===================================== MONASH ASIA INSTITUTE BULLETIN [9/2008] [10 November 2008] ===================================== In this bulletin 1. Lecture and exhibition: Ancient Hampi 2. Film and Television Studies Seminar: 'Under construction' 3. Book Launch of three publications 4. Seminar: Sacred Mountain Traditions in SE Asia 5. New Book: 'Kashgar: Oasis City On China's Silk Road' 6. 7th International Congress of Morita Therapy 7. Asialink Leaders Program 2009 8. The Hugh Owen Prize 9. Cambodia in World History Conference 10. Website of the month: The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival ===================================== Monash Asia Institute and Monash University News and Events ===================================== Item 1. A special lecture at the Immigration Museum in partnership with Monash Asia Institute Thursday 13 November, 6:00pm (exhibition viewing from 5pm) Immigration Museum, Old Customs House 400 Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Cost: Adults $6, Students and Concessions FREE The city of Vijayanagara, in Ancient Hampi, is the largest and best preserved example in modern India of a Hindu kingdom. Today this World Heritage site has reclaimed some of its former recognition, following centuries of neglect. A key factor in our new appreciation of Hampi is the work of an international team of researchers led by Dr George Michell and Dr John Fritz and through vivid documentation of the site by photographer John Gollings. In celebration of Australian and Indian cultural exchange this gathering brings international scholars together to explore the site of Vijayanagara at Hampi. The lecture provides a rare opportunity to hear recent interpretations by world renowned authors and researchers in conjunction with the special exhibition Ancient Hampi: The Hindu Kingdom Brought to Life. Hampi has also inspired the seminal new media installation PLACE-Hampi by Sarah Kenderdine and Jeffrey Shaw, which can be experienced during its Australian premier at the Immigration Museum. Ancient Hampi: The Hindu Kingdom Brought to Life is on show at the Immigration Museum from 13 November. The exhibition will be open before the lecture from 5pm with floor talks being conducted after the lecture until 7.45pm. Contributors - Dr John Fritz, Research Associate, Museum Of Archaeology, University of Pennsylvania - Sarah Kenderdine, Special Projects, Museum Victoria - Dr George Michell, Professorial Fellow, Faculty of Architecture, University of Melbourne - Anita Nayar, Consul General of India, Melbourne - Padmini Sebastian, Manager, Immigration Museum - Prof Jeffrey Shaw, Director, iCinema Centre, University of New South Wales - Prof Marika Vicziany, Director, Monash Asia Institute, Monash University BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL Tel 03 9927 2754 ----------------------- Item 2. Film and Television Studies 'Under construction' Seminar Visit by Indonesian experimental filmmaker, Gotot Prakosa, And preview screening of his latest film, Kantata Takwa 4.00 pm Thursday 13 November 2008, Theatrette S704, Building 11 (Menzies), Monash University Clayton campus The Indonesian experimental filmmaker, animationist and painter, Gotot Prakosa, who is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Film and Television at the Jakarta Institute of the Arts, will visit Monash on Thursday, 13 November, and present a preview screening of his latest film, Kantata Takwa, at the Film and Television Studies 'Under Construction' seminar. Gotot is in Australia for the Asia-Pacific Film Awards in Brisbane, where Kantata Takwa is in competition for the Documentary Award. His visit to Monash is sponsored by the Monash Asia Institute. This bonus 'Under Construction' Seminar will take place in Theatrette S704, 7th Floor, South Wing, Menzies Building, at 4.00 pm, Thursday 13 November. Gotot will provide a brief introduction and answer questions at the end of the session. Two earlier short films by Gotot will also be screened. Films to be screened are as follows. 1. Non KB ('Family Planning', 2 min.) (Animation, originally shot on 16mm, colour, 1979) "The letters KB refer to the official term `Keluarga Berencana', i.e. `Family Planning'. This is a "Non KB" film. A spontaneous vision on the introduction of family planning." 2. Meta Ekologi (14 mins) (Originally shot on 16mm film at the Jakarta Institute of the Arts, B.& W., 1979). Directed by Gotot Prakosa and based on a performance event developed by Sardono W. Kusuma. "This film is a response to an attempt to enter into dialogue with the ecology of earth and water. Humanity expresses its feelings through its body by striving to become one with the universe. It is like farming peasants who work on the land, covered with mud. A process of poeticisation." One of the most remarkable films ever made in Indonesia. 