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An Introduction
My name is Nakota DiFonzo, and I am a historian of China and Taiwan. I am currently enrolled as a History Ph.D. student at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (2023-present), and I research the history of American universities in early twentieth-century Shanghai. Prior to joining the University of Hawai'i, I attended the University of Oregon (2017-2020), where I received my Master's degree in Asian Studies. My Master's thesis, titled, The Evolving Fashion of Taiwan from 1949-1987: Expression, Consumption, and Futurity, examines clothing worn by people in Taiwan during the martial law era and the capitalist processes that developed Taiwan's fashion market. In short, I argue that pervasive American influence in Taiwan, which began in the 1950s, dramatically transformed and expanded Taiwan's fashion market, and enabled Taiwanese people to express their identities in unique and innovative ways.
Part-way through my Master's program at the University of Oregon, I participated in language training at National Cheng Kung University (summer, 2018) and Xiamen University (2018-2019) to strengthen my modern Chinese skills. I also have basic proficiency in Classical Chinese.
Furthermore, I am employed as an adjunct professor of History at Winston-Salem State University. In this position, I am teaching, and have taught, courses which focus on world-historical themes. My curriculum vitae is available through the menu above.
This website has three purposes. One is to advertise that I am offering a learning service on Chinese and Taiwanese history to anyone who is interested in knowing more about China and Taiwan's pasts. All are encouraged to enroll; no previous knowledge of Chinese or Taiwanese history is required. Also, all classes are conducted online in order to eliminate any geographic barriers. Details of this service are elaborated upon in the "Services" tab above.
Another purpose of this website is to share my thoughts on films, and television, and academic literature related to East Asia. I catalogue these ideas in the "Journal" tab above.
The third purpose of this website is to host my podcast: The "What is Asia?" Podcast, in which I interview scholars of fields related to Asia. The aim of this podcast is to make these academics' conversations more accessible to the general public. These interviews include specialists on Asian political, economic, social, and cultural dynamics which are important to understanding Asia in both historical and/or modern contexts. For a list of published content, please see the "Podcast" tab above.
Ultimately, my intentions in using this website are all connected: to promote a greater understanding of Asia (particularly China and Taiwan) among non-specialists. Sadly, some individuals and institutions with the power to influence the perspectives of large populations of peoples have distorted, and continually distort, important information about Asia. Through this website I aim to supply those who have an interest in Asia with a firm, historically grounded, understanding of the affairs of this increasingly important area of the world.
Part-way through my Master's program at the University of Oregon, I participated in language training at National Cheng Kung University (summer, 2018) and Xiamen University (2018-2019) to strengthen my modern Chinese skills. I also have basic proficiency in Classical Chinese.
Furthermore, I am employed as an adjunct professor of History at Winston-Salem State University. In this position, I am teaching, and have taught, courses which focus on world-historical themes. My curriculum vitae is available through the menu above.
This website has three purposes. One is to advertise that I am offering a learning service on Chinese and Taiwanese history to anyone who is interested in knowing more about China and Taiwan's pasts. All are encouraged to enroll; no previous knowledge of Chinese or Taiwanese history is required. Also, all classes are conducted online in order to eliminate any geographic barriers. Details of this service are elaborated upon in the "Services" tab above.
Another purpose of this website is to share my thoughts on films, and television, and academic literature related to East Asia. I catalogue these ideas in the "Journal" tab above.
The third purpose of this website is to host my podcast: The "What is Asia?" Podcast, in which I interview scholars of fields related to Asia. The aim of this podcast is to make these academics' conversations more accessible to the general public. These interviews include specialists on Asian political, economic, social, and cultural dynamics which are important to understanding Asia in both historical and/or modern contexts. For a list of published content, please see the "Podcast" tab above.
Ultimately, my intentions in using this website are all connected: to promote a greater understanding of Asia (particularly China and Taiwan) among non-specialists. Sadly, some individuals and institutions with the power to influence the perspectives of large populations of peoples have distorted, and continually distort, important information about Asia. Through this website I aim to supply those who have an interest in Asia with a firm, historically grounded, understanding of the affairs of this increasingly important area of the world.