Silver Lining S1: East Asia in the Pandemic
Silver Lining S1: East Asia in the Pandemic
Silver Lining
Silver Lining is a podcast that offers nuanced conversations about East Asian societies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to bring in the expertise of graduate students studying East Asia to make the world of academia more accessible and less esoteric under the guidance of the Columbia Global Collaboratory. ​ By hearing from experts about topics ranging from economic policy to popular culture, we hope to offer a candid exploration of ideas relating to East Asia and the pandemic. Few podcasts cover East Asian current affairs. Now, more than ever, we believe it is imperative to listen, empathize, and find the silver lining.
Episode 6 (Abigail MacBain): The Origin of Buddhism in Japan
In this episode, Columbia PhD candidate Abigail MacBain, explores the origins of buddhism in Japan, how it was used as a tool in extending state authority, and what buddhism is like in the regime today.
Apr 30, 2021
33 min
Episode 5 (Stephen Choi): Japanese Children's Literature - Why do children read what they read?
Stephen Choi, a PhD candidate at Columbia University, explores with us the historical evolution of Japanese children's literature: how the notion of children came about in modern Japan and how the literature for children had turned from nationalistic themes towards individualism in post-war Japan. We also talked about the use of gendered language in Japan and its influence on children's literature.
Jan 27, 2021
29 min
Episode 4 (Isaac Tan): Eugenics - the Japanese Brand of Racism in the Guise of Science
In this episode, Isaac Tan, Columbia PhD candidate in East Asian History, takes a close look at the formation of modern Japan in the interwar period. We discuss the country's history with eugenics, and how blood types continue to be used as an indicator of personality traits.
Dec 6, 2020
25 min
Episode 3 (Charles Chang): The Skepticism and Creativity of Chinese Internet Users
In this episode, Charles Chang, PhD and Assistant Professor of Environment and Urban Studies at Duke Kunshan explores the relationship between Chinese Internet users and their government. We discuss how skepticism towards government information compares in China and the U.S., how Chinese Internet users self-censor or use coded language to get around restrictions, and how movements for Internet transparency and privacy are evolving in China today.
Nov 18, 2020
40 min
Episode 2 (Peter Moody): When the Medium Becomes More Powerful Than the Message
In our second episode, we talk with Peter Moody - a Columbia doctoral student in Korean history - about the ideological use of music in North Korea, sports diplomacy between North and South Korea, and North Korea during the pandemic.
Sep 7, 2020
24 min
Episode 1 (Yanjie Huang): Sacrifice in China
In our first episode of the Silver Lining podcast, Columbia Chinese history doctoral student Yanjie Huang discusses the notion of sacrifice and how it has evolved since the 1960s to the present day in China.
Sep 7, 2020
18 min