Asian Cinema Studies Society Conference
Conference dates: 18-20 March 2012
Deadline: 31 December 2011

With the support of the Centre for the Study of Globalization and Culture and the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Hong Kong.

This meeting of the Asian Cinema Studies Society welcomes paper, poster, workshop and panel proposals covering all aspects of Asian film and media. Although proposals related to the conference theme of Hong Kong and Asian cinema in the era of globalization may be given priority, proposals on all aspects of Asian film and media are welcome.

Please send proposals of 200-300 words as RTF or WORD attachments to Dr. Natalie Wong at nslw@hku.hk. For all proposals, be certain to include the title, author(s) name(s), institutional affiliation, mailing address, and email contacts, as well as a brief biography of each contributor. For panel, workshop, and group submissions, be certain to provide a brief description (100 words) of the contribution of each participant. Sessions will be 1½ hours in duration, and time limits will be strictly enforced.

Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by the end of January 2012.

We regret that we cannot offer any funds for travel or accommodation. However, there will be NO registration fee for those presenting papers, serving as panel chairs, or participating in workshops, poster sessions, or in any other official capacity. Registered guests are welcome to attend as well; however, some conference events/meals may only be available for those presenting papers or serving in other official capacities.

About the Asian Cinema Studies Society (ACSS):

Inaugurated in 1984, ACSS has been dedicated to fostering research in Asian film and related media. It publishes Asian Cinema twice yearly, and features all types of Asian film, including full-length movies, documentaries, animation, and experimental. Nine ACSS conferences have been held since 1988, including five in the United States and one each in Australia, Canada, South Korea and China. Many of the papers presented at ACSS conferences have been published in Asian Cinema and other journals and books.

For more information on ACSS and for membership details, visit its website at http://astro.temple.edu/~j​lent/asiancinema/acss.html

About the Centre for the Study of Globalization and Culture:

The Center for the Study of Globalization and Cultures (CSGC), set up in 1999, is an interdisciplinary center based in the Department of Comparative Literature. The focus of its work is on issues of culture and globalization with special reference to Asia, China and Hong Kong. Major research themes include: the cultures of capitalism; global flows of culture, media and technology; cities and globalization; new communities, publics, and identities; and post-colonialism and neo-liberalism.

For more information on CSGC, visit its website at http://www0.hku.hk/complit​/csgc/

Please direct all inquiries to Dr. Natalie Wong at nslw@hku.hk.

Program committee members: John Lent (Temple), Tan See-Kam (Macau), Natalie Wong (HKU), Staci Ford (HKU), Mirana Szeto (HKU), Winnie Yee (HKU), Ang Sze-wei (HKU), Gina Marchetti (HKU).

2nd Biennial Sarah M. Bekker Prize – Academic paper on Burma/Myanmar

Association for Asian Studies
Location: Toronto, Canada
Conference dates: 15 – 18 March 2012
Deadline for proposals: 4 August 2011
All proposals must be submitted electronically

On behalf of the Program Committee for the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) 2012 Conference to be held at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto, Canada, we are pleased to invite colleagues in Asian studies to submit proposals for organized panels, roundtables, workshops, and individual papers for sessions to be created by the Committee.

The Committee seeks sessions that will engage panelists and audiences in the consideration of ideas, information, and interpretations that will advance knowledge about Asian regions and, by extension, will enrich teaching about Asia at all levels.

We look forward to your colleagueship at our Toronto conference and to a program that reflects the dynamism Asian studies and the AAS.

QUESTIONS? Please contact a member of the Program Committee or the AAS Conference Manager, Robyn Jones, rjones@asian-studies.org.

IMPORTANT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Consistency between accepted panels and delivered panels is an ongoing concern of the Program Committee, and we urge your attention to some long-established principles:

* No individual is to be on the formal program in more than one session
This rule applies to ALL PANEL PARTICIPANTS: Chairs, Paper Presenters and Discussants.

Panel organizers must confirm that the proposed panelists are listed on their proposal only.The name of a single individual on more than one proposal could threaten the chance of acceptance of every proposal involved.

* A proposal should be a commitment in the sense that its original configuration, its appearance in the printed Program, and its delivery at the conference all should match. Toward this end, the Program Committee will expect strict compliance with the December 1 deadline for participant registration which assures inclusion in the printed Program, and will expect the in-person participation of all those named in successful proposals.

