Transpacific Visions: Connected Histories of the Pacific across North and South

01.12.2022 18:30

A hybrid u:japan lecture by Yasuko Hassall Kobayashi (Ritsumeikan University).

| Abstract |

This seminar talk is about the book Transpacific Visions: Connected Histories of the Pacific across North and South, published in 2021. While transatlantic history has been much investigated, its counterpart, transpacific history, has only recently attracted scholarly interest. In addition, the focus of transpacific history has been predominantly northern Hemisphere-centric connections, basically US-Asian connections: i.e., those between a hegemonic western country and Asian countries -- either as colonies, trust territories or independent countries (e.g., Hoskins & Nguyen 2014). However, there is more to be explained in the transpacific space beyond such a Northern Hemisphere-centric perspective.
   This book argues that transpacific history cannot be comprehended without including “vertical” connections; namely, those between the southern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere. It explores such connections by uncovering small histories of ordinary people’s attempts at événements which they undertake by means of uneven, unlevel, and multidirectional mobilities. In this way, this book goes beyond the usual notion of transpacific history as a matter of Northern Hemisphere-centric connections and enables us to imagine the transpacific space as a more dynamic and multi-faceted world of human mobilities and connections. By exploring cases whose actors include soldiers, missionaries, colonial administrators, journalists, essayists, and artists, the book highlights the significance of "vertical" perspectives in understanding complex histories of the region.

| Bio |

Yasuko Hassall Kobayashi is Associate Professor at the College of Global Liberal Arts, Ritsumeikan University, Japan. She also holds the position of Assistant Executive Director, Division of Global Planning and Partnerships, Ritsumeikan University; and is an Honorary Associate Professor at the School of Culture, History and Language, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, the Australian National University. Her main research interest lies in transnational migration and mobilities occurring within the Asia and Pacific region, and in social histories of transnational migration and mobilities. Her two recent books are: (1) (in English, co-edited)  Transpacific Visions Connected Histories of the Pacific across North and South (2021, Lexington Books), and (2) (in Japanese, co-authored) A World History of Trade and Transportation (2021, Seizando-Shoten Publishing). 

| Date & Time |

u:japan lecture | s05e09
Thursday 2022-12-01, 18:30~20:00
max. 50 participants (on site) + max. 300 participants (online) 

| Place & Preparations | 

LIVE @ Campus of the University of Vienna
Department of East Asian Studies, Japanese Studies
Seminarraum JAP 1, 2K-EG-21, Ground floor to the left
Spitalgasse 2, Hof 2.4 (Campus), 1090 Vienna, Austria

Please bear in mind, that strict Covid19-precautions are enforced, therefore bring and wear a FFP2-mask and comply to university's house rules. Please visit these links for university's special and general information regarding the current restrictions.

| Plattform & Link |

... and STREAMED online
https://univienna.zoom.us/j/61018815667?pwd=eVlVL05ISjBMUjBva0ZWTUo0RmN2Zz09 
Meeting-ID: 610 1881 5667 | PW: 062872

Instructions and Netiquette (in English and German)
How to join a lecture via Zoom Meeting (in English)
Frequently Asked Questions (in English)

| Further Questions? |

Please contact ujapanlectures.ostasien@univie.ac.at or visit https://japanologie.univie.ac.at/ujapanlectures/s05/#e09.