Join other music appreciators for drop-in music making by participating in TWO orchestras - Javanese gamelan and Balinese gamelan

Drop in gamelan sessions will be held during July and early August to learn and play diverse instruments.  Practices are open to both experienced and first-time players.  

Sessions will be on the following Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Music Box, Performing Arts & Humanities Building (PAHB) Room 151:

July 11

July 18

July 25

August 1

August 8

If you have time, we would love to have you participate in these enjoyable and relaxing sessions.   For further information please feel free to contact Gina Beck at gbeck1@umbc.edu.

Photo credit:  Dr. Constantine Vaporis

Dear Students,

We hope you're having a wonderful summer.  Below are Asian Studies courses that may be of interest to you:

ASIA 300-02 – Introduction to Indian Dance

M-W 1:00 – 2:15, Instructor: Professor Shobha Subramanian

ASIA 300-03 – Buddhism

TuTh 2:30 – 3:45, Instructor: Professor Balaji Hebbar

ASIA 300-04 – Drama Seminar: Japanese Performance

TuTh 11:30 – 12:45, Instructor:  Professor Alan Kreizenbeck

ASIA 318 City and Cinema in South Asia

W 4:30 – 7:00 Instructor: Preminda Jacob

Altered State: Painting Myanmar in a Time of Transition presents paintings by 36 contemporary artists from Myanmar, the Southeast Asian nation formerly known as Burma. Created following the transition period of 2011, when a military-backed civilian government replaced oppressive rule by military junta and the country once famous for its seclusion re-entered the world stage, the paintings illustrate current artistic practice in Myanmar and present a series of creative viewpoints on a rapidly changing society.

Paintings included in Altered State: Painting Myanmar in a Time of Transition are from the collection of contemporary Myanmar paintings of Ian Holliday, the Vice President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) at the University of Hong Kong. Presentation of the exhibition at UMBC is supported in part by an arts program grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support comes from the Friends of the Library & Gallery, the Libby Kuhn Endowment, and individual contributions.

Gallery hours:
Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday until 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 12 – 5 p.m.

Modern Languages & Linguistics MLL 300

Time: MW 5:30-6:45pm                               Location:         Fine Arts 006

Instructor: Dr. Christopher Tong 唐老师               Office: Fine Arts 445

Email: ckt@umbc.edu                                               Office hours: Th 2-3, 5-6pm or by appointment

Course Description                                         

From the New Culture Movement of 1917 to World War II, from literary journals to rock concerts, from self-expression to social engagement, poetry has played an integral role in remaking modern Chinese life. In this course, you will study the works of key poets, musicians, and revolutionaries who shaped the development of modern Chinese culture and history in the 20^th century. Examining a range of materials such as poems, song lyrics, music (folk, classical, jazz, pop, rock, punk, hip hop), films, and scholarly essays, you will learn about modern Chinese lyrical culture as it evolved in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong and its relationship with national and regional identities. While this course is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of Chinese or Chinese culture, MLL 190, 191, 230 or 301 is recommended. Since this is an MLL course, all class discussions, assignments, and materials will be in English. Poems will be available in Chinese for those interested in reading the original.

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) analyze modern Chinese poems using technical terms; (2) interpret modern Chinese poetry and music in their historical contexts; (3) recall major developments in modern Chinese history in the 20th century; and (4) improve your ability to think critically and write academic papers on literary topics. You are expected to work toward these goals, participate in all classroom activities, and complete all assignments in a timely manner.