English 267 - Intro to Asian American Literature
Floyd Cheung
MW 1:10-2:30

Although we sometimes think only of modern-day authors like David Henry Hwang or lê thi diem thúy when we think of Asian American literature, in fact Asian Americans have published writings in English since at least 1887.  In this course, we will read selected Asian American poetry, autobiographies, novels, short stories, and plays produced from the late nineteenth century until the present. 

This year, I plan to juxtapose earlier and more contemporary texts to highlight continuities and to investigate contrasts within and across five thematic units:

“Where are you from?”: The Outsider  Racialization of Asian Americans

Immigrants and Refugees

Sell-out or Subversion: Reading Responses to Images of Asian Americans

The Intersection of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality

Locating Interethnic Alliance

 

Primary texts probably will include the following:

Sui Sin Far.  Selections from Mrs. Spring Fragrance and Other Writings

Kothari, Geeta.  “Where Are You From?”

Kim, Jennifer Sa-rlang.  “Where Are You From?”

Bulosan, Carlos.  America Is in the Heart

lê thi diem thúy.  The Gangster We Are All Looking For

Watanna, Onoto.  Selections from “A Half Caste” and Other Writings

Gotanda, Philip Kan.  Yankee Dawg, You Die

Lee, Helen. Sally’s Beauty Spot

Hwang, David Henry.  M. Butterfly

Mootoo, Shani.  Selections from Out on Main Street

Tsiang, H. T.  Excerpt from And China Has Hands and selected poems

Foster, Sesshu.  City Terrace Field Manual

Secondary readings will be drawn from the work of Pyong Gap Min, Mia Tuan, Sucheng Chan, Deborah Gee, David Eng, Alice Hom, George Lipsitz, and others. 

I will lecture often but briefly.  Discussion is expected.  Written work probably will include two short essays and one longer essay.