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Sophie Volpp is a Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on Chinese literature from the 16th to 19th centuries, with particular emphasis on theatricality, material culture, and literary objects. She is the author of *Worldly Stage: Theatricality in Seventeenth-Century China* (2011) and *The Substance of Fiction: Literary Objects in China, 1550-1775* (2022). Her current projects include a book on the National Peiping Library’s preservation efforts during the Sino-Japanese War and an analysis of referents in *The Story of the Stone*. Her scholarly work bridges literary analysis and cultural history, examining themes such as gender, power, and spectacle in late-imperial China. She has translated works by pre-modern women poets and dramatists, contributing to gender-centric scholarship in East Asian studies. Her publications span journal articles and edited volumes, addressing topics like Qing-era theatrical design, material circulation in classical novels, and cross-cultural influences in literary production. Her research has been published in venues such as *Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies* and *Journal of Asian Studies*.

• Chinese Literature
• Early Modern Chinese Literature
• Comparative Literature
• +3 more

Hiromi Tsuchiya Dollase is an Associate Professor of Chinese and Japanese at Vassar College since 2003. Her research focuses on Japanese women’s literature, girls’ magazine culture, and manga, with a particular interest in integrating popular media into language education. She teaches courses such as 'Japanese Popular Culture and Literature' and 'The Gothic and the Supernatural in Japanese Literature.' Dr. Dollase holds a PhD in comparative literature (Japanese and American) from Purdue University (2003), an MA from Illinois State University, and a BA/MA from Baika Women’s College. She authored *Age of Shojo: The Emergence, Evolution and Power of Japanese Girls’ Magazine Fiction* (2019) and has contributed to numerous edited volumes and refereed journals. Her work spans topics like child abuse depictions in manga, sex education in historical fiction, and queer reinterpretations of classic narratives. She co-edited *Women’s Voices in Manga* (2024) and *Manga!: Visual Pop-Culture in ARTS Education* (2020). Her research bridges literary analysis with cultural studies, emphasizing the intersection of gender, media, and education. Dr. Dollase has been featured in media discussions about Japanese literary icons like Nobuko Yoshiya. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary programs in Asian Studies, Media Studies, and Women’s, Feminist, and Queer Studies at Vassar.

• Japanese Women’s Literature
• Girls’ Magazine Culture
• Japanese Popular Culture
• +3 more

Sohl Lee serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Art History and Criticism at Stony Brook University, specializing in Contemporary East Asian Art and Visual Culture, Critical Theory and Globalization, and Curatorial Studies. Holding a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester since 2014, she contributes significantly to the academic community through teaching and research. Her educational background features: Ph.D. in Visual and Cultural Studies from the University of Rochester (2014) Professor Lee's research explores modern and contemporary East Asian art through interdisciplinary lenses including aesthetics of politics, activist art, vernacular modernism, postcolonial theory, and historiography. Her scholarship appears in prominent journals such as Yishu: Journal for Contemporary Chinese Art , Art Journal , and InVisible Culture , establishing her as a leading voice in global art discourse. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent engagement with democracy, ecological consciousness, and Cold War legacies across East Asian contexts. Key thematic threads include the intersection of art and political movements, ecological thinking in Korean contemporary art, and visual representations of national division—demonstrating how artistic practices navigate complex socio-political landscapes. Dr. Lee's scholarly contributions have been recognized through competitive fellowships: Social Sciences Research Council Fellowship Korea Foundation Fellowship Susan B. Anthony Institute of Gender and Women Studies Fellowship She actively shapes student learning through undergraduate courses including 'Art and the City,' 'Modern and Contemporary Korean Art,' and 'Social Engagement and Publicness in East Asia.' Her curatorial practice extends academic work into public spheres through exhibitions mounted in both the United States and South Korea, bridging theoretical frameworks with tangible cultural production.

• Contemporary East Asian Art
• Visual Culture
• Critical Theory
• +7 more

Professor Mari Yoshihara is a bilingual scholar and writer affiliated with the University of Hawaii as a Core Faculty member. She serves as Editor of American Quarterly , the journal of the American Studies Association, and collaborates with international scholars. Her research focuses on U.S. cultural history, U.S.-Asian relations, Asian American studies, gender studies, and literary studies. She holds a BA from the University of Tokyo and a PhD from Brown University. Her work bridges academic and popular audiences, with notable publications including Embracing the East (2003), Musicians from a Different Shore (2007), and Dearest Lenny (2019). She also writes extensively in Japanese on topics ranging from graduate education to contemporary American culture. Her interdisciplinary approach combines historical analysis, ethnography, and personal narratives to explore cultural exchanges, identity, and music. Professor Yoshihara actively engages with classical music as an amateur pianist, participating in prestigious competitions like the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Her writings and fieldwork on music competitions highlight themes of civic engagement and cultural significance. Her blog and website further showcase her interests in U.S. affairs, classical music, and cross-cultural relationships.

