Fwd: Queering Taiwan Studies:UCLA-NTNU Annual Conference, April 28-29

Queering Taiwan Studies: UCLA-NTNU Annual Conference

Organized by Shu-mei Shih (UCLA) and Howard Chiang (UC Davis)

Thursday–Friday, April 28–29, 2022

Registration (Zoom): RSVP Here

Ku'er, the Mandarin transliteration of the English word "queer," has a distinctly Taiwanese genealogy, as implied in the homophonic meaning of being "cool." This conference examines the interrelationships between queer studies and Taiwan studies, from placing Taiwanese history and culture on the map of queer inquiry to the queering of Taiwan studies. Does queer Taiwan studies mean a focus on queer content, or is "queering" a method that can't be used in studying any content in Taiwan studies? In light of the emergence of queer indigenous studies and queer of color critique in North America, how might we consider the question of indigeneity, race, and ethnicity in queering Taiwan studies? Ultimately, what can a focus on Taiwan do to exceed the existing limits of queer theory, and how might the method of queering advance the transgressive potential of Taiwan studies?

Times given below are U.S. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

Thursday, April 28

4:00–4:30 pm Opening and Introductions

4:30–6:00 pm Panel 1: Queer Indigeneity

6:10–7:20 pm Panel 2: Lesbianism and the Politics of History

Friday, April 29

4:00–5:30 pm Panel 3: Queer Cultural Forms and Value

5:40–7:10 pm Panel 4: Queer Theory and Activism

7:20–7:40 pm: Open Discussion and Conclusion

For the complete schedule, please visit the conference website.

This conference is presented as part of the UCLA-NTNU Taiwan Studies Initiative, a partnership of UCLA and National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) that aims to create research synergies to promote cutting-edge research in Taiwan studies.