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Academic Year 2003/2004

Asian American Literature and Its Discontents
ENGL 344 SP
Crosslistings:
AMST 244
WMST 346

Is there such a thing as an "Asian American" Literature? The course will survey Asian American writing before WWII, the emergence of Asian American literature as first anthologized in AIIIEEE (1974) fueled by the Yellow Power Movement to the various cultural and literary challenges since then posed in terms of gender, sexuality and colonialism. Through various literary and filmic texts by and about Asian/Asian American women, we will examine the intersection of gender, sexuality and ethnicity in these cultural productions and how these themes have evolved and been challenged throughout the 20th century.

MAJOR READINGS

Chin et al., THE BIG AIIIIEEE (anthology)
Hagedorn et al. CHARLIE CHAN IS DEAD (anthology)
Kingston, CHINAMEN
Cha, DICTEE
Okada, NO-NO BOY
Yamanaka, BLU'S HANGING
Bulosan, AMERICA IS IN THE HEART
Mukherjee, JASMINE
King-Lob Cheung, AN INTERETHNIC COMPANION TO ASIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
Lisa Lowe, IMMIGRANT ACTS
Films: FLOWER DRUM SONG, SLAYING THE DRAGON

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Students will submit brief one-page reaction/inquiry papers weekly.. Each student will also be required to present an aspect of the class session's reading assignment. Grades will be based on a midterm paper (4-6 pp.) and one final 12 - 15 pp paper, inquiry papers, presentation and active listening and participation in class discussion.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ENGL    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004

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