Stony Brook University Faculty of Sciences and Humanities

  This article delves into the use of clothing and textiles in the works of Korean American artists Lanhei Kim Park, Nam June Paik, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, and Yong Soon Min, who settled in the United States after the Japanese colonial period, from the vantage point of cultural translation. Unlike the cultural translation practiced by foreign visitors to Joseon since the late 19th century, these Korean artists, who immigrated to the United States, encountered modernization, colonialism, imperialism, racism, and postcolonialism, which they interpreted through intercultural differences and compatibility. Through their art, they act as cultural translators, embedding their voices into their creative work. Lanhei Kim Park, for instance, experienced racialized femininity directed toward Asian women by Americans, and responded to the xenoracial gaze of the other by adjusting the translatability of cheongsam, photography, and books as combined media. Nam June Paik, as a Korean American, conveys his multilayered identity using digital montages of ethnographic data and traditional Korean garments. Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, as an “exile,” explores the untranslatability of her status and experience of displacement through semiotic and linguistic experimentation, expressed in her performance and design works. Yong Soon Min maximizes the communicative potential of T-shirts to raise awareness of the “comfort women” issue globally and connects global diaspora networks through activist art. Through these means, Korean American artists experiment with the translatability or untranslatability of clothing and textiles and explore historical issues of modernization, colonialism, imperialism, decolonization, and feminism within multilateral relationships among Korea, the United States, and Japan. For more details, you can read the full paper HERE.

  [HanKyung Essay] A Song to Sing Again: "Our Wish" The State University of New York (SUNY) Korea is the first American university established on Korean territory. Students graduate with the same degree as those from the New York campus in the U.S. Currently, students from over 40 countries are studying at SUNY Korea. Why would these students choose to study in South Korea, a land that is constantly threatened by North Korean provocations and nuclear threats? The biggest reason is the Korean Wave (Hallyu). The soft power of Korea has grown significantly. These students were fascinated by K-pop, Korean movies and dramas, as well as Korean culture and food, which led them to come to Korea to study. When professors from the New York campus first visited Korea, they were amazed as they toured the international city of Songdo in Incheon, where the university campus is located, calling it a "futuristic city." They also visited Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul and expressed their enjoyment of seeing Korea’s past. Interestingly, there is one place that all of them want to visit: the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). This is because, in their eyes, the DMZ represents the current state of Korea, the only divided nation on earth. Last week, Minister of Unification Kim Yung Ho gave a special lecture at SUNY Korea. Pastor Lim Hyeon Soo, who had been unjustly detained in North Korea while conducting humanitarian aid activities, also attended as a panelist. Many in the audience who had only seen North Korea through TV broadcasts were shocked by the stories shared. Through Pastor Lim’s vivid personal experience, the audience learned about the dire human rights situation, severe economic hardships, and food shortages in North Korea. He also mentioned that many young North Korean students watch South Korean dramas and, longing for the freedom and prosperity of South Korea, there are many cases of them defecting to North Korea. This semester, two Russian students are enrolled in my class. There may be various reasons behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but from the perspective of these students, it appears to be rooted in the misguided desires and greed of the country’s leaders. Most Russians and Ukrainians, they believe, would prefer to stop the war and live safely and peacefully. The North Korean regime has also declared that it no longer seeks reunification. This, too, seems to stem from the leaders’ desire to extend their dictatorial regime, rather than the will of the North Korean people. I asked students who oppose Korean reunification why they hold that view. The most common reason they cited was the economic burden of reunification costs. Recently, I had an opportunity to talk to a German from East Germany. He shared that, after Germany’s reunification, both West and East Germans experienced significant economic difficulties for about 15 years, and there was widespread dissatisfaction. However, he mentioned that since the 2010s, with many good job opportunities increasing and living conditions improving in East Germany, more people have actually started to prefer living in East Germany. South Korea’s economic growth rate has been declining since the 2000s. Will the next generation in South Korea be able to experience the same remarkable economic growth that our generation enjoyed? We all want ultimate peace on the Korean Peninsula and dream of shared economic prosperity. If so, there is only one answer: a unified Korea.   Click here to read the article.  

