Portrayal of Asians in Film
The Pioneer Library System, along with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma, will come together for a presentation as part of this year’s PLS Big Read, “The Portrayal of Asians in Contemporary Film,” set for 7 p.m. Friday, April 13, in the auditorium of the museum, 555 Elm Avenue.
Dr. Wayne Stein, Assistant Professor of English at the University of Central Oklahoma, will give the presentation, which will look at the practice of yellowfacing and the depiction of Asians in American popular culture.
Stein is Assistant Chair of the English Department at UCO, where he teaches Asian American literature, modern world literature and cyberpunk fiction. Among his honors are the ESL Professional of the Year Award from Oklahoma Teachers of English to Speakers of Other languages (OKTESOL) and the Service to the Sanga (Community) Award from the Oklahoma State University Stillwater Buddhist Society in 2003, a Faculty Merit for Service Award in 2004 and being named as a 2008 DaVinci Fellow by “Oklahoma’s Creativity Think Tank.”
Dr. Stein has been a presenter at several PLS Big Read programs in the past, and this year he also will introduce the PLS Big Read movie April 5 at the Warren Theatre and be part of a panel discussion on “The Joy Luck Club” at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History April 16.
Stein’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art presentation will be part of the Norman Arts Council’s 2nd Friday Circuit of Art, a monthly celebration of art in the city that is a collaboration of local artists, art organizations and businesses. Guests will be welcome to tour the museum, which offers free admission from 6 p.m. until closing at 9 p.m. That will give guests plenty of time before or after Dr. Stein’s presentation to see the museum’s offerings, which include the Stuart Wing, opened in October 2011, and an exhibit featuring “A Century of Magic: The Animation of the Walt Disney Studios,” which opened in March.