Dr. Urbansky discusses the challenges faced by Chinese immigrants during the late Tsarist Empire and early Soviet Union, highlighting the racial and cultural prejudices that fueled hostilities in urban settings. His analysis explores how these early interactions shaped the experiences and perceptions of Chinese communities in a rapidly changing socio-political landscape.
Unmasking Prejudice: Confronting Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Racism Across Europe Lecture Series
Lecture led by Farid Hafez daily politics, antisemitism and Islamophobia are often debated as two opposing concepts, though they have much in common. This talk delves into often neglected relationships of anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim racism and opens up horizons for a critical discussion about these phenomena.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Hafez is an Assistant Teaching Professor of International Relations. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Vienna (2009). From 2014 to 2021, he was a Post-Doc at the University of Salzburg’s Department of Political Science and Sociology. From 2021 to 2024, he was the Distinguished Class of 1955 Visiting Professor of International Studies at Williams College. In 2017, he was a Fulbright Professor at the University of California’s Center for Race and Gender. Since 2017, he has also been a non-resident Senior Researcher at the Georgetown University’s The Bridge Initiative.
At William & Mary, Hafez will start to teach classes on far-right populism, Islamophobia, international relations, and terrorism.
Join Brazil Nuts for weekly Bate Papo: Portuguese Language Hour in the Global Hub, every Monday at 5-6 pm during Fall 2024!
The Italian Program is delighted to announce a lecture by the novelist and educator Amara Lakhous (Professor in the Practice, Department of Italian Studies, Yale University) on Monday, October 21, 2024 at 5pm in Barco Law Building, Room 111. Audience Q&A will follow Prof. Lakhous’ lecture.
"Writing fiction in both Arabic and Italian has significantly broadened my vision. I’ve had to step into my characters’ shoes and view the world through their eyes. Many of these characters are vastly different from me: an elderly Neapolitan concierge, an Iranian refugee, a young Egyptian migrant woman, and others. When I write, I temporarily set aside my identity as a Muslim man—Algerian, Italian, and American—and embrace a world of diversity. Moreover, blending Italian and Arabic opens up new creative paths, allowing me to develop a distinctive style, enriching Italian with Arabic influences and infusing Arabic with Italian elements."
One of Italy’s most acclaimed novelists and an established writer in Arabic and Italian, Amara Lakhous is an outstanding example of a novelist, essayist, public intellectual, translator, and navigator between and among very different cultures. Indeed, according to Pulitzer-Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri, Lakhous “has transformed the Italian literary landscape” precisely by “conveying the reality of a transforming Italy.”
Lakhous is the author, among other things, of the novels Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore in Piazza Vittorio (published in English as Clash of Civilizations over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio); Divorzio all’islamica a viale Marconi (Divorce Islamic Style); and Contesa per un maialino italianissimo a San Salvario) (Dispute Over a Very Italian Piglet).
This event is organized by the Department of French & Italian, and generously co-sponsored by the Department of English, the English Writing Program, the Less Commonly Taught Languages Program, the Department of Linguistics, and the Italian Nationality Room Committee
This course uses a month of day hikes to explore the myriad natural resources in and around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The geology section of this course unraveling the forces that have produced the spectacular landscapes and unique landforms characterizing the region, as well as the underlying natural resources that plants, animals, and humans need to make a living. The biology section focuses on the diverse ecosystems of the region, including those of the dry basins, the relatively wet mountains and plateaus, and the near-arctic settings of the Beartooth Plateau. Particularly noteworthy is the diversity and abundance of birds, mammals, and wildflowers across the region. Throughout our geological and ecological discussions, we will also consider how people should best interact with the natural resources of the area. What roles should government regulation and private enterprise have when it comes to hunting wolves and elk, exploiting petroleum and mineral resources, protecting wild areas, and making the natural wonders of Yellowstone and beyond accessible to tourists? Students will see abundant wildlife, amazing geology, practice basic field methods, and come to appreciate the cultural distinctness of the West.