* Habits of collegiality and professional courtesy are both the pattern and the continued expectation at the AAS conference. Most fundamental are the honoring of commitments to present papers and the provision of papers to discussants in a timely fashion. The Program Committee assumes and celebrates an interactive style and effective communication in the evolution and delivery of a well-coordinated panel session. Individual paper sessions also benefit from the best implementation of professional style.

* No-Shows: the program committee has noted a growing number of “no-shows” among panel participants which is disrespectful toward fellow panelists and audiences, and unfair to those applicants who were not selected for inclusion on the program. Therefore, sessions will be closely monitored at the Toronto conference to note all no-shows. Participants who fail to notify the AAS secretariat in advance that they will not be able to attend the conference and participate in their panel session will not be allowed to submit a proposal for the following year’s conference.

Panel Selection Criteria

The Program Committee considers the annual conference program to be primarily a collection of Organized Panels. For that reason, it accepts a far higher percentage of panel proposals than individual paper submissions. The Committee will look favorably on imaginative panels that address issues of interest to a wide constituency, incorporate comparative perspectives, or cross disciplinary boundaries. The criteria on which the Committee focuses are:

* Intellectual quality of the research (originality of material or interpretations, soundness of methodology, knowledge of the field, etc.).
* Coherence of the papers proposed for a given panel.
* Quality of the written abstracts, the overall panel abstract being of greatest importance (clear, jargon-free prose is especially valued).
* Indication of a commitment to stimulating active discussion at panel sessions.
* Gender, ethnic, and institutional balance with combinations of junior and senior scholars.
* Attention to AAS guidelines (deadline, prohibition on more than one appearance, limits on number of presenters, etc.).

Creative Panel Formats

The Program Committee supports innovative formats that will encourage bold thinking, lively dialogue, and audience involvement. We urge panel organizers to explore ways in which ideas can be communicated most effectively, and ways in which the audience can contribute to the liveliness of the dialogue.

In addition we encourage variety in the presentational format of sessions, perhaps by starting with discussants and then proceeding to papers delivered but not necessarily read aloud. Posting full texts of papers online would be a way of enlivening the session, in this instance by giving the audience a prior opportunity to approach the work of the panelists. Presentation by way of well-crafted remarks, rather than by reading an entire paper, might well suit these objectives. The following list of potential formats for the panel illustrates a range of styles but is not meant to confine your options:

* Formats that introduce, at the outset, a clash of perspectives, interpretations, or methodologies.
* Formats that limit each paper writer to ten or fifteen minutes to explain the main idea of the paper.
* Formats permitting a joint panel discussion on a single theme or book as a part of the panel session.
* Formats in which commentators begin by summarizing and commenting on the papers and to which the paper writers then reply.
* Formats that allow sharply focused commentary from the audience early on.
* Formats in which knowledgeable members of the audience are encouraged to prepare comments of their own.
* Formats in which a single, major paper, film, or book launching is the subject of attention and on which other papers and all the commentary are focused.

Workshop Sessions

We are continuing Workshop sessions dedicated to teaching and professional development. This panel category should be particularly appropriate for sessions dealing with language pedagogy, the use of instructional technology in the classroom, new tools for research, tips on publishing a first book, etc. We encourage affiliated groups and committees that have previously conducted workshops or seminar-type presentations as “Meetings-in-Conjunction” to instead submit formal proposals within the Workshop category.

“Border-Crossing” Panels

To encourage wide and innovative intellectual exchange, the Program Committee invites applications for sessions that cross borders—disciplinary, national, regional, historical periods—in subject matter as well as participants. Border-Crossing panels should be thematically, disciplinarily, and geographically expansive. While the AAS is no longer able to provide funding for designated Border-Crossing Sessions, the special status of these panels will be indicated by highlighting in the conference program.

* Only Panels and Roundtables are eligible for this category. No individual papers will be considered.
* “Border-Crossing” panel organizers should use the Organized Panel or Roundtable forms, and indicate in the panel abstract how the topic fits within the “Border-Crossing” structure and spirit. Proposals must also include individual abstracts from all paper-givers. The deadline is the same as for regular proposals.
* Proposals that are not selected as Border-Crossing sessions will be considered in the Interarea category.

