“The Performing Arts” are usually defined as drama, music, or dance performed in front of an audience.  We will expand this definition to include film, television, and radio as well as Performance Art.  We hope to study both traditional performing arts – such as Kathakali, Wayang Kulit, Chinese Opera and Kabuki – as well as more modern ones – such as Historical K-dramas, Bollywood films, or Cantopop.  Performance artists, such as Yayoi Kusama, Zhang Huan or Yoko Ono also fit within the scope of this study group.  Join us as we study a wide variety of Performing Arts in Asia.  A list of topics can be found here, but feel free to develop your own.

An organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 24^th where we will choose topics and dates.  This study group will meet each Wednesday at 10 AM from May 8^th to June 26^th.  Meetings will be held in person in Singapore.

What is beautiful, and why? And how have fashions changed over time?   Join us to explore Beauty & Fashion in Asia.  We hope to explore a range of topics from haute couture designers to traditional wedding fashions to how people alter their bodies in the hope of becoming more beautiful.  A few suggested topics are downloadable here, but feel free to develop your own topic based on your interests.

An organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 10^th where we will choose topics and dates.  This study group will meet each Wednesday from February 7 to March 27^th.  Meetings will be held in person in Singapore with an option to join on Zoom.  All meetings start at 10 AM on Wednesday mornings.

This Study Grroup has finished.   Culture can be defined as the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular people or society.  Join us as we examine how culture affects the way people organize themselves socially and how it affects their everyday lives. We hope to learn about both historical and modern cultural norms, how culture reacts to changes, and how we can be sensitive to cultural differences.

This study group will be conducted alternatively in-person in Singapore and on the Zoom platform.  An organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 11.  There will be in-person meetings on February 1 & 15 and on March 1 & 15.  Zoom meetings will take place on February 8 & 22 and on March 8 & 22.    All meetings are on Wednesday morning from 10 to 12 whether in person or by Zoom.

Suggested topics can be found here, but feel free to develop your own.

This study group has finished.  Asia is on the move and has been for centuries.  Please join us to explore human migrations, both ancient and contemporary as well as animal migrations.  We will look at what causes migrations and how these movements have changed Asia.  Topics could include:  Climate regugees in India, the Asian bird flyway, Chinese New Year or Filipinos working in the Middle East.  More topics are listed here.  Please feel free to develop your own topic.

We meet on Wednesday morning from 10 am to noon.  We will meet primarily on Zoom, but in person sessions may be arranged in Singapore.  All participants are expected to prepare and give a presentation lasting approximately 40 minutes on their chosen topic.

An organizational session is on September 14 and 8 sessions will be held from October 5 to November 30 with a break on October 26 for Deepavali.  Registration opens on September 7 at 9AM.  Cost $25. 

This study group has finished.  The major milestones of a person’s life – birth, marriage & death – are celebrated in all cultures.  The traditions and ceremonies surrounding these milestone events differ throughout Asia.  Join us as we explore these customs, both traditional and modern, in this Study Group. 

We meet on Wednesday morning from 10 am to noon.  Our sessions are currently conducted on the Zoom platform; if regulations change, we may go back to meeting in person.  All participants are expected to prepare and give a presentation lasting a 40 – 45 minutes on their chosen topic.

Introductory session on 6 April and 8 sessions will be held from 20 April to 8 June.  Registration opens on 16 March.  Cost $25.  Here is a list of suggested topics:  Hatch, Match & Dispatch Topics

This study group has finished.  All of us have been forced to become more aware of health and wellness during the past two years.  Join us as we explore topics ranging from 'Yoga' to 'Singapore as an Asian Health Hub' to 'Shamanisms in Central Asia'.   Please click here for suggested topics, but feel free to develop your own.  We are very much looking forward to another fun, engaging and educational Study Group.

This study group will be conducted on the Zoom platform.  An organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 12.  There will be 8 meetings from January 26 to March 23 with 2 presentations per meeting.  There will be a break for Chinese New Year on February 2.   All meetings are on Wednesday morning from 10 to 12.

Please note, all participants are expected to present on a topic. If we have more than16 sign-ups, a lottery will be held to determine presenters and auditors.  Auditors will be expected to pay the study group fee and to attend all sessions.

Registration opens on Wednesday, December 29 at 9 AM.

This study group has finished.  All cultures use symbols to represent ideas or qualities.  The five-clawed dragon is the Chinese Emperor’s symbol of imperial power.  Buddha has been represented with many symbols, including his footprint, a flaming pillar, an empty seat, or a parasol.  Join us in September as we explore symbolism, old and new, in Asian culture.  Please click here for suggested topics, but feel free to develop your own.

This study group will be conducted on the Zoom platform.  An organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 22.  There will be 8 meetings from October 6 to December 1 with 2 presentations per meeting.  There will be a break for Diwali on November 3.   All meetings are on Wednesday morning from 10 to 12.

Please note, all participants are expected to present on a topic. If we have more than16 sign-ups, a lottery will be held to determine presenters and auditors.  Auditors will be expected to pay the study group fee and to attend all sessions.

Registration opens on Wednesday, September 8 at 9 AM.

This Study Group has finished.   Join us in January to study Asian Cities.  Study Group plans to learn about historic cities – why they were important and how they transformed over time.  We also hope to learn about Modern cities, how they are planned, and the infrastructure that keeps them livable.  And we might study a few mythical cities and their place in Hinduism, Buddhism, or Chinese mythology.  Enjoy a little armchair travel, as ASG delves into Asian cities.  Please click here for suggested topics.

This study group will be conducted on the Zoom platform.  An organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 13.  There will be 8 meetings from January 27 to March 24, with 2 presentations per meeting.   Study group will not meet on February 10 due to Lunar New Year.

Please note, all participants are expected to present on a topic. If we have more than16 sign-ups, a lottery will be held to determine presenters and auditors.  Auditors will be expected to pay the study group fee and to attend all sessions. 

Registration opens on Wednesday, December 30 at 9 AM.

A list of recent study group themes and the topics selected by members can be found below.