Beyond the Tourist Trap: The Past, Present, and Future of Asian American Urban Spaces

Catalog description

Beyond the lure of the "exotic" food, cultural festivals, and distinctive architecture of Chinatowns, Little Tokyos, Filipinotowns, Koreatowns, Little Saigons, and Little Indias, Asian American spaces are at once historical remnants of an exclusionary past and the current embodiment of the diversity of ethnic communities. This class seeks to understand such spaces by considering the people involved — those within and outside of the community — and the complex relationships among community groups. Texts will include histories, maps, works by urban planners, and a field trip to Boston's Chinatown. Enrollment limited to 17 first year students and sophomores.