Sinica at the AAS Conference, Seattle 2024
What has become clear to you recently?
Listen to the podcast here!
This week on Sinica: I wandered the halls at the Association for Asian Studies Conference in Seattle and talked to 14 participants and asked them all the same question: What has become clear to you about our field recently? The fantastic diversity of areas of inquiry and of perspectives was really energizing. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did!
02:25 – Michael Davidson from UC San Diego on working towards climate change goals
04:22 – Timothy Cheek from University of British Columbia on the importance of continuing to study China despite political tensions
06:51 – Chen Zifeng from LSE on Chinese propaganda that surrounds everyday life
11:08 – Clyde Yicheng Wang (Wang Yicheng) from Washington and Lee University on Chinese propaganda and its spread into social media
16:57 – Jeff Wasserstrom from UC Irvine on connections between events in China and the world
18:26 – Ian Johnson from CFR on researching China from afar and the importance of online databases
21:01 – Daniel Leese from the University of Freiburg on the work of digitizing Chinese sources
24:06 – Tyler Harlan from Loyola Marymount University on opportunities for cooperation in the environmental field
25:41 Abby Newman from the University of Chicago Center for East Asian Studies on the importance of spaces for conversation within the field
27:55 – Sophie Loy-Wilson from the University of Sydney on studying violence and war in Asia with more sympathy
33:45 – Joe Dennis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on the changes he has witnessed in Chinese studies at the university level
36:49 – Ed Pulford from the University of Manchester on China’s differing perspective on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
39:49 – Emily Matson from Georgetown University on the importance of Marxist and Mao thought in analyzing modern Chinese history and World War II
42:14 – Jan Berris from the National Committee on United States-China Relations on redirecting the U.S. government’s focus
Recommendation: The musical, poetic, and comedic work of Elle Cordova (formerly Reina Del Cid), on TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook; and the Led Zeppelin tribute band "Presence," fronted by singer Tamar Boursalian. (Alas, the band, which is new, has no online presence. See them if you're in Seattle!)