USC East Asian Studies Center

USC East Asian Studies Center The East Asian Studies Center provides leadership, coordination and support for East Asian studies at the University of Southern California.

EASC is an internationally recognized center at the University of Southern California that provides dedicated leadership, coordination and support for interdisciplinary education, research activity, and community outreach concerning East Asia.

EASC wants to highlight Jiyoon Park, a PhD student in Art History and a Summer 2024 EASC Graduate Fellowship recipient! ...
01/31/2025

EASC wants to highlight Jiyoon Park, a PhD student in Art History and a Summer 2024 EASC Graduate Fellowship recipient! EASC had the opportunity to ask Jiyoon about her fellowship project and experience as an awardee. Jiyoon’s research focuses on Buddhist cave temples and sculptures in premodern China. Jiyoon visited China to explore the cave sites in person. Because her work surrounds the bodily experiences, scale and space, and geological time, being able to visit the sites in-person gave her the original context and perception of her studied sites. During her trip, she had to climb steep, wooden staircases attached to a cliff to reach a cave site at the Binglingsi cave temples. The locals cheered her on as she trekked up and reached the Buddhist site. Jiyoon credits the fellowship for her opportunity to engage in fieldwork and see the subject of her research in person.

Please see Jiyoon’s full feature here:
https://bit.ly/3Wndhpl

REMINDER: The deadline to apply for the EASC Graduate Fellowship is 5:00pm on Friday, February 7, 2025.

Yesterday EASC hosted the 10th iteration of the East Asia Career Panel with our amazing panelists, Ayaka Kimura and Dion...
01/30/2025

Yesterday EASC hosted the 10th iteration of the East Asia Career Panel with our amazing panelists, Ayaka Kimura and Dionee Simmons. Both USC alumni shared their insights on how they have leveraged their East Asian language and area studies skills in their respective career paths. Thank you to Ayaka, Dionee, and all of our participants for the wonderful conversations!

Happy Year of the Snake! The East Asian Studies Center wishes you all a Happy Lunar New Year!
01/29/2025

Happy Year of the Snake! The East Asian Studies Center wishes you all a Happy Lunar New Year!

EASC wants to highlight Jack Goldberg, a PhD student in Linguistics and a Summer 2024 EASC Graduate Fellowship recipient...
01/23/2025

EASC wants to highlight Jack Goldberg, a PhD student in Linguistics and a Summer 2024 EASC Graduate Fellowship recipient! EASC had the opportunity to ask Jack about his fellowship project and experience as an awardee. Jack’s research focuses on the linguistic phonology of Yilan Creole Japanese. With the fellowship, Jack was able to visit Taiwan and engage in fieldwork with the Yilan Creole Japanese speaking Hanxi community. During his time there, Jack befriended a local indigenous dance teacher and singer that shared cultural exchanges with him. Jack also had the surprising opportunity to live in lodging located above a local curry shop where he made friends with the owner. He credits the EASC fellowship grant as being integral to his ability to carry out significant linguistic research.

Please see Jack’s full feature here:
https://bit.ly/40wcJ2T

REMINDER: The deadline to apply for the EASC Graduate Fellowship is 5:00pm on Friday, February 7, 2025.

EASC wants to highlight Haotian Zhang, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies whose research focuses o...
01/21/2025

EASC wants to highlight Haotian Zhang, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies whose research focuses on Japanese world-building and culinary art in the media. EASC had the opportunity to ask Haotian about his summer internship at Amazing Seasun Games, a games department under Kingsoft. As a Technical Artist Intern, Haotian drafted art for the Zhuhai-based department. During his time at Amazing Seasun Games, Haotian had the exciting opportunity to produce a 1024x1024 map in Unity Engine. Haotian had worries about relocating but ultimately enjoyed his time in Zhuhai and the opportunities to travel to Macau and Guangzhou. Haotian’s advice to incoming students is to “follow what you love” and to know that your committee supports you and shares that excitement! Haotian successfully defended his thesis and graduated in December, and now plans to break into the game industry.

Congratulations Haotian! 🎉

Please see Haotian’s full feature here:
https://bit.ly/3Zg8UhF

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Informal Institutions and Challenges for Intern...
01/16/2025

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Informal Institutions and Challenges for International Relations: Asian Perspectives - Talk by Andrew F. Cooper,” on Thursday, January 30 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM at SOS B40. The talk will be presented by Prof. Andrew F. Cooper (University of Waterloo) and moderated by Prof. Saori Katada.

