ACCESS LIVESTREAM
April 13-15, 2023
International Hybrid Conference (virtual and in-person)
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Connecticut
Of late, TV shows, fashion, music, sitcoms, movies, video games, comics, and cartoons of India, South Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries have entered the popular consciousness of American consumers. From Bollywood, Anime to K-Drama, J-Horror to manga, K-pop to fast fashion, the influences of Asian popular culture are capturing the imagination around the globe. While they influence stylistic and aesthetic choices in the United States, these forms of popular culture also hold up a mirror that both critiques and shows the possibilities and media convergences of our contemporary societies.
The hit Netflix series "Squid Game" (2021), for example, brings together themes such as debt and unemployment to create a dystopian vision of contemporary capitalist society. On the other hand, the contemporary Bollywood classic, "Lagaan," weaves the game of cricket into a tale of national liberation. The American sitcom Boondocks caters to predominantly African American youth and is influenced by Japanese anime. Films such as "Ringu" from Japan and its many American adaptations sparked a tsunami of a new horror genre, called J-Horror. Video game culture has long been transnational where shows are not only adapted for different consumer markets but where more and more users interact across geographical boundaries. Fashion influencers from the Philippines, South Korea ,and Japan allow their followers to tune in across the world.
This hybrid international conference (virtual and in-person) with presenters from a broad background of fields, disciplines, and countries will shed light on how social and digital media, film, television, and popular culture of various Asian countries critique contemporary societies, and explore our greater human possibilities. Our organizing committee is part of Asian American, Asian, and Pacific Islander (AAAPI) Center Development Committee
There will be a conference fee to cover food and printing expenses. The fee will be adjusted to reflect participation of students, faculty, precarious labor, general audience and whether attendance is virtual.
Organizing Committee
Dr. Yeojin “Julie” Kim (Communication, Conference Chairman); Dr. Alfredo Rosete (Economics); Dr. Karen A. Ritzenhoff (Communication and WGSS)
Sponsors are
President Dr. Zulma Toro, Central
President Dr. Terrence Cheng, CSU System’s Office
Center for Community Engagement and Social Research
Dr. Robert Wolff, Dean Carol A. Ammon College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Department of Communication
Asian American, Asian, and Pacific Islander (AAAPI) Center Development Committee
East Asian Studies (EAS)
Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies (AAPIS)
Central Honors Program
Student Center
Connecticut Explored Magazine
Thanks to
Beth Merenstein (Center for Community Engagement and Social Research)
Courtney McDavid (President’s Office)
Salvatore Cintorino (Chief Operations Officer)
Julie DeFalco (Controller)
Kathy Poirier (Student Center)
Marisa Nadolny (Marketing & Communications)
James Grupp (FacMgt)
Steven VanVoorhis (FacMgt)
Matthew D. Landrigan (Student Center)
Scott Hazan (Student Center)
Dr. Christopher Pudlinski (Chair, Department of Communication)
Katherine Hermes (Connecticut Explored)
MJ Moriarty and her students in event planning
Leah Frosceno (Institutional Marketing)
Contact
Dr. Karen A. Ritzenhoff
Professor, Department of Communication
Vance Academic Center, Central, Department of Communication
1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050
Fax: 860.832.2702
Ritzenhoffk@CCSU.edu
Dr. Yeojin (Julie) Kim
Associate Professor, Department of Communication
Conference Chair
Vance Academic Center, Central, Department of Communication
Phone: 860.832.2691
Fax: 860.832.2702
yeojinkim@ccsu.edu
