{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 145: Liang Wu, SEAP\/Science and Technology Studies, Cornell University","description":"In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan, joined by Yi-Jen Chen, a Cornell PhD student in Anthropology, interviews Liang Wu, a postdoctoral associate in Environmental Humanities in the Southeast Asia Program and the Department of Science and Technology Studies. Together, they explore what it means to rethink \u201cmaritime Southeast Asia.\u201d Rather than treating Southeast Asia as a fixed geographic region, the conversation focuses on the circulation of labor and commodities across Southeast Asia and the globe. Dr. Wu highlights the central\u2014yet often overlooked\u2014role of Filipino seafarers, tracing how their prominence historically emerged from U.S. colonial training, postcolonial labor policies, and the expansion of the global shipping industry since the 1970s. Tune in to learn more about Dr. Wu\u2019s work, methodologies, and fieldwork experiences! Lightning round(Lecture Summary): 3:45 Main interview: 8:18 8:18 \u2013 What first sparked your interest in maritime Southeast Asia? 9:37 \u2013 The traditional framework divides Southeast Asia into \u201cmainland\u201d and \u201cmaritime\u201d regions. Do you think this distinction still holds? What are its limitations, and how does your work challenge or move beyond it? 13:24 \u2013 Could you share your ethnographic experience\u2014how did you first gain access to the field, and what were some of the most striking moments early on? 17:28 \u2013 As your fieldwork progressed, what observations or turning points led you to refine your core research questions and focus? How did you navigate and plan your work in such an unpredictable and high-risk environment? 20:35 \u2013 Where and when did you conduct your ethnographic research? 23:00 \u2013 What does \u201ccontainerization\u201d mean in your work? How does this concept help us understand maritime labor and organization at sea? 26:29 \u2013 What historical period does your research focus on? How do contemporary trade routes compare to those of the 16th century, when Southeast Asia is often described as a cosmopolitan hub? 30:29 \u2013 When you place these two moments side by side, what key contrasts and insights emerge? 34:35 \u2013 While ships are largely male-dominated spaces, the industry depends heavily on the \u201cimmobile\u201d labor of women at home. How does the prolonged absence of seafarers reshape gender roles and power dynamics within Filipino families? 39:27 \u2013 In the confined, hyper-masculine environment of cargo ships, how do seafarers navigate intimacy, friendship, and vulnerability? Did you observe moments where the \u201ctough sailor\u201d persona breaks down, and how do they support each other emotionally? 43:33 \u2013 After years of listening to seafarers\u2019 stories\u2014especially narratives of sacrifice\u2014how have you grappled with the ethical dimensions of your research? Has this shaped your perspective or influenced your career trajectory? Advice for researchers and recommendations: 49:49 Dr. Wu\u2019 top recommendations:  In Asian Waters: Oceanic Worlds from Yemen to Yokohama by Eric Tagliacozzo Intertidal History in Island Southeast Asia by Jennifer L. Gaynor Maritime Southeast Asia: Not Just a Crossroads by Jennifer L. Gaynor   The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out here.   Produced by Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong, Adam Farihin, and Cecilia Liu   ","author_name":"Gatty Rewind Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/gattyrewind.libsyn.com","html":"