Stephen Epstein

Qualifications

BA Harv, MA PhD Calif
Director of Asian Languages an Cultures, School of Languages and Cultures, Victoria University of Wellington
Associate, Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research

Contact

Category: Research Associate (NZ) Stephen Epstein

Telephone: +64 4 463 5703

Homepage: Here

Background

Over the course of my career I've had dual specialisations in the ancient Mediterranean and in contemporary Korea. My primary intellectual activities, however, start from a fascination with language and a desire to explore the experience of daily life in other cultures. My current research focuses on contemporary Korean literature and society, and at the moment I'm working on a book addressing Korean national identity in relation to globalisation. I've also published several translations of Korean and Indonesian fiction. At Victoria University of Wellington I direct the Asian Studies Programme and I served as director of the Asian Studies Institute for five years.

Areas of interest

Contemporary Asian literature, society and popular culture.

Interests

I enjoy teaching in a wide variety of topics in Asian Studies, and take particular pleasure in using the possibilities of new information technologies to open up perspectives on important issues in contemporary Asian society.