Andrew Leonard / September 24-25, 2009
Journalist and author Andrew Leonard (Salon.com) will be speaking on "How the World Works: From the economics of Star Trek to China and Back Again," from 4:15-5:30 pm on Thursday, Sept 24 in 111 Chambers. On Friday Sept 25 he will be speaking as part of the "Careers in Asia" series from 12:20-2:00 in 113 Carnegie.
Global Asias in Historical Perspectives / October 22-25, 2009
On October 23-25, 2009, Penn State will host a conference on "Global Asias in Historical Perspectives." Featuring 16 visiting scholars and eight speakers from Penn State, the conference will also serve as the official launch of the Penn State Asian Studies Program.
For more information on the conference, please see our Global Asias page.
Please contact conference commitee chair Ronnie Hsia (rxh46@psu.edu) for more information.
Mapping J-Theory / March 29-April 3, 2009
A rare and historic occasion, bringing critics AZUMA Hiroki and MIYADAI Shinji together in dialogue with North American scholars for the first time outside of Japan, with meetings at the Association for Asian Studies (Chicago, March 29), the University of Texas (Austin, March 30), the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, April 1), and Penn State (April 3).
Azuma Hiroki, postmodern philosopher, critic of otaku culture, and editor of the new journal of critical thought and social critique Shisō chizu [Cartographies of Thought], and Miyadai Shinji, prominent sociologist, prolific author, and pop culture critic, will discuss their views on the state of contemporary debate and the stakes of the arguments.
For more information on the conference, please see the Mapping J-Theory website.
Yu-Han Chao Reading / January 22, 2009
Yu-Han (Eugenia) Chao was born and grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. Her poetry collection, We Grow Old, is available with The Backwaters Press and her short story collection, Passport Baby, is forthcoming with Rockway Press. Her prose and poetry has appeared in Bellevue Literary Review, The Cream City Review, Zyzzyva, and many other venues. She received her MFA from Penn State University and is currently working on a martial arts screenplay, Desert Opium Flower and novel, Becca.
Foster Auditorium, 7:30pm.
Gene Luen Yang, "Why Comics?" / December 10, 2008
Gene Luen Yang, author of the acclaimed graphic novel American Born Chinese will present"Why Comics?" on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m., in Foster Auditorium, 101 Pattee Library. Yang is the latest novelist to visit the Libraries as part of the popular Graphic Novel Speaker Series, which in the past has brought in Harvey Pekar, Phoebe Gloeckner, Howard Cruse and Jay Hosler. The presentation is sponsored by Penn State's English Department and Asian American Studies Department, First-Year Studies, the University Libraries' Charles W. Mann Jr. Lecture in the Book Arts, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, and Library Learning Services.
American Born Chinese is Yang's first major graphic novel. It was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award (in 2006) and the first graphic novel to win the American Library Association's Printz Award (in 2007). It was also featured in Best American Comics 2008 Anthology.
Faculty Searches
20th Century Chinese History
Penn State University's Department of History invites applications for a tenure track position at the rank of assistant professor in the history of 20th Century China (Republican and PRC periods), pending final budgetary approval. The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. (or be near completion) and is expected to show evidence of an active research agenda and be able to contribute immediately to both graduate and undergraduate teaching in the department. The position carries a 25% appointment in the Asian Studies Program. Applications should include a curriculum vitae, a letter of application that describes current and future research, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and letters of reference from three referees (under separate cover). Applications may also include up to three reprints or unpublished papers or chapters. Deadline for submission of applications is December 1, 2009. Electronic submission is preferred. Please send to: Sandi Moyer, Administrative Assistant, sjm1@psu.edu. If materials cannot be submitted electronically, please mail to: 20th Century China Search, Box B, 108 Weaver Building, University Park, PA 16802. For more information on the Department of History please visit http://www.history.psu.edu; for the Asian Studies Program see http://www.asian.la.psu.edu. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce.
Comparative Literature and Chinese
Following last year’s successful search in this field, Penn State is seeking candidates for another Assistant or Associate Professor position in Comparative Literature and Chinese (tenure-track or tenured according to qualifications). Home department Comparative Literature; joint appointment with Asian Studies. Starting date: August 2010 or 2011 preferred. We are interested in candidates who will demonstrate abilities to expand our major in Chinese, participate in the undergraduate and graduate programs in Comparative Literature, and contribute to the new dual-degree Comparative Literature / Asian Studies PhD program. Teaching responsibilities will include introductory, advanced and graduate courses on literature and culture in Comparative Literature, as well as modern Chinese language and/or literature at upper levels. Areas of specialization may include, but are not limited to: modern, contemporary, or late Qing literature in Chinese; film and new media studies; East-West, intra-Asian, or global literary comparisons, including Sinophone studies; postcolonial studies, gender studies, or queer theory. Native or near-native ability in Chinese and appropriate teaching experience required. Relevant research achievements or evidence of relevant research promise required. Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Chinese, or related field required. Screening of applications will begin November 1, 2009, although all applications will be considered until the search is concluded. Send letter, CV, and names of three references; electronic submission to Irene Grassi at <irg1@psu.edu> is strongly preferred, but applications or nominations can also be sent to Eric Hayot, Chair, Comp Lit/Chinese Search Committee, c/o Irene Grassi, Box M, Department of Comparative Literature, 427 Burrowes Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-6204, USA; or by FAX to Irene Grassi at (814) 863-8882. Visit our websites at http://complit.la.psu.edu and http://asian.la.psu.edu. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.
