Theatre, Nightlife and Literary Adventure in Nineteenth-Century Beijing

Lectures by Professors Wu Cuncun, University of Hong Kong, and Mark Stevenson, Victoria University 

Friday, January 23, 2015 | 2-6 pm 

Venue: Anderson Room D, Michigan Union
*Light refreshments will be provided. 

The lively world of Beijing opera continues to be a productive source of inspiration for Chinese and foreign literary and cinematic imagination. That this inspiration remains so powerful, despite the dwindling number of aficionados, is testament to the energy that at one time animated scenes both on- and off-stage and in-between-energy that was both social and aesthetic. Responding to recent theory concerned with the performativity of social life, particularly within history and gender studies, Dr. Wu and Dr. Stevenson will discuss important lessons from the Chinese experience that will enrich the study of history and theatre more generally.

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. 

"Theatres and Nightlife" 
Wu Cuncun, Associate Professor of Chinese Literature
University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)

3:15-4:15 p.m.
"Theatres and Literary Adventure"
Mark Stevenson, Senior Lecturer of Asian Studies, Victoria University (Melbourne, Australia)

4:15 - 4:30 p.m. Break

4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Discussion 
Discussants - David Rolston, Associate Professor of Asian Languages and Cultures, U-M; Sarah Kile, Assistant Professor of Asian Languages and Cultures, U-M