Kritika Kultura

We mourn the passing of 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲 𝗟. 𝗥𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗲𝗹, a pioneering member of the international board of editors of 𝘒𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘒𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢, whose intellectual generosity and steadfast support were instrumental in shaping the journal's growth over the years.

𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝟳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Kindly note the deadline extension for the Special Literary Section on Filipino Literature in Translation. We are especially seeking translations of prose, dramatic, and experimental works, as well as contributions from women and LBTQIA+ translators and writers.

𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗲𝗱𝘆𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗧𝗼𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩

The 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘂𝗺 (𝗖𝗜𝗦) warmly invites its members, affiliates, and guests to join the CIS Reading Group on Southeast Asia, scheduled on 𝟬𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟭:𝟬𝟬–𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 (𝗝𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲). This monthly event forms part of the ongoing collaboration between the Critical Island Studies Consortium and 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗞𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮 (𝗞𝗞).

For this session, the group will discuss 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗲𝗱𝘆𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗧𝗼𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩 alongside 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹 𝗡𝗶𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗸’𝘀 article, “𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹/𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗲𝗱𝘆𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗧𝗼𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩.” The discussion will examine how spatial movement structures the protagonist’s development while illuminating the intertwined forces of colonial power, feudal hierarchy, gendered subordination, and historical consciousness in Southeast Asia.

Those interested may register through this link:
https://tinyurl.com/CISReadingGroupToer.

𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥
𝗡𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶 is a doctoral student in the History Department of the University of British Columbia. Prior to pursuing her doctoral studies, Nila spent a decade teaching at Universitas Indonesia and worked as a consultant for the Directorate General of Culture (now Ministry of Culture). Her dissertation project explores the fixity and fuzziness of race and citizenship as colonial legacies and how they shape the trajectory of nationalist movement(s), grammar of belonging, and public memory of the twentieth century. She is currently in the final stages of her dissertation and serves as Project Coordinator for the Transformative Memory International Network at the University of British Columbia, where she provides strategic coordination and leadership and engages in creative memory work on the afterlives of political violence.

𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗨𝗠
The Critical Island Studies Consortium (CIS) is an academic network dedicated to challenging prevailing modes of knowledge production centered around the Northern Hemisphere. It aims to explore the epistemological and ontological underpinnings of emerging knowledge paradigms.

Discussions on globalization often center on the expansion of Europe and North America, sidelining other regions and establishing these areas as the “center” while characterizing the rest of the world as the “margin.” However, this perspective is problematic as it neglects the interconnected nature of the global system. To foster a fresh understanding of the environment and nature, it is imperative to move away from this Eurocentric viewpoint and embrace a more planetary outlook. This shift becomes crucial in addressing pressing challenges related to social and environmental crises. Archipelagic thoughts present a potential alternative to the prevalent Eurocentric cosmology of nature, focusing on oceans and islands instead of land and continents. This approach offers the possibility of envisioning and crafting a more sustainable future for our planet.

Hence, a planetary perspective is essential for reshaping the image of the environment and fostering a new sense of nature. This transformation requires challenging established norms and adopting new perceptions, a responsibility that academia can fulfill. Until now, the Eurocentric cosmology of nature, rooted in landscape epistemology, has maintained geopolitical privilege over other regions. To counter this predominant nature narrative, an alternative environmental philosophy, such as seascape ontology, must be created. The paradigm shift from land to ocean, from continents to islands, is a crucial aspect of this transformation. Critical island studies emerge as a theoretical domain challenging geopolitical analyses, focusing on the unique characteristics and experiences of islands across interdisciplinary fields like geography, anthropology, sociology, and political science.

In contrast, geopolitical studies concentrate on the political and strategic importance of geographical space, exploring how a region’s geography can influence its political and economic relationships with other countries. While there may be some overlap between critical island studies and geopolitical studies, they are distinct disciplines with different emphases and goals. Critical island studies primarily seek to understand the distinctive experiences and challenges of islands, incorporating archipelagic thoughts, while geopolitical studies prioritize the political and strategic implications of geographical space.

To know more about CIS, you may visit https://criticalislandstudies.com/.

𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧: 𝗞𝗞 𝟰𝟴

𝙆𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙠𝙖 𝙆𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖 proudly announces the release of its 48th issue (December 2025). Composed of nine articles in the regular section, 17 stories in the special literary section on Contemporary Philippine Fiction, and three suites of poems in the literary section , KK 48 may now be read on Archium (archium.ateneo.edu/kk).

The regular section, edited by Ma. Gabriela P. Martin and Jocelyn Martin, includes six essays that address a wide range of themes and critical concerns. 𝗝𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻’s article “𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗸𝗼-𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗼 𝗣. 𝗦𝗶𝗯𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻, 𝗘𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝗔. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗼, 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗕. 𝗚𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗙𝗦𝗖 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝗮 𝗪𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴-𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗸𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘀” presents a dialogue among linguists Sibayan, Constantino, and Gonzales on the medium of instruction in Philippine education, drawing on Gadamer’s concept of dialogic understanding and the fusion of horizons. Situating their ideas within contemporary language debates, the study highlights both enduring disagreements and significant points of convergence. 𝗤𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗾𝗶 𝗪𝗲𝗶, in “𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝘂𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗶 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀,” analyzes the ecopoetics of the Chinese poet Huahai, highlighting how his poetry articulates a culturally grounded ecological consciousness attuned to contemporary climate anxieties. By foregrounding Huahai’s works, the article shows how poetic practice and environmental action intersect to translate ecological thought from text into lived cultural intervention. 𝗖𝗵𝗶 𝗠𝗶𝗮𝗼’s “𝗪𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁?: 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 (𝗜𝗺)𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗔𝘄'𝘀 𝙁𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝘽𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚” employs Dan Shen’s theory of dual narrative dynamics to reveal how the novel’s apparent narrative of neoliberal aspiration in China conceals a critique of racialized politics, class immobility, and crony capitalism in Malaysia. 𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗼𝗸 and 𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗻’s “𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀” explores the enduring effects of Korea’s division trauma, proposing the concept of “mourning communities” to foster collective healing. By integrating psychoanalytic mourning theory with Turner’s notion of Communitas, the study emphasizes solidarity and mutual recognition as crucial for addressing the psychological and social scars of historical and political fragmentation.. 𝗤𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗾𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗫𝘂 and 𝗕𝗮𝗼𝗷𝗶 𝗟𝗶, in “𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀-𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹: 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀,” traces how Alejandro Morales’s novel frames illness as a culturally and politically embedded phenomenon, foregrounding the tensions between Western biomedicine and curanderismo. By reading disease as a site of racial, ethical and ideological struggle, the article advances a trans-ethnic vision of survival that calls for a more holistic and humanistic medical imagination. 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝗶 and 𝗬𝘂𝗲 𝗭𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴’s “𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝘂 𝗬𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚” analyzes how Liu blends Western stream of consciousness with Chinese poetic language, using abstract symbols like lines and circles alongside concrete imagery such as the moon to explore human desires, emotions, and acts of resistance. 𝗟𝗼𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗶 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴, 𝗧𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘇 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗮, 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘇, 𝗩𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝘆𝗹𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 “𝗫𝗶𝗮𝗼” 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗮’s “𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁?: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱 (𝟭𝟴𝟴𝟵-𝟭𝟴𝟵𝟱)” examines how Filipino intellectuals depicted China in La Solidaridad, showing that their perspectives–shaped by regional politics, colonial anxieties, and reformist aspirations–offer historical insight into Philippine-Chinese relations prior to 20th century conflicts. 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 and 𝗞𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀’s “𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞-𝗣𝗼𝗽 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧𝗤+ 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰” explores how K-Pop fandom provided LGBTQ+ fans with emotional, social, and material support during the pandemic, highlighting its role as a q***r space that fostered not only connection but also resilience and mental well-being. Lastly, 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱 in her article “𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘆: 𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗸𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗸𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺” maps how Filipino fandoms across generations, from the Noranians to AlDub Nation to contemporary K-Pop stans, engage in productive practices such as philanthropy and political participation, focusing how civic-minded fan activism extends the understanding of fans’ labor beyond creative works.

