Job Opening: East Asian Art History, Assistant Professor (tenure-track)

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Paula

Institution: University of California – Riverside, Art History
Location:       California, United States
Position:       Assistant Professor, Asian Art History, Tenure Track Faculty

The Department of the History of Art at the University of California, Riverside announces an Assistant Professor, tenure-track position for a historian of East Asian art and architecture in any geographic area or historical period from the early modern period to the present day. We especially welcome candidates engaged in a cross-cultural approach. We seek a creative scholar with broad interests, exceptional promise, and a strong commitment to teaching the history of Asian art and architecture. The successful candidate will expand the Asian component of our undergraduate and graduate programs; teach courses spanning the field and ranging from lower division surveys to graduate seminars; and advise students in a methodologically diverse department on a campus with strong interdisciplinary interests in Asian culture. Related UCR departments and programs in the field include East Asian Studies, Comparative Asian Studies, Comparative Literature and Foreign Languages, History and Ethnic Studies.

Ph.D. required at time of appointment.  Teaching experience and a promising record of research and publication are required.  Email letter of application, curriculum vitae, writing sample (30 page maximum) and three letters of recommendation to AHSAP@ucr.edu to the attention of Tala Martinez, Academic Personnel, Asian Search Committee, Department of the History of Art, University of California Riverside. Review of applications will begin December 14, 2012 and continue until the position is filled. Salary commensurate with education and experience.  Position begins July 1, 2013.

The University of California, Riverside, is an EEO/AA Employer

Contact:

AHSAP@ucr.edu to the attention of Tala Martinez, Academic Personnel, Asian Search Committee, Department of the History of Art, University of California Riverside.

Website:        http://www.arthistory.ucr.edu/

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Translation services and the video game industry

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Paula

Today we’re featuring a guest post by Natalie Jones, who works at the marketing team of Quick Lingo, a translation services company. In her article, she discusses video game translation as one avenue for aspiring translators, and talks a bit about what companies like hers look for in their potential employees.

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Working within the translation industry can be an incredibly exciting and diverse career. With the multitude of languages spoken in our ever-changing world, the opportunities for translators to pursue new and complex challenges are omnipresent. For any bilingual person, the opportunity to work as a translator exists and can provide great flexibility as well as the stability that comes with any other job. Within translation there are specific fields that can be specialised in, such as website translation, medical translation and legal translation, to name a few. One of the most specialised and intricate of these fields has to be video game translation.

Video game translation is something that has a particularly huge presence when it comes to Japanese to English translation services. The gaming industry in Japan is a multi-billion dollar business that increases in revenue year on year. At the current rate of growth it will soon be worth over $30 billion a year. The past four decades have spanned the introduction and rapid development of video games and things certainly don’t look set to slow down. It seems every few months there is new technology being developed that is targeted at gamers. Also, video games are constantly being created, tested and released to the public who are more than happy to spend a fortune on them.

I work for Quick Lingo, one of many companies who offer fast and efficient video game translation for corporate clients. They regularly receive requests from game companies who would like their instruction manuals translated into English or another popular language. Quick Lingo is able to translate Japanese into at least 300 other languages so the possibilities for the game companies are extensive. All Quick Lingo translation projects, in the video game industry or any other field, are always completed by a native speaker of the language to which the document is to be translated, therefore ensuring complete accuracy. So if a Japanese game is being translated into English, a native English speaker will be used.

When Quick Lingo hires people onto one of our translation projects we typically look for individuals who are not only well qualified but who also have some experience. We of course understand that as a translator, you must be able to acquire work in order to get this experience and will always consider candidates who can demonstrate their expertise in other ways. First time translators are always going to have a tough time breaking in to the industry, but if you can effectively demonstrate other relevant projects then you will never be overlooked.

Due to the large volume of projects that are constantly on the go, if game translation was the only area in which you wished to be involved with, then as a translator for Quick Lingo, this could be possible. The time in between projects would of course vary depending on demand and the opportunity for you to be involved in other areas would always exist. When it comes to the qualifications that will be required of you a degree is usually essential, whether this degree is in your chosen language or industry is up to you but it will be invaluable. Postgraduate qualifications are extremely desirable but by no means essential.

If you are a bilingual Japanese or English native speaker, and the video game industry is something you personally have a passion for, then this could be a great career for you. In addition to enjoying games themselves it is also best if you are an avid reader as this will obviously make up the majority of your work. If you bore or distract easily then this probably isn’t the profession for you! It is also desirable that you have a large vocabulary as having to stop and check something in the dictionary will obviously slow you down and make you a less effective translator.

