Preparations for DAAC-1 are proceeding slowly, in the background to life and academic work. Applications have slowly trickled in, but more are expected as the final deadline draws near.
At present, we are working to finalize a schedule of invited speakers, and making a provisory schedule of events.
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| Fish stock vending machine, Kyoto. |
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| Bonito and kelp soup stock. |
Now, we thought it might be useful to answer a few frequently asked questions about this event.
Q1: Who can present at this event? Is it limited to regional (Asian) studies?
A: Although the theme of this event is DA/DS in Asia, this is not meant to limit any proposals, but instead to encourage local researchers to share their work. Proposals can be about ANY discourse work being done. Whether the submitter is doing Asian studies, is an Asian researcher sharing their work with the world, or a foreign researcher coming to make connections in Japan, all are welcome.
Q2: How big is this event?
A: Although DAAC is called a 'conference' for funding application purposes, in reality there is no large organization behind it. In truth, it would be better termed as a symposium or even workshop, but applying as a 'conference' has given us a modest budget, access to facilities, and hopefully attracts more attention.
In future, we would like to launch a DA body based here in Japan and organize larger events, but for now DAAC-1 is as much a learning experience for us organizers as it will be for participants.
Q3: Why are there two deadlines?
A: It was difficult choosing a time where 1) facilities were available and 2) both Asian and Western-calendar academics could be free to come. Although our choice of March for the event was not ideal, it satisfied these conditions. Additionally, it was suggested to have early deadlines for foreign academics who need longer times to secure funding and plan a trip this far, while later deadlines would supposedly appeal to academics here in Asia.
We hope this has not caused any confusion, but instead gives researchers the freedom to submit a proposal at their own pace.
Q4: Why are there pictures of bottled fish on this post?
A: These are pics taken in Gion, the drinking district of Kyoto, and demonstrate some interesting Japanese discourses.
First, there is the discourse of 24 hour work as opposed to 9 to 5 businesses. Restaurants and bars serve food late, while supermarkets close early. If a bar needs to make soup, this machine provides the product at any hour. Second, there is the discourse of safe Japan and its much vaunted low crime rate. A foreign tourist might wonder that such a machine isn't instantly vandalized, and that it contains such an 'unusual' product instead of the 'normal' drinks or snacks. This leads into the final discourse (although you may remark others), of 'weird Japan'. Weird Japan is a staple of foreign media depictions of Japan, which both reinforces western moral superiority, while depicting the distant (yet internally logical) discourses of Japan capitalism as 'weird', when they are no weirder than western lack of such convenience or security.
You can see analyses like these on my research blog, Days of Discourse, available HERE.
There have been and will be more hiccups in the execution of DAAC-1, but we hope to see you there in March!
Theodore Bonnah
Kobe International University
bana@kobe-kiu.ac.jp
