From tietchen@u.washington.edu Fri Aug 23 17:30:22 2002 Received: from mailscan3.cac.washington.edu (mailscan3.cac.washington.edu [140.142.32.15]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.12.1+UW01.12/8.12.1+UW02.01) with SMTP id g7O0ULeY126386 for ; Fri, 23 Aug 2002 17:30:21 -0700 Received: FROM mxu3.u.washington.edu BY mailscan3.cac.washington.edu ; Fri Aug 23 17:30:20 2002 -0700 Received: from mxout1.cac.washington.edu (mxout1.cac.washington.edu [140.142.32.5]) by mxu3.u.washington.edu (8.12.1+UW01.12/8.12.1+UW02.06) with ESMTP id g7O0UKbr030271 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA bits=168 verify=NO) for ; Fri, 23 Aug 2002 17:30:20 -0700 Received: from mailscan-out1.cac.washington.edu (mailscan-out1.cac.washington.edu [140.142.32.17]) by mxout1.cac.washington.edu (8.12.1+UW01.12/8.12.1+UW02.06) with SMTP id g7O0UKR6001527 for ; Fri, 23 Aug 2002 17:30:20 -0700 Received: FROM dante40.u.washington.edu BY mailscan-out1.cac.washington.edu ; Fri Aug 23 17:30:19 2002 -0700 Received: from localhost (tietchen@localhost) by dante40.u.washington.edu (8.12.1+UW01.12/8.12.1+UW02.01) with ESMTP id g7O0UJXO109672 for ; Fri, 23 Aug 2002 17:30:19 -0700 Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 17:30:18 -0700 (PDT) From: todd f tietchen To: Transnational Studies Group Subject: Re: lowe, etc. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Hey all...These responses raise a number of important questions/issues. Once Kellie adds her concerns, etc., it shouldn't be hard to consolidate them into a few questions that Lowe might consider in preparing for the workshop. The introduction to _Politics of Culture..._ is something we should definitely read together, as it deals with many of the areas we're concerned with, including her definitions of "transnationalism" and "culture" (along with discussions of how others have defined these terms). Happy to see we're pretty uniform on speakers at this point. Of course, this can change when we meet with the others. After that meeting, we'll decide on an order of preference and then start contacting those people. We may in fact be able to line up a second speaker before the Simpson Center proposal is due. Don't have anything new to share on Lowe and dates at this point--should know soon... Dinner plans sound fine. I really don't have much room in my calender until the final two weeks of September. Hope that works for everyone else. Stay well--T. _______________________________________________________________________________ Todd F. Tietchen Department of English University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-4330 On Wed, 21 Aug 2002, Rahul Gairola wrote: > jeff and lesley (et al) > > i really like the comments you have offered. l -- i totally think you offer a great direction for a talk with her. these are questions that i think about when i stop to deconstruct the term and not just use it without thinking. j -- i agree that asking about 9/11 is cheesy so let me re-phrase: i'd be very interested to hear what she might say about the status of immigration policies and labor issues in the us post 9/11. how have things changed? is post 9/11 a site for re-theorizing immigrant acts, especially in relation to the spheres of religion and racism? just a few thoughts, that's all.> > be well, > r > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Rahul Krishna Gairola > Department of English Office: Padelford B25C > University of Washington Hours: T, Th 2:30-4pm > Seattle, WA 98195-4330/ USA Phone: (206) 685-8960 > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > On Wed, 21 Aug 2002, J. Chiu wrote: > > > > > Dinner sounds very relaxing and nicely in tune with the pace of my summer > > thus far! > > > > Rowe, Sharpe and Pratt sound good to me. To be honest, I haven't read any > > of Pratt's work, so I have no idea what she might contribute. I'd like to > > push for inviting Sharpe: I liked her essay "Is the United States > > Postcolonial?" immensely, and she seems like a good bridge between our > > transnational interests and "American" Studies, since she dutifully > > addresses key issues on both disciplinary terrains without subordinating > > one to the other. This is her faculty page at UCLA: > > > > http://englishwww.humnet.ucla.edu/faculty/sharpe/ > > > > Her focus is, of course, on the postcolonial. The fact that she teaches in > > English and has published a book on lit makes her a good candidate for > > appeasing those who might prefer to hear a lit person. > > > > I like Rahul's suggestion that we ask Lowe to talk about her more current > > interests. I'd also like to hear her thoughts on any 9/11 stuff, though I > > feel like that's cheesy in some way. Because the workshop seems like a > > good opportunity for her to speak about things she might not feel > > comfortable with in a more public forum, I suggest tailoring a set of > > questions that are deliberately open-ended around a particular topic. > > Lesley's contribution is valuable here: what makes the flow of ideas, > > capital, labor, and culture specifically transnational is a good > > focalization of what we could ask her to address; we could place that in > > the context of either pedagogy/syllabi or her more recent thinking. It's > > broad enough that she can go off in a direction of her choosing, but not > > so broad that we'll just sit there floundering. In my mind, the > > "transnational" is such a difficult