Margaret Hillenbrand Wins MLA’s Scaglione Prize for East Asian Studies

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is delighted to announce that Professor Margaret Hillenbrand has been awarded the prestigious Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for East Asian Studies by the Modern Language Association (MLA). Her award-winning book, On the Edge: Feeling Precarious in China, published by Columbia University Press, has been recognised for its profound exploration of cultural and artistic responses to precarity in contemporary China.

The MLA’s citation praises On the Edge as a “brilliant study” that combines “theoretical sophistication with penetrating clarity,” offering a nuanced analysis of creative expressions from the margins of Chinese society. The work addresses urgent questions about precarity and creativity, engaging with diverse media such as performance art, poetry, and livestreaming apps. The committee highlighted Hillenbrand’s sensitivity in drawing attention to China’s “creative precariat” and her adept navigation of complex artistic and social landscapes.

The Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for East Asian Studies is an annual award recognising outstanding scholarly contributions in the field. This year’s award will be presented during the MLA’s annual convention in New Orleans on 10 January 2025.

Professor Hillenbrand’s recognition is a testament to the Faculty’s commitment to fostering world-class research and interdisciplinary scholarship. Please join us in congratulating her on this remarkable achievement.

For further details about the award and the MLA’s work, visit www.mla.org.