| Kommentar |
"Asian American" is a contested term. Critics allege that it tends to obscure the diversity of cultural traditions subsumed under it, as well as the specific histories of ethnic groups such as Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, or South Asian Americans, to name only a few. They have a point. Yet, the concept is till useful for addressing the Orientalism of mainstream discourses in the US and Canada, as well as various strategies writers of Asian descent mobilize to criticize and deconstruct it. In this vein, we will read and discuss a range of texts by writers such as David Hwang, Bharati Mukherjee, and others, asking how they conceive of their own positions in North American and transnational cultural contexts, and how they link this to critiques of hegemonic North American discourses. The course is offered in conjunction with the conference on Asian German Studies held at Humboldt University on June 27 and 28, 2014. Participants of the seminar are required to attend the conference for at least half a day (in exchange for two regular sessions). Credit for the course requires regular attendance, contributions to class discussions, and active participation in producing a poster for the conference. Registration for the course will take place in the first session. |
