CAS Newsletter

As the fifth year of the Center for Asian Studies approaches its conclusion, how fortunate we are to make an announcement of such importance for its future:

Charlie W. and Pauline W. Chen, both members of the Center for Asian Studies International Advisory Council, contributed $130,000 through the Chen Family Foundation to establish the Charlie and Pauline Chen and Family Endowment that will support the Center’s new technology-focused initiatives.

“The Chen Family Foundation is excited to support academic exploration and fuel a dynamic platform for dialogue and discovery,” the foundation said in a prepared statement. “We believe that this program will highlight how technology and innovation within Asian Studies can inspire new ideas, foster global connections and pave the way for a future where cultural understanding and technological progress go hand in hand. We believe in empowering the Center for Asian Studies and UT Dallas to navigate the digital age and use it as a bridge toward greater cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.”

The new program has two related elements: to document the contributions of Asian Americans and others connected with the Asian community to advances in technology and to examine the societal, economic, and cultural impact of technological innovation. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting development in the Fall Newsletter.

Meanwhile, all of us involved in the Center for Asian Studies wish you an occasionally relaxing and always educationally invigorating summer. We have much to look forward to!

Dennis M. Kratz

Founding Director

The annual Gong Fu Panda Chinese Language & Culture Summer Camp is back from June 10 - 28! CAS is extremely excited to host campers to not only build Chinese language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing, but also develop the specific talents in: Kung Fu, Calligraphy, Ink and Water Painting, Tai Chi Fan, folk dances, Chinese crafts and Jumping Ropes.

Dr. Tirtha Prasad Mukhopadhyay completed a most successful academic year as scholar-in-residence by presenting the results of his research at a luncheon in his honor. His remarks focused on the imperial beginnings of Asian arts collections in the West and the Western collectors/critics attempt to define the meaning of that art from an Enlightenment perspective – and the Asian response in turn that placed Asian art in its context to celebrate its native beauty. A lively and appreciative conversation followed. Dr. Mukhopadhyay received his PhD from UTD and has fashioned a distinguished academic career in India and Mexico.

The Dallas Police Department Office of Community Affairs hosted the 2nd Annual

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Celebration in collaboration with AT&T Performing Arts Center on May 18 at Sammons Park. The outdoor extravaganza was dedicated to commemorating AAPI Heritage Month and displayed a vibrant showcase of performances, artist demonstrations, and diverse community booths. CAS Associate Director, Dr. Sharon Gou, and visiting research scholar, Dr. Estelle Bai, hosted the China booth where they gave out traditional snacks and quizzed visitors with fun facts about China.

The Center for Asian Studies mourns the untimely passing of Dr. Enric Madriguera, Russell Cleveland Professor of Guitar Studies. A gifted performer and beloved teacher, Dr. Madriguera was a treasured friend and supporter of Asian Studies. He helped create the UTD International Guitar Competition and Festival in 2002, and he made the inclusion of Asia-based artists – including the internationally renowned XueFei Yang – and competitors an important element of the annual event. He performed often in Asia and served as a judge for the prestigious Hong Kong International Music Festival. May he rest in peace.

The Japan Foundation (JF) will hold the Japanese Film Festival Online 2024 for four weeks from June 4 to July 2, 2024, as part of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF), sharing the excitement of Japanese cinema with the world. JF is pleased to announce the lineup of films and TV dramas that will be distributed during this event.

This third edition of the Japanese Film Festival Online will be held in a record-breaking 27 countries and regions, with a wide variety of films and—for the first time since it was established—two thrilling TV drama series. Titles of note include We Made a Beautiful Bouquet, which exploded in popularity among Gen Zers after its release in 2021, and Baby Assassins, the film that took Japanese social media by storm (its third installment is scheduled to be released in Japan this fall). Other highlights of the diverse lineup are School Meals Time Graduation and The Zen Diary, both of which showcase Japanʼs delicious food culture, as well as the world premiere of the 4K digitally remastered version of JUNGLE EMPEROR LEO, aka KIMBA THE WHITE LION, a classic anime based on TEZUKA Osamu's manga masterpiece.

Two extremely popular TV drama series, Downtown Rocket and RIKUOH, will also be available to watch in their entirety. These moving human dramas about diligent, hardworking people chasing big dreams became instant hits when they were released in Japan.

“In the midst of an evolving social situation in post-pandemic Japan and following the resounding success of the Academy Award–winning Godzilla Minus One and The Boy and the Heron, we have carefully selected titles that we are sure will resonate with audiences around the world. This year, the Japanese Film Festival Online will distribute films and TV dramas to a record number of countries and regions and in a variety of languages to help share Japanese film with the overseas market.” (KONOMI Masafumi, JFF Producer)

Videos promoting the festival and those showing the directors' messages are available on JFF+ʼs official YouTube channel. In addition to film and TV drama distribution, various exciting events will be held around the world during the festival period. Please check the festival website for details of these events and more:

A celebration of the traditional Mid-Autumn Asian Festival featuring the HuaYun Chinese Orchestra, the UNT Chinese Ensemble and guest artists showcasing the beauty and diversity of Asian cultures. Performances will include traditional and contemporary music and dance – with a a special appearance by members of the Binghamton University Center for Theater Arts Collaboration who will demonstrate the iconic artistry of Beijing Opera. Join us in celebrating a cherished tradition that unites the entire community! More details to come.

The 12th Annual Anlin Ku Lecture on Chinese Culture presents Ken Liu, an internationally renowned science fiction/fantasy author, translator, editor, and authority on the cultural implications of technological innovation. His will be presenting his lecture, “What 19th-Cenury Photography Can Tell Us About Artificial Intelligence."

While perhaps best known as the translator and champion of Liu Cixin’s Three Body Problem, Liu has gained international recognition – including the prestigious Nebula, Hugo, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards – for his own fiction. Liu has said that he intends his stories to “turn values upside down and inside out to gain new perspectives,” a succinct description of the effect of Artificial Intelligence in the world today. More details to come.

CAS joins in congratulating the Crow Museum of Asian Art at UTD as the grand opening of the on-campus museum approaches this Fall semester!