Pages

Monday, November 29, 2021

“The Unmaking of the Chinese Working Class: A Brief History of Inequality in the PRC," December 6 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present Teemu Ruskola and his talk “The Unmaking of the Chinese Working Class: A Brief History of Inequality in the PRC" on December 6.
China’s ongoing economic reforms have produced new types of legal, political, economic, social, and familial subjects. The revolutionary political subject of Maoism—“the People”—has been atomized into independent economic subjects responsible for their own welfare outside of work. This has been marked by the abolition of the so-called “iron rice bowl,” or a system of cradle to grave welfare for privileged urban workers, in contrast to exploited rural citizenry who have historically subsidized China’s urban industry. With the contractualization of all labor, even urban workers no longer enjoy a guaranteed share of the benefits of economic development. An earlier politically enforced inequality between city and country is increasingly eclipsed by a society-wide gulf between the rich and the poor, without any necessary geographical correlate. Collectively, China’s rural and urban reforms have resulted in tectonic shifts in the boundaries among the state, the market, and the family. For example, the state has been turning increasingly to the family to re-assume its traditional welfare functions, even as the very reforms that motivate this turn undermine the traditional family itself.
It runs from 4:30 to 5:45 pm in 211 Lawrence Hall or on Zoom; registration is required.

Friday, November 26, 2021

New Japanese animated movie Sword Art Online the Movie Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night (劇場版 ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ 星なき夜のアリア) in Pittsburgh, from December 3.


The 2021 Japanese animated movie apanese animated movie Sword Art Online the Movie Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night (劇場版 ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ 星なき夜のアリア) will play in Pittsburgh from December 3 through 9. A synopsis of the film that, based on a manga series:
Return to the death game where it all began—Sword Art Online. In this new Aincrad Arc by original creator Reki Kawahara, the story is seen through Asuna’s eyes. What at first seems like a dream come true quickly becomes a nightmare when newbie gamer Asuna Yuuki learns the only way to escape the virtual world of Aincrad is to beat all 100 levels—but “Game Over” means you die in the real world.
It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Classic Westmoreland, and the Cinemark theater in McCandless, and tickets are available online. Shows on December 3, 4, and 9 are in Japanese with English subtitles, while shows on December 7 and 8 are dubbed in English.

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Pittsburgh Pirates to re-sign Yoshitomo Tsutsugo to one-year contract.

via the Associated Press.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly set to re-sign Yoshotimo Tsutsugo (筒香 嘉智) to a one-year contract valued at $4 million. Tsutsugo was signed in August and appeared in 43 games for Pittsburgh, hitting 8 home runs and being one of the bright, though inconsistent, spots late in the season. He is a native of Wakayama, Japan, and is the fourth Japanese player in Pittsburgh Pirates history, after pitcher Masumi Kuwata in 2007, infielder Akinori Iwamura in 2010, and pitcher Hisanori Takahashi for nine games in 2012.

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Pittsburgh Sichuan Cuisine Week gets started.

via Harry Funk of the Observer-Reporter

The first ever Pittsburgh Sichuan Cuisine Week started last week with some fanfare but no information: it was mentioned in passing in the local papers that the Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office was collaborating with the Pittsburgh Chinese Restaurant Association and local Sichuan restaurants on some type of dining celebration. The Pittsburgh City-Paper writes:
The Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office also presented PCRA with gifts valued at $10,000 to be given to guests who dine during the week.
More background comes today via Washington county's Observer-Reporter, which traces the recent exchanges between Pittsburgh and its Chinese Sister City:
Shortly after a performance group from Chengdu, China, returned home from the Pittsburgh area in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic went full throttle.

Then during the summer, an earthquake struck Sichuan Province, of which Chengdu is the capital, causing three deaths and damaging thousands of homes.

In Western Pennsylvania, the problems did not go unnoticed.

“The Chinese community here mobilized and donated 20,000 masks to the city of Chengdu,” Kwun Kwong Kai reported.

