SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES



Researcher : Ansaldo U
Project Title:Linguistic Landscapes of Hong Kong-China
Investigator(s):Ansaldo U
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:02/2010
Abstract:
The objective of Linguistic Landscape (LL) research is to study the role and function of different languages in society as illustrated by (a) written signs in the urban landscape and (b) verbal behavior in everyday social environments (streets, markets, offices etc.). LL research has proven to be a powerful tool to gain a realistic insight into issues of (i) prestige, (ii) language choice, (iii) linguistic ideology, (iv) multilingualism and variation, and (v) language contact. While Asian metropolis like Tokyo and Bangkok are currently under investigation within this framework, no systematic work has been done on Hong Kong or China. This will be a preliminary investigation of methodological and empirical aspects of Hong Kong's linguistic landscape with an intention to expand this research to other urban centers of China such as Shanghai. In particular the following aspects of language and social interaction will be studied: (a) status and function of dominant codes in the written landscape: how Chinese and English interact in public domains of Hong Kong signs; (b) Mandarin-Cantonese mixing in verbal behavior; (c) minority landscapes in Hong Kong's society: language choice and language use by immigrant workers (maids/ temporary workers). Through LL research we can obtain important data on the ethnolinguistic composition of multicultural cities such as Hong Kong with rapidly shifting populations; this data can be then tracked over time and be used to read significant changes in trends which are indicative of population movements, educational ideologies and market demands. By establishing a methodology to map visual and verbal LL for the Hong Kong context we also intend to start a comparative investigation of LL in greater China, especially in fast moving social contexts such as Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Chonging. This will be a powerful sociolinguistic framework for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between language, identity, economy and education in these complex and fast developing social networks.


Project Title:Summer Institute in Cognitive Sciences 2010 Language creation and the evolution of diversity
Investigator(s):Ansaldo U
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:06/2010
Completion Date:06/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Ansaldo U., Matthews S.J. and Smith G.P.S., China Coast Pidgin: Texts and contexts, In: Ansaldo, U., S. Matthews & G. Smith, Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages . 2010, 25: 31.
Ansaldo U., Contact Languages: Ecology and Evolution in Asia. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2009, 257.
Ansaldo U., Contact and Asian Varieties of English, In: Hickey, R., The Handbook of Language Contact. Oxford MA, Blackwell, 2010, 19.
Ansaldo U., Contact and evolution, Language Engineering Laboratory seminar series, Chinese University of Hong Kong. 2009.
Ansaldo U., Contact, evolution and diversity, Language Engineering Laboratory seminar series, Chinese University of Hong Kong. 2010.
Ansaldo U., East-West contacts in Monsoon Asia., Department of Linguistics research seminar, University of Hong Kong. 2010.
Ansaldo U., Language creation and the evolution of diversity, Summer Institute in Cognitive Sciences, UQAM, Montreal, Canada. 2010.
Ansaldo U., Matthews S.J. and Smith G.P.S., Pidgins and Creoles in Asian Contexts, In: Ansaldo, Matthews and Smith, Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages . Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins, 2010, 25: 199.
Ansaldo U., Surpass in Sinitic and beyond, Linguistics. 2010, 48.
Bakker D. and Ansaldo U., Languages in Contact with Spanish, In: Bakker and Ansaldo, Language Typology and Universals. 2010, 63.


Researcher : Becker B
Project Title:Research Output Prize
Investigator(s):Becker B
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Research Output Prize (in Faculty)
Start Date:10/2008
Abstract:
To identify and recognize the best research outputs in different faculties.


Project Title:Co-operative Values Conference 2009 Michaelis and the German Co-operative Movement
Investigator(s):Becker B
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:07/2009
Completion Date:07/2009
Abstract:
N/A


Project Title:Georg Michaelis - The Unknown Chancellor: Food Administration and Great Politics in World War One
Investigator(s):Becker B
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:11/2009
Abstract:
The project intends to continue and finalize ongoing work on the biography of Georg Michaelis titled Georg Michaelis – The Unknown Chancellor: Food Administration and Great Politics in Imperial Germany in World War One contracted with BRILL Academic Publishers (Leiden and Boston) on December 11, 2008. Should sufficient funding be granted the manuscript would be completed and submitted under contract to BRILL in early summer 2010, for inclusion in their series “Studies in Central European Histories”, edited by Thomas A. Brady (University of California Berkeley) and Roger Chickering (Georgetown University Washington D.C.). A preliminary chapter of the English manuscript had already been sent in fall 2008 to Professor Chickering, who found it competently written and recommended it for inclusion into the said series. The main basis of the project is my latest book titled Georg Michaelis: Preussischer Beamter, Reichskanzler, Christlicher Reformer 1857-1936 (Schoeningh: Paderborn, 2007: 892 pages), written in German, which won the Research Output Prize (Faculty of Arts) in 2008. The prize’s monetary award of HK$ 100,000 has been entirely used up for translations of selected chapters, and for copy editing of those parts of the manuscripts written in English by me. With about 60% of the translation work finished (the chapters on Michaelis’ chancellorship in 1917) but with ca. 40% of translation work still pending (the chapters on Michaelis’ activities in Germany’s food administration between 1914 and 1917), the project’s budget if granted would completely be used to continue and finalize translations and copy editing works in order to make the English manuscript ready for submission to the publisher in early 2010. As a non-native English speaker I need professional help from an experienced translator and copy editor, the person who already translated parts of the German book version and is also prepared to do the final copy editing of the English manuscript before it is submitted to BRILL. Without monetary support the project could not be finished in the quality and size the book deserves.


List of Research Outputs

Becker B., Co-operatives in Germany, Co-operative Values Conference 2009, jointly organized by the Co-operative College, Liverpool John Moores University, Leeds Metropolitan University, Edge Hill University and the University of Central Lancashire. 2009.
Becker B., Cold War in Germany and Reunification: Personal Impressions 1960-1990, Opening Ceremony for German October 2009 at HKU, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts, The University of Hong Kong. 2009.
Becker B., Michaelis and the German Co-operative Movement, Co-operative Values Conference 2009, jointly organized by the Co-operative College, Liverpool John Moores University, Leeds Metropolitan University, Edge Hill University and the University of Central Lancashire. 2009.
Becker B., Personal impressions of and reflections on the History Society (2002-10), In: Kenneth Ng, HISO 60th Anniversary: To History we belong - HISO: Sixty Years on. Hong Kong, History Society A.A.H.K.U.S.U., 2010, 15-16.
Becker B., Research in the Maritime History of Hong Kong and South China in the Late Nineteenth Century: The Jebsen History Project, Workshop: International History in Hong Kong: The Present and Future, Department of History, School of Humanities, The University of Hong Kong . 2010.
Becker B., Research in the Maritime and Business Histories of Hong Kong and China (19th and 20th Centuries), International Workshop organised by the University of Bergen, Norway: European Connections and Interactions with China, ca. 1880-1920. 2009.
Becker B., Senior Fellowship, Alfried Krupp Foundation (Essen, Germany). 2009.
Becker B., Shipping connections between the Baltic and the South China Seas, International Workshop jointly organised by the National University of Singapore, the EU Centre in Singapore and the Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Germany: The Baltic Sea and South China Sea Regions: Incomparable Models of Regional Integration?. 2010.
Becker B., The Merchant-Consuls of German States in China, Hong Kong and Macao (1787-1872), In: Jörg Ulbert and Lukian Prijac, Consuls et services consulaires au XIXe siècle - Die Welt der Konsulate im 19. Jahrhundert - Consulship in the 19th Century. Hamburg, DOBU Wissenschaftlicher Verlag, 2010, 329-351.


Researcher : Biancorosso G
Project Title:The Global as Local: Wong Kar-wai and Pop
Investigator(s):Biancorosso G
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:09/2008
Completion Date:09/2009
Abstract:
Building on my article on two Wong Kar-wai pop compilations in "Hong Kong Culture" (ed. by Kam Louie, HKU Press, forthcoming), the objective of this project is to write an extended essay on the role of popular music across Wong's entire oeuvre. The project has been prompted by the invitation to contribute to the anthology "Popular Music and the Post-MTV Auteur," to be published by Oxford University Press next year. I plan to interpret Wong’s use of popular music under a twofold rubric: first, as an example of a global trend in contemporary cinema whereby the pop selections of a number of prominent film directors, and the resulting ‘compilation’ soundtracks of their films, have become an important nexus of meaning; second, as a reflection of the soundscape of Hong Kong itself, out of which the soundtracks of Wong’s films, replete with the sounds of the city as well as those of international pop, emerge as a crystallized counterpart. Bringing together these two perspectives, I will also explore the question of whether and how a highly personal storytelling style may be said to be symptomatic of a pervasive aspect of Hong Kong’s culture – what, for lack of a better term, we may call its ‘globalism.’


Project Title:Outstanding Young Researcher Award 2008-2009
Investigator(s):Biancorosso G
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Outstanding Young Researcher Award
Start Date:12/2009
Abstract:
The Awards are intended to recognize, reward, and promote exceptional research accomplishments of academic and research staff.


Project Title:Music and Representation The Transparency of Film Music or, "What is it Like to be a Shark?"
Investigator(s):Biancorosso G
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:03/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Biancorosso G., Global Music/Local Cinema: Two Wong Kar-wai Pop Compilations, In: Kam Louie, Hong Kong Culture: Word and Image. Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2010, 229-245.
Biancorosso G., Ludwig's Wagner and Visconti's 'Ludwig', In: S. Gilman - J. Joe, Wagner and Cinema. Bloomington and London, Indiana University Press, 2009, Wagner and Cinema: 425-456.
Biancorosso G., Music as Anamorphic Spot: The Radio Broadcast in Kurosawa's 'High and Low.', Columbia University, Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture. 2009.
Biancorosso G., Music as Anamorphic Spot: The Radio Broadcast in Kurosawa's 'High and Low.', Stanford University, Music Department. 2009.
Biancorosso G., Outstanding Young Researcher Award, The University of Hong Kong. 2009.
Biancorosso G., Romance, Insularity, and Representation: Wong Kar-wai's 'In the mood for love.', University of California, Berkeley, Center for Chinese Studies. http://ieas.berkeley.edu/events/2009.10., 2009.
Biancorosso G., The Harpist in the Closet: Film Music as Epistemological Joke, In: Gil Anderson - Ron Sadoff, Music and the Moving Image. New York, University of Illinois Press, 2009, 2-3.
Biancorosso G., The Radio Broadcast as Metaphor in Kurosawa’s 'High and Low', -- 'Sounds Chinese': Performance, Commodification, Interpretation, The University of Tokyo (Tokyo). 2009.
Biancorosso G., The Transparency of Film Music or, "What is Like to be a Shark?", University of California, Berkeley, Music Department. 2009.


Researcher : Bodomo AB
Project Title:Complex predicates and serial verbs across languages: issues of syntax, semantics, and information structure
Investigator(s):Bodomo AB
Department:Linguistics
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:10/2002
Abstract:
To account for the morphological and syntactic properties of various types of complex predicates. A major underlying research issue here is to provide an explanation for how two or more spearate predicates can integrate to form a complex predicate, even under various syntactic alternations; to develop a set of descriptive constraints and a mechanism to show how they interact to fully account for the grammaticality of some types of serial verbs in Dagaare, Twi, Cantonese and other languages, and causative complex predicates in French and Norwegian; to look beyond syntactic and other formal issues in the complex predicate construction and consider how grammatical structure interacts with pragmatics and information structure; to produce several outputs that are significant in the field of syntax and its interfaces with other components of the grammar, with particular reference to pragmatic-information level phenomena.


Project Title:The African Diaspora in China: The Case of Hong Kong and Guangzhou
Investigator(s):Bodomo AB
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:09/2007
Completion Date:08/2009
Abstract:
African-Asian communities belong to some of the least researched among African communities in the Diaspora. Even though there is a growing amount of interest on the historical, cultural, and linguistic linkages between Africa and Asia (Rashidi and van Sertima 1995, Hotz 1998, Cooper 1999, Griffith 2001, Bodomo 2001), the situation cannot be compared to the vast amount of literature that exists on African-American, African-Caribbean and African-European communities. This project seeks to fill this vacuum by focusing on two emerging African communities in China: one is the Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong, and the other is Tianxiu Building （天秀大廈） in Guangzhou. This case study aims to compare the linguistic and cultural aspects of these two emerging communities in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. It also seeks to answer the following sets of research questions: 1) Background Informantion: In what sense are they 'communities'? What is the composition of each of these two communities? How do people get to know about these buildings? What networks are available in these communities? What African and Asian countries do people at these two building represent? What are their reasons and goals for visiting or staying in China? 2) Comparative study of Language and Culture in Chungking and Tianxiu: How does communication take place in these communities? What languages are represented and how do people from different linguistic backgrounds understand each other? What are the educational and literacy levels of the participants in these communities? What cultural exchanges and understanding exist in these two communities


Project Title:The Grammatical Structure of Zhuang: An Investigation into the Language and Culture of a Minority Group of South-Western China
Investigator(s):Bodomo AB, Huang PW
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:01/2009
Abstract:
1) To undertake a relatively large-scale investigation into the structure of Zhuang; 2) To contribute to developing influential academic references of the Zhuang language (grammar book, dictionaries, etc); 3) To work towards helping to preserve and promote Zhuang language and culture through the research outputs developed from this project; 4) To contribute to an understanding of the linguistic and cultural situation in Guangxi and southwestern China; 5) To contribute to theoretical developments in Linguistics by researching and highlighting the features of Zhuang that are distinctive in comparison to other languages


List of Research Outputs

Bodomo A.B., Africa-China Relations in an Era of Globalization: the Role of African trading communities in China [全球化时代的中非关系：非洲在华贸易团体的角色]. , WEST ASIA AND AFRICA 《西亚非洲》. Beijing, IWAAS, Chinese Academy of Social Science, 2009, Vol 8: 62-67.
Bodomo A.B., Andersen J. and Dzahene-Quarshie J., A kente of many colours: multilingualism as a complex ecology of language shift in Ghana , Sociolinguistic Studies . 2010, Vol 3, Issue 3: pages 357 - 379.
Bodomo A.B., Africa-China relations: symmetry, soft power, and South Africa, The China Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal on Greater China. Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong Press, 2009, Vol. 9, No. 2: 169-178.
Bodomo A.B., Computer-mediated Communication for Linguistics and Literacy: Technology and Natural Language Education. Pensylvania, USA, IGI Global, 2009, 474.
Bodomo A.B. and Hiraiwa K., Relativization in Dagaare and its Typological Implications: Left-Headed but Internally-Headed, Lingua. 2009, vol 120: 953-983.
Wu Y. and Bodomo A.B., Classifiers Are Not Determiners, In: Samuel Jay Keyser, Linguistic Inquiry (MIT journal). MIT Press, 2009, 40: 487-503.


Researcher : Carroll JM
Project Title:Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies Canton Days and Canton Ways: The Canton System in Its Regional Context
Investigator(s):Carroll JM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:03/2010
Completion Date:03/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Carroll J.M., "A Historical Perspective: The 1967 Riots and the Strike-Boycott of 1925-1926", In: Ray Yep and Robert Bickers , May Days in Hong Kong: The 1967 Riots. Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2009, 69-86.
Carroll J.M., "A National Custom: Debating Female Servitude in Late Nineteenth-Century Hong Kong" , Modern Asian Studies . 2009, 43.6: 1463-93.
Carroll J.M., "East and West: The Canton System Reconsidered", Conference on "Perspectives on Cross-Cultural History". St. Louis, USA, Saint Louis University, 2010.
Carroll J.M., "Ten Years Later: 1997-2007 as History" , In: Kam Louie , Hong Kong Culture: Word and Image . Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2010, 9-23.
Carroll J.M., The Canton System in Its Regional Context, Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies. Philadelphia, 2010.


Researcher : Chan HY
List of Research Outputs

Chan H.Y., Dao Extraordinaire – for flute (doubling piccolo and alto flute), clarinet (doubling Eb clarinet and bass clarinet), dizi, sheng & percussion (5 players) (music composition, 75’), Commissioned by the City Contemporary Dance Company; score completed in Oct 2009, premiered on 4 Dec 2009, Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium. 2009.
Chan H.Y., Hark the Phoenix Soaring High – for sheng & orchestra (music composition, 17'), Commissioned by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta; score completed in March 2010, premiered on 16 April 2010, Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall. 2010.
Chan H.Y., The Melody Is No More - for reciter & an ensemble of Chinese instruments (music composition, 12'), Commissioned by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra; score completed in Aug 2009, premiered on 11 Sept 2005, Singapore Chinese Orchestra. 2009.
Chan H.Y., “A Dialogue on Mahler” (invited-lecture in English with Professor Leo Lee Ou-fan, presented by Music Department, The Chinese University of Hong Kong), 12 Jan 2010, Room LG01, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Chung Chi College, CUHK. 2010.
Chan H.Y., “Ancient Glory,” 12 Sept 2009, Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall (The Melody Is No More – for reciter & an ensemble of Chinese instruments was performed by Singapore Chinese Orchestra; Conductor: Tsung Yeh), 2009.
Chan H.Y., “DIASPORA, TheatreWorks/Ong Keng Sen, Edinburgh International Festival,” 15-16 Aug 2009, Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh (A Leo’s Discourse – concerto for an ensemble of Chinese instruments and Seven Images of the Moon – for huqin, pipa, zheng & percussion were performed), 2009.
Chan H.Y., “Dao Extraordinaire,” 5 Dec 2009, Kwan Tsing Theatre (The music for this City Contemporary Dance Company production was performed, choreography by Willy Tsao), 2009.
Chan H.Y., “Hong Kong Sinfonietta in Beijing,” 2010 The Second Spring of the Chinese Symphony, 23 April 2010, National Centre for the Performing Arts (Hark the Phoenix Soaring High – for sheng & orchestra was performed by Loo Sze-wang and Hong Kong Sinfonietta; Conductor: Yip Wing-sie), 2010.
Chan H.Y., “Peter Donohoe Plays Brahms,” 17 April 2010, Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall (Hark the Phoenix Soaring High – for sheng & orchestra was performed by Loo Sze-wang and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta; Conductor: Yip Wing-sie), 2010.


Researcher : Chan JKB
List of Research Outputs

Chan J.K.B., How to Guide Students Composing Multi-media Performing Pieces, Education Bureau, Government of HKSAR, Hong Kong, 2010.
Chan J.K.B., Music Arrangement, Education Bureau, Government of HKSAR, Hong Kong, 2010.
Chan J.K.B., Rainy Day: Composition for Chinese Orchestra, Set Piece for Central Judging of Chinese Orchestra (PS), Singapore Ministry of Education. Singapore, 2010.
Chan J.K.B., Wonderful Place: Arrangement of Orchestra, Premiered by Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra. Macau, 2010.


Researcher : Chen W
List of Research Outputs

Chen W. and Matthews S.J., The Grammaticalization of kho5 'give' in Hui'an Southern Min, In: Man, V, Selected Papers from the 2007 Annual Research Forum of the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong. Hong Kong, Linguistic Society of Hong Kong, 2009, 1-16.


Researcher : Cheung AKS
List of Research Outputs

Cheung A.K.S. and Matthews S.J., The canonical word order myth: investigating a processing-typological puzzle in the Cantonese double object construction, CUNY Conference on Sentence Processing. City University of New York, 2010.


Researcher : Cheung EMK
Project Title:In Pursuit of Quasi-realism: On Fruit Chan and Jia Zhangke
Investigator(s):Cheung EMK
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:04/2008
Completion Date:03/2010
Abstract:
This project aims to 1. do a comparative study of the quasi-realistic style in Fruit Chan and Jia Zhangke's films, 2. trace their film styles to the different but related realist traditions in the cinemas of Hong Kong and mainland China, 3. analyze the depictions of the ruinous urban landscapes in their films in the context of post-socialism and globalization, and 4. explore the relation between alternative filmmaking and social realism. Putting contemporary filmmakers Jia Zhangke and Fruit Chan in a critical project like this is both a challenging and meaningful task. While they can be broadly classified as “independent filmmakers” in Chinese-language cinemas and their films are well-received in the international alternative film scene, the contexts in which they produce films are in fact quite different. Jia belongs to the so-called “Urban Generation” filmmakers in post-socialist PRC whereas Chan is a major contributing member to the later stages of what is now generally known as the “New Hong Kong Cinema”. The ways in which they actualize their “independent” visions are quite different because of the different institutional structure and industrial constraints of the cinemas in the PRC and Hong Kong. It is, however, very meaningful to do so because a comparative study of Jia and Chan will provide us with a way of analyzing how realism, in the broad sense of the term, is tied with the filmmakers’ urgency to make sense of the drastic, unprecedented socio-economic and cultural changes in the societies where they live in. It is also notable that such changes can never be fully understood without references to the processes of globalization and recent developments in the context of postsocialism in Chinese communities. As it can be observed that some independent filmmaking practices are always associated with the tradition of social realism, this project focuses on a comparative study of the realist modes in Jia and Chan’s films to see how creativity and auteurism interact to produce emergent forms of cultural imaginaries in contemporary Chinese-language cinemas. As most critics have noticed, Jia and the “Urban Generation” filmmakers have uniquely focused on the drastic urbanization of contemporary China, recording the process from both a witness’s and an insider’s point of view, exposing the violent aspects of a society in transformation” (Zhang, 2002). As of now, Jia has made a total of five feature films and many short documentaries. Together with the “Homeland Trilogy”—The Pickpocket (1997), Platform (2000), and Unknown Pleasures (2002), later films such as The World (2004) and Still Life (2006) show his passionate engagement with the changing reality in postsocialist China. On the other hand, Chan’s earlier productions such as “The 1997 Trilogy” which consists of Made in Hong Kong (1997), The Longest Summer (1998), and Little Cheung (1999) focus mainly on the changing Hong Kong cultural space tied with the 1997 handover. His later films such as Durian Durian (2000) and Hollywood Hong Kong (2001), Public Toilet (2002), Dumplings (2004) and Xian Story (2007) have started to turn to Hong Kong’s cross-cultural relation with contemporary China when the country undergoes massive process of capitalization and globalization. In their different ways, their films have constructed a shared world of signification where an emergent structure of feeling of urban nostalgia arises out of the ruins of the Chinese cities in global transformation. Their modes of realism show a consistent deviation from the nationalist discourse associated with the dominant forms of Chinese cinematic realism, whether it be the Chinese Left-Wing Cinema of the 1930s or socialist realism in mainland China in the 1950s and 60s. On the other hand, it is not appropriate to simply identify their cinematic nostalgia as what Svetlana calls the “symptom of our age” (2001). The urban ruin images in their films articulate a disjointed sense of time brought about by incessant waves of globalization as well as the nostalgic sentiments aroused at the sight of specific disappearing localities in Hong Kong and mainland China. In their film worlds, homeless and lower-class people drift through the physical and psychical space of the city, lamenting the loss of the irretrievable past and seeking new attachments in a world that waits for no one. Both filmmakers resort to the mode of social realism with the innovative use of the “quasi-realism.” By “quasi-realism,” I refer to the filmmakers’ adoption and adaptation of the realist, if not documentary, film style in their fiction films to enhance the impressions and effects of the “real,” which are made possible by what the neo-Formalists call “realistic motivations.” Their attempts to defamiliarize the real can be regarded as their crudest means of facing the drastic, mutating reality. This project aims to explore how their film art is less a faithful record of reality than a hermeneutical endeavor to make sense of the changing world. It is argued that their innovative adaptation of quasi-realism opens up a transnational cinematic public sphere where Chinese-language films function not only as forms of public criticism but also crucial forces which foster alternative visions illuminating our understanding of the plight of the lower-class people in the midst of the waves of globalization.


