Akash Kumar focuses on the crossing of poetry, philosophy, and science in 13th-14th century Italy, emphasizing multicultural knowledge transmission in the medieval Mediterranean. His talk emerges from his second book project on medieval Italian representations of chess and the exchange made possible by the game across gender, religious, and social boundaries.

Akash Kumar is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Literature at UCSC.

The Center for Cultural Studies hosts a weekly Wednesday colloquium featuring work by faculty and visitors. The sessions consist of a 40-45 minute presentation followed by discussion. We gather at noon, with presentations beginning at 12:15 PM. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunches; the Center provides coffee, tea, and cookies.

All Center for Cultural Studies events are free and open to the public. Staff assistance is provided by the Institute for Humanities Research.

Winter 2017 Colloquium Dates:

January 18th: Susan Buck-Morss

January 25th: Emily Mitchell-Eaton

February 1st: Regina Kunzel

February 8th: Camillo Gomez-Rivas

February 15th: Gary Wilder

February 22nd: Rick Prelinger

March 1st: Hillary Angelo

March 15th: Akash Kumar