Michael Yat-him TSANG
PhD (Warwick); MPhil, BA (Hons I)(CUHK)
yat.h.tsang@warwick.ac.uk
World & Postcolonial Literature | East Asia/Hong Kong/Japan | Gender
<http://warwick.ac.uk/mtsang>
EDUCATION
University of Warwick
PhD in English and Comparative Literary Studies, 2011-2015
Thesis: At Interregnum: Hong Kong and its English Writing
Supervisor: Dr Rashmi Varma
Examiners: Dr Rachel Harrison (SOAS), Prof Neil Lazarus (Warwick)
Awarded with no correction
University of Warwick
Postgraduate Award: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2012-2014
Teaching portfolio received Letter of commendation from internal and external examiners,
Leading to the award of Associate Fellow status of The Higher Education Academy, UK
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
MPhil in Gender Studies, 2009-2011
Thesis: Why are we set in this world? – Gender Representation in Murakami Haruki’s Novels
Supervisor: Dr Michael O’Sullivan
Examiners: Dr Eibhear Walshe (UCC), Dr David Huddart & Dr Jason Gleckman (CUHK)
Awarded with no correction
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
BA in English (Special English Stream), Minor in Japanese Language, 2006-2009
First-class honours
Undergraduate Research Essay (Special English Stream): “I have to trust you, and you have
to trust me” – Communication Strategies Used by a Host Family in the UK
Supervisor: Prof Jane Jackson
PUBLICATIONS
ARTICLES (refereed)
“Educational Inequalities in Higher Education in Hong Kong.” (co-written with
Michael O’Sullivan) Inter-Asia Cultural Studies 16.3 (2015): 454-469.
“English Writing as Neo-colonial Resistance: An Exchange of English Poetry in
Hong Kong.” Asiatic: IIUM Journal of English Language and Literature 8.2 (2014): 36-56.
“Strategies of Intercultural Adaptation for Zainichi Chūgokujin (Chinese Residents
in Japan): A Study on Acculturation in the Novels of Yang Yi [In Japanese; 楊逸の作品
における在日中国人の異文化適応について――文化変容を中心に].” Japan Journal [日本學
刊, Hong Kong] 14 (2011): 224-238.
BOOK CHAPTERS
“In Dialogue: Contesting the Politics of Globalization in Hong Kong Literature in
English.” The Future of English in Asia: Perspectives on Language and Literature. Ed. Michael
O’Sullivan, David Huddart and Carmen Lee. London: Routledge, 2016. 173-189.
ARTICLES (non-refereed)
“Postmodern Sex and Love in Murakami Haruki’s Norwegian Wood .” Proceedings of
The Asian Conference on Cultural Studies 2011, March 2011, Osaka, Japan. Osaka: The
International Academic Forum, March 2011. 119-124.
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CONFERENCE,
WORKSHOP AND
SEMINAR
PRESENTATIONS
“From Post- to Neo-colonialism: Examining Hong Kong’s English Writing
Community.” Colonial / Postcolonial New Researchers Workshop, Institute of Historical
Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London, United Kingdom. Summer
2016. Forthcoming.
“Whither Hong Kong English Poetry?” 131st Modern Language Association (MLA)
Convention, Austin, Texas, United States of America. 7-10 January 2016.
“Multiculturalism and English Literary History: Xu Xi’s History’s Fiction.”
International Conference on the History of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institute of
Education and Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong. 10-11 April 2015.
“The History of a Place VS The History of a People: Xu Xi’s History’s Fiction.” Arts
Faculty Postgraduate Seminar Series, University of Warwick. 18 March 2015.
“Politics in Hong Kong Literature: Language, Canon and Translation.” British
Comparative Literature Association Postgraduate Conference: Alternatives, University of
Glasgow, Scotland. 24-25 April 2014.
“A ‘Chinese’ City: Racism and its Discourse in Post-colonial Hong Kong.” Race.
Migration. Citizenship: Postcolonial and Decolonial Perspectives, Birmingham Midland
Institute, UK. 4-5 July 2013.
“In Dialogue: Postcolonial Studies and Hong Kong Literature in English.” The Future
of English in Asia, Department of English, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. 19-21
April 2013.
“On the Periphery of Post/Neocolonialism: The Case of Hong Kong.” Postgraduate
Symposium 2012. Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies, University of
Warwick. 27 June 2012.
“Postmodern Sex and Love in Murakami Haruki’s Norwegian Wood.” The Asian
Conference on Cultural Studies 2011. The International Academic Forum, Osaka, Japan.
23-25 March 2011.
