February 11, 2009 — David L. Eng, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, will give a University of Virginia English Department talk on "Racial Reparation" Feb. 20 at 4 p.m.

Eng's presentation will explore the relationship between political and psychic genealogies of reparation. A key term in political theory, reparation is also a central concept in psychoanalysis — in particular object relations theory — although the two are rarely discussed in relation to one another, Eng said. "My talk explores how political and psychic theories of reparation might supplement one another in the context of war, colonialism and violence in the trans-Pacific."

Eng is a professor of English and comparative literature and a faculty member in the Asian American Studies Program at the University of Pennsylvania. His areas of specialization include American literature, Asian American studies, Asian diaspora, psychoanalysis, critical race theory, queer studies and visual culture.

His U.Va. talk, a Peter Rushton Colloquium to be held in the Bryan Hall Faculty Lounge, will be followed by a reception.