The Channel: A Podcast from the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS)

The Channel: A Podcast from the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS)

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The Channel: A Podcast from the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) episodes

  • Critical Heritage Studies with Edwin Pietersma
    Edwin Pietersma is an historian and anthropologist who specializes in modern and colonial Asian history. Broadly, his research focuses on the concepts of modernity and colonialism in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. Edwin is an alumni of a special initiative here at IIAS, the Dual Degree in Critical Heritage Studies of Asia and Europe. This program encourages an interdisciplinary, multi-sited, and critical approach to issues of heritage, broadly conceived. It is a partnership between multiple institutions, enabling students to study at multiple institutions over the course of the program. Through this course of study, Edwin received his MA in Asian Studies from Leiden University and his MA in Anthropology from National Taiwan University in Taipei, in addition to a certificate in Critical Heritage Studies from IIAS. In this conversation, Edwin and I discuss his experience of the program. For more information on Edwin's ongoing research, visit http://www.historywithedwin.com/.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  • Asian Arts with Cecily Cook
    This episode features a conversation with Cecily Cook, former Director of Programs at the Asian Cultural Council in New York. Cecily has had a long career at the intersection of Asia and the arts. Over the course of decades, she has worked in various roles, and at various institutions, in support of the artistic and cultural exchange between different Asian countries and the United States. In addition to serving as Director of Programs for the Asian Cultural Council, she has also worked as a consultant, a curator, and a director for organizations dedicated to the visual and performing arts. In this episode, Cecily discusses her background in folklore and how that led to a career in Asian arts. In so doing, she describes the importance of art and artists, as well as the role of knowledge infrastructure systems—like the Asian Cultural Council—to foster artistic work and make a impact in the world.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  • Academic Books with Chunyan Shu
    This episode explores the ins and outs of academic book publishing through a conversation with Chunyan Shu. Chunyan received a PhD in Chinese Studies from Leiden University in 2013, and she currently works as an Acquisitions Editor at Brill. Brill was founded in Leiden in 1683, and it has since become a well-known publishing house around the globe, particularly with respect to Asian Studies. The world of academic publishing can often feel daunting for young scholars, especially for those who have not received much guidance in the process of crafting and pitching an academic monograph. As someone with lots of experience as both a scholar and academic editor, Chunyan is an ideal guest to help demystify these processes. In this conversation, we discuss all manner of things related to the current landscape of Asian Studies publishing—from the history of Brill itself to what makes a compelling book proposal, from common misconceptions to the future of academic books.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  • River Cities #4: Revitalizations with Satya Patchineelam

    This is the final episode in our four-part mini-series on River Cities as Method (RCM), a new project under the umbrella of Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) at the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS). The goal of River Cities as Method is to promote ecologically and socially inclusive revitalizations of rivers and the cities/neighborhoods that coexist with them. In this episode, Satya Patchineelam, PhD candidate at Erasmus University and academic advisor for the RCM project, turns to the "revitalizations" theme of the RCM agenda. In the case of Satya's work among the Riverines in Brazil, this includes the history of activism against the construction of a dam, the politics of infrastructure-induced displacement, and the community's ongoing fight for a better future. This research also serves as the pilot project for RCM, so we also discuss how this theme will be mobilized across the RCM network.


    If you are currently researching the relationship between cities and rivers, and you think that your work might fit in well with River Cities as Method, check out RCM's recent Call for Expressions of Interest. The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2022!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
  • River Cities #3: Cartographies with Satya Patchineelam

    This episode is the third in a four-part mini-series on River Cities as Method (RCM), a new project under the umbrella of Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) at the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS). The goal of River Cities as Method is to promote ecologically and socially inclusive revitalizations of rivers and the cities/neighborhoods that coexist with them. In this episode, Satya Patchineelam, PhD candidate at Erasmus University and academic advisor for the RCM project, turns to the overtly spatial dimensions of her work with the Riverines of Brazil. This includes discussions of traditional territories, infrastructural projects (i.e., dams), and the Riverines' relationship with both the Xingu River and the city of Altamira. This research also serves as the pilot project for RCM.


    If you are currently researching the relationship between cities and rivers, and you think that your work might fit in well with River Cities as Method, check out RCM's recent Call for Expressions of Interest. The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2022!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  • River Cities #2: Biographies with Satya Patchineelam

    This episode is the second in a four-part mini-series on River Cities as Method (RCM), a new project under the umbrella of Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) at the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS). The goal of River Cities as Method is to promote ecologically and socially inclusive revitalizations of rivers and the cities/neighborhoods that coexist with them. In this episode, Satya Patchineelam, PhD candidate at Erasmus University and academic advisor for the RCM project, delves deeper into the history and life ways of the Riverine community in Brazil. This research also serves as the pilot project for RCM.


