CAS Newsletter

Welcome back! It is appropriate that the dawning of the new academic year is followed so quickly by the start of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

We humans are symbolic beings, investing the world (and ourselves) with multiple, sometimes contradictory layers of meaning. Consider the example of the Moon. Amid its positive aspects, Western culture tends to see (excuse the pun) the dark side of the moon, connecting its phases with instability and the role of luck in human affairs. A Medieval poem (that Carl Orff later set to music) from the collection known as the Carmina Burana, expresses this attitude perfectly:

O Fortuna velut luna

Statu variabile

Semper crescis

Aut decrescis…

O Fortune, like the moon

In your instability,

Always waxing

Or else waning…

哦命运 ,

像月亮般

变化无常 ,

盈虚交替 ...

The full moon, of course, has some unfortunate (excuse this pun too) associations. One of these is madness – that is, lunacy; and keep in mind that we blame the light of the full moon for releasing our bestial nature in the form of the werewolf.

East Asian culture is much kinder to the moon, its regular, predictable phases evoke the realization that the inexorable passage of time is accompanied also by constant examples of return and renewal. The full moon that appears on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month announces the beginning of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Its brightness and roundness, I have been told, symbolize optimism and the prosperity resulting from a full harvest. It is a beautiful celebration. I urge those not familiar with Chang’e [嫦娥], the Chinese goddess of the moon, to discover the mythic tales behind the Festival, its emphasis on family reunions, friendship, and food (especially mooncakes). Those of you interested in science and space flight, might also learn why someone in ground control, as Apollo 11 prepared to land on the moon, advised the astronauts to be one the lookout for a beautiful young woman accompanied by a large rabbit.

We are a symbolizing species. We give, sometimes impose not only on objects but also on each other symbolic attributes that evoke strong responses. Too often we see “others” as dangerous and destructive; but we also have the power in ourselves to see and emphasize the good. Life may be filled with destabilizing surprises and, for want of a better term, bad luck; and yet it is filled also with small, recurring joys that we should remember to appreciate and celebrate. A goal of the Center for Asian Studies is to foster ways to see one another in symbolically positive ways – as interdependent , mortal travelers on a fragile planet that has followed a mathematically precise orbit around a blazing star for millions of years, travelling unceasingly but unfailingly returning annually to where it is right now. Embrace the opportunities that change provides. During the Moon Festival, reunite - in person or virtually - with family and friends whom you have not seen in far too long. Savor good memories and some mooncake. Then return to the opportunities offered by this new semester to cultivate learning, wisdom and kindness toward others. Welcome back!

- Dennis M. Kratz

Gong Fu Panda Camp returned after a two-year interruption! A record 95 families enrolled more than 200 campers – a diverse and lively group with ethnic backgrounds including Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, and African and Texan – who spent up to three weeks celebrating and learning about Asian culture.

Family and friends, along with members of the UTD faculty and staff watched in Jonsson Performance Hall as the campers celebrated the conclusion of their camp experience by singing, reciting Chinese poetry, dancing and demonstrating their mastery of Kung Fu exercises. They also displayed examples of their calligraphy and painting.

The Gong Fu Summer Camp owes its success to many individuals – above all, to the parents and guardians of the campers. We thank the dedicated teachers, student interns, and camp staff. We are grateful for the seamless cooperation of the following UTD Offices: Provost Office, A&H Dean’s Office, Program for Minors Office, Classroom Scheduling, JSOM Technology and Facilities Services, JSOM Project Management and Supply Chain Management Programs, Campus Police, Copy Center…Finally, we want to express our appreciation for their support to the International Leadership School of Texas, Ursuline Academy of Dallas, St. Mark’s School of Texas, Texas Instruments, and First United Bank.

In order to make next summer’s camp available to more families, please consider making a donation to the Center for Asian Studies – designating “GFPC” specifically:

This semester, the CAS plans on featuring new Asian and Asian American faculty hires throughout all the UTD schools. Be on the lookout for the new spotlights starting next issue!

With the Fall semester comes a new course schedule! Previously, the CAS offered their language courses in two 8-week sessions per semester, but starting Fall 2022, the program will be changed to offer one semester-long course. Please visit our website for more information:

University Theatre at UTD from 2:00 - 3:30 PM

To begin the Fall semester, join us for a concert by the Dallas Huayun Chinese Orchestra as we celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the CAS! We look forward to seeing you there!

In partnership with the Crow Museum of Asian Art at UTD and the Indonesian Consulate, join us for the 2022 Festival of Indonesian Cultures! Over the span of three days, the festival will take place at both the Crow Museum and the UTD Campus.

Friday, September 16 from 7:30 - 9:30 PM

Davidson Auditorium in the Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM)

An international seminar will be held to discuss the recent developments of Indonesia, updates on Indonesian policies, and the potential collaboration for research partnership between the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and UTD.

