IIAS Seminar

SPACE AND IDENTITIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

December 2, 1994

organized by the programme "Cultural Traditions in Endangered Minorities in
South and Southeast Asia"

The role of space in creating identities is an important one. Since space is
culturally and politically constructed, investigating interpretations of space
is relevant to understanding different cultures. In this seminar we will
investigate concepts of space in a number of minority cultures in Southeast
Asia, defining this region to include Southern China as well (Akha/Hani and
Mien/Yao). There will be ample room for discussion.

Discussant: Prof. S.J. Tambiah (Harvard University)

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Chou, "Whose Centre: hierarchy between the Malays and Orang Suku Laut
in Riau, Indonesia" 
Barend J. ter Haar, "Movement through Geographical Space among the Yao"
Marijke Klokke, "Perceptions of Mount Meru in Ancient Java"
Deborah Tooker, "Tribal Mandalas? The Case of the Akha of Northern Thailand"
Micheal Vischer, "Shouldering and Dragging the Black Patola Stone": a
preliminary textual analyses of the Ko'a chant of origin and creation.