3. Kantata Takwa (68 mins) (Directed by Gotot Prakosa and Erros Djarot, Colour, English Subtitles, 1990 - 2008) Kantata Takwa is an experimental political music documentary, initially filmed in 1990, during the Suharto period, but for political and (related) financial reasons, only completed and released in 2008. This 'fiction-documentary' film focuses on the public lives and ideas of Indonesia’s most important contemporary pop singer of the time, Iwan Fals, and his Swami group, who in June 1990, held a huge pop concert, entitled Kantata Takwa, at the large Senayun sports stadium in central Jakarta. At this concert they sang many of their famous protest songs, together with a set of new Islamic songs, written specifically for the cantata, at the same time inviting Indonesia’s leading poet and playwright, W. S. Rendra, to recite his powerful protest poetry as part of the concert. A subtitle translation for this film was prepared by David Hanan from Film and Television Studies, Monash University and Basoeki Koesasi from the Indonesian Studies Program at Monash University. ----------------------- Item 3. Book Launch of three publications Thursday 13 November 2008, 5.30pm Victoria University City Campus Room 11.01, Level 11, 300 Flinders Street, Melbourne 'Profiles in courage: Political Actors & Ideas In Contemporary Asia' edited by Gloria Davies, J. V. D’Cruz & Nathan Hollier and 'As others see us: The values debate in Australia' edited by J. V. D’Cruz, Bernie Neville, Devika Goonewardene and Phillip Darby And also celebrating the recently published: 'Surviving heroes' By Neelam Maharaj The books will be launched by Geoffrey Barker. At this launch the contribution of Professor Vin D’Cruz will be particularly recognised. Enquiries: Ms Michelle Motton, Centre for Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University Phone 61 3 9919 1388, Email michelle.motton@vu.edu.au ---------------------- Item 4. Seminar Monash Asia Institute and Centre for Studies in Religion & Theology Friday 19 December 2008, 12:00 noon Room S822, Monash Asia Institute Level 8 South, Building 11 (Menzies), Monash University Clayton 'Sacred Mountain Traditions in Southeast Asia' Prof Donald K. Swearer, Center for the Study of World Religions The study of sacred mountain traditions in Buddhist Asia is part of a growing interest in lived religion, material culture, place, and space. Prof Swearer's interest in the subject stems from researching Buddhism in the mountainous region of northern Thailand, especially the Chiang Mai Valley. In this talk , Prof Swearer will develop a paradigm for understanding the multifaceted nature of sacred mountains with a particular focus on the historical, cultural, and religious context of northern Thailand. Donald K. Swearer is the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions and Distinguished Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies at Harvard Divinity School,Cambridge, MA., U.S.A. His research has focused on Buddhism in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand. His recent monographs and edited volumes include: The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia (1995/2008); The Legend of Queen Cama. Bodhiramsi’s Camadevivamsa (1998); The State of Buddhist Studies in the World, 1971-1997 (2000); Becoming the Buddha: The Ritual of Image Consecration in Thailand (2004); Sacred Mountains in Northern Thailand and Their Legends (2004) Enquiries: Monash-Asia-Institute Enquiries MAI.Enquiries@adm.monash.edu.au ------------------------- Item 5. New Book 'Kashgar: Oasis City On China's Silk Road' John Gollings Photographer Text by George Michell, Marika Vicziany and Tsui Yen Hu Publisher: Frances Lincoln, London Cost: AU$65.00 (please add $10 for postage and handling within Australia) 162 pages of coloured photographs and text. John Gollings is Australia's leading architectural photographer. “2500 miles from Beijing, 1000 miles from the regional capital Urumqi, Kashgar is one of the most remote cities in the world. But until the early twentieth century it was known as the 'pivot' of central Asia, a key cog in the 'great game', and before that one of the principal way stations on the Silk Road. Today it remains one of the most complete historical urban centres in China and its celebrated Sunday market is one of the most vibrant in central Asia. Still traditionally Muslim it is nonetheless home to countless migrants, and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in China. Now for the first time its history and character are celebrated in the photographs of one of Australia's most highly regarded photographers, accompanied by a deeply informed but readable text by two leading architectural and archaeological scholars of the region, with a Chinese colleague.” To purchase the book, please contact: Monash-Asia-Institute Enquiries MAI.Enquiries@adm.monash.edu.au (with "Kashgar book" in subject heading). ------------------------ Item 6. 7th International Congress of Morita Therapy March 2010 'Beyond Borders: Morita Therapy for Uncertain Times' Conference sponsored by Monash Asia Institute, Melbourne, Australia Papers invited for special conference panels on: Medical origins of Morita Therapy Morita Therapy, trauma, and counselling psychology The ecology of Morita Therapy Teasing out Zen and the existential in Morita Therapy Paradox, language and isolation Assessment, case studies, and duty of care Morita Therapy in community-aid development (Cambodia and Lao PDR) Research methods: accounting for intrinsic and extrinsic change Updates will be presented on the official website, see: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/morita/ Enquiries: Dr Peg LeVine, Conference Convenor Monash Asia Institute, Building 11 Monash University Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia Email: peg.levine@adm.monash.edu.au ===================================== Other News and Events ===================================== Item 7. Asialink Leaders Program 2009 By 2020 one in four jobs will have vital links to Asia. Operating for over 12 years, The Asialink Leaders Program helps