ENGL299 - Asian-American Cultural Theory

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Academic Year 2002/2003

Asian-American Cultural Theory
ENGL 299 SP

How do we make sense of Asian American culture as a coalition of differences and contradictions. This seminar will survey and read closely recent scholarship on Asian American culture. The class will interrogate how these works theorize the textual, cultural and political coalition called Asian America and its connections with other communities of color. We will apply these theories to literary and filmic texts by and about Asian Americans. Moreover, we will ask how such theories help us reconceptualize difference, nationhood, citizenship and coalition.

MAJOR READINGS

Texts will include:
Lowe, IMMIGRANT ACTS
Okihiro, MARGINS AND MAINSTREAMS
Espiritu, ASIAN AMERICAN PANETHNICITY
Palumbo-Liu, ASIAN AMERICA
Prashad, EVERYBODY WAS KUNG-FU FIGHTING: AFRO-ASIAN CONNECTIONS AND THE MYTH OF CULTURAL PURITY
Trinh, WOMAN, NATIVE, OTHER
Lee, ORIENTALS: ASIAN AMERICAN IN POPULAR CULTURE
Eng, RACIAL CASTRATION
Special Issue Amerasia: Thinking Theory In Asian American Studies

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Students will submit weekly inquiry papers on the assigned reading(s). Each student will present an aspect of the class session's reading assignment, distributing a 4-6 page written version and set of questions to other students. Grades will be based on a 15-page final project, inquiry papers, presentations and active listening and participation in class discussion.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students who have taken Asian Am. Lit, Multi-Ethnic Literature or Introduction to Ethnic Studies will have priority.

This course meets the English department's theory requirement.

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 ENGL Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Isaac,Allan Punzalan

Times: ...W... 07:00PM-09:50PM; Location: FISK114

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 16)

SR. major: Jr. major:

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

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Reading Non-Verbal Texts, Speaking

Permission: Permission of Instructor Required

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-18-2003