Guest-edited by 𝗚𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝘇 and 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿, the special literary section on Contemporary Philippine Fiction features 17 works, including nine translations, selected according to the concept of “halaga” or value to illuminate the resonance and creativity of contemporary Filipino writing. The section includes 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘇𝗰𝗮 𝗞𝘄𝗲's "𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗹𝗲"; 𝗔𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀’s “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘄”; 𝗔𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻’s “𝗠𝗴𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗮 𝗔𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗴-𝗮𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮” (“𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮,” translated by 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗶𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘇); 𝗔𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝘇’s “𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮” (self-translated as ““𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗱”); 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗼’s “𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁” (“𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝗗𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀,” translated by 𝗔𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼); 𝗞𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗼’s “𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗲, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀!”; 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗻’s “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻”; 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘇𝗮 𝗜𝗜𝗜’s “𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲 ‘𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗸𝗼’ 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘇 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮, 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀” (“𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲 ‘𝗜’𝗺 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗖𝗘𝗢’ 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘇 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮, 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀,” translated by 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗲); 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼 𝗚𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘇’s “𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹” (“𝗣𝗶𝘀𝘀-𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹,” translated by 𝗝𝗲𝗹𝗼 𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗮); 𝗔𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘂ñ𝗮’𝘀 “𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝘀” (“𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝘀,” translated by 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺); 𝗕𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗻’s “𝗘𝗸𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱”; 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶’s “𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝗻𝘆”; 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘂𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝗿𝗶𝘁’s “𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝗮𝗼” (“𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝗮𝗼,” translated by 𝗠á𝗻𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘇); 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗺’s “𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲” (“𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲,” translated by 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘀); 𝗘𝗳𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻’s “𝗕𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴” (self-translated as “𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹”); 𝗡𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗼’s “𝗢𝗻 𝗔𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲”; and 𝗟𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻’s “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.” As framed by the editors, this special literary section gathers literary works that ask “What acts of valuing can be glimpsed here?” and examine how fiction can “illuminate a thing as multifarious and ungovernably complex as contemporary Philippine life.” Against the logics of efficiency and fluency demanded by state, market, and algorithm, “these fictions remind us that to be rooted is also to be restless, that comfort can conceal violence, that security too often means someone else’s precarity.”

The literary section of the issue, edited by Martin Villanueva, features poetry by 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮 (“𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝗺𝘀”), 𝗝𝗼𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗼 (“𝗦𝗶𝗹á𝗻𝗴”), and 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗶 (“𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲”), offering varied poetic voices that complement the issue’s critical and creative engagements.

Acknowledged by Asian and Asian American Studies libraries and scholarly networks, Kritika Kultura is indexed in the MLA International Bibliography, Arts and Humanities Citation Index (Clarivate), Scopus, EBSCO, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and the International Consortium of Critical Theory Programs (ICCTP). Kritika Kultura is published thrice a year by the Literary and Cultural Studies Program in the School of Humanities, Ateneo de Manila University, and is a founding member of the Asian Journals Network. For inquiries, please contact the editors at [email protected].

𝗞𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗞𝗔 𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦

To register, visit https://go.ateneo.edu/KKReadingSeriesShea.

𝙆𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙠𝙖 𝙆𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖, in collaboration with the Literary and Cultural Studies Program, the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices, the Department of Fine Arts, and PLUME, invites you to “𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗮,” with poet 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗮 of the Hong Kong Baptist University. The event will be held on 𝟭𝟰 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟱:𝟬𝟬–𝟳:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠, at the 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗼 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆.

The program will include a reading from Shea’s most recent poetry collection 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙚, as well as a conversation with the author on poetics and the practice of writing, alongside writers 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗮 𝗢𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗮 and 𝗔𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗘. 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼.
Admission is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please bring a valid ID for campus access.

BIONOTE
𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗮 is the author of 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦 (University of Iowa Press), selected by Brenda Shaughnessy for the 2024 Iowa Poetry Prize. His previous collections include 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 (FenceBooks) and 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘺𝘦, selected by Nick Flynn for the Fence Modern Poets Series. He is the translator of 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥 (Black Ocean), a collection of contemporary Japanese haiku by Sayumi Kamakura. He co-edited 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘬𝘶 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 (Routledge) and co-translated 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦: 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘠𝘢𝘮 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘨 (Zephyr Press). He is the director of the International Writers’ Workshop at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), where he also directs HKBU’s bilingual creative writing program. He has received grants from the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, National Endowment for the Arts, and Vermont Arts Council.