emerging leaders from across all sectors to expand professional networks, support their organisation’s Asia Strategy, acquire cross-cultural competencies and undertake an innovative work related project. The Program will be delivered in Melbourne and Sydney concurrently and is limited to 50 participants. Ian Potter Foundation Asialink Scholarships may be available for successful applicants. Applications close 1 December 2008. For more information please visit http://www.asialink.unimelb.edu.au/our_work/leaders This Program is generously supported by The Ian Potter Foundation and PricewaterhouseCoopers. ----------------------- Item 8. South Asian Studies Association (SASA) The Hugh Owen Prize Each year the South Asian Studies Association (SASA) offers the Hugh Owen prize for the best undergraduate essay in South Asian studies. For the purposes of the prize, the term ‘South Asia’ covers the nations of the Indian subcontinent and is taken to include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives Islands, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Essays are invited from all disciplines. The prize is awarded to the best undergraduate essay on South Asia in any field of not more than 4,000 words written as part of an undergraduate course of study during the academic year of 2008. The value of the prize is AUD $250.00 Hugh Owen was one of the key people behind the drive to establish a professional association of scholars in Australia and New Zealand concerned with the study of South Asia. Hugh undertook the difficult task of setting up the journal, South Asia, and established its pre-eminent standards, style and academic standing. Over the seven years of his editorship he succeeding in turning South Asia into a major journal concerned with South Asia studies outside the Indian subcontinent. While heavily involved in this work, Hugh was also a charismatic scholar and teacher and, at the University of Western Australia, was brilliantly successful in building up exciting undergraduate courses in the subject area and also in attracting an array of very bright and enthusiastic postgraduate students. This prize commemorates Hugh’s pursuit of excellence and his efforts to achieve that amongst his students. The prize was set up in 1988 following Hugh’s death and is funded by a grant from his estate through Mrs Terry Owen and with the continued support of the South Asian Studies Association of Australia. Judges are leading academics in their field: Dr Kalpana Ram (Macquarie University) and A/Professor Peter Mayer (University of Adelaide). Please note that judges are not permitted to assess the essays of their own students. Please forward entries (electronically to Dr Kalpana Ram at Kalpana.Ram@scmp.mq.edu.au) All entries must include a cover page indicating: the title of the essay, the author, author contact details and the institutional affiliation of the author. Contributions must be received by the closing date: Friday 5th December, 2008 ----------------------- Item 9. Call for papers Cambodia in World History Conference, Teachers Across Borders, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 5-6 January 2009 Teachers Across Borders is circulating a call for a conference on "Cambodia in World History" that will offer scholars of Cambodian and world history opportunities for scholarly exchange and generate materials for teaching world history at all levels of instruction in Cambodia. Participants will meet at Pannasastra University in Phnom Penh on January 5, 2009 to engage in discussion, offer presentations and hold pro-seminar or roundtables on world history and Cambodia's place within it. Topics that may be addressed can be comparative or thematic and may engage in such topics as the arts, Buddhism, colonialism, the environment, gender, internationally brokered elections, international commerce, and border/frontier issues. On January 6, TAB hopes to have a workshop-style meeting with Cambodian teachers addressing methods and materials of instruction. Scholars, scholar-teachers, and curriculum designers/lesson plan developers are encouraged to submit papers and participate in the meeting. There is a possibility that the conference papers will be published in World History Connected, an e-journal published by the University of Illinois. Enquiries: Marc Jason Gilbert, NEH Endowed Chair in World History College of Liberal Arts, Hawai'i Pacific University 1188 Fort Street, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813 Phone 808-638-2563 E-mail mgilbert@HPU.edu ----------------------- Item 10. Website of the month: http://www.hraff.org.au/ The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (or her-aff as it is commonly known) was founded in 2007 with the aim of making human rights accessible, relevant and significant to the broader Australian community. In less than two years, HRAFF has grown into a nation wide festival showing in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra. =========================================================== The Monash Asia Institute Newsletter incorporates news items from the six research centres of the Monash Asia Institute, partner organisations and other groups working to promote Asian Studies in Australia. For further information about the Monash Asia Institute and this newsletter: http://www.monash.edu.au/mai/ To unsubscribe, please send an email to: Monash-Asia-Institute Enquiries =========================================================== 5