Asian Interest Week

Chinese Culture Club to present Asian Interest Week

Jessie Gable

Staff Reporter, Crimson White (University of Alabama)

Published: Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Due to a growing interest in Chinese culture by the students at the University, the Chinese Culture Club has decided to host the first Asian Interest Week from March 28 through April 7 on the UA campus and several nearby locations. All events are open to all UA students and the public. The week will showcase cultural events from China, Japan, Tibet and India.


Susan Gorin, a junior majoring in history and president of the Chinese Culture Club at the University, came up with the idea for Asian Interest Week after studying abroad in Beijing in 2008. Crossroads Community Center, Creative Campus, SGA, Steven Ramey of Religious Studies, Gloria Tham of the Music School and. Anthony Clark of the history department will also be contributing to the events of the week, Gorin said.


The number of students enrolled in Asian language and culture classes at the University and the number of students interested in the UA study abroad program in China has grown to the point where additional majors and minors are being considered.


“This semester, 70 students are enrolled in Chinese, 94 in Japanese, 15 in Korean, and seven in Thai,” Gorin said. “There are also numerous classes offered throughout the year on Chinese and Tibetan History, Japanese film and literature, Chinese art and Asian religions. In fact, there are so many classes pertaining to Asia that Dr. Steven Ramey of the religious studies department is in the process of establishing an Asian studies minor.”


In addition, the number of Asian exchange students at the University continues to grow.

Gorin said after her study abroad, she realized just how much help students need getting acquainted with the United States and the UA campus.


“When I lived in Beijing, all the students at my university went out of their way to help me get adjusted. I just want UA students to show the same initiative,” Gorin said.


Katie Barzler, a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in Chinese, said Asian Interest Week will be a good opportunity to bring a little piece of Asian culture to the students at the University.


“If you see a lecture that sounds interesting, go to it. You have nothing to lose. In a way, it’s just bringing a little piece of their culture here,” Barzler said.


The first event will be the Sakura Festival of “Matsuri in the Mall” to be held at McFarland Mall in the center court from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28. The festival will include different Japanese cultural exhibits and performances.


On Monday, March 30 at 6 p.m., Anthony Clark, history professor at the University, will be presenting the film, “Master Killer: 36th Chamber” and a lecture following the movie. This will be shown in 205 Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library.


‘“Master Killer: 36th Chamber’ is considered by many to be the greatest Kung Fu cult film ever produced,” Gorin said. “This 1978 movie about the famed Shaolin Temple was produced by the Shaw Brothers tycoon, Sir Run Shaw, at his Hong Kong studios, and is set during the fall of the Ming dynasty. One critic said that Master Killer contains ‘the most exciting training sequences ever committed to film.”’


On April 2, the Chinese Culture Club will continue Asian Interest Week by presenting a lecture titled “Hindu God or Muslim Saint? Creating a Public Identity with a Contested Figure in India” at 3 p.m. in 205 Smith Hall. Ramey has researched contemporary Sindhi Hindus and other communities whose stories and practices do not fit the standard definitions of Hinduism, Gorin said.

On April 2 at 7 p.m., the club will be showing the film “Kundun,” directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the life and writings of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet.

Then, on April 4, Gloria Tham will be presenting a piano recital, “Chinoiserie at the Piano,” at 2 p.m. at the Moody Music Building.

The last event will take place on April 7 when Crossroads Community Center presents the UA in China Photography Exhibit and talk. This event will take place in 232 Ferguson Center at 5 p.m. and will show photos from some of the 21 students who traveled abroad to China in the fall 2008.