Films on Asia
Throughout the Spring semester, faculty affiliated with Asian Studies presented a series of films on Asia. In addition to the films listed on the linked flyer, faculty also showed a three-part series of Mira Nair’s films.
Re Caste-ing Women in Nepal
Dr. Sangita Rayamajhi, a professor at University in Kathmandu, Nepal, served as a visiting professor UA’s Honor College for 2008-2009. She presented a lecture on the position of women in contemporary Nepal.
Asia Interest Week
Asia Interest Week, organized by the Chinese Culture Club, provided a range of cultural and academic events for the university community. The week began with Matsuri at the Mall, a cultural exhibition with musical, dance and swordmanship performances at McFarland Mall that concluded the month-long Sakura festival of the Japan Center at UA. Anthony Clark, formerly of the Department of History at UA, presented a lecture and screening of Master Killer: 36th Chamber, a classic martial arts film in China. Steven Ramey of UA’s Department of Religious Studies presented a lecture about issues surrounding Sindhi Hindu identities in India, titled “Hindu God or Muslim Saint? Creating a Public Identity with a Contested Figure in India.” Amy Holmes-Tagchungdarpa, from the Department of History at UA, screened Kundun, Martin Scorsese’s motion picture about the Dalia Lama. Gloria Tham, a doctoral candidate in the School of Music, presented her doctoral recital “Chinoiserie at the Piano” that merged the music of China and the West. Students who participated in UA’s semester in China in Fall 2008 concluded Asia Interest Week with the presentation of a photo exhibit in UA’s Ferguson Center.
Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni
The acclaimed Indian-American author of Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart, among other fictional works, lectured on her experiences as both an author and an Asian-American.
Scenes of Change: A Dramatic History of Nepal
Students and faculty, under the direction of Dr. Sangita Rayamajhi, presented a dramatization of Nepali History at the conclusion of Dr. Rayamajhi’s time at UA. This event was sponsored by the International Honors Program of UA’s Honor College.