Event announcement

Perspectives on Chinese Happiness:
A two-day event at the University of Westminster

29-30 June 2016 The Pavilion, 115 New Cavendish StreetLondon W1W 6UW

WEDNESDAY 29 JUNE 2016

9:00–9:30 Registration and Coffee

9:30 Welcome (Gerda Wielander)

9:45–10:45 Meeting each other and discovering who is here

10:45–12:00 Playback Theatre on “why we are interested in Chinese Happiness”

12:00–13:00 Lunch

13–17 Academic Papers

13:00-13:30 Gerda Wielander

Happiness in Chinese socialist discourse – Ah Q and the “visible hand”

13:30-14:00 Derek Hird

Smile yourself happy: the spread of zheng nengliang (“positive energy”) in contemporary China

14:00-14.30 Giovanna Puppin

Moments of "Happy Chinese Taste": a Critical Interpretive Analysis of CCTV 2014 Spring Festival Gala's Public Service Announcement (PSA) “Chopsticks” (Kuaizi pian 筷子篇)

14:30–14:45 Coffee Break

14:45–15:15 Yang Jie

“Happy Housewives”: Gender, Class, and Psychological Self-Help in China

15:15–15:45 Will Schroeder

Potentially Happy: Queer Chinese Views on Finding Emotional Satisfaction

15:45-15:55 Comfort Break

15:55–16:25 Elisabeth Engetbretsen

Negotiating ‘familial happiness’ in parents’ support-narratives for LGBTQ children: Popo Fan’s Mama Rainbow and Pink Dads

16:25–16:55 Heather Inwood

The Happiness of Unrealisable Dreams: On the Pursuit of Pleasure in Contemporary Chinese Popular Fiction

16:55–17:00 Closure to first day

18:00 Conference Dinner for Speakers, True Heart, Film Crew and invited guests

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THURSDAY 30 JUNE 2016

9:15–9:30 Arrival and Coffee

9:30–9.50 Welcome to new participants

9.50–11:00 Playback Theatre on “Recalling yesterday’s presentations, and what does it mean for you?”

11:00–11:15 Tea

11:15-12:45 Break-out Group Discussions on the following suggested topics

Happiness and cultural identity

Socialist and post-socialist happiness

Online Dreams of happiness – reality or fiction

Happiness and non-normative sexuality

12:45–13:45 Lunch

13:45–15:15 Group Discussions continued

15:15–15:35 Coffee

15:35–16:35 Playback Theatre on “Sharing last thoughts, feelings and insights”

16:35–17:00 Concluding Remarks and Farewells