If after reading this you’re still keen to pursue a career in game translation then Quick Lingo wishes you all the best for the future. If this is your employment goal then keep your ambitions in mind as you build on your qualifications and experience, with determination and perseverance you will inevitably end up where you want to be!

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Natalie Jones is a recent graduate of Creative Writing and Journalism from London Metropolitan University. She is working on the marketing team at www.quicklingo.com, where she is currently discovering the complex world of SEO and Social Media Management. She has also worked as a freelance writer for a variety of online publications. You can follow her blog and her world travels at www.wordsfusion.com.

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Job Opening: Coordinator II, Harvard-Yenching Library

Posted on November 13, 2012 by LM

Institution: Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posted: 11/09/2012
Type: Full Time
School/Unit: Harvard College Library
Education: Bachelor’s preferred

Duties & Responsibilities
Responsible for all administrative functions related to Harvard-Yenching Library and the Librarian’s Office. Serves as principal administrative contact and liaison with Harvard College Library and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Responsible for Harvard-Yenching Library day-to-day administrative operations, including the areas of personnel, finance, facilities, and security management.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

  • Provide administrative support to the Librarian of the Harvard-Yenching Library; handle confidential correspondence; edit reports and speeches; draft and edit committee meeting minutes.
  • Advise Librarian and staff regarding personnel policies and procedures; serve as liaison with Human Resource Services Department; oversee time entry/approval for students and staff.
  • Coordinate projects in conjunction with the Harvard College Library (HCL) and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), including office renovations, facility maintenance.
    Oversee Library security system.
  • Provide support for Library’s visiting librarian exchange programs; process visiting scholar information in eScholar; serve as liaison with Harvard Internationa! Office; make travel arrangements; coordinate forums.
  • Oversee administrative files; serve as liaison with University Archives and Records Management Office.
  • Manage preparations for Library-sponsored events; coordinate registration; work with caterers and vendors; ensure proper media setup.
  • Assist in budget preparation; monitor funds; process reimbursements and payments; gather and analyze information required for financial reporting; resolve discrepancies; serve as liaison with Financial Services Department.
  • Coordinate Library’s Travel Grant Program; maintain application database; process payments.
  • Process office and library supply purchases through iProcurement and furniture/equipment purchases with HCL and FAS.
  • Coordinate library mailings, including large book shipments; maintain postage meter.

Basic Qualifications

  • 5 years of high level administrative or office management experience with increasing responsibility required.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Additional Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred.
  • Must have strong organizational skills, tact, poise, and mature judgment.
  • Ability to take initiative, handle multiple projects and set priorities and to handle confidential information with discretion.
  • Strong writing and editing skills.
  • An in-depth knowledge of financial and personnel administration, and the ability to network with multiple university units.
  • Knowledge of East Asia and its culture is also helpful.
  • Must be able to lift 10-20 pounds.
  • Frequent use of computer keyboard.
  • This position works primarily in an office setting.

For full details and to apply, see posting on HigherEdJobs.com.

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Call for papers: Modern Art Asia, March 2013 issue

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Paula

Modern Art Asia March 2013 Call for Papers

Modern Art Asia is dedicated to the arts of Asia from the eighteenth century to today, presenting graduate research from historical perspectives and international news on Asian art. Combining peer-reviewed articles with insightful commentary and the latest exhibition reviews from international correspondents, Modern Art Asia provides a new forum for exchange between scholars that crosses the boundaries of traditional academic disciplines.

We invite graduates and early career researchers working on the arts and material cultures of Asia from the eighteenth century to the present to submit previously unpublished papers of 4,500 – 10,000 words for peer-review.

Asia is broadly defined to include Central, East, South and Southeast Asia, as well as Asia Pacific. Modern Art Asia aims to take an interdisciplinary and innovative approach to the study of Asia, and will consider papers on media and experiments that stretch the parameters of fine art.

Submission deadline for papers: January 14th, 2013. For reviews: February 20th, 2013.

Word limits: Academic papers: 4,500-10,000 (excl. endnotes) Correspondence and opinion pieces: 1000-3000 words Exhibition, book, performance reviews: 500-2000 words

Authors are responsible for obtaining illustrations and necessary copyright permissions. Up to four accompanying images should be submitted as .jpgs at a resolution of 300dpi. Copyright remains with the author and authors may re-publish papers with acknowledgement of Modern Art Asia as the original site of publication. Include an abstract (250 words) and biography (150 words)with submissions over 2,000 words.