ABOUT THE DISCUSSANTS
𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗮 𝗢𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗮 is a faculty member at Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University, where she teaches Philippine literature, creative writing, and art appreciation. In
2007, she served as a writing fellow for Filipino poetry at the IYAS La Salle National Writers’ Workshop. Since 2003, she has been a member of LIRA (Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo), a group of young poets writing in Filipino. Her poems have been featured in anthologies such as 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘢 𝘐𝘴𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯: 𝘔𝘨𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰 and 𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘢: 𝘔𝘨𝘢 𝘛𝘶𝘭𝘢. She also authored a poetry collection titled 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘪 𝘙𝘪𝘵𝘰, which was reprinted in 2024.

𝗔𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗘. 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼 is the author of 𝘚𝘢 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰 𝘱𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰 (Librong LIRA, 2023), a finalist for Best Book of Poetry in Filipino at the 42nd National Book Awards. He is currently the president of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA), the oldest organization of poets writing in Filipino, and the director of its workshop. He teaches creative writing and art appreciation at the Ateneo de Manila University.

ABOUT KRITIKA KULTURA
𝘒𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘒𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢 is acknowledged by a host of Asian and Asian American Studies libraries and scholarly networks and indexed in the MLA International Bibliography, Arts and Humanities Citation Index (Clarivate), Scopus, EBSCO, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and the International Consortium of Critical Theory Programs (ICCTP). Read KK issues and learn about submission guidelines and events on https://archium.ateneo.edu/kk or email the editors at [email protected].

Register here: https://go.ateneo.edu/KKReadingSeriesShea.

𝗞𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗞𝗔 𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦

To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/KKReadingSeriesShea.

𝙆𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙠𝙖 𝙆𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖, in collaboration with the Literary and Cultural Studies Program, the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices, the Department of Fine Arts, and PLUME, invites you to “𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗮,” with poet 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗮 of the Hong Kong Baptist University. The event will be held on 𝟭𝟰 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟱:𝟬𝟬–𝟳:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠, at the 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗼 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆.

The program will include a reading from Shea’s most recent poetry collection 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙚, as well as a conversation with the author on poetics and the practice of writing, alongside writers 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗮 𝗢𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗮 and 𝗔𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗘. 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼.

Admission is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please bring a valid ID for campus access.

BIONOTE
𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗮 is the author of 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦 (University of Iowa Press), selected by Brenda Shaughnessy for the 2024 Iowa Poetry Prize. His previous collections include 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 (FenceBooks) and 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘺𝘦, selected by Nick Flynn for the Fence Modern Poets Series. He is the translator of 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥 (Black Ocean), a collection of contemporary Japanese haiku by Sayumi Kamakura. He co-edited 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘬𝘶 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 (Routledge) and co-translated 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦: 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘠𝘢𝘮 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘨 (Zephyr Press). He is the director of the International Writers’ Workshop at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), where he also directs HKBU’s bilingual creative writing program. He has received grants from the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, National Endowment for the Arts, and Vermont Arts Council.

ABOUT THE DISCUSSANTS
𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗮 𝗢𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗮 is a faculty member at Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University, where she teaches Philippine literature, creative writing, and art appreciation. In
2007, she served as a writing fellow for Filipino poetry at the IYAS La Salle National Writers’ Workshop. Since 2003, she has been a member of LIRA (Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo), a group of young poets writing in Filipino. Her poems have been featured in anthologies such as 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘢 𝘐𝘴𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯: 𝘔𝘨𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰 and 𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘢: 𝘔𝘨𝘢 𝘛𝘶𝘭𝘢. She also authored a poetry collection titled 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘪 𝘙𝘪𝘵𝘰, which was reprinted in 2024.

𝗔𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗘. 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼 is the author of 𝘚𝘢 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰 𝘱𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰 (Librong LIRA, 2023), a finalist for Best Book of Poetry in Filipino at the 42nd National Book Awards. He is currently the president of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA), the oldest organization of poets writing in Filipino, and the director of its workshop. He teaches creative writing and art appreciation at the Ateneo de Manila University.