and variously employed term that it's > > useful to start with the basics. Perhaps we could ask her how she places > > her own work as a scholar of culture in comparison with other people's > > work (post-Immigrant Acts) that has appeared under the rubric of > > "transnational studies" or that has been strongly influenced by > > transnational considerations: what does she find useful and unuseful? > > > > Jeff > > > > On Wed, 21 Aug 2002, Lesley A. Larkin wrote: > > > > > Hey everyone--it was nice to see you all last week! > > > > > > Todd's point about being more specific regarding what Lisa Lowe should > > > discuss is well taken. I would be interested in the pracitical issues > > > surrounding putting together an interdisciplinary, transnational > > > course--akin to Alys' comments on collaboration, perhaps, but with some > > > comments on potential institutional roadblocks/opportunities as well. > > > Of course, that is totally dependent upon what she has been teaching--I > > > guess her most recent courses have to do with modernity and > > > westernization. I really like Todd's question about the set of > > > questions we bring to texts in the context of transnationalism--very > > > practical. And the question of the definition(s) of "culture" fits in > > > nicely with Rahul's comments the current role of cultural critics > > > post-9/11 (particularly in the classroom). I am also wondering about > > > the very specific ways she defines transnationalism, how she sees the > > > relationships between the importation and exportation of people, labor, > > > products, and cultural id! eas. A personal interest of mine would be > > > how she uses the concepts race and gender in a transnational context; > > > how do those concepts work and get changed when they move across > > > borders? > > > > > > I'm just about to read through Immigrant Acts, so I may have more > > > relevant things to say later. At any rate, I think any of these issues > > > could be brought into a discussion of undergraduate (or graduate) > > > education, so if she has a recent course or a course in development that > > > she would like to discuss, that would be wonderful. But if not, we can > > > develop a set of questions that would allow us to talk with her about > > > teaching without putting the pressure on her to focus on a particular > > > course. > > > > > > About the speakers, I am in favor of Rowe, Sharpe, or Pratt too. I like > > > Rowe and Sharpe because we know they are working on issues directly > > > related to the current status of American studies and its relationship > > > to the transnational; they make sense for the opening speaker series and > > > are a nice fit with the American Studies Colloquium. Of course, I like > > > Pratt too, but I haven't read any of her recent work (I think a lot of > > > it has been on pedagogy, so we'd probably have a great syllabus > > > workshop!). Having just read Imperial Eyes, I like her discussion of > > > local resistances and the relationship between text and empire/imperial > > > culture, and I like her global approach. And I like the idea of having > > > an Americas person for my own interests and for the greater potential > > > for shared interests with the AS colloquium. Another name who came to > > > mind (who I wouldn't suggest for this year, because we already have an > > > Asian American studies speaker) is Rachel Lee--I'll take a second look ! > > > at her book (The Americas of Asian American Literature) for future > > > reference. > > > > > > Maybe Spivak is someone we should keep in mind--maybe an opening speaker > > > for the next year? I still haven't read anything else by Brent > > > Edwards--more research is probably necessary. I'm also about to read a > > > book Chandan recommended--New World Regionalism by David M. Jordan--he > > > might be someone else to keep in mind. I know I've left some people out > > > of our list, but I think Rowe or Pratt would be my top choices at this > > > point. I'd like to read more of Sharpe, but I liked what I read so far. > > > > > > It sounds like we are going to have excellent collaborative > > > opportunities with the AS colloquium planners, which is great. Todd, > > > thanks for handling the logistics of planning the events and working > > > with the other group! > > > > > > Rahul, thanks for offering to host a dinner--yes, let's get together > > > soon--we could all bring something to your place? I am very free . . . > > > > > > Lesley > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Lesley Larkin > > > Teaching Assistant > > > Department of English Box 354330 > > > University of Washington > > > Seattle, WA 98195-4330 > > > 206-685-1845 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Mon, 19 Aug 2002, Rahul Gairola wrote: > > > > > > > Hey all: > > > > > > > > Todd, all this sounds just great and I am happy Ji and Brian are on board. I can't wait to see what we all come up with the intersections of these projects! Should be loads of fun, which I am really looking forward to. Also, I think Rowe, Sharp and/or Pratt are excellent choices. If we want we can keep the other "biggies" in the back of our minds and see what happens. After all, if our series is sucessful, we might be able to invite bigger people. But for now, I think these three options are not only doable, but also far more practical with more appeal not just to both the trans am stds groups, but also to the particular pool of students we currently have.