Fall 2007

AMS 315 • Introduction to Asian American Studies

Course Description

Does NOT fulfill legislative requirement for American history.

Through autobiographical writings by Asian Americans, this course will explore major themes in the study of race, gender, ethnicity, and migration. We will trace the trajectory of American racialization of Asians from exclusion as inassimilable aliens to post-World War II celebrations of the model minority. Through the lens of self-representations, class discussions and writing assignments will examine how Asian Americans perceived, negotiated, and interpreted varying conditions of discrimination and opportunity.

Grading Policy

20 % Class attendance and discussion 35 % Written and research assignments (reading journal, autobiographical writing) 40 % Examinations

Texts

Jade Snow Wong, Fifth Chinese Daughter Andrew Lam, Perfume Dreams Eric Liu, Accidental Asian Yung Wing, My Life in China and America Mine Okubo, Citizen 13660 John Okada, No-no Boy Yuri Kochiyama, Passing It On David Mura, Turning Japanese Maxine Hong Kingston, Woman Warrior Carlos Bulosan, America is in the Heart

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