    [Hankyung Essay] Trump, It Might Actually Be a Good Thing   I ran into Professor Mark Ivan from the FIT Fashion Design Department in the elevator. He said he was feeling down about Donald Trump winning the U.S. presidential election. He expressed concerns that women, LGBTQ people, and minorities in the U.S. might face discrimination under his leadership. On the anniversary of my father's passing, relatives were worried that South Korea might have to contribute ten times more to the cost of the U.S. military presence in Korea. At a university alumni gathering, senior alumni also said they couldn’t understand how someone like Trump could become president. The uncertainty caused by Trump is worrying the world. But in reality, Trump is, at his core, a businessman. He is not an idealist but a pragmatist. If something benefits the U.S., he will meet and make deals, regardless of previous principles. So, there's no need to worry too much. We can use our diplomatic power and negotiation skills to give and take. For example, if we are asked to increase our contribution to the cost of U.S. troops stationed in Korea, we could suggest ways in which we, as allies, can contribute more. We might even push for permission to establish our own nuclear fuel reprocessing facility. During Trump's first term, there were many extreme campaign promises, but once he became president, most of them were either not implemented or were carried out in a more moderate direction. For instance, despite his campaign promise, he did not carry out large-scale deportations of illegal immigrants because many difficult industries in the U.S., such as agriculture, rely on undocumented workers. Trump sees China as a major threat. Tariffs are likely to be focused on Chinese imports. This will give us, as competitors to China in the U.S. market, a relative advantage. Also, our companies that have invested in building semiconductor and battery factories in the U.S. are worried that Trump's administration might eliminate electric vehicle tax credits (subsidies) based on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). However, since the U.S. is a federal system, state governments cannot be ignored. Moreover, the U.S. will have midterm elections in two years. Considering the economic benefits that state governments and their residents are receiving from factory establishments, it does not seem easy to completely eliminate these subsidies. A few months ago, a report by the Heritage Foundation stated that to respond to China's growing naval power, the U.S. should work with South Korea to produce more warships. Perhaps that’s why, after Trump was elected, he requested cooperation with South Korea's shipbuilding industry during his first call with our president. As a result, the South Korean shipbuilding and defense industries are expected to boom. Soon, as Trump promised, when the U.S. begins extracting huge amounts of shale gas, international oil prices are likely to drop, which will help South Korea save on fuel costs. The second term of Trump might not necessarily be bad for us. In fact, the Trump era could be an opportunity for us to move toward a wealthier South Korea.   Click here to read the article.  

      [HanKyung Essay] The Reasons Trump Won   The day before the U.S. presidential election, I ran into Angela in the hallway of the classroom. Angela was a student in my class last semester and a passionate supporter of the Democratic Party, particularly on progressive issues such as the environment, women's rights, and abortion. I asked, "Angela! I bet you're supporting Harris, right?" She shook her head and replied, "Harris keeps changing her stance, so I can't trust her. I'd rather go with Trump." U.S. citizens, even if they are in Korea, can vote by absentee ballot. I had expected Angela, being a fervent Democrat, to vote by mail from Korea, but this time she chose to abstain from voting. Given this situation, the election results showed that Republican candidate Donald Trump won by a large margin over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Despite many celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift publicly supporting Harris, it didn’t make a difference. The most important factor in the election was, above all, the economy. Inflation in the U.S. had risen dramatically compared to four years ago. Even African Americans, who traditionally support the Democratic Party, saw their living costs soar due to high inflation, causing them to shift 10% of their support from Harris to Trump. In this election, U.S. voters said the second most important issue after the economy was immigration policy. Even among low-income Democratic supporters, there was significant anger over the Democratic government's provision of free cell phones and housing to undocumented immigrants. Hispanic voters, who had previously benefited from the lenient border policies of the Democratic administration, started to shift their support to Trump, calling for an end to illegal immigration. The number of Hispanic voters supporting Harris dropped by about 15% compared to when Joe Biden was running four years ago. The issue of abortion, where Harris had previously held an advantage, did not significantly influence the election results. In the TV debates, Trump defended himself relatively well by stating that he wasn’t against women's right to abortion but believed that each state should decide the issue for itself. The candidate's image is extremely important in an election. As Angela mentioned, Harris's inconsistency on various policy stances led to a drop in the support of young voters, who were disappointed by her shifting positions. Young Democratic voters, like Angela, chose to abstain from voting, which caused their support to decrease by about 6% compared to four years ago. Americans want a wealthy and strong America. Despite his many flaws, Trump was able to create a strong image with his slogan, "Make America Great Again" (MAGA). His image of raising his fist and fighting, even while bleeding from a bullet wound, left a strong impression. Everyone already knew that Trump was the first U.S. president to be convicted and that he was erratic and unpredictable. In the midst of uncertain international circumstances, Americans preferred Trump's strong and powerful image over Harris's weaker one.   Click here to read the article.  

