NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 跨文化研究理論(8009)
	(Eng.) Introduction to Transcultural Studies
Offering Dept	International Doctoral Program in Taiwan and Transcultural Studies
Course Type	Required	Credits	3	Teacher	Liew Zhou Hau
Department	International Doctoral Program in Taiwan and Transcultural StudiesPh.D	Language	English	Semester	2026-FALL
Course Description	This course aims to introduce students to the study of transcultural and transnational Asia. Each week, we focus on a theme that expands on the possibilities of transculturality. We will think through spatial, geographic, and ecological examples drawn from work in Asian studies. We read across different disciplines, such as anthropology, history, and sociology to borrow insights for our critical practice. In other words, we will learn to do comparative criticism together, informed by studies and theories of transnationality and transculturality. By tracking transnational/transcultural opportunities and potentials through concepts such as place, transmission, circulations, migration, diaspora, borderlands, and the environment, we reimagine connections that are obscured by national frameworks. One part of class will be used to close-read and discuss primary texts and the other, issues raised by the secondary texts. The primary texts are cultural texts, broadly defined, which include literature, film, photography, and other relevant cultural materials. The secondary texts are a mix of contextual studies and theory. Together they help to illustrate themes that are areas of active research today. Certain weeks are reserved for guest lectures from speakers drawn within and outside NCHU. Readings: We will close read the texts in class together. Attendance and participation: You are expected to attend every class and participate in class discussion. For some weeks, you are expected to lead the class by listing 2-3 questions for discussion. (20%) Presentations: Each student will take turns to present in class on a secondary text, offering a 10-minute summary of that essay’s argument and some questions it raises for our primary readings that week. The presentation must simply be a summary and a set of questions, which helps to kickstart our discussion. (20%) Midterm assignment: Short close reading of a cultural text of your choice. (25%) Final paper: Long paper on a topic relevant to the course. (35%)
Prerequisites				self-directed learning in the course	Y

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)			Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives
Course Objectives	Competency Indicators	Ratio(%)	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
This course provides opportunities for students to practice thinking transculturally, through cultural and theoretical examples.			Discussion Exercises Lecturing	Written Presentation Attendance Oral Presentation Assignment
Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule
Week Course Content Week 1 9/8 Introduction to class Week 2 9/15 Migrant subjects Tash Aw, “You Need to Look Away: Visions of Contemporary Malaysia.” Tash Aw, Strangers on a Pier International Organization for Migration (IOM), “Migrant.” Glossary on Migration Khachig Tololyan, “The Nation-State and its Others: In Lieu of a Preface.” Week 3 9/22 Mapping Asia Wong Yoon Wah, ”Banir Blues” and ”My Marginal Home” Sunil Amrith, Migration and Diaspora in Modern Asia Benedict Anderson, “Census, Map, Museum.” In Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism Week 4 9/29 Guest lecture Week 5 10/6 Race, nation, and diaspora Shirley Lim, ”Monsoon History” Ng Kim Chew, ”Allah’s Will” Ien Ang, “Can One Say No to Chineseness? Pushing the Limits of the Diasporic Paradigm.” In On Not Speaking Chinese: Living Between Asia and the West Week 6 10/13 Guest lecture on diasporic performance Week 7 10/20 Guest lecture Week 8 10/27 Midterm assignment In this class so far, we have explored different theories of diaspora. Pick one of the theoretical texts as a lens, in order to “read” one of the literary texts that we’ve covered. Your essay should include: i) Discussion of the concept “diaspora” from the point of view of one of the theories. In other words, write your own understanding of the theory. This helps to establish a framework for a reading of the literary text. (500 words) ii) Close reading of the literary text. Discuss at least 2 key passages of the literary texts you’ve chosen. Discuss whether they agree/disagree/expand on/reinforce/supplement etc. the theory you’re writing about. (500 words) Week 9 11/3 Oceans Amitav Ghosh, The Great Derangement Amitav Ghosh, The Hungry Tide Sunil Amrith, Crossing the Bay of Bengal Week 10 11/10 Guest lecture on Taiwan and islands Week 11 11/17 Globality John Thomson, Straits of Malacca, Indo-China, and China Sim Chi Yin, The Suitcase is a Little Rotten Mary Louis Pratt, Imperial Eyes Week 12 11/24 Sensing extraction: rubber plantations Han Suyin, And the Rain My Drink Sophie Chao, ”Plantation” Lynn Hollen Lees, Planting Empire, Cultivating Subjects Week 13 12/1 Sensing extraction: sand and land Yeo Siew Hua, A Land Imagined Anna Tsing, Friction Week 14 12/8 The planetary and the Anthropocene Ian Teh, Confluence Chakrabarty, The Climate of History in a Planetary Age Tsing et al, Haunted Landscapes of the Anthropocene Week 15 12/15 Student presentations Week 16 12/22 Final papers due self-directed learning    02.Viewing multimedia materials related to industry and academia.
Evaluation
Readings: We will close read the texts in class together. Attendance and participation: You are expected to attend every class and participate in class discussion. For some weeks, you are expected to lead the class by listing 2-3 questions for discussion. (20%) Presentations: Each student will take turns to present in class on a secondary text, offering a 10-minute summary of that essay’s argument and some questions it raises for our primary readings that week. The presentation must simply be a summary and a set of questions, which helps to kickstart our discussion. (20%) Midterm assignment: Short close reading of a cultural text of your choice. (25%) Final paper: Long paper on a topic relevant to the course. (35%) Note: Readings subject to change.
Textbook & other References
PDFs and online essays. Some books available in the library.
Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website
Office Hours
Please make an appointment beforehand.
Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs(Link URL)
include experience courses：N

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Update Date, year/month/day：2026/07/30 18:20:58	Printed Date, year/month/day：2026 / 8 / 18
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