“The System VS The Individual – Postmodern Sex and Love in Murakami
Haruki’s Norwegian Wood.” Wednesday Gender Seminar Series, Spring 2011. Gender
Studies Programme & Gender Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. 9
March 2011.
“Man’s Room Versus Woman’s Room – Rethinking the Public and Private in A Doll’s
House and Trifles.” 3rd Postgraduate Research Symposium: Language and Cultural
Studies in the Pearl River Delta. Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 26 April 2010.
TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
Seminar Tutor, Department of English, University of Warwick, 2012-Present
 2015-2016: Modern World Literatures
— First-year module that surveyed how the concept of modernity is manifest in
literatures from around the world since 1789, including works by Natsume Soseki, Lu
Xun, Jorge Luis Borges, Samuel Beckett, Frank O’Hara and others. Duties also included
student support as well as coursework marking and feedback.
 2012-2015: Modes of Reading
— First-year module on the application of feminist (de Beauvoir, Butler &c.), Marxist
(Marx and Engels) and postcolonial (Edward Said, Stuart Hall &c.) theories to literary
texts written by Angela Carter, Allen Ginsberg, Mahasweta Devi, JM Coetzee and
others. Duties also included coursework marking and student support.
 Term 1, 2014-2015: New Literatures in English
— Honours module on new South African literature in English. Syllabus included
works of Nadine Gordimer, Achmat Dangor, Ivan Vladislavić and others. Duties also
included student support.
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 2012-2013: New Literatures in English
— Lecture-seminar on The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon and “How to Write
About Africa” by Binyavanga Wainaina.
Tutor, Academic Writing Programme, 2015-2016
 Seminars, coursework marking, and one-to-one feedback sessions provided to
undergraduate and postgraduate students at Warwick Business School (WBS).
Tutor, An Introduction to English through World Literary Systems: Partnership Project between
The Brilliant Club, Three Birmingham Schools and Warwick Research Collective, 2012
 A public engagement project providing seminars for Year 10 students on world
literature and the works of Halldór Laxness, Joseph Conrad, Eavan Boland &c.
Teaching Assistant, Department of English, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009-2011
 Term 2, 2010-2011: Gender and Literature
— Honours module on reading literature from gender perspectives. Among the works
studied were M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang, Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, and
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
 Term 2, 2009-2010: Renaissance to Enlightenment
— First-year module surveying literary works produced from the Renaissance to the
Enlightenment, such as works by Petrarch, Niccolo Machiavelli, William Shakespeare,
John Milton and others.
 Term 1, 2010-2011 & Term 1, 2009-2010: Introduction to Literature
— First-year module that introduces new students to the methods of literary studies.
Examples of authors studied are Sophocles, DH Lawrence, Kate Chopin, Oscar Wilde,
Ernest Hemingway, Seamus Heaney, and others.
Tutor, After-school English Gifted Programme, Hoi Ping Chamber of Commerce Secondary
School, 2010-2011
 English classes for F.4 and F.5 students for HKDSE preparation
English Mentor and Tutor, Mentorship Programme & Bridging Programme, Wah Yan
College, Kowloon, 2007-2010
 Multiple classes for pre-F.1 to F.5 students on English grammar, pronunciation,
reading, writing, HKCEE and TSA preparation
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE &
COMMUNITY
SERVICE
Preliminary Judge, 2015/16 Hong Kong Budding Poets (English) Award. March 2016
Review Board Member, Sanglap: Journal of
2015-Present
Literary and Cultural Inquiry. October
Staff Reviewer, Cha: An Asian Literary Journal. April 2012-Present
Co-organiser, Hello Kitty and International Relations Workshop, Institute of Advanced
Study, University of Warwick. 12 June 2015
 A cross-disciplinary workshop that discussed how to read Hello Kitty as a text against
the grain of international politics, from feminist critique of its mouthless-ness to the
ambivalence of cultural odourlessness (mukokuseki) in its promotion. Duties included
programme design, catering management and event logistics.
Participant, World Literature: Theories, Practice, Pedagogies: A 4-day Vacation School,
University of Warwick. 15-18 September 2014
 A programme of workshops and plenaries by Neil Lazarus, Joe Cleary, Maria Elisa
Cevasco, Gisèle Sapiro &c. on world-system approaches to world literature.
Organiser, Arts Faculty Seminar Series, Faculty of Arts, University of Warwick. October
2011-September 2013
 Organised seminars for fellow research students in the Arts Faculty to present papers
in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Duties included budget planning, publicity
distribution and event logistics.
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Organiser, Ninth Edward Said Memorial Lecture, University of Warwick. 24 April 2013
Organiser, Eighth Postgraduate Symposium, Department of English and Comparative
Literary Studies, University of Warwick. June 2012
 Organised the annual departmental postgraduate symposium. Duties included
programme design, catering management, and event logistics.