Nerve Signal Transferring Mechanism and Mathematical Modeling of Artificial Biological System Design   Abstract Our investigation demonstrates the necessity of mathematical modeling and design methodologies for nerve signals in the creation of artificial arms. Nerve impulses vary widely in speed; for example, unmyelinated nerves transmit impulses at around one mile per hour, while myelinated nerves conduct impulses at around 200 miles per hour. The electrical signals originating from the brain, such as those measured by electroencephalography, are translated into chemical reactions in each organ to produce energy. In this paper, we describe the mechanism by which nerve signals are transferred to various organs, not just the brain or spinal cord, as these signals account for the measured amounts of physical force—i.e., energy—as nerve signals. Since these frequency signals follow no fixed pattern, we consider wavelength and amplitude over a particular time frame. Our simulation results begin with the mechanical distinction that occurs throughout the entire process of nerve signal transmission in the artificial arm as an artificial biological system, and show numerical approaches and algebraic equations as a matrix in mathematical modeling. As a result, the mathematical modeling of nerve signals accurately reflects actual human nerve signals. These chemical changes, involving K (potassium), Na (sodium), and Cl (chloride), are linked to muscle states as they are converted into electrical signals. Investigating and identifying the neurotransmitter signal transmission system through theoretical approaches, mechanical analysis, and mathematical modeling reveals a strong relationship between mathematical simulation and algebraic matrix analysis. For more details, you can read the full paper HERE.

    [HanKyung Essay] U.S. Presidential Election 2024, Like American Football           At a chair’s meeting last month, when the topic of the U.S. presidential election came up, American professors stationed at the New York campus indirectly criticized Republican candidate Donald Trump by saying, "We can't go back to the past." New York is traditionally a blue state that supports the Democratic Party, so more people in New York support Kamala Harris. The United States is a federal country composed of 50 states. In the U.S. presidential election, the candidate who receives the most votes in each state wins all of that state's electoral votes. As a result, there have been two instances since the 2000s where a candidate who won the popular vote nationwide did not become president due to losing in the Electoral College. Understanding the U.S. presidential election is as difficult as understanding American football. However, once you understand the complex rules, methods, tactics, and strategies, watching a football game becomes more enjoyable, and the same applies to the U.S. presidential election. In the U.S. election, there are states that you must pay close attention to. These are the battleground or swing states—seven states that are hard to predict in terms of who will win. In particular, winning in the three Rust Belt states—Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin—seems to be crucial for determining the overall outcome of this election. Polls released by American media often show a difference of more than 5% depending on the polling agency. Therefore, it is advisable to refer to the "RealClearPolitics" data, which aggregates results from major polling organizations. Over the past three months, I have checked the battleground state poll results every week, and Harris has never led Trump by more than 1%. Despite this, most American media outlets have reported that Harris has a higher chance of winning in recent months. Apart from Fox News, most major U.S. broadcasters and newspapers tend to be progressive and Democratic-leaning, which has resulted in favorable coverage for Harris. However, I have been disappointed to see many Korean broadcasters and media outlets directly echoing these reports. It is worth noting that during October, Trump was ahead by a narrow margin within the margin of error in all battleground states. Finally, an important aspect to focus on is the "Shy Trump" supporters. Trump is currently facing multiple criminal charges and is perceived to have significant personal flaws, so even among conservative voters, many dislike him. As a result, while they may not openly criticize or support Trump, due to issues like the economy and illegal immigration, there is a hidden group of voters—estimated to be around 2-3%—who will secretly vote for Trump in the election. In the last two presidential elections, Trump's actual vote share was at least 2-3% higher than the polling results predicted. Therefore, if the polls in battleground states are extremely close, it seems more likely that Trump could win. Who will win this time?   Click here to read the article.

Larissa Sansour, a Palestinian filmmaker and artist, explores the lives of Palestinians under colonization in her thought-provoking short films. This study reinterprets her work as a critique of post-apocalyptic human communities in an era marked by widespread disasters. The Palestinian experience mirrors the lasting legacies of post-colonial geopolitics, raising questions about memory and community amid profound loss. Drawing parallels with the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Sansour’s films transcend geopolitical boundaries, offering cross-cultural explorations of memory and community. Examining Sansour’s four key films, this study analyzes evolving character psychology and its resonance with critical discourses following the Fukushima disaster. Sansour’s cinematic narratives and Japanese social critiques emphasize the importance of embracing diverse memories and perspectives in community building. Building on philosophical works, particularly Edith Wyschogrod’s, this study explores the concept of an unavowable community implicit in Sansour’s films as a potential alternative to traditional community models. For more details, you can read the full paper HERE.