With Sherry Kai, his daughter, serving as translator, he welcomed guests to a dinner at Sichuan Gourmet in Squirrel Hill. Representing the Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office, Kwun expressed gratitude by hosting the event and presenting gifts to those in attendance.
Several restaurants are participating in Pittsburgh Sichuan Cuisine Week, which runs from November 19 through the 28th: Sichuan Gourmet, Chengdu Gourmet, Jade Grille, Szechuan Spice, and Little Asia. Diners are to receive gifts of thanks via the Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office.

New Chinese film Railway Heroes (铁道英雄) in Pittsburgh, from November 24.


The new Chinese film Railway Heroes (铁道英雄) will play in Pittsburgh from November 24 through November 30.
In the winter of 1939, when the Japanese takeover the Jin-Pu Railway in Shandong during World War II, an underground resistance group forms to combat them. Based on a true story.
It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online. The theater is located at 300 West Waterfront Dr. in the Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead (map), across the Monongahela River from Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and the rest of Pittsburgh.

Quantum Theatre presents Lucy Kirkwood play Chimerica, November 27 - December 19.


The Quantum Theatre will present the Lucy Kirkwood play Chimerica from November 27 through December 19 at The Maverick Hotel in East Liberty.
Lucy Kirkwood’s award-winning play reminds us of an image that arrested the world: a protester facing down four tanks in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Who was he, and who was the photojournalist who captured it? From there to the fraught present of US/China relations, it examines capitalism and culture, journalism and censorship.
Tickets are now available. The Maverick Hotel is located at 120 S. Whitfield St. (map).

Sunday, November 21, 2021

2021 Japanese animated film Belle (竜とそばかすの姫) in Pittsburgh, January 12.


The 2021 Japanese animated film Belle (竜とそばかすの姫) will play in Pittsburgh from January 12. From the distributor:
From the celebrated Academy Award®-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu, creators of Mirai, Wolf Children, Summer Wars, and more, comes a fantastical, heartfelt story of growing up in the age of social media.

Suzu is a shy, everyday high school student living in a rural village. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. But when she enters “U”, a massive virtual world, she escapes into her online persona as Belle, a gorgeous and globally-beloved singer. One day, her concert is interrupted by a monstrous creature chased by vigilantes. As their hunt escalates, Suzu embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity of this mysterious “beast” and to discover her true self in a world where you can be anyone.
Belle was the top movie in Japan for three weeks over the summer and is the second-highest grossing film in Japan for 2021 so far. It has been announced so far for the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets for that are available online, though more showtimes are likely to be announced later.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

2019 Taiwanese film Detention (返校) still available virtually via Row House Cinema.


The 2019 Taiwanese film Detention (返校) is still available virtually via Row House Cinema, for a limited time.
Set in Taiwan during the “White Terror” period of martial law, a high school girl awakens in an empty school only to find that her entire community has been abandoned except for one other student. Soon they realize that they have entered a realm filled with vengeful spirits and hungry ghosts.

Adapted from the eponymous video game, this masterful debut from director and co-writer John Hsu creates an at once shocking historical drama, a melancholy coming-of-age tale, and a nightmarish horror film; that recalls the best of Guillermo del Toro (The Devil’s Backbone, and Pan’s Labyrinth), and with enough blood, striking sound design, art direction and special effects to evoke the best of Silent Hill.
The film is available to those in North America, and the cost to unlock is $10.

Pittsburgh Sichuan Cuisine Week, November 19 through 28.

The Pittsburgh Chinese Restaurant Association will host Pittsburgh Sichuan Cuisine Week from November 19 through 28. Participating restaurants include Sichuan Gourmet, Chengdu Gourmet, Jade Grille, Szechuan Spice, and Little Asia. The Pittsburgh City-Paper writes:
The Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office also presented PCRA with gifts valued at $10,000 to be given to guests who dine during the week.
No other details have been made available at this time.

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

2021 movie My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ワールドヒーローズミッション) continues in Pittsburgh, through November 23.


he 2021 movie My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ワールドヒーローズミッション), which opened in Pittsburgh on October 29, will play here through at least November 23. A synopsis, from the distributor.
When a sinister organization threatens to wipe out all superhuman powers, the fate of the world is on the line. With two hours until the collapse of civilization, Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki manage to work as a team, but there’s still one problem. Deku’s on the run for murder.
It will continue at the AMC theaters at the Waterfront and South Hills Village Mall. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Ross Park Mall's Tiffany & Co. hiring Mandarin- and Japanese- speaking seasonal help.



