ENGL-222-01 Asian Americans and the Public Sphere

Faculty:

Shinn, Christopher

This class will address issues concerning power and visibility in public life for Asian Americans in the 21st century. We will make an informed historical and cultural evaluation of the critical factors that have led to being perennially understood as an “invisible minority” and propose real-world solutions to reverse this trend. The class will center on politics, culture, media and representation with some important critical discussions about government and the public sphere. Using Asian American literature, performance art, multimedia projects, manga, television and film, we will observe the limits and opportunities that accompany entrance into the U.S. cultural mainstream. Readings may include works by Jessica Hagedorn, Adrian Tomine, Catherine Liu, Sesshu Foster, David Henry Hwang, Karen Yamashita, Garrett Hongo and Kaiji Kawaguchi. We will be viewing recently acclaimed films by Asian Americans such as Tze Chun’s Children of Invention, Frances Hsueh and Steven Hahn’s Party, and Greg Pak’s Robot Stories, among others. Requirements will consist of two short essays, a midterm exam, a class presentation and a final research paper or final exam.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: ENGL 040, 041, 042, or 043; or previously cross-listed Gateways from other departments.

Other academic years
There is information about this course number in other academic years:

• 2010-2011 Fall and Spring

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