11th Book Sharing: Fabricating Nanyang: Gods, Ghosts, Humans, and Beasts in the Malay Peninsula
Upcoming Event
| Introduction | To encourage students to read, the Institute of International Education at New Era University College is organizing a book club led by academic staff. The aim is to facilitate more direct academic exchanges with students through guided reading and discussions. This book club features young scholars currently engaged in Malaysian Chinese studies, who will participate in sharing sessions, discussions, and hosting duties. With such a strong lineup, don't hesitate to sign up! |
| Author and Speaker Introduction | Bak Jia How, born in Johor Bahru, graduated from Jinan University in China (Bachelor in International Politics), Peking University (Master in International Politics), and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (PhD in History). He has served as a history teacher at Foon Yew High School, a part-time lecturer at New Era University College, and is currently a researcher at the Institute of Chinese Studies at Southern University College. He also holds positions as the director of the Kwong Siew Heritage Gallery in Johor Bahru, a committee member of the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum, an academic member of the Malaysian Chinese Research Center, and a columnist for Sin Chew Daily. His research interests include Malaysian history, overseas Chinese, local societies, folklore, and legends. He has published over ten related academic articles and has compiled works such as "Compilation of Pre-War Newspaper Articles on Johor Old Temple's Parade" (2017), "Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum Yearbook" (2019-2021), and "Imagining Nanyang: Spirits, Ghosts, Humans, and Beasts in the Malay Peninsula" (2024). |
| Reading Material | Bak Jia How, "Imagining Nanyang: Spirits, Ghosts, Humans, and Beasts in the Malay Peninsula," Taipei: 1841 Publishing House, 2024. |
| Content Overview | This book adopts an accessible essayistic style to explore the dynamic interplay between history and legend, urban and rural spaces, deities and spirits, memory and oblivion—all revolving around narratives of nation, ethnicity, and locality. It examines how these multilayered interactions reveal their transborder essence within Malaysia’s pluralistic soil, ultimately shedding light on the very process of historical construction. |
| Seminar Information | Date: February 26, 2024 (Monday) Time:7.30pm - 9.00pm Platform: ZOOM Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/bp4uyeav *Free registration, due by February 25, 2024. |