The Tiffany & Co. store in Ross Park Mall is hiring seasonal ambassadors and seasonal operations professionals, with a preference for Mandarin, Japanese, or Spanish proficiency.

Monday, November 15, 2021

1988 film My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ) in Pittsburgh, December 5, 6, 9.


The 1988 Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ) will play in Pittsburgh on December 5, 6, and 9, as part of Ghibli Fest 2021. From the distributor:
From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away and Ponyo, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes a classic tale of magic and adventure for the whole family.

When Satsuki and her sister Mei move with their father to a new home in the countryside, they find country life is not as simple as it seems. They soon discover that the house and nearby woods are full of strange and delightful creatures, including a gigantic but gentle forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen by children. Totoro and his friends introduce the girls to a series of adventures, including a ride aboard the extraordinary Cat Bus, in this all-ages animated masterpiece featuring the voices of Tim Daly, Lea Salonga, and real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, in early roles.
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online, but please note that the December 5 and 9 shows are in English while the December 6 show is in Japanese with English subtitles.

Sunday, November 14, 2021

2021 movie Gintama: The Very Final (銀魂 THE FINAL) in Pittsburgh, November 21 and 22.


The 2021 movie Gintama: The Very Final (銀魂 THE FINAL) will play in Pittsburgh on November 21 and 22. From the distributor:
This is the actual ending.

The countdown to destruction has begun! All will join to reclaim an Edo in grave peril! Earth is facing its darkest days, and the members of the Odd Jobs must come together to save it from an otherworldly menace.

Old allies Gintoki, Takasugi, and Katsura strive their hardest for their own ideals, but standing in their way is someone with whom they share a sad history: Utsuro, an alternate personality of their former teacher and mentor, Shoyu. Having been spawned by Altana, the energy that fuels all planets, this immortal fiend has regenerated multiple times until finally becoming Utsuro, the ultimate enemy... And he intends to take down the entire world in order to end his own life.

Gintoki and the others set out to fulfill the wishes of their teacher Shoyo and thwart Utsuro's plans. Shinpachi, Kagura, the Shinsengumi, members of the Kabuki District, and even former enemies will join their fight.

As Utsuro's power grows, Takasugi fights for his very life. Will Gintoki be able to put
an end to all this?!
It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson, and tickets are available online. Note that some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Friday, November 12, 2021

Macross Plus Movie Edition (マクロスプラス MOVIE EDITION) in Pittsburgh, December 14.


The Japanese animated film Macross Plus Movie Edition (マクロスプラス MOVIE EDITION), a threatrical cut of a 1994-1995 four-volume series, will play in Pittsburgh on December 14. From the distributor:
From the minds of vision creator Shoji Kawamori and co-director Shinichiro Watanabe, and featuring renowned composer Yoko Kanno, MACROSS PLUS MOVIE EDITION is an action-packed animated masterpiece made for the big screen!

In the year 2040, on the distant planet Eden, former childhood friends Isamu Dyson and Guld Bowman find themselves pitted against each other as test pilots of rival teams in a competition to decide the next generation of variable mecha fighters. The two must also deal with their own unresolved history with mutual love interest, Myung Fang Lone, who has returned as the manager of Sharon Apple, the AI pop star (virturoid) and the galaxy’s biggest singing sensation. When Sharon’s advanced artificial intelligence gains consciousness, Isamu, Myung, and Guld must face their turbulent past and come together as Sharon Apple becomes self-aware and takes control of the Macross battlefortress itself!
It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark Theaters in McCandless, Monaca, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Short films from Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Asian America part of Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival, November 18 - 21.


Though the Three Rivers Film Festival will feature no full-length Asian films this year, its companion festival, the Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival running from November 18 through 21, will feature shorts from Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Asian America.

