Passing and using a param

Starting a transition from VB to C# and am confused by a code sample below - specifically the line:

 DateTime dateTime = (DateTime)obj;

When I use a C# to VB translator that line becomes:

      Dim dateTime As DateTime = CType(obj, DateTime)


which i get. Still...seems very strange to see the parens _leading an object. Perhaps a couple words of explaination would get my head the rest of the way around what's going on there.

class DateTimeRenderer : IObjectRenderer
    {
        public void RenderObject(object obj, System.IO.TextWriter writer) {
            DateTime dateTime = (DateTime)obj;
            writer.Write(dateTime.ToString("yyyy/MM/dd HH:mm:ss.fff"));
        }
    }

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