Chee-Hann Wu

Hi there! I am Chee-Hann. I do research on performance studies and I write for fun.

 

I recently finished a three-year position as an assistant professor faculty fellow in theatre studies at NYU. I am an editor of Taiwan Insight, an online academic magazine curated by the University of Nottingham's Taiwan Research Hub. I also work as a freelance translator, copy editor, and curator of cultural and arts events. I got my Ph.D. in drama and theatre at UC Irvine. Most importantly, I make socially engaged art, and I am proudly from Taiwan!
 

My research focuses on puppetry and its ability to reenact/retell memories, experiences and trauma that have been suppressed, and further serve as a force for transitional justice. My dissertation and current book project, Puppetry: A Performative Reenactment of Taiwan, considers puppetry as a means of mediated communication through which I look at Taiwan’s cultural and sociopolitical environment, colonial history, as well as its path to democracy. 

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My most recent work focuses on the cultural politics of technology. I am very interested in viewing the transnational ecology of video games,  VR, and AI through the lens of performance. As a performance studies scholar/puppet lover, my work has always been exploring the intersections between artificiality and humanity. I bring the same mindset to advocating for responsible AI that ensures transparency, fairness, accountability, and social sustainability.

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Some of the performance projects I was involved in focused on Asian and Asian American experiences, drawing attention to the issues of (im)migration and the stigmatization of mental health within the community. 

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I love teaching! I'm teaching "Performing the Nonhumans" and "Performing the Future: Theatre, Technology and Beyond (honors seminar)" in fall 2025. 

I've also taught "Development of Drama," "Intro to Theatre Studies," "Transpacific Asian Theatre," and "Asian American Theatre and Pop Culture." 

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Aside from research and teaching, I am the Vice President of Conference Planning for the Association for Asian Performance (2026-) and the program co-chair of the IEEE AIxHEART (humanities, education and arts) conference (2024-). I have also served as the President of the North American Taiwan Studies Association.