EAST251 - Diaspora and Asian American Experiences

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Academic Year 2002/2003

Diaspora and Asian American Experiences
EAST 251 FA

Crosslistings:
AMST 211

Required Sequence: EAST251/AMST211 and EAST252/AMST212

This year-long innovative course is part of a four-year project supported by the Freeman Initiative grant to further develop the study of Asia and the Asian diaspora at Wesleyan. Introducing recent theoretical approaches to topics in Asian American history and in understanding Asian American experiences, the course aims at learning about Asian diaspora through classroom study and guided research during the summer.

The fall course will introduce the historical background of Asians in the United States, examine the impact of diaspora on Asian American experiences, and discuss topics in Asian American cultural representations. Students are expected to explore the possibilities of community-based research projects, and will complete a pilot research project. Classes will be devoted to discussions of both readings and issues encountered in the research projects. The spring seminar is designed to introduce students to the major themes of Chinese American history through the reading of selected primary sources, some of the major works in the field, and recent interpretations of the Chinese experience in the United States.

At the end of the year-long course, students will participate in summer research in carefully chosen sites in America or Asia, depending on the student's major field, research interests and personal goals. Students will receive support for travel, housing, and expenses, as well as a stipend.

MAJOR READINGS

Buell, Frederick, NATIONAL CULTURE AND THE NEW GLOBAL SYSTEM
Chan, Sucheng, ASIAN AMERICANS: AN INTERPRETIVE HISTORY
Hamamoto, Darrell, MONITORED PERIL: ASIAN AMERICANS AND THE POLITICS OF TV REPRESENTATION
Lee, Josephine, PERFORMING ASIAN AMERICA: RACE AND ETHNICITY ON THE CONTEMPORARY STAGE
Lowe, Lisa, IMMIGRANT ACTS: ON ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL POLITICS
Ma, Sheng-mei, IMMIGRANT SUBJECTIVITIES IN ASIAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN DIASPORA LITEATURES (1998)
Ong, Aihwa, FLEXIBLE CITIZENSHI P: THE CULTURAL LOGICS OF TRANSNATIONALITY (1999)
Xing, Jun, ASIAN AMERICAN THROUGH THE LENS: HISTORY, REPRESENTATIONS, AND IDENTITY (1998)

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Several class projects and a final research paper.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

First-year students are excluded from this course.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA EAST Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Zheng,Su

Times: ..T.... 06:00PM-08:50PM; Location: TBA

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 15)

SR. major: Jr. major:

SR. non-major: Jr. non-major: SO: FR:

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing

Permission: Permission of Instructor Required

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-18-2003