The program of films includes "Americanized," "Raspberry," and "Windup" from the USA; "Annah la Javanaise" from Indonesia; "Colorful" and "Georgia" from Korea; and "Dinner" from Vietnam. The short films are grouped into various blocks and play at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty (map) and, in some cases, virtually. Tickets are available online.
Still from "Windup."
Still from "Colorful."

Thursday, November 11, 2021

AAPI COVID Vaccine Booster Clinic at UPMC Mercy Southside, November 14.

Marian Lien of OCA Pittsburgh shares news of an AAPI COVID Vaccine Booster Clinic taking place on November 14.
We will be holding an AAPI COVID Vaccine Booster Clinic THIS SUNDAY Nov. 14th. from 9am to 12pm with translators on site. All vaccines Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J will be available. Reminder, to have a booster, you must be at least 6 months from the date of your second Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or first J&J vaccine. We also have a limited supply of children's vaccines available for those 5 years old to <12 years old. We will also have free flu vaccines on hand.

It will be at the UPMC Southside Clinic (2000 Mary Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203). No need to bring your ID, just your vaccine card so the nurses can fill out. Everyone is welcome!

Japanese-English Language Social Hour at Pitt, November 18.


Interior of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning, from the 2019 Yasuda Women's University promotional catalog.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present an Japanese-English Language Social Hour on November 18.
A Japanese-English language social hour to bring together visiting students from Yasuda University and local Pitt students. An evening of language and cultural exchange.
Pitt's English Language Institute has hosted large cohorts of Yasuda Women's University students each fall since 2016. The event starts at 4:00 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall, and is open to members of the Pitt community compliant with its health regulations.

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

New Japanese animated movie Sword Art Online the Movie Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night (劇場版 ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ 星なき夜のアリア) in Pittsburgh, from December 3.


Showtimes were just announced for the 2021 Japanese animated movie apanese animated movie Sword Art Online the Movie Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night (劇場版 ソードアート・オンライン プログレッシブ 星なき夜のアリア), which will play in Pittsburgh from December 3 through 9. A synopsis of the film that is based on a manga series:
“There’s no way to beat this game. The only difference is when and where you die…” One month after Kayaba Akihiko’s game of death began, the death toll continues to rise, two thousand players having already lost their lives to the ultra-difficult VRMMO world of Sword Art Online. On the Day of the strategy meeting to plan out the first-floor boss battle, Kirito, a solo player who vows to fight alone to get stronger, runs into a rare, high-level female player. She gracefully dispatches powerful monsters with a single rapier that flashes like a shooting star in the night.
It has been announced so far for the Cinemark theater in McCandless, and tickets are available online. Shows on December 3, 4, and 9 are in Japanese with English subtitles, while shows on December 7 and 8 are dubbed in English.

Miyazaki Week at Row House Cinema, from November 12; $28 all-you-can-see week pass available.


Following its Wong Kar-Wai film series from November 5, the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville will present Miyazaki Week from November 12 through 18. The film series consists of 1979's Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro (ルパン三世 カリオストロの城), 1997's Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫), and 2001's Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し). Tickets and showtime information is now available online; there is a $28 all-you-can see weekly pass available for the series as well. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street (map) in Lawrenceville.

"Innovative Curricular Models in East Asia," November 17 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Institute for International Studies in Education will host "Innovative Curricular Models in East Asia" on November 17.
IISE is honored and proud to host Huiyuan Ye (Pitt alum), Research Fellow of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Duke Kunshan University in China; Weiyan Xiong (Pitt alum) Research Assistant Professor at Lingnan University in Hong Kong; and Gerardo Blanco-Ramírez, Associate Professor and Academic Director of the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College.

Our distinguished participants will be sharing their work/study on innovative liberal arts and sciences curricular models in East Asian region.
The free event runs from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm on Zoom, and registration is required.

