1st International Conference by Southeast Asia Conference Consortium for Critical Island Studies Inaugural Event, November 27-29, 2019 University of Santo Tomas & Ateneo de Manila University

UNITAS together with Kritika Kultura of Ateneo de Manila University co-organized and co-hosted an international conference, the Critical Island Studies: The Islandic, Archipelagic, and Oceanic held on November 27-28, 2019.

Critical Island Studies has re-emerged in recent years, invigorated by the disciplinary conjunctures of Pacific Islander Studies, Caribbean Studies, and studies of Mediterranean basin cultures and histories, among others. This resurgence has, in turn, complicated and enriched traditional area studies, empire and decolonial/postcolonial critique,
international relations historiography, cultural geography, environmental sciences, and literary and cultural studies, among others.

The conference aimed to explore the actualities and possibilities of critical island studies in comparative, interdisciplinary, and cross-national inquiries in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific. The keynote and panel presentations demonstrated the heterogeneity, complexity, and significance of this discipline.

The Opening Ceremonies was held at the UST George S.K. Ty Function Hall at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes Building on November 27. Rev. Fr. Jesus Miranda, O.P. delivered the Welcome Remarks while Prof. Michael Anthony C. Vasco, PhD gave the Closing Remarks. The keynote speaker for Day 1 was delivered by Prof. Elmo Gonzaga from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His lecture is titled, “Be Water as Method in Southeast Asian Critical Humanities: From Cultural Logistics to Protest Aesthetics.” Days 2 and 3 of the conference were held at Leong Hall, Ateneo de Manila University. Prof. Rowena Boquiren of the University of the Philippines-Baguio was the keynote speaker for Day 2 who discussed “Exploring Trajectories in Critical Islands and Mindscapes” while Prof. Alex Taek-Gwang Lee of Kyung Hee University presented his paper, “Faciality and Masks: Fanon with Deleuze,” as keynote speaker for Day 3.

The paper presentations were given by professors and scholars from Consortium members: University of the Philippines-Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, University of San Carlos, Universitas Kristen Indonesia, Universitas Sanata Dharma, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Indonesia, and Konkuk University.