• U.S. Cultural History
• U.S.-Asian Relations
• Asian American Studies
• +2 more

Takashi Miura is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona specializing in Japanese religions from the early modern to modern periods. His work explores millenarian movements, Shinto practices, and Buddhist visual culture. He holds degrees from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (B.A./M.A.) and Princeton University (Ph.D.). Dr. Miura's research examines religious innovations like the rise of 'yonaoshi' renewal gods and deified peasants. His 2019 monograph Agents of World Renewal analyzes apocalyptic concepts in Japanese history. Current projects include a study on early modern peasant deification and its societal impacts. He teaches courses on Buddhism and Japanese religious practices, including EAS 160A1 and JPN 220. His publications span academic journals and edited volumes, addressing topics from Meiji-era polemics to post-war new religions. His work frequently bridges textual analysis with visual and material culture studies.

• Japanese Religions
• Early Modern and Modern Japanese History
• Millenarianism
• +3 more

Jeffrey Ruoff is an Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at Dartmouth College. His research focuses on documentary filmmaking, film festivals, and North African cinema. He authored Telluride in the Film Festival Galaxy (2016) and edited works on film programming and travel cinema. Ruoff teaches documentary production, video mashups, and courses on New Waves in Film. His films, including the 2012 documentary Still Moving: Pilobolus at Forty , explore dance and cultural history. He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.F.A. from Temple University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. In 2015-16, he participated in the OpEd Public Voices Fellowship. Ruoff’s writing appears in academic journals and popular outlets like The Huffington Post and Fortune .

• Documentary filmmaking
• Film festivals
• North African cinema
• +3 more

Steven Ma is a Professor at Clemson University's College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. He is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, though the department name is not explicitly mentioned. His contact information includes an office in 222 Fluor Daniel Building, phone number (864) 656-5537, and email sma22@clemson.edu. Education : Ph.D. from State University of New York at Buffalo (1991), MS from Beijing Polytechnic University (1986), BS from Beihang University (1983). Steven Ma's research interests focus on engineering disciplines, specifically Autonomous Wheeled Vehicles, Machine Design and Manufacturing, Hydraulics and Electro-Hydraulic Control, Welding & Fatigue, and Bolted Joints Design. These areas highlight his expertise in mechanical systems and manufacturing technologies. Analysis of his publications reveals a secondary focus on historical and political topics, particularly Russia's Great War and Revolution, the Russo-Japanese War, and transnational cultural exchanges. His work explores themes like military finance, ideological propaganda, and the global impact of capitalism and revolutionary movements. As of the latest data, there are no documented scientific awards or student advisement records for Steven Ma. His affiliations and contributions to engineering research remain central to his academic profile.

• Autonomous Wheeled Vehicles
• Machine Design and Manufacturing
• Hydraulics and Electro-Hydraulic Control
• +2 more

Justin McDaniel is the Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Endowed Professor of the Humanities at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Religious Studies. His research focuses on Lao, Thai, Pali, and Sanskrit literature, Buddhist rituals, manuscript studies, and Southeast Asian history. He has authored multiple award-winning books and published over 100 articles and reviews. Education includes a BA from Boston College (1993), MTS from Harvard Divinity School (1998), MA and PhD in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University (2001, 2003). His research explores intersections between Buddhism, material culture, and social history. Recent work includes studies on Siamese manuscripts and Thai Buddhist art. He has held grants from NEH, Mellon, Rockefeller, and others. Awarded teaching excellence at multiple institutions, McDaniel’s innovative courses like Existential Despair and Living Deliberately have been featured in national media. He serves as co-editor for Buddhism Compass and Journal of Lao Studies . Publications include Cosmologies and Biologies (2024), Wayward Distractions (2023), and Architects of Buddhist Leisure (2015), supported by NEH and Kyoto University. Forthcoming projects address Thai manuscripts and Buddhist biographies.

