Episode 149: Aurore Candier, Department of History, Northern Illinois University

In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan is joined by co-host Win Kyaw, a PhD student in Asian Literature, Religion, and Culture and co-chair of the SEAP Graduate Committee. Together, they speak with Aurore Candier, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Center for Burma Studies at Northern Illinois University. Professor Candier shares her journey into Southeast Asian studies and discusses her theoretical and methodological approaches, including the use of postcolonial frameworks and the reading of Burmese sources to challenge Eurocentric perspectives. Tune in to learn more!

Lightning round (Lecture Summary): 4:27

Main interview: 

9:00  – How did you become interested in Burmese history and culture? What inspired you to pursue a doctoral degree?

10:50 – How did you become interested in your current project?

12:20 – How is your experience serving as the Director for the Center for Burma Studies at Northern Illinois University?

15:58 – Can you walk us through the basic assumptions of Burmese Historiography?

19:55 – Can you give us more information about why you split Konbaung history into two periods?

23:30  – Can you give us a brief preview of French scholarship on Myanmar?

28:59 – How do you use a decolonial approach while also using some theoretical frameworks from European scholars?

31:48 – Can you tell us about your experience doing archival research in Myanmar?

34:25 – Can you give us the source that you use to examine the contact and circulation of the ideas between the British and Burmese elite?

Advice for researchers and recommendations: 36:06

Dr. Candier's top recommendation: 

• Buddhist Backgrounds of the Burmese Revolution by Emanuel Sarkisyanz

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out here.  

Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu