Almendros Rubén

Rubén Almendros serves as a Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris, specializing in premodern Chinese literature with particular focus on Ming-Qing vernacular fiction. His academic profile bridges multiple institutions including the French Institute for Research on East Asia (IFRAE) where he serves on the board, and the French Association for Chinese Studies (AFEC) where he acts as Deputy Secretary.

His research centers on Vernacular Novels of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, particularly examining Shenlou zhi (The Pavilion of Mirages) as a window into 19th-century Guangdong's historical-commercial landscape. Key thematic interests include fictional representation of history, regional identity in premodern Chinese fiction, and gender/sexuality in late imperial literature, often employing Foucauldian frameworks to analyze literary constructions of truth and power.

His publication record reveals strong engagement with both Chinese literary history and comparative theoretical frameworks, with recent works exploring the material turn in Chinese literature, Sino-European cultural encounters, and the literary representation of Canton's international trade. His trilingual output (English/French/Spanish) demonstrates transnational scholarly reach.

• Deputy Secretary, French Association for Chinese Studies (AFEC)
• Board Member, French Institute for Research on East Asia (IFRAE)
• Editorial Secretary, Theory Now: Journal of Literature, Critique, and Thought
• Visiting Researcher at Academia Sinica's Institute of Chinese Literature and Philosophy (2024)

Almendros actively participates in international academic discourse through presentations at major conferences including the European Association for Chinese Studies (EACS) and Association for Asian Studies (AAS), with recent work focusing on literary geography, material culture in vernacular fiction, and cross-cultural theoretical applications.