ABOUT KRITIKA KULTURA
𝘒𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘒𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢 is acknowledged by a host of Asian and Asian American Studies libraries and scholarly networks and indexed in the MLA International Bibliography, Arts and Humanities Citation Index (Clarivate), Scopus, EBSCO, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and the International Consortium of Critical Theory Programs (ICCTP). Read KK issues and learn about submission guidelines and events on https://archium.ateneo.edu/kk or email the editors at [email protected].

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/KKReadingSeriesShea.

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮’𝘀 𝗦𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗞𝗞 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱

𝙆𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙠𝙖 𝙆𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖 (KK) welcomes Professor Syed Farid Alatas of National University of Singapore and University of Malaya to its distinguished International Board of Editors.

Dr. Alatas is Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at the National University of Singapore, and Visiting Professor at the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Malaya. His areas of interest are social theory, religion and reform, intra- and inter-religious dialogue, and the study of the problems of colonial and Eurocentric knowledge.

Professor Alatas’s appointment to the International Board of Editors strengthens KK’s commitment to critical, decolonial, and transregional scholarship. Widely recognized for his interventions in Southern social theory and his sustained critique of Eurocentrism in the social sciences, his work has been instrumental in rethinking knowledge production from Asia and the Global South. His presence on the Board brings a critical perspective that aligns closely with the journal’s mission to foster rigorous and globally engaged humanities and social science research.

Reflecting on Professor Alatas’s appointment, Editor Emerita Professor Maria Luisa Torres Reyes notes that “the Alatas name carries with it a legacy of decolonizing tradition in critical thinking and scholarship.” This legacy was recently underscored by Professor Alatas’s Kritika Kultura lecture, “The Meaning of Decolonised Knowledge: Critique and Construction,” which articulated key distinctions within decolonial thought and emphasized the decolonization of knowledge as a transformative practice, and was warmly received by participants and generated rich discussion.

“KK is looking forward to working on publications and projects with Professor Alatas,” says Editor-in-Chief Dr. Vincenz Serrano, highlighting the significance of this collaboration. “We are hoping to benefit from, and engage with, his expertise in decolonial studies in the humanities and social sciences, as well as interact with his networks in Southeast Asia.” His appointment promises to strengthen KK’s scholarship and expand its regional and global collaborations.

Indexed in the MLA International Bibliography, Arts and Humanities Citation Index (Clarivate), Scopus, EBSCO, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and the International Consortium of Critical Theory Programs, KK is published thrice a year by the Literary and Cultural Studies Program of the Ateneo de Manila University. For updates on future events and publication prospects, visit archium.ateneo.edu/kk.

𝗞𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗞𝗔 𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 (𝗛𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁)

We would like to inform everyone that the upcoming Kritika Kultura Lecture on 10 December, titled "'Words the Color of Pulsating Flesh': Frantz Fanon and the Biopolitics of Translation" by Vicente Rafael, will follow a hybrid set-up and will also be available via Zoom.

Please note, however, that participants who have registered are expected to attend onsite. The Zoom access is provided primarily to accommodate wider participation.

Zoom Meeting link:
https://ateneo-edu.zoom.us/j/83766740077?pwd=t3Y08up3fUw37UKbYCaZBpZhRccz4o.1
Meeting ID: 837 6674 0077
Passcode: 677673
Time: 5:00-7:00 PM (Philippine Standard Time)

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

𝗞𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗞𝗔 𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦

To register, visit https://go.ateneo.edu/KKLectureRafael.

Kritika Kultura, in collaboration with the Literary and Cultural Studies Program and Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices, invites you to a lecture titled “‘𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗹𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗵’: 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘇 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻,” to be delivered by 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲 𝗟. 𝗥𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗲𝗹 of the University of Washington. The event will take place on 𝟭𝟬 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝟱:𝟬𝟬–𝟳:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠, 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗚𝗙 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺, 𝗗𝗲 𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗼 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆.

This lecture explores how translation operates within the intertwined realms of the historical, social, and biopolitical, particularly in colonial contexts. Drawing on Frantz Fanon’s writings, it examines the necropolitical dynamics of language, race, and decolonization, highlighting how translation underlies both imperial rule and anti-colonial resistance. The discussion situates these insights within the contemporary resurgence of fascism.

Admission is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please bring a valid ID for campus access.

𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧
Gramsci once wrote that translation is always conjunctural, at the crossroads of the historical and the social. It is thus woven into the politics of life, or what some have called the biopolitical. We can see this most clearly in colonial regimes. Imperial rule as well as resistances to it across different linguistic and social groups would be inconceivable without the workings of translation. In this essay, I flesh out this history by looking at specific biopolitical and necropolitical formations in colonial translation found in the writings of Frantz Fanon especially with regard to language, race and decolonization. And I do so against the backdrop of the surge of fascism today.

𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘
Vicente L. Rafael is Professor of History and Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle. His research and teaching have focused mostly on the comparative political and cultural history of the Philippines, the United States and Southeast Asia.

He is the author most recently of The Sovereign Trickster: Death and Laughter in the Age of Duterte (2022).

The rest of his books include Contracting Colonialism: Translation and Christian Conversion in Tagalog Society Under Early Spanish Rule (1988/1993); White Love and Other Events in Filipino Histories (2000); The Promise of the Foreign: Nationalism and the Technics of Translation in the Spanish Philippines (2005); Motherless Tongues: The Insurgency of Language Amid Wars of Translation (2016), all published by Duke University Press and co-published in the Philippines by Ateneo de Manila University Press.

He also edited Discrepant Histories: Translocal Essays in Filipino Cultures (1995) and Figures of Criminality in Indonesia, the Philippines and Colonial Vietnam (1999). Rafael also wrote the Introduction to a collection of Nick Joaquin's stories, The Woman Who Had Two Navels and Tales of the Tropical Gothic, published by Penguin Classics (2017).

Rafael also writes, in the Philippines, op-ed columns for Rappler and Philippine Daily Inquirer, and has written, in the US, for The Atlantic and The New York Review of Books. He has been the recipient of numerous awards both abroad and in the Philippines, including a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, Social Science Research Council Fellowship, a Ford Foundation fellowship, and residencies at the Stanford Humanities Center, University of California, Irvine Humanities Center, East-West Center in Honolulu, and several others. After graduating with a PhD in History and Anthropology from Cornell University, he taught at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, the University of California at San Diego, Stanford University, and currently at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is married to Lila Ramos Shahani.

𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗞𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗞𝗔 𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔
Kritika Kultura is acknowledged by a host of Asian and Asian American Studies libraries and scholarly networks and indexed in the MLA International Bibliography, Arts and Humanities Citation Index (Clarivate), Scopus, EBSCO, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and the International Consortium of Critical Theory Programs (ICCTP). Read KK issues and learn about submission guidelines and events on https://archium.ateneo.edu/kk or email the editors at [email protected].

Register here: https://go.ateneo.edu/KKLectureRafael.

𝗞𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗞𝗔 𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 (𝗛𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁)

We would like to inform everyone that the upcoming Kritika Kultura Lecture on 18 November, titled "From Illegible to Illicit: Anglophone Singapore Writing from the 1970s to the 1990s" by Ann Ang, will follow a hybrid set-up and will also be available via Zoom.

Please note, however, that participants who have registered are expected to attend onsite. The Zoom access is provided primarily to accommodate wider participation.

Zoom Meeting link:
https://ateneo-edu.zoom.us/j/84064643882?pwd=tmA2d9AgrFWyIqkcntBiGIlX70xThW.1

Meeting ID: 840 6464 3882
Passcode: 989016
Time: 5:00-7:00 PM (Philippine Standard Time)

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

𝗞𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗞𝗔 𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 (𝗛𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁)

We would like to inform everyone that the upcoming Kritika Kultura Lecture on 𝟭𝟳 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, titled "𝗢𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗻: 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮, 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼" by 𝗝𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗼, will follow a hybrid set-up and will also be available via Zoom.

Please note, however, that participants who have registered are expected to attend onsite. The Zoom access is provided primarily to accommodate wider participation.

Zoom Meeting link:
https://ateneo-edu.zoom.us/j/83138042625?pwd=bOeEIen4YMKCmXW13Y5q1aSmaNbYKd.1

Meeting ID: 831 3804 2625
Passcode: 251389
Time: 5:00-7:00 PM (Philippine Standard Time)

Thank you very much for your cooperation.