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In this course we will explore the cultural contexts of the term "Asian American" that define its visibility and marketability in contemporary Asian American literature and related mediums such as film, television, and theater. Focusing on the texts published in the 1980s and 1990s, we will examine questions such as is there an Asian American aesthestic and if so, how is it characterized? What are the consequences of the consumption of ethnic products by a mainstream audience for ethnic literature? Our studies of literature will be complimented the screening of various films in class as well as the viewing of Jude Narita's production of "Stories Waiting to Be Told" on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 8pm in Hall Auditorium.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee. Arranged Marriage.
Hagedorn, Jessica, ed. Charlie Chan Is Dead: An Anthology of Contemporary Asian-American Fiction. Viking Penguin, 1993.
Hwang, David Henry. M. Butterfly. NAL-Dutton, 1989.
Kadohata, Cynthia. The Floating World. Ballantine, 1993.
Lee, Chang Rae. Native Speaker.
Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club.
I. The Bestselling Voice of Asian America
Week 1: T 9-2 Introductions and course goals. Poem "Breaking Tradition" by Janice Mirikitani.
Week 2: T 9-9 Preface to Charlie Chan Is Dead, Also, the following stories from CCD: "A Father," by Bharati Mukherjee; "Fictive Fragments of a Father and Son," by David Mura; and "Red Sweater" by Fae Ng.
Week 3: T 9-16 Amy Tan: The Joy Luck Club Also Lisa Lowe's article "Heterogeneity, Hybridity, Multiplicity: Marking Asian American Differences"
II. Popular Histories and Realistic Myths
Week 4: T 9-23 Library visit
Week 5: T 9-30 David Henry Hwang: M. Butterfly: James Moy's "Flawed Self-Representations'"and "Imperial Pornographies of Virtuosity."
Week 6: T 10-7 Cynthia Kadohata: The Floating World
Week 7: T 10-14 CCD: "Itsuka" by Joy Kogawa;
PAPER 1 DUE FRIDAY OCTOBER 17 BY 4PM, in my box.
Week 8: T 10-21 FALL BREAK
III. The "New" Immigrants: Emerging Asian America Stories
Week 9: T 10-28 Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: Arranged Marriage. Also Ketu Katrak's "South Asian American Writiers: Geography and Memory". Text selection for class presentation due
Week 10: T 11-4 CCD: "Manhattan Music" by Meena Alexander; "Razir Begum in London" by Ruxana Meer; "A Father" by Bharati Mukherjee and"Observing Ourselves among Others: Interview with Meena Alexander."
Research proposals due in class
Week 11: T 11-11 Change Rae Lee: Native Speaker
Week 12: T 11-18 CCD: Melpomene Tragedy" by Theresa Cha; "Black Korea" by Walter Lew.
Rough Draft of Final Paper due on Friday, Nov. 21 at 4pm, in my box.
IV. Contemporary trends
Week 13: T 11-25 CCD: "Eye Contact" by Shawn Wong; "Pangs of Love" by David Wong Louie; "Empty Heart" by Lois Ann Yamanaka.
DECEMBER
Week 14: T 12-2 Class presentations--book reviews
Week 15: T 12-9 Class presentations--book reviews
Final Papers FRIDAY DEC. 12 BY 4PM, in my box.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15-- FRIDAY DECEMBER 19--FINALS WEEK
**Note: All italicized articles will be available in the reserve room.
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