Speakers:

• Andre Omer Siregar - Consul General KJRI Houston

• Irwanda Wisnu Wardhana, PhD - Head of the Research Center for Cooperative, Corporation, and People's Economy – BRIN RI

• Bernard “Bud” Weinstein, PhD - Associate Director (ret.) SMU Maguire Energy Institute

Moderator:

• Prof Dennis M. Kratz - Rockover Professor of Humanities, Senior Associate Provost, and Founding Director, Center for Asian Studies at UTD

Saturday, September 17 from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Crow Museum of Asian Art

Debbie Margaretha, a Batik collector and designer with 30+ years in the Batik Design Industry, will be sharing her collection and expertise in the following events:

• Batik Exhibition
• Batik Workshop
• Batik Fashion Show

Sunday, September 18 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM

SSA Auditorium in the Student Services Building Addition

To conclude the festival, a showcase of Indonesian cultures will be performed by local Dallas people and members of the KJRI. The performances will consist of:

• Traditional & Contemporary Dances
• Traditional Music
• Pencak Silat (Indonesian martial arts)

The tenth annual Anlin Ku Lecture on Chinese Culture features Dr. Yunte Huang, who will discuss the life and career of the first Chinese American movie star, Anna May Wong, and the light that her troubled career shines on the history of Chinese in America. Dr. Huang's lecture, originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed due to complications associated with the Pandemic.

Co-sponsored with the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology

After also being postponed from 2021, Daniel Chen, Conductor of the Huayun Chinese Orchestra of Dallas, will be returning for the Asian Culture Forum series. He will discuss (and demonstrate) traditional Chinese music and musical instruments. Be on the lookout for more information!

Horchow Auditorium at the Dallas Museum of Art
Tuesday, August 23, 7:30 p.m. CDT

Hybrid Event (In-Person/Online)

Jamie Ford, the New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, returns with The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, a powerful exploration of the love that binds one family across generations. An experimental treatment designed to mitigate inherited trauma allows poet laureate Dorothy Moy to intimately connect with past generations of women, including Faye Moy, a nurse in China, and Afong Moy, the first Chinese woman to set foot in America.

"[A] searing and vibrant epic of generational love, trauma, and healing."—Qian Julie Wang

GET TICKETS

Presented by Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth

Program partner Crow Museum of Asian Art of the University of Texas at Dallas

Saturday, September 10 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. CDT

Simpson Plaza at Frisco Square

8843 Coleman Boulevard, Frisco TX 75034 (MAP)

FREE

The 23rd annual Otsukimi will return to its normal in-person September schedule for the first time since 2019! This event has become one of the region's largest Japanese cultural celebrations. Festivities include musical performances, haiku readings, vendors selling Japanese food and collectibles, themed art, and family-friendly activities. See some of the scheduled festivities below and learn more at https://jasdfw.org/event/2022-otsukimi-moon-viewing-festival/.

Performances and Demonstrations (more listed on event website)

• Dallas Kiyari Daiko (traditional Japanese taiko drumming)
• Dallas Sumo Club (Japanese wrestling demonstration)
• Plano Kendo Dojo (Japanese martial arts)
• Stan Richardson and Mujuan Dojo (Shakuhachi music)

Activities and Vendors (more listed on event website)

• Bobaddiction (boba tea and refreshing drinks)
• Ikebana International Dallas Chapter 13 (Japanese floral arrangements)
• KIKI Japan (Japanese-inspired clothing and accessories)
• MBFLYnagasaki (Japanese scarves, purses, earrings, and bracelets)
• Miki Bread and Crafts (Japanese-inspired baked goods and handmade crochet items)
• Spin Sushi food truck (Japanese and Asian fusion cuisine)

To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, Center for Asian Studies plans to co-sponsor the 2022 Asian Mid-Autumn Festival in collaboration with Texas Culture Exchange Center and Chase Oak Church.

Horchow Auditorium at the Dallas Museum of Art

Thursday, September 29, 7:30 p.m. CDT

Hybrid Event (In-Person/Online)

In Chinese, the word for America, “Mei Guo,” translates directly to “beautiful country.” Yet when seven-year-old Qian Julie Wang arrives in New York City in 1994, full of curiosity, she is overwhelmed by crushing fear and scarcity. In China, Qian’s parents were professors; in America, her family is “illegal.” This New York Times Notable Book is “a potent testament to the love, curiosity, grit, and hope of a courageous and resourceful immigrant child” (Kirkus, starred review).

"Heartrending, unvarnished, and powerfully courageous, this account of growing up undocumented in America will never leave you.”—Gish Jen, author of The Resisters

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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