Project Title:The Ordinary Fashion Show: Grassroots Consciousness in Zhang Ailing’s “China’s Day and Night”
Investigator(s):Cheung EMK
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:12/2008
Abstract:
As critics widely agree, Zhang Ailing’s fiction demonstrates her outstanding capacity for sensuous knowledge and rich imagery. Her visual imagination is always remarkable in the meticulous description of the clothes of her female characters. Because of this characteristic, a lot of research has been done on the analysis of the tropes of fashion in her literary writings. Some critics focus on “the politics of details” in her fiction as a feminine, if not feminist, gesture which contests the world view of May Fourth intellectuals (Rey Chow, Huang Ziping and Lin Chin-chown). Others analyze her configuration of the fashion system in the context of urbanity, modernization, and social change in China (Leo Lee, Chang Hsiao-hung, David Der-wei Wang and Li Xiaohong). A third view is interested in elucidating the intricate relation among autobiographical writing, fetishism, and fashion (Pang Laikwan and Chang Hsiao-hung). In their different ways, critics hold the shared view that through the treatment of the feminine fashions in her fiction, Zhang deals with a society in transition. C. T. Hsia succinctly asserts in A History of Modern Chinese Fiction that Zhang’s rich imagery of fashion “not only embraces a wider range of elegance and sordidness” but also carries a strong historical awareness. The above critical and historical views have provided crucial perspectives of understanding the semiotics of fashion in Zhang’s fiction. Critics are often fascinated by her contradictory fictional world of desolation (cangliang 蒼涼) and splendor (huali華麗). As Chang Hsiao-hung argues, there is a certain phantasmagoric characteristic in her fashion system as the meticulous description of a world of splendor allegorically signifies a grim realm of loss and desolation. It is very similar to the mechanism of fetishism in psychoanalysis where displacement, substitution, and disavowal function to express that sense of loss and melancholy. While this body of scholarship on Zhang’s fashion consciousness is informative and inspiring, the emphasis has always been on the portrayal of feminine fashion, its time-space concept, and urbanity in a changing China. In this project, it is proposed that Zhang’s world of fashion is not confined only to women, the bourgeoisie, and metropolitan consciousness. With a focused study on a short prose piece titled “China’s Day and Night” (Zhongguo de ri ye中國的日夜), I argue that Zhang’s historical awareness embraces the livelihood of the lower-class people and her feelings for a nation-state in crisis. Together with two poems included in the text, this short piece demonstrates Zhang’s usual sensuous knowledge and sharp attention to details; nevertheless, the focus is on the ordinary people’s clothing. Unlike her commonly celebrated essay “Chinese Life and Fashion” in which a psycho-social analysis of women’s fashion is launched, “China’s Day and Night” features a “fashion show” of the ordinary people. Without glamorous embroideries, colorful laces and figure-fitting qipao, “China’s Day and Night” presents a shocking and moving procession of the ordinary inhabitants in the city of Shanghai. From the hawkers to the Daoist monk as well as the prostitute, the fashion of the lower-class people provides a powerful critique of modernity and the notion of progress. While fashion as a marker of modernity is characterized by perpetual innovation, the quotidian space of unglamorous clothing is a different fashion show of grassroots aesthetics. The objectives of this project can thus be summarized as follows. It aims to 1. conceptualize various fundamental approaches to the study of the tropes of fashion in Zhang’s fiction, 2. analyze Zhang’s historical and grassroots consciousness through the portrayal of the clothing of the ordinary people in “China’s Day and Night,” 3. articulate Zhang’s vision on modernity by analyzing the inter-relation between her decadent/bourgeois/metropolitan consciousness and grassroots aesthetics.


List of Research Outputs

Cheung E.M.K., Apocalypse Now: John Chan's New Novel in China, Muse. Hong Kong, East Slope, 2010, 38: 114-116.
Cheung E.M.K., Between Ruins and Construction Sites: Performing Drifting Identities in Jia Zhangke's Films, Workshop on Performing Space in Asian Film: Interdiciplinary Perspectives, organized by the Asia Research Institite, National University of Singapore, February 22-23 2010. Singapore, National University of Singapore, 16 pages.
Cheung E.M.K., Deferred Regrets and Missed Encounters: A Memoir of the Blind, Muse. Hong Kong, East Slope, 2010, 36: 105-107.
Cheung E.M.K., On Spectral Mutations: The Ghostly City in The Secret, Rouge, and Little Cheung, Hong Kong Culture: Word and Image. Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2010, 169-191.
Cheung E.M.K., Realisms within Conundrum: The Personal and Authentic Appeal in Jia Zhangke's Accented Films, China Perspectives. Hong Kong, French Centre for Research on Contemporary China, 2010, 2010/1: 11-20.
Cheung E.M.K., The Postsocialist Now: Chinese Cities between the Nostalgic Past and the Dystopian Future, China-West: Cosmopolitics, Memory and Visual Media in the 21st Century, organized by the Faculty of Arts China-West Research Initiative, School of Humanities, Louis Cha Fund, and Center for the Study of Globalization and Cultures (CSGC), in June 11-12 2010. Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong, 5 pages.


Researcher : Cheung SC
List of Research Outputs

Cheung S.C., Matthews S.J. and Tsang W.L., Transfer from L3 German to L2 English in agreement and tense‐aspect, The 6th Conference on Multilingualism and Third Language Acquisition. 2009.


Researcher : Chua DKL
Project Title:Beethoven and Freedom
Investigator(s):Chua DKL
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:08/2009
Abstract:
1) To re-evaluate the dominant image of Beethoven as the Promethean hero and its association with the idea of freedom. 2) To underline the cultural values founded on Beethoven's heroic works - values so foundational that they are often invisible - and to explain why they still persist today despite the critique of the humanism such value espouse. 3) To raise ethical issues within musicology through a critique of heroic freedom. 4) To provide an alternative model of freedom that will bring Beethoven's non-heroic works into the foreground, a freedom that is more pertinent to the ethical questions of the twenty-first century. 5) To draw out an ethics of alterity latent in Adorno's philosophy of music through a sustained engagement with the work of Levinas, and scholars such as Marion and Zizioulas. 6) To provide an interdiscplinary model within musicology and to introduce the significance of Levinas (and to a lesser extent theologians such as Zizioulas, Marion and Millbank) to the musicological community. 7) The re-evaluate the way we analyse Beethoven's music through the development of new theoretical tools and concepts.


Project Title:Visiting Research Professors Scheme 2009-10
Investigator(s):Chua DKL
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Visiting Research Professors Scheme
Start Date:09/2009
Abstract:
To support the appointment of Professor Chen Jian as Visiting Research Professor in the Department of History.


Project Title:Musical Aesthetics Beethoven and the Aesthetics of Freedom
Investigator(s):Chua DKL
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:06/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Chua D.K.L., Beethoven and Aesthetics of Freedom: Strange Relations – Love and the Other, Mannes Institute at the University of Chicago, 2010. 2010.
Chua D.K.L., Beethoven and the Aesthetics of Freedom: The Long Farewell – Mourning the Ephemeral, Mannes Institute at the University of Chicago, 2010 . 2010.
Chua D.K.L., Beethoven and the Aesthetics of Freedom:The Eternal Moment – The Freedom of the Hero, Mannes Institute at the University of Chicago, 2010 . 2010.
Chua D.K.L., Listening to the Other: Listening to the Other: A Counter-Cultural Ear in Ipodic Times , Journal of the Royal Musical Association. 2010, Special Issue.
Chua D.K.L., Music as the Mouthpiece of Theology, In: Jeremy S. Begbie and Steve R. Guthrie, Resonant Witness: Essays in Theology and Music. Eerdmans, 2010.
Chua D.K.L., ‘Beethoven’s Other Humanism’, Journal of the American Musicological Society . 2009, 62/3.


Researcher : Ci J
Project Title:Research Output Prize (Faculty of Arts)
Investigator(s):Ci J
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Research Output Prize (in Faculty)
Start Date:11/2007
Abstract:
The Research Output Prize accords recognition to an author (or team of authors) of a single research output published or created in the preceding calendar year. Faculties are free to determine what form of research output best represents their research achievement and how it should be selected.


List of Research Outputs

Ci J., China and the Question of Freedom, Philosophy Department, Southern Connecticut State University, 22 April 2010. 2010.
Ci J., Evaluating Agency, The Future of Philosophy: Metaphilosophical Directions for the 21st Century (A symposium marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of the journal Metaphilosophy), Philosophy Department, Yale University, and the journal Metaphilosophy, 23 April 2010.
Ci J., Human Rights: Three Varieties of Critique, Topics in Critical Theory, boundary 2, USA and School of English, HKU, June 17-19, 2010.
Ci J., Justice and the Unity of the Rule of Law and Good Laws (keynote speech), Beijing International Conference on the Rule of Law, Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, September 13-14, 2009. 2009.
Ci J., Redeeming Freedom, In: Stan van Hooft, Wim Vanderkerckhove, Questioning Cosmopolitanism. Dordrecht, Springer, 2010, 49-61.
Ci J., 中国政治哲学需要自己的议事日程, 思想, 台湾, 2009, 13, October 2009: 207-212.
Ci J., 社会公正的落实危机及其原因, In: 梁治平, 转型期的社会公正, 北京, 三联书店, 2010, 568-583.


Researcher : Clarke DJ
Project Title:Hong Kong in transition: a photo-documentary project
Investigator(s):Clarke DJ
Department:Department of Fine Arts
Source(s) of Funding:Other Funding Scheme
Start Date:12/1994
Abstract:
To create an archive of photo-documentary images documenting and analyzing aspects of cultural and other changes taking place in the period before and after the transfer of sovereignty.


Project Title:Chinese and Western art: Comparisons and interactions.
Investigator(s):Clarke DJ
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:01/2008
Abstract:
This is a cross-cultural art historical study, focusing on the modern period. It has an especial concern for Euro-American and Chinese artistic traditions and for the twentieth century, although it hopes also to look at eighteenth and nineteenth century materials (and possibly even earlier material) where these are relevant to an understanding of the modern experience. Much art historical research in the past has been conducted in a narrowly-focused way on the art of one particular time and place. While there are obvious advantages for most purposes in such a close focus, in many ways the assumption that art should be researched, taught, collected and exhibited in distinct cultural boxes is an unconsciously-accepted set of blinkers which is often influenced by nationalistic understandings that have invaded historical thinking. The assumption that the writing of art history should respect national boundaries is one which needs to be questioned in respect to research (as well as in respect to pedagogical and museological practice, etc), and this is especially the case when it comes to the modern and contemporary era, where cultures have come in contact with each other to an even greater extent than in previous eras. This present study will consider Chinese and Western art traditions of the modern period side by side, and will address the question of understanding them in two different ways. It will look for actual concrete historical interactions between the two traditions (something I have conducted research on quite a bit already in my earlier work), and it will also look for parallels and differences within a comparatively-written art history. This latter approach, which seeks to compare and contrast art from different cultures in some abstract intellectual space as if outside either, offers certain possibilities of synoptic thinking and writing within art history which I feel we need with a particular urgency at this stage of our discipline’s history, where a globalization of what has been up till now a very Western-centred academic practice is particularly required. It enables one to bring together art which has had no actual historical interaction where it is illuminating to do so. Such comparative writing has its dangers or limitations though, in that it is liable to encourage the very binary thinking and reification of cultural difference which it is the goal of much of my writing to critique, especially so when not done with a concern for the specifics of actual cultural practice (which in the modern world is often culturally-hybrid in a marked way). For this reason I have chosen to adopt a kind of methodological ‘binocular vision’ for this project, juxtaposing the comparative approach with one which addresses the actual historical interactions between the two traditions that concern me. This I feel will force the comparative to be written with a nuanced attention to the particular details of art, will require an especially close attention to the way cultures change over time, and will counteract its potential of producing a reified picture by confronting it with a model that emphasizes interaction and dynamic factors. The study of historical interactions itself has less by the way of potential pitfalls, but I believe there will be advantages there too in exposing it to the more synoptic vision of the comparative method.


Project Title:MODERN ART AND WATER
Investigator(s):Clarke DJ
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:09/2008
Abstract:
With a particular focus on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, to isolate and then study in depth those episodes in the history of art where water has been a meaningful subject for art, or where water has played a particularly important role as a medium for art-making, producing a sole-author academic book on this theme.


List of Research Outputs

Clarke D.J., Illuminating Facades: Looking at Post-Colonial Macau, Monthly Guest Author, available at http://www.globalartmuseum.de/site/guest_author/256. Global Art and the Museum website, 2010.
Clarke D.J., Water and Art: A Cross-cultural Study of Water as Subject and Medium in Modern and Contemporary Artistic Practice. London UK, Reaktion Books, 2010, 295 pages.
Clarke D.J., ‘David Clarke: We create our own identities’, a dialogue with Kung Chi Shing , In: Kung Chi Shing, Peter Suart, Lo Yin Shan and Valerie Doran, The Box Book – Conversations. MCCM Productions, 2009, 166-173.


Researcher : Cook GA
Project Title:Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Botany: Science in the service of society
Investigator(s):Cook GA
Department:Department of Philosophy
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:12/2005
Abstract:
Purpose: The PI seeks funding to support completion of a scholarly monograph entitled Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Botany: Science in the Service of Society. This monograph examines the botanical project of the eighteenth-century Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778); this is the least well-known and least studied aspect of his extensive oeuvre. The only previous book-length study—now outdated—is Albert Jansen, _Jean-Jacques Rousseau als Botaniker_ (Berlin: Reimer, 1885). The PI’s project is based on her critical edition of Rousseau’s botanical writings in The Collected Writings of Rousseau, vol. 8 (Hanover, NH, 2000; hereafter “CW 8”), a wholly new version superseding all previous editions in several respects: (1) the range of texts included, (2) the order of their presentation and (3) the scholarly apparatus. On the basis of this work, the PI reinterprets Rousseau as botanist for a scholarly audience that includes not only philosophy, but also history of science, history of ideas and political science. She has received an Arts Faculty Research Scheme in Fall 2005 to pursue this research. Previous research: This project builds on the PI’s recent work on Rousseau in which she approaches Rousseau’s study of botany from a variety of angles. “Rousseau and Exotic Botany,” _Eighteenth-Century Life_, Special Issue 26/3 (December 2002) shows that he viewed “exotic” or colonial botany with skepticism, while in “Rousseau and the Languages of Music and Botany,” _Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century_ (2004) we see that Rousseau used scientific language to make nature study easier, more accessible and more systematic. In “Rousseau et les réseaux d’échange botanique,” in _Rousseau et les sciences_ (2003) and “Idées et pratiques scientifiques dans la correspondance botanique de Jean-Jacques Rousseau,” _Annales de la société Jean-Jacques Rousseau_ (2005, forthcoming), the PI demonstrates Rousseau’s participation in the scientific republic of letters through botanical networks of exchange and correspondence. “Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s copy of the great Swiss botanist Albrecht von Haller’s Historia Stirpium indigenarum Helvetiae inchoata (1768),” _Archives of Natural History_ 30/1 (April 2003), discusses Rousseau’s extensively annotated copy of a major text on alpine plants that had long been thought lost and that the PI discovered in the Royal Horticultural Society Library, London. Key issues and problems: The central problem this work addresses is Rousseau’s relationship to science, natural history and botany especially, but also to chemistry, a science he mastered, but that he later rejected as concerned only with “dead” matter. Important authorities as Jean Starobinski, _Jean-Jacques Rousseau: la Transparence et l’obstacle_ (Paris, 1971) assert that Rousseau’s study of botany was a mechanical and rote activity that had no scientific merit. The PI’s study uses a variety of materials—correspondence, herbaria, annotated books—to demonstrate the inaccuracy of this assessment. These materials enable the PI to place Rousseau squarely in the midst of the debates and practices that animated natural history in the third quarter of the eighteenth century; most important were debates about nomenclature and taxonomic systems that were particularly heated in France, since leading French naturalists in Paris (Buffon and Daubenton) rejected Linnaean taxonomy and were slow to adopt the Swedish botanist’s nomenclature. This point merits particular emphasis: Rousseau has been described by Pascal Duris as “the architect of the popularization of Linnaean ideas in France” (_Linné et la France_, [Geneva,1993], 105) because he was a proponent of Linnaean nomenclature. Rousseau implicitly opposed the nominalism and reductionism of Buffon and Daubenton, leading lights of eighteenth-century French natural history; they (1) espoused Lockean nominalism with respect to species, and (2) valued the study of “properties” (uses) over collecting, naming and ordering the plant kingdom. Rousseau rejects the study of properties in his _Reveries_: “it is habitual to look only for remedies and drugs in plants”; “People do not imagine that vegetal organization on its own could merit some attention” (O.C. I, 1063, 1064). The PI’s central claim in this study is that for Rousseau the final end of studying botany (and nature in general) is moral and social. This argument appears to contradict the position Rousseau adopted in his _Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts_ (the work that placed him at the center of Parisian intellectual life in 1750), in which he held the sciences and arts responsible for promoting the moral decay of society; nevertheless, he believed that science, one of the sources of society’s moral ills, could be enlisted as a remedy in the treatment of society’s moral decay. This approach has been termed Rousseau’s “homeopathic cure” because a dose of the disease is employed in its treatment (as in vaccination). Botany provides a good homeopathic cure as it is inexpensive, relatively accessible and concerns itself with the most agreeable of nature’s three realms: “the only spectacle in the world of which [the observer’s] eyes and heart never tire” (_Reveries_, seventh walk). In contrast with many other occupations, botany offers “a nourishment to the soul[,] a nourishment which profits it by filling it with the most worthy object of its contemplation” (first letter on botany to Mme Delessert, CW 8, 130) and a refuge from the conflicts of civil society. Rousseau believes, however, that botanical instruction had to be reformed because he is unconvinced by the assertion of the Swedish botanist Linnaeus that “all plants become known in a single year, at first sight, with no instructor and without pictures or description by means of stable recollection” (_Philosophia Botanica_, par. 151). Rousseau repeatedly refers to the impossibility of any novice realizing this goal because the instructional texts are for the learned while there are none to teach the ignorant (CW 8, 176-7, 204-5). This is the point at which Rousseau the pedagogue intervenes to transform the teaching of botany. Two works attack the pedagogical problem: (1) his elementary letters on botany to Madeleine-Catherine Delessert and (2) his dictionary of botanical terms, both published posthumously. These played a pivotal role in bringing botany to the attention of middle-class people with no particular scientific training. The letters to Mme Delessert appeared in translations into several European languages, most notably English (by Thomas Martyn, Regius professor of Botany, Cambridge, 1785). His legacy as a botanical educator is reflected in the works of early nineteenth-century educators such as Almira Phelps (U.S.), Priscilla Wakefield (England) and J.-L.Thuillier (France).


Project Title:Early-modern European appropriations of Chinese nature and natural knowledge
Investigator(s):Cook GA
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Louis Cha Fund
Start Date:05/2007
Abstract:
To investigate three related areas in which the European interest in Chinese nature and natural knowledge yielded fruitful, if partial, results: botany, medicine and agriculture. The study shall delineate not only what kinds of knowledge Europeans sought and obtained, but also shall identify the systems of classification that were used (e.g. the Linnaean artificial system of sexual classification), their consequences (e.g. divorcing Chinese plants from indigenous settings, names and uses), and the resulting effects on Westerners' understanding of Chinese nature and natural knowledge.


Project Title:Early-Modern European Appropriations of Chinese Nature and Natural Knowledge
Investigator(s):Cook GA
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:05/2007
Completion Date:04/2010
Abstract:
The aim of this project is to lay the groundwork for a systematic account of early-modern European forays into, and appropriations of, Chinese natural history and natural knowledge. Living and working in Hong Kong has sharpened the PI’s interest in how Europeans appropriated Chinese nature and natural knowledge for their own ends. The PI will use the proposed funding to narrow down the topic from its current broad scope, to focus, for example, on one particular medicinal plant or leading figure in European appropriation of Chinese nature and/or natural knowledge. Using well-established research methods, this study investigates three related areas in which this interest yielded fruitful, if partial, results: botany, medicine and agriculture. The study shall delineate not only what kinds of knowledge Europeans sought and obtained, but also shall identify the systems of classification that were used (e.g. the Linnaean artificial system of sexual classification), their consequences (e.g. divorcing Chinese plants from indigenous settings, names and uses), and the resulting effects on Westerners’ understanding of Chinese nature and natural knowledge. An important inspiration and model for this proposal is Londa Schiebinger’s important work on eighteenth-century bio-prospecting in the Caribbean (Schiebinger 2004). The two overarching questions to be addressed are: (1) How did the encounter with China's distinctive flora, medical theories and history of conservation influence Europeans? and (2) what constructs (e.g. classificatory) operated in European receptions of Chinese nature and natural knowledge? Sub-topics of the investigation comprise: 1. The scope of European Appropriations of Chinese Nature and Natural Knowledge in medical science, botany, and agriculture: what was known, when and by whom? 2. The accuracy or inaccuracy of the information obtained; to what extent did misinformation or lack of access to information impede the European quest for, or use of, such supposed panaceas such as ginseng, rhubarb and tea? 3. Attempts to acclimatize Chinese plants, and the reasons for these attempts; 4. The means by which these appropriations came about, e.g. travel, local informants, and correspondence networks; 5. The impact of European systems of classification and nomenclature, especially the Linnaean artificial sexual system, on acquisition of Chinese natural knowledge; 6. How the encounter with China's distinctive flora, medical theories and history of conservation influenced European science, medicine and conservation policies. Many scholars have examined the early-modern European interest in Chinese philosophy, institutions, history, language, and gardens; Leibniz’s belief that Chinese was the original universal language is one well-known case of early-modern European sinophilia, or love of things Chinese. Enlightenment philosophers took sides on political, economic and moral questions by holding up China in as a mirror in which to contemplate Europe’s deficiencies. Similarly, the activities of the Society of Jesus in China, including its work in astronomy and mathematics, have received considerable attention. Scholars have likewise focused on the Rites controversy (1656-1742), which arose from Roman Catholic concerns about the Society’s acceptance of ancestor worship on the part of Chinese Christians. By contrast, China’s many contributions to Western science and natural knowledge are frequently mentioned, but studied less frequently or thoroughly. Studies of Westerners’ knowledge and use of Chinese natural knowledge in this period are less numerous, and have remained fairly narrow or limited in scope. This relative neglect may have arisen from the nineteenth-century view that China’s science lagged behind Western science (Guantao et al. 1966). Yet this was not the Western view of China in the eighteenth century, when Europeans eagerly sought Chinese natural knowledge and natural products; China was viewed as the scientific and technological equal of Europe (Koerner 1999). Existing studies have examined (1) Western scientific figures such as Linnaeus and Osbeck who received, identified and classified Chinese plants (Koerner 1999, Müller-Wille 1999), and who presided over important correspondence and exchange networks; (2) histories of the discovery, reception, and use of particular plants such as rhubarb (Foust 1992), ginseng (Appleby 1983) and medicinal plants generally (Leigh 1974); and (3) environmental history in relation to European awareness of Chinese successes in agriculture and forest conservation methods. An unusually comprehensive, if outdated, treatment of Western forays into Chinese botany is that of Bretschneider (1898; repr. 1962). However, this work lacks analysis of the social context of plant exploration, a critical perspective on methods of classification or any detailed discussion of the ends to which these discoveries were applied. The PI’s starting point is that European interest in Chinese nature and natural knowledge during the early-modern period was intense, especially in fields of immediate practical concern such as botany and medicine. Information about Chinese medicinal and other plants was relayed by Jesuits such as Michael Boym (1612-1659) and Pierre d’Incarville (1706-1757), as well as by naturalists in secular occupations. Europeans were well aware, for example, that the Chinese had invented paper, gunpowder, the compass and printing, inventions that transformed the world; Chinese herbal medicines, food provision, and agricultural practices likewise appeared to be extremely effective, as proven by the fruitfulness of the land and the size of her population—characteristics consistently remarked upon by early-modern European visitors to China. China was therefore strongly associated in the early-modern European mind not only with manufactured items, but also equally with such natural products as tea, and medicinal plants (e.g. rhubarb). European autocrats such as Joseph II of Austria and Louis XVI of France were so impressed by Chinese agricultural productivity that they adopted the Chinese emperor’s ceremonial ploughing of the first field in the Spring, a ceremony recorded in contemporary royal iconography, but largely forgotten today. Taken together, these facts indicate that China was not just a mirror in which Europeans could reflect on their deficiencies; it was at the same time, a very important source of natural products and natural knowledge that was new, stimulating and enriching. Moreover, we see that eighteenth-century Europeans took the equality of Chinese with Western natural knowledge for granted.


Project Title:Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Botany, the salutary science
Investigator(s):Cook GA
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:09/2007
Completion Date:03/2010
Abstract:
To show that Rousseau was not the enemy of science, but rather, that he believed botany to be a salutary science, from which members of corrupt, unfree societies directly and immediately benefit; To expose Rousseau's role as a disseminator and populariser of the study of botany by means of didactic works and herbaria having both scientific and aesthetic merit; To demonstrate that Rousseau engaged in and contributed to the scientific culture of the Enlightenment, e.g. through correspondence and exchange, and annotating botanical works; To show that Rousseau prepared instructional texts on botany and participate in contemporary debates about nomenclature and classification; To show Rousseau's significant role in promoting botany as a popular study in Europe and the Americas, laying the groundwork for later back-to-nature movements; To portray Rousseau's botanical work in a new light, revealing its scientific character and the context of Enlightenment scientific sociability in which it developed. To show that botany forms part of Rousseau's philosophy and deserves to be regarded as a means by which people and society might transform themselves.


Project Title:The European appropriation of Chinese nature: Transfer of botanical knowledge during the enlightenment
Investigator(s):Cook GA
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme
Start Date:01/2009
Abstract:
(1) The proposed research exchange would facilitate an unprecedented study of early-modern European appropriations of Chinese nature and natural knowledge in botany and agriculture; this is an effort for which a plethora of original European sources still awaits sustained examination; (2) The project aims to delineate not only what kinds of knowledge eighteenth-century Europeans sought and obtained, but also to identify the resulting effects on Westerners' understanding of Chinese nature and natural knowledge; (3) the research promoted by the exchange would illuminate an aspect of East-West relations that has received intriguing, but until now only fragmentary, treatment by scholars. It enables us to see how China influenced Europe in ways that are not well-understood or well-appreciated today.


Project Title:2010 Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Political Botany: A Swiss Idyll?
Investigator(s):Cook GA
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:04/2010
Completion Date:04/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Cook G.A., Jean-Jacques Rousseau and political botany: A Swiss idyll?, Western Political Science Ass'n. 2010.
Cook G.A., Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Botanik und die Kritik der Naturwissenschaften, Forschungszentrum Laboratorium Aufklärung, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany. 2009.
Cook G.A., Linnaeus and Chinese plants: a test of the linguistic imperialism thesis, Notes and Records of the Royal Society. London, Royal Society, 2009, 64 (June 2010): 121-38.
Cook G.A., Linnaeus, Chinese flora and ‘linguistic imperialism’, Symposium: 'European Appropriation of Chinese Nature during the Enlightenment', HKU Faculty of Arts Summer Institute. 2009.


Researcher : Cunich PA
Project Title:Centenary history of The University of Hong Kong
Investigator(s):Cunich PA
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Vice-Chancellor's Office - General Award
Start Date:05/2007
Abstract:
To produce a book on centenary history of HKU.


List of Research Outputs

Cunich P.A., 'Making Space for Higher Education in Colonial Hong Kong, 1887-1913', From Harbin to Hanoi: The Built Environment of East Asian Colonial Cities, 1840-1940. Hong Kong, 2010.
Cunich P.A., 'The Brothers of Syon, 1420-1695', In: E. A. Jones and Alexandra Walsham, Syon Abbey and its Books: Reading, Writing and Religion c.1400-1700. Woodbridge, Boydell Press, 2010, 39-81.
Cunich P.A., 'Y.M.C.A. Chaplains and the Chinese Labourers on the Western Front, 1917-1918', In: Zhang Jianguo, Chinese Labourers and the First World War. Weihai, China, Shandong University Press, 2009, 155-177.
Cunich P.A., Editor, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. Hong Kong, Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch, 2009, 49: 376 pp.


Researcher : Deutsch ME
Project Title:The 2002 Meeting of the Society for Exact Philosophy A Reductio of Millianism
Investigator(s):Deutsch ME
Department:Department of Philosophy
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:05/2002
Abstract:
N/A


Project Title:Methodology Workshop III: Philosophy without Intuitions If Not Intuitions, What?
Investigator(s):Deutsch ME
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:10/2009
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Deutsch M.E., Death and How What You Don't Know Can Hurt You, HKU Center for Humanities and Medicine Interdisciplinary Conference on Death and Dying. 2010.
Deutsch M.E., Experimental Philosophy and Philosophical Method, In: Tom Stone, Massachusetts, USA, MIT Press, 2010.
Deutsch M.E., Experimental Philosophy and the Theory of Reference, In: Samuel Guttenplan, Mind and Language. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
Deutsch M.E., Intuitions, Counterexamples, and Experimental Philosophy, In: Joshua Knobe, Edouard Machery, Tania Lombrozo , Review of Philosophy and Psychology. Springer, 2010, 9.
Deutsch M.E., Over-intellectualizing the Gettier Cases, Arche Centre for Logic, Language, Metaphysics, and Epistemology. 2009.
Deutsch M.E., Philosophical Studies, Referee, 2010.


Researcher : Dikotter F
Project Title:Social History of the Great Famine in China, 1959-61
Investigator(s):Dikotter F, Zhou X
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation of International Scholarly Exchange - General Award
Start Date:07/2008
Abstract:
1) To write a social history of the 1959-1961 famine in China using newly opened documentary and archival evidence recently made available in the People's Republic of China in order to understand the real people behind the facade of the People's Communes created by government propagandists at the time. (2) To explore the full repertoire of everyday interaction between ordinary people and state authorities in times of hunger and death - ranging from enthusiastic participation and passive conformity to supplication, manipulation, stealthy resistance or even active opposition. (3) To contribute to the existing literature on famine and starvation by shifting the focus from the dead to the living, as we investigate how ordinary people understood the famine and state propaganda and coped with hunger and loss on such a large scale. (4) To analyse the range of survival practices they developed during the Great Famine, including popular practices and traditional methods such as the hoarding of food but also relatively new strategies developed in a context of collectivisation, for instance scapegoating, denouncing, sabotaging and slacking. How do people survive famine in a command economy?


Project Title:A Social History of the Great Famine in China, 1959-61
Investigator(s):Dikotter F, Zhou X
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:09/2008
Completion Date:08/2010
Abstract:
1) To write a social history of the 1959-1961 famine using newly opened archives and documentary evidence recently made available in the People's Republic of China; 2) To shift the focus away from the macro-dimensions of the famine (either top leadership, policy decisions or the number of deaths) towards the micro-dimensions of everyday life on the ground; 3) To explore the full repertoire of everyday interaction between ordinary people and state authorities in times of hunger and death; 4) To contribute to the existing literature on famine and starvation by looking at the coping strategies of different people in times of famine and the everyday forms of resistance during collectivisation; 5) To publish three major research articles in peer reviewed journals like the China Quarterly and one major research book.


Project Title:Outstanding Researcher Award 2008-2009
Investigator(s):Dikotter F
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Outstanding Researcher Award
Start Date:12/2009
Abstract:
The Awards are intended to recognize, reward, and promote exceptional research accomplishments of academic and research staff.




Researcher : Ding PS
Project Title:Exploring Phonological Typology of Languages of China
Investigator(s):Ding PS
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:05/2009
Abstract:
Serving as a pilot project for understanding linguistic diversity in China, this project aims at the phonological, especially the tonal, system of less-studied languages spoken in China. The project will cover a number of languages from several major families: Sinitic (Min topolects of Fujian and the Hui topolect of southern Anhui), Tibeto-Burman (Prinmi of Yunnan & Sichuan and Tibetan of Sichuan), Hmong-mien (Miao and Yao of Guizhou, Hunan & Yunnan), Tai-Kadai (Dai of Yunnan and Kam of Guizhou), and Altaic (Mongolian of Inner Mongolia & Uyghur of Xinjiang). Main objectives of the proposal include: a) Identification of phonological characteristics of language families in China; b) Typological comparison of phonological systems across different language families; and c) The extent of mutual influence between the Sinitic and other languages. Key issues and problems in this research project concern (un)stability of phonological system as reflected in a language family, the nature of tonal system among the selected languages for investigation, the relationship of linguistic contrast and mutation between segments and suprasegmentals.


Project Title:The 8th Biennial Meeting of the Association for Linguistic Typology Syllable-tone, Word-tone and Melody-tone: Towards a Typology of Tone Languages of China
Investigator(s):Ding PS
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:07/2009
Completion Date:07/2009
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Ding P.S., A Note on the Interpretation of Bailangge as a Zhuang Ode, 試評〈白狼歌〉之壯語破譯, International Conference on Ancient Chinese texts from the Pre-Han and Han Dynasties. 「古道照顏色－先秦兩漢古籍國際學術研討會」論文集, Hong Kong, Chinese University Press, 2010, 228-236.
Ding P.S., Diversity in Sino-Tibetan Languages, The Conference on Sino-Tibetan Language Studies. Chiangrai Rajabaht University. Chiangrai, Thailand, 2010.
Ding P.S., From Intonation to Tone: The case of 'aa' and 'wo' in Cantonese, 从语调到声调—以粤语句末语气助词‘呀’、‘喎’为例, The First Conference on Prosody and Intonation of Chinese. Dalian, Liaoning, 2009.
Ding P.S., Language Ecology and Developing China's West: The case of Yunnan, The Third Conference on Heritage Maintenance for Endangered Languages in Yunnan, China. Yuxi, Yunnan, 2010.
Ding P.S., Notes on Evidential Markers in Cantonese, 粤语的「据由」助词初探, In: Cheng, Xianghui, The Selection of Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences of Macau. 澳门人文社会科学研究文选, Beijing, Social Sciences Academic Press, 2010, 150-159.
Ding P.S., Phonetic Characteristics of Aspirated Fricatives — With special reference to Huangping Hmong of southeastern Guizhou, 送气擦音的语音特点 — 以黔东南黄平苗语为例, The 9th Phonetic Conference of China. Tianjin, China, 2010.
Ding P.S., Pragmatic Strategies in Prinmi, Pragmatic Markers in Asian Languages . Taiwan, 2010.
Ding P.S., Rhoticization as a Secondary Articulation in Stops: Evidence from Prinmi, In: Bao, Huiqiao, Chinese Journal of Phonetics. Beijing, Commercial Press, 2010, 2: 74-81.
Ding P.S., Syllable-tone, Word-tone and Melody-tone: Towards a Typology of Tone Languages of China, In: University of California, The 8th Biennial Conference of the Association for Linguistic Typology. Berkeley, USA, 2009.
Ding P.S., The Concept of Domain in Tone Studies – With Special Reference to Tone Languages of China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. 2009.
Ding P.S., The Labio-dentals in Bai, 白语中的唇齿音, The First International Conference on the Bai Language. Dali, Yunnan, 2009.
Ding P.S., The Role of Domain in the Lexical Tone System, The 32nd Annual Conference Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sprachwissenschaft . Berlin, Germany, 2010.


Researcher : Fraser CJ
Project Title:Moral Skepticism in Early Classical Daoism
Investigator(s):Fraser CJ
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:06/2010
Abstract:
The project will investigate moral skepticism in early classical Daoist philosophy, focusing on the thought of the Daodejing. The Daodejing rejects the dominant moral views of its time as espoused by Ruist and Mohist texts and instead advocates an amoral or a non-moral approach to both individual and political life. The project will interpret and critically examine the grounds for this rejection, the justification for the Daodejing’s proposed alternative to morality as a guide to life, and the details of its alternative dao, or way. The project will also seek to situate the moral skepticism of the Daodejing with respect to international discourse in contemporary ethics. Conventional conceptions of morality have been the subject of much critical reflection in recent and contemporary moral philosophy. Historically, thinkers such as Schlegel, Nietzsche, Freud, and Foucault have suggested that morality may actively interfere with human flourishing. Recent writers such as Bernard Williams, Philippa Foot, and Jonathan Dancy have questioned whether the collection of conventional assumptions that constitute what Williams called “the morality system” is coherent, justified, or an accurate description of moral motivation and conduct. Writers such as John Doris and Gilbert Harman have questioned the extent to which such a thing as “moral character” exists or plays a significant role in guiding action. Previous research suggests that the grounds for moral skepticism cited or implied in the Daodejing may overlap with those of these Western critics of conventional conceptions of morality. The proposed project will investigate to what extent this is the case. It will then go on to compare and contrast the Daodejing’s response to its critique of morality with those of various Western thinkers. One preliminary hypothesis of the project is that the concept of dao (way) employed in the Daodejing helps to provide a naturalistic basis for justifying moral skepticism and coping with its consequences. The notion of dao may help in identifying systematic connections between various forms of moral skepticism.


List of Research Outputs

Fraser C.J., Action and Agency in Early Chinese Thought, Journal of Chinese Philosophy and Culture. 2009, 5: 217–39.
Fraser C.J., Mohism and Motivation, Department Seminar, HKU Department of Philosophy. 2009.
Fraser C.J., Realism Reconsidered, 實在論再探, In: 陳瑞麟, 分析的技藝——林正弘教授七十祝壽論文集, Taipei, 學富, 2009.
Fraser C.J., Skepticism and Value in the Zhuangzi, Department Seminar, HKU Department of Philosophy. 2010.
Fraser C.J., Skepticism and Value in the Zhuangzi, International Philosophical Quarterly. 2009, 49.4: 439–57.
Fraser C.J., The Ethics of the Mohist Dialogues, In: Carine Defoort, Nicolas Standaert, The Many Faces of Mozi: A Synchronic and Diachronic Study of Mohist Thought. 2009.
Fraser C.J., Wandering the Way: A Eudaimonistic Approach to the Zhuangzi, In: Timothy O'Leary, Happiness East & West. 2009.
Fraser C.J., Xunzi and Zhuangzi: Two Approaches to Death in Classical Chinese Thought, In: Barbara Dalle Pezze, Death: Philosophy, Therapy, Medicine. 2010.
Fraser C.J., 先秦思想中的行動觀, 哲學評論, 2009, 7: 61–82.


Researcher : Frost MR
Project Title:Public Lecture Series, National Museum of Singapore/ Singapore History 101 Public Lecture series, National Library of Singapore 'Heroes Villains and Ordinary Citizens: a short history of Singaporean dissent"/ "History as literature": the writing of Singapore: A Biography
Investigator(s):Frost MR
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:10/2009
Completion Date:10/2009
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Frost M.R., 'Beyond nation and geography': Tagore and the cosmopolitan moment, 'An age in motion: the Asian voyages of Rabindranath Tagore' conference, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore. 2010.
Frost M.R., Another Sri Lanka? Colombo as cosmopolis, 1870-1920, ‘New perspectives in Sri Lankan Historiography’ workshop, American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies, Colombo. 2009.
Frost M.R., Gold Medal for Singapore: A Biography, Asia-Pacific Publishers Association. Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2009.
Frost M.R., Heroes, villains and ordinary citizens: A short history of Singaporean dissent, National Museum of Singapore. 2009.
Frost M.R., History as literature; the writing of Singapore: A Biography, National Library of Singapore. 2009.
Frost M.R., In search of cosmopolitan discourse: a historical journey across the Indian Ocean from Singapore to South Africa, 1870-1920, In: Pamila Gupta, Isabel Hofmeyr & Michael Pearson, Eyes across the water: Navigating the Indian Ocean. UNISA & Penguin India, 2010, 75-95.
Frost M.R., Internal examiner for M. Phil candidate, Dept. of History, HKU. 2009.
Frost M.R., Internal examiner for Ph.D student, Dept. of History. Hong Kong University. 2010.
Frost M.R., Introducing Singapore: A Biography, a tale of heroes, villains and ordinary citizens , Hong Kong Man International Literary Festival. 2010.
Frost M.R., Peer review of journal article, Asian Journal of Social Science. 2009.
Frost M.R., Singapore: A Biography. Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2009.
Frost M.R., That great ocean of idealism: the Tagore circle and the idea of Asia, 1900-1920, In: Ashraf Jamal & Shanty Moorthy, Indian Ocean Studies: cultural, social and political perspectives. New York, Routledge, 2009, 251-79.
Frost M.R., The making of the Singapore History Gallery: Some personal reflections, In: Cheryl-Ann Low, The Past in the Present: Histories in the Making. National Heritage Board, Singapore, 2009.


Researcher : Green AR
Project Title:Burmese Buddhist Wall Paintings in Cross-Cultural and Narrative Perspectives
Investigator(s):Green AR
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:02/2008
Completion Date:08/2010
Abstract:
I am proposing to explore narrative structures and meanings in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Burmese (Myanmar) wall paintings as a prelude to studying the narrative and aesthetic similarities between Burmese and Sri Lankan murals during the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. The research will expand and clarify the field’s current knowledge of late Burmese art and the artistic, social, religious, and political connections between the two Theravada Buddhist cultures. The focus of Burmese art studies has traditionally been the kingdom of Pagan (c. 1044-1287), which left significant remains, but seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Burmese art remains largely unexplored territory, particularly in its links with other cultures. Further, the importance of narratives, utilised for religious, social, and political motives, in Burmese society has not been examined in any depth. This part of the project involves surveying the content and organization of murals from this latter period and analysing the material for its connections with contemporaneous texts and literary trends, the political move towards the centralization of the state, and efforts to establish religious orthodoxy. This part of the project will culminate in a book. Because part of this analysis has been completed and the writing is commencing, the book will be submitted for publication in 2009. I also plan to establish the narrative similarities and differences between Burmese and Sri Lankan wall paintings of the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, since they show strong similarities. By narrative, I mean the organisation of the murals and how this conveys the representation of time and space, the relationship between the images and the possible texts (oral or written) from which they derive, the stories portrayed, and the scenes that have been selected in order to convey a specific message or messages to the viewers. The role of the donor(s) and the artists can also be significant in illustrating contemporary trends. At first sight, Burmese and Sri Lankan wall paintings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries appear quite comparable in artistic style, narrative construction, and subject matter. I will analyse Burmese and Sri Lankan wall paintings from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries for artistic style, narrative construction (disposition, the relationship between time and space, and the duration of scenes or episodes), subject matter (scene selection and repetition of material), relationship between word and image (if applicable), and the manner in which they were commissioned. Historical, religious, political, and social connections between the two countries will also be examined for their impact on each country’s artistic expression and for how they influenced the contact between the areas. In this way it should be possible to answer the following questions regarding the similarities of Burmese and Sri Lankan wall paintings: In what areas does narrative overlap occur? Do the paintings function in religiously, socially, and conceptually similar ways in the different areas? Do the similarities of style and content result from religious or social/political connections? What factors that facilitated and encouraged the exchange of artistic material? How did the influences occur and how profound were they? By answering these questions, I aim to establish the narrative connections and the social, political, religious, and artistic conditions that enabled the transfer of information and ideas between the countries. This section of the project will be developed into two articles to be submitted for publication in 2009 or 2010. Finally, narrative theory has not been appraised for its cross-cultural efficacy. In using narrative theories to make the comparison between Burmese and Sri Lankan wall paintings, it will be important to examine and comment on how this methodology functions and whether it is a valid tool in cross-cultural art historical studies. I will critically assess this issue in the articles written on the Burmese and Sri Lankan murals.


Project Title:Buddhist Narratives in Burmese and Thai Murals of the Late 17th to 19th Centuries: A Comparative Exploration
Investigator(s):Green AR
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:07/2009
Abstract:
1) The project will culminate in two articles submitted to journals for peer-review. 2) The first article will examine the physical similarities and differences of the mural paintings in Thailand and Burma from the late seveteenth to mid nineteenth centuries, and will attempt to link the similarities with inter-regional contact and cultural exchange. 3) The second paper will explore the organization of the late Thai and Burmese murals within their architectural setting in relationship to religious beliefs and ritual practice. Narrative theory as a method of intercultural inquiry will be assessed.


Project Title:American Council for Southern Asian Art Biennial Symposium XIV Emerging vernacular narratives in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Burmese murals
Investigator(s):Green AR
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:10/2009
Completion Date:10/2009
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Green A.R., “Prioritizing Enlightenment: Organizing Burmese and Thai Murals of the Seventeenth to Nineteenth Centuries.”, Silpakorn University. 2009.


Researcher : Ha MOY
Project Title:French women and the empire: the case of indochina
Investigator(s):Ha MOY
Department:Department of History
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:01/2007
Completion Date:12/2009
Abstract:
The objective of this project is two-fold. First, using Indochina as a case study, it proposes to reconstruct the history of the colonial experiences of French women, which have thus far received little scholarly attention. Secondly, unlike most of the existing works on British colonial women, which limit their investigations on the gender factor only, my study will attend to both the gender and class dimensions of French women's colonial experiences. For one of my hypotheses is that the diverse class origins of colonial women in Indochina posed a real challenge to the French colonial order, which attributed to women the role of civilizing agents to the " inferior" races. The Period under research covers the years from 1900 to 1940, the decades that witnessed a steady growth to French female population in Indochina. The first part examines the official narratives of French women's roles in the empire. The key issues to be studied are (1) What were the social and political circumstances under which colonial female emigration took place? (2) What was the official policy? If so, what were they? In what ways were the changes informed by new thinking among colonialists? (3) What roles were assigned to women in the empire? How did these assigned female roles define the class background of women deemed as acceptable candidates for emigration? (4) How did women's assigned roles relate to a feminized version of the civilizing mission? The second part of the project investigates the actual experiences of French women in Indochina. The main questions that will be asked are (5) What types of women did in fact go to the colony? Were they mostly wives of colonial civil servants and settlers? Were there single women (unmarried, widows or divorcees) staying in the colony? (6) For those who were homemakers, what kind of domesticity did they recreate in Indochina? What was the political role of domesticity in the ideology of the empire, in particular in relation to the civilizing mission? (7) For those who were single, how did they make a living in Indochina? What types of professions did protect "white prestige" in the colony? (8) What were the class configurations of French women in Indochina? Did they correspond to those defined in the official discourse? What implications would class differentials among colonial women have on the imperial rhetoric of civilizing mission and the fashioning of Frenchness in the colony?


Project Title:36th Annual Meeting of the French colonial Historical Society (FCHS) Searching for women's Narratives in the Colonial Archives
Investigator(s):Ha MOY
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:06/2010
Completion Date:06/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Ha M.O.Y., "Mission Civilisatrice Revisited", In: Jean-François Durand, Jean-Marie Seillan et Jean Sévry , Cahiers De La Sielec: Le Desenchantement Colonial. Paris, Kailash, 2010, 6: 476-491.
Ha M.O.Y., Clotilde Chivas-Baron, La femme francaise aux colonies suivi de Contes et legendes de l'annam. Paris, l'Harmattan, 2009.
Ha M.O.Y., Introduction, In: Marie-Paule Ha, Clothilde Chivas-Baron, La femme francaise aux colonies suivi des contes et legendes de l'Annam. Paris, L'Harmattan, 2009, vii-xxvi.
Ha M.O.Y., Searching for Women’s Narratives in the Colonial Archives, French Colonial Historical Society annual conference Paris VIII, France. 2010, 12.
Ha M.O.Y., “La politique des langues dans l’enseignement colonial en Indochine », Circulations, échanges et affrontements culturels en situations coloniales et impériales, Université de la Sorbonne. 2009, 12.


Researcher : Hammers RL
Project Title:Paintings to Prints: Illustrations to The Book of Agriculture by Wang Zhen
Investigator(s):Hammers RL
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:09/2006
Completion Date:08/2009
Abstract:
I will conduct research and publish an article that investigates the use of agrarian imagery in Wang Zhen's Book of Agriculture. The book was a major literary achievement that consolidated and expanded scholarship on agricultural technology. When it was published in 1313, it was the most encyclopedically authoritative text on agrarian technology in China and probably the world. The Book of Agriculture contained text and imagery. Wang Zhen published woodblock prints that illustrated both the equipment used in agriculture and the farmers at work. While drawing upon centuries of agronomic scholarship, Wang Zhen was innovative in his use of printed imagery to display agrarian labor. The inclusion of illustrations of people working was a new subject for agricultural publications. Modern scholars working in the mid- to late-twentieth century have suggested that Wang Zhen's illustrations most likely were based on earlier depictions of agrarian labor. In the twelfth century Emperor Gaozong was presented with two handscrolls referred to as the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving. Scholars have suggested these scrolls were likely visual precedents that inspired Wang Zhen. The Pictures of Tilling and Weaving were designed by the self-styled scholar-official Lou Shu as a set of two handscrolls. One handscroll presented the labor of men tilling the soil and cultivating grain in twenty-one procedures. The other depicted the work of the farmers' wives who raised silkworms and wove silk fabric in twenty-four steps. Each procedure was accompanied by a poem written by Lou Shu. According to the Song dynasty documents, Emperor Gaozong greatly praised this gift. The emperor may have been motivated to endorse the scrolls, because their subject matter engaged with the roles of agriculture and the taxes it provided for governance, aspects central to Southern Song political discourse. With recent publications of newly discovered Song and Yuan dynasty paintings, my article will demonstrate that many of the prints found in the various editions of Wang Zhen's Book of Agriculture adhere closely to the compositions of early Song examples of the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving. The prints and paintings share nearly identical positions and poses of the laboring farmers. In addition the prints incorporate the same kinds of incidental background objects, such as teapots, or farm animals, in the same scenes with similar compositional arrangements as in the paintings. The prints are based on the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving. In this project, I intend to explore the appeal of the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving had for Wang Zhen and his audience. Why did Wang Zhen employ the imagery from the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving? Traditionally representations of farmers at work were suitable subject matter for ambitious works of art produced in the form of silk paintings. What were Wang Zhen's motivations for incorporating iconography from elite art production and translating it into print medium? Wang Zhen maintained a connection with the earlier imagery of the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving while he introduced the most up-to-date information on agricultural practices. Close reading of passages in the Book of Agriculture suggest that for Wang Zhen his interest in the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving was not based solely on the formal qualities of the imagery. He sought to retain the Southern Song vision of the role of labor that was articulated in the scrolls and in their poems. As my article will argue, Wang Zhen desired to promote the benefits of a proper understanding of agrarian labor and its equipment as knowledge legitimated by the canonical literary traditions of China. In recreating the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving and distributing them in woodblock form for large-scale distribution, Wang Zhen established Southern Song depictions of labor as iconic. Given Wang Zhen's efforts, most, if not all, later imagery of agrarian labor incorporates visual references to the Southern Song prototype. Wang Zhen produced the Book of Agriculture during the Yuan dynasty when the Mongols ruled China. This article will conclude by considering the role of the re-affirmation of Southern Song material in this historical context. Wang Zhen represented the farmers and their wives at labor to illustrate procedures to teach the reading public about agricultural tools and techniques. It is possible to speculate that the visual presentation of this material also delivered other kinds of information. The prints with their style and composition invoked the Southern Song and its political discussions of the roles of agriculture and taxation in society. Passages within the Book of Agriculture itself support such a claim. The prints serve as a means to register Wang Zhen's allegiance to the Southern Song dynasty.