“Directions in the Social Sciences”

To encourage the presentation of new scholarship in social science disciplines under-represented at AAS conferences (e.g., Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Psychology, Law, Public Health, and Social Work), the Board of Directors has created an initiative “Directions in the Social Sciences.” Under this initiative, a select number of panels in the social sciences will be highlighted in the conference program and scheduled at different times. The Board welcomes wide and innovative submissions in the social science initiative, particularly those including younger scholars and interdisciplinary approaches.

This initiative is meant to expand social science representation at AAS annual conferences. If your panel falls within one or more of these categories, please CHECK THE RELEVANT BOX on the online Organized Panel or Roundtable form (individual papers are not eligible). Checking the box will NOT affect the regular competitive review of your panel proposal—it will simply assist the Committee in selecting the highlighted panels and in keeping track of the number of proposals in the social sciences, which we hope will mount steadily.

Scheduling

Panel sessions will begin late Thursday afternoon and end on Sunday.

Since the scheduling is done at the time of panel selection in September, proposers should indicate any potential scheduling conflicts—along with a specific reason—on their proposal. The committee will attempt to accommodate conflicts, but cannot guarantee a particular time slot, and no changes can be made once the schedule has been determined.

Preregistration Requirements

PRE-REGISTRATION is required of ALL PARTICIPANTS on accepted panels, including those composed of individual papers.

Participant names WILL NOT appear in the printed Program unless participants are pre-registered by the December 1, 2011 deadline. No refunds will be given for participants withdrawing after December 1, 2011. Pre-registration information will be sent to all participants at the time they are notified of their acceptance to the program. Participant members must pre-register at the member rate. Participant non-members must pre-register at the slightly higher non-member rate.

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS IN REGARD TO THE PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS.

Travel Assistance

(1) Late Developing Countries (LDC) Program

We are pleased to continue the availability of travel grants for scholars who are citizens of and work in the less economically advanced nations of Asia. This support is limited to those scholars who are active participants on regular panels, roundtables, or workshops that have been accepted for the formal program. Individual paper presenters are not eligible for support through this program.

Applications for scholars from the following countries will NOT be accepted: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of China (Taiwan), Republic of Korea (South Korea), and Singapore. Scholars who normally work in an eligible country but will be residing in an ineligible country at the time of the conference may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but requests from scholars traveling from LDC countries in Asia will be given priority. All applicants must indicate from which city/country they will be traveling to the conference site.

Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient funds to cover all the related costs of attending the conference. Costs covered will be limited to international round-trip discounted airfare, up to three nights hotel accommodations at the conference rate, and meeting registration. The maximum amount available is $2,000 but due to the anticipated large number of applications, individual grants will likely be much lower. Therefore panel organizers or applicants should seek outside funding to supplement LDC grants. Grant funds may be wired in advance either directly to the scholar or to his/her travel agency, but proof of actual airline ticket purchase price will be required. Otherwise, awarded grants should be picked up on-site at the AAS Conference registration area once original travel receipts are provided. Individual scholars or their respective panel organizers are responsible for arranging purchase of tickets, hotel accommodations, registration, etc.

Panel organizers should submit their request as part of the online panel proposal by the August 4 deadline. Only one participant per panel will be considered for funding. Awards will be made by a special selection committee after the formal program has been decided by the Program Committee. Attempts will be made to maintain fairness across countries, specializations, disciplines, etc.

(2) Student Travel Stipends

The AAS routinely provides partial travel stipends to all students participating on the formal program, and this will be continued for the 2011 conference. To be eligible, students must be presenting a paper on the formal program, and have registered by the pre-registration deadline (1 December 2011) using a valid student ID, an enrollment form, or other proof of current student status. Students living within a 100 mile radius of the conference site are considered “local” and are NOT eligible for the stipend. There are no application procedures. Individual award checks will be prepared in advance and be available for pick-up at the conference registration desk. Grant amounts vary each year and are dependent on the number of eligible students, but in recent years have averaged around $250.

LCD (PowerPoint) Projectors

The AAS will provide LCD Projectors for all panel sessions. LCD projectors are generally used and needed for PowerPoint presentations.

To maximize efficiency and minimize set-up costs, A/V equipment provided by the AAS is limited to LCD Projectors, screens and necessary cabling.

The AAS DOES NOT PROVIDE computers, TV/DVD equipment, overhead projectors, slide projectors, or internet connections.

It is the responsibility of panel participants to bring their own computers and/or arrange and pay for additional equipment and services needed from the hotel. The AAS cannot assist in these preparations.

Looking for Panel Participants or to Join a Panel?