> > > > > > > > Bless Brandy's little heart! She is right, though. All of us have been supportive of this group, American Studies and also MELUS. We DO deserve to have dinner and re-connect before the term flings us into chaos. May I be the coordinator of this? > > > > > > > > If you guys prefer, I'll be happy to have you all at my studio on Capitol Hill for some homemade chicken curry with rice and red wine. We might relax and catch up there, and this might also save $$$. If not, let's go to a decent priced restaurant in the ID or CD -- both have great East Asian and African food. Let me know what your thoughts are folks. > > > > > > > > About Lowe: my personal preference steers away from the syllabus idea towards an enagement with her current interests in Asian American studies and the links she might make between globalization and immigration/ the "War on Terrorism." Perhaps we should wait until that meeting of both groups to decide? > > > > > > > > Also, I just want to say: I am truly impressed with the work we have dedicated ourselves to and am so proud of all of you! Seriously, at the risk of sounding like a dad, I can feel that some truly amazing things are taking place here and am so happy to be a part of them. You guys have all really helped me re-think the very paradigms through which I apprehend my own interests, and this is valuable to me. Great job, and thanks so much Todd for being a fun and erudite captain (DAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR matey!!)> > > > > > > > Be well folks, > > > > Rahul > > > > > > > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > Rahul Krishna Gairola > > > > Department of English Office: Padelford B25C > > > > University of Washington Hours: T, Th 2:30-4pm > > > > Seattle, WA 98195-4330/ USA Phone: (206) 685-8960 > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Mon, 19 Aug 2002, todd f tietchen wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hey all...I have yet to finalize dates with Lisa Lowe and the Simpson > > > > > Center--the dates I'm trying for are 1/30 (talk) and 1/31 (workshop). > > > > > I'll let you know as soon as this is finalized. Once that is definite, > > > > > we'll talk about a meeting date for all of us with the Simpson Center. > > > > > > > > > > I had an e-mail exchange with Brandy over the weekend in which she > > > > > encouraged us to explore/consider whomever we wish, and to not be "afraid > > > > > of stepping on anyone's toes." She thought our tentative list was great. > > > > > I've also had conversations with Ji and Brian Zindel, who are both going to > > > > > be on the conference committee for next year (we'll be opening it up to > > > > > other students at an october meeting but these appear to be the core > > > > > people). Ji and Brian were also pleased with the list. The precedent in > > > > > the American Studies Colloquium has been that the conference committee > > > > > compiles a list of possible keynotes--so the best way to handle this > > > > > collaboration between groups would be to have both groups meet > > > > > at the beginning of the quarter and compile (our add to the existing) list > > > > > together. Brandy also thought it important to remind us all that while we > > > > > are part of the "trans group," most of us have also actively participated > > > > > in American Studies events and projects over the last couple of years--we > > > > > also have a say in this point about the colloquium. > > > > > > > > > > That said, I've been thinkning about the lsit we put together, and my > > > > > preferred three (Todd's trinity) would be Rowe, Sharpe or Pratt. I'll put > > > > > forward arguments justifying any of these names if need be, but I'd rather > > > > > hear what the rest of you have to say at this point. These three are listed > > > > > in no particular order. > > > > > > > > > > Finally, I'm not satisfied that we came to an agreement on what we expect > > > > > from Lisa Lowe at the workshop. I don't think it's enought to ask her to > > > > > come and talk about a syllabus for an hour or so. We need to be more > > > > > specific about what our expectations are. For example, do we expect that > > > > > she talk about what set of ideas or critical questions we need to have in > > > > > mind when assembling a set of texts--irregardless of periodization--in the > > > > > context of the transnational moment? Would we like her to discuss the > > > > > ways in which transnationalization forces us to redefine/complexify our > > > > > current definitions of, or approaches to, "culture" (literature included), > > > > > thus making interdisciplinarity or transdisciplinarity (somehow) a more > > > > > necessary tactic of cultural critique? I guess I 'm just trying to > > > > > assemble a list of questions that she (and the other speaker) might > > > > > consider in conducting the workshop, without rigidly reproducing the > > > > > issues raised in our grant proposal. So what issues would you like to > > > > > hear her talk about in relation to here syllabus? > > > > > > > > > > Let me know what you think about these issues. Regards--Todd > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________________ > > > > > Todd F. Tietchen > > > > > Department of English > > > > > University of Washington > > > > > Seattle, WA 98195-4330 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > .