International Symposium

Humanities After Fukushima:
Dialogues between Cultural Studies and Philosophy in the Post-Nuclear Age of Critical Junctures

When: Friday, 28 October 2011 - Sunday, 30 October 2011

Venue: Birkbeck College, University of London, 43 Gordon Square and Main Building on Malet Street, London

Discussion Themes and Focuses

Inspired by Nishiyama Yuji’s documentary film “The Right to Philosophy”, comprised of his interviews with those associated with “International College of Philosophy” founded in Paris by Jaques Derrida and Francois Chatelet in 1983, this small-scale international symposium, will try to address issues surrounding the past, present and future of Humanities education and research in the age of crisis. This “crisis” particularly resonates with the natural disasters on March 11, 2011 in Japan, and the following calamitous events centered on the nuclear power-plant’s meltdown at Fukushima.

What could be the roles and responsibilities of Humanities scholars facing this crisis? Can University education stand up to the multiple challenges posed by the now increasingly technologically sophisticated neoliberal/capitalist politics? What could be the viable relationship between Cultural Studies and Philosophy education? And is it too vulgar to talk about Art and Literature after “Fukushima”?

This gathering will tackle these questions from various and broad perspectives in a kind of intellectual exchange particularly among those who are concerned with the relevant issues in the present geopolitical contexts in Japan and Britain. Although the Symposium is based on the traditional format consisting of several panels with keynote speeches and commentaries, its atmosphere will be definitely friendly, non-hierarchical and improvisational, and we hope that the participants will enjoy the intellectual exchanges at their very best forms during the three days. 

*Participation in the symposium is free of charge, but please pay £20 for food and drinks if you would like to attend the Reception on Friday Oct 28 and the Farewell Party on Sunday Oct 30  (£10 for attending only one of the two; the Keynote speakers and Commentators are free).

Friday October 28

17:00 - 20:00 Panel 1: “Cultural Studies and Philosophy Education in Asia” (Room G16, Malet st)

Keynote 1: Koichi Iwabuchi (Waseda University)

Keynote 2: Fabian Schäfer (Leipzig University)

Comment 1: Angus Lockyer (SOAS, University of London)

Comment 2: Ted Motohashi (Birkbeck College, University of London)

Discussion

20:00 - 21:00 Reception (Room G16, Malet St)

Saturday, October 29

11:00 - 14:00 Film showing: “The Right to Philosophy” (Birkbeck Cinema, 43 Gordon Sq)

Keynote: Yuji Nishiyama (Tokyo Metropolitan University)

Comment: Yusuke Miyazaki (University of Niigata)

Discussion

15:00 - 18:00 Panel 2: “Roles and Responsibilities of Intellectuals in the Age of Neoliberal Politics” (Room 416, Malet St)

Keynote 1: Sabu Kohso (New York, Artist/Activist)

Keynote 2: Jun Hirose (Ryukoku University)

Comment 1: Angela McRobbie (Goldsmiths)

Comment 2: Jeremy Gilbert (University of East London)

Discussion

Sunday, October 30

10:00 - 13:00 Panel 3:  “Humanities After Crisis” (Room B04, 43 Gordon Sq)

Keynote 1: Ryuta Imafuku (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)

Keynote 2: Chih-Ming Wang  (Institute of European and American Studies, Academia Sinica, Taiwan)

Comment 1: Esther Leslie (Birkbeck)

Comment 2: Michael Gardiner (University of Warwick)

Discussion

14:00 - 17:00 Panel 4: “The Present Conditions and Future Prospects of Humanities Education in Universities” (Room B04, 43 Gordon Sq)

Keynote 1: Naoki Sakai (Cornell University)

Keynote 2: Gauri Viswanathan (Columbia University)

Comment 1: Costas Douzinas (Birkbeck)

Comment 2: John Hutnyk (Goldsmiths) 　　　　　　　

Discussion

17:00 - 18:30 Summary Panel (Room B04, 43 Gordon Sq)

All the Keynote Speakers’ and Commentators’ final remarks (5 minutes each)

19:00 - 21:00 Farewell Party (Room B03, 43 Gordon Sq) 

Organized by Birkbeck Centre for Media, Culture and Creative Practice and London Asia Pacific Cultural Studies Forum

Academic Director: Ted Motohashi (Visiting Professor, Department of  Media and Cultural Studies, Birkbeck) 

Conference Director: Shinji Oyama (Director, Centre for Media Culture and Creative Practice, Birkbeck)

Organizing Committee Members: Lyle De Souza, Oliver Dew, Maria Filisch, Novella Gremigni, Dario Lolli, and Simon Turner.

Financial Help from the Japan Foundation International Exchange Fund