معرفی
Haley Blum serves as a Sessional Lecturer in the Department of Asian Studies within the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. She completed her PhD in 2024 with a specialization in Japanese Studies.
Education:
- M.A. in Asian Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2013)
- B.A., Colby College (2008)
Haley's research focuses on anthropomorphism in premodern Japanese literature, with particular emphasis on plant anthropomorphism (plants turning into humans) in the otogizoshi short story genre. Her work examines how these anthropomorphic plant characters reveal connections between popular culture, religion, and performance arts in Japan's late medieval period (approximately 1400-1600). She has taught courses on Japanese literature and culture, including 'Writing About Japan' (ASIA 212) and co-taught 'Asian Horror Cinema' (ASIA 305), demonstrating her interdisciplinary approach that bridges literary analysis with cultural studies. Her research methodology combines literary criticism with anthropological and historical perspectives to understand medieval Japanese narrative traditions.
Haley conducted research under Professor Tokuda Kazuo at Gakushuin Women's College in Japan from 2016-2018, supported by a competitive Japanese government MEXT scholarship, which provided her with direct access to primary sources and scholarly networks in Japan.