If you wish to contact colleagues to collaborate on a panel proposal, you may post a short announcement (up to 200 words) on the AAS website, at www.asian-studies.org/panel-links.htm. Please send an e-mail to Jon Wilson at jwilson@asian-studies.org to have your announcement included (or removed).

We also recommend posting similar annoucements on listservs such as H-ASIA, http://www.h-net.org/~asia/

TYPES OF PROPOSALS

Organized Panels

Organized Panels are proposed by individual scholars around a common subject or theme. Formal papers are presented, often followed by discussion. A 250-word (maximum) abstract is required from each participant, in addition to the 250-word (maximum) abstract for the panel itself. The abstracts provided by the prospective paper-givers are very important, but the overall panel abstract is of greatest importance. Organized panels last for two hours and must include ample time for audience participation. They should include a maximum of seven active participants (including the Chair, paper presenters, and discussants).

The exact configuration of paper presenters and discussants is left to your discretion. One option would be to have a panel chair, four short paper presentations designed to stimulate discussion, and two discussants. Alternatively, a panel might have just two paper presentations and several discussants.

For the 2012 conference we are unable to accommodate “back-to-back” panel proposals. Organizers may submit separate panel proposals on related themes or topics but each proposal will be reviewed on its own merits. The Program Committee cannot guarantee acceptance of a series of panels, nor can it guarantee specific scheduling requests.

*** Continue to Organized Panel Checklist and Proposal Forms ***

Roundtables

Roundtables are events at which no formal paper titles are listed. This format provides opportunies for participants with specific expertise to discuss with each other, and with members of the audience, issues or themes concerning a discipline or an Asian regional area. A roundtable lasts for two hours. While a roundtable proposal need not have the detail required of a panel proposal, the abstract must fully explain its purpose, its issue(s)/theme(s), and scope. Roundtables should not exceed SEVEN (7) participants, including the Chair.

*** Continue to Roundtable Checklist and Proposal Forms ***

Workshops

Workshops are sessions relating to teaching and professional development, with a special emphasis on the learning or development of new skills. Workshops might concern language pedagogy, the use of instructional technology in the classroom, new tools for research, tips on publishing a first book, the exchange of syllabi, and the like. They may contain paper presentations or follow a more informal roundtable format, but in all cases should allow considerable time for discussion and exchange of ideas. We particularly encourage affiliated groups and committees that have previously conducted workshops or seminar-type presentations as Meetings-in-Conjunction to instead submit formal proposals within the Workshop category. Workshops should not exceed SEVEN (7) participants, including the Chair.

*** Continue to Workshop Checklist and Proposal Forms ***

Individual Papers

The committee considers the annual conference to be primarily a panel-based conference. Therefore, the acceptance rate for individual paper proposals is much lower than that for organized panels. The AAS website offers a means for scholars to announce their interests and paper topics to other potentially interested scholars via e-mail, in the hopes that panels can be formed from individual-paper proposals— www.asian-studies.org/panel-links.htm. Send an e-mail to Jon Wilson (jwilson@asian-studies.org) to have your announcement included. The committee would like to remind junior scholars that AAS Regional Conferences are the ideal place to submit individual paper proposals and to meet like-minded scholars who might be interested in collaborating on organized panel proposals for the following year’s national AAS meeting. For a list of AAS Regional Conferences, please visit www.asian-studies.org/conferences/regionals.htm

In order to make the individual-paper presentations more coherent and useful to the scholars presenting papers, the committee will organize the individual paper proposals into panels centered around specific topics (these may be cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural). The panel chair, appointed by the program committee, will request copies of the papers in advance of the conference and act as discussant for the panel. Panel members will also be required to exchange papers ahead of time, so that they can read and develop linking comments on or questions about one another’s work.

While any person may submit a proposal for an individual paper presentation, strong preference is given to those submitted by advanced graduate students or by people who have completed their PhDs in the last two or three years. The intellectual quality of the abstract is the prime selection criterion for proposals. Those who present an individual paper one year are not accepted in the subsequent year. Once assigned to a session, individual paper presenters may not change to another panel.

*** Continue to Individual Paper Proposal Checklist and Form ***

2012 Program Committee

Panel organizers may contact members of the 2012 Program Committee for questions concerning, e.g., format, possible participants, or to which category a submission should be made.

