Visualising Asia: Deciphering ‘Otherness’ in Visual and Material Cultures

SOAS, University of London

21^st September 2018

Confirmed Keynote: Dr Anne Witchard

Historically, Asia has been a contended space of exploration and domination, where both Asian and non-Asian agents sought to define themselves against others. Within this broad historical and geographical context, this international and interdisciplinary conference brings together various forms of visuals, such as films, cartoons, and objects, in their interaction with discourses of ‘other’.  The platforms of visualising Asia were assimilated into daily life and practices, feeding into narratives that transcend any single medium. Due to their visual impact, they became lasting repositories of imagined identities and thus have critical implications for those representing and those being represented. This conference invites discussions on the differing ways ‘otherness’ has been used in both Asian and non-Asian societies through visuals. We encourage the participation from postgraduates, career researchers, scholars, curators, practitioners, and archivists.  The aim is to bring together an array of visualities from across various disciplines in order to reflect on the importance of visuals in knowledge production and circulation within and across cultures and societies.

Wider themes include: empire, multiculturalism, identity, nation, ethnic and cultural minorities, integration, ‘othering’, inclusion, exclusion, power dynamics, representation.

Papers or panels are invited on any topic related to the themes and questions explored in the conference that include but are limited to the following:

• Representations of Asia by non-Asian cultures across different historical eras.
• Representations of Asian societies by their neighbouring Asian countries.
• Representations of minorities within hegemonic discourses in Asia.
• Gender, ethnicity and class in visual othering of Asia.
• How and why did representation occur, and the significance and impact for those being represented and those representing.
• The development of concepts of identity through the use of visual and/or material culture.
• The politics involved in visual knowledge production.
• Long-term effects and consequences of visual representations of Asia.
• The relationship between power and representation. The limits of ‘othering’ and representation.
• Images of Asia and the development of visual and material industries.
• Approaches and/or practices in cataloguing images of Asia in archives..

Panels and individual submissions are welcomed.  Please send queries and abstracts of 250-350 words, along with a brief bio of no more than 100 words, to visualisingasia@gmail.com by 3 June 2018.

The conference convenors are Amy Matthewson (SOAS, University of London), and Dr Irene González-López (Kingston University).