7-10 pm, The Babcock Theater, 2810 2nd Ave N, Billings

“In the Mood for Love” is a cinematic piece of art from 2000 by Wong Kar Wai. The film focuses on a man (Tony Leung) and a woman (Maggie Cheung) whose spouses have an affair together and who slowly develop feelings for each other. 

The film premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Palme d’Or and Tony Leung was awarded Best Actor. It is frequently listed as one of the greatest films of all time and one of the major works of Asian cinema. In a 2016 survey by the BBC, it was voted the second-best film of the 21st century by film critics from around the world. 

Ted Kim, cinema instructor at MSU Billings, will host a short introduction of the film prior to the viewing. Ted has worked in the television and film business in NYC and Los Angeles for more than 20 years as a director, writer and producer.  He most recently worked as a producer in Los Angeles developing TV network dramas for Tokyo Broadcasting System (“TBS”). He holds an M.F.A. in film directing from Columbia University in NYC.

10 am - 3 pm, SUB Glacier Room

Learn about the multitude of study abroad opportunities available to MSU Billings students. Whether you want to study literature in England or business in China, International Studies has a program for you. 

You will have the opportunity to learn about the various programs from MSUB students who have studied abroad as well as from visiting exchange students at MSUB are representing their home universities. While you're there, pick up some snacks from around the world and enjoy a truly multicultural atmosphere.

 

Don't forget to pick up your official East Asia Themed Semester Passport, which you can use to collect stamps from all the East Asia events during the fall semester. Students with the most stamps will win a prize! see above for details.

6-7 pm, LI 148 

Much of East Asian lifestyles and festivals are centered around the Chinese lunar calendar and the associated symbolism. This lecture takes place during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, a celebration recognized throughout Asia. MSUB’s Chinese visiting scholar, Renyi Deng, will discuss the Mid-Autumn Festival related mythology, traditions and agricultural activities. She will introduce lunar calendar meanings and provide an overview of the lunar Zodiac. 

Mooncakes, a traditional delicacy from China and eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, will be shared with participants.

4-6 pm, LI 148

MSUB faculty are encouraged to attend this information session to learn about the $6,000 Faculty UISFL Grant proposal process. Director of International Studies Paul Foster, PhD, will lead this information session, with guest speakers from grant recipients for the 2021/2022 cycle from both MSUB faculty and faculty from Northwest College - MSUB's institutional partner for the UISFL grant.

MSUB faculty recipients: Jodi Lightner & Melanie Reaves, PhD; NWC faculty recipients: Elaine DeBuhr; J. Gregory Smith, PhD; Tristan Eggener, DMA

6-7 pm, LI 148

Hear from three former English teachers in East Asia about their experiences teaching English as a second language.

Neil Beyer taught English in northeastern China and led a new department where he was responsible for the recruitment, on-boarding, and training of western education professionals in China. 

 Rod Gottula, author of “Double! Not Half,” taught in Korea and Japan. During his 20+ years in education, he has led numerous cultural exchange trips to Japan, resulting in former students becoming JETs themselves.

David Erikson taught a wide variety of ages from elementary students to adults in South Korea for four years. He also taught young adults while serving in the US Army. David lived in Korea for roughly 12 years.

CANCELED

Andrew Fulton, Executive Chef, MSUB Dining Services

 

 

 

4-5:30 pm, SUB Beartooth Room 

East Asian languages are among the oldest in the world (Chinese is the oldest written language at more than 3,000 years old). The evolution of the languages is expansive and rich. 

Learn more from MSUB visiting scholars Renyi Deng from China and Seongkyung Kim from South Korea and from Northwest College visiting scholar Chiyomi Sekiguchi from Japan about these important East Asian languages, The visiting scholars will also offer basic tutorials with writing and saying simple words or phrases. 

7-10 pm, Babcock Theater, 2810 2nd Ave N, Billings

“Burning” is a 2018 South Korean psychological thriller film co-written, produced, and directed by Lee Chang-dong. The plot depicts a young deliveryman, Jong-su (Yoo), who runs into his childhood friend, Hae-mi (Jeon). They soon meet an enigmatic young man named Ben (Yeun), who Jong-su becomes suspicious of and begins to believe Hae-mi is in danger. 

Burning premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and has received almost universal critical acclaim, particularly for its sense of unease, ambiguous narrative, and performances.

Ted Kim, cinema instructor at MSU Billings, will host a short introduction of the film prior to the viewing. Ted has worked in the television and film business in NYC and Los Angeles for more than 20 years as a director, writer and producer.  He most recently worked as a producer in Los Angeles developing TV network dramas for Tokyo Broadcasting System (“TBS”). He holds an M.F.A. in film directing from Columbia University in NYC.