"Imperial Gateway: Colonial Taiwan and Japanese Expansion in South China and Southeast Asia, 1895–1945," November 15 at Pitt.

via @seijishirane

The University of Pittsburgh will host Dr. Seiji Shirane and his talk "Imperial Gateway: Colonial Taiwan and Japanese Expansion in South China and Southeast Asia, 1895–1945" on November 15, part of the center's Asia Now Fall Lecture Series.
This talk examines how Japanese colonizers and Taiwanese subjects transformed colonial Taiwan—the sub-tropical island Japan acquired from China in 1895—into a staging ground for imperial expansion across the East and South China seas. Taking advantage of Taiwan's proximity and cultural affinities with South China and Southeast Asia, Japanese colonial leaders innovated new strategies to compete with the Chinese and Western powers for regional hegemony. They mobilized Taiwanese overseas as economic and cultural brokers in the pre-war period (1895–1937) and as military personnel during the Asia-Pacific wars (1937–45). Studying the intricate ties between colonial governance and international relations helps us transcend the conventional emphasis on two-way relations between Japan's home islands and each of its colonies. A regional approach to Taiwan allows us to recover transnational networks often neglected due to divisions in area studies. Japanese imperialism was a contested process among not only state agencies but also mobile colonial subjects whose interests did not easily map on to national, local, or ethnic categories. The overseas Taiwanese in particular challenge prevailing assumptions of imperial hierarchies. Gradations of power and categories of identity—colonizer and colonized—were much more fluid outside Taiwan's territorial borders.
It runs from 4:30 to 5:45 pm in 211 Lawrence Hall, and is free and open to members of the Pitt community who abide by the university's health guidelines.

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

2021 movie My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ワールドヒーローズミッション) continues in Pittsburgh, through November 17.


he 2021 movie My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ワールドヒーローズミッション), which opened in Pittsburgh on October 29, will play here through at least November 17. A synopsis, from the distributor.
When a sinister organization threatens to wipe out all superhuman powers, the fate of the world is on the line. With two hours until the collapse of civilization, Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki manage to work as a team, but there’s still one problem. Deku’s on the run for murder.
It will continue at the AMC theaters at the Waterfront and South Hills Village Mall. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Monday, November 8, 2021

Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache at Pitt, November 13.


SCREENSHOT:ASIA will present another screening of Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache, which opened last month's SCREENSHOT:ASIA film festival, on November 13. From an April 8 New York Times review:
In Khyentse Norbu’s “Looking for a Lady with Fangs and a Moustache,” a Nepalese entrepreneur searches for spiritual enlightenment, hoping to avert a fatal prophecy. Looking to set up a new cafe, Tenzin (Tsering Tashi Gyalthang) sees unnerving visions after scouting an abandoned temple. With mounting fear, he follows the gnomic suggestions of a Buddhist monk in shades and a master sage, who insists that he find a goddess manifest on earth, known as a dakini.
The writer-director Norbu, a Buddhist spiritual leader making his fifth feature, presents Tenzin as a hip modern guy in bluejeans with a wide smile that vanishes as soon as he has to seek self-awareness. The cozy streets of Kathmandu become like a place without a map to Tenzin as he scans passing strangers for signs of divine femininity and leaves his business partners in the lurch. There’s a slight narrative echo of romantic comedy as the monk and the master sage feed him tips and ritual gestures, and it appears the woman he seeks could be right under his nose, in the form of a singer (Tenzin Kunsel) from his music lessons.
It will play at the Frick Fine Arts Building in Oakland at 7:00 pm, and registration is required. It is free and open to the Pitt community and to registered guests. (Those who do not have a valid Pitt ID will need to register at least 24 hours in advance in order to have guest access granted.)

Sunday, November 7, 2021

1986 Studio Ghibli film Castle in the Sky (天空の城ラピュタ) in Pittsburgh, November 14, 15, and 18.



The 1986 Studio Ghibli film Castle in the Sky (天空の城ラピュタ) will play in Pittsburgh on November 14, 15, and 18 as part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2021. From the distributor:
Castle in the Sky is a timeless story of courage and friendship, with stunning animation from acclaimed Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki.

This high-flying adventure begins when Pazu, an engineer’s apprentice, spies a young girl, Sheeta, floating down from the sky, held aloft by a glowing pendant. Both Sheeta and Pazu are searching for the legendary floating castle, Laputa, and they vow to travel there together to unravel the mystery of the luminous crystal. But their quest won’t be easy, as soon they are being pursued by greedy air pirates, the military, and secret government agents, who all seek the power Sheeta alone can control.The English-dubbed cast includes the vocal talents of Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Mandy Patinkin, and more!
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson, and tickets are available online. The November 14 and 18 shows are dubbed in English while the November 15 show is in Japanese with English subtitles.