Articles should be submitted in plain text or .doc formats, with bibliographic citations, if required, given as endnotes. Text should be unformatted, single spaced, with titles of texts and art works in italics. Use of non-roman characters should be avoided.

Further information and a full style guide is available at modernartasia.com/contribute.html
Please note this page cannot currently be read using mobile devices.
Email: editors@modernartasia.com
Visit the website at http://modernartasia.com/contribute.html

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Call for Papers: Contested Spaces: 13th Annual EAS Graduate Conference

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Paula

Contested Spaces – 13th Annual East Asian Studies Graduate Student Conference, University of Toronto, March 2, 2013
Keynote Address by Prof.  Lisa Kim Davis (UCLA)

Using East Asia as a point of departure, Contested Spaces challenges speakers to interrogate our understanding of space and society in all disciplines including history, geography, sociology, literature, and anthropology.

We invite those interested in presenting papers to submit an abstract (300 words maximum) with biographical information (name, affiliation, and research interests) by December 7, 2012.  Presentations should be 20 minutes in length (1500-2000 word papers). Selected participants will be asked to submit completed papers by 15 February 2013 so that panel discussants may read papers in advance. Submissions may be for an individual or panel. Panel submissions must include one abstract per participant, up to 3 persons.

Email submissions and queries to eas.gsc@utoronto.ca.

EASGSC
c/o Jeremy Hurdis and Martin Bastarache
University of Toronto
130 St. George Street
RL-14087
Phone: (416) 946-3625
Fax: (416) 978-5111
Email: eas.gsc@utoronto.ca
Visit the website at http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/easgsc

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Funding: POLA Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Japanese Culture

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Paula

I didn’t see any past participants that were not Japanese, but I also did not see anything explicitly stating only nationals could apply. It might be worth checking out more in detail if you’re interested in traditional culture.  The website is in Japanese only.

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The Pola Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Japanese Culture is a corporate foundation which aims to foster and promote the development of Japanese traditional culture. The Foundation offers assistance to young artists engaged in traditional Japanese cultural activities.

See more information at:

http://www.polaculture.or.jp/promotion/polaaward.html

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Book Announcement: Illustrated Guide to Hawaii’s Japanese Buddhist Temples

Posted on November 11, 2012 by LM

http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu/p-8767-9780824836795.aspx

Tanabe, George J.; Tanabe, Willa Jane
Japanese Buddhist Temples in Hawaii
256pp. October 2012
Paper – Price: $22.99ISBN: 978-0-8248-3679-5
Cloth – Price: $45.00ISBN: 978-0-8248-3663-4
363 color illus.
A Latitude 20 Book

Upon entering a Japanese Buddhist temple in Hawai‘i, most people—whether first-time visitors or lifelong members—are overwhelmed by the elaborate and complex display of golden ornaments, intricately carved altar tables and incense burners, and images of venerable masters and bodhisattvas. These objects, as well as the architectural elements of the temple itself, have meanings that are often hidden in ancient symbolisms. This book, written by two local authorities on Japanese art and religion, provides a thorough yet accessible overview of Buddhism in Hawai‘i followed by a temple-by-temple guide to the remaining structures across the state.

Introductory chapters cover the basic history, teachings, and practices of various denominations and the meanings of objects commonly found in temples. Taken together, they form a short primer on Buddhism in Japan and Hawai‘i. The heart of the book is a narrative description of the ninety temples still extant in Hawai‘i. Augmented by over 350 color photographs, each entry begins with historical background information and continues with descriptions of architecture, sanctuaries, statuary and ritual implements, columbariums, and grounds. Appended at the end is a chart listing each temple’s denomination, membership number, and architectural type.

While many Buddhist temples in Hawai‘i are active social and religious centers, a good number are in serious decline. In addition to being an introduction to Buddhism and a guide book, Japanese Buddhist Temples in Hawai‘i is an indispensable historical record of what exists today and what may be gone tomorrow. It will appeal to temple members, pilgrims, residents and tourists interested in local cultural and historic sites, and historians of Buddhism in Hawai‘i.

