Asian American Literatures

Catalog description

This course explores contemporary Asian American literary production by reading a wide variety of texts focused on the possibilities and limits of space and place. Our goal in this class is two-fold: to orient ourselves in relation to Asian American literatures and to orient Asian American literatures in relation to other geographical formations such as the nation, the hemisphere, the transpacific, and the world. To accomplish this, we will consider how physical and geographical spaces map on to psychic and historical ones, in the process focusing on a diverse set of locations-including ethnic enclaves, detention camps, islands, the transpacific, and the hemisphere. We will engage key concepts in Asian American literary studies such as transnationalism, globalization, racialization, imperialism, history, culture, and postracialism. Additionally, we will think about how issues of identity, belonging, contestation, aesthetics, diaspora, and genre are critical to Asian American literary production. Finally, we will interrogate the constructed, pan-ethnic nature of "Asian America" as itself an imagined nation. In the process, we will familiarize ourselves with the richness and diversity of Asian American literature by considering a variety of genres, including short stories, novels, drama, memoir, comics, and film. In encouraging students to develop understanding of the historical backgrounds, cultural and scientific contributions, economic, social, psychological, and political circumstances of Asian Americans, they will 1) Learn to see nations, cultures, and/or social identities not in isolation, but in relation to each other; 2) Gain increased knowledge of different cultural values, traditions, beliefs, and customs; 3) Appreciate the diversity that exists among persons who share a particular social identity; 4) Recognize and be sensitive to the different ways social identities have been valued; 5) Increase their understanding of stereotypes and biases; and 6) Increase their awareness of the nature of social justice and equity. These goals are supported by every aspect of the course: the reading list, the in-class conversation and lectures, the collaborative projects, the quizzes and exams, and the analytical essays. Students are not simply exposed to texts and topics but must demonstrate engagement with, understanding of, and critical analysis in relation to the course's focus.