Asian American Renaissance - Movements? Moments? Messages? Symposium in New York
Asian American Renaissance - Movements? Moments? Messages? Symposium at NYU Silver Center in New York led by Helen Zia on Apr. 1 and 2nd.
On Apr. 1st and 2nd, Helen Zia, noted journalist and A/P/A Studies Writer-in-Residence, leads a symposium at NYU's Silver Center in New York, examining the Asian American Renaissance in three parts: women activists and their use of popular culture; the economic, political, and social challenges confronting Asian Americans; the Asian American cultural movement in New York and elsewhere, and what is needed to spark a renaissance on a local, national and international scale.
Friday
6:30pm-8:30pm
Conversations: Seven Asian American Artists/Activists on their Work
NYU Silver Center, Room 703
100 Washington Square East
(enter on Washington or Waverly Pl.)
The Friday evening program features an incredible line-up of Asian Pacific American women including author Akemi Kochiyama-Sardinha, visual artist Yong Soon Min, performance artist Vijai Nathan, filmmaker Angel Velasco Shaw, playwright Velina Hasu Houston and author and pioneering activist Yuri Kochiyama discussing how they use cultural forms to communicate an activist message.
According to historian Jeffrey C. Stewart, "The idea behind the Harlem Renaissance was that (1) racism in America could be addressed not only through protest against racist practices, but also by changing the prevailing images that European Americans had about Black people and (2) that positive images of African Americans as contributors to American Culture would raise the self-esteem of Black people."
The aims of the Harlem Renaissance, as named by Stewart, aptly describe the situation for Asian Americans in contemporary culture. Is there a need for an Asian American Renaissance that will combat the anti-Asian, anti-immigrant stereotypes that continue to plague our communities? Is there an Asian American Renaissance already taking place in different cities, such as NYC?
Saturday
9:45am-2pm
Lipton Hall (lower level)
108 W. 3rd St.
(btwn Sullivan and MacDougal Sts)
Saturday's morning session examines the economic, political, and social challenges confronting Asian Americans and the Asian American cultural movement in New York and elsewhere. Cultural activists, scholars and funders will conduct a dialogue about what is needed to spark a renaissance on a local, national and international scale.
9:45am-11:30am Collisions and Interventions: Envisioning an Asian American Future
Panelists:
Jessica Chao, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors; Jon Funabiki, Ford Foundation; Deepa Iyer, South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow; David Levering Lewis, Harlem Renaissance scholar, New York University; Franklin Odo, Smithsonian Institution; Bryan Pu-Folkes, New Immigrant Community Empowerment; Larry Shinagawa, demographer, Ithaca College; Roberta Uno, theater activist/scholar- Ford Foundation and Alice Young, Kaye Scholer attorney and vice chair of Committee of 100
The symposium ends with strategy-building discussions including the identification of cultural resources throughout the nation, future trends and their impact on Asian Americans, the importance of preserving and documenting history through the development of Asian American archives, and a brainstorm on how to build upon and link existing cultural movements.
11:45am-1:15pm Cultures and Communities: Towards an Asian American Movement?
Participants include:
Filmmaker NaRhee Ahn, Asian American Arts Alliance; public artist Tomie Arai, filmmaker Vivek Bald; writer Quang Bao, Asian American Writers Workshop; Melissa Chiu, Asia Society; filmmaker and activist Jessica Chen Drammeh; poet Luis Francia; writer Andrew Hsiao, New Press; visual artist Ian Kim; Audee Kochiyama-Holman, EastSide Arts Alliance; writer Makiko James; Robert Lee, Asian American Arts Centre; art historian Margo Machida, University of Connecticut; playwright Ralph Pena, Ma-Yi Theater; visual artist Chanika Svetvilas,Thailinks and filmmaker JT Takagi, Third World Newsreel
1:15pm-2pm
Special performances by spoken word performer Regie Cabico, poet and writer Fay Chiang, and poet and musician Taiyo Ebato
Valid picture ID required to enter NYU buildings, to register, leave personal contact info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
212-992-9653
This symposium is co-sponsored by the NYU Department of East Asian Studies, NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Studies and the NYU Graduate Studies of Arts and Science.
SUPPORTERS: Asian American Arts Alliance, Asian American Writers Workshop and National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF), NY Chapter
ASIAN/PACIFIC/AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM AND INSTITUTE
New York University
269 Mercer St. Suite 609
New York, NY 10003
Tel: (212) 998-3700
Fax: (212) 995-4705
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
website: www.apa.nyu.edu