Textures of Mourning: An Interview

Reginald Jackson’s inspiring new book takes a transdisciplinary approach to rethinking how we read, how we pay attention, and why that matters deeply in shaping how we understand the past, live in the present, and imagine possible futures. Textures of Mourning: Calligraphy, Mortality, and The Tale of Genji Scrolls (University of Michigan Press, 2018) explores the relationship between reading, dying, and mourning across three central texts: the Heian … Continue reading Textures of Mourning: An Interview

Carla NappiAugust 2, 2018May 27, 2021

News

The City as Phantasm

On April 29, Cabinet Magazine in NYC hosted a conversation among Dominic Pettman and I (punctuated and elevated by gorgeous films created by Merritt Symes) about our respective books, each inspired by Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities. (Dominic’s beautiful book was recently published, and mine is in progress and should be out soon.) Better put, it really wasn’t a conversation between us, but between those books: we wove our writing together … Continue reading The City as Phantasm

Carla NappiMay 9, 2015May 29, 2021

Podcasts

Opera and the City: An Interview

I had the pleasure of talking with Andrea Goldman about her wonderful study of opera in late Qing Beijing. It’s a rich book full of nuanced readings of some great historical documents, and you can listen to our conversation about it here. Continue reading Opera and the City: An Interview

Carla NappiJanuary 11, 2014May 30, 2021

Podcasts

Japanoise: An Interview

David Novak and I recently talked about his awesome new book on noise, Japan, music, and global circulation. It’s a thoughtful study and a pleasure to read, and you can listen to our conversation about it here. Continue reading Japanoise: An Interview

Carla NappiJanuary 5, 2014May 30, 2021

Podcasts

SamulNori: An Interview

Nathan Hesselink generously spent part of his recent birthday talking with me about his great new book on contemporary Korean percussion music and its roots in itinerant performance culture. You can listen to some of the wonderful music described in Hesselink’s book on the CD that accompanies SamulNori, and you can listen in on our conversation here. Continue reading SamulNori: An Interview

Carla NappiApril 8, 2013May 30, 2021

Podcasts

The Market and Temple Fairs of Rural China: An Interview

Gene Cooper and I talked recently about his new book on the “red fire” of market and temple fairs in eastern China. You can listen to our conversation here. Continue reading The Market and Temple Fairs of Rural China: An Interview

Carla NappiJanuary 15, 2013May 30, 2021

Podcasts

Taiko Boom: An Interview

I recently spoke with Shawn Bender about his wonderful new book on taiko drumming. You can listen to it here. Continue reading Taiko Boom: An Interview

Carla NappiOctober 14, 2012May 30, 2021

Podcasts

Gilded Voices: An Interview

I recently spoke with Qiliang He about his new book on pingtan storytelling, Gilded Voices: Economics, Politics, and Storytelling in the Yangzi Delta since 1949. Good stuff! Check it out here. Continue reading Gilded Voices: An Interview

Carla NappiSeptember 30, 2012May 30, 2021