CALL FOR PAPERS
ARCHITECTURAL-IZED ASIA

Society of Architectural Historians, 63rd Annual Meeting
Chicago, April 21-25, 2010
Abstracts due August 15, 2009 (see details below)
Chair: Vimalin Rujivacharakul (U.Delaware)
Session: ARCHITECTURAL-IZED ASIA

Born of a Greek term referring to Anatolia, the roots of "Asia"
are, from the very beginning, the projection of the Otherness. The
immense plain and thousands of islands in the eastern section of
Eurasia are grouped together, and many disparate cultures and
traditions are thrown into the same pot with thousands of years of
history. From Siberia to the Red Sea, from East Timor to the Ural
Mountains, or from Colombo to Mongolia, how has "Asia" ever
managed to become Asian?

In contrast to general understanding, the making of Asia in
architectural history is a major enterprise that has continued from
nineteenth-century European discourses to post-World War II's
nationalist narratives. Considered a more neutral term, "Asia" is
adopted and now used widely in place of "the Orient." And yet, the
identity of Asia is simultaneously complicated by the actuality of its
vast landscapes and the complexity of its historical settings.
Courses on Asian architecture thus normally represent the continent
with selected parts and only highlight its characteristics through
particular examples identified by locations and traditions in design.
Moreover, the lack of sustaining historical records and scholarly
works on trans-continental design makes Asian architectural history
incomparable to the long tradition of architectural history in Europe.

Identity politics is a longstanding problem in architectural history,
but its discussion has often remained within the scale of national
identity. This session proposes an opportunity to expand the
discussion pan-nationally and pan-historically by focusing on "Asia"
as the subject of inquiry. Proposals can be of diverse aspects, from
those that work on case studies to those that offer new
methodological perspectives. Case studies of buildings at the
margins of "Asia" (both geographically and politically) are notably
welcome. Ultimately, this session seeks papers that aim to offer
new ways of reorganizing our museographical understanding of the
Asian continent through a re-reading of architecture.

Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be submitted by
August 15, 2009, to Vimalin Rujivacharakul Ph.D., Assistant
Professor of Art and Architectural History, Department of Art
History, Old College #318, University of Delaware, DE 19716, USA;
302-831-8415; vimalinudel.edu. Submit with the abstract a short
curriculum vitae, home and work addresses, email addresses,
telephone and fax numbers.

Vimalin Rujivacharakul, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Art and Architectural History
Department of Art History, Old College #318
University of Delaware, DE 19716, USA