Southeast Asian Lecture Series
Dr. Michael Bodden, professor of Theatre and Literature at the University of Victoria, presented "A Cold War Legacy: The Forgotten Theatre of Indonesia’s LEKRA," on October 26th, 2007. His talk focused on historical media framing of LEKRA Theatre in Indonesia and the role of theatre in political movements. The attendees at the speech in the Yamada House seminar room gained a better understanding of LEKRA performances and their relation to the Indonesian Government.
Dr. Ingrid Jordt, anthropologist at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, presented a lecture entitled "Burma’s Monks’ Revolt: An Exercise in Futility?" on October 30th, 2007. Dr. Jordt's talk focused on current events in Burma and Burmese monk's revolts. She discussed monk's roles in contemporary society as related to power structures within Burma. The audience of over 65 students, faculty, and the public gained an awareness of history, politics, and religion in Burma and issues facing the nation currently.
Dr. Gerard Sasges, professor of History at Ohio University, presented "The Politics of Drink: Resistance, Collaboration, and the Alcohol Monopoly in Colonial Vietnam". Prof. Sasges's lecture focused on the French alcohol monopoly in colonial Vietnam and Vietnamese resistance movements. The well attended presentation incorporated themes of a strong Vietnamese people combating forced cultural change and the multifaceted ways in which they resisted the monopoly.
Dr. Haley Duschinski, professor of Anthropology at Ohio University, presented "Peace and Conflict in Kashmir," to the Friday International Forum. Prof. Duschinski analyzed the past and current conflicts in India's Kashmir region and the conflict between Pakistan and India in the region. The crowd of over 50 students and faculty gained an understanding of contemporary issues in the conflict between Kashmir, India, and Pakistan. The discussion focused on human rights violations and the realities of life in Kashmir.
Dr. Ward Keeler, professor of Anthropology at the University of Texas Austin, presented "Is there an indigenous Burmese rap? The global, the local, and the commercial in Burmese popular culture," at the first Global Awareness Program lecture series on February 8th, 2008. His talk analyzed how: Commentators often argue about whether international popular culture homogenizes all expressive traditions or instead gets localized in specific ways. Burma affords an opportunity to ask how a society just now coming to consumer culture embraces, resists, and/or adapts styles from overseas--or whether these terms are even useful ways to approach mass media phenomena like rap. Attendees gained an awareness of the affects of globalization on pop culture.
Dr. Carl Thayer, Fuller Visiting Professor in Southeast Asian Studies from the University of New South Wales, presented "Challenges to Democratic Transition in Southeast Asia: Terrorism and Military Intervention," on February 8th, 2008. Dr. Thayer's talk analyzed the 'War on Terror' and the methods of combating terrorism in Southeast Asia.
Beyond Violence: Transforming Intractable Conflicts
by Elliot Field
The Center for International Studies had the distinct pleasure of hosting a wealth of experts from across the United States, some even crossing borders to discuss violence and its repercussions across the globe.
Representatives from the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) opened and closed the affair, framing violence historically and presenting possible solutions to the pandemic of conflict. The workshops focused on three case studies of intractable conflicts. Colombia, Indonesia and Sudan were selected as target countries, and Ohio University welcomed the pre-eminent scholars in the field of study to discuss their findings.
Dr. Marc Chernick of Georgetown University and Jess Hunter from the United States Office on Colombia shared an analysis of Colombia's intractable conflict with a diverse and enthusiastic crowd. The juxtaposition of Indonesia's political circumstances by Dr. Jacques Bertrand from the University of Toronto and Dr. Danilyn Rutherford's views from an anthropological perspective shone light on the diverse intractable conflicts across the Southeast Asian region. A breakout discussion group followed each of these plenary sessions, where distinguished guests and attendees of the workshop could discuss specific issues, gain greater understanding and even propose a few of their own solutions. Day one was certainly a success, and a wealth of information was exchanged among a diverse population.