Come practice your conversational BCMS with fellow students at this conversation table!
Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers
Beyond the Ballot: Europe's Democratic Journey:
The panelists will facilitate a discussion about the history of the EU, and its efforts to increase its democratic credentials. Beginning with the first direct elections to the European Parliament (EP) in 1979 and with every Treaty reform since Maastricht, new sources of democratic legitimacy have been introduced. Yet, the notion of the EU’s democratic deficit persists, with citizens demanding greater democratic accountability of EU institutions and of the decision-making process.
Join us as we take stock of EU democracy and consider ways to alleviate both the real and perceived deficits that exist.
About the Panelists:
Manuel Müller is a Senior Research Fellow in the European Union research programme. His research focuses mainly on institutional reform of the EU and supranational democracy.
Christine Neuhold is a Professor of EU Democratic Governance and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Maastricht University, Netherlands.
Come practice your conversational Slovak with your classmates.
HHD 1003 Middle Childhood to Adolescence class visit to explore the Global Hub, learn about international opportunities at and through Pitt, and reflect on connections with course content
Come and learn about undergraduate and graduate students about their global learning experiences abroad in the summer!
The Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs 2024 Scholarship Awardee Poster Showcase will be held on Tuesday, October 22 from 5-7 pm in the Connolly Ballroom in Alumni Hall. Come join the 96 undergraduate and graduate students to learn about their global learning experiences abroad in the summer.
The NRIEP Scholarship Program is nearly sixty years old and supports study abroad, internships, independent research and experiential learning for Pitt students around the world.
Come practice your conversational Hungarian with fellow students!
oin the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Fall semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!
French Club at Pitt will meet twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, during Fall 2024, EXCEPT on October 1, October 15, and November 6.
Register here: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/pop-up_registration
Free and open to the public
The evening will include a Poetry Reading by Philip Nanton (with opportunity for Q and A) and discussion of his short non-fiction book Frontiers of the Caribbean (Manchester UP, 2017).
The book is open access and can be downloaded and read in advance from PittCat or Manchester University Press: https://www.manchesterhive.com/display/9781526114921/9781526114921.xml
https://pitt.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01PITT_INST/e8h8hp/alma99...
Philip Nanton is a Caribbean writer and spoken-word performer from St. Vincent and the Grenadines who lives in Barbados. He has performed his work across the Caribbean and internationally. His poems and prose essays on Caribbean Studies, policy analysis, and literary criticism have been widely published and anthologized. He produced a spoken word CD (2008) and book (2014) called Island Voices from St Christopher & the Barracudas, an affectionately humorous dramatization of individual voices that capture aspects of island life. Other poetry collections include Canouan Suite & Other Pieces (Papillote Press, 2016). His book Frontiers of the Caribbean takes a new approach to situating the Caribbean in world literature as a frontier society (Manchester University Press, 2017). His most recent book is a biography of the neglected Vincentian jazz musician and poet, Shake Keane: ‘Riff: The Shake Keane Story’ (Papillote Press, 2021).
The Caribbean Reading Group is an informal group of faculty and graduate students that meets periodically to discuss important classics or new works of Caribbean Studies; host a guest speaker; or discuss work in progress of participants in the group. Previous meetings have occasioned convivial discussion across disciplinary boundaries. We are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and new ones alike this time around. Please feel free to invite any colleagues or students who would be interested, from Pitt and other area universities. As usual, we will provide wine, snacks, and dessert “para amenizar.”
RSVP, if possible, by Oct 16 by clicking on the following link: https://philipnantonreadingroup.rsvpify.com
Looking to brush up on your Swahili? Join Swahili TA and students every Wednesday and Thursday in the Global Hub.
The Global Appalachia Reading Group will focus on Appalachia from a global perspective. The semester’s series theme is Race, Place and Migration. Copies of the books will be available for those planning to attend the event. To register please follow this link: https://forms.gle/J7jqr1h3mRsdrJEa9.
