Asian American / Asian Research Institute
The City University of New York
Poet and Distinguished Professor, Meena Alexander will read from her new book of poetry, Birthplace with Buried Stones, and engage in a dialogue with Russell Leong, Editor of CUNY FORUM, about the creative processes she undertook to “convey the fragmented experience of the traveler, for whom home is both nowhere and everywhere.” Birthplace with Buried … Read more
This lecture will focus on the recent development of Chinese American literature teaching and research in China, by presenting both the data found online and the speaker’s own perspective of teaching and research of it. Prof. Yingguo Xu will first give an overview of Chinese American literature classes taught in universities, as well as Masters … Read more
Join Victoria Linchong, Kim Chinh and Katherine Yew in a conversation about their devised experimental play BIG FLOWER EATER, which explores the untold history of women in Asia through shamanism in three different Asian cultures. Excerpts of the play will be performed and screened. BIG FLOWER EATER is a scholarly and whimsical collage of folktale, ritual, dance and … Read more
Filmmaker Angel Velasco Shaw will screen her first two experimental documentaries and discuss the creative process and relationship to her own on-going interest in exploring the effects of Spanish and American colonialism, and empire building on Filipino/American experiences from a transnationalist perspective. BALIKBAYAN (Return To Home): Super-8 film mastered on 3/4.” 13 minutes. 1988. Documentary … Read more
Chang-Jin Lee’s video artwork, COMFORT WOMEN WANTED, brings to light the memory of 200,000 young women, referred to as “comfort women,” who were systematically exploited as sex slaves in Asia during World War II, and increases awareness of sexual violence against women during wartime. The video is based on interviews with Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Indonesian, Filipino, and Dutch “comfort women” survivors and a former Japanese soldier from W.W.II.
Playwright Alvin Eng and Art Historian Laurie Wilson will discuss Eng’s play, “Three Trees,” a historical drama that explores the unique relationship between 20th century Parisian artist, Alberto Giacometti, and his muse/model, Japanese Existential Philosopher, Isaku Yanaihara. The Pan Asian Repertory Theatre will present the World Premiere of this play at the West End Theare, … Read more