Call for submissions:

Asiatic: IIUM Journal of English Language and Literature

Asiatic, an online refereed journal, published by the Department of English Language and Literature and the Research Management Centre, International Islamic University Malaysia , invites scholars and writers to submit articles and creative pieces for its forthcoming issues. The inaugural issue of the journal will be published electronically in December 2007, featuring critical and creative works by scholars and writers from India, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Fiji.

We welcome papers on all aspects of Asian Englishes and Asian literatures in English, including Asian diasporic literature and Asian literatures in translation. We are also interested in poetry, short fiction, non-fiction prose and plays in English by Asian writers/writers of Asian origin. Papers submitted for publication should be between 5,000 and 7,000 words and follow the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. Creative pieces should be between 1-3 pages for poetry and 6,000 words (maximum) for other genres.

Submissions to and enquiries about Asiatic can be addressed to Asiatic.iium@gmail.com or via regular mail to:

The Editor, Asiatic

Department of English Language and Literature

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

Jalan Gombak , 53100 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Tel. 603 61965142/3

Lunch with Xu Xi in Bangsar Baru

Hong Kong author XU Xi's short stories have apeared in Nineteen: a Collection of Stories by Women and Collateral Damage. More recently Xu Xi's manuscript, HABIT OF A FOREIGN SKY, was longlisted for 1st Man Asian Literary Prize. The following is an extract from her website (http://www.xuxiwriter.com/index.htm):

XU XI (pronounced "Shoe-See") is the author of six books of fiction & essays. An active champion of writing from Asia, she compiled and co-edited the first comprehensive anthologies of Hong Kong literature in English. A Chinese-Indonesian native of Hong Kong, the city was home to her until her mid-twenties after which she led a peripatetic existence around Europe, America and Asia. She now inhabits the flight path connecting New York, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Anyway Xu Xi will be visiting KL for a few days on her way back from Hong Kong from the Ubud Writer's & Reader's Festival. She will be in Silverfish Books on Monday 1st October 2007 around noon and is proposing lunch with some Malaysian writwers and readers (around Bangsar Baru). Please send us an email if you would like to join the lunch party. (We need to know the numbers to make appropriate reservations at a neighbourhood restaurant). All are welcome especially those who have met Xu Xi before.

Alias Grace

(This notice is sent out at the request of the Australian HC in Kuala Lumpur)In 1844 sixteen-year-old Grace Marks is convicted of the brutal murder of her employer and his pregnant mistress. Eight years later she is offered the chance to redeem herself, but telling a story is never an innocent act.

In her brilliant portrayal of the celebrated murderess in the play alias Grace, award-winning Australian actress Caroline Lee transforms into Marks in a performance as intimate as it is dangerous. The character is based on the real-life Grace Marks, one of the most notorious Canadian women on the 1840s.

Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood's multi-award winning novel, has been adapted for the stage by Laurence Strangio. In July 2007, Malthouse Theatre (Melbourne) and The Instant Cafe Theatre Company present the KL production, supported by the Australian Government through the Australia International Cultural Council in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Relations between Malaysia and Australia.

Date: 4-8 July 2007, Venue: Pentas 2, KLPac. For details call Andre at the
Instant Cafe Theatre office, Tel: 03-79602214.

Southeast Asian Postcolonialities "Reorientations: The Indian Ocean World" An International and Interdisciplinary Conference.

(From a notice put out by the organisers.)

In line with the objectives of SEAP (Southeast Asian Postcolonialities - an international colloquium hosted by the University of Malaya's Arts and Social Sciences Faculty in 2006) the forthcoming colloquium - Reorientations: The Indian Ocean World - will reaffirm the on-going preoccupation with the location and agency of Southeast Asia within a global imaginary. We will have an art exhibition at the colloquium show-casing the Malaysian artists Latiff Mohidin, Khalil Ibrahim and Chang Fee Ming and the photos of Sultan Ismail. We plan to showcase documentaries on the diasporic Cape Malay and the development of Taarab music with its links to the dhow as metaphor. We will feature fusion dance from Bali and a discourse on dance and movement from the Philippines.

This event is organised by the Dept of English, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University Malaya

Date: 8am - 6pm, August 11&12th, 2007, Venue: Museum of Asian Art, University of Malaya, Registration Fees: RM 100 for public, RM 50 for students (inclusive of stationery and lunch)

Official website: http://english.um.edu.my/seap/index.htm

Fallen Leaves

Fallen Leaves: A devised play about the dreams, aspirations, challenges and hopes of people living with HIV/AIDS. This highly charged and much talked about drama first played to a sell out audience at Actors Studio, Bangsar last year. Now it's back with newly devised scenes and a whole new theatrical experience for its audience.

This new staging is a mobile performance experience and so is limited to only 50 participants per show. For inquiries and tickets: Food Foundry: Block B Happy Mansion Jalan 17/13 PJ Tel: Siew Ling / 012 330 5805 Cloudbreak Studio: P2-2 Plaza Damas Jalan Sri Hartamas 1 KL Tel : Jade / 012 330 2600

4 true stories come to you live and direct - all written and performed by people living with HIV/AIDS.

Venue: Dram Projects Studio, Block B, Happy Mansion, Jalan 17/13, Petaling Jaya

Time/Date: 8pm / Friday / 29 June '07, 3pm & 8pm / Saturday / 30 June '07, 3pm & 8pm / Sunday / 1 July '07 (Matinee shows are prioritized for school children & students. Groups are encouraged to book in advance)

Tickets by donation: RM30 (Adults), RM10 (Students, senior citizens)

This is a Community Theatre Initiative by Cloudbreak, All proceeds from these performances will support ongoing Art Therapy Projects at Welcome Community Home.

1st July 2007 update

As part of the Not that Balai Arts Festival 2007, Fallen Leaves will be staged at:

1. 67 Tempenis Satu at 8.30 pm on 25th July 2007 , and
2. Central Market Annexe at 8.30 pm on 3rd August 2007.

Catch it if you have not already done so. It is an eye opener. The performances are all by the inmates of Welcome Home who have never acted before, and some of the delivery is better than certain stuff you see on far more expensive productions on our stages.