Note: We are able to fund and distribute books to registrants as funding allows. Registration will remain open after this amount is reached. Registrants will be notified if we are unable to provide them with the reading material.
October 23, 2024: Hillbilly Highway: The Transappalachian Migration and the Making of a White Working Class by Max Fraser
November 13, 2024: After Coal: Stories of Survival from Appalachia and Wales by Tom Hansell
December 4, 2024: Out of the Mountains: Appalachia Stories by Meredith Sue Williams
This is an informal time to meet fellow speakers of African languages and practice your skills with a seasoned facilitator! All levels are welcome.
Monthly schedule -
1st Wednesday: Arabic & Wolof
2nd Wednesday: Swahili & Amharic
3rd Wednesday: Yoruba & Akan/Twi
4th Wednesday: Haitian Creole
Come practice your conversational Russian with your peers at the Russian conversation table!
Introduction to contemporary race/ethnicity debates in Brazil and its role in the region’s politics.
Interdisciplinary approach to understand the intersections between race, ethnicity and politics
The Japan Council of the University of Pittsburgh and SCREENSHOT: Asia are excited to announce the winner of our 4th biennial Japan Documentary Film Award. Congratulations to Chiaki Kasai and her film FISTS AND PRAYERS. FISTS AND PRAYERS explores the incarceration of ex-boxer Iwao Hakamada, who was unjustly sentenced to death for murder and suffered extreme mental anguish while on death row. FISTS AND PRAYERS is a fascinating examination of the physical toll of Japan's justice system and incarceration, as well as resilience of the human spirit.
The annual ISSS-IS Conference will be held at the University of Pittsburgh from October 24th through October 26th. With participants representing 27 countries, the conference features 38 panels on topics ranging from the use of nuclear weapons to gender warmaking to the strengths and weaknesses of international law to the role of traditional and new media in contemporary international security environment. This conference will feature several panels on security problems in and around Latin America, Africa, Russia and Eastern Europe, and Asia. More than 150 individual papers will be presented over the case of two days.
As part of our partnership with Upper St. Clair, the Center for African Studies arranged a cultural visit featuring Fulbright Scholar Faraja Ngogo. Faraja shared her experiences and insights about Tanzanian culture with approximately 50 middle school students (ages 13–14). The visit provided an opportunity for students to engage directly with a native Swahili speaker, explore East African traditions, and broaden their global understanding through an interactive cultural exchange.
Research Service (CRS), a non-partisan agency that provides information and analysis to Members of the U.S. Congress and their staff. At CRS, Dr. Manyin’s general area of expertise is U.S. foreign economic policy toward East Asia, particularly Japan, the two Koreas, and Vietnam. From 2006-2008 and again in 2013, Dr. Manyin served as the head of the CRS’ 10-person Asia Section, overseeing the Service’s research on East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific Islands. Prior to joining CRS in 1999, Dr. Manyin completed his Ph.D. in Japanese trade policy and negotiating behavior at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He has written academic articles, given numerous lectures, and taught courses on East Asian international relations.
Emma Chanlett-Avery is Deputy Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute's Washington, DC office and the Director for Political-Security Affairs. Previous to this post, she served for 20 years as a Specialist in Asian Affairs at the Congressional Research Service, where she focused on U.S. relations with Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Thailand, and Singapore, with an emphasis on security issues and alliances. In 2023, she served as a Congressional Fellow on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, assisting the Chairman with drafting Asia policy legislation and preparing for hearings. Ms. Chanlett-Avery was a Presidential Management Fellow, with rotations in the State Department on the Korea Desk and at the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group in Bangkok, Thailand. She also worked in the Office of Policy Planning as a Harold Rosenthal Fellow. She is a member of the Mansfield Foundation U.S. – Japan Network for the Future and a Mansfield-Luce Asia Network Scholar. In 2016, she received the Kato Prize, awarded by Washington think tanks for strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance. She serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Association of Japan America Societies, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Japan America Society of Washington DC, and as a Trustee of International Student Conferences, Inc. Ms. Chanlett-Avery received an MA in international security policy from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and her BA in Russian studies from Amherst College.
Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch and chat with us! Pitt students only, all levels welcome!
148 min. Polish with English subtitles
A biopic about Jerzy Kulej, a two-time Olympic boxing champion and one of Poland's greatest fighters.
This talk will analyze the various parts of China’s “Northeast Asia Project” and its role in the structure of Korea-China relations. The Northeast Asia project was a scholarly project conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on the history of the region. It views the region as a unified multiethnic Chinese state and provides the historical basis for current regional relations.
Join us at the Cathedral of Learning in Room 332 for the book launch of "Hungarian Roots and American Dreams: Tracing Personal History" with co-editors Réka Bakos and Dr. Anna Fenyvesi. Discover the stories, struggles, and triumphs of individuals who have bridged the gap between their Hungarian heritage and American aspirations. Listen to captivating tales, share your own experiences, and connect with others who are on a similar quest to uncover their family history. This in-person event, hosted by Kati Csoman, Director of the Nationality Rooms & Intercultural Exchange Programs, will also feature authors sharing their personal stories from the book. Tours of the Hungarian Nationality Room will be provided following the in-person event.
Register for the in-person option at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hungarian-roots-and-american-dreams-tracing....
Register for the Zoom option https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hungarian-roots-and-american-dreams-tracing... to attend remotely.
Join undergraduate Pitt students for a conversation hour to practice speaking in Hindi and Urdu and connect over shared cultural experiences.
Kya Baat Hai will meet weekly, on Fridays, during the 2024-2025 academic year, EXCEPT on the following dates:
September 20
September 27
December 20
December 27
January 3
Join Addverse, a transcultural, multilingual, and intergenerational poetry organization, for weekly meetings in the Global Hub.
Opening Reception
94 min. Polish with English subtitles
Two sisters struggle with their bodies. One, pushed by her ambition, is testing where her body’s limits are, the other one sees her own body as a prison.
At the Gdynia Film Festival Paulina Pytlak received Best New Actress award and Kinga Preiss Best Supporting Actress.
The focus of Fall 2024's Micro-Course is on the role governments and corporations play in the control of information networks and its impacts on privacy as well as ownership and access to data. This will include discussion of the bias and possibilities in surveillance and predictive technology on local and global communities. Virtual links will be shared with registrants. Pitt students who register for and successfully complete the course can receive one credit.
This event is a three-day Polish film festival at the Harris Theater, running from October 25-26, 2024.
1:00pm - Kulej. All that glitters isn’t gold (Kulej. Dwie Strony Medalu) 2024 dir. Xawery Żuławski,
148 min. Polish with English subtitles
A biopic about Jerzy Kulej, a two-time Olympic boxing champion and one of Poland’s greatest fighters.
4:00pm - Top Dog (Wodzirej) 1978 dir. Feliks Falk, Jerzy Stuhr retrospective.
104 min. Polish with English subtitles
Top Dog is a character study of an opportunist named Lutek who is a small-time event host working at parties. he’s also a sleaze and con man. An ironic look at a climber. Film won an award at the 1979 Chicago International Film Festival.
6:00pm - White Courage (Biała odwaga) 2024 dir. Marcin Koszałka
115 min Polish with English subtitles
Film explores a lesser-known aspect of World War II history – the collaboration of some highlanders from Poland’s Podhale region with the Nazis. The story of two brothers, who find themselves on opposite sides of a moral and ideological conflict. Winner of the Best director and screenplay at Gdynia Film Festival.
Tickets will be available at the movie theaters website & box office
https://trustarts.org/pct_home/visit/facilities/harris-theater