Friday, November 5, 2021

Tickets now available for concert film Monsta X: The Dreaming screenings in Pittsburgh, December 9 and 11.


Tickets are now available for the concert film Monsta X: The Dreaming, which will play in Pittsburgh on December 9 and 11.
Is it the knowingIs it the seeingOr Is It The DreamingBest known for their powerful, iconic, and superb performances, K-pop and pop band MONSTA X is loved by -and devoted to -their countless fans around the world.As a gift to their fandom, this brand-new film gives an intimate look at their rigorous journey over the past six years including exclusive one-on-one interviews with each individual member, personal stories from their time in America, and a special concert clip exclusively for MONBEBE. This unmissable cinema event also includes high-energy musical performances of their chart-topping hits along with an exclusive first-look at their upcoming album. Challenge, evolve, and dream. Celebrate the magnificent achievements and the stunning tomorrow of MONSTA X.
So far it has been announced for the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Monroeville, and tickets are avaiable online.

Thursday, November 4, 2021

"Becoming (and Un-Becoming) Masters of their Own Homes: From United Front to Rebellion on Tibetan Borderland of Early-Maoist China," November 8 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Benno Weiner and his talk "Becoming (and Un-Becoming) Masters of their Own Homes: From United Front to Rebellion on Tibetan Borderland of Early-Maoist China" on November 8 as part of the center's Asian Now Lecture Series.
When in 1949 the Chinese Communist Party “liberated” the ethnocultural frontier region known to Tibetans as Amdo, its goal was not just to construct a state, but to create a nation—not just control, but transformation. While state building might have been accomplished through coercion, Party leaders understood that nation making required narratives and policies capable of convincing Amdo’s diverse inhabitants of their communion with a wider political community. Rather than immediately implement socialist reforms, the CCP initially pursued relatively moderate “United Front” policies meant to “gradually” and “organically” persuade Tibetans and Amdo’s other non-Han inhabitants of their membership in the new multiethnic nation. At the outset of 1958’s Great Leap Forward, however, United Front gradualism was jettisoned in favor of rapid collectivization. This led to large-scale rebellion, overwhelming state repression, and widespread famine. Rather than a “voluntary” and “peaceful” transformation, Amdo was incorporated through the inordinate and often indiscriminate deployment of state violence. In this talk, Benno Weiner discusses the Communist Party’s United Front strategy in Amdo, the 1958 Amdo Rebellion, and ways in which the violence of 1958 and its aftermath continue to cloud efforts to integrate Tibetans and others into the modern Chinese nation-state.

Benno Weiner is Associate Professor in the Department of History at Carnegie Mellon University. He is author of the Chinese Revolution on the Tibetan Frontier (Cornell UP) and co-editor of Contested Memories: Tibetan History under Mao Retold (Brill).
The hybrid event will take place in 211 Lawrence Hall or on Zoom. It starts at 4:30 pm and registration is required.

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

University of Pittsburgh hiring Digital Marketing Manager, bilingual in Chinese-English (or Spanish-English) preferred.