Project Title:Pictures of Tilling and Weaving: The Visual Culture and Ideology in Song and Yuan China
Investigator(s):Hammers RL
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Hsu Long Sing Research Fund
Start Date:01/2008
Abstract:
It is an extension of my doctoral research, will offer a novel assessment of scholar-official painting practices that combined progressive social reforms with technologically informed imagery in the form of a book. I concentrate my study around the construction of a new genre of painting, referred to as Gengzhi tu, or Pictures of Tilling and Weaving. I begin by considering its inception around 1145 by a self-styled scholar-official named Lou Shu (1090-1162) and trace the appeal of its varying iconographic programs and media formats throughout the Chinese Southern Song and Mongol Yuan dynasties. The Pictures of Tilling and Weaving depicts farmers working throughout the year. Lou Shu’s new category, in all likelihood, comprised a pair of handscrolls that depict scenes of 1) men cultivating rice and 2) women producing silk. The labor is shown in a step-by-step sequential arrangement. Each scene is accompanied by a poem. Each iconographic modification and every adaptation of the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving into a different medium signaled vying ideologies within the Song and Yuan dynasties.


Project Title:Regarding the Mongols from within and without
Investigator(s):Hammers RL
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:10/2008
Abstract:
I will conduct research to integrate material on the imagery of the Mongols both within and without the Yuan Empire. My project which will address the portrayal of the Mongols from the late 13th to the early 15th centuries, roughly the period of the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) that was based in China, has never before been researched from this perspective. This innovative methodology will break down barriers between the Yuan dynasty and the Persian Il Khanate (1256-1335) visual materials. The approach is long overdue given the historical documentation of the close relationship between Hülegü (d. 1265), the ruler of Il-Khanate Persia with his immediate successors, and Qubilai (Khubilai) (r.1260-94) or Emperor Shizu 世祖. Emperors Hülegü and Qubilai, brothers, were in a position to share iconography to define the Mongol identity with an aim to articulate its military and cultural supremacy. Preliminary exploration of this subject already has provided strong evidence that the iconography of the Mongol horseman/ruler, established by early Chinese imperial portraiture, was transferred to Persia. Representations of the Mongols by the Mongols were deployed to enhance claims to authority. As the Mongols conquered other lands, however, we can see that they incorporated the cultural practices of varying localities in their patronage of art to announce their power. Central to this research are the invaluable records of the Il Khanate court, some of which appear consistent with Chinese traditions of history writing. Rashīd al-Dīn (d.1318) in Jami’ al-tawarīkh (Compendium of Chronicles) was sufficiently aware of Chinese dynastic historical writings to replicate them in his Farsi text of 1303 or 1304. This is not to suggest that Persia was without its own textual precedents for history – Ferdowsi’s (935-1020) Shāhnāmeh (Shahnama) was one extremely important writing to narrate Persia’s history. Rashīd provided a description of selected dynasties of China along with representations of Chinese emperors. While historians of Islamic art have discussed this material briefly, they along with Sinologists have not explored it with a view to consider the cross-cultural transformations or reformulations of Mongol identity. As the Mongols extended their military campaign across Western Asia, they engaged with Eastern European countries. Consequently we have accounts of the Mongols from other non-Asian perspectives. Recent scholarship by Peter Jackson has elucidated the varying understandings and textual descriptions of the Mongols by Europeans from different countries. This research provides fascinating documentation on the divergent reception of the Mongols by various European polities that at times competed with each other to advance favorable alignments. For some Europeans the Mongols were regarded as cannibals, whereas others considered them as the saviors of Christianity. According to Jackson’s research the Mongols exploited these views in order to promote their power through diplomatic and military means. The present state of art historical research, however, has only briefly touched upon visual representations of the Mongols within this historical context. I would like to explore the pictorial constructions of the Mongols in imagery that ranges from China, Japan, and Europe to consider the transnational identity of this fierce power during the apex of the Yuan dynasty and slightly beyond. No scholar to my knowledge has attempted an integrative approach to consider the iconography of the Mongols within multinational and cross-cultural perspectives.


List of Research Outputs

Hammers R.L., Perspective in Chinese Imagery of the late seventeenth and eighteenth century: Mathematical methods and imagined ideals, A Kyujanggak International Workshop: Impact of the West on the visual culture of Korea, China, and Japan of the 18th-19th centuries. 2009.


Researcher : Hawley P
Project Title:Meaning and use: the case of names
Investigator(s):Hawley P
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:01/2010
Abstract:
1) Explain what proper names are for. The explanation is to be well-grounded in empirical results from linguistics, psychology and neuroscience. 2) Argue that the referential use of proper names is not the primary use, but can be explained in terms of the use of a proper name to get its bearer's attention. Use this result to argue against standard theories of the reference of names. 3) Argue that the meaning and reference of names can and should be explained in terms of use. Show how this is compatible with truth conditional semantics. 4) Produce a model case study of the investigation of linguistic meaning by means of a clear understanding of what a bit of language is for. 5) Explore how, in general, linguistic meaning might be explained in terms of use without giving up truth conditional semantics. Argue against more radical ways of understanding the connection between meaning and use, for example the claim that meaning is use. 6) Produce a series of articles that can serve both to contribute to current discussion and help the principle investigator to develop work in the philosophy of language at an early stage in his career.




Researcher : Ho WY
List of Research Outputs

Zayts O.A., Ho W.Y. and Schnurr S., Maybe you are not interested in screening test but I will tell you about it’, or Is non-directiveness attainable in prenatal genetic counselling of Chinese patients? , Politeness Symposium, Bazil, Switzerland. 2010.


Researcher : Ip NM
List of Research Outputs

Zhou K., Mo L., Kay P., Kwok V.P.Y., Ip N.M. and Tan L.H., Newly Trained Lexical Categories Produce Lateralized Categorical Perception Of Color, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.. 2010, 107: 9974–9978.


Researcher : Kim Y
List of Research Outputs

Kim Y., "una Turandot attraverso il cervello moderno: Puccini’s Turandot", Western Music Research Institute of Seoul National University. 2010.
Kim Y., Early Music Psychology as an Interdiscipline: Historical Reflections on Music Theory and the Psychology of Music, In: Christian Utz, In Musiktheorie als interdisziplinäres Fach, ed. by Christian Utz. Saarbrücken: PFAU-Verlag, forthcoming.. PFAU-Verlag, 2009.
Kim Y., Music in the Ear’s Mind, In: Suk Won Yi, In Music Perception and Cognition II, ed. by Suk Won Yi. Seoul: Eumaksekye, forthcoming. . Seoul, Eumaksekye, 2009.
Kim Y., Musica Humana (Editor). 2010.
Kim Y., Review of Harmonious Triads: Physicists, Musicians, and Instrument Makers in Nineteenth-Century Germany by Myles W. Jackson, Music & Letters . oxford university press, 2009, forthcoming.


Researcher : Koon YW
Project Title:Guangdong Art Worlds
Investigator(s):Koon YW
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:06/2007
Completion Date:07/2009
Abstract:
My research proposal on Guangdong art in the early 19th century makes an original contribution to our understanding of Chinese art history at a place and time when the country was being catapulted into its modern era. It will provide a comprehensive case study looking at a broad range of artists, visual artifacts and practices, and how these intersect with local and national interests. This in-depth investigation offers a new approach to regional art underpinned by a study of the emergence of a modern art culture. Guangdong serves as a favored case study because it was one of the earliest and most important juncture of local, regional, national and global interests. Historically, it was seen as a marginal area made up of a population with its own regional dialect, rituals, and social practices. However, between the late 18th and the mid-19th centuries, intense economic activities, in particular the China export trade, and violent upheavals, namely the Opium War (1839-42) and subsequent Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864), had a large impact in the making of Guangzhou art that had resonance and consequences beyond its borders. I propose two inter-related areas of studies that examines the interaction of local and non-local cultural and artistic practices: The Art of Diplomacy: The Gifting of Portraits, and The Local Art Worlds of 19th Century Guangdong. I aim to publish at least one paper for a peer-reviewed journal, and the research of both as part of a larger project that explores how the significance and purpose of modernist change was contingent and produced in accord with local society and history. The first area will examine the gifting of portraits as part of the forging of diplomatic relations in mid-19th century during the signing of the First Opium War treaty. In particular it will examine how Qi Ying, the Chinese plenipotenary, used portraiture for cultivating what he describes as a “yi-ti-me-de” (intimate) relationship as part of his “diplomacy by appeasement” policy. However, there were large discrepancies between the ways in which Qi Ying presented the gifts to his Western counterparts and how he reported his use of portraits as gifts in memorials to the emperor. The gifting of portraits was not part of the customary diplomatic exchange in China—a portrait of King George IV in royal robes was offered to the Emperor in 1816 by Lord Amherst and rejected, and while there are records of portraits given from other Western countries, there are few records of the equivalent being returned. Historical documents would suggests that the use of portraits as gifts was a new social practice, and as such can provide the basis for a fruitful discussion on diplomatic gifting of portraits as a site of intercultural encounter. The second area will continue and expand the investigation by examining the portrait as an art object and how its production was part of a larger web of interactions between China trade artisans, photographers and portraitists from the West, merchants, and local literati scholars. For participants of Guangzhou’s art communities, the torrent of activities spurred competition entrenched in self-definition—the literati saw themselves as vanguards of elite taste, professional urban artists (including women) used different strategies to attenuate their commercial status, and for several individuals, art-making was a means of investigating greater moral and social responsibilities. A broad overview of these relationships between different social groups of artists will provide the basis of how "Guangdong” was being defined. This second part is primarily data collection and preliminary analysis that is fundamental to a larger long-term project of a book on Guangdong art.


Project Title:Art and Material Culture in 19th century Guangdong
Investigator(s):Koon YW
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:05/2009
Abstract:
This small project will be working towards an extensive chapter for an ongoing manuscript project on the Cantonese artist Su Renshan (1814-c.1850) and the Guangdong Art World. My previous Seed Funding Grant was used to accumulate information to uncover and map out a social and political network of officials, merchants and artists. More specifically, I traced these networks by seeing how portraits were used in diplomatic relations between officials from Beijing, local merchants, foreign diplomats and how they employed local artists and used art as gifts to build their networks. I am close to finishing that project, and I foresee this new project as a continuation of my in-depth investigation of Guangdong art. My next endeavor will shift from examining social networks to material culture. I will be looking at how objects contributed to a visual and material world through representations, production and social practices. Of interest is the relationship between beholder, object and representation, and how they facilitated one another through fundamental properties of the body, such as portability, taste, tangibility and manipulability. It is my contention that in the 19th century with greater international and interregional trade, there was an explosion of material objects that had a large impact on representations and increasingly on the role of the artist as social practices and values shifted. This project will be primarily data collecting and analysis of material for four different areas of experiential encounters: Tasting – eating, smoking and drinking Looking – glass, lens, and cameras Working – production of work Playing – leisure and religious activities Underpinning these four areas are the themes regional identity, the impact of new technology, the materiality of art and objects, and new topics of representation in the 19th century. More specifically, areas of interest include food, textiles, and intimate objects. For example, paintings of food and flowers can be seen as examples of regional pride on display. In literati traditions, the so-called “three friends of winter” denote the character of the scholarly gentleman: pine, bamboo, and plum – nature that survive despite the harsh treatment of winter. In late 18th century Guangdong, scholars were finding new metaphors to talk about their marginalized position. Previously, the regions regarded as the dominant intellectual and cultural centers were Beijing and the Lower Yangtze area. As Guangdong became increasingly important because of trade, there was an influx of officials and scholars from around the country, which in turn stimulated a self-reflective array of works by the local intelligentsia. One example of how local products became literary and artistic metaphors of Guangdong literati is the representation of lychees. Lychees, a regional product that were presented as tribute to the emperor, became an alternative to the plum (of the three friends) and numerous poetry competitions on this topic generated a large corpus of poems, essays and painting. The kapok tree, another local product, replaced the pine tree. Further research needs to be conducted to see how regional metaphors were formed in the 19th century. Guangdong was also the center for new modes of production such as glass work and photography. Glass was used for objects such as the snuff bottle, an object that was beginning to gain currency amongst the lettered-elite and the spread of the social practice of taking snuff. The development of glass also had an impact on lens production used in the camera obscura and the camera which was first introduced in China in the 1840s. The impact of these new productions not only crossed class boundaries, but must have affected viewing habits and the tactility of objects. I will examine the different varieties of artworks that reflect shifts in these cultural practices and experiences. Lastly, I will examine how work and leisure found their way onto the pictorial surface and the historical significance of these shifts as we see greater degrees of overlap between different social spheres. One area that deserves further research is the depiction of professionals from coolies to doctors. These images were used as trade items for a Western market, urban local artists as well as literary men such as Su Renshan. Why was this genre popular at this time? How do they vary from earlier genre scenes? Overall, this project requires accumulating sources from diverse areas that are seldom bought together in art history. Moreover, as the experiential encounters of objects are seldom recorded, in order to enrich what is otherwise an impressionistic aspect of history, I have chosen to use diversity to weave together these multiple strands of encounters. A significant amount of research is needed, but the result will offer a rich narrative of Guangdong history and Chinese art that has yet to be written.


Project Title:Su Renshan (1814-c.1850): Template of a Modern Artist
Investigator(s):Koon YW
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:09/2009
Abstract:
1) To situate a discussion of early 19th century Guangdong art in a larger historical frame. My previous work explored how Su Renshan used art to respond to the Opium War. This new project will expand on my previous work with a larger contextual frame exploring new issues that will make it accessible to a larger group of scholars. 2) To consider the cultural implications of Su Renshan's paintings. The book will help me give shape to two interrelated issues that will permit discussions on the repercussions of Su Renshan's paintings in art historical terms. First, an investigation of the way Su cites or mediates in his work visual concepts or pictorial elements from other artists or artworks (such as printed novels, books and stone inscriptions). Second, an examination of how his pictorial strategies facilitated the visual experience and analytic capabilities of his viewers. At issue in the former is the creative process of the artist in relation with other arts. In the latter, the analysis will address the questions that an image was likely to have addressed or inspired for its contemporary audience. These issues will be relevant to art historians from different fields or periods interested in interpictoriality and the experiential encounters of objects and viewers. 3) Reconsideration the role of artist. The use of literary tropes and artist identities is not new in the study of Chinese art. However, what happens when an artist wants to abandon or question these conventions – what does he turn to? One avenue of exploration is to explore more closely the relation of painting and literary novels. I will be investigating the relevance of Su's employment of first person narratives - a strategy seen more often in literature - in his inscriptions. But more than simply referring to contemporary literature, Su's inscriptions are placed in a privileged space (sometimes in the centre of the painting) anchoring his authority as the author of the painting. Are his first-person inscriptions unusual in the 19th century? What is the significance of a painter seeing himself as a writer? Rooting my analysis in both the history of literature and painting, I will attempt to forge appropriate links between the pictorial, textual, and other kinds of cultural artifacts. At this stage, these considerations are seeds of ideas and require in-depth research and attention. The objective is however more clear – to alter our current perceptions of the artist as one who portrays the internalized world of individuals. 4) To fill in a missing chapter of Chinese art history. South China is traditionally seen as a marginal area in art history and as a result there is very little substantial research other than work on the early 20th century Lingnan School painters. This will be the first comprehensive discussion on pre-modern Guangdong art in English that will also will extrapolate the reasons as to why the early 19th century was a critical period in the development of modern Chinese art. 5) To consider the impact of history and literature on an artist, and how the relationship between these two genres that are usually considered as contrary may have had an impact on visual art. While scholars are known for their literary skills, their paintings are usually seen in relation with the poetic skills or calligraphy. But what about their knowledge gained through histories or even through vernacular fiction? One objective is to consider the scholar artist within a greater matrix of literary activities seldom explored in Chinese art history


List of Research Outputs

Koon Y.W., "Beauty and the Beast: New Aspects of Ming and Qing Painting" , Hong Kong University Museum Society . 2009.
Koon Y.W., Lives and Afterlives: Luo Ping's 'Guiqu tu', Orientations. 2009, 40: 66-72.
Koon Y.W., Telling Tales: Facts and Fictions in the Paintings by Su Renshan, Rethinking Visual Narratives from Asia: Intercultural and Comparative Perspectives. 2009.
Koon Y.W., When Folk Art Meets the Literary World, In: National Kyoto Museum and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan, The Proceedings of the International Conference for Chinese Modern Painting Researches. 2010, 2009: 103-113.


Researcher : Kwan WM
List of Research Outputs

Kwan W.M., Matthews S.J. and Yang C.L., A processing perspective on the cross-categorizaton of verbs and prepositions, 16th Symposium on Modern Chinese Grammar, June 8-10 2010.. Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, 2010.
Kwan W.M., The processing of chinese converb sentences, 2009 Annual Research Forum of the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong, December 12 2009. Hong Kong, Linguistic Society of Hong Kong.


Researcher : Kwok VPY
List of Research Outputs

Zhou K., Mo L., Kay P., Kwok V.P.Y., Ip N.M. and Tan L.H., Newly Trained Lexical Categories Produce Lateralized Categorical Perception Of Color, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.. 2010, 107: 9974–9978.


Researcher : Leong SMD-J
List of Research Outputs

Leong S.M.D.-.J., SCHEHERAZADE'S SEA - a mixed media multisensory installation and performance , Music, Art and Literary Work cum Live Performance . HK, Dept of Music, HKU, 2010.


Researcher : Luke KK
Project Title:The 9th International Conference on Chinese Linguistics Phonological Re-interpretation: The Assignment of Cantonese Tones to English Words
Investigator(s):Luke KK
Department:Linguistics
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:06/2000
Abstract:
N/A


Project Title:'Elastic Sentences': towards a typology of turn continuations in conversation
Investigator(s):Luke KK, Flynn C, Zhang W
Department:Linguistics
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:01/2005
Abstract:
To specify the inter-relationships among prosody, syntax, and pragmatics in the production and comprehension of turn continuations in Chinese conversations, and to test, through comparison with other languages, the validity of Couper-Kuhlen, Ono and Vorreiter's cross-linguistic typology of turn continuations.


Project Title:Outstanding Researcher Award 2007-2008
Investigator(s):Luke KK
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Outstanding Researcher Award
Start Date:10/2008
Abstract:
The Awards are intended to recognize, reward, and promote exceptional research accomplishments of academic and research staff.




Researcher : Macri FD
List of Research Outputs

Macri F.D., A Faithless Gesture: The Reinforcement of Hong Kong in 1941, International History in Hong Kong Workshop, January 14 2010. Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong.
Macri F.D., Bren Guns for China: The Origins of Sino-Canadian Relations during the Second World War, Asian Studies Association of Hong Kong Conference, HKU, January 9 2010. Hong Kong, Asian Studies Assn of HK.
Macri F.D., The Canadian Mutual Aid Plan and the Failure of Allied Grand Strategy in China during World War Two, History Spring Symposium in May 6 2010. Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong.


Researcher : Marchetti G
Project Title:China in a Cinematic Diaspora: Transnational Chinese Film Culture in Europe
Investigator(s):Marchetti G
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:07/2007
Completion Date:07/2009
Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to chart the Chinese presence in motion pictures worldwide at the millennium with a particular emphasis on the diaspora. The portion of this project represented in this grant focuses on the connections between the Chinese-speaking world and Europe. Since motion picture images of China drifted back to Europe via the circuit inaugurated by the Lumiere Brothers’ first projected films in the late 19th century, there has been an important connection between Europe’s cinema culture, China, and Chinese communities globally. This research trip to Europe will enable me to explore several dimensions of this complex interconnection by visiting film festivals, research institutions, archives, libraries, and other institutions throughout Europe. Although I plan to look at the historical dimension of the European-Chinese film connection, my primary interest involves current global media flows. The period from the mid-1990s through the early years of the 21st century has been marked by enormous political, social, economic, and cultural transformations that have had a tremendous impact on the film culture of global China. During this period, momentous changes gripped the Chinese worldwide. The Deng era ended, the Guomindang (KMT) lost power in Taiwan, Hong Kong began to adjust to its new status as an SAR (Special Administrative Region) under Tung Chee-Hwa (and, now, Donald Tsang), and the circulation of ethnic Chinese around the world continued. The Asian financial crisis of 1997 sent many of the economies of the region into a downward spiral with unemployment figures reaching new highs in places like Singapore and Hong Kong. As the People’s Republic prepared to enter the World Trade Organization, new pressures came to bear on its human rights record, labor practices, and legal structures. Its continued economic growth occasioned more pronounced class divisions, elevated crime levels, labor exploitation, and social malaise. While the forces of globalization gave rise to economic and social crises (e.g., the SARS crisis) during this period, transnational contacts also enabled certain segments of the ethnic Chinese community to cross borders in order to advocate for political reform, social change, or cultural innovation. The importance of these lines of communication for feminist and queer communities within the Chinese-speaking world became more pronounced during this period with increased WWW presence, Internet contacts, and growing circulation of DVDs, VCDs, and other digital video materials transnationally. Chinese youth continued to take advantage of the wealth of options open to them to craft an identity distinct from their parents’ values and sense of self. The Chinese cultural sphere expanded and influenced other global culture industries, most notably, Hollywood, and increasingly porous cultural borders created enormous changes within international screen culture from art cinema to mass commercial forms in Europe, America, and elsewhere. However, the legacy of colonialism, racism, and class antagonisms still can be felt in the way in which Chinese culture has been absorbed by the rest of the world and the contradictions inherent in the current place of Chinese popular culture globally. During this period, films emerged from the People’s Republic (e.g., Zhang Yi-mou’s HERO), Hong Kong (e.g., Wong Kar-wai’s HAPPY TOGETHER), and Taiwan (e.g., Tsai Ming-liang’s GOOD-BYE DRAGON INN) to take European critics, festival directors, and art house audiences by storm. In addition, Chinese auteurs based in Europe, such as Dai Si-jie, began to provide a new specifically European dimension to filmmaking within the Chinese diaspora. European directors have also cultivated ties with stars such as Maggie Cheung from Hong Kong and have chosen to set some of their films in China, Hong Kong, or within Chinese diasporic communities in Europe. Although some of these filmmakers are widely known and highly regarded (e.g., Olivier Assayas), others work in forms (e.g., documentary, short fiction, digital formats) that do not get the critical attention they may deserve. Certainly, the full range and complexity of the contacts between Europe and transnational China/Chinese diaspora merits serious attention. Although the Hollywood-Chinese connection has been charted and individual studies of specific directors and films have been published, little scholarship exists that systematically charts the relationship between European film culture, global Chinese cinema, and the Chinese diaspora in Europe. As an outgrowth of my work on global Chinese film culture, I plan to focus this portion of my research on Europe. In this project, I intend to explore five major aspects of the European-Chinese film connection: 1) Film festival circuits—With the decline of art house cinemas and the advance of digital technologies as an increasingly important form of distribution, international film festivals have emerged to fill a gap between global film art and local viewers by acting as arbiters of taste. How have major film festivals in Europe helped to advance an appreciation of Chinese-language cinema globally? How did these festivals help to put Chinese film on the cinematic “map”? How does the performance of Chinese-language films compare with films from other parts of Asia? 2) Chinese filmmakers in Europe—Several Chinese filmmakers have been trained in Europe (Ning Ying) and/or are active in European cinema (Dai Si-jie). How do their films contribute to our understanding of transnational Chinese cinema? Is their work overshadowed by films by directors with an American connection (e.g., Ang Lee)? How does the overseas Chinese presence in colonies administered by Holland, Great Britain, and France feed into post-colonial Asian film culture? 3) Co-productions and collaborations—Even before Bertolucci made THE LAST EMPEROR (1987), various collaborations between Europe, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and with overseas Chinese existed. From the work of documentarists like Joris Ivens to the European careers of ethnic Chinese actors/actresses like Anna May Wong and Maggie Cheung, a history of collaboration exists that has been insufficiently studied or only analyzed as isolated projects. 4) Archiving—Many European archives have been active in archiving films from China and films featuring transnational Chinese stars like Anna May Wong. How has European interest in global Chinese film culture helped to shape our current understanding of the place of Chinese cinema worldwide? 5) Critics/Scholars—Critics associated with key journals like Cahiers du cinema, Positif, Screen, etc. have been key to furthering research on transnational Chinese cinemas. What is the major impetus behind this interest? What are some of the historical/political/cultural roots of this scholarship?


List of Research Outputs

Marchetti G., “Teaching Film in Asia: Moving from the International to the Transnational Classroom” , Internationalization, Teaching, Learning, and the Liberal Arts, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. 2009.
Marchetti G., Moderator, “ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW: A Dialogue with Alex Law and Mabel Cheung,” University of Hong Kong, 2010.
Marchetti G., "Dragons in Diaspora: Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and Europe in Ruins", Crossroads Conference 2010, Lingnan University, Hong Kong. 2010.
Marchetti G., "Storms over Asia: Central Asia, Montage Aesthetics, and Cosmopolitics of Jia Zhangke’s THE WORLD", Cosmopolitics, Memory and Visual Media in the 21st Century, University of Hong Kong. 2010.
Marchetti G., Bioscope: South Asian Screen Studies (editorial board), 2010.
Marchetti G., Participant, “From Chinese Diaspora to a Global Dream- An Evening with Filmmakers Clara Law and Eddie Fong,” University of Hong Kong, 2010.
Marchetti G., “LUST, CAUTION, Fashion” , Extra / Ordinary Dress Code Symposium, City University of Hong Kong. 2009.


Researcher : Matthews SJ
Project Title:Linguistic Society of America 2001 Annual Meeting A Multi-dimensional Approach to the Category Verb in Cantonese
Investigator(s):Matthews SJ
Department:Linguistics
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:01/2001
Abstract:
N/A


Project Title:International Association for Chinese Linguistics, 11th Annual Meeting The Pronominal Copula in Chaozhou
Investigator(s):Matthews SJ
Department:Linguistics
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:08/2002
Abstract:
N/A


Project Title:Rethinking Cantonese grammar: typology, processing and acquisition
Investigator(s):Matthews SJ
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:01/2008
Abstract:
Investigate the extent of convergence between the typological, processing and developmental perspectives in selected grammatical domains in Cantonese, including those of relative clauses, dative constructions and topicalization. Conduct in-depth analysis of data from corpora involving adult and child Cantonese and data from psycholinguistic experiments to shed light on grammatical phenomena in Cantonese. Submit studies on the above areas to relevant journals including Linguistic Typology. Prepare a new edition of Cantonese: A Comprehensive Grammar, incorporating insights from research conducted by the investigators and other scholars since 1994.


Project Title:Chinese Pidgin English poetry from Shanghai
Investigator(s):Matthews SJ
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:12/2008
Abstract:
This project aims to examine and evaluate a corpus of poems from the Shanghai newspaper Shen Bao (1873), containing 100 short verses by a scholar named Yang Xun. In this project we aim to: 1. Make recordings of the poems as read by Shanghainese native speakers; 2. Provide a phonemic transcription of the corpus; 3. Preliminary analysis of the features of these poems; 4. Compare them with contemporary western sources for CPE; 5. Evaluate these verses as an addition to the attested corpus of CPE. Phonologically, the use of a different transcription system (based on Shanghai dialect rather than English or Cantonese) offers an alternative perspective on the sound of CPE. Grammatical features such as ‘long you’ as PP are explicitly described from the Chinese perspective, as in: 我 同 汝 去 哀 郎 由 I with you go I long you “‘I go with you’ [is] ‘I long you’” As in the Canton phrasebook (Li et al 2005), usage varies between wh-fronting as in "what ting you wantchee?" and wh-in situ as in "talkee what ting?". In these respects Yang’s verses bring us one step closer to reconstructing how CPE was used in its heyday.


Project Title:2010 Heritage Language Research Institute Cantonese as a heritage language: Vulnerable domains in bilingual acquisition Cantonese as a heritage language: pedagogical implications
Investigator(s):Matthews SJ
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:06/2010
Completion Date:06/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Ansaldo U., Matthews S.J. and Smith G.P.S., China Coast Pidgin: Texts and contexts, In: Ansaldo, U., S. Matthews & G. Smith, Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages . 2010, 25: 31.
Ansaldo U., Matthews S.J. and Smith G.P.S., Pidgins and Creoles in Asian Contexts, In: Ansaldo, Matthews and Smith, Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages . Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins, 2010, 25: 199.
Chen W. and Matthews S.J., The Grammaticalization of kho5 'give' in Hui'an Southern Min, In: Man, V, Selected Papers from the 2007 Annual Research Forum of the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong. Hong Kong, Linguistic Society of Hong Kong, 2009, 1-16.
Cheung A.K.S. and Matthews S.J., The canonical word order myth: investigating a processing-typological puzzle in the Cantonese double object construction, CUNY Conference on Sentence Processing. City University of New York, 2010.
Cheung S.C., Matthews S.J. and Tsang W.L., Transfer from L3 German to L2 English in agreement and tense‐aspect, The 6th Conference on Multilingualism and Third Language Acquisition. 2009.
Kwan W.M., Matthews S.J. and Yang C.L., A processing perspective on the cross-categorizaton of verbs and prepositions, 16th Symposium on Modern Chinese Grammar, June 8-10 2010.. Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, 2010.
Matthews S.J., Cantonese datives as complex predicates: insights from typology, processing and acquisition, 12th International Symposium on Chinese Languages and Linguistics. Academia Sinica, Taiwan, 2010.
Matthews S.J., Language contact and Chinese, In: Hickey, Raymond, The Handbook of Language Contact. Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, 757-769.
Yip V. and Matthews S.J., Bilingualism and language acquisition in early childhood: research and application., Workshop on Bilingualism and Language Acquisition, Chinese University of Hong Kong.. 2010.
Yip V. and Matthews S.J., The acquisition of Chinese in bilingual and multilingual contexts., International Journal of Bilingualism.. 2010, 14: 127-46.


Researcher : Mora M
Project Title:13th Biennial IASPM Conference: Making Music, Making Meaning Subjectivity, Place and Song in Filipino - Altered Native Music
Investigator(s):Mora M
Department:Music
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:07/2005
Abstract:
N/A


Project Title:India and the World: The Performing Arts 2008 Reflections on musical cultural contact during the Indianization of Southeast Asia
Investigator(s):Mora M
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:11/2008
Abstract:
N/A




Researcher : Muir CD
Project Title:Saints and Their Imagery in Northern European Art, 1300-1700
Investigator(s):Muir CD
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:11/2007
Abstract:
In this interdisciplinary research project, I aim to study the visual imagery of selected male and female saints in Northern European art during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, c. 1300-1700. For the past 12 years, I have conducted research into various saints and their visual imagery. Since 2000, I have concentrated on the study of mystic marriage imagery in a group of six saints: St. Catherine, St. Agnes, St. Colette, St. John, St. Bernard, and the Blessed Henry Suso. The result of these years of work has been a PhD thesis as well as several articles published in peer-referred journals and edited books. I now plan to continue to explore the visual representation of a selected group of religious figures, in some cases consolidating and refining elements of the work for the thesis, and in other cases, conducting new research on artworks and issues that have come to my attention. The saints on whom I plan to concentrate in these next three years are St. Catherine, St. Agnes, St. Colette, the Blessed Henry Suso, and a group of male saints who marry the Virgin Mary. The specific elements of their iconography on which I will work are contained in the Research Plan section below. I will deal with a range of issues that relate to the study of religious art within its historical context: What art images exist of the saints that I will study? Do they conform to conventional iconographies for those subjects or are they unusual in any way? If they are unusual, in what ways are they so? Given that the time period I study is one in which artistic innovation as regards subject matter was limited and most artists followed traditional modes of imagery, what reasons can be found to explain such divergences? Do such artworks derive from any specific sources, whether textual or visual? Who were the audiences for these artworks and how might the artists’ awareness of the needs of different audiences have affected the imagery that they presented? How would various audiences have used these religious images in their private or public devotional practices? When one considers the imagery of male and female saints, can any differences be observed? If so, what inferences can one draw that relate to gender? Did the gender of various audiences have an effect on the kinds of art produced?


Project Title:The Fifty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Renaissance Society of America The Woman in Black: The Patron of Antoine Vérard’s Edition of the "Horloge de Sapience" (PML 17591)
Investigator(s):Muir CD
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:04/2010
Completion Date:04/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Muir C.D., “St. Catherine of Alexandria’s Marriage to the Adult Christ in Two Burgundian Manuscripts” , Source: Notes in the History of Art. 2009, volume 28, number 4: pp. 1-7.
Muir C.D., “The Woman in Black: The Patron of Antoine Vérard’s Edition of the Horloge de Sapience (PML 17591)”, The Fifty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Renaissance Society of America. Venice, Italy, 2010.


Researcher : O'Leary TE
Project Title:International and Pluridisciplinary Conference An Experimental Ethics of Fiction: Foucault with Beckett
Investigator(s):O'Leary TE
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:03/2010
Completion Date:03/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

O'Leary T.E., Foucault and Fiction: The Experience Book, London & New York, Continuum, 2009, i-viii, 1-176.
O'Leary T.E. and Falzon C., In: Timothy O'Leary & Christopher Falzon, Foucault and Philosophy. Oxford, Blackwell, 2010, 1-259.
O'Leary T.E. and Falzon C., Introduction: Foucault's Philosophy, In: Timothy O'Leary & Christopher Falzon , Foucault and Philosophy. Oxford, Blackwell, 2010, 1-16.
O'Leary T.E., Rethinking Experience With Foucault, In: Timothy O'Leary & Christopher Falzon, Foucault and Philosophy. Oxford, Blackwell, 2010, 162-184.


Researcher : Peckham RS
List of Research Outputs

Peckham R.S., A Dose of Humanities is Good Medicine for All, South China Morning Post. 2009.
Peckham R.S., Busted Empires, Prosthetic Dreams, In: Robert Peckham and Valerie C. Doran, HOPE & GLORY: A Conceptual Circus by Simon Birch. Hong Kong, Willey Printing & Production Ltd., 2010, 7-16.
Peckham R.S., Colonial Noir: Diseasing the City, Global Noir: Reading the Transnational City, Crossroads 2010, Lingnan University, HK. 2010.
Peckham R.S., Colonies, Cultures and Bacteriology: Laboratories in the Field, Imperial Contagions: Medicine and Cultures of Planning in Asia, 1880-1950. 2009.
Peckham R.S., HOPE & GLORY: A Conceptual Circus by Simon Birch. Hong Kong, 2010.
Peckham R.S., Infective Economics: Trade and Plague, 1894 , Diseases and Public Health in Asian Ports (1850s-1950s), Department of History, Baptist University, HK. 2010.
Peckham R.S., Re-Generation, De-Generation, Re-Generation, De-Generation. 2010.
Peckham R.S., The City of Knowledge: Rethinking the History of Science and Urban Planning, Planning Perspectives: An International Journal of History, Planning and the Environment. Routledge, 2009, 24/4: 521-534.


Researcher : Pomfret DM
Project Title:Outstanding Young Researcher Award 2006-2007
Investigator(s):Pomfret DM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Outstanding Young Researcher Award
Start Date:11/2007
Abstract:
Nil


Project Title:The SHCY Biennial Conference 2009 ‘Fairylands’ and ‘Forcing Grounds’: Children, Agency and Imperilment in British and French Colonial Cultures
Investigator(s):Pomfret DM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:07/2009
Completion Date:07/2009
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Pomfret D.M., “'Beyond Risk of Contagion': Childhood, Hill Stations, and the Planning of British and French Colonial Cities” , Imperial Contagions: Medicine and Cultures of Planning in Asia, 1880-1949, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 2009.
Pomfret D.M., “Children of Empire: Childhood in British and French Colonial Cultures” February 2010, Invited lecture ‘Children/Childhood in China’, at Rethinking Children/Childhood in the 21st Century, Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities, at the invitation of Professor Sander L. Gilman., 2010.
Pomfret D.M., “‘Fairylands’ and ‘Forcing Grounds’: Children, Agency and Imperilment in British and French Colonial Cultures” , Society for the History of Childhood and Youth, ‘Children at Risk/Children Taking Risks,’ University of California, Berkeley. 2009.
Pomfret D.M., “‘Fairylands’ and ‘Forcing Grounds’: Children, Agency and Imperilment in British and French Colonial Cultures”, In: NA, Society for the History of Childhood and Youth, ‘Children at Risk/Children Taking Risks,. 2009.


Researcher : Roberts PM
Project Title:Lord Lothian and the Anglo-American Relationship, 1900-1940
Investigator(s):Roberts PM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:10/2007
Completion Date:09/2009
Abstract:
The objective of this research proposal is (a) to enable me to complete ongoing research on Lord Lothian's impact on Anglo-American relations, which will be included in (b) a book of essays edited by myself, to which I will contribute a chapter, plus an introduction and conclusion. This book will be an edited collection of essays by a number of well-established British and Canadian scholars, concentrating on the role that Philip, Lord Lothian, Prime Minister Lloyd George's secretary during World War I and British ambassador to the United States from September 1939 until his death in December 1940, played in Anglo-American relations. For three decades, until his death in December 1940, Lothian was one of the foremost British advocates of Anglo-American cooperation. His career illuminates the strength with which certain British and American elite members held to this outlook throughout the interwar period and its significance in international diplomacy in the first four decades of the twentieth century. During his lifetime and afterwards, Lothian (born Philip Kerr) was often considered a political lightweight, or at least something of an eccentric, a man whose career failed to fulfill what seemed to be his early promise of great things. An aristocrat who eventually inherited a major Scottish title, the marquessate of Lothian, Lothian won a first at Oxford University and was a member of Lord Milner's "Kindergarten," the group of young men who restored orderly government in South Africa after the Boer War. From early in his career Lothian was a staunch believer in strengthening the bonds among the constituent parts of the British Empire, and also a dedicated supporter of Anglo-American cooperation. A man who naturally gravitated to power, he perceived close collaboration or, ideally, an alliance between the United States and the British Empire as the best means of preserving Britain's international position, a stance from which he never wavered. Eschewing suggestions that he seek elected political office by running for parliament, he promoted these ideas through journalism and contacts with influential politicians and others. Initially, he was editor of the periodical The Round Table, established in 1910 by the "Kindergarten" to promote imperial unity. From 1916 to 1921 he was Prime Minister Lloyd George's private secretary, playing a major role in the handling of World War I, foreign affairs, and the Paris Peace Conference. Between the wars Lothian was British secretary of the Rhodes Trust, and an extremely active member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), a British think tank on foreign policy founded at the Paris Peace Conference. He knew virtually everyone in the British and American political elites; he also published extensively in newspapers and The Round Table. In these years Lothian made it almost a perosnal mission to seek to improve relations between Britain and the United States, a country he visited virtually every year thanks to his employment by the Rhodes Trust. He was the leading spirit in several Chatham House study groups designed to improve Anglo-American relations, including one undertaken with the RIIA's US counterpart, the Council on Foreign Relations, during the mid-1930s. Lothian's only formal taste of political office came from 1932 to 1932 when, as a member of the House of Lords, he served briefly in the British National govenrment, as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Under Secretary of State for India, before resigning in late 1932 over the Ottawa agreements that imposed high tariffs on British imports of non-empire products. The high point of Lothian's career, when his attainments impressed even those who had previously distrusted him or declined to take him seriously, came when, as ambassador to the United States in the first sixteen months of World War II, he played a major part in facilitating American aid to Britain, through his adroit presentation of the British case against Germany to both the US public and leading politicians and journalists. Throughout his career, Lothian was one of the foremost proponents of a strategic doctrine first propounded in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by the American naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan, that in the past American security and the Monroe Doctrine had effectively depended upon the British fleet, but that the country could no longer rely on such free protection, and so should build up its own forces, as well as supporting Britain. At the beginning of World War II, Lothian became so closely identified which this view, which together with his demand for postwar Anglo-American cooperation was also propounded by his long-time close friend, the influential journalist Walter Lippmann, that in British governmental circles it was later termed the "Lothian thesis." Atlanticists in the United States, who supported US intervention in both world wars and subsequently cited the need to maintain a favourable balance of power in Europe as their rationale for US Cold War policies, frequently cited this strategic doctrine, which may be regarded as the precursor of the "Realist" foreign policy tradition in the United States. My own research is intended to highlight Lothian's role as one of the major originators and propagandists of the Atlanticist and Realist Anglo-American foreign policy tradition. More broadly still, the significance of that outlook in the making of twentieth-century US foreign policy has often been underplayed and neglected, a deficiency that this research on Lothian will help to address.


Project Title:Anglo-American Think Tanks and the Making of China Policy, 1940-1979
Investigator(s):Roberts PM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:01/2008
Completion Date:12/2009
Abstract:
To give new insight into the formulation of British and US policies towards China from 1939 to 1979, including the development of sometimes differing British and American plans toward China – including the future of Hong Kong, extraterritoriality, and the rise of Chinese communism – during World War II; the part these think tanks played in moderating and alleviating Anglo-American tensions generated by the two countries' differing official policies toward Communist China and Taiwan from the late 1940s onward; and the role of these think tanks in helping to promote an intellectual climate conducive to the eventual US recognition of Communist China. To investigate the degree to which divergent Anglo-American China policies generated friction in mid-twentieth century Anglo-American relations, and the possible role that non-official think tanks with strong ties to their own countries' governments played in alleviating and reconciling such tensions and devising solutions to contentious problems. To provide some broad illumination into the mid-twentieth relationship between prominent quasi-private organizations and their respective countries' governments, and how each influenced and used the other. To explore the nature and development of twentieth-century trans-national intellectual elites; their responses to the tensions that often existed between national interests and international or trans-national concerns; and the role such groupings may have played in moderating, reconciling, and resolving differing national interests.


Project Title:Think Tanks and the Making of Anglo-American China Policy, 1920-1941
Investigator(s):Roberts PM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:04/2009
Abstract:
The objective of this proposal is to lay the groundwork for an application for a large grant proposal to the HK Research Grants Council, for a book focusing on how different Anglo-American think tanks dealt with issues relating to China between the world wars; how and whether the various governments affected involved themselves in these matters; and the impact that these deliberations on how best to handle matters concerning China had on relationships among Britain, its dominions, and the United States. This study will effectively be a prequel to my current RGC-funded project on Anglo-American Think Tanks and the Making of China Policy, 1940-1979. Within the United States, this study will focus particularly on the multi-national Institute of Pacific Relations (IPR), founded in 1925 in Hawaii as an organization of groups of private individuals, mostly businessmen and academics, with some government officials, representing different nations involved in Pacific affairs. The United States was primus inter pares in the organization, being home not just to an influential national council, but also to the IPR’s Pacific Council. Where appropriate, this study will also focus upon the role of and input from the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which was in many ways a rival to the IPR. Within the British empire, research will focus particularly upon the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA, Chatham House), the Canadian Institute of International Affairs (CIIA), the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA), and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA), organizations which all did double duty as their countries’ national IPR councils. Including the dominion Institutes will provide additional insight into the role of the British white imperial periphery in the making of China policy during this period, and also into the manner in which the dominions sought to implement their own favoured policies and steer and maneuver between the increasingly powerful United States and the declining British imperial hegemon. The Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand Institutes of International Affairs were founded during the 1920s with strong encouragement from Chatham House. Each was expected to serve as a forum where elites interested in international affairs could meet informally with their counterparts in business, academe, and government. Like Chatham House, the three dominion institutes not only played dual roles as their countries’ national IPR councils, but also sent delegations to the various Commonwealth Conferences. Their members were therefore very much exposed to both British and American influences, tendencies enhanced by the fact that as World War II approached all three British dominions were forced to turn to the United States in a search for international security and protection. The overall objective of this project is to develop a new proposal for RGC funding that will result in a book on the impact of the major Anglo-American foreign policy think-tanks upon the making of their respective countries’ policies towards China during the 1920s and 1930s. While exploratory work on this project is in progress, I also expect to write several articles on aspects of it, which will explore issues that will eventually become chapters in the book. The study is intended: (a) To give new insight into the formulation of British, US, and dominion policies towards China during the 1920s and 1930s, including colonial issues; attitudes towards the growth of Chinese nationalism and the emergence of communism within China, and the impact of these developments upon the Western position in Asia; and responses to the increasingly ominous and menacing Pacific situation between the wars; (b) To investigate the degree to which divergent interwar Anglo-American policies toward China, generated friction in Anglo-American relations and also in Britain’s dealings with the dominions; and explore the possible the role that non-official think tanks with strong ties to their own countries’ governments played in alleviating and reconciling such tensions and devising solutions to contentious problems; (c) To provide some broad illumination into the relationship between quasi-private organizations and their respective countries’ governments, how each influenced and used the other, and whether the relationships differed from country to country; (d) To explore the nature and development of early twentieth-century trans-national intellectual elites; their responses to the tensions that often existed between national interests and international or trans-national concerns; the part that foreign policy think tanks played in creating and nurturing such groupings within the broader Anglo-American relationship; and the role such groupings may have played in moderating, reconciling, and resolving divergent conflicting national interests. This study will contribute both to the literature on twentieth-century Western diplomacy towards China and to the growing but still exploratory literature on the role of think-tanks, academics, businessmen, and non-governmental actors or quasi-governmental actors in the making of international policies. Numerous historians have already studied exhaustively the development of British and US government policies towards China between the world wars. This is less true of the contributions of private or quasi-private institutions, some of which, including the IPR, RIIA, CFR, and the dominion institutes, often had a significant though perhaps under-appreciated and sometimes not easily quantifiable impact on the making of official policy. It will be based on multi-archival research, using a range of archival sources from repositories in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.


Project Title:8th Annual Transatlantic Studies Association Conference Henry James and the Shifting International theme
Investigator(s):Roberts PM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:07/2009
Completion Date:07/2009
Abstract:
N/A


Project Title:King's/HKU Fellowship Awards 2009-10
Investigator(s):Roberts PM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:King's/HKU Fellowship Awards
Start Date:09/2009
Abstract:
To conduct archival research and interviews for book projects and to further develop academic connections with members of the History, War Studies, and Defence Studies Departments by exploring possible collaborative projects between HKU and King's.


Project Title:The Shifting International Theme in the Life and Works of Henry James
Investigator(s):Roberts PM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:11/2009
Abstract:
The objective of this proposal is to write a book on the international theme in the works of the expatriate American novelist Henry James, and how changes in the way James handled this theme from the mid-1870s until his death in early 1916 reflected his consciousness of changes in the international geopolitical situation, especially the relationship of the United States to European nations. This study will be an interdisciplinary project, crossing the boundaries of literature, history, politics, art history, and even, perhaps, literary psychology, to present an interpretation of James as a transatlantic literary figure who was acutely sensitive to changes in the international balance of power beween Europe and the United States, and whose fiction reflected. James enjoyed modest elite success in his own lifetime, but in recent years has become almost a cult figure. His own vast corpus of writings--more than a dozen lengthy novels, well over a hundred stories and novellas, plus half a dozen fat volumes of travel writings and literary criticism--is supplemented by a lengthy memoir of his early decades and several volumes of extremely readable letters. James has also generated vast shelves of criticism and biography, focusing upon almost every aspect of is life and work, and extending to his large and complicated family, from whose embrace James himself never really escaped. Enjoying a somewhat paradoxical afterlife, in recent years James himself, a man who lived primarily through his writing, has moreover become the focus of a surprising number of novels, by Emma Tennant, Colm Toibin, David Lodge, and Richard Liebmann-Smith, and is also an important presence in the detective fiction of Donna Leon and in Martha Grimes' recent mystery novel, Dust (2007). James, who spent the mid-1870s in Paris before settling permanently in Britain from the late 1870s until his death in 1916, returning to the United States only for visits after that date, was not only the most prominent transplanted American writer of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but also became the foremost exponent of what he himself termed the international theme. He first made his name during the late 1870s and early 1880s with several novels and stories dealing with the relationship between Europe and the United States, a theme to which he returned twenty years later in the final completed novels of his career. The comparison, implicit or explicit, of the inhabitants of the two continents, especially their elites, was--along with the egotistic demands that art makes of its practitioners and that they, in turn, are willing to make upon those around them--probably the defining theme of all James's work. Over time, James's treatment of the international theme would change dramatically, in ways that reflected alterations in the balance of powr between the United States and Europe. He is often interpreted, somewhat simplistically, as a writer who juxtaposed innocent and vulnerable Americans with scheming, predatory Europeans, who come out victorious in material terms, leaving the Americans with the moral triumph, for whatever that may be worth. This is undoubtedly too straightforward an interpretation of a complex writer who, according to his niece, once said: "I hate American simplicity. I glory in the piling up of complications of every sort. If I could pronounce the name James in any different or more elaborate way I should be in favour of doing it." Arguably, however, several though by no means all of his earlier novels and stories can be viewed as accounts of untutored Americans dealing--or failing to cope--with the wiles of far more sophisticated Europeans or Europeanized Americans and, in many cases, coming off worst. In his final novels, by contrast, it is the Americans who emerge victorious and the Europeans who are the victims. The evolution of the international theme in James's writings seems, moreover, to reflect changes in the balance of power between the United States and Europe during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. James is often perceived as a non-political writer, focusing exclusively and in great detail upon the intricate personal relationships among rarefied American and European elites, while offering little in the way of broader social or diplomatic commentary. Yet his correspondence and other writings reveal a man who possessed very keen political antennae, someone who throughout his life followed with careful attention British and European imperial affairs and the impact of the rising international power of the United States, of which he was always exceptionally conscious. James was a member of the American social elite, who always maintained his ties to patrician American circles, and was a landmark for Americans of his class visiting Europe. In Britain he likewise moved in top political, literary, and artistic circles. He carefully scrutinized and often commented on international developments, especially British imperial and political affairs and what he perceived, from the 1870s onward, as the geopolitical scene and the British Empire's gradual decline. Although James rarely if ever took a public stand on such issues, in his private correspondence he often discussed British imperial and political issues, the Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, and the rising international assertiveness of the United States, especially such episodes as the Venezuela crisis of 1895 and the Spanish-American War of 1898. James, who took British citizenship during World War I as a means of demonstrating his identification with the Allied cause in that conflict, was also--like many other Americans of his class--a strong believer in the need for Anglo-American cooperation and harmony in international affairs. He was also extremely conscious of the rising wealth and power of his own native country, by comparison with that of Europe, as exemplified not just in diplomacy, but also in American millionaires' ability to buy up European artworks in bulk, and the propensity of American heiresses to acquire noble, titled European spouses. The book I intend to write will seek to give an overview of James's handling of the international theme in his own fictions in the broad context of his response to shifts in the international position of the United States.


