This spring, Louisiana Tech will Focus on East Asia for its annual “Shaping the 21st Century” series. The experience will begin Thursday, March 22 at 10:15 a.m. in Wyly Tower Auditorium for the first of four distinguished speakers. Dr. William Tsutsui, professor of history and dean of the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences at Southern Methodist University, will offer a lecture titled, “Sunrise, Sunset: American Visions of Japan from Hiroshima to Fukushima.” “University-wide events like this year’s ‘Shaping the 21st Century: Focus on East Asia’ broaden the learning that happens at Louisiana Tech University,” said Bill Willoughby, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and member of the International Education Committee. “Events planned during the spring will offer students the opportunity to encounter Japan, the Koreas, China, and Taiwan through a variety of venues, including distinguished lecturers, films, brown-bag lunch videos and exhibits.” Willoughby said that individuals who attend these events will have a deeper understanding of East Asia’s history and cultural complexities. “According to ‘The Atlantic,’ of the 25 most economically powerful cities in the world, seven are in East Asia, with Tokyo being first on the list,” he said. “By comparison, the U.S. only has four cities on the list. China’s economy alone is second largest in the world, and Japan’s economy is third. Clearly, our students need to recognize the economic assertiveness and political clout of East Asian nations in world affairs.” The “Shaping the 21st Century” series was launched in 2006 as part of Tech’s efforts to internationalize the curriculum through extra-curricular on campus programming. “If history has taught us anything, it is that we cannot isolate ourselves from the world and that we must gain a greater understanding of other nations and their cultures,” said Dr. Kenneth Rea, vice president for academic affairs and chair of the International Education Committee. For six consecutive years, Tech has gone around the globe, focusing on India, China, Russia, Latin America, global sustainability and the Middle East. Past speakers have included distinguished individuals like Dr. Jonathan Spence, Sterling Professor of History from Yale; Dr. Mark Von Hagen, professor and chair of the department of history at Arizona State University; and Dr. Juan Cole, a professor of history from the University of Michigan. All events on the Louisiana Tech University campus are free and open to the public, though food items may be excluded. The Shaping the 21st Century series is sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, College of Applied and Natural Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, International Student Office, department of history and the McGinty Fund, and the International Education Committee. The program of events for the spring quarter are categorized by the dates they occur: Thursday, March 22 Distinguished Speaker No. 1: “Sunrise, Sunset: American Visions of Japan from Hiroshima to Fukushima” Dr. William M. Tsutsui, professor of history and dean of the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences at Southern Methodist University Wyly Tower Auditorium at 10:15 a.m. Film Screening No. 1: “Eat Drink Man Woman” (1994), directed by Ang Lee Introduced by Dr. Laurie Stoff, an assistant professor of history Wyly Tower Auditorium at 7 p.m. This film screening is also part of Women’s History Month. Monday, March 26 Film Screening No. 2: “FRONTLINE: Jesus In China” Introduced by Dr. Kenneth Rea Wyly Tower Auditorium at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 4 Brownbag Lunch Video No. 1: “NOVA: Japan’s Killer Quake” Introduced by Bill Willoughby International Student Office in Tolliver Hall at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, April 12 Distinguished Speaker No. 2: “The Kims’ Three Bodies: Dynastic Succession and its Antecedents in North Korea” Dr. Bruce Cumings, Swift Distinguished Professor and chair of the history department at the University of Chicago Howard Auditorium at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 17 Film Screening No. 3: “The Good, the Bad, and the Weird” (2008) directed by Jee-woon Kim Introduced by Bill Willoughby Wyly Tower Auditorium at 7 p.m. April 17 to May 10 Exhibition— “East Asia’s Spectacular Cities: Images by Louisiana Tech Faculty and Beyond” Tolliver Hall Wednesday, April 18 Distinguished Speaker No. 3: “Taiwan and China: Tranquility or Turmoil?” Dr. Thomas J. Bellows, professor of political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio Wyly Tower Auditorium at 9:45 a.m. Monday, April 23 Film Screening No. 4: “Summer Wars” a 2009 anime directed by Mamoru Hosoda Introduced by Dr. Taylor Mack, assistant professor of geography Wyly Tower Auditorium at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 International Day Student Center; 4 p.m. Monday, April 30 Distinguished Speaker No. 4: “China: Past & Present” Dr. Kenneth Rea, professor of history and vice president for academic affairs at Louisiana Tech University Wyly Tower Auditorium at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, May 1 Film Screening No. 5: “The Loyal 47 Ronin” (1958) directed by Kunio Watanabe Introduced by Bill Willoughby Wyly Tower Auditorium at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 Brownbag Lunch Video No. 2: “Inside North Korea with Lisa Ling” Introduced by Bill Willoughby International Student Office in Tolliver Hall at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, May 10 Food and Fashion Event: the School of Human Ecology and the College of Applied and Natural Sciences presents “East Asian Express: ExplorASIAN of Cloth, Cuisine, and Culture” Student Center at 5:30 p.m.