Saturday morning drew an impressive crowd, and the Center for International Studies welcomed Dr. Asma Abdel Halim from the University of Toledo, Dr. Ali B Ali Dinar from the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Jok Madut Jok from Loyola Marymount to discuss their views on the intractable conflict past, present and future for Sudan. Small groups met after the plenary session to map out regional dimensions, paramilitary involvement and the role of the media. Ohio University was honored to have Pamela Aall and Alan Tidwell from the US Institute of Peace conclude the workshop with their insightful remarks about conflict and reaching resolution. OU would like to thank all of our guests for making Beyond Violence such a success!
Jacques Bertrand speaks to a full room during the session on Indonesian conflict.
Linkage Development Trip to Southeast Asia
Renewing and expanding university partnerships in Southeast Asia is a goal of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies. In June 2004, Karla Schneider, Assistant Director of the Southeast Asian Studies Program, and Elizabeth Clodfelter, Assistant Director of the Center for International Studies, traveled to Southeast Asia to meet with universities to discuss opportunities for collaborative activities and university partnerships. Stopping first in Kuala Lumpur, visits were also made to Universiti Malay, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Universiti Institute Teknologi Mara. Visits were also made to Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang and Universiti Utara Malaysia near the Thai border, home to Tun Abdul Razak Professor Dr. Abdul Kadir Din. Singapore was the next stop, where Karla and Beth visited colleagues at the School of Information and Communication at Nanyang Technological University to review the details of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is being developed between the School and OU's School of Telecommunications. Following Singapore, Karla and Beth flew to Cambodia where they attended meetings at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and the University of Cambodia.
Assistant Director Karla Schneider with Datuk Abu Bakar Hamid and Dr. Azizah Hamzah from Universiti Malaya.
Southeast Asian Studies Fall Lecture Series
The Southeast Asian Studies Program is pleased to have hosted a number of excellent guest lecturers during the fall quarter.
Felicidad Prudente presented "Jama Mapun Gong Music of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines," on October 18. Dr. Prudente received her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Ethnomusicology from the University of Michigan in 1984. She is an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines and is a Visiting Scholar Professor at the University of Michigan in 2004.
Mano Maniam presented "Asian Resurgence: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Revisited" on Friday, October 22 as part of the International Studies Forum. Mano's professional background includes educational administration, corporate management, journalism, environmentalism, theatre, television and film. He spent the month of October at Ohio University as a Visiting Scholar with the Southeast Asia Studies Program.
William H. Itoh presented "Restoring America's Credibility and Protecting our Interests in Southeast Asia" on Tuesday, October 26 at 8:00pm in Walter Hall. Ambassador Itoh is a professor of International Studies and Director of Washington International Programs of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Achmad Ubaedillah, graduate student in the Southeast Asia Studies Program, presented his professional project, "A Modern Messianic Movement in Southeast Asia: The case of Rufaqa in Indonesia," on Friday, November 12 in the Yamada International House. Achmad graduated in Fall 2004.
Mano Maniam
Southeast Asia Poetry Night
Galbreath Memorial Chapel once again provided the ideal setting for the annual Southeast Asian Poetry Night on 27 October 2004. Students and faculty gathered at 7:00pm for an evening of poetry, music, skits and prose. Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan were among the countries represented.
Thu Dang and Marianne Semones read Vietnamese poetry.
Kurniasih Suditomo, Ezki Widianti, Anis Sundusiyah, Ida Rosyidah and Nurhaya Muchtar share an Indonesian song.
Southeast Asia Brown-Bag Lunch Series
The Southeast Asian Studies Program would like to thank the speakers in this quarter's brown-bag lunch series. Gene Ammarell, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, spoke on September 29 about his year as a Fulbright Scholar doing research in Balobaloang, Indonesia. On October 12, Virginia Gorlinski, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts, shared accounts of her summer research trip to Borneo. And, on October 26, Bonnie Edwards, a local Athens area educator, spoke to the Southeast Asian Studies program about her experiences spending a year in Balobaloang with husband Gene Ammarell. These lunches provided faculty and students with a unique opportunity to informally discuss issues in Southeast Asia relating to Ohio University faculty research. We appreciate each of the speakers taking time to share their experiences!
This site documents four years of visually translating the c o l o r seen in the rice terraces of Bali. The Bali Color Workshop is offered through the Graphic Design Program in the School of Art at Ohio University. Visit the website now...