Chair, Themed Session on Globalism and Globalization, Arts Faculty Postgraduate
Seminar, University of Warwick. 25 January 2012
Team Member, Public Lecture Series on Gender Studies, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong. August 2009-July 2011
 Organised visiting programmes for gender scholars such as Raewyn Connell and
Dorinne Kondo. Duties included publicity distribution and event logistics.
Chinese Panelist, 12th Nihongo Summit, Japan Return Programme (JRP), Japan. June-July,
2010
 Represented China in this NGO-organised Summit, a 35-day exchange programme in
Nagasaki, Fukuoka and Tokyo with 12 other panelists from places around the world.
Exchanged views with local students and politicians (including then mayors of
Nagasaki and Tokyo), and gave speeches in Japanese on the Summit theme, “Courage
and Peace” in Fukuoka and Tokyo.
FUNDING
MLA Travel Grants Program, Modern Languages Association, January 2016. US$400
Chancellor’s International Scholarship, University of Warwick, October 2012-September
2014. Tuition fee waiver + £13,725 p.a.
Toi Shan Association Scholarship for Master Studies, 2012. HK$4,000
Postgraduate Studentship, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, August 2009-July
2011. HK$12,800 p.c.m.
Toi Shan Association Scholarship for Bachelor Studies, 2009. HK$3,000
Chiap Hua Cheng's Foundation Scholarship, 2008-2009. HK$24,000
Sir Edward Youde Memorial Scholarship for Undergraduate Students, 2008-2009.
HK$20,000
Mr Wong Chiu Chuen Memorial Scholarship, 2007-2008. HK$42,100
Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund Undergraduate Scholarship, 2006-2007. HK$20,900
QUALIFICATIONS
AND
MEMBERSHIPS
Postdoctoral Associate Fellow, Department of English and Comparative Literary
Studies, University of Warwick. October 2015
Member, The Modern Language Association. 2015
Associate Fellow, The Higher Education Academy. April 2014
N1 (highest level), Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). December 2010
Intermediate French, Alliance Française de Hong Kong. March 2009
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PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT
AND IMPACT
LITERARY REVIEWS
“Ending on a High Note.” Rev. of Firelight of a Different Colour, by Nigel Collett. Cha 30
(2015): n. pag.
“Confident and Authentic.” Rev. of Miyoko and Other Stories, by Michelle Tudor. Cha 30
(2015): n. pag.
“Poetic Cosmopolitanism.” Rev. of Hula Hooping, by Tammy Ho Lai-Ming. Cha 28
(2015): n. pag.
“Resurrecting the Abject.” Rev. of Crevasse, by Nicholas Wong. Cha 28 (2015): n. pag.
“When Culture Discounts Aesthetics.” Rev. of Will Not Forget Both Laughter and Tears,
by Tomoko Mitani, translated by Yukari F. Meldrum. Cha 28 (2015): n. pag.
“Thrilling Panic Attacks.” Rev. of Ministry of Moral Panic, by Amanda Lee Koe. Cha 26
(2014): n. pag.
“The Mighty Pen.” Rev. of Voices from Tibet, by Tsering Woeser and Wang Lixiong,
translated by Violet S. Law. Cha 25 (2014): n. pag.
“Loud and Encore.” Rev. of OutLoud Too, edited by Vaughan Rapatahana, Kate Rogers and
Madeleine Slavick. Cha 25 (2014): n. pag.
“Three Generations of Hong Kong Poets.” Rev. of Fly Heads and Bird Claws, by Leung
Ping-kwan, A Pond in the Sky, by Agnes Lam, and Goldfish, by Jennifer Wong. Cha 24
(2014): n. pag.
“Maori Voices.” Rev. of Auē Rona, by Reihana Robinson, and Schisms, by Vaughan
Rapatahana. Cha 24 (2014): n. pag.
“Let the Voices Speak.” Review of The Wind from Vulture Peak: The Buddhification of
Japanese Waka in the Heian Period, by Stephen D. Miller and translations with Patrick
Donnelly. Cha 22 (2013): n. pag.
“The Stark Reality of Japan.” Rev. of The 89TH Temple, by Charlie Canning. Cha 21
(2013): n. pag.
“More than Meets the Eye.” Rev. of Sky Lanterns, edited by Fiona Sze-Lorraine, and The
New Village, by Wong Yoon Wah. Cha 20 (2013): n. pag.
“Resurrecting the Sacrifices of Modernity.” Rev. of Please Look After Mother, by Shin
Kyung-sook. Cha 19 (2012): n. pag.