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Job Opening: East Asian History, Assistant Professor (tenure-track)

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Paula

Institution: University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, History
Location:   Tennessee, United States
Position:   Assistant Professor, East Asian History

The Department of History at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in East Asian History beginning August 2013. The successful candidate will teach introductory courses in world history, survey courses in Chinese and Japanese History, and upper-level courses in his/her area of specialization. Applications in all thematic areas are welcome. Ph.D. in history required at time of appointment; applications from advanced ABD candidates also will be considered.

Review of applications will begin on December 1 and will continue until the position is filled.  Candidates should send all materials electronically, including a letter of interest, current curriculum vitae, graduate transcripts, three confidential letters of recommendation, statement of teaching philosophy, sample syllabi, copies of student evaluations (if available), and one writing sample (preferably an article or book/dissertation chapter) to facultyvitae20@utc.edu.  In the subject line of all email submissions please indicate East Asian History Search.

Chattanooga is an inviting city with more than 150,000 residents, offering a wide variety of outdoor, cultural, and community events that make it an excellent place to live and work.  Chattanooga was recently named the #1 city for outdoor living by Outdoor magazine and it is well known for its natural beauty, high quality of life, and low cost of living.  UTC is a metropolitan university that serves 12,000 regional, national, and international undergraduate students and approximately 2,000 graduate students.  It is well regarded as a top public regional institute of higher learning.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action/Title VI & IX Section504/ADA/ADEA institution.

Contact: Direct inquiries to Sara-Jorgensen@utc.edu.

Website: http://www.utc.edu/Academic/History

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Fun Link Friday: Beer-Can Takatori Castle

Posted on November 9, 2012 by LM

NPOs Hojin Juminno Chikara, Amanokawa Jikkoiinkai and Takatoricho Ikku Jichikai have taken the Guinness World Record for largest aluminum can sculpture with their beer-can replica of Nara’s Takatori Castle.

Construction began in January 2012 and was completed on August 28, 2012.

To read more and see a video from FNN, as well as beer information for Japan, see Beering in Mind‘s converge here. Kanpai!

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Job Opening: Outreach Program Manager, University of Wisconsin Richland

Posted on November 8, 2012 by LM

Institution: University of Wisconsin Colleges
Location: Richland Center, WI
Deadline: 11/22/2012
Education: Bachelor’s

UW-Richland invites applications for an Outreach Program Manager I position (working title: Outreach Program Manager of Continuing Education) in the Office of Continuing Education. This is a full-time, Limited appointment overseeing a variety of programming including credit and non-credit courses, College for Kids, Middle School U, YFU, Japan, and the Precollege Program. The Outreach Program Manager is responsible for maintaining a cost recovery program. This position works independently and reports directly to the CEO/Dean.

JOB DETAILS:
1. Prepare and manage the budget and the annual program plan for campus outreach in a cost-recovery model.
2. Assess the professional, cultural and academic needs of the community by working with advisory groups, community agencies, businesses, professional organizations and individuals, and respond with cutting edge programs.
3. Design, implement, coordinate and supervise all curricular activities (credit and non-credit) including course descriptions, course objectives, course content and course offerings.
4. Direct complete implementation of programming including registration, collection of fees, scheduling of facilities and equipment, the submission of all required reports and evaluations, and processing of CE payroll.
5. Work with University Relations, faculty, administrators, professionals, the general public and public officials, to market and promote continuing education activities.
6. Facilitate the continuing education extension function of the campus, assisting the campus to become the focal point of community service and cultural activity of the geographical area.
7. Design, supervise, and manage the curriculum of the Precollege Program and international programs.
8. Serve on appropriate campus committees.
9. Participate in appropriate professional development meetings for outreach program managers.
10. Perform such other continuing education duties as specified by the Dean.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree and computer proficiency required. Educational programming and marketing experience desired. Familiarity with Richland County is helpful in understanding community needs. Energy, creativity, organizational and problem solving skills as well as motivation to work hard are required. Hours vary and may include evening and weekends as needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Outreach Program Manager for Continuing Education plans, coordinates, and directs continuing education programs, assisting the campus to become the focal point of community service and cultural activity of the geographical area. The Outreach Program Manager assesses the community needs, develops and oversees the budgets; proposes, plans, and implements and evaluates continuing education programming for the geographic area served by the college. This involves working closely with faculty, staff, students and members of the community to develop credit outreach and noncredit campus programming that meets the professional development, personal enrichment and lifelong learning needs of the local citizenry.

For full details and to apply, see original posting at University of Wisconsin’s website.

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