Asian Alterity

With Special Reference to Architecture and Urbanism through the Lens of Cultural Studies

Asian Alterity is an interdisciplinary theoretical analysis that vigorously contests the homogeneity of the mainstream Eurocentric values. Part I argues for the need for an alternate perspective to be introduced so as to understand the diversity of Asia's cultural differences at their varied development stages and to meet the complex challenges of the explosive urban expansion and disruptive changes in traditional cultures and lifestyles.

Part II of the book consists of nine case studies of Asian major urban cities by well-established academic writers and urban theorists. Each author presents diverse aspects of urban dynamism. The case studies will collectively demonstrate a broad framework to understand the essentiality of the interdisciplinary mode of Cultural Studies as an important lens towards meeting the challenges in Asian Architecture and Urbanism.

Highlights of the book:

• Forewords and comments written by an international panel of multidisciplinary academics and urban theorists including Linda Lim, Lim Teck Ghee, John Philips, Saskia Sassen, Iain Borden, Edward Soja and Chua Beng Huat.
• Innovative graphic design and page layout by an internationally established designer, Jackson Tan of Singapore.
• Elegant limited edition box set includes five additional posters of images from the book.

Contents:

• Part I:

  • Asian Alterity:Introduction and The Rise of Asia:

  • The Relevance of Cultural Studies

    The Rise of Asia

  • Modernities:

  • Multiple Modernities and Contemporariness

    Democracy, Human Rights and Social Justice

  • Selected Cultural Studies:

  • Cultural Identities, Diaspora and Memories

    Globalization and Inequalities

    Sustainability and Affordability

    Popular Culture and the Contemporary

  • Asian Architecture and Urbanism:

  • Creativity of the Contemporary

    Asian Urbanism — Challenges Ahead

    Asian Architecture — Challenges Ahead

• Part II:

  • Case Studies of Asian Cities:

  • Bangkok: A City in Flux (K Ratanapridakul)

    Ho Chi Minh City [Saigon]: Before the Doorstep of Global Assimilation (Khang T)

    Hong Kong: City of Maximum Quantities (S Li)

    Istanbul: Observations (K N Tan)

    The Melbourne Case Study: The Consultant Arrives [and sees] … (L van Schaik)

    Seoul: Gangnam Alternative Nature — The Experience of Nature Without Parks (Y-J Park & J Kim)

    Shanghai Assessed: Six Architectural Nodes of the City (E Seng et al.)

    Singapore: In Search of Transparency (J K Kaw)

    Tokyo: An Urban Collage of Chaos Amidst Order (T Muraji)