Interarea/Border-Crossing

* Martin Whyte, China, Harvard University, mwhyte@wjh.harvard.edu
* Arjun Guneratne, South Asia, Macalester College, guneratne@macalester.edu

South/Southeast Asia

* Durba Ghosh, South Asia, Cornell University, dg256@cornell.edu
* Mike Malley, Southeast Asia, , Naval Post-graduate School, msmalley@nps.edu

Visit the AAS website

Asia Art Archive
Deadline: 31 July 2011, Hong Kong Time, 10pm
For Chinese version, please click: 繁體中文 | 简体中文

Scopes
The AAA Research Grant supports focused research projects on art in Asia. AAA’s definition of ‘Asia’ and ‘Asian art’ is not restrained by geography and includes artists of Asian descent living around the world, as well as artists of non-Asian decent living in Asia.

Project Scale
Due to the scale of the grant, AAA seeks applications for small to medium scale, goal-specific projects.

Materials collected for the project are made available to the public at AAA. The final reports of past AAA Research Grant projects are published on AAA’s website: http://www.aaa.org.hk/research_grantees.aspx

Eligibility of Application

* Independent researchers and writers with proven experience and solid track records in research
* Academics currently working in tertiary institutions, provided that proposed projects do not overlap with other research funded by the educational institutions concerned. Applicants are required to make a declaration to this effect when they submit their proposals.

Project Completion Date
Selected projects must begin by September 2011 and be completed within one year.

Documents and original materials collected on the researched subject, and a written report, accompanied by a bibliography must be submitted to AAA by 30 September 2012. Applicants are required to provide tentative timelines in their proposals.

Budget
AAA will award a total of HK$80,000 (approx. US$10,000) to one project.
Budgets accompanying proposals must include a trip to Hong Kong for presentation upon completion of the project. Additional funds may also be awarded for the purchase of books.

Assessment Criteria
AAA selects suitable applications based on the following criteria:
a. Relevant experience of the applicant
b. Direction and approach of the research
c. Practicability and feasibility of the research
d. Research funding conditions and availability in applicant’s country

Enquires & Submission of Proposal
Please send proposals to Asia Art Archive, via fax (+852 2815 0032) or email janet@aaa.org.hk

Please include:
* CV (please include relevant past projects and references)
* Research project description: objectives, approach, and background
* Timeline
* Budget

Applicants may be contacted for additional information.

For further enquiry, please contact Janet Chan:
Email: janet@aaa.org.hk
Tel: (852) 2815 1112
Fax: (852) 2815 0032
Address: 11/F, Hollywood Centre, 233 Hollywood Road, Hong Kong

Visit the AAA website

The World History Association & Pannasastra University of Cambodia
Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Conference dates: 2 – 4 January 2012
Deadline: 1 September 2011

The World History Association, in conjunction with Pannasastra University of Cambodia, is issuing a call for papers for a symposium on the world-historical significance of Southeast Asia. The symposium seeks to generate dialog among scholars within and outside of the region regarding its place in world history. It also seeks to stimulate discussion of world history methodology as well as pedagogy while identifying those world history processes that have application to the region’s past, present and future.

Among the topics that may be addressed at the symposium within or beyond a Southeast Asian context are: the nature of world history; the processes of indigenization, localization, and syncretism; the decline and fall of classical societies; Diaspora and gender studies; the colonial experience; nationalism; conflict and post-conflict studies; trade; economy; language, religion and culture; art; regional questions in global perspective such as borderlands; regional diplomatic relations; investment, tourism and resource management issues; the environment; comparative genocide; and models for World History and global studies in terms of scholarship and instruction. These topics are examples only and should not be taken to exclude proposals on other topics. Scholars from all disciplines are encouraged to submit proposals. Select refereed papers from the conference will be published in the e-journal World History Connected (University of Illinois Press) and a book project is planned to which attendees will be encouraged to submit contributions to be considered for publication.

The symposium will be held minutes from the Archeological Conservation Area that includes Angkor Wat. Pre/post and concurrent symposium activities will be structured so as to permit tours of these and other local sites which connect them to the wider region and the world.

Panels will meet in air conditioned rooms on the newly-built PUC Siem Reap campus. The time limit for presenting papers will be 20 minutes, and the deadline for submitting papers to the session moderator is three weeks in advance of the conference. Individual paper proposals must include a 100-200 word summary with the title of the paper, name, institutional affiliation, e-mail address, phone and fax numbers, and brief curriculum vitae, all integrated into a single file, preferably in MS-Word. Proposals for entire sessions or panels must contain the same information for each participant, as well as contact information and a brief C.V. for the moderator if you suggest one. (The program committee can help find moderators, if necessary.) There is a limited number of AV-equipped rooms available so it is essential that you indicate your need for audiovisual equipment (and what kind) in your proposal. All meeting rooms are air conditioned.