  Linda Kim, professor of FIT, was named “Artist of the Year 2024” at the 2024 International Fashion Art Biennale. The theme of this year’s biennale was In Harmony with Nature: A Journey of Sustainable Fashion Art. Out of 77 fashion artists, representing 12 countries, Professor Kim was recognized for her exceptional contribution to sustainable fashion.  The 2024 International Fashion Art Biennale, hosted by The Korea Fashion & Culture Association, was held from September 11th to September 19th at the Oil Tank Culture Park, Culture Complex. The exhibition features thought-provoking sub-themes of Contemplation, Coexistence, and Embrace. The garments on display reflected extraordinary creativity and craftsmanship, offering a unique perspective on sustainable fashion.  Additionally, The Korea Fashion & Culture Association marked its 30th anniversary, having started with the first Gwangju Biennale in 1995.    

This article explores the life and art of Lanhei Kim Park(1902~1996), a pioneering female Western-style painter alongside Na Haesuck(1896~1948) and Paik Namsoon(1904~1994). Her multiple diasporic journeys through Manchuria, Japan, and America shaped her fluid identity and habitus as an Oriental in a multiracial American society. Her 1930s oeuvre holds historical significance within the context of Japanese imperial expansion and America’s rising global influence. Born in Pyongyang in 1902, Lanhei Kim’s diverse diasporic experiences in Manchuria and Japan preceded her arrival in America in 1928. Immersing herself in fine art at UCLA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the National Academy of Design in New York, she laid the foundation for her artistic career. Lanhei Kim navigated Chinatowns and Little Tokyos in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and New York, absorbing popular culture from Hollywood films to the Chicago World’s Fair(1933~1934), which reinforced her racial identity. Her 1930s prints and portraits fused Asian spirit with American cultural elements, resonating with Regionalism. Despite being a colonized subject in America, Lanhei Kim overcame ‘double colonialism’ to craft a unique narrative transcending ethnic and racial boundaries. This study challenges the Korea-centered paradigm of Korean art history by examining the understudied Korean diaspora in America, contributing to a transnational understanding of twentieth-century Korean art. For more details, you can read the full paper HERE.

  Professor Mengyang Jia recently presented her paper titled “现代汉语否定词‘没’的否定中心” ( The Focus of the Negation in Modern Chinese Negative Word 'méi' ) at The 30th Annual Conference of the International Association of Chinese Linguistics (IACL). The International Association of Chinese Linguistics (IACL) is a professional organization devoted to the promotion of scientific research on Chinese languages and their dialects. Incorporated in California, it is a 501-(c)-3 non-profit organization approved by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. IACL serves as a critical platform for global scholars to engage in Chinese linguistics research and academic exchange. For more information, visit IACL Website.

Embodied Intermediality: A Theoretical Investigation with an Analysis of < All the Vermeers in New York > 체현적 상호매체성: 이론적 고찰과 <뉴욕의 모든 베르미어들>(1990) 분석   [Abstract] This study examines the signification effects of intermediality from the perspective of users’ sensory and cognitive responses. Intermediality integrates heterogeneous media to create unique sensory and semantic effects. However, how users perceive the intention of intermedial artifacts and appreciate their meaning requires extensive discussion. This research identifies that the meaning effects of intermediality occur in users’ abilities to express narratives and utilize cognitive schemata. Firstly, it reviews the concept of intermedial narrativity proposed by media scholar Lars Ellestrom. According to Ellestrom, media users project a narrative interpretation onto given images, even if the object is a static medium like painting, perceiving them as a sequence of events. This ability for narrative expression applies similarly in situations where painting and film coexist. Consequently, users discern comprehensive narrative events in the coexistence of the two media. Secondly, the study determines that users’ ability to distinguish core narratives from multiple narratives that intermedial artifacts can possess is achievable through the utilization of cognitive schemata. Users interpret sensory stimuli from intermedial situations simultaneously to grasp consistent meanings. This process involves users projecting schemata acquired through subjective experiences and learning onto given intermedial stimuli to generate meaning. This research argues that intermediality manifests its ultimate meaning in users’ sensory, cognitive, and interpretative judgments, defining such phenomenon as embodied intermediality. Finally, the study analyzes John Jost’s film < All the Vermeeers in New York >(1990) to examine how various media within the work are attributed to personal meanings within dramatic situations. For more details, you can read the full paper HERE.

