulary in the emerging Asian American art scene in New York City. What were the … Read more