===================================== MONASH ASIA INSTITUTE BULLETIN 1/2004 18 February 2004 ===================================== The staff, students and Hon Research Fellows of the Monash Asia Institute wish everyone a Happy Year of the Monkey. In this bulletin 1. Saturday 21 February 2004: ‘The Binh Thuan Shipwreck and Southeast Asian Trade Ceramics’ Special seminar by the National Gallery of Victoria, the Asian Arts Society of Australia and the Monash Asia Institute, Monash University. 2. This Friday: 20 February Book Launch: Critical Chatter 3. Monday 23 February Special Seminar by Roxanna Brown on the ‘Ming Gap’ 4. Friday 27th February Japanese Studies Centre symposium 5. MAI Security Dialogue 3-5 March 6. MAI International Conference, Mumbai: Report pending 7. Conference: Minority People in Southeast Asia 8. Asian Studies Graduate Conference 9. Required: reviewers for books received for Asian Studies Review 10. Website of the month ---------------------------------------------------------- Item 1. ‘The Binh Thuan Shipwreck and Southeast Asian Trade Ceramics’ Special seminar by the National Gallery of Victoria, the Asian Arts Society of Australia and the Monash Asia Institute, Monash University. Saturday 21 February 2004 1.30pm to 4.30pm Venue: Clemenger Auditorium, NGV International 180 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne Cost: $25 NGV Members & TAASA members $30 general public $20 students and concessions. Refreshments will be served after the presentations at 4pm. THE PROGRAM: 1.30 pm Welcome by Dr G Vaughan 1.35 – 2.35 PM. Dr Roxanna Brown, Sunken Trade Ceramics in Southeast Asia, an Archaeological Treasure House. Dr Brown focuses on the history of Chinese blue and white ware found on shipwrecks up to the time of the Binh Thuan Wreck. For the first half of the Ming dynasty, Chinese blue and white ceramics are mostly absent from the cargo of these wrecks, and Southeast Asian ceramics take their place. 2.40 - 3.40pm Dr Michael Flecker, The Binh Thuan Shipwreck: A Chinese Junk with a Cargo of Zhangzhou (Swatow) Porcelain (1608). The Binh Thuan Wreck was accidentally discovered by fishermen, 40 nautical miles off the coast of Binh Thuan Province, southern Vietnam. It has been identified as one of the few wrecks of Chinese junks discovered in Southeast Asian waters. The wreck contained as part of its cargo, the first full consignment of Zhanghzhou (Swatow) porcelain ever found. This type of ware was produced between the mid 16th and mid 17th centuries, mainly for the Southeast Asian and Japanese markets. It is characteristically robust and decorated with underglaze blue or overglaze enamel motifs. 3.40 - 4pm Questions and Conclusion. 4 – 4.30pm Refreshments ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: Dr Gerard Vaughan, Director, National Gallery of Victoria Dr Michael Flecker began his working life as a civil engineer. In 1987 he turned to marine archaeology and has taken part in many excavations. In addition to directing the excavation of the Binh Thuan Wreck in 2002, Dr Flecker has been involved in the excavation of one of the oldest Chinese Junks ever found in Southeast Asia, the 15th century Bakau Wreck. He has excavated the 1690 Vung Tau Wreck, the 13th century Java Sea Wreck and the 10th^ Century Intan Wreck and the oldest intact wreck found in Asian waters, the Belitung (Tang) Wreck, a 9th century Arab or Indian ship with a cargo of Chinese Changsha ceramics and an imperial gift. Dr Roxanna Brown is Chief Curator at the Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum, Bangkok University and Adjunct Curator for Southeast Asian Ceramics at the Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena. Since the 1970s she has written extensively on Southeast Asian ceramics. She is the author of ‘The Ceramics of Southeast Asia: their Dating and Identification’, published by Oxford University Press in 1997 and revised in 1988. Dr Brown received her PhD in Art History in January 2004 from UCLA, Los Angeles, with a dissertation on The Ming Gap and Shipwreck Ceramics in Southeast Asia. The Ming Gap is the title of her talk at The Monash Asia Institute on Monday 23 February 12.30pm to 3pm room S822. (See below) ---------------------------------------------------------- Item 2. Book Launch Critical chatter: Women and human rights in South East Asia by Caroline Lambert, Sharon Pickering and Christine Alder 5.00pm for 5.30pm Friday 20th February 2004 Melbourne University Bookroom Guest speaker: Alison Argawal, formerly with Asia Pacific Women, Law and Development MC: Professor Marika Vicziany, Monash Asia Institute RSVP: Caroline Lambert, 9443 0086 c.lambert@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au ---------------------------------------------------------- Item 3. Special Seminar on Chinese and Southeast Asian Trade and Ceramics: ‘The Ming Gap’. We are honoured to have with us Dr Roxanna Brown (see bio above under item 1) to talk to us about her doctoral dissertation ‘The Ming Gap’. 