New Books in East Asian Studies
Marshall Poe
This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field.
Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: newbooksnetwork.com
Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to get informative, engaging content straight to your inbox: https://newbooksnetwork.substack.com/
Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to learn about more our latest interviews: @newbooksnetworkSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies
Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: newbooksnetwork.com
Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to get informative, engaging content straight to your inbox: https://newbooksnetwork.substack.com/
Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to learn about more our latest interviews: @newbooksnetworkSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 30, 2024 • 1h 25min
Matthew H. Sommer, "The Fox Spirit, the Stone Maiden, and Other Transgender Histories from Late Imperial China" (Columbia UP, 2024)
Matthew H. Sommer, a historian specializing in late imperial China, discusses his intriguing book on transgender histories. He delves into six court cases that illuminate complex gender identities and societal perceptions in Qing China. Sommer highlights how individuals navigated gender roles against legal frameworks, showcasing the interplay of culture and identity. He also touches on themes of sorcery, fox spirit mediums, and the narrative of gender nonconformity, ultimately revealing rich insights into the historical context of LGBTQ+ experiences in East Asia.
Jul 29, 2024 • 1h 12min
Kate McDonald on Asian Mobility History as Labor History
In this discussion, Kate McDonald, an Associate Professor of History at UC Santa Barbara, explores Asian mobility from a labor perspective. She examines the history of human-powered transport, particularly rickshaws in Japan, and critiques the narratives of mechanization that overlook worker experiences. McDonald shares insights from her research projects, revealing how transportation has shaped labor movements and economic structures. Additionally, she reflects on the complex interplay of mobility, identity, and historical narratives in the context of colonialism.
Jul 28, 2024 • 57min
Kristie Flannery, "Piracy and the Making of the Spanish Pacific World" (U Pennsylvania Press, 2024)
Dr. Kristie Flannery, an expert on Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines, discusses her groundbreaking work on piracy's role in shaping the Spanish Pacific World. She reveals how colonial officials and missionaries allied with Indigenous Filipinos and Chinese migrants to combat piracy. The conversation delves into the unexpected influence of Catholic priests in legitimizing imperial power. Flannery also explores the tumultuous Sino-Spanish relations, highlighting the fluctuating fates of Chinese immigrants amid piracy and colonial tensions.
Jul 27, 2024 • 1h 15min
Christina Yi et al., "Passing, Posing, Persuasion: Cultural Production and Coloniality in Japan's East Asian Empire" (U Hawaii Press, 2023)
In this engaging discussion, Christina Yi delves into her work on cultural production and coloniality in Japan's East Asian Empire. She unpacks the paradox of 'passing' versus 'posing,' revealing how these concepts highlight the complexities of identity for marginalized groups like Zainichi Koreans. Yi explores the role of art, theater, and film in shaping narratives of assimilation while resisting imperial propaganda. The conversation also touches on the tensions between inclusion and oppression, prompting listeners to reconsider the nuanced dynamics of culture and identity under colonial rule.
Jul 25, 2024 • 1h 8min
Ed Pulford, "Past Progress: Time and Politics at the Borders of China, Russia, and Korea" (Stanford UP, 2024)
Author and researcher Ed Pulford discusses the collapse of progressive endeavors in the China-Russia-North Korea borderlands, exploring post-socialist politics, temporal synchrony in the socialist era, and the pre-revolutionary period. The podcast delves into the complexities of historical narratives, challenges in restructuring causality, and the concept of progress in Chinese society. Scholars are pushing boundaries in understanding the relationship between time and politics in the region, examining the impact of migrations on perceptions of progress.
Jul 24, 2024 • 50min
Mark Baker, "Pivot of China: Spatial Politics and Inequality in Modern Zhengzhou" (Harvard Asia Center, 2024)
Historian Mark Baker discusses spatial politics and inequality in modern China, focusing on Zhengzhou's development disparities. Topics cover urban growth, railroad impact, Great Leap Forward inequality, and future research plans on WWII in China.
Jul 23, 2024 • 30min
Muslim Literacies in China
Dr. Ibrar Bhatt discusses heritage literacies of Chinese Muslims, exploring semiotics of Sino-Muslim heritage literacy. Topics include signs of 'Muslimness' in linguistic landscape, commercial and religious literacy interplay in Muslim history, and translingual heritage practices among Chinese Muslims.
Jul 23, 2024 • 1h 16min
Steven K. Bailey, "Target Hong Kong: A True Story of U.S. Navy Pilots at War" (Osprey, 2024)
Author Steven K. Bailey discusses the intense air raids on Japanese-held Hong Kong by US Navy pilots during WWII. Through detailed records and personal stories, he sheds light on the experiences of American servicemen and the impact of the war on both pilots and civilians in Hong Kong.
Jul 21, 2024 • 52min
Yanagawa Seigan, "The Same Moon Shines on All: The Lives and Selected Poems of Yanagawa Seigan and Kōran" (Columbia UP, 2024)
Discover the lives of Japanese poets Yanagawa Seigan and Kōran, who practiced traditional Sinitic poetry. Learn about their itinerant lifestyle, political activities, and Kōran's imprisonment. Explore their mastery of poetic tradition amid Japan's monumental change.
Jul 20, 2024 • 55min
Eric Reinders, "Reading Tolkien in Chinese: Religion, Fantasy and Translation" (Bloomsbury, 2024)
Translation scholar Eric Reinders discusses Chinese translations of Tolkien's works, uncovering new perspectives and common themes of religion, fantasy, and translation. Topics include gods and heathens, fate and doom, and the challenges of translating fantasy concepts into Chinese. Reinders also shares insights on his upcoming projects on cosmogony, riddles, and a new venture into Dracula.