List of Research Outputs

Bright C. .J. and Roberts P.M., Committee on the Present Danger, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 210-211.
Pierpaoli P. .G. .J.R. and Roberts P.M., Wilson, Charles Edward, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 960-962.
Pierpaoli P.G.J.R. and Roberts P.M., Wilson, Charles Edward (1886-1972), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 746-747.
Roberts P.M., "American Studies in China: State of the Field and the Way Forward", 6th American Studies Network Annual Conference. Beijing, China, American Studies Network, 2009.
Roberts P.M., "Astor, (Roberta) Brooke Russell", In: Arnold Markoe, Karen Markoe, and Kenneth T. Jackson, Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives Volume 8: 2006-2008. Detroit, MI, Gale Cengage Learning, 2010, 8: 2006-2008: 19-21.
Roberts P.M., "Galbraith, John Kenneth", In: Arnold Markoe, Karen Markoe, and Kenneth T. Jackson, Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives: Vol. 8, 2006-2008. Detroit, MI, Gale Cengage Learning, 2010, 8:2006-2008: 168-171.
Roberts P.M., "Huntington, Samuel Phillips", In: Arnold Markoe, Karen Markoe, and Kenneth T. Jackson, Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives: Vol. 8: 2006-2008. Detroit, Michigan, US, Gale Cengage Learning, 2010, 8: 2006-2008: 230-232.
Roberts P.M., "Introduction: The Making of an Atlanticist: Philip Kerr, 1882-1921", In: Priscilla Roberts, Lord Lothian and Anglo-American Relations, 1900-1940. Dordrecht, The Netherlands, Republic of Letters Press, 2010, 1-43.
Roberts P.M., "Schlesinger, Arthur Meier, Jr.", In: Arnold Markoe; Karen Markoe; and Kenneth T. Jackson, Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives: Vol. 8: 2006-2008. Detroit, Michigan, USA, Gale Cengage Learning, 2010, 8:2006-2008: 431-434.
Roberts P.M., Allison, John Moore, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed. . Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 37-38.
Roberts P.M., American Studies in China in International Perspective, In: Brookings Institution and US-China Education Trust, China's Changing Views of America: Insights and Obstacles. Washington, DC, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution, 2009.
Roberts P.M., Antiwar Sentiment in the United States, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 41-43.
Roberts P.M., Attlee, Clement Richard, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 64-65.
Roberts P.M., Austin, Warren N. (1877-1962), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 695-697.
Roberts P.M., Austin, Warren, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 65-66.
Roberts P.M., Bajpai, Girja Shankar, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 70-71.
Roberts P.M., Baker, Newton Diehl (1871-1937), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul C. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 479-480.
Roberts P.M., Bebler, Ales, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 76-77.
Roberts P.M., Berendsen, Sir Carl August, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 79-80.
Roberts P.M., Bevan, Aneurin, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 80-81.
Roberts P.M., Bevin, Ernest, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 81-83.
Roberts P.M., Bohlen, Charles Eustis, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 90-91.
Roberts P.M., Bowles, Chester Bliss, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 94-95.
Roberts P.M., Bradley-Bohlen Mission to Korea, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 97-98.
Roberts P.M., Brainwashing (Xinao), In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 98-99.
Roberts P.M., Bridgeford, Sir William, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 100-101.
Roberts P.M., Byrnes, James Francis (1879-1972), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 587-588.
Roberts P.M., Chapter Three: The Interwar Philip Lothian, In: Priscilla Roberts, Lord Lothian and Anglo-American Relations, 1900-1940. Dordrecht, The Netherlands, Republic of Letters Press, 2010, 79-105.
Roberts P.M., Chauvel, Jean Michel Henri, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 129-130.
Roberts P.M., China Lobby, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 149-150.
Roberts P.M., Clifford, Clark McAdams (1906-1998), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 799-801.
Roberts P.M., Clubb, Oliver Edmund, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 195-196.
Roberts P.M., Cold War, In: Clark, Robert, The Literary Encyclopedia. London, UK, Literary Dictionary Company Ltd, 2010.
Roberts P.M., Commentary in “Forum: Mao, Khrushchev, and China’s Split with the USSR: Perspectives on The Sino-Soviet Split.” , Journal of Cold War Studies. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, MIT Press, 2010, 12:1: 120-128.
Roberts P.M., Conclusion: The Final Stage, In: Priscilla Roberts, Lord Lothian and Anglo-American Relations, 1900-1940. Dordrecht, The Netherlands, Republic of Letters Press, 2010, 229-245.
Roberts P.M., Connally, Thomas Terry, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 211-212.
Roberts P.M., Cordier, Andrew Wellington, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 214-216.
Roberts P.M., Cory, Thomas J., In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 216-217.
Roberts P.M., Cutler, Robert, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 219-220.
Roberts P.M., Davies, John Paton, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 226-227.
Roberts P.M., Dean, Arthur Hobson, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 227-228.
Roberts P.M., Eisenhower's Trip to Korea, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 255-257.
Roberts P.M., Eisenhower, Dwight David (1890-1969), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 711-713.
Roberts P.M., Eisenhower, Dwight David, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 253-255.
Roberts P.M., Elsey, George McKee, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 260-261.
Roberts P.M., Emmons, Arthur B., III, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encylopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 261.
Roberts P.M., Entezam, Nasrollah, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 262.
Roberts P.M., External reviewer of article, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Hong Kong. Hong Kong, Royal Asiatic Society of Hong Kong, 2009.
Roberts P.M., Finletter, Thomas Knight, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 274-275.
Roberts P.M., Franks, Oliver, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 279-280.
Roberts P.M., Gerard, James Watson (1867-1951), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul C. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. SAnta Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 494-496.
Roberts P.M., Henry James and the Shifting International Theme, 8th International Conference, Transatlantic Studies Association. Canterbury, Kent, England, Transatlantic Studies Assn, Canterbury Christ Church Univ'y, 2009.
Roberts P.M., Henry James and the Shifting International Theme, History Department Seminar, King's College, London. London, England, 2010.
Roberts P.M., Hickerson, John Dewey, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 314-315.
Roberts P.M., Hong Kong, British Crown Colony of, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 333-334.
Roberts P.M., Hull, Cordell (1871-1955), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 610-612.
Roberts P.M., Hull, John Edwin, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Social, Political, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 343-343.
Roberts P.M., Jamieson, Arthur B., In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 366-367.
Roberts P.M., Jebb, Sir Gladwyn, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 376-377.
Roberts P.M., Jessup, Philip Caryl, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 377-378.
Roberts P.M., Johnson, Ural Alexis, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 384-385.
Roberts P.M., Jooste, Gerhardus Petrus, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 386-387.
Roberts P.M., Katzin, Alfred G., In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Li Xiaobing, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 401.
Roberts P.M., Kennan-Malik Conversations, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 406-407.
Roberts P.M., Kenney, George Churchill (1889-1977), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 613-614.
Roberts P.M., Kim Sae Sun, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 415-416.
Roberts P.M., Kim Ung, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 418-419.
Roberts P.M. and Tucker S.C., King, Ernest Joseph (1878-1956), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 614-615.
Roberts P.M., Kingsley, John Donald, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 420-421.
Roberts P.M., Knowland, William Fife, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 422-424.
Roberts P.M., Korea Aid Bill of 1947, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 483-483.
Roberts P.M., Korea Aid Bill of 1950, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 483-484.
Roberts P.M., Lay, James S., Jr., In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 498-499.
Roberts P.M., Leviero, Anthony Harry, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 501-502.
Roberts P.M., Lloyd, John Selwyn, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 516-517.
Roberts P.M., Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 525-526.
Roberts P.M., Makin, Norman, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 536.
Roberts P.M., Makins, Sir Roger, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 536-537.
Roberts P.M., McCarthy, Joseph Raymond, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 555-557.
Roberts P.M., McCarthyism, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 557-558.
Roberts P.M., Member, Award Committee, Myrna Bernath Prize, Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations. Columbus, Ohio, United States, Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, 2010.
Roberts P.M., Menon, Vengalil Krishnan Krishna, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 568-570.
Roberts P.M., Menzies, Robert Gordon, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 570-571.
Roberts P.M., Merchant, Livingston Tallmadge, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 571-572.
Roberts P.M., Moolah, Operation, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 595-596.
Roberts P.M., Morrison, Herbert Stanley, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 603-604.
Roberts P.M., Murphy, Charles Springs, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 602-603.
Roberts P.M., Murphy, Robert Daniel, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 1: 603-604.
Roberts P.M., Nitze, Paul Henry, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 633-635.
Roberts P.M., Nixon, Richard Milhous, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 635-636.
Roberts P.M., Paek Song Uk, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 664-665.
Roberts P.M., Panikkar, Sardar K. M., In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 668-669.
Roberts P.M., Plimsoll, James, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 681-682.
Roberts P.M. and Kim J., Pyongyang, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 713.
Roberts P.M., Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 720-721.
Roberts P.M., Rau, Sir Benegal Narsing, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 723-724.
Roberts P.M., Re-Setting the Consensus: American Think Tanks and China Policy in the 1950s and 1960s, Workshop on International History in Hong Kong: The Present and Future. Hong Kong, Department of History, University of Hong Kong, 2010.
Roberts P.M., Return-to-Seoul Movement, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 737.
Roberts P.M., Review of Ji Chaozhu, The Man on Mao’s Right: From Harvard Yard to Tiananmen Square, My Life Inside China’s Foreign Ministry (New York: Random House, 2008). , In: Xia Yafeng and Diane Labrosse, H-Diplo Round Table Reviews. Columbus, OH, United States, Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, 2009, X, No. 22: 30-38.
Roberts P.M., Review of John Prados, Vietnam: The History of an Unwinnable War, 1945-1975. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2009. , In: Thomas R. Maddux and Diane Labrosse, H-Diplo Roundtable Reviews. Columbus, Ohio, USA, Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations/H-Diplo, 2009, 11:7: 15-23.
Roberts P.M., Review of Michael Lumbers, Piercing the Bamboo Curtain: Tentative bridge-building to China during the Johnson years (Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 2008). , In: Diane Labrosse and Yafeng Xia, H-Diplo Round Table Reviews. Columbus, Ohio, USA, Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, 2010, XI:11: 13-23.
Roberts P.M., Review of Patrick H. Hase, The Six-Day War of 1899: Hong Kong in the Age of Imperialism (Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2008). , International History Review. Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, Simon Fraser University, 2009, 31:3: 657-659.
Roberts P.M., Review of Philip L. Cottrell; Ian L. Fraser; and Monika Pohle Fraser, eds. East Meets West—Banking, Commerce and Investment in the Ottoman Empire (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2008). , Business History Review. Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Harvard Business School, 2009, 83:4: 870-872.
Roberts P.M., Review of R. A. Kennedy, The Will to Believe: Woodrow Wilson, World War I, and America's Strategy for Peace and Security (Kent, OH: Kent State UniversityPress, 2009), Diplomacy and Statecraft. London, Routledge, 2010, 21:2: 324-326.
Roberts P.M., Rhee, Syngman, Assassination Attempt on, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 742.
Roberts P.M., Rhee, Syngman, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 737-742.
Roberts P.M., Robertson, Sir Horace, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 748-749.
Roberts P.M., Rostow, Walt Whitman (1916-2003), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 839-841.
Roberts P.M., Sasebo, Japan, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 762-763.
Roberts P.M., Sebald, William Joseph, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 767-768.
Roberts P.M., Short, Joseph H., Jr., In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 779-780.
Roberts P.M., Sims, William Sowden (1858-1936), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 521-523.
Roberts P.M., Smack, Operation, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 785-786.
Roberts P.M., Smith, Walter Bedell, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Li Xiaobing, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 787-789.
Roberts P.M., Sole Editor of book, Lord Lothian and Anglo-American Relations, 1900-1940. Dordrecht, Netherlands, Republic of Letters Press, 2010, x + 272.
Roberts P.M., Spender, Sir Percy Claude, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 804-805.
Roberts P.M., Stevenson, Adlai Ewing, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 809-810.
Roberts P.M., Stimson, Henry Lewis (1867-1950), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 642-644.
Roberts P.M., Student Volunteer Troops, Republic of Korea, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, united States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 817-818.
Roberts P.M., Taft, Robert Alphonso, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military Encyclopedia. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 827-829.
Roberts P.M., Tomlinson, Frank Stanley, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 847.
Roberts P.M., Tripartite Meetings, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray , The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 849-850.
Roberts P.M., Truman's Cease-Fire Initiative, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 860-861.
Roberts P.M., Truman-Eisenhower Transition Meeting, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 859.
Roberts P.M., US-China Relations: Beyond the Shanghai Communique, 1973-1976, Department of History, Cornell University. Ithaca, NY, United States, Cornell University, 2009.
Roberts P.M., Visiting Research Fellowship, HKU/King's College, London, University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong/London, 2010.
Roberts P.M., Visiting Senior Research Fellow, History Department, King's College, London. King's College, London, 2010.
Roberts P.M., Voorhees, Tracy Stebbins, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 943.
Roberts P.M., Wedemeyer, Albert Coady (1897-1989), In: Spencer C. Tucker and Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. 2 vols.. Santa Barbara, CA, USA, ABC-CLIO, 2009, 2: 647-648.
Roberts P.M., Workshop Coordinator, Workshop on International History in Hong Kong: The Present and Future. Hong Kong, Department of History, University of Hong Kong, 2010.
Roberts P.M., Yi Kwon Mu, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 987-988.
Roberts P.M., Younger, Kenneth, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 995-996.
Sokiera J. .M. and Roberts P.M., United Nations Sanctions on China, In: Spencer C. Tucker, Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., Jinwung Kim, Xiaobing Li, and James I. Matray, The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2nd ed.. Santa Barbara, CA, United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 2: 897-898.


Researcher : Sabine MA
Project Title:Women, God and Feminism: A Research Symposium Fred Zinnemann's The Nun's Story and the Pilgrim Soul of Women
Investigator(s):Sabine MA
Department:Comparative Literature
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:11/1999
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Sabine M.A., "Crashaw and Abjection: Reading the Unthinkable in his Devotional Verse", In: Harold Bloom, John Donne and the Metaphysical Poets: Modern Critical Views. Bromall, Pa., Chelsea House Publications, 2010, 111-128.


Researcher : Schencking JC
Project Title:The Great Kantō Earthquake and the Culture of Catastrophe and Reconstruction in Japan
Investigator(s):Schencking JC
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:09/2009
Abstract:
This research project aims to transform our understanding of one of the most destructive, deadly, and costly natural disasters of the 20th century: The Great Kantō Earthquake and Conflagration of 1923. This catastrophe resulted in the destruction of 45% of Tokyo’s built environment and over 90% of Yokohama’s urban landscape. In less than a week, this disaster destroyed an estimated 6.5 billion yen in assets (a figure four times larger than Japan’s 1923 national budget), rendered over 2 million people homeless, and killed nearly 120,000 individuals. In the words of moral philosopher Shimamoto Ainosuke, the 1923 calamity “overturned Japan’s culture from its very foundation” (Shimamoto 1923:102). My Core Objectives are: 1. Promote our understanding of how a wide cross section of social commentators and bureaucratic elites interpreted, described, and constructed the 1923 calamity as a moral wake-up call and an act of divine warning and punishment (tenbatsu 天罰). They did so, I hypothesize, for two reasons: one, to admonish Japan’s citizens for leading what many elites suggested were immoral, self-centered, and extravagant lifestyles, and two, to opportunistically use this calamity to bolster and legitimate preexisting claims that Japan, particularly its urban consumers in Tokyo, had sunk into the clutches of moral and ideological regress and degeneration. 2. Illustrate how numerous elites attempted to use the memory of this calamity and the subsequent reconstruction program to reform and reinvigorate the “popular mind” (jinshin 人心) by inculcating values of sacrifice, thrift and diligence, frugality, and decorum in Japan. 3. Document how the disaster nurtured a mindset that Japan possessed a once in a lifetime golden opportunity (kōki 好機) to forge a modern, infrastructure-rich capital that would enable the state to mitigate against the ill effects of modern urbanism: New Tokyo would thus emerge as a model “high modernist” city (Scott 1988: 90) that would better enable the state to manage its subjects on a daily basis. Also, it would emerge as an internationally recognized metropolis that would reflect and reinforce values that the government and its reformist allies hoped to instil and encourage amongst its subjects. 4. Explore how and why competing ideological, spatial, political, economic, and social visions for the rebuilt capital, coupled with intense resident resistance, helped scale back post-disaster reconstruction goals and desires of many bureaucratic elites and commentators. 5. Examine how the breakdown of order, the collapse of government authority, and the massacre of Koreans in the days following the disaster convinced Japan's ruling elites to spread concepts of mobilization, group training for vigilance groups (jikeidan 自警団), civil defence and disaster preparedness in Tokyo and eventually across all of urban Japan. 6. Contextualize current natural disasters and subsequent relief, recovery, and reconstruction projects by enhancing our historical understanding of how bureaucratic rivalries, ideological disputes, resistance from disaster sufferers, and conflicting economic and political interests often shape and limit public policy outcomes following disasters.


Project Title:The Great KantM Earthquake and the Political and Ideological Use of Catastrophe in Japan
Investigator(s):Schencking JC
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:10/2009
Abstract:
1) Promote our understanding of how a wide cross section of social commentators and bureaucratic elites interpreted, described, and constructed the 1923 calamity as a moral wake-up call and an act of divine warning and punishment (tenbatsu 天罰). They did so, I hypothesize, for two reasons: one, to admonish Japan’s citizens for leading what many elites suggested were immoral, self-centered, and extravagant lifestyles, and two, to opportunistically use this calamity to bolster and legitimate preexisting claims that Japan, particularly its urban consumers in Tokyo, had sunk into the clutches of moral and ideological regress and degeneration. 2) Illustrate how numerous elites attempted to use the memory of this calamity and the subsequent reconstruction program to reform and reinvigorate the “popular mind” (jinshin 人心) by inculcating values of sacrifice, thrift and diligence, frugality, and decorum in Japan. 3) Document how the disaster nurtured a mindset that Japan possessed a once in a lifetime golden opportunity (kōki 好機) to forge a modern, infrastructure-rich capital that would enable the state to mitigate against the ill effects of modern urbanism: New Tokyo would thus emerge as a model “high modernist” city (Scott 1988: 90) that would better enable the state to manage its subjects on a daily basis. Also, it would emerge as an internationally recognized metropolis that would reflect and reinforce values that the government and its reformist allies hoped to instil and encourage amongst its subjects. 4) Explore how and why competing ideological, spatial, political, economic, and social visions for the rebuilt capital, coupled with intense resident resistance, helped scale back post-disaster reconstruction goals and desires of many bureaucratic elites and commentators. 5) Examine how the breakdown of order, the collapse of government authority, and the massacre of Koreans in the days following the disaster convinced Japan's ruling elites to spread concepts of mobilization, group training for vigilance groups (jikeidan 自警団), civil defence and disaster preparedness in Tokyo and eventually across all of urban Japan. 6) Contextualize current natural disasters and subsequent relief, recovery, and reconstruction projects by enhancing our historical understanding of how bureaucratic rivalries, ideological disputes, resistance from disaster sufferers, and conflicting economic and political interests often shape and limit public policy outcomes following disasters.


List of Research Outputs

Schencking J.C., Australia-wide Discovery Grant and Future Fellow Reviewer for the Australian Research Council, Australia Research Council. 2010.
Schencking J.C., Bankrupting the Enemy: The US Financial Siege of Japan Before Pearl Harbor (Book Review), Japanese Studies. Routledge Taylor Francis, 2010, 30:1: 149-151.
Schencking J.C., Earthly Extravagance, Heavenly Punishment: Interpreting Catastrophe in the Shadow of the Great War (Keynote Address), In: The Japan Foundation of Australia, Hyogo Prefectural Government Cultural Centre, and Murdoch University, Catastrophe, Ritual, and Renewal in Japan, 1923-1957. 2009.
Schencking J.C., Executive Editorial Committee, In: Schencking, J. Charles, Modern Asian Studies. University of Cambridge, 2010.


Researcher : Siok WT
Project Title:Neuroimaging studies of reading disability in Chinese children
Investigator(s):Siok WT, Luke KK, Tan LH
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:09/2007
Completion Date:12/2009
Abstract:
To examine if Chinese reading disability is associated with deficits in orthography-to-semantics mapping. To examine if Chinese reading disability is associated with deficits in orthography-to-phonology mapping.


Project Title:Brain morphology of Chinese developmental dyslexia
Investigator(s):Siok WT
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:03/2008
Completion Date:07/2009
Abstract:
The proposed study will address the question of what brain characteristics are the root causes of reading disability in Chinese. To achieve this goal, we use established brain imaging techniques, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to examine brain structure and functions, respectively, of children who struggle to read. It is generally accepted that reading disability is a consequence of disadvantageous brain structure and function. The human brain evolved to support spoken but not written language. To learn to read thus required natural brain mechanisms used to process speech to process reading through adjustments and accommodations. It is likely that some children struggle to read because their brains are not advantageously organized for gaining skill in reading. Thus, brain measures are important for the long-term goal of understanding why some children have reading disability and how such disability may be identified even before reading failure. Developmental dyslexia is characterized by inaccurate, slow and effortful reading in people who have normal intelligence and schooling. In functional neuroimaging studies of alphabetic reading, developmental dyslexia is found to be associated with reduced neural activity in left temporoparietal regions, which perform phonemic analysis and conversion of written symbols to phonological units of speech (grapheme-to-phoneme conversion). The reduced neural activity in left temporoparietal regions is likely a consequence of reduced grey matter volume in dyslexics relative to normal controls (Hoeft et al., 2007). This pivotal role of left temporoparietal regions in reading, however, was not observed in Chinese reading and dyslexia. Chinese as a logographic writing system presents a sharp contrast with alphabetic writing systems. Chinese characters map onto the morpheme (meaning) and a monosyllable and cannot be pronounced by recourse to grapheme-phoneme correspondence rules. Thus, a Chinese character has a more direct association with its meaning than a written word in English does. Past brain mapping research has indicated that reading Chinese is served by a distinct neural system involving the left middle frontal gyrus (LMFG) and that functional disruption of the LMFG is associated with impaired reading of the Chinese language (Siok et al. 2004). The LMFG functions as a center for fluent Chinese reading that coordinates and integrates various information about written characters in verbal and spatial working memory. It is not certain, however, if Chinese dyslexics exhibit abnormal brain morphology in the LMFG. In the proposed research, we apply what we and others have learned about the neural circuitry for Chinese reading to further investigate the biological causes of reading disability in Chinese. Specifically, we propose to use voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methods to study brain morphology in Chinese dyslexic and normal-reading children. We have two specific objectives. (1) We use fMRI to examine if Chinese reading disability is associated with functional deactivation in the left middle frontal region. (2) We use MRI and VBM to examine if functional deactivation in the left middle frontal region is associated with structural abnormality in that region.


Project Title:Outstanding Young Researcher Award 2007-2008
Investigator(s):Siok WT
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Outstanding Young Researcher Award
Start Date:10/2008
Abstract:
The Awards are intended to recognize, reward, and promote exceptional research accomplishments of academic and research staff.


Project Title:The Biological basis of reading disability in Chinese children
Investigator(s):Siok WT, Luke KK, Tan LH
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:09/2009
Abstract:
1) To examine whether Chinese reading disability is associated with anatomical disconnection among the left middle frontal region and other brain areas; 2) To examine whether macrostructural and microstructural measures in the left middle frontal region are predictive of later Chinese reading performance in normal and dyslexic children.


List of Research Outputs

Siok W.T., Spinks J.A., Jin Z. and Tan L.H., Developmental dyslexia is characterized by the co-existence of visuospatial and phonological disorders in Chinese children, Current Biology. Cell Press, 2009, 19: 890-892.