12.30pm to 3pm Monday 23 February 2004 Venue: Monash Asia Institute, Room S822, 8th floor, Menzies Building, South wing. Light refreshments will be served. Dr Brown will give a powerpoint/illustrated talk about ‘The Ming Gap’ – a term that refers to the first half of the Ming dynasty period when Chinese blue and white ceramics were mostly absent from the cargo of shipwrecked Junks, and Southeast Asian ceramics were prominent. All are welcome. RSVPS essential for seating and refreshment purposes. Please respond no later than Monday morning 10am on the 23 February. RSVP: Anthony.Mays@adm.monash.edu.au ---------------------------------------------------------- Item 4. Japanese Studies Centre symposium ‘The New Security in the Age of Global Terror: Japanese and Australian cooperation in creating Asia-Pacific regional security’ Date: 27th February 2004 Venue: Japanese Studies Centre, Building 54, Monash Clayton Campus The keynote speaker is Mr Yasushi Akashi, Chairman of the Japan Centre for Conflict Prevention; former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. He was active in peace negotiations in Cambodia and the former Yugoslavia. Currently he is representing the Japanese government in Sri Lankan peace talks. Program: 10:30-12:00 Mr Yasushi Akashi's keynote speech Title: ‘Hard and soft approaches to security in the Asia Pacific’ Region: Japan's role and contribution to Regional Peace In the afternoon, there will be two panels, moderated by David Wright-Neville (Monash University) 1:30-2:30 Panel 1 1 Greg Sheridan, Foreign editor, The Australian 2 Purnendra Jain, University of Adelaide 3 Bill Tow, Griffith University 3:00-4:00 Panel 2 1 Richard Tanter, Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto 2 Richard Leaver, Flinders University 3 Desmond Ball, Australian National University 4:00: Closing comments by Mr Akashi. This symposium is sponsored by the Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne with support from the Monash Asia Institute, the Monash Insitute for the Study of Global Movements and AsiaLink. Mr Akashi will also give a public lecture for AsiaLink on Thursday 26th February, 6 pm, on the topic: Peace and Security after September 11: Japan, Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region at the Sidney Myer Centre at the University of Melbourne. Enquiries: Brad.Williams@arts.monash.edu.au Alison.Tokita@arts.monash.edu.au For all details, and to register, see: www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/jsc ---------------------------------------------------------- Item 5. MAI Security Dialogue in Beijing 3-5 March 2004 The Monash Asia Institute will be holding its 3rd Asia Pacific Security Dialogue in Beijing, 3-5 March 2004, in partnership with the Institute of Asia Pacific Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. This event is supported by grants from the Japan Foundation and the Ford Foundation. The dialogue follows on from earlier successful dialogues in late 1998 and early 1999 in Melbourne, Washington and New York. In preparation for the Beijing dialogue, the Monash Asia Institute held two roundtable discussions last year at the Monash Centres in Prato (near Florence) Italy and at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. These roundtables enabled Monash to build research and other links with EU and European/British scholars. The dialogue process began in 1998 in reaction to nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. Information about the Monash Asia Institute's previous dialogues and roundtables can be found at: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/virtualforum/prato/index.html and the 'archives' link on that webpage. Information about the Beijing dialogue will be added to the above website in the next few days. As part of the MAI's security program, we have a book IN PRESS due for release in April 2004: Marika Vicziany, David Wright-Neville and Pete Lentini (eds.), 'Regional Security in the Asia Pacific: 9/11 and after', Edward Elgar, London/New York, 2004. This is a book of 17 chapters by scholars and policy makers in the Asian region. A limited number of copies will be available for sale through the Monash Asia Institute. Enquiries: Professor Marika Vicziany, Director, Monash Asia Institute marika.vicziany@adm.monash.edu.au ---------------------------------------------------- Item 6. MAI First International Conference, Mumbai: REPORT PENDING The First Annual Conference of the Monash Asia Institute took place in Mumbai, India from the 10th to the 13th February 2004 inclusive. The theme was ‘Cultures and Technologies in Asia - the paradigm shifts’ and involved scholars from Monash University, Malaysia, Japan, Finland and India. Abstracts for the 35 papers can be viewed on the official conference website at: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/ructa/conference/index.html The proceedings have been published on CDRom and orders can be placed with the Publications Officer Emma.Hegarty@adm.monash.edu.au Various outcomes flow from this conference including networking organisations and publishing projects. Announcements about these will be made shortly. =============================================================== Other items of interest =============================================================== Item 7. Conference Call for papers: 14 April 2004 "Impact of Globalisation, Regionalism and Nationalism on Minority People in Southeast Asia" Social Research Institute, Chang Mai University with Trent University, Canada and Yunnan Nationalities University, China 15-17 November 2004 The conference will examine a broad range of issues as they affect ethnic minorities in Southeast Asia. Themes of the conference include: cultural change among ethnic minorities, the emergence of new identities as a result of globalization and nationalism in Southeast Asia , the preservation and enhancement of indigenous