CANCELED

Come join the Billings Dae Myung Martial Arts School for a fun, interactive evening and get a taste of Korean culture!  You’ll see demonstrations of Tae Kwon Do (kicking, punching, and blocking), Judo (throwing and falling) and Hapkido (self-defense). 

You will be invited to learn some basic Tae Kwon Do techniques and be introduced to Korean wisdom through story telling. We hope you’ll join us!

• Grand Master Curtis Ferrin, 7^th degree black belt, head instructor for Billings Dae Myung, and Vice President of the Dae Myung Martial Arst Federation. He began training in 1983 under the instruction of Master Carlo Fujiwara.
• Master Melinda Tilton, 5^th Degree black belt and instructor for Billings Dae Myung. She began training in 1978 under the instruction of Grand Master Jae Ho Park.
• Master Jane Kelly, 4^th degree black belt and instructor for Billings Dae Myung. She began training in1999 under Grand Master Karlo Fujiwara and Master Curtis Ferrin.
• Instructor Hilary Hunt, 2^nd degree black belt and instructor for Billings Dae Myung. She began training in 1997 under the instruction of Master Curtis Ferrin.

6-7 pm, LI 148 

Due to Shinto’s historical ties to Japanese nationalism, it is clear that religion and nationalism played a role in Japanese politics in the past, but what about contemporarily? This lecture explores the political strategy of appealing to religious nationalism in current Japanese politics.

Hope Dewell Gentry, PhD, is a Lecturer of Political Science at MSUB, and her primary research interests include Asian studies, religion and politics, and nationalism. In particular, her research focuses on Japan, where she conducted field research interviewing Shinto priests.

4-5:30 pm, SUB Beartooth Room

K-Pop and J-Pop have taken the world by storm. The genre’s catchy songs, savvy use of social media and dedicated fans are a formula for global success. The main ingredient — a catchy hook song — gets paired with a signature dance move and is wrapped up in a flashy video.

Join MSUB international students from Korea and Japan to learn about K-Pop and J-Pop cultures and learn some of the catchy dance moves.

6-7 pm, LI 148

The lecture will focus on some key differences between East Asian and Western educational systems and practices.  In addition to providing a range of detailed examples from various education levels, the discussion will explore the cultural and historical underpinnings of East Asian education.

Randal Batchelor, PhD, earned a doctorate in higher education at Montana State University Bozeman in 2005 with a minor in international education.  Early in his career, he taught English, history and writing for more nine years in East Asia including Japan, South Korea and Thailand.  His doctoral dissertation examined educational modernization in Japan, China and Thailand.

7-10 pm, The Babcock Theater,  2810 2nd Ave N, Billings

“Still Walking” is a 2008 Japanese film edited, written, and directed by award-winning Hirokazu Kore-eda. The film is a portrait of a family over roughly 24 hours when the grown children visit their elderly parents to commemorate the tragic death of the eldest son 15 years prior. 

The film was widely praised by critics and won the Golden Astor for Best Film at the 2008 Mar del Plata International Film Festival. 

Ted Kim, cinema instructor at MSU Billings, will host a short introduction of the film prior to the viewing. Ted has worked in the television and film business in NYC and Los Angeles for more than 20 years as a director, writer and producer.  He most recently worked as a producer in Los Angeles developing TV network dramas for Tokyo Broadcasting System (“TBS”). He holds an M.F.A. in film directing from Columbia University in NYC.

6-7 pm, Cisel Recital Hall

Experience the serentiry of traditional East Asian music. Miwa Batchelor will play the shamisen, a traditional Japanese three-stringed lute with a square body. The instrument Miwa plays is named Shabo, which is a Shamisen-like instrument made partly of cardboard. The Shabo has very warm and soft sound, and is perfect for the beginners interested in learning the Shamisen. Miwa will be accompanied by vocalist Renyi Deng.

 

6-7 pm, Virtual (see link below)

Mika Yoshitake, PhD, will take us on a journey to explore post-war through contemporary Japanese art. 

Mika is an independent curator with expertise in postwar Japanese art. She has curated a variety of exhibits in the U.S. and Asia and is currently the guest curator of Yoshitomo Nara (2021) at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature (2021) at the New York Botanical Garden. She is slated to curate forthcoming exhibitions in Hong Kong and Los Angeles. Mika has published in Artforum, Art in America, Bijutsu Techō, Exposure, Kaleidoscope, among other publications.

4-5 pm, SUB Beartooth Room

Hear from Alisa Batchelor about her experiences growing up with two cultures and speaking two languages.

"Growing up with a Japanese mother and American father in Montana had its ups and downs. As a child, I had to navigate between two distinctly different cultures. It took years to come to terms with my own identity and individuality. Being mixed, it always felt like I was split between two people, one that was inherently Japanese and one that was American. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized that there is so much strength in emulating both, and that my identity is not tied to being one or the other. My identity is unique in that I can be both at once." - Alisa Batchelor