The University of Pittsburgh's Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is hiring a Digital Marketing Manager, with a preference for someone fluent in Chinese or Spanish in addition to English.
The Digital Marketing Manager will support the marketing and communications of the University of Pittsburgh's Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA), reporting to the Director of Marketing Communications. The role requires an in-depth understanding of and a passion for digital marketing, content creation, website and SEO management, social media marketing, and email/sms marketing, preferably for higher education. The ideal candidate will have professional experience working with website content management systems, social media platforms, and salesforce marketing cloud within a marketing and communications framework. Applicants should have experience with campaign planning, data-driven decision making, creative problem solving, and project management. The role will assist with developing strategic, omnichannel campaigns with shifting priorities under multiple deadlines. Teamwork will be essential as the candidate will collaborate with teammates to brainstorm, produce, create, and distribute digital content to key target audiences. Knowledge of Google Analytics and data-driven decision-making for SEO, website management, social, email, and all marketing channels utilized by the Marketing Communications team will be crucial for this role. The incumbent will have a passion for marketing and will immerse themselves in the conversation with key audiences, competitors, and partners under the direction of the Director of Marketing Communications and in alignment with, and support of, OAFA and University goals and communication standards. The Digital Marketing Manager will proactively collaborate with all business units within OAFA and around the University to develop and manage digital content, including writing, proofreading, editing, and organizing content to ensure it is current, accurate, succinct, clear, and effective. It is preferred that the candidate be bilingual with fluency in Spanish or Chinese to assist in creating and translating marketing materials for target populations. The incumbent will also interact with various levels within or outside the University, including Deans, Directors, and Department Heads. This interaction may include interpreting and explaining ideas and concepts as well as solving problems and coordinating projects. The results of actions by the incumbent may have a significant, sometimes financial, impact on a department's operations.

Masters degree wtih 2-3 years of related work experience. It is preferred that the candidate be bilingual with fluency in Spanish or Chinese to assist in creating and translating marketing materials for target populations.

2021 movie My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ワールドヒーローズミッション) continues in Pittsburgh, through November 10.


he 2021 movie My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ワールドヒーローズミッション), which opened in Pittsburgh on October 29, will play here through at least November 10. A synopsis, from the distributor.
When a sinister organization threatens to wipe out all superhuman powers, the fate of the world is on the line. With two hours until the collapse of civilization, Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki manage to work as a team, but there’s still one problem. Deku’s on the run for murder.
It will continue at the AMC theaters at the Waterfront, South Hills Village Mall, and Westmoreland County, plus the Cinemark theater in Monroeville. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

"Lions Stories: an introduction to Chinese Lion Dance," November 4 at Northland Public Library.

via @SteelDragonMartialArts

Northland Public Library will host "Lions Stories: an introduction to Chinese Lion Dance" with Chris Young of Steel Dragon on November 4.
An emblematic symbol of Chinese culture, the Chinese lion dance has a continuous history of over a thousand years. Used in ceremonies ranging from the more formal and solemn to the more informal and joyous, a lion dance can also be used to tell a story and simply entertain. Join Chris Young, founder of Gong Lung or Steel Dragon, as he presents overview of lion dance, including its history, some of the different types, and some of the structure and meanings in the dance.
The event runs from 6:00 to 7:30 pm; it's free, but registration and masks are required. Northland Public Library is located at 300 Cumberland Road in McCandless Township (map).

Monday, November 1, 2021

Concert film Monsta X: The Dreaming in Pittsburgh, December 9.


The concert film Monsta X: The Dreaming will play in Pittsburgh on December 9, it was announced today.
Is it the knowingIs it the seeingOr Is It The DreamingBest known for their powerful, iconic, and superb performances, K-pop and pop band MONSTA X is loved by -and devoted to -their countless fans around the world.As a gift to their fandom, this brand-new film gives an intimate look at their rigorous journey over the past six years including exclusive one-on-one interviews with each individual member, personal stories from their time in America, and a special concert clip exclusively for MONBEBE. This unmissable cinema event also includes high-energy musical performances of their chart-topping hits along with an exclusive first-look at their upcoming album. Challenge, evolve, and dream. Celebrate the magnificent achievements and the stunning tomorrow of MONSTA X.
It will play locally at the Cinemark theater in Monroeville, and more theaters will likely be announced, but tickets are not yet available.

Homestay hosts needed for visiting Yasuda Women's University students, November 12 through January 30.



GlobalPittsburgh is again looking for hosts for a cohort of Yasuda Women's University students who will be in Pittsburgh from November 12, 2021 through January 30, 2022, studying at the University of Pittsburgh's English Language Institute:

We are looking for host families to welcome female students from a private University in Hiroshima, Japan. The students will be studying at the English Language Institute at the University of Pittsburgh from November 12, 2021 through January 30, 2022.