Please send your completed proposal with the following in the subject line of the email: WHS, followed by your last name (family), and then your first name, then short paper/panel name to the WHA symposia coordinator, Maryanne Rhett, at mrhett@monmouth.edu.

Individuals wishing to moderate a session should send a statement of interest, contact information, and a brief C.V. to the program coordinator.

Questions regarding program events and content only may be directed to the Program Chair, Marc Jason Gilbert at mgilbert@hpu.edu.

Important Notes and Information
* All panelists must register to be on the program.
* A rolling acceptance process will be in place to assist panelists to solicit travel support from their home institutions and organizations.
* The language of the conference is English.
* The conference rooms are in a four story building with no elevator and not ADA accessible. Please email tehwha@hawaii.edu for further ADA limitations.
* The conference does not have funds to subsidize scholars’ travel and lodging at the meeting.
* The deadline for the submission of paper and panel proposals is September 1st, 2011.
* Registration rates, benefits of registration for WHA members and waivers for Cambodian teachers, members of Teachers Across Borders and others will be posted on the WHA registration site shortly at http://www.thewha.org/future_wha_conferences.php. The full registration fee, without waivers or discounts, will be $125.00, including conference lunches.

Please check the World History Association website (http://www.thewha.org/) for final registration information, low-cost housing options and both conference and optional touring logistics information (to be posted shortly). Excellent inexpensive lodging, food, shopping and entertainment are all available close to the conference site. Local transportation is available in the range of $2.00 per ride and can be arranged for $20.00 for an entire day. The weather in Siem Reap in early January is ideal: dry with cool mornings, high in the mid 80s at mid-day. Siem Reap is famous for its Pub Street district, a five minute walk from the conference site. It features sidewalk restaurants, cafes and shops; most visitors make evening strolls there a habit. Siem Reap still has the flavor of a small town, albeit flooded with both backpackers and traditional tourists whose presence has led to widespread spoken English and Western-style supermarkets. Heath and crime issues are minimal (See State Department advisories and your travel medicine specialist before undertaking any travel). Tourist visas are inexpensive.

Siem Reap’s international airport is serviced by a variety of airlines from most Asian hubs. Most international travel passes through Seoul or Bangkok’s international airport. Because of the International Dateline, attendees departing January 4 will be able to make connections permitting participation at the American Historical Association in Chicago later that week.

National University of Singapore
ARI Seminar Room
Conference dates: 24 – 25 November 2011
Deadline: 1 July 2011

Most of the world’s Muslim population lives in Asia, but to date this important region continues to be underrepresented in studies of contemporary Islam. Contemporary Muslim leaders across Asia confront major changes in their diverse socio-political environments, experiencing varying degrees of democratization, the rise of populist religious movements, and the (re-) assertion of autocratic rule. Within these contexts, Muslim religious leaders face complex questions regarding how to exercise authority in the public sphere. This workshop will develop a nuanced assessment of the developing roles of Muslim religious leaders (ulama) in modern Asia, pursued through contextualized studies of social, legal and political dynamics of Islamic religious leadership in diverse Asian contexts. In doing so, it will address questions including, but not limited to:

* How do ulama and their religious organizations engage with electoral politics?
* What is the involvement of ulama and their religious organizations with political parties, politicians and the state bureaucracy?
* How are political activities undertaken by ulama and their religious organizations regulated by the state?
* What are the public perceptions of religious leaders who participate in politics?
* What are the potential consequences of ulama involvement in politics? How does their involvement in political activities bolster or compromise their spiritual and communal roles?

SUBMISSION DETAILS

We invite those interested in participating in the workshop to submit original paper proposals which should include a title, an abstract of 250 words, a short biography of 100-150 words, and should be submitted using the Paper Proposal Submission Form. Please submit your proposal to Sharon Ong at arios@nus.edu.sg by 1 July 2011. Papers that have been selected will be notified by 1 August 2011. If accepted, the full paper must be submitted by 30 September 2011. Participants are encouraged to seek funding for travel from their home institutions. However, a limited number of travel grants will be available for the participants.

