ENG Departmental Seminar – H.C. Andersen Series (2 Seminars)
The Department of English cordially invites you to join our departmental seminar series, “H.C. Andersen Series,” consisting of two seminars. The event will take place on 23 April 2025 (Wednesday).
| Date: | 23 April 2025 (Wednesday) |
| Time: | 12:15pm – 2:15pm |
| Venue: | D404, Lee Quo Wei Academic Building |
| Speakers: | Dr. Maria Chan (Senior Lecturer, HKSYU) and Dr. Kacey Liu (Associate Professor, HKSYU) |
| Registration: | Complete the online registration form to reserve a seat. Available on a first-come first-served basis. |
| Remarks: | 1 iGPS unit will be awarded to undergraduate students who attend the seminar |
Seminar 1: Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Beyond the Childlike Wonder Time
Guest Speaker: Dr. Maria Chan (Senior Lecturer, Hong Kong Shue Yan University)
Abstract
Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, including The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor’s New Clothes, are often classified as children’s literature. Their magical elements, imaginative worlds, and moral lessons seem perfectly suited for children. However, beneath this childlike wonder, these tales also resonate strongly with adults, offering darker themes, existential questions, and critiques of human nature.
This seminar examines how Andersen’s works transcend their surface simplicity to engage both children and adults. For children, his stories provide accessible language, enchanting worlds, and clear ethical lessons. For adults, they reveal emotional and thematic complexity, such as the tragic sacrifices in The Little Mermaid and the biting satire of The Emperor’s New Clothes. By exploring the layers of meaning in Andersen’s fairy tales, we uncover why they continue to captivate and challenge readers of all ages.
Bio
Dr. Maria Chan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature at Hong Kong Shue Yan University. She obtained her Doctor of Education degree from the University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include modern fiction, drama from Eastern and Western traditions, and Renaissance and Neoclassical literature.
Seminar 2: Reimagining Witches: A Comparative Study of Witch Depictions in Modern Chinese Adaptations of Andersen’s The Little Mermaid
Guest Speaker: Dr. Kacey Liu (Associate Professor, Hong Kong Shue Yan University)
Abstract
Since the late Qing and early Republican periods, when Andersen’s works were introduced to the Chinese audience, fairy tales have gained popularity and acclaim among readers in China. Presently, numerous adaptations and retellings of Andersen’s narratives abound. This study delves into the depiction of witches in contemporary Chinese adaptations of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. By examining the portrayal of witches in these adaptations, the research compares modern renditions with the English version of Andersen’s tale and its early Chinese translation, “海的女兒” as translated by Ye Junjian (葉君健) in 1956. Ye’s version is directly translated from Denmark and has been recognized as an authoritative and excellent translated version. Through a comparative analysis of modern adaptations alongside the original English and the Chinese translation by Ye, this study argues that the representation of witches has undergone demonization to suit the sensitivities of contemporary young readers.
Bio
Dr. LIU Jianwen (Kacey) is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at Hong Kong Shue Yan University. She holds a Ph.D. in Gender Studies/Translation Studies from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her research interests focus on gender and language, picture book translations, gender-based translation studies, and corpus-based translation studies.
For enquiries, please feel free to contact us at eng@hsu.edu.hk.
