First presentation Sept. 17

The Arts and Humanities department is hosting an East Asia Film and Lecture Series this fall and will offer a course in the cultural values of the Eastern world during the spring semester.

The film and lecture series, to be held the Thursday evenings of Sept. 17, Oct. 8 and Nov. 5 from 6-9 p.m. in the LLCC Trutter Center, is in partnership with the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. Everyone is invited to attend at no charge.

The first presentation Sept. 17 will be the film “Shower,” a 1999 comedy/drama directed by Zhang Yang and winner of Best Picture and Best Director at the 2000 Seattle International Film Festival, among other honors.

Critically acclaimed around the world, “Shower” features hilarious characters and stunning performances from well-known Chinese actors. When successful businessman Da Ming is summoned by his younger brother to come home to his father’s old-style bathhouse in Beijing, he can’t wait to return to his fast-paced modern life. But time amongst the crazy cast of characters that frequent the bathhouse gives him a new appreciation for traditional old ways. When a tragic event causes sudden change, Da Ming must choose between the prosperous life he’s made for himself and his responsibility to his family and his heritage.

Discussion of the film will be led by Joy Yang Jiao, a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Communication Research, College of Media at UIUC. Ms. Jiao’s research focuses on transnational cultural students, media representation and public diplomacy. She has taught classes at UIUC in Media and Cinema Studies, Popular Culture, the Social Aspects of News and Comparative World Literature. She is actively engaged in various international programs, including serving as the spokesperson for the annual U.S. legislator delegation to China.

Other upcoming presentations in the series are:

Oct. 8: “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter … and Spring” (2003), directed by Ki-duk Kim. Discussion led by Alex Jong-Seok Lee, Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at UIUC.

Nov. 5: “Tokyo Story” (1953) directed by Yasujiro Ozu. Discussion led by Elizabeth Oyler, associate professor of Japanese and director of the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies at UIUC.

The LLCC course “Cultural Values in the Eastern World” (Humanities 201) will be taught Thursday evenings during the spring semester by English professors Paul Van Heuklom and Ashley Green. Students will explore the literature, music, philosophy and fine arts of the Eastern culture as well as complexities in the development of the human spirit. Registration for spring classes will begin Oct. 28.