CONTACT DETAILS

Workshop Convenors

Dr Jeremy Kingsley (arijjk@nus.edu.sg)
Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore

Assoc Prof Michael Feener (arifm@nus.edu.sg)
Asia Research Institute and Department of History, National University of Singapore

Secretariat
Miss Sharon Ong
Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore
#10-01 Tower Block,469A Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259770
Email: arios@nus.edu.sg
Tel: (65) 6516 8784
Fax: (65) 6779 1428

For more information http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/events_categorydetails.asp?categoryid=6&eventid=1165

7th Annual Southeast Asian Cinemas Conference
THE POLITICS, PRACTICES, AND POETICS OF THE ARCHIVE
Singapore
Conference dates: 19 – 22 June 2012
Deadline: 30 November 2011

Eight years since the first Annual Southeast Asian Cinemas Conference which heralded the resurgence of cinematic new waves in the region, we turn our eyes to the state of film archiving and the relationship between cinema and the archives. Filipino film critic Alexis Tioseco’s 2009 open letter to the Film Development Council of the Philippines mentions current holdings stored in ‘deplorable conditions’. In his letter, Tioseco praises the National Film Archive of Thailand for its work in doing so much with so little. In Indonesia, the Sinematek Indonesia which was established in the early 1970s has also seen cuts that make the archive a shadow of its former glory. It is only in Singapore that a young Asian Film Archive (est. 2005) has taken root.

The 7th Southeast Asian Cinemas Conference (2012) emphasizes the politics, practices, and poetics of the archive. How does one define an archive? And who can be said to do archival work? Might DVD pirates, private collectors, cinephiles, film bloggers and film societies be considered film archivists of a sort when governments do not or no longer perceive the need to fund national film archives? If so, how does this change the public nature of an archive, and what implications does it have on the production of knowledge? What might film curators take into consideration when they select and preserve films for the archive? What are the social, political, aesthetic, and scholarly roles of the archive? How does the archive negotiate issues of power and accessibility? What is the role of the archive in the digital age of new media?

At the same time, in interrogating the relationship between film and the archive, might film itself as a socio-cultural text not be regarded as an archive and as a necessary site to re-think temporalities and the reasons for nostalgia? As Derrida reminds us, “The question of the archive is not a question of the past” but rather “a question of the future itself.” Where does the archive lie in creating, defining, and constructing cultural memory or cultural heritage? This conference then invites papers that comment not only on the nature of what an archive is and the role it plays in South East Asia, but also how films and film archives ask us to think about the timeliness of cultural work.

Each year, the conference has included film practitioners in recognition of the crucial role they have played in increasing film education and discourse in the region. We have previously provided space for independent filmmakers and screenings of their works, focused on curriculum development, and highlighting alternative cultures of cinema. This year, the conference seeks to include workshops that bring together film archivists from within the region.

We invite panels that address this theme, particularly questions concerning:

Film Archival Materials as Intertexts
Comparative Studies of Archives or Case Studies of Specific Archives
Role of the Academic / Film Critic / Filmmaker in Relation to the Archive
Technology / New Media
Production of Temporalities and Spatialities
Politics of Taste
Preservation and Dissemination
Archival Research Methods
Intellectual Property
The Relationship between Southeast Asian Archives and the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF)
Historiography
Scholarly Accessibility
Subtitling and the Archive
Film Policy and the Archive
The State and the Archive
Short Films and the Archive

We also welcome submissions for the open call. Please check ourwebsite archives and conference programs for past paper topics as we are less likely to accept topics that have been covered before:
http://seaconference.wordpress.com/conference-program/

Please send an abstract (max. 500 words) and short bio (max. 100 words) to: Sophia Siddique Harvey (soharvey@vassar.edu), Khoo Gaik Cheng (gaik.khoo@gmail.com) and Jasmine Nadua Trice (jntrice@gmail.com). We are currently attempting to get funding for travel subsidies and accommodations but cannot offer any as of yet.

Council on Thai Studies
Center for Southeast Asian Studies (Ingraham Hall)
University of Wisonsin-Madison
Location: Madison, WI USA
Meeting dates: 7 & 8 October 2011
Deadline: 9 September 2011

The Council on Thai Studies announces its annual meeting to be held at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (Ingraham Hall), the University of Wisconsin-Madison on 7 & 8 October 2011. We invite students, faculty, and other scholars of Thailand and Tai peoples to submit papers for this conference. This is a premier opportunity to exchange ideas and present new and on-going research. We welcome all topics at this conference. This is a small conference. It is an ideal venue for presenters and attendees to share and test ideas.

