CAS Newsletter
November 2021
Fall Recap: Focus on Philosophy
Responding to the continuing threat of the COVID pandemic, the Center for Asian Studies presented two virtual events – both focused on the challenge of translating philosophic concepts across barriers of language and culture.
- On September 11, Professor Songyao Ren addressed “Truth, Beauty and Goodness in the Analects of Confucius" in the first Asian Culture Forum of Fall 2021 on October 16 (originally scheduled September 11). Following her presentation Professors Ming Dong Gu and Andy Amato joined her to discuss the differing associations of goodness with truth and beauty in Western and Asian thought.
- On October 20, Dr. Sundar Sarukkai, speaking from India, lectured and engaged in a thoughtful conversation with an international audience of professors and students about the challenge of translating complex scientific and ethical concepts.
Asian Culture Forum Postponed to January
Originally scheduled for November, the next Asian Culture Forum - featuring Daniel Chen, director of the Dallas Hua Yun Chinese Orchestra – will now take place in January 2022. More details to come in the next CAS Newsletter.
Fall 2021 Language Courses
After a slow start to the first Fall 2021 session of community language classes, due to UTD policies with regard to the continuing pandemic, the second session has come back in full force! All Chinese language courses, Introductory Hindi 2, and Korean Beginners had sufficient enrollment, and classes were able to start successfully on October 18.
DMA "Arts & Letters Live": Ai Weiwei
The CAS and Crow Museum of Asian Art joined the Dallas Museum of Art's "Arts & Letters Live" program as sponsors for their virtual event with artist, activist, and author, Ai Weiwei on November 3. The event discussed his widely anticipated memoir, "1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows".
A Message from Our New "Conversational Japanese" Course Facilitator, Lauren Menkemeller (白蘿蘭)!
Lauren Menkemeller is a student in the CAS's non-credit Advanced Chinese course this semester. She will be joining the CAS as a course facilitator for a pilot Conversational Japanese course.
"Hi y’all! My name is Lauren Menkemeller and I’m currently a private pilot studying for my instrument rating and commercial license in Dallas. I was born and raised in the DFW area, but it’s been awhile since I’ve lived here. It’s good to be back!
Before I became a pilot, I lived and worked in Japan for 4 years. I received my bachelor’s in history from the University of North Texas, but I also had the opportunity to study at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Kyoto University and Temple University Japan.
I’m so excited to be able to attend UTD’s Non-credit Chinese course this semester while I continue with my pilot training. I’m also thrilled to be a part of UTD’s Non-credit Conversational Japanese course as a facilitator. I look forward to learning and studying with everyone, and I hope I can help everyone achieve their language goals!"
-Lauren Menkemeller
For any interest in the pilot course, please contact the CAS at asianstudies@utdallas.edu
Looking Ahead to 2022
As COVID-related restrictions recede, the CAS is planning a series of major events as part of the delayed celebration of our Grand Opening 2.0.
2022 will include two presentations of the endowed Anlin Ku Lecture Series…
- Thursday, February 17, in person - Prof. Yunte Huang (University of California at Santa Barbara) on the life and career of Anna May Wong the first Asian American movie star
- Thursday, February 24, virtually - Prof. Erika Lee (University of Minnesota and President-elect of the Organization of American Historians) on the “Making of Asian America”
- March 2022, in person - A major art/science exhibition entitled “Rare Earth: The Science and Art of Chinese Stone” will open at the Crow Museum of Asian Art at UTD. This exhibit, along with associated lectures, is a joint presentation of the Crow Museum, the UTD Geosciences Program and the CAS.
Center for Asian Studies
Email: asianstudies@utdallas.edu
Website: https://asianstudies.utdallas.edu/
Location: 800 West Campbell Road, JO 5.504, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: (972) 883-2798
Facebook: facebook.com/AsianStudiesUTDallas
Twitter: @cas_utd