Cooper will discuss his forthcoming book, “The Concertation Impulse in World Politics: Contestation over Fundamental Institutions and the Constrictions of Institutionalist International Relations” (Oxford University Press, 2024). He explores the central role of contestation over international institutions, particularly informal concertation as a competitor to formal multilateralism. Drawing on Hedley Bull’s work, Cooper identifies two models of concertation: one based on pluralism (e.g., G20) and another on solidarity (e.g., G7, BRICS). The talk highlights how these dynamics, especially China’s dual strategy within the G20 and BRICS, affect institutional choices and global governance, with significant implications for East Asia and beyond.

This event is co-sponsored by the Center for International Studies and Department of Political Science and International Relations. Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/3E9GP3p

EASC wants to highlight Ann Ngoc Tran, a PhD student in the Department of American Studies and Ethnicity in Dornsife and...
01/16/2025

EASC wants to highlight Ann Ngoc Tran, a PhD student in the Department of American Studies and Ethnicity in Dornsife and a Summer 2024 EASC Graduate Fellowship recipient! EASC had the opportunity to ask Ann about her fellowship project and experience as an awardee. Ann’s project focuses on the global history of the Vietnamese refugee exodus after the conclusion of the American War in Vietnam. With the fellowship, Ann was able to visit Hong Kong and engage in archival research on Vietnamese refugee migration and Hong Kong border politics. Her found materials included newspaper clippings, police reports, microfilms, and other various documents otherwise not catalogued. Ann also recounts having time to explore the region of Hong Kong and even having the opportunity to meet with another EASC student.

Please see Ann’s full feature here:
https://bit.ly/3Cau7AV

REMINDER: The deadline to apply for the EASC Graduate Fellowship is 5:00pm on Friday, February 7, 2025.

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to the "2025 East Asia Career Panel," on Wednesday, January 29 from 5:00PM-6:3...
01/14/2025

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to the "2025 East Asia Career Panel," on Wednesday, January 29 from 5:00PM-6:30PM in SOS B40.

The East Asia Career Panel is an annual event open to all undergraduate and graduate students interested in using East Asian language and area studies skills in their future professions and learning about the different career options available. Come listen to our USC Alumni panelists from fields such as law, art, entertainment, and government discuss how they utilized their East Asian languages and area studies skills in their careers. The panel will be followed by a Q&A and networking opportunity.

Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/4h7PBgB

Apply for the EASC Graduate Fellowship to receive summer stipends, typically between $1,000-$3,000, depending on the pro...
01/13/2025

Apply for the EASC Graduate Fellowship to receive summer stipends, typically between $1,000-$3,000, depending on the proposed course of study. The purpose of the award is to advance understanding of East Asia and/or US-Asia relations. Awards are given based on the quality of the proposed project and budgets submitted with the application. The award may be used for research, language training or area studies, and can also be used for research including Asia in a comparative context or as a case study.

To be eligible for the EASC Graduate Fellowships, applicants must satisfy the following:
- Full-time USC graduate student from any discipline of study
- Domestic or international student
- Must be engaged in the research and study involving East Asia or U.S.-Asia relations

To apply, please complete the online application for Summer 2025 funding. The deadline to apply is 5:00pm on Friday, February 7, 2025.
Learn more about the fellowship here: https://bit.ly/48sXFVv


The East Asian Studies Center wishes you all a Happy Holidays! We look forward to seeing you all in the new year! We wil...
12/20/2024

The East Asian Studies Center wishes you all a Happy Holidays! We look forward to seeing you all in the new year! We will be closed from December 24, 2024 to January 3, 2025.

The East Asian Studies Center wishes you all a Happy Thanksgiving Break! We are thankful for all of the students, staff,...
11/28/2024

The East Asian Studies Center wishes you all a Happy Thanksgiving Break! We are thankful for all of the students, staff, and faculty who make our EASC community so wonderful!

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: A Sound from Endless Desert: A Conversation wit...
11/11/2024

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: A Sound from Endless Desert: A Conversation with Abduweli Ayup and Screening of “Behind the Mask,” on Monday, November 25 from 3:00PM to 4:30PM at SOS B40. The talk will be presented by Abduweli Ayup and moderated by Prof. Travis Major.

Abduweli Ayup, an Uyghur scholar and activist, will give a presentation about the Uyghur people and the current crisis they face. This will be followed by a screening of the documentary "Behind the Mask," which is centered on his experiences as a survivor of a Uyghur internment camp and subsequent opportunity to confront a former guard from his camp; however, he must consider the effect on his children, who witnessed his arrest. The documentary will be followed by a Q&A.

Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/4hzGu9v

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Cthulhu Cultivation: Corporate Horror, Proletar...
11/08/2024

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Cthulhu Cultivation: Corporate Horror, Proletarian Manifesto, and the Salvation of Insanity in Chinese Fantasy Novels - Talk by Zhange Ni,” on Thursday, November 21 from 4:00PM to 5:30PM on Zoom. The talk will be presented by Prof. Zhange Ni (Virginia Tech) and moderated by Dr. Kun Huang.

