Education About Asia: Online Archives

Editor’s Message

Back to search results
Download PDF

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Our winter 2009 issue “Asia in World History: The Twentieth Century,” contains the final installment of special sections based upon the National World History Standards. Thanks to the Korea Foundation’s generous support, we also offer the first of a two-part special series on Korean popular culture entitled “Korean Film and Popular Culture.”

The twentieth century special section begins with Yihong Pan’s, “From Red Guards to Thinking Individuals—China’s Youth in the Cultural Revolution.” Pan does a superb job telling the story of the maturation of youth at the epicenter of this traumatic event in China’s twentieth-century history. Next, in “India-Pakistan Conflict: An Overview,” Narasingha Sil traces the origins of problems between India and Pakistan and assesses probable scenarios for their resolution. Then Laura Hein masterfully depicts the work of a Japanese artist whose creations focus upon both the Pacific War and larger enduring social issues.

The next three articles: Eric Cunningham’s “The Cold War in Northeast Asia,” Sok Udom Deth’s “The Rise and Fall of Democratic Kampuchea,” and James R. Holmes’ “The Twentieth Century: Asia Returns to the Sea” have two things in common. These authors have the distinction of publishing the first EAA feature article on their topic in the history of our journal, and, in my opinion, each article is valuable not only for instructors, but also as welcome additions to either high school or survey level university students’ course reading assignments. Jim Holmes should also be commended for providing a contextual segment in his article that introduces maritime history to the uninitiated.

Our resources section also contains several shorter articles where authors focus upon the twentieth century. Although the authors in each of these essays address important topics, Japan historian Frederick Dickinson’s review of Adam Frank’s Downfall: the End of the Japanese Empire is particularly recommended for those interested in the major culminating events of the Pacific War. Frank’s work has become part of the scholarly debate on the US use of atomic bombs. Great thanks to former AAS President Peter Duus for recommending Professor Dickinson, and to Kristin Stapleton and a small group of historians who suggested other special section authors.

Many readers are aware of the recent rise in popularity of Korean films. In our special series, newcomers to the genre will learn about Korea’s vibrant popular culture, both past and present. Tom Vick’s invaluable contextual article on the rise of contemporary Korean cinema is followed by specific essays that illustrate the practical classroom applications of a wide range of Korean films, all easily available to teachers and professors in the US and other countries.

For a long time, we have endeavored to increase the amount of attention given to South Asia in EAA, and this effort is beginning to bear fruit. In addition to commissioning several manuscripts that have already been published or will appear in forthcoming issues, please visit our Web site for a recently posted review of the Asia Societies’ excellent online collection of teaching materials about India. We thank Shirin Ahlhauser, author of the review, and Grace Norman of the Asia Society, for her assistance in editing the review. You can find it online at http://www.asian-studies.org/EAA/India-Resources.htm.

Our spring 2010 special section is “Business, Economics, and Asia,” and the spring issue also includes the second part of the Korea Foundation-sponsored special series on Korean popular culture. “Asian Religions” is the fall 2010 special section topic, and the deadline for initial receipt of manuscripts is May 10, 2010. The special section topic for winter 2010 is “Environmental Challenges and Asia,” and the deadline for initial receipt for that issue is August 10, 2010. In addition to special section manuscripts, we also consider feature manuscripts, essays, and short reviews that are not theme-related. Those interested in planned feature special sections and special series for 2011 should visit our Web site since final decisions will be made shortly after this issue is printed.

The spring 2010 issue marks the beginning of our fifteenth anniversary, and we are deeply grateful to readers, contributors, advertisers, and the AAS leadership’s substantial support of this teaching journal on Asia. As difficult economic times continue, it is more important than ever for EAA readers to subscribe, tell friends and colleagues about us, and make sure school, university, educational resource centers, and local libraries receive EAA.

Cordially,

Lucien Ellington

Lucien-Ellington@utc.edu

Potential authors should visit the EAA Web site and view the Author Guidelines before submitting manuscripts for consideration:
http://www.asian-studies.org/EAA/

Send EAA submissions to:

Peggy Creswell

Managing Editor, Education About Asia

302 Pfeiffer Stagmaier Hall

Dept. 2222, 615 McCallie Avenue

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN 37403

Phone (423)425-2118, Fax (423)425-5441

Email: edast@utc.edu

Web Site: http://www.asian-studies.org/EAA