    If you are currently researching the relationship between cities and rivers, and you think that your work might fit in well with River Cities as Method, check out RCM's recent Call for Expressions of Interest. The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2022!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  • River Cities #1: Introduction with Satya Patchineelam

    This episode is the first in a four-part mini-series on River Cities as Method (RCM), a new project under the umbrella of Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) at the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS). The goal of River Cities as Method is to promote ecologically and socially inclusive revitalizations of rivers and the cities/neighborhoods that coexist with them. In this introductory episode, Satya Patchineelam, PhD candidate at Erasmus University and academic advisor for the RCM project, introduces her own ethnographic work among the Riverine community in Brazil. This work serves as the pilot project for RCM, so our conversation explores her particular project research well as the the larger River Cities project that is currently being developed.


    If you are currently researching the relationship between cities and rivers, and you think that your work might fit in well with River Cities as Method, check out RCM's recent Call for Expressions of Interest. The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2022!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  • The Craft of Nonfiction with Tom Robertson
    This episode features a conversation about the mechanics of writing well. Tom Robertson is a scholar at Kathmandu University in Nepal. Trained in history, Tom’s academic research focuses on international development, with a special emphasis on the environment. Our conversation on The Channel, however, focuses on a different dimension of Tom’s work. During Covid-19, Tom launched two initiatives aimed at teaching practical writing techniques, particularly in nonfiction genres. The first of these initiatives is a free series of YouTube videos called Mitho Lekhai. Each video in the series presents tips for clear and effective writing. The second initiative is called Writing Journeys, a series of essays by prominent Nepali journalists and authors about the craft of writing. Tom’s mission to teach writing emerged in the particular context of Nepal, and he delivers his YouTube series is primarily in the Nepali language. Nevertheless, as he makes clear in our conversation, the tips and strategies he describes are useful for students, academics, and professionals working in any language. In this episode, we talk about these initiatives as an entry point into a discussion of the art of nonfiction more broadly.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  • Colonial Acquisitions with Klaas Stutje (and Jona Mooren)

    The Newsletter, our flagship publication that comes out three times a year, has an issue coming out in June 2022. As part of that edition, we’re very pleased to have a special section guest edited by Jona Mooren and Klaas Stutje. The section will include a collection of essays that grew out of something called PPROCE, or the Pilotproject Provenance Research on Objects of the Colonial Era. The project was carried out under the direction of the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies in collaboration with other institutions, including the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and the National Museum of World Cultures. The project formally began in November 2019 with the goal of researching the provenance of various colonial artifacts and acquisitions. It concluded in March 2022 with a series of detailed provenance reports as well as formal recommendations about restitution and repatriation. On March 17, 2022, the PPROCE project presented their final report ­to government officials at an event in the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden. Unfortunately, Jona, a leader of the project, was ill and unable to attend. But Klaas gave brief introductory remarks that we would like to play here in anticipation of their forthcoming Focus section in The Newsletter. In his statement, Klaas introduces the various dimensions of the project and the challenges it entailed. The project’s final report, “Clues: Research into provenance history and significance of cultural objects and collections acquired in colonial situations,” is also freely available to the public in Dutch, English, and Bahasa Indonesia.


    We’re very excited for the forthcoming special section co-edited by Jona and Klaas, and we hope that our listeners will read the case studies when the issue comes out in June. Until then, this episode features the introductory remarks made by Klaas at the March 17 event.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min
  • Socially Engaged Public Art with Meiqin Wang, Hong Kal, and Minna Valjakka

    Today's podcast features a conversation about art, politics, and public space with Dr. Meiqin Wang, Dr. Hong Kal, and Dr. Minna Valjakka. We came together to discuss the new book Socially Engaged Public Art in East Asia: Space, Place, and Community in Action, published this year by Vernon Press. Meiqin served as the editor of the volume, and all three of this episode's guests contributed chapters to the project. The book includes case studies from across East Asia. As Grant Kester writes in his Foreword to the volume, the book “offers the first comprehensive survey of new forms of socially engaged art in the region.” The following conversation explores the importance of public art as a mode of political engagement, urban contestation, and community action.


    Dr. Wang is a Professor of Art History at California State University, Northridge; Dr. Hong Kal is Associate Professor in the department of Visual Art and Art History at York University; and Dr. Minna Valjakka is Professor in contemporary art history and theory from a global perspective at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr 7 min

About The Channel: A Podcast from the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS)

From the publisher's feed

The Channel is the flagship podcast from the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) at Leiden University. Each episode delves into a particular Asian Studies topic from across the social…