• Buddhist Studies
• Southeast Asian Buddhism
• Lao Literature
• +6 more

Dong Hoon Kim is an Associate Professor in the Cinema Studies department at the University of Oregon's College of Arts and Sciences . His work bridges media history and cultural studies, focusing on the ideological and visual frameworks of cinema in East Asia and beyond. Research Interests: His scholarship critically examines colonial cinema , socialist cinema , transnational media flows , and the intersection of media spectatorship with national identity. His studies span East Asian film, media, and popular culture, emphasizing historical and discursive formations. University of Oregon | Cinema Studies Email: donghoon@uoregon.edu Office Hours: Mondays 12-1:30p.m., Winter 25 Key Publications: Kim authored Eclipsed Cinema: The Film Culture of Colonial Korea (2017) and co-edited The Bloomsbury Handbook of North Korean Cinema (2025). His articles explore topics like socialist star-making in North Korea, transcolonial benshi practices, and the global impact of South Korea's Parasite . Teaching: Courses include Introduction to Korean Cinema , Studio Ghibli Animation , and seminars on Japanese New Wave cinema, transnational film genres, and violence in Korean cinema. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to East Asian cultures.

• Film Studies
• Media History
• Cultural Studies
• +6 more

Tyran K. Steward is an Assistant Professor of History at Williams College, specializing in African-American and Modern U.S. History. His research intersects political, labor, and social history with analyses of popular culture and sport, particularly focusing on racial dynamics in the North during the early twentieth century and the American Interwar Period. Education: B.A., Morehouse College (2000) M.A., Eastern Michigan University (2009) Ph.D., Ohio State University (2013) Steward’s forthcoming book, The Benching of Willis Ward , examines the 1934 racist benching of a Black football player at the University of Michigan, using this incident to trace the emergence of black conservatism and northern Jim Crow structures. His work highlights how sports serve as critical sites for racial hierarchy and political reimagining. His publications include analyses of racial liberalism in academia, Black women's citizenship struggles, and reviews of seminal works in African-American Studies. Steward has advised senior theses on topics like reparations and Black internationalism, and previously held a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship at Carleton College.

• African-American History
• Modern U.S. History
• Political History
• +5 more

Michael Dylan Foster is a Professor of Japanese at the University of California, Davis, affiliated with the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. His research focuses on Japanese folklore, monsters/yōkai, festivals, and intangible cultural heritage. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and has taught at multiple institutions including Indiana University and UC Riverside. Education includes a B.A. in English from Wesleyan University, M.A. in Asian Studies from UC Berkeley, and Ph.D. in Japanese from Stanford. His work bridges folklore studies, literature, and popular culture, with a focus on how supernatural beliefs and cultural heritage are mediated through media and ritual. Recent projects include co-editing volumes on disaster narratives and Japanese festivals, as well as ongoing ethnographic research on masked rituals and UNESCO heritage practices. His media appearances include serving as a cultural expert for NHK World's 'Yōkai' documentary series and interviews with France 24 and podcasts. Honors include the Chicago Folklore Prize for his book Pandemonium and Parade and multiple teaching awards. Current research includes a monograph on masked deities and a project on early 20th-century spiritual practices in Japan.

• Japanese Folklore
• Japanese Literature
• Folkloristics
• +6 more

Steven Lee is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. He is a leading scholar in comparative ethnic studies, Soviet/post-Soviet studies, and 20th-21st century American literature, with a focus on transnational intellectual networks and revolutionary cultural movements. His work bridges Asian American, African American, and Slavic literary traditions while exploring intersections between global communism and cultural production. Lee’s research interests include the far left and far right ideologies in Northeast Asia during WWII, their influence on Asian American literature, and the role of manifestos as lived experiences. His current book project examines ideological imprints on Asian Anglophone writing. He is also affiliated with the Asian American Research Center, the Center for Korean Studies, and the Center for Race and Gender at Berkeley. His seminal work, The Ethnic Avant-Garde: Minority Cultures and World Revolution (2015), won the MLA’s Scaglione Prize, and he co-edited the award-winning Comintern Aesthetics (2020). Recent publications explore topics like Viktor Tsoi’s cultural impact, the Popular Front in Asian American writing, and transnational revolutionary manifestos. Lee’s research integrates methodologies from postcolonial theory, comparative literature, and political history. His sabbatical in AY 2024-25 focuses on finalizing his current manuscript while continuing to advise students through scheduled appointments.