    Professor Seohwan Yoo participated in the 2024 Pan-Pacific Business Research Conference (PPBRC), where he presented his paper titled "Forming an Interface between Business Owners and Service Users using an Artificial Intelligence Learning Model." In his presentation, Prof. Yoo discussed the role of generative AI in enhancing business operations and creating efficient, user-friendly interfaces for small and medium-sized businesses. The paper highlights the impact of emerging AI technologies on business consumers and explores how generative AI can transform business-consumer interactions. Prof. Yoo emphasized the importance of developing AI-driven software that balances efficiency with user convenience, particularly as AI moves from conversational models to multimodal systems, including video and audio. The research also addresses how statistical analysis and business trends can shape the future of service design.

  Professor Cristiano Galeazzi co-authored a paper titled "Morphodynamics and Depositional Architecture of Mid-Channel Bars in Large Amazonian Rivers", which explores the complex dynamics of multi-channel rivers, specifically focusing on mid-channel bars in the Solimões–Amazonas River. The study uses a combination of satellite imagery, multibeam echosounding, seismic surveys, and field observations to analyze how these bars evolve over time, becoming shallower as channel bifurcation reduces transport capacity. The research introduces new depositional models that can aid in recognizing similar river deposits in the ancient rock record, shedding light on the sediment transport processes of large rivers and their implications for interpreting ancient fluvial environments. For more details, you can read the full paper here.

Professor Sun Park published a book "Camera Somatica" and the book was selected as an Excellent Academic Book by the National Academic of Science Republic of Korea. Abstract The book Camera Somatica: Painting and Cinema in a Post-Cinematic Age talks about how movies, which are a kind of copying technology, are still important even though they challenge traditional paintings in the modern age of cinema. It explores how movies connect paintings with today's media consumers. In the past, people just watched movies without participating much, but now, in the post-cinema era, the audience becomes more involved. They not only watch but also interact with the content, actively shaping its flow and changing its sequence. People use their whole bodies, not just their eyes, to engage with the movie's reality. Nowadays, we experience virtual images with our bodies and senses, blending them with our real-life experiences. The book calls this experience of embodying replicated images "camera somatica," using the word "soma" that means "body" in English. The book looks at how movies that include elements of paintings can be understood from the perspective of an engaged audience. It explores how original paintings may change when they are turned into films, with characters speaking and moving, like in the movies The Mill and the Cross (2011) and Shirley: Visions of Reality (2013). It also questions whether painters can transform from being seen as artistic geniuses to becoming social communicators in movies like Yumeji (1991). Additionally, the book raises questions about the meaning and intentions behind ancient cave paintings represented by Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) and how museums can show different aspects when they target visitors, not just the exhibitions themselves, as seen in movies like Museum Hours (2012), Francofonia (2015), and National Gallery (2014). The movies discussed in Camera Somatica challenge our usual understanding of paintings, artists, and how they are exhibited. They create independent worlds beyond the painter's control. The book shows how painters listen to unintended subjects in their paintings and question who the true subject of their artwork is. Viewers complete the meaning of the paintings themselves, ignoring traditional critiques and even the painter's intentions. Camera Somatica aims to explore new meanings in how artworks are created, appreciated, and exhibited, using the lens of cinema.

"Cautiously Optimistic" T-Shirt Design Contest and Exhibition The FSH (Faculty of Sciences and Humanities) at our school holds the "Cautiously Optimistic" T-Shirt Design Contest and Exhibition. This event uses art, textiles, and creative thinking to look at modern problems and develop an artistic response through t-shirt design. We invite you to participate and develop your creative skills while gaining feedback from Textile Professor Linda Kim and Art Professor Rachel Stuckey. Selected designs will be displayed in the exhibition from May 19-26, and the SUNY Korea community will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite design. Selected participants will receive a t-shirt with their design after the exhibition. We encourage you to participate and express your creative vision. The deadline for submitting your application is March 31, 2023. *Application Link: Click here For those who apply, details regarding how to prepare and submit your design will be provided after the application due date. After the application, there will be a seminar and workshop to develop your design and the exhibition will take place in May. We look forward to your participation and seeing your creative designs at the exhibition.