Crossing over the educational divide

Deirdre Newman

Why is there such a lack of an Asian American presence in the media?

What happens when Asian American performers such as Margaret Cho attempt

to establish a presence and fail?

Those are some of the questions a diverse group of University of

California professors and performers are considering as part of a

Humanities Research Institute project.

The UC Irvine-based institute represents all nine UC schools and

emphasizes collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Since 1987,

professors from all over the world have come to stimulate their

intellectual juices and explore an eclectic array of topics, including

architecture, film and genetics.

Asian and Asian America Perspectives on Transnationalism and

Performance is one of three research groups meeting this semester. The

goal of the group is to explore how the concept of cultural performance

changes with geographical shifts.

Organizer Karen Shimakawa, a professor of theater, dance and Asian

American Studies at UC Davis, said she chose the topic to learn more

about the types of Asian theater in contrast to American theater and to

explore Asian-Americanness in a more global context.

“The issues of cross-cultural exchange affect behaviors, policies and

attitudes outside of theater,” she said.

Others participating in the research group include Mitsuya Mori, a

professor of theater studies in Tokyo, and Lin Shen, director of the

Research Institute of the Central Academy of Drama in China.

For the past eight weeks, the eight group members have viewed and

discussed each other’s work. They have also attended theater performances

here and in Seattle.

“That forms a lot of our conversation. We’re not just learning about

each other’s research projects, but having shared experiences, which is

very valuable,” Shimakawa said.

At the end of the semester, the group will produce a tangible product

of their research. Right now, the group is considering creating a DVD

combining scholarly text and footage of dance performances.

Many of the researchers said the experience of working with others who

share their passion for the topic is invaluable.

“Working in the humanities, a lot of us spend the majority of our time

working alone,” said Deborah Wong, a UC Riverside music professor. “The

opportunity to be with a group of like-minded people is incredible. Each

time we get together, there’s a real sense of synergy.”

Chiou-ling Yeh, a postdoctoral fellow in California Studies at UCI,

has researched Chinese New Year festivals and said participating in the

group has enabled her to analyze her subject more thoroughly.

“I was able to look at the performance side of the parade more

deeply,” Yeh said. “[The other members] helped me think more deeply about

the moment -- how they manifest the parade through floats and how people

walk and dance within the parade -- the meaning within.”

David Goldberg, director of the institute, said the composition and

focus of the research group reflects the changing demographics of

California.

“Twenty years ago, we wouldn’t have seen a group that looked like this

or had this kind of intellectual interest,” Goldberg said. “This reflects

not just where California is going, but where the rest of the United

States is going.”

FYI

The research group will be involved with two events on campus. On

Wednesday, members will discuss their research from noon to 1:30 p.m. in

the 135 Humanities Instructional Building.

At 8 p.m. June 8, choreographer Cheng-Chieh Yu will present the dance

“Deer Diaries,” a combination of dance, movement and multimedia in the

Nixon Theater.