History, Culture, and Identity

The Asia Pacific is a vast region with long and varied histories, rich and vibrant cultures, and complex and evolving identities.  Use the links below to explore the region’s richness, diversity, and dynamism.  More resources will be continually added, so check back for new additions.

• East-West Center Arts Program Virtual Gallery: The arts do more than reflect the ways in which people live; they are dynamic agents that create and define identity and relationships. Explore these recaps of East-West Center gallery exhibitions and learn about the beliefs, social structure, and lifestyles encompassed in the images of the Asia Pacific. Free gallery tours for school and community groups are available. The Center’s Arts Program also presents performances by top artists from the Asia Pacific region. For program details, contact Eric Chang (eric.chang@eastwestcenter.org; 808-944-7584).

• Muslim Societies of Asia and the Pacific (MSAP): A resource for cultural news and information about Muslim societies in Asia and the Pacific region.  MSAP is a resource provided by the School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

• Ramadan Around the World: A photo essay of Ramadan practices across Asia and other parts of the world; appeared in Sacramento Bee (9/2008).
  
  

• Ten Keys to Understand Indonesia (PDF): This article was featured in Education About Asia (Volume 12:1, Spring 2007) and reprinted with permission.  Education About Asia (EAA) is a teaching resource published by the Association for Asian Studies.  For EAA subscription information, click here.