Researcher : Szeto MM
Project Title:Contested Cultural Imaginations in Government Practices and Community Responses: Urban Renewal Processes in Wanchai, Hong Kong
Investigator(s):Szeto MM, Ng CH
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:08/2007
Abstract:
Studying the cultural assumptions in policy addresses, self-representations, and institutional practices of the Chief Executive, the Land Development Corporation(LDC), the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the Culture and Heritage Commission(CHC), the Hong Kong Housing Society, and the Wanchai District Council. Studying the community responses to institutional practices by analyzing the cultural and social impacts of urban renewal. We will tackle issues like gentrification, and the displacement of neighborhood community and business networks. The analysis of contested cultural imaginations will be deepened through the empirical study of Wanchai urban renewal projects affecting the communities of (a) the "Blue House" cluster (Stone Nullah Lane/Hing Wan Street/King Sing Street); (b) the "H15" project (Lee Tung Street/McGregor Street); (c) the Cross Street/Tai Yuen Street project We will organize a symposium on the critical rethinking of urban renewal theories and practices highlighting Hong Kong cases. We will invite scholars working on urban renewal cases other than Wanchai to work with us. We will produce a journal special issue or an edited book at the end of the research, provisionally titled "Contested Cultural Imaginations: Urban Renewal or Community Bulldozing in Hong Kong?" Design a website to manage and share findings with the academic community and the general public.


Project Title:ISA-RC21 Tokyo Conference 2008 Landscapes of Global Urbanism: Power, Marginality, and Creativity Reclaim the Public Space Movement in Hong Kong: The Struggle to Liberate Victoria Harbor and Times Square
Investigator(s):Szeto MM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:12/2008
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Chen Y...C... and Szeto M.M., Making Cultural Cluster: New Strategies for Culture-led Urban Development, One day conference entitled Informing Policy: Realizing the Potential and Benefits of Public Policy Research in Hong Kong Central Policy Unit and Research Grants Council, HKSAR / PolyU Hong Kong Community College, Kowloon, 6 Nov 2009. Source: . 2009.
Szeto M.M., "Living Preservation, Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development", conference, "For a Better Built Environment: Optimizing Architectural Design for Sustainable Development," Department of General Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, 25 Sept., 2009.. 2009.
Szeto M.M., Analyzing Chinese Nationalism through the Protect Diaoyutai Movement, Concentric: Literary and Cultural Studies. 2009, 35(2): 175-210.
Szeto M.M., Contesting Neoliberalism: The Cultural and Community Movement of Blue House, Hong Kong, Association for Cultural Studies 8th Crossroads in Cultural Studies Conference, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, June 17-21, 2010.. 2010.
Szeto M.M., Cultural Sustainability and Urban Cultural Politics, For Dr. William Sin, General Education, HKIEd, 25 Sept. 2009.. 2009.
Szeto M.M., Culture, Heritage, Movement, Lecture for 400 students in Prof. Ming Sing's Course on Hong Kong Government of Politics, Division of Social Science, HKUST, 19 Apr. 2010.. 2010.
Szeto M.M. and Chen Y...C..., Reinvention or hollowing-out? The dilemma of production restructuring of the Hong Kong film industry through cross-border co-production with China film companies, Annual Conference of Association of American Geographer, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., U.S.A., 14-18 April 2010.. 2010.
Szeto M.M. and Chen Y...C..., The Regional Repositioning of Hong Kong Film and the Local Labor System in Distress, China and the West: Cosmopolics, Memory and Visual Media in the 21st Century” organized by Comparative Literature, University of Hong Kong, June 11-12, 2010.. 2010.
Szeto M.M., The Transnational and Rhizomatic Politics of Creativity in Wong Bik-wan’s Fiction, 2010 Annual Conference of the American Comparative Literature Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1-4 April, 2010.. 2010.
Szeto M.M., The What How Why of Cultural Heritage, For DR. Chan Ho Mun, course on Environmental Issues, Policy and Ethics, Department of Public and Social Administration, City University of Hong Kong, 15 Mar. 2010.. 2010.


Researcher : Tan LH
Project Title:Learning to read in Chinese: Possible intervention strategies implicated by fMRI studies
Investigator(s):Tan LH, Siok WT
Department:Linguistics
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:02/2005
Abstract:
To address the question - "we suggesting motor programming is one of the most important facilitators of Chinese reading acquisition." by using a battery of behavioral-cognitive tasks. It will advance our understanding of how to improve the teaching and learning of the Chinese language.


Project Title:Neuroimaging research on visual and attentional deficits in Chinese dyslexia
Investigator(s):Tan LH
Department:Linguistics
Source(s) of Funding:Matching Fund for National Key Basic Research Development Scheme (973 Projects)
Start Date:09/2005
Abstract:
This proposed research is based on theories of visual perception and uses functional magnetic resonance imaging and advanced imaging analysis techniques to investigate the neurobiological origin of Chinese dyslexia (impaired Chinese reading). The project aims to define the nature of dyslexic reading in Chinese children and to lay scientific foundation for early diagnosis and treatment of Chinese dyslexia. The research will also generate important pathological data to test the prominent topological theory of visual perception that assumes that the perception of wholes of an object precedes the perception of tis constituents.


Project Title:The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Investigator(s):Tan LH, Sham PC, So KF
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Matching Fund for State Key Laboratory (SKL)
Start Date:10/2008
Abstract:
1) To meet one of Hong Kong’s and China’s major strategic needs to understand how the brain works and to find solutions to neurodegenerative diseases and mental problems. Our cutting-edge research aims to address, at a deep level and in a wide scope, the most important scientific issues concerning China’s and local community’s social and educational development. 2) Through maintaining and further elevating our research strengths in brain imaging, neuroprotection, and their combination with genetic approaches, we hope that the State Key Lab will become a world-class research center in brain and cognitive sciences within five years. We will continue to promote research excellence with broad perspectives in the field. 3) To continue and facilitate publishing first-rate scholarly works. We aim to publish at least three research articles in prestigious scientific journals each year and more than 15 research papers in neuroscience journals of high impact factors. 4) To organize a series of international conferences, workshops and special lectures, attracting and nurturing scholars, students, and staff in a culture that inspires creativity and freedom of thought, and promoting research in brain and cognitive sciences. 5) To promote the applied research of basic cognitive and neuroscience findings on innovations and technologies in language learning, language utilization, visual perception, and clinical diagnosis of Chinese dyslexia. 6) To train and nurture young scientists and research postgraduates of distinction capable of being responsible leaders in the fields.


List of Research Outputs

Ngan S.S.C., Hu X., Tan L.H. and Khong P.L., Improvement of spectral density-based activation detection of event-related fMRI data, Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2009, 27: 879–894.
Siok W.T., Spinks J.A., Jin Z. and Tan L.H., Developmental dyslexia is characterized by the co-existence of visuospatial and phonological disorders in Chinese children, Current Biology. Cell Press, 2009, 19: 890-892.
Tan L.H., Associate Editor, Human Brain Mapping. 2010.
Tan L.H., Chinese Dyslexia: Multiple Problems Without A Core Deficit, Workshop on Bilingualism and Language Acquisition, Chinese University of Hong Kong. 2010.
Tan L.H., Member of Editorial Board, Journal of Neurolinguistics. 2010.
Tan L.H., Member of Editorial Board, Neuroscience. 2010.
Tan L.H., Neural Mechanisms Underlying Developmental Dyslexia In Chinese Children, Extraordinary Brain Symposium on Dyslexia Across Languages, Taipei, Taiwan. 2010.
Zhou K., Mo L., Kay P., Kwok V.P.Y., Ip N.M. and Tan L.H., Newly Trained Lexical Categories Produce Lateralized Categorical Perception Of Color, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.. 2010, 107: 9974–9978.


Researcher : Thomas GM
Project Title:Childhood and Family in Art
Investigator(s):Thomas GM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:01/2009
Abstract:
This grant will facilitate final production of a sole-author scholarly book. I completed the 87,000-word manuscript, tentatively entitled "Impressionist Children: Childhood, Family, and Modern Identity in French Art," in early 2007, with a small amount of research support from a CRCG grant ("Impressionist Childhood," 1/11/03-31/10/06). That grant was intended to produce the draft manuscript for submission to publishers. Since that time, the manuscript has been undergoing an extensive peer-review process with Yale University Press, one of the two top scholarly publishers in my area of art history. Yale has recently received its final reader’s report (in July 2008) and appears ready to approve publication at its next editorial board meeting in September or October 2008. I will need to revise and finalize the text based on the readers’ reports, check various facts, sources, and citations, and gather photographs for the book’s 180 illustrations. This latter task is especially onerous, as described below (section VII). It is also very expensive. To purchase a single photograph and reproduction rights for a work of art in a scholarly publication usually costs between HKD500 and HKD1,200, with payments in Euros or British Pounds currently leaning even higher. All these costs are borne by the author, not the publisher. While I intend to pay for reproduction rights myself, grant funding will be essential for hiring RAs to assist with copyright clearance and for covering some of the costs required to finalize revisions, check facts and final research results, and locate or select specific artworks to be illustrated. Please note that I will also use existing resources in my department for much work related to scanning and printing.


Project Title:98th Annual Conference of College Art Association Family Portraits: Visualizing Modern Identities in Impressionism
Investigator(s):Thomas GM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:02/2010
Completion Date:02/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Thomas G.M., "Family Portraits: Visualizing Modern Identities in Impressionism", College Art Association Annual Conference. Chicago, USA, 2010.
Thomas G.M., "From Ecological Vision to Environmental Immersion: Théodore Rousseau to Claude Monet” , In: ed. Stephen F. Eisenman, From Corot to Monet: The Ecology of Impressionism. Milan, Skira, 2010, 47-57.
Thomas G.M., Assistant Editor, In: ed. Aihe Wang, Wuming (No Name) Painting Catalogue, 13 vols.. Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2010, 1-13.
Thomas G.M., “Art and Ecology from the Barbizon School to Impressionism”, Dept. of Fine Arts, University of Hong Kong. 2010.
Thomas G.M., “Buckingham China: The Display of Chinese Porcelain in British Palaces”, Oriental Ceramics Society, Hong Kong. 2010.
Thomas G.M., “Impressionism and the Family”, University of Hong Kong Museum Society. 2010.


Researcher : Van DVMJ
List of Research Outputs

Zayts O.A., Van D.V.M.J. and Wake V.Y., Being Nondirective or not? Bridging Theory and Practice in Prenatal Genetic Counseling in Hong Kong, 11th International Pragmatics Association Meeting; Melbourne, Australia, 2009 . 2009.


Researcher : Victoir LA
List of Research Outputs

Victoir L.A., The Hygienic Colonial Residence, From Harbin to Hanoi: Colonial Built Environment from 1840-1940. 2010.


Researcher : Vukovich DF
Project Title:Sinological-Orientalism: The Production of the West's Post-Mao China
Investigator(s):Vukovich DF
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:07/2007
Completion Date:01/2010
Abstract:
This research trip is meant to gather data on two different but intimately related developments within recent years in China, most notably in Beijing and surrounding environs. These are, on the one hand, the development of the so-called New Left intellectuals and academics within China, and on the other, migrant worker groups who together write, compose and perform poems, songs and drama/skits and then perform them on the streets of Beijing to audiences of (primarily) other migrant workers. These two recent phenomena are directly related in that they form -- or seem to form -- an emergent "public" or counter sphere within Chinese society, one that reflects deeply and variously on the social and political transformations within a rapidly developing Chinese economy. As is to be expected, they all share a perspective that is critical of the changes within Chinese culture and society brought on by ever-increasing "reform and opening up" to global, Western capitalism. Within intellectual/theoretical circles, much of the conversation and debate centers on contemporary nationalism, the content and usefulness of liberalism, the place of the state versus the market, and -- importantly -- new thinking on the Mao or socialist era. It is this last aspect -- revisions of the Maoist and revolutionary past -- that forms my chief interest in this research trip. Through interviews with some of the leading voices in these intellectual debates, I plan to gather data on current thinking in China on how the Mao era is seen today. While this alleged "return to Mao" has most often been lamented or dismissed as mere nostalgia, my aim is to delve more deeply into the theoretical (Marxist) aspects of the debates and to place these into conversations with contemporary Western theorists/critics of globalization such as Michael Hardt, Toni Negri, and Timothy Brennan. The particular migrant worker group I will visit, observe and collect data on (i. e., their performance texts and interviews) is colloquially known as "Lao Dong Haozi" (aka "Old Work Songs"). (For various reasons, I must refrain from providing their specific contact details.) I have visited them before, spending two weeks with them in the summer of 2005. They had only recently formed at that time. They have since gone on to compose (and street-perform) entire plays and songs/poems that -- among other topics -- reflect on their lives and experiences as migrant workers in an alien city of the People's Republic, and that often invoke the heroic or noble status of farmers ("peasants") and workers in the Mao era. My brief visit in 2005 was informal but allowed me to establish relationships and do initial information gathering. This formal trip will allow me to collect and collate texts and conduct interviews with the group, and to focus on their ideas/attitudes about the Mao era. While many of these migrant workers are too young to have had direct, mature experience of the Mao years, they nonetheless study this period themselves and moreover have deep feelings of pride over and emotional investment in this time. What their art offers us, in short, is one way to represent the self-understanding of Chinese people in regard to the Mao era and the socialist aspects of the P.R.C. It is this aspect of self-understanding which the discourse of Sinological-Orientalism studiously avoids or, alternatively, dismisses as false "nostalgia." My research in both of these areas will directly inform -- will lead to -- a larger project that I hope to secure an RGC/CERG grant for in 2007-08. This is a single-authored book that will focus on current, society-wide "re-writings" of the Mao era in contemporary China within this counter/public "sphere" within China evoked above. My tentative title for this manuscript (my second book-length one) is "Specters of Mao: Cultural Challenges to Reform and Opening Up." However, this specific research trip is also meant to serve a more immediate and narrow project: the development of two articles that are based in my book project and manuscript on "Sinological-Orientalism." (I am enclosing an attachment that fully outlines this manuscript.) Briefly, my argument there is that there is -- since the 1970s and Edward Said's magisterial work -- a new form of orientalism at work in the world. Orientalism has been re-constituted since the alleged "end" of the Cold War and the global rise of both China and Sino-US rivalry and exchange; it turns less on the essential difference between East and West and instead on China's becoming-the-same as the U.S.-West. A crucial plank of my diagnosis of Sinological-Orientalism is that it turns upon the demonization of the revolutionary era, and of the Mao era in particular. Both popular thinking and culture (in virtually all places outside China), as well as most Western Area Studies scholarship about contemporary China is based on a strikingly colonial discourse about the Mao era. Brutally summarized, this chief "statement" is that Mao et al were "oriental despots" in radical garb, that the Chinese people were both all victims and a passive, yet frightening "army of blue ants," and that this is the legacy/nightmare/difference that post-Mao China struggles to wake from, or indeed is doing so in its efforts to follow the universal(Western) path of normal development and "freedom." To help counter this discourse or colonialist knowledge about China, I have written both counter-arguments about the alleged crimes and unremittingly negative aspects of the Mao era campaigns and -- following the lead of scholars such as Gao Mobo and Han Dongping -- invoked a much more positive and sympathetic historical/empirical account of those years. But this refutation of the colonial discourse about the decades of the 1940s--1970s will be strengthened by my incorporating additional data and perspectives on that past era on the part of New Left intellectual debates and by the imaginings of that era on the part of the migrant workers, as revealed in their interviews and texts. As the argument of my book manuscript is strong or "bold" and controversial, this additional research and content should help ensure its successful review and publication. More specifically, this research trip and a funded R.A. will allow me to add to two chapters and drafts already described in the attached précis. My work with the Lao Dong Haozi will directly inform my revision of Chapter 3: “Specters of Mao: Maoist Discourse and the Rewriting of Mao and Maoist China.” My interviews with leading New Left intellectuals will directly inform my revisions of my current Chapter 5 (“The China-Reference: On the West’s China and the Sinological Mirror”). As noted in my discussion of "Deliverables" below, I expect to produce two articles from this research that draw on my current arguments and research in the chapters noted above. While this is my main focus, I should note that I further plan to eventually translate and publish both the creative texts of the migrant worker group and selections from my interviews with Han Yuhai et al.


Project Title:Sinological-Orientalism
Investigator(s):Vukovich DF
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:01/2009
Abstract:
1) Present the first systematic, book length critique of China Studies and the knowledge it produces about the P.R.C. as a form of orientalism. 2) Reveal the Western and specifically American roots of this knowledge about "China" and of China Studies. To contribute to related efforts within American Studies. 3) To re-orient our analysis of China or the practice of China Studies by bringing postcolonial and Saidian theory into the anlysis of modern China. 4) To contribute to the theory and practice of the merging academic field of cross-cultural, "China-West" studies.


List of Research Outputs

Vukovich D.F., Maoist Discourse, Historical Breaks, and Liberalism’s Vengeance, In: Zhong Xueping et al., organizers, "China: Culture and Social Transformation." International Conference at Hangzhou. Cosponsored by Tufts University (Boston, USA) and Zhejiang University (Hangzhou). . 2009.
Vukovich D.F., “Cosmo Theory, The Colonial Question, and the Actually Existing P.R.C.” , In: Esther Yau, conference organizer, China-West: Cosmopolitics, Memory and Film conference. 2010.
Vukovich D.F., “Maoist Discourse, Historical Breaks, and Liberalism’s Vengeance.” [In Chinese.] Trans Liu Xi and Yu Xuying. Culture and Social Transformation. Ed. Zhong Xueping and Liao Kebin. Zhejiang University Press, 2010. , In: Zhong Xueping, Tufts University, USA , Culture and Social Transformation. . Zhejiang, China, Zhejiang University Press, 2010.


Researcher : Weekes BS
List of Research Outputs

Weekes B.S., Emotion word processing: valence and arousal effects, British Psychological Society Annual Conference. Brighton, 2010.


Researcher : Wong MLY
List of Research Outputs

Wong M.L.Y., Expressing gratitude by Hong Kong speakers of English, Corpus Linguistics 2009, 20-23 July 2009. University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. 2009.
Wong M.L.Y., Expressions of gratitude in ICE-HK, the third international conference on the Linguistics of Contemporary English (ICLCE3), 14-17 July 2009. University of London, United Kingdom. 2009.


Researcher : Wu Y
Project Title:Verbal Underspecification in Chinese and the Interfaces of Syntax with Semantics and Pragmatics
Investigator(s):Wu Y
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:02/2009
Completion Date:01/2010
Abstract:
Verbal underspecification as manifested in sentences like (1)-(2) (See sample data, Section VII) is a typical phenomenon at the interfaces of syntax with semantics and pragmatics. Specifically, it is, on the one hand, a reflex of the interaction between the lexicon, syntax and pragmatics, and on the other, a syntactic reflex of the general semantic underspecification of lexical items. The linguistic phenomenon in question bears on a number of significant theoretical linguistic as well as grammatical issues. For example, with regard to non-canonical transitive constructions like (1b)-(2b) where the direct object bears a non-transparent semantic relation to the eventuality expressed by the verb of the sentence, one question that inevitably arises is, whether or not the number of syntactic arguments is determined by the lexical semantics of the verb, the so-called projectionist view of the relation between the lexicon and the syntax, which has long been pursued in mainstream generative grammar. With regard to expletive constructions like (1c)-(2c) where the third person singular pronoun does not have an antecedent nor a referent, one question that inevitably arises is, whether the sentence is genuinely a double object construction, a view adopted by Chinese traditional grammarians. With regard to mismatch constructions like (1d)-(2d) where the duration/frequency phrase actually modifies the whole verb phrase (shui shafa ‘sleep sofa’ in 1d and chi mian/fantang ‘eat noodles/canteen’ in 2d), rather than the bare object nominal (shafa ‘sofa’ in 1d and mian/fantang ‘noodles/canteen’ in 2d), one question that inevitably arises is how to characterize the mapping from syntactic structure onto semantic representation. Although there are various approaches available (e.g. Lexical-Functional Grammar, Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar, Categorial Combinatory Grammar, apart from Transformational Generative Grammar) which have consolidated their methodology in ways that are sometimes similar, we still see seemingly unstoppable disputes over the relationship between syntax and semantics within a grammar and the nature of the mappings between them. The verbal underspecification phenomenon thus constitutes a concise linguistic topic under which the aforementioned issues can be addressed comprehensively. With the above background, the first objective of the project is, then, to develop a set of descriptive constraints and a productive mechanism to show how they interact to account for Chinese expressions of argument structures, and how the Chinese data support the view of enriched composition (e.g. Jackendoff 1997) that stresses the complex interaction between conceptual/semantic structure, syntactic combination and pragmatic inferences, as opposed to the projectionist view of composition, or simple composition that stresses the tight correspondences between syntactic combination and semantic composition. An underlying research issue is to demonstrate that there is a wider range of possibilities of expressing predicate argument structures, within which simple composition is but a default option. This will certainly throw light on some distinct yet related grammatical issues such as transitivity and valency. Basically there are two major problems in research on verbal underspecification: one is whether the phenomenon is particular to Chinese, and if not, how grammatical information is packaged in the general pragmatic perspective; the other is how to define grammatical notions like ‘transitivity’ which are as central to the description of natural language phenomena as they are elusive. While focusing on the characterization of the verbal behaviour in Chinese, this project will also address the problem from a cross-linguistic perspective, by demonstrating that similar phenomena also occur in the so-called ‘structural’ languages such as English (as opposed to ‘pragmatic’ languages such as Chinese. See Y. Huang 1994, 2000). Under certain discourse conditions, some object argument of transitive verbs as in Tigers only kill at night and “She could steal but she could not rob” (from a Beatles song), does not need to be expressed obligatorily, meaning that verbs in English also enjoy some degree of flexibility. To address the second problem, the research is to look beyond syntactic and other formal issues in the relevant data, and account for the pragmatic motivation behind, as well as the pragmatic constraint on, the ‘flexibility’ of using verbs. Based on this, the research will explore the possibility of characterizing transitivity in pragmatic terms, with emphasis on the correlation between pragmatic context and transitivity effects, which should be especially significant to linguistic research on Chinese, in which verbs do not appear to be inherently transitive or intransitive. The second objective of the project is to demonstrate how a dynamic (i.e. parsing-based) approach to natural language structure makes it possible to account for the ‘indeterminacy’ of the verbal syntax in Chinese by seeking a simple, universal mapping from syntactic structure onto semantic representation, irrespective of the idiosyncratic behaviour of verbs. The ‘flexibility’ of using verbs in Chinese appears to suggest that they do not always provide a fixed syntactic structure of propositions, which endorses a dynamic perspective on natural language structure: that is, the representation of predicate argument structures can be established at the level of propositional form which is constructed incrementally with the aid of all complements presented, and the combination of a verb with its complements is subject to pragmatic inferences, aside from the selectional restrictions of the verb. With particular reference to sentences like (2b,d), the research will show that a propositional form, which is semantically complete and thus capable of being true or false, should be established prior to any pragmatic interpretation that is relevance-based in the sense of Sperber & Wilson (1995) (Note that these cases may overlap closely with what Levinson (2000) terms “generalized conversational implicature.”). In other words, the project will spell out the mechanism that allows speakers to ‘abbreviate’ their utterances that hearers can ‘reconstruct’ in the course of pragmatic interpretation which appears to be cued by the anomaly of the literal reading.


Project Title:the 11th International Pragmatics Conference The pragmatics of deferred reference
Investigator(s):Wu Y
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:07/2009
Completion Date:07/2009
Abstract:
N/A




Researcher : Xu G
Project Title:US-China relations from perspectives of cultural and international history
Investigator(s):Xu G
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:09/2009
Abstract:
This is an exploratory project which is part of my long-term research plan to write a ground-breaking book to deal with shared history of the Chinese and Americans. Harvard University Press has commissioned me to finish a volume within two years. This preliminary research in this application is crucial for me to bring the Harvard project to a timely completion. The key issues under investigation for this project are as follows: to demonstrate the existence of shared history between the Chinese and Americans; to investigate how Americans and Chinese have affected each other’s search for national identity and internationalization; and most importantly, to fill out a crucial gap in historical studies; to fill the gap in historical study; to bring a highly innovative, creative, and ambitious project into a reality; to jump start a most promising new study in the area of Sino-American relations; to provide a most up-dated and refreshing study on China and the USA and their shared history.


Project Title:International conference on Chinese workers in the First World War Chinese laborers in France during the WW I and China's search for internationalization
Investigator(s):Xu G
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:05/2010
Completion Date:05/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Xu G., Chinese And Americans: An International History, Lecture To Institute Of Humanities And Social Sciences, The University Of Hong Kong. 2010.
Xu G., Chinese Laborers During The Great War And Their Roles In China's Internationalization, International Conference On Chinese Laborers And The First World War. 2010.
Xu G., Chinese Workers And The Great War, Workshop of International History, sponsored by Department of History at the University of Hong Kong. 2010.
Xu G., 浮生三记, In: Wang Xi and Yao Ping, Discovering History In America. 在美国发现历史：留美 历史学人反思录, 北京大学出版社, 2010, 365-382.
Xu G., Olympic Movement And China's Internationalization, Invited lecture for research seminar, Department of History, the University of Hong Kong. 2010.
Xu G., Sport, In: Akira Iriye and Perre-Yves Saunier, The Palgrave Dictionary Of Transnational History . Palgrave Micmillan, 2009, 966-971.