“Consuming Love.” Rev. of The Promise Bird, by Zhang Yueran. Cha 19 (2012): n. pag.
“Innovations. ” Rev. of Perceptions, by Gillian Bickley, china as kafka, by Vaughan
Rapatahana, and City of Stairs, by Kate Rogers. Cha 18 (2012): n. pag.
“Queering Sameness, Queering Difference.” Rev. of Cities of Sameness, by Nicholas YB
Wong. Cha 17 (2012): n. pag.
“A Voice from the Edge.” Rev. of Edge, by Arun Budhathoki. Cha 17 (2012): n. pag.
“Giving Reader Access.” Rev. of ACCESS: Thirteen Tales, by Xu Xi. Cha 16 (2012): n. pag.
“Colouring Life, Colourful Life.” Rev. of Kaleidoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors, by Sweta
Srivastava Vikram. Cha 15 (2011): n. pag.
“Writing with Guts.” Rev. of How to Write a Suicide Note, by Sherry Quan Lee. Cha 15
(2011): n. pag.
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“In Transit.” Rev. of Habit of a Foreign Sky, by Xu Xi. Cha 13 (2011): n. pag.
“Stop and Think. ” Rev. of Hiroshima in the Morning, by Rahna Reiko Rizzuto. Cha 13
(2011): n. pag.
“The Power of Children.” Rev. of Mythil’s Secret, by Prashani Rambukwella. Cha 11 (2010):
n. pag.
 Excerpt of the review reprinted in Thorathuru (March 2013 issue), the quarterly
newsletter of The Sri Lanka Association of New South Wales.
“Revival and Reinterpretation in Translation.” Rev. of Brief Rest in the Garden of
Flourishing Grace: Poems of Remembrance and Loss, by Vera Schwarcz, and on the no road way to
tomorrow, by The Chicago-Kunming Poetry Group. Cha 10 (2010): n. pag.
CREATIVE
WRITING
“Epicenter.” Cha 30 (December 2015). Poem.
Co-Editor, “Whither Hong Kong?” Cha 25 (September 2014).
 Co-selected quality English-language writings responding immediately to the
Umbrella Movement in 2014, and penned an introduction in this special feature of Cha.
Haiku. Haiku Journal 24 (2014). Poem.
“At 2 a.m.,”, “At the Crossroads of Eighty”, “Colourful Life”, “Contrails”, “Departure”,
“In a boring lecture”, “Interlude”, “Life and Death”, “Night Central”, “Usquebaugh”.
Eunoia Review (12-16 October 2013). Poems.
“The Everest March.” CU Writing in English Vol X (2010). Department of English, The
Chinese University of Hong Kong. 96-103. Short Story.
General Editor, CU Writing in English Vol X (2010). Department of English, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong, 2010.
 Coordinated the publication of this annual departmental compilation of students’
writing. Solicited alumni’s short story submissions in celebration of the compilation’s
10th anniversary. Other duties included submission editing, desktop publishing, and
liaison with the printing company.
“That One Step.” CU Writing in English Vol IX (2009). Department of English, The
Chinese University of Hong Kong. 40-51. Short Story.
“Chinese Offerings”, “Lucifer Says…”CU Writing in English Vol IX (2009). Department of
English, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. 154, 165. Poems.
Poetry Editor, CU Writing in English Vol IX (2009). Department of English, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong.
“Remembering Michael.” The Shield 53 (2005). School Magazine of Wah Yan College,
Kowloon. Short Story.
LANGUAGES
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Cantonese, native
Japanese, fluent
English, near-native
French, intermediate
Mandarin, fluent
Korean, elementary
REFERENCES
Prof Neil Lazarus
Professor
Department of English and
Comparative Literary Studies
H5.19 Humanities Building
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
N.Lazarus@warwick.ac.uk
Dr Rashmi Varma
Associate Professor
Department of English and
Comparative Literary Studies
H5.40 Humanities Building
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
Rashmi.Varma@warwick.ac.uk
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Dr John Gilmore
Associate Professor
Department of English and
Comparative Literary Studies
H5.33 Humanities Building
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
J.T.Gilmore@warwick.ac.uk
Dr Rachel Harrison
Reader
Department of South East Asia
455 College Buildings
School of Oriental and African Studies
University of London
Thornhaugh Street
Russell Square, London
WC1H 0XG
United Kingdom
rh6@soas.ac.uk
Prof Cathia Jenainati
(Teaching Reference)
Professor
Department of English and
Comparative Literary Studies
H4.20 Humanities Building
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
C.Jenainati@warwick.ac.uk