Mapping the Asian-Hispanic Borderland: Cultural Interactions and Hybrid Identities

The contact between Asia and the Hispanic world began in the second half of the sixteenth century with the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, marking the start of a rich history of movement, exchange, and cultural interaction. Over the centuries, the flow of people, ideas, and goods has created a dynamic borderland where intercultural connections have become the norm. This seminar explores the complexities of this Asian-Hispanic borderland, focusing on how culture both shapes and is shaped by these interactions.
While empires, wars, and modern capitals have played significant roles in channeling these transnational connections, our emphasis lies on the cultural dimensions—how art, literature, and everyday practices contribute to and are transformed by the hybrid nature of this space. We invite papers that explore the following themes:

Direct and Indirect Cultural Contacts between Asia and the Hispanic World
Travels, Translations, and the Movement of Ideas
The Making and Remaking of Identities
Colonialism, Migration, and Post-Colonial Dynamics
Paradigms of Intercultural Contact, such as “transculturation,” “hybrid cultures,” “intersystems,” and “scapes”, and so on.

We welcome proposals for 20-minute presentations that explore these or other aspects of Asian-Hispanic relations. The seminar will be conducted in Spanish and English and is part of the American Comparative Literature Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting. Please submit your proposals online via (http://acla.org/) by Oct. 14, 2024. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Miaowei Weng ([email protected]) or Dr. Sohyun Lee ([email protected]).