Description
[cross-listed with SOC 3412; G/C; Asian Studies minor] This course traces the development of Asian American Literature from the late 19th century to the present. Readings will include novels, short stories, essays and poetry written by Asian American writers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Together, we will examine how various literary forms of representation inform the construction of Asian American identities, emphasizing that these identities are not monolithic but shaped by multiple perspectives and experiences. Through close engagement with historical, political and social contexts, the course will explore how Asian American literature responds to and reflects broader cultural conditions. Topics will include immigration, racial discrimination, assimilation, transnationalism and the Asian diaspora, queer identity and the intersections of gender inequality and cultural hegemony.