knowledge, biodiversity in traditional knowledge systems, language and linguistic change, inter-group relations and religious change. Specific topics in the key discipline areas will included. Enquiries and abstracts should be sent to: Dr Prasit Leepreecha Coordinator, Social Research Institute, Chang Mai University, Chang Mai 50200, Thailand. Email: leesia@changmai.ac.th or srxxo012@changmail.ac.th ---------------------------------------------------- Item 8. Asian Studies Graduate Conference Submission Deadlines for Abstracts: Monday, April 1st, 2004. University of Texas at Austin Friday, October 1 & Saturday, October 2, 2004 CALL FOR PAPERS & PANELS The Asian Studies Graduate Conference at the University of Texas at Austin will provide graduate students with a dynamic forum to present their own work and benefit from a scholarly exchange of ideas. The conference, which invites students working on original research projects across disciplines and across traditional geographic divisions in Asia, is a unique opportunity for students to come together and share their ideas. In addition to the exciting range of panel presentations and a lecture from a keynote speaker, a more casual program of receptions and shared meals for conference participants will provide ample time for less structured discussion and exchange. This is essential in the pursuit of bringing together the wider community of students and professors who are engaged in the study of various aspects of Asian cultures, but who may be separated by the traditional divisions of the academy. We welcome applications from graduate students in all academic disciplines engaged in cultural research on South, Southeast, Central, East Asia, and their diasporic communities. All areas of study are invited: history, literature, art history, religion, sociology, anthropology, women's studies, political science, philology, communication and other related fields. Presenters should feel free to traverse disciplinary, spatial, and temporal boundaries. Selected papers delivered at the conference will be published in the South Asia Graduate Research Journal (SAGAR). Submission Deadlines for Abstracts: Monday, April 1st, 2004. Submissions must be made via email or post-marked no later than 1 April 2004. Abstracts (max length 3000 words) should sent to: Email: utascon@uts.cc.utexas.edu Subject: AS Graduate Conference OR Planning Committee, Asian Studies Graduate Conference The University of Texas at Austin Asian Studies, WCH 4.134 (G9300), Austin, TX 78712 Fax: (512) 471-4469 Conference Planning Committee: Matthew Sayers (South Asia, Religion and Culture) Spencer Johnson (South Asia, Religion and Culture) Michael Roemer (Japan, Religion and Culture) More details: http://asnic.utexas.edu/asnic/das/pages/utascon.htm ---------------------------------------------------- Item 9: Reviewers needed for Asian Studies Review Dr Tim Allender (School of Policy and Practice, University of Sydney, Australia) has provided the following list of books received by the Asian Studies Review. He is seeking reviewers for these. If you are interested kindly let him know as soon as possible. This is also a good way of informing Australian scholars about newly published books. Please contact Dr Allender by email: t.allender@edfac.usyd.edu.au Needless to say, the decision about who is reviewing what rests with the reviews editor and the editorial committee. LIST OF BOOKS FOR REVIEW: Learning Disabilities in India: Willing the Mind to Learn Ethnicity versus Nationalism: The Devolution Discourse in Sri Lanka Reading Beyond the Alphabet: Innovations in Lifelong Literacy. Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanism and Caste. Does Civil Society Matter? Governance in Contemporary India Constituting Communities: Theravada Buddhism and the Religious Cultures of South and Southeast Asia Thinking Social Science in India: Essays in Honour of Alice Thorner War and Diplomacy in Kashmir: 1947-48 Turnaround Excellence: Insights from 120 Cases Traditional Industry in the New Market Economy: The Cotton Handlooms of Andhra Pradesh Empowering the Oppressed: Grassroots Advocacy Movements in India Early Childhood Education: Postcolonial Perspectives from India ---------------------------------------------------- Item 10. Website of the month "Japanese Story", released in late 2003, was the winner of eight Australian Film Industry (AFI) awards, including the best film, screenplay and soundtrack. Set against the background of the Australian outback, the movie is about a love story between two people from vastly different cultures: Sandy, a feisty Australian geologist, and Hiromitsu, a Japanese businessman. The award-winning score of the movie, composed by Elizabeth Drake, interweaves elements of Japanese musical culture, including memorable use of the Japanese folksong, Chinsagu No Hana, with western orchestral instruments, to produce a brilliant effect on the tone and mood of each scene. Audio previews and links to reviews of the movie can be sampled at the following site: http://www.move.com.au/disc.cfm/3279 The official website for the movie can be found at: http://www.japanesestory.com.au/ ======================================================================== 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.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/ email: monash.asia.institute@adm.monash.edu.au ========================================================================