Complete Conference Program - Wellesley College

9:30–10:40am 11am–12:10pm
libertarian Perspectives on the
legalization and Regulation of Drugs
Bailey Desmond ’13, Economics and Philosophy
AdvisoR: Thomas Cushman, Sociology
This research examines whether policies and
practices for drug legalization in the United
States are consistent with libertarian ideals.
For example, is it better for current marijuana
laws to be loosely enforced while the industry
is largely unregulated, or is complete legalization
and further regulation more respectful
ofpersonal freedoms? I will examine this
question through different libertarian lenses.
Which scenario is economically more free.
Which scenario is more respectful of humans'
natural liberties? Which of these two is
preferable in today's America? The analysis of
drug policy will illuminate a tension central to
contemporary Americanpolitical discussion:
a tug-of-war in which citizens try to prioritize
their economic freedoms over their civil liberties,
and vice versa.
On Silencing, Free Speech,
and Harm
(interactive teaching presentation)
Pendleton Hall West 117
Chloe E. Emerson ’15, Undeclared, Morvareed
E. Rezaian ’14, Cognitive and Linguistic
Sciences, and Ilana Z. Walder-Biesanz ’13,
Systems Engineering (Olin)
AdvisoR: Mary McGowan, Philosophy
Some feminists claim that pornography
silences women and thereby violates women's
right to free speech. In this presentation, we
focus on a particular account of silencing and
we raise a challenge to that account. In particular,
we offer a case, the drowning case, that
appears to satisfy the definition of silencing
but this result is counter intuitive. Thus, either
the account must be modified (to avoid this
result) or it must be shown that the downing
case is an instance of silencing after all.
Humanities
Global Asia
(short talks) Pendleton Hall East 139
Confucianism in east Asia
Yu Zhou ’16, Undeclared
AdvisoR: Ellen Widmer, East Asian Languages
& Literatures
Chinese culture has exerted an enormous
impact on other East Asian countries
throughout history. Confucianism is one of
the most striking Chinese influences among
East Asia. This presentation will focus on
the spread of Confucianism from China to
Japan and Korea, and how Confucianism
is demonstrated through Chinese, Japanese
and Korean literature. We will introduce
the origin and basic ideas of Confucianism
in China, and the development of Neo-
Confucianism in Korea and Japan in the 17th
and 18th century. By comparing the traditional
literature novels in China, Japan and
Korea, this presentation will give a general
analysis of the similarities and differences of
the influence of Confucianism in these three
East Asian countries.
Tulsidas' Ramcaritmanas: Translating
medieval Hindu Devotional Poetry
Elin R. Nelson ’13, South Asian Studies
and Comparative Literature
AdvisoR: Neelima Shukla-Bhatt,
South Asia Studies
While living in Varanasi, India, I discovered
the Awadhi poet Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas, a
popular retelling of the Ramayana, the Hindu
epic tale of Prince Rama’s adventures. People
often quote, recite, and perform scenes from
the poem – once I heard it being recited for
over twenty four hours to bless a newly built
home. Most memorably the Ramcharitmanas
is performed during Ramlilas (reenactments
of the story of Rama) which are often timed
to end on the festival of Vijayadashami to
celebrate the victory of Lord Rama over the
demon Ravana. This fall, I spent the semester
translating excerpts from Ramcharitmanas,
learning the language Awadhi and analyzing
the metrical structures of the poem. I looked
specifically at the character of Valmiki, a
famous Sanskrit author of one of the most
influential versions of the Ramayana, and
how he interacts with Rama during Rama’s
exile in the Dandakaranya Forest.
An Ideal Woman: The masochistic
Pursuit of feminine Beauty in the works
of Junichiro Tanizaki
Shelby B. Robertson ’13, Japanese Languages
and Literatures
AdvisoR: Eve Zimmerman, East Asian
Languages & Literatures
In his novels and short stories Japanese writer
Junichiro Tanizaki (b. 1886–d.1965) explores
the theme of man's desire for self destruction
and self torture through his heroes' masochistic
pursuit of beautiful but cruel women.
Tanizaki’s protagonists deliberately draw
out the wicked nature of the objects of their
desire, molding them into femme fatales who
eventually sadistically persecute their creator.
The usually detached protagonists make a
distorted attempt at correcting their feelings
of alienation from society through the sense
of purpose and passion provided by their
pursuit of an unattainable feminine beauty.
Who Are You, Who Am I?: The Role of
otherness in Asian Identity formation
in latin America
Victoria M. Nguyen’13, Spanish
AdvisoR: Koichi Hagimoto, Spanish
There have been major Asian diasporas to
Latin America throughout the 20th and 21st
centuries; however, the Asian immigrants'
journeys still remain one of the lesser known
subjects of both Latin American and Asian
history. This narrative’s importance should not
be downplayed since it reveals how otherness
plays a crucial role in cross-cultural relations,
community prosperity, and the development
of cultural customs. Otherness has played a
significant role in prejudice towards Asians
in Latin America, the formation of "Nikkei"
culture, the dynamics between two generations
of Asian-Latin Americans, and the development
of both Asian and Latin American
identity. This population may be very specific,
but the implications of otherness are universal
as they influence how we define others and
how we define ourselves.
Food and Travel
(short talks) Jewett Arts Center 450
labyrinth, the Shape of the modern
mind: Kafka, Borges and Auster
Jiwon Hahn ’13, Comparative Literature
AdvisoR: Lawrence Rosenwald, English
Since Daedalus built the labyrinth to
imprison the Minotaur, the concept of
labyrinth has forever charmed literature.
WELLESLEY COLLEGE RUHLMAN CONFERENCE 2013 25