This talk will explore the Cthulhu Mythos, a fictional universe positing the existence of Cthulhu and other monstrous deities beyond the human rational and moral order and warn against attempts to venture into a cosmos indifferent, if not hostile, to human interests. Prof. Ni will discuss how this Mythos has hybridized with “Immortality Cultivation” (xiuzhen 修真) novels -- a uniquely Chinese fantasy genre telling stories in which protagonists practice internal alchemy to achieve immortality -- to explore themes of corporate horror, proletarian manifesto, and the salvation of insanity.

Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/3NWYhtJ

Please join us for the EASC Open House as part of International Education Week (IEW) at USC on Wednesday, November 20 fr...
11/06/2024

Please join us for the EASC Open House as part of International Education Week (IEW) at USC on Wednesday, November 20 from 2:00PM to 3:00PM in CAS 100! Come meet the EASC team and find out about our events, academic programs, fellowships, and other resources. Snacks and drinks will be provided!

RSVP not required.

We had a wonderful time at our EASC Grad Mixer yesterday! There were so many fun and creative costumes and we can't wait...
11/01/2024

We had a wonderful time at our EASC Grad Mixer yesterday! There were so many fun and creative costumes and we can't wait to see how everyone will top them next year🎃 Hope to see everyone at the Spring 2025 Mixer!

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Democracy and the Discourse of De-democratizati...
10/30/2024

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Democracy and the Discourse of De-democratization in Post-1987 South Korea - Talk by Namhee Lee,” on Wednesday, November 13 from 12:00PM to 1:20PM in DML 240. The talk will be presented by Prof. Namhee Lee (UCLA) and moderated by Prof. Sunyoung Park.

This talk explores how the deepening of inequality and poverty, leading to extreme polarization of the society, along with disappointments with political reform, has resulted in the widespread sense of defeat and pessimism embodied in the discourse of “de-democratization;” that is, despite the hegemony of democratic rhetoric and political democratization, democracy in South Korea is in crisis. This presentation argues that despite the widespread despair, a broad spectrum of civil society has made equally determined and vociferous efforts to demand and work for democratization in all spheres of life. It explores the political horizons and social imaginaries of these movements, which compel rethinking the meaning of democracy and broadening the existing concept of social movements.

This event is co-sponsored by the Korean Studies Institute and the Korean Heritage Library. Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/4fkuzKX

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Waiting for the End (75 minutes, color), Direct...
10/29/2024

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Waiting for the End (75 minutes, color), Directed by Memetjan Semet - Screening and Director Q&A, Moderated by Professor Jenny Chio,” on Wednesday, November 13 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM in RZC 119, The Michelle and Kevin Douglas IMAX Theatre. The talk will be presented by director Memetjan Semet and moderated by Prof. Jenny Chio.

Film Synopsis: Shirzat, a young Uyghur graduate living in exile, one day learns his father has disappeared in China’s mass detentions. His life unravels—financial struggles, failed relationships, and immigration issues weigh him down. When news of his father’s long prison sentence reaches him, Shirzat faces an agonizing choice: speak up and risk his remaining family's safety, or remain silent and betray his conscience. This film exposes the personal toll of genocide and the impossible choices faced by those living in exile.

Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/4hpBMv6

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Spectres of Progress Across China’s Northeaster...
10/23/2024

The East Asian Studies Center invites you to “EASC Guest Speaker Series: Spectres of Progress Across China’s Northeastern Borders - Talk by Ed Pulford,” on Friday, November 8 from 3:30PM to 5:00PM in SOS 250. The talk will be presented by Dr. Ed Pulford (University of Manchester) and moderated by Prof. Joshua Goldstein.

In many global locations, crossing state borders involves a sense of temporal shift. As migrants or travelers, modern citizen-subjects perceive a world divided into realms of greater or lesser ‘development’ or ‘backwardness,’ containers for the big-H national Histories written following European Enlightenment and empire. Yet inhabitants of (post)socialist states are inheritors of particularly intense constructions of both linear state borders and linear senses of time. As this talk explores drawing on a new book, at the three-way convergence of China, North Korea and Russia, populations with similarly stark but also very different experiences of socialism and its ambivalent aftermaths interact regularly, and in doing so shed unique light on the progressive state projects which have swept this borderland. Everyday cross-border encounters bring the temporal ideas spawned by Maoist, Soviet and Kimist socialisms, the Soviet collapse and ‘rise’ of China into direct contact. As a decade of fieldwork shows, borderlanders here remain haunted by divergent visions of progress and struggle to see their neighbors as ‘coevals’ in an era of postsocialist commerce and utilitarian friendships.

This event is co-sponsored by the USC Department of Anthropology. Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/4hadntc)

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3454 Trousdale Parkway/CAS 100
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90089

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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