February 24 - June 22: Echoes of Thunder

Thursday, March 7, 2024 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MST
Location: Telus International Centre - Room 134

What do Dragons Look Like? - The evolution of dragon images and variations in Chinese Culture - Isabel Pifen Chueh

The dragon is an imaginary animal. What does it look like? This lecture introduces how Chinese culture created dragon images, their evolution through history, and their design variations in Chinese textiles.

Isabel Pifen Chueh is the curator of the Mactaggart Art Collection in Edmonton, Alberta. Her past experience includes being the curator of the Textile Gallery at the National Palace Museum, Taipei.

Thursday, March 14, 2024 
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm MST
Location - Telus International Centre - Room 134

Dragons in Chinese Civilization - with Dr. Daniel Fried

Dragons have been part of Chinese culture since the late Neolithic era and remain a symbol of Chinese national identity up to today.  This talk will use examples from the history of Chinese mythology, literature, art, and religion to show what dragons were thought to be and why they have continued to be so important in Chinese culture.

Daniel Fried is the Chair of the Department of East Asian Studies and is a scholar specializing in ancient and medieval Chinese literature and philosophy. His recent book, The First Print Era, tells the story of how a genuine print culture developed in China over the course of the eleventh century, four centuries before Gutenberg introduced the technology to Europe.

Thursday, March 21, 2024 
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm MST
Location: Telus International Centre - Room 134

From Dragon Bones to Dino-Birds: the Rise of Vertebrate Paleontology in China - with Dr. Corwin Sullivan

Fossil bones and teeth from China's exceptionally rich record of extinct vertebrates are traditionally called "dragon bones" (lóng gŭ, 龙骨) or "dragon teeth" (lóng chĭ, 龙齿) and used in medicine. The scientific study of Chinese fossil vertebrates began in the 19th century, based largely on specimens obtained from druggists by curious Europeans, but has since matured into a flourishing scientific enterprise that is led by Chinese researchers and has provided crucial insights into such important evolutionary episodes as the transition from dinosaurs to birds.

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

Saturday, May 11, 2024
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: Telus International Centre - Room 150

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon travels to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together in harmony long ago. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well. 

Mulan (1998)

Saturday, May 25, 2024
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: Telus International Centre - Room 150

Clever Mulan disguises herself as a male soldier named "Ping" to bravely take her father's place in the Imperial Army. Helped by her outrageously funny guardian dragon Mushu and a lucky cricket named Cri-Kee, Mulan fights for the respect of her fellow warriors and their courageous Captain Shang, for her family's honour, and the fate of all of China.

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Saturday, June 8, 2024
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Telus International Centre - Room 150

This film rolls fire-breathing action, epic adventure and big laughs into a captivating, fun and original story. Hiccup is a young Viking who defies tradition and befriends one of his deadliest foes - a ferocious dragon he calls Toothless. Together, the unlikely heroes fight against the odds to save both their worlds in this wonderful, feel-good hit.