Researcher : Yang CL
Project Title:The Cognitive Mechanisms and Functional Neuroanatomy for the Processing of Sentences with Head-final Relative Constructions
Investigator(s):Yang CL
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:10/2008
Abstract:
1) To identify the universality and particularity in the cognitive mechanisms and functional neuroanatomy of information usage and recruitment dynamics in the real-time integration of langugages with head-final relative constructions. 2) Demonstrate the importance and power of convergent analysis that can bridge a gap between the drastic distinction in the temporal vs. spatial resolution between two major domains of neuroimaging methodologies. 3) Conduct in-depth analysis of data from different analytical approaches (from beharioal to neurocognitive) to shed light on the cogntiive mechanisms and neural substrates exploited in the integration processes of Chinese reading. 4) Prepare a revised viewpoint of the immediate enquires regarding the cogntive model of Chinese reading: An Interactive Dynamic Model,by incorporating insights from research conducted by the investigator and other scholars since 1980.


List of Research Outputs

Kwan W.M., Matthews S.J. and Yang C.L., A processing perspective on the cross-categorizaton of verbs and prepositions, 16th Symposium on Modern Chinese Grammar, June 8-10 2010.. Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, 2010.


Researcher : Yang Y
Project Title:14th International CHIME Conference Demystifying the Golden Age Craftsmanship of Qin Making
Investigator(s):Yang Y
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:11/2009
Completion Date:11/2009
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Yang Y., A historically-informed performance of Jiang Kui's music (concert managing). 2010.
Yang Y., Dao Wang Shixiang xiansheng [Obituary Notice of Mr. Wang Shixiang (1914-2009)], 悼王世襄先生, Hong Kong Economic Journal. 2009.
Yang Y., Demystifying the Golden Age Craftsmanship of Qin Making, the 14th International CHIME (European Foundation of Chinese Music Research) Conference. 2009.
Yang Y., Hong Kong Musicological Research and Scholarship 2004-05, Chinese Annals of Music. Beijing, 2009, 2006: 302-319.
Yang Y., Hong Kong Musicological Research and Scholarship 2005-06, Chinese Annals of Music. Beijing, 2009, 2007: 407-418.
Yang Y., Imagining the Empire: Japan’s Perception of Chinese Ritual Music during the Qing Dynasty, A Symposium of Qing Dynasty Music Studies. 2009.
Yang Y., Interpreting the Qin in Tokugawa Japan: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of Ogyū Sorai’s Studies on the Chinese Qin Music, International Forum for Young Musicologists. 2010.
Yang Y., Li Ka Shing Prize, for the best Ph.D. thesis in the faculties of Architecture, Arts, Business & Economics, Education, Law and Social Science in the years 2007-08., The University of Hong Kong. 2009.
Yang Y., Literati Evening, 29 July 2009, T.T. Tsui Gallery, The University of Hong Kong. A concert featuring Lau Chor-wah, Sou Si-tai, Tse Chun-yan and me as individual soloists., 2009.
Yang Y., Music Appreciation of Qin (Qin solo and concert managing), Nan Lin Garden (DAAO). 2009.
Yang Y., Qin Music and Legitimization in Tokugawa Politics, Department of Music, Stanford University. 2010.
Yang Y., Textural Strategy as Meaning: Ogyū Sorai’s Yūranfushō, the 6th Conference in Musical Philology. 2009.
Yang Y., The Appropriation of Chinese Qin Music in Tokugawa Japan, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Art. 2009.
Yang Y., The Silk Road and the Root of Tang Music, Silk Road Arts Festival Critics' Guide. Hong Kong, International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong), 2009, 2-5.
Yang Y., Wan Tang Chen Kangshi Qinxue de pianchulingjian [On Chen Kangshi's Ninth Century Treatise on Qin Music], 晚唐陳康士琴學的片楮零縑, Sino-humanitas. 人文中國學報, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, 2009, 15: 397-407.
Yang Y., Wang Mengshu Wusilanzhifashi de jiaokanxue [Textual Criticism in Wang Mengshu’s Wushilanzhifashi], 汪孟舒《烏絲欄指法釋》的校勘學, Musicology in China. 中國音樂學, Beijing, 2009, 97: 51-54, and 70.


Researcher : Yau ECM
Project Title:Contending the Past in a Transitional Homeland: Chinese Film and Popular Memory in Global/Local Frames
Investigator(s):Yau ECM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:09/2008
Completion Date:06/2010
Abstract:
My research project will investigate the recent popular memory construction in Chinese-language films and explore their global and local cultural implications. It will also investigate the generative capacity of Chinese film culture to make new memories of a transitional Chinese homeland. Film memories are mass-mediated, visual-auditory forms that circulate on screens large and small. Different from the embodied memories of lived experiences, film memories are imagined, virtual entities that exist on film, and they may or may not belong to the collective memories of communities. Chinese film culture has a longstanding practice of making historical films that reinforces, compliments, or interprets official discourse and these films often render official national history human and emotionally engaging. Some of these are notable melodramatic films such as The White-haired Girl (1950) and Hibiscus Town (1986). Government-sponsored films from the 1950s onwards have adopted memory devices and flashbacks in which fictive characters tell stories to posterity and they assimilate personal pasts into official history, as in A Revolutionary Family (1960). This kind of film memory will be treated in my research as “old memory”, defined by its pedagogical nature and its use of the past to validate a single established socio-political formation within the nation-state. Within a mass culture whose aims are to shape the perceptions and ideologies of a national audience, the “old memory” films do the work of establishing collective memory while homogenizing public understanding of the past. Chinese films in the last two decades have taken on intercultural references in their aesthetic and narrative modes. Acclaimed films of the Chinese Fifth Generation directors in the early 1990s have reinterpreted national history through stories of trauma, separation, rivalry, and survival. These films made significant departures from the “old memory” films and they adopt allegorical and epic modes. In making a traumatic past representable on film, the writers and film directors have not fully forsaken melodramatic aspects even though they have also consciously looked to Taiwan’s director Hou Hsiao-hsien who, together with novelist/writer Zhu Tianwen, innovated the poetic realist mode in their films of Taiwan’s traumatic history and island memory. More recent Chinese films such as Peacock (Gu Changwei, 2004) and Shanghai Dreams (Wang Xiaoshuai, 2006) connect themselves with China’s collective memory of the 1970s and the 1980s and they shift the locus of trauma from national events to the domestic arena. Visions of the past unfold in diverse locations outside Beijing and other major cities, and life in small towns and villages reveal violence in domestic life previously absent on screen. For this research project, these films signal the emergence of “new memory” that emphasizes alienation and conflicting perspectives of the past that redirect attention from national to local and domestic scenes. The “new memory” films bring forth voices of personal trauma in everyday settings that have broad social implications. Small town settings, the bedrock of Chinese homeland, become the backdrop of traumas whose relationship with the national picture is rather obscure yet not insignificant. Together with the films of the 1990s, this new trend in recent films promises a rich terrain of popular memory that departs from official representations of history and from melodramatic versions of traumatic history. Their contending visions of the past are refractions of transitional Chinese identities and perspectives. The emerging mnemonic narratives transform the Chinese homeland on screen and open the past to transnational readings, and to China-West dialogue. This research approaches the making of film memory as a special kind of cultural practice that has economic, institutional, cultural, and global-local dimensions. Questions will be asked on what elements motivate writers and filmmakers to leave the official arena of the “old memory” films and venture into the unchartered seas of popular memory making. The research will inquire into Chinese film culture and its generative capacity through human agency, circulation of interpretations of the past and official history, and the prevalent or marginal modes of cultural memory. It will seek to understand the viability of poetic, traumatic, realist, and surrealistic representational modes, and their literary and visual resources in China and overseas. It will also inquire into the ways that intercultural and transnational references from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other places become localized in these films. With the growth of a highly profitable national film market since the late 1990s, Chinese filmmakers and artists have self-consciously related themselves and their productions to the government and to Chinese audiences with the intention to work within officially approved parameters and to seek a nationwide reception of their films. The self-Orientalizing films of the Fifth Generation directors in the early 1990s had alienated critics and Chinese audiences. The recent Chinese films that is known in cinema studies as “independent art cinema productions” continue to seek European film festival recognition as a distribution strategy while the filmmakers take care not to alienate Chinese critics and audiences. The making of “new memory” works, in this regard, has consciously incorporated a global perspective while insisting on local identity and interests. It will take further inquiry to find out how contemporary Chinese film culture negotiates with interests of the government, film festivals, national and transnational audiences, the world film market, and with film culture’s own need for growth in a competitive media environment. The making of popular memory, as an analytic focus, attends to significant changes in cultural consciousness as well as in conditions in Chinese film culture that will illuminate new understanding of both.


Project Title:2010 Society of Cinema and Media Studies Conference Cruel Stories of Youth: Trauma and Memoryscape in PEACOCK and SHANGHAI DREAMS
Investigator(s):Yau ECM
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:03/2010
Completion Date:03/2010
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Yau E.C.M., "Brand New China: Advertising, Media and Commercial Culture (Review)", CINEMA JOURNAL. Austin, Texas, USA, University of Texas Press, 2010, 49, No.3: 159-161.
Yau E.C.M., Cruel Stories of Youth: Trauma and Memoryscape in Peacock and Shanghai Dreams, Society of Cinema & Media Studies 2010 Conference, Los Angeles. 2010.
Yau E.C.M., Re-emergent Multiplicities: Nanking and Cosmopolitan Memory, CHINA-WEST: COSMOPOLITICS, MEMORY & VISUAL MEDIA IN THE 21st CENTURY, University of Hong Kong. 2010.


Researcher : Yau HYA
List of Research Outputs

Yau H.Y.A. and Zayts O.A., ‘Your test result is sort of, cut off … Higher than average’: Delivery of positive screening result for fetal Down Syndrome in prenatal genetic screening in Hong Kong, 8th Interdisciplinary Conference: Communication, Medicine & Ethics; Boston University School of Public Health & College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. 2010.


Researcher : Zatsepine VV
List of Research Outputs

Potter P...B..., Du F.U.C.H.U.N. and Zatsepine V.V., Russian Explorers, Religious Exiles and White Russians in Xinjiang, In: Dr. Pitman B. Potter and Du Fachun, Western Development and Socio-Economic Change: China-Canada Comparative Studies. 西部开发及其社会经济变迁:, Beijing, PRChina, 知识产权出版社, 2010, 257-265.
Teo V.E.L., Gong G. and Zatsepine V.V., Three Nations in Search of Manchuria's Past, In: Gerrit Gong and Victor Teo, Reconceptualising the Divide: Identity, Memory, and Nationalism in Sino-Japanese Relations. UK, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2010, 119-134.


Researcher : Zayts OA
Project Title:Interactional triad in prenatal genetic counseling: A discourse analytic study of paternal involvement
Investigator(s):Zayts OA, Kang MA, Tang MHY
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Start Date:11/2008
Completion Date:10/2010
Abstract:
The proposed project will focus on paternal participation in prenatal genetic counseling (henceforth PGC) in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tsan Yuk and Queen Mary Hospitals. Our patient population includes pregnant women of 35 years of age and older who are considered at an increased risk of carrying a baby with disorders associated with advanced maternal age. PGC is organized as an information session in which a medical provider may pursue the following activities: (1) assessment and discussion of a woman’s personal risks of carrying a baby with disorders based on her medical and family history; (2) discussion of the options for prenatal genetic testing and the risks and benefits associated with each test; (3) facilitation of the woman’s choice of whether to pursue the testing; (4) assessment of the woman’s understanding of the information provided in the counseling session; (5) discussion of questions and provision of counselling for psychosocial concerns that a woman may have (Bernhardt et al. 2005). The main medical concern of the PGC sessions is the informed choice by the patient and her partner (if present) in whether to pursue the prenatal genetic testing or not. Although it is the patient and her partner who decide the testing and screening option they would like to pursue, the medical provider acts as a facilitator of their choice. The choice should reflect the patient and her partner’s values and attitudes (Marteau & Dormandy, 2001; Michie et. al., 2002) and the information should be presented in an unbiased non-directive manner. Nowadays, PGC is a routine part of prenatal care in most countries (Marteau and Dormandy 2001; Bernhardt et al. 2005). According to the pilot study conducted by the research team in 2007-2008, 40% of sessions in the dataset include a patient, her partner and a medical provider. However, very little research has been conducted on the partner’s involvement in PGC as compared to the patient (Browner and Preloran 1999; Kenen et. al. 2000; Lafans et. al. 2003). To a certain extent this can be justified because women carry the baby and are the ones upon whom the genetic testing is carried out. However, research shows that very few women make decisions regarding PGC on their own (Browner and Preloran 1999). The partner plays a very distinct role in PGC. If, for example, in pediatric encounters, the third party (i.e. the parent) plays the role of the companion in the PGC the partner is both the companion and the “secondary patient” (Wake 2006). The medical history of the partner may have a direct influence on the wellbeing of the baby. In our study of paternal involvement in PGC we will build on the extensive existing literature on multiparty interactions (Goffman 1967; Bell 1984; Clark and Carlson 1982). In the medical setting most of the studies of interactional triads focused on geriatric or pediatric encounters (Adelman 1987; Adelman et. al. 1987; Aronsson and Rundström 1988; 1989; Coupland and Coupland 2000; Kenen 2000; Tsai 2005). The presence of the third party makes an interaction more complex as different participants bring different perspectives to the encounter (Sorenson and Wertz 1986; Pilnik 2002). As noted by Browner and Preloran (1999), there is ample evidence in the literature that couples may have different views on prenatal testing, children with disabilities, and abortion for genetic reasons. The third person may play a different interactional role depending on a number of factors such as the ability of the patient to represent herself or the relationship between the patient and her partner (Wake 2006). Different interactional roles may include, for example, collaborative discourse production (what Falk (1979) refers to as “conversational duets”) or a passive participant (Adelman et.al. 1987). Wake (2006) in her study of PGC suggests four types of the partner’s participation: ratified bystanding, indirect participation, co-participation and leading participation. Ratified bystanding means that the husband who is a ratified participant refrains from the question-answer activities. The husband’s indirect participation involves taking turns to speak to the patient concerning the counselor’s questions or responding to the patient’s questions addressed to him (Wake 2006: 93). Co-participating husband “joins the patient to answer the counselor’s questions directly” (Wake 2006: 96). When the husband takes the leading role in the PGC interaction, he answers the counselor’s questions and addresses the counselor directly. Because facilitation of patient’s decision-making is the main medical concern of PGC (Gekas et. al. 1999; Emery 2001; Kaiser et al. 2002; Barratt et al. 2004; Bekker et al. 2004; Michie et al. 2002; Michie et al. 2003; Gates 2004; Weinstein 2005; Woolf et al. 2005), the involvement of both partners in prenatal sessions is optimal. Following Wake (2006), we will focus on the concept of “family” as the counselling target in our study and how the medical providers attend to and address both the patient and her partner in order to arrive at an informed decision. The research objectives of our study have been identified as follows: 1) To investigate how the presence or absence of the partner influence the content of PGC and adherence to the principle of non-directiveness (e.g. patient’s asking “infamous” (Sarangi et. al. 2004) hypothetical questions about the choice the medical provider would take when their partner’s support and advice are not immediately available); 2) To investigate whether the presence of the partner influences the professionals’ evaluation of the patient (e.g. if the partner takes on “leading participation” the medical provider may develop an impression regarding the patient’s general and language competence); 3) To analyse whether the presence of the partner influences patient’s satisfaction with the medical encounter. More specific objectives of the research include: 1) To study the discourse strategies of inclusion and exclusion (e.g. questions addressed to specific recipients); 2) To study the distribution of the topic and question initiations by the patient and her partner in order to investigate the patterns of their contributions; 3) To study the discursive strategies of how consensus is obtained if the attending partners have different perspectives of PGC.


Project Title:11th International Pragmatics Conference Patient's direct questions and maintaining nondirectiveness of genetic counseling: Evidence from prenatal genetic counseling sessions in Hong Kong
Investigator(s):Zayts OA
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:07/2009
Completion Date:07/2009
Abstract:
N/A


Project Title:Language, Medicine and Culture: English as a Lingua Franca in Prenatal Genetic Counseling in Hong Kong
Investigator(s):Zayts OA, Kang MA, Lee CP, Leung KY, Luke KK, Tang MHY
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:General Research Fund (GRF)
Start Date:10/2009
Abstract:
1) To examine how English as a lingua franca is used in a designated professional context in Hong Kong using established conversation and discourse analytic techniques. 2) To identify discourse strategies used in lingua franca interactions to enhance communication and avoid misunderstandings in a multilingual and multicultural setting. 3) To explore the interactional means by which medical and patient concerns are expressed and negotiated. 4) To investigate the impact of English proficiency on prenatal care. 5) To summarize the results of the study in the form of a workshop for the PGC professionals in Hong Kong. 6) To maintain a database of PGC consultations for the purposes of research and training of medical professionals.


Project Title:Constructing and negotiating identities at work: A study of Hong Kong workplaces
Investigator(s):Zayts OA
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:Small Project Funding
Start Date:12/2009
Abstract:
In this project we aim to explore the complex processes involved in identity construction in a range of different workplaces (including medical and corporate settings) in Hong Kong. In recent years there has been a growing interest in issues of identity construction (Bucholtz & Hall, 2004; Bucholtz & Hall, 2005; Cameron & Kulik, 2005; Chen, 2008; Williams, 2008). However, only a few have focused on identity construction in workplace contexts. But since people spend a considerable amount of their time at work, and since members constantly construct and negotiate multiple (and often opposing) identities at work, the workplace constitutes a prime site for an exploration of identity construction. The general aim of this project is thus - to identify and explore some of the complex and intertwined processes involved in constructing and negotiating identities in a range of different workplaces. In order to achieve this objective we employ the social constructionist paradigm. In the social constructionist paradigm, the construction of identity is treated as a constantly shaping and developing process, in which the various aspects of identity are “maintained and (re-)created through social practices, including language practices” (Kendall & Tannen, 1997: 83). In contrast to earlier theories, this paradigm sees identity not as a fixed and static category based on the attributes attached to individuals, but defines it as “a dynamic construct that may not only develop and change over time but is also context dependent” (Ellemers et al, 2003: 13; Hall et al, 1999; Hall, 2000). In this project we specifically use Bucholtz & Hall’s (2004; 2005) framework for identity analysis as a starting point. We follow them in viewing identity as “a relational and socio-cultural phenomenon” that is dynamically and constantly constructed and negotiated by interlocutors in an interaction (Bucholtz & Hall, 2005: 585). As such, constructing identities involves multiple “different, often intersecting and antagonistic, discourses, practices and positions” (Hall et al, 2000: 17). In order to explore the complex processes involved in the construction of identities at work, we aim to conduct an in-depth study of workplace practices at a number of workplaces in Hong Kong. We thereby hope 1) to provide new insights into the complex processes through which identities are actually constructed and negotiated in interaction. In particular, using Bucholtz & Hall’s framework as a starting point and drawing on naturally occurring interactional data collected in a variety of workplaces in Hong Kong we aim to refine some of the theory’s principles. 2) to examine in more detail one specific type of workplace identity, namely leader identity, and more specifically, to identify and explore some of the complex and intertwined processes involved in constructing and negotiating leader identities. A particular focus is the ways in which these professional identities are always to some extent co-constructed between leaders and subordinates. The focus of this project is on the unique sociocultural context of Hong Kong. As previous research has established, Hong Kong is a prime site for identity construction (e.g. Chen 2008): it is not only “an international and cosmopolitan city with an international and diverse community” but it is also deeply rooted in Chinese culture and traditions (Brooks, 2004: 148). This combination of Eastern and Western elements and different cultural traditions is reflected in many aspects of social life, and is particularly salient in multi-cultural workplaces where members with different cultural backgrounds come together and have to work together on a daily basis. A particular focus of our analysis of identity construction is thus on how these processes are performed in multicultural and multilingual workplace environments where cultural practices, values and assumptions may be particularly relevant.


List of Research Outputs

Kang M.A. and Zayts O.A., Guest editor of special issue: "Medical Communication in the Asia Context", In: M. Agnes Kang and Olga Zayts, Journal of Asian Pacific Communication. John Benjamins, 2010, 20 (2).
Kang M.A. and Zayts O.A., Interactional difficulties as a resource for patient participation in a prenatal counseling setting in Hong Kong, 8th Interdisciplinary Conference: Communication, Medicine & Ethics; Boston University School of Public Health & College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. 2010.
Kang M.A. and Zayts O.A., Patient participation within a globalised patient population: Interactional difficulties in a prenatal counseling context in Hong Kong, In: M. Agnes Kang and Olga Zayts, guest editors, Journal of Asian Pacific Communication. John Benjamins, 2010, 20 (2): 169-184.
Schnurr S. and Zayts O.A., Constructing cultural identities in multicultural workplaces in Hong Kong, Panel on "Professional Identities", ABC Symposium, Antwerp, Belgium. 2010.
Wake Y...V... and Zayts O.A., Discursive Construction of Prenatal Genetic Options, Boston University School of Public Health & College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. 2010.
Yau H.Y.A. and Zayts O.A., ‘Your test result is sort of, cut off … Higher than average’: Delivery of positive screening result for fetal Down Syndrome in prenatal genetic screening in Hong Kong, 8th Interdisciplinary Conference: Communication, Medicine & Ethics; Boston University School of Public Health & College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. 2010.
Zayts O.A., "Language, Medicine and Culture: Researching Healthcare Discourse in multilingual and multicultural contexts", a panel organized for the 11th International Pragmatics Association Meeting; Göteborg, Sweden, 10th International Pragmatics Association Meeting; Melbourne, Australia. 2009.
Zayts O.A., Van D.V.M.J. and Wake V.Y., Being Nondirective or not? Bridging Theory and Practice in Prenatal Genetic Counseling in Hong Kong, 11th International Pragmatics Association Meeting; Melbourne, Australia, 2009 . 2009.
Zayts O.A. and Kang M.A., Communication in healthcare settings: Interactional perspectives from Asia, In: M. Agnes Kang and Olga Zayts, guest editors, Journal of Asian Pacific Communication. John Benjamins, 2010, 20 (2): 165-168.
Zayts O.A. and Schnurr S., Developing ongoing and mutually beneficial partnerships with workplaces: A report of mixed experiences in providing feedback to participants , English as the Language of Asian Business and Profession. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. . 2009.
Zayts O.A. and Kang M.A., Information delivery in prenatal genetic counseling: On the role of initial inquiries, In: M. Agnes Kang and Olga Zayts, guest editors, Journal of Asian Pacific Communication. John Benjamins, 2010, 20 (2): 243-259.
Zayts O.A., Investigating prenatal genetic screening in Hong Kong as a discourse and an activity type, 8th Interdisciplinary Conference: Communication, Medicine & Ethics; Boston University School of Public Health & College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. 2010.
Zayts O.A., Ho W.Y. and Schnurr S., Maybe you are not interested in screening test but I will tell you about it’, or Is non-directiveness attainable in prenatal genetic counselling of Chinese patients? , Politeness Symposium, Bazil, Switzerland. 2010.
Zayts O.A., Schnurr S. and Lee C.P., Prenatal genetic screening in Hong Kong as a site for activity analysis: Re-establishing the importance of participant structure in intercultural encounters , 8th Interdisciplinary Conference: Communication, Medicine & Ethics; Boston University School of Public Health & College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. 2010.


Researcher : Zhao X
List of Research Outputs

Zhao X., Democracy and Democratism：Reflection on the Debate of Constitution and Democracy between Chen Duxiu and Kong Youwei during May4th Movement , 民主与民主主义：重启康有为与陈独秀的“宪政与民主”之辩, In: 童世骏, Chinese Culture Forum（5th Annual Forum） Western Learning in China:Reflection on May 4th after 90 Years It’s paper for Chinese Culture Forum . 中国文化论坛（第5届年度论坛） 西学在中国——五四运动九十周年的思考, Shanghai,Beijing, Shanghai Social Science Academy/SDX Joint Publishing Co., 2009, p.p.53-65.
Zhao X., Democracy Or Democratism?_rethinking Mr. Democracy In China Ninety Years On, 民主还是民主主义？——九十年来中国民主观念形成的理论逻辑和历史逻辑, In: Tian Weiping 田卫平, Academic Monthly. 学术月刊, Shanghai, 上海市社会科学联合会, 2010, Vol.42 No.3: 11-20.
Zhao X., Modernity and Abstract, 现代性与抽象, In: 叶彤, Art Studies. 艺术研究（第一辑）, Beijing, SDX Joint Publishing Co., 2009, V1: 291pages.


Researcher : Zhou X
Project Title:7th International Congress on Traditional Asian Medicine Everyday Strategies for Survival During the Great Famine in China
Investigator(s):Zhou X
Department:School of Humanities
Source(s) of Funding:URC/CRCG - Conference Grants for Teaching Staff
Start Date:09/2009
Completion Date:09/2009
Abstract:
N/A


List of Research Outputs

Zhou X., Everyday Strategies for Survival During the Great Famine in China , 7th International Congress on Traditional Asian Medicine . Bhutan, 2009.
Zhou X., In: Sander L Gilman & Zhou Xun , Smoke: A Global History of Smoking. Bologna, Odoya, 2010, One: 542.


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