Members of AASiA will lead participants in poetry-writing exercises. The group will explore themes of identity, religion, culture, and colonialism both within the exhibit and across the diaspora. AASiA also will discuss the thangkas’ provenances (recorded history of ownership) and lack thereof, in order to reflect on the responsibilities cultural institutions should have when displaying cultural heritage.

There will be an opportunity to have these poems showcased later. All are welcome, and no experience writing poetry is required!

Asian American Students in Action, otherwise known as AASiA, serves as the Asian American political advocacy organization at Williams College. Its goals for the year of 2022-2023 are to build and politicize a pan-Asian/American community on campus, and help establish a robust Asian American Studies program. AASiA’s programming for the fall semester has included an ethnic studies teach-in co-organized by the Black Student Union and Vista, an affirmative action workshop, Asian American Studies Movement photo campaigns, a students of color panel, and multiple sessions in our original How to be Asian/American series. Since the college’s passage of the Asian American Studies concentration in December 2022, AASiA has maintained their activism’s momentum and continues their vibrant programming in the spring semester. To learn more about AASiA’s work or contact for collaboration, please visit @aasiaatwilliams on Instagram or email [email protected].

What exactly is ekphrastic poetry? Watch Professor Bethany Hicok explain how she uses ekphrastics in her classes, most recently her Feminist Poetry Movement class in the fall of 2022.