The ASCA Trans-Asia cultural studies reading group aims to bring scholars in The Netherlands together who are working on issues related to "Asia," to read and discuss key texts as well as each other’s work. The hitherto absence of such a reading group is particularly remarkable when many of us who study Asia have been drawing on work from cultural studies scholars. The research interest of this reading group is broad: not only work that focuses on cultural practices in Asia, but also related studies on the presence of Asia in Europe or elsewhere is included. This reading group operates deliberately on the interstices of humanities and social sciences, and aims at an inclusive and critical approach that refuses to privilege any particular academic paradigm. It aspires to bring together students from research masters, PhD candidates as well as faculty members from different departments at different universities.

We prefer to discuss work in progress, either one or two papers per session of 1.5 hours, but alternative proposals (screenings, walks, exhibitions) are always welcome.

2026-27

Hope you had a wonderful summer! We will resume our meetings this fall with the following dates:

17 September
15 October
19 November
17 December
21 January

If you would like to share your papers in these meetings, please reach out to Chenchen Zhu (c.zhu@uva.nl),