Submit papers or panels by 9 September 2011 to Dr. Kate Gillogly (gillogly@uwp.edu). You can also contact Kate Gillogly for further information.

Hotel Reservations: A block of rooms will be reserved at the Lowell Center, 610 Langdon Street, Madison, WI, 53703. The phone number for reservations (866) 301-1753, or you can contact the Lowell Center via email at lowell@ecc.uwex.edu. Students: Sleeping bag space is available with advance notice.

Asian Studies Centre
St. Anthony’s College
Oxford University
Location: Oxford, UK
Deadline: 6 May 2011

The Asian Studies Centre at St Antony’s College invites proposals from post-doctoral researchers and graduate students to organise and host a one day symposium on a theme that focuses on countries in Southeast Asia or else adopts a comparative approach that includes two or more SE Asian countries alongside other countries that are relevant to the main theme. Ideally the symposium should have wide relevance and should appeal to an audience that would include both Asianists and non-Asianists.

Suggested topics could include:
* Nation-building
* Migration and citizenship
* Consumerism
* The Middle Classes
* Responses to Natural Disasters
* The environment
* Ethnic minorities
* Population – e.g. fertility decline, ageing, gender relations
* Education
* Experiences of ‘Development’
* Civil society
* The Internet and New Media
* ASEAN and security issues
* Other topics are welcome

SE Asian Countries include: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia (Peninsular & East), East Timor, Indonesia, Brunei, East Timor, the Philippines and Singapore
The workshop must be held during either MT or HT 2011-2012.

The proposal should be 1-2 A4 pages and should include the following:
1. Three to four paragraphs that outline the thematic focus and rationale for the workshop
2. A tentative list of proposed speakers and the areas on which they would talk – please indicate where the proposed speakers are based as this will have implications for the travel costs.
3. Please ask your supervisor to submit a brief character reference on your behalf.

The proposal and the reference are to be emailed to kirsty.norton@sant.ox.ac.uk. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by Friday, 27th May 2011.
If your proposal is selected, the Asian Studies Centre will arrange the following:
* A workshop venue free of charge
* A £1400 contribution to the travel and accommodation costs of participants.
* Administrative support
If your proposal is selected, the ASC administrator will work with you in the early planning stages to ensure that the scope of the project fits within the budget.

Please address enquiries to kirsty.norton@sant.ox.ac.uk

Kirsty Norton
Asian Studies Centre Administrator
St Antony’s College
Oxford OX2 6JF
E-mail: asian@sant.ox.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1865-274559
Office Hours:-
Tue & Thu 09:30-16:00
Wed & Fri 09:30-15:00
Closed on Monday’s
Website: www.sant.ox.ac.uk/asian

Inter-Asian Connections III: Hong Kong
Conference dates: 6 – 8 June 2011
Deadline: 10 March 2011

The Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (HKIHSS) at the University of Hong Kong, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) (the Organizers) are pleased to announce an open call for proposals from faculty members at accredited universities and colleges in any world region to organize and direct one of four thematic workshops at a 3-day international conference entitled “Inter-Asian Connections III.” Following on successful conferences held in Dubai in February 2008 and Singapore in December 2010, this conference will be held in Hong Kong in June 2012. The conference aims to showcase innovative research from across the social sciences and related disciplines on themes of particular relevance to Asia, re-conceptualized as a dynamic and interconnected historical, geographical, and cultural formation stretching from the Middle East through Eurasia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, to East Asia.

Proposals are invited from faculty interested in organizing and directing a workshop on one of the following four themes:

* New Politics of Inequality

* Globalizing Asia

* Security and Insecurity

* Old Histories, New Geographies

Each workshop should have two directors (with different institutional affiliations and preferably representing different disciplines) and if selected will be expected to help recruit and choose 10 international workshop participants (senior and junior scholars, graduate students, other researchers) competitively from across relevant disciplines in the social sciences and related fields.

The full text of the call for proposals, along with information on the application process and eligibility can be found on the program’s website. For additional inquiries, please contact interasia@ssrc.org, tel: (212) 377-270, or fax: (212) 377-2727

This event is organized and co-sponsored by The Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (HKIHSS) at the University of Hong Kong, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC).