Democratic Careening: Accountability Dynamics Across Asia
Dan Slater, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and the author of Ordering Power: Contentious Politics and Authoritarian Leviathans in Southeast Asia (Cambridge University Press,2012), will discuss his new project, tentatively titled Advancing Accountability: Democratic Dynamics in the Post-Colonial World. Slater proposes the term “careening” as a way of capturing the unsettledness that character-izes so many democracies that are clearly struggling but are not collapsing.
![slater[1]](/asian/files/2012/04/slater1.jpg "slater[1]")
Global Music Lunchtime Concert Series: The Virtuoso Players of Chinese Folk Music
The Virtuoso Players of Chinese Folk Music feature master performers from the Department of Fine Arts of China Ocean University in Qingdao, China. Highly acclaimed,this group performs not only traditional Chinese music, but also modern and contemporary Chinese folk music. Professor Kang Jiandong, artistic director of the group and supervisor of the doctoral program, leads the extremely talented and versatile group of six young Chinese teacher performers, who are touring throughout the U.S. this April. The group continues to develop and explore innovative programming to retain the traditional Chinese string and wind music and to absorb the essence of Western classical music.
George Washington in China: The Image of a New Political Leader
Rudolf Wagner will discuss the Chinese appropriation of George Washington to frame the image of a public leader in a post-Imperial China. Early Chinese biographies of George Washington were indirectly discussing the features a new kind of Chinese public leader might have to embody if he was to lead China out of its demise. Here was the promise of a colony of almighty England that had won its independence under Washington’s leadership, and had set up institutions that now made it into a quickly rising power that was respected by all. Candidates for the role of China’s Washington were well aware of such expectations, and tried to adjust their performance on the political stage down to dress, mien, and gait. 
Global Music Lunchtime Concert Series: TAIKOPROJECT
The new Global Music Lunchtime Concert Series, organized by the Department of Musicology and Ethnomusicology of the School of Music, showcases musicians, dancers, and performing artists steeped in non-Western traditions. The series aims to provide students and faculty with opportunities to explore diverse musical practices from the world over, which may otherwise not be easily accessible to them. Accompanied by lectures or workshops whenever possible, this concert series will offer the audience intellectual insights and hands-on experiences in selected performing arts from various parts of the globe.
Los Angeles-based TAIKOPROJECT is an ensemble of premiere taiko drummers dedicated to promoting and advancing the American art of Japanese taiko drumming. Through public performances, education, and outreach activities, TAIKOPROJECT is committed to preserving taiko as a dynamic element of Japanese-American culture and heritage. In addition to maintaining taiko as a community-based tradition, TAIKOPROJECT also incorporates unconventional and innovative concepts to expand artistic boundaries — as exemplified in their collaboration with Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, and Usher. Through these values, TAIKOPROJECT seeks not only to entertain audiences, but also to inform them about the history and integrity of Japanese taiko as an evolving art form.
Sponsored by the School of Music and the College of Fine Arts.
![Korea_flier[1]](/asian/files/2012/03/Korea_flier1.jpg "Korea_flier[1]")
Liberty and Security in a Time of Global Re-ordering
A number of BUCSA faculty will be participating in an international conference on human security at Boston University on March 5 and 6, 2012. The two-day event is organized by the Center for the Study of Europe at Boston University – in cooperation with the Center for the Study of Asia and the Center for International Relations – with funding from GR:EEN – a European Commission Seventh Framework program examining the current and future role of the EU in an emerging multi-polar world. Boston University is one of 16 universities around the world participating in the program.
Conference Schedule
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2012
Boston University Castle, 225 Bay State Road
12:00 – 12:45 REGISTRATION | WELCOME LUNCH
12:45 – 1:00 OPENING REMARKS
Vivien A. Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration and Professor of International Relations and Political Science, Boston University
1:00 – 2:30 POWER RELATIONS AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES IN A TIME OF THE BRICS
Thomas Berger, Associate Professor of International Relations, Boston University
Frederik Ponjaert, Scientific Coordinator, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Tiewa Liu, Assistant Professor, Beijing Foreign Studies University
Marco Valigi, Lecturer in Strategic Studies, Università degli Studi ROMA TRE
Chair: William Grimes, Professor of International Relations and Political Science, Boston University
2:30 – 2:45 BREAK
2:45 – 4:15 THE RISE OF THE BRICS: EMERGING ISSUES
Edward Cunningham, Assistant Professor, Geography and Environment, Boston University
Stephen Kingah, Research Fellow, United Nations University; Senior Associate Researcher, Institute for European Studies
Manjari Miller, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Boston University
Marcelo Saguier, Research Fellow
National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
Chair: Joseph Fewsmith, Professor of International Relations and Political Science, Boston University
4:15 – 4:30 BREAK
4:30 – 5:30 KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Stuart Croft, Professor of International Security, University of Warwick
5:30 – 6:00 RECEPTION
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012
Boston University Castle, 225 Bay State Road
9:00 – 10:30 EUROPE, THE US, AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Charles Dunbar, Boston University
Irena Gendzier, Professor of Political Science, Boston University
Kristina Kausch, Senior Researcher and Research Coordinator, FRIDE
A. Richard Norton, Professor of International Relations and Anthropology, Boston University
Chair: Houchang Chehabi, Boston University
10:30 – 11:00 BREAK
11:00 – 12:30 RELIGION, RADICALISATION AND COUNTER-TERRORISM
Ivan Arreguin-Toft, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Boston University
Stuart Croft, Professor of International Security, University of Warwick
Robert Hefner, Professor of Anthropology, Boston University
Kumar Ramakrishna, Associate Professor and Head of the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)
Chair: A. Richard Norton, Professor of International Relations and Anthropology, Boston University
12:30 – 1:30 LUNCH
1:30 – 2:30 KEY NOTE ADDRESS
Andrew Bacevich, Professor of International Relations and History, Boston University
2.30 – 2.45 BREAK
2.45 – 4:15 CULTURAL DISCOURSES OF HUMAN SECURITY
Shaun Breslin, Professor of Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick
George Christou, Associate Lecturer in European Politics, University of Warwick
Neta Crawford, Professor of Political Science and African American Studies, Boston University
Oz Hassan, Senior Research Fellow, University of Warwick
Chair: Stuart Croft, Professor of International Security, University of Warwick
[Download flyer] [Registration]
Spring 2012 Geddes Japanese Movie Series
The Dept. of MLCL, Boston University Center for the Study of Asia, the Boston University’s Geddes Language Center, and the Japanese House are pleased to present the Spring 2012 Japanese Film Series. Films will be screened at the Geddes Center on the fifth floor of CAS starting at 6:00 p.m on Monday evenings. All films will be subtitled. Dates and showings are as follows:
2/6 -蛍(ほたる)の墓(はか) Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Length: 01:28:00
In post-war Japan, just weeks before the American occupation, an act of magic resurrects a young derelict, transporting him and his little sister back to wartime and their wanderings through the countryside in search of safety and peace. Animated. Director: Takahata, Isao
3/5 -タンポポ Tampopo (1985) Length: 01:54:00
Tampopo follows the life of a young widow who runs a small noodle restaurant in Tokyo. She teams up with a truck driver in her quest for the perfect bowl of ramen. A satire about food & sex. Director: Itami, Juzo
3/19 -海(うみ)がきこえる Ocean Waves (1993) Length: 01:12:00
Ocean Waves is a remarkable film and one of the most intriguing high school dramas of all time, anime or live-action. It’s done in a realistic style, with great attention paid to character design in the creation of its various high school seniors and their family members and to background details in the depiction of the film’s setting, the city of Kochi in western Japan. It tells a plausible, character-driven story of Rikako Muto, a girl from Tokyo who arrives at Kochi High School as a transfer student in the senior class and proceeds to upend the friendship of two boys, Taku Morisaki and Yutaka Mitsuno, both of whom get entangled in Rikako’s willful antics and one of whom falls for her immediately, while the other initially puts up powerful resistance. Director: Tomomi Mochizuki [More info]
4/2 -シャルウィーダンス Shall We Dance?(1997) Length: 01:59:00
A workaholic’s incredibly dull life takes a funny turn when he signs up for a ballroom dance class- just to meet the sexy dance teacher. But when he finally muscles up the nerve for lessons, he winds up with a different instructor and her colorfully eccentric class of beginners! And now he’ll have to step lightly – and do some fancy footwork – if he expects to keep his new secret passion from his family and friends. Director: Suo, Masayuki
4/16 -耳(みみ)を澄(す)ませば Whisper of the Heart (1995) Length:01:51:00
Shizuku lives a simple life, dominated by her love for stories and writing. One day she notices that all the library books she has have been previously checked out by the same person: ‘Seiji Amasawa’. Curious as to who he is, Shizuku meets a boy her age whom she finds infuriating, but discovers to her shock that he is her ‘Prince of Books’. As she grows closer to him, she realises that he merely read all those books to bring himself closer to her. The boy Seiji aspires to be a violin maker in Italy, and it is his dreams that make Shizuku realise that she has no clear path for her life. Director: Yoshifumi Kondô; Scripted and storyboarded by Hayao Miyazaki
4/30 -犬(いぬ)と私(わたし)の10の約束(やくそく) 10 Promises to My Dog (2008) Length:01:57:00
One day a puppy comes to Akari’s house, who has just turned twelve, and was trying hard to act strong after her mother suddenly fell ill. She immediately falls in love with the puppy and names it “Socks” after the paws which looked like they had white socks on. Akari was together with Socks day and night. However, as Akari grows up, her feelings and interest moves away from Socks. Year by year, their distance grows, which also leads to her physical distance as she moves to a far off city, and must leave Socks behind to a childhood friend. One day Akari remembers the 10 promises that she had made with Socks and her deceased mother. Director: Motoki, Katushide
Contact: Mariko Itoh Henstock, Ph.D., Director of Outreach and Co-Curricular Activities