 

Below are some details and guidelines, however, if you don't meet all of them we still encourage you to respond as we have many other hosting opportunities throughout the year:  

·     The students are all females of 21-22 years old; most of them have "fair" level of English. They will be learning English at the English Language Institute at the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland.

·     There will be adequate monthly compensation for hosting.

·     The host can welcome one or two students. Each student will need a separate furnished bedroom with a bed, dresser or closet, desk (optional), adequate lighting to study, and heat/air.

·     The students are fully COVID-19 vaccinated. The eligible host family members are expected to be fully vaccinated.

·     Host families are requested to include the student in their family meals with an option for the student to pack their lunch. 

·     The host should be located conveniently on a direct bus line to Oakland and/or with a max of 45-minute commute

·     The students will be attending the University on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and have a decent amount of homework daily. They will be engaged in many activities provided by the University of Pittsburgh. 

Please encourage your friends, neighbors, colleagues and family members to host! Have them contact me at nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org with questions and for more information.

2021 movie Gintama: The Very Final (銀魂 THE FINAL) in Pittsburgh, November 21 and 22.


The 2021 movie Gintama: The Very Final (銀魂 THE FINAL) will play in Pittsburgh on November 21 and 22. From the distributor:
This is the actual ending.

The countdown to destruction has begun! All will join to reclaim an Edo in grave peril! Earth is facing its darkest days, and the members of the Odd Jobs must come together to save it from an otherworldly menace.

Old allies Gintoki, Takasugi, and Katsura strive their hardest for their own ideals, but standing in their way is someone with whom they share a sad history: Utsuro, an alternate personality of their former teacher and mentor, Shoyu. Having been spawned by Altana, the energy that fuels all planets, this immortal fiend has regenerated multiple times until finally becoming Utsuro, the ultimate enemy... And he intends to take down the entire world in order to end his own life.

Gintoki and the others set out to fulfill the wishes of their teacher Shoyo and thwart Utsuro's plans. Shinpachi, Kagura, the Shinsengumi, members of the Kabuki District, and even former enemies will join their fight.

As Utsuro's power grows, Takasugi fights for his very life. Will Gintoki be able to put
an end to all this?!
It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson, and tickets are available online. Note that some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

One Piece Film: Strong World (ワンピース フィルム ストロングワールド) in Pittsburgh, November 7 and 9.


The 2009 film One Piece Film: Strong World (ワンピース フィルム ストロングワールド) will play in Pittsburgh on November 7 and 9 as part of a Fathom Events re-release. The Anime News Network has a synopsis:
20 years after his escape from Impel Down, the legendary pirate Shiki "the Golden Lion" reappears causing massive upheaval to the Marines. During his long seclusion, he was able to come up with a scheme to bring the World Government to its knees. On his way to execute the plan, Shiki crosses paths with the Straw Hat Pirates and becomes so impressed with Nami's knowledge of meteorology that he abducts her to forcedly enlist her into his crew. Luffy and the gang end up on a strange land populated with monstrous beasts as they desperately search for Shiki and Nami.
It is scheduled so far to play at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemarks in Monaca, Monroeville, and North Hills.

1986 Studio Ghibli film Castle in the Sky (天空の城ラピュタ) in Pittsburgh, November 14, 15, and 18.



The 1986 Studio Ghibli film Castle in the Sky (天空の城ラピュタ) will play in Pittsburgh on November 14, 15, and 18 as part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2021. From the distributor:
Castle in the Sky is a timeless story of courage and friendship, with stunning animation from acclaimed Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki.

This high-flying adventure begins when Pazu, an engineer’s apprentice, spies a young girl, Sheeta, floating down from the sky, held aloft by a glowing pendant. Both Sheeta and Pazu are searching for the legendary floating castle, Laputa, and they vow to travel there together to unravel the mystery of the luminous crystal. But their quest won’t be easy, as soon they are being pursued by greedy air pirates, the military, and secret government agents, who all seek the power Sheeta alone can control.The English-dubbed cast includes the vocal talents of Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Mandy Patinkin, and more!
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson, and tickets are available online. The November 14 and 18 shows are dubbed in English while the November 15 show is in Japanese with English subtitles.