• American Literature
• Comparative Ethnic Studies
• Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies
• +5 more

Gabriel P. Weisberg is a distinguished Professor of Art History at the University of Minnesota, specializing in 19th and Early 20th Century European Art with particular expertise in graphic art, design history, and visual culture from 1780-1920. His career spans over forty years, during which he has curated major international exhibitions, published extensively, and mentored numerous PhD students who have gone on to academic positions. Professor Weisberg's research focuses primarily on Art Nouveau, Japonisme (Japanese influence on Western art), Naturalist painting, and the intersection of photography and painting. His scholarly work has significantly contributed to the reappraisal of late 19th century art historical issues, particularly through his examination of artists like Jules Adler, Albert Besnard, and Art Nouveau figures. His recent work includes major exhibitions such as 'Illusions of Reality: Naturalist Painting, Photography and Cinema, 1875-1918' and 'The Orient Expressed: Japanese Influence on Western Art, 1854-1918.' His publications reveal consistent engagement with Japonisme, Art Nouveau, and Naturalist painting across decades. The trend shows deepening specialization in Japanese influence on Western art, with numerous publications on Japonisme from 2014-2021, including serving as managing editor of the Journal of Japonisme. His work bridges art historical scholarship with museum practice through major exhibition catalogues. Member of the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton) Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship Senior Fellowship at CASVA (National Gallery of Art) Regents Professor, National Museum of American Art Van Gogh Museum and University of Amsterdam Visiting Fellow (2010) Professor Weisberg has mentored numerous PhD students who have contributed to exhibition catalogues and scholarly publications. His research has been supported by major institutions including the Van Gogh Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and National Gallery of Art. He has organized international symposia and study programs, including a notable two-week course in Dutch museums for University of Minnesota students. As Reviews Editor for Nineteenth Century Art Worldwide and co-founder of the Journal of Japonisme, he continues to shape scholarly discourse in his fields of expertise.

• 19th Century European Art
• Early 20th Century European Art
• Graphic Art History
• +9 more

Steven T. Brown is a Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Oregon, affiliated with the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages within the College of Arts and Sciences. His scholarship examines Japanese visual culture through transnational frameworks, with expertise in horror cinema, posthumanism, and critical theory. His academic credentials include: B.A. in East Asian Studies and Classics, University of Illinois (1987, Summa Cum Laude) M.A. in East Asian Studies, Stanford University (1988) Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Stanford University (1994) Brown's research investigates sensory dimensions of Japanese cinema—particularly sound design in J-horror and slow-burn aesthetics—while exploring anime's engagement with posthuman identity. His work bridges Surrealist film theory, transnational cultural flows, and Japanese popular media, revealing how visual narratives interrogate human-machine boundaries in digital societies. Key contributions include analyzing Kurosawa Kiyoshi's sonic landscapes and Ghost in the Shell's technological uncanny. His publication trajectory from Noh theater studies (1990s) to contemporary anime/horror analysis (2000s-2010s) demonstrates evolving focus on sensory experience in visual media. Articles consistently address transnational cultural exchange, with recurring themes of gender representation, technological embodiment, and Japanese-Western artistic dialogues across 27 years of scholarship. Scientific awards: No awards listed in source material While the text doesn't specify current advisees or grants, Brown's extensive publication record—including three monographs with Palgrave Macmillan and Stanford University Press—suggests significant research impact. His editorial work on special journal issues indicates scholarly leadership in Japanese performance studies and anime criticism. No dedicated research labs or collaborative teams are mentioned, though his transnational approach implies cross-institutional academic networks.

• Comparative Literature
• Film Studies
• Japanese Popular Culture
• +4 more

Michael Hayata is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of Rochester, School of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on Japanese imperialism, race, indigeneity, and capitalist development, with a specialization in Ainu cultural production in Hokkaido during the early 20th century. He holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2022) and has been supported by grants including the Fulbright Program and the Dana-Allen Dissertation Fellowship. Education: PhD in Modern Japanese History, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2022) MA in East Asian Studies, University of California, Los Angeles (2013) BA in East Asian Studies and International Relations, University of California, Davis (2009) Research Interests: Hayata examines the intersection of imperialism, capitalism, and popular culture through Ainu communities in Hokkaido. His work highlights dialogical cultural production as a means of resistance and community development. Key themes include colonial policies, land redistribution, and anti-human trafficking movements. Grants & Awards: Fulbright IIE Dissertation Research Fellowship (2017-2018) Dana-Allen Dissertation Fellowship (2020-2021) SSRC Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship (2016) Teaching & Service: Hayata teaches courses on modern Japanese history, the Japanese Empire, and global critiques of modernity. He served as a Graduate Student and Faculty Liaison Committee member at UW-Madison and has translated academic works, including an afterword for George L. Mosse's Nationalization of the Masses .

• Japanese History
• Japanese imperialism
• race
• +3 more