Spring 2009 courses
ASAM 115. Theories and Methods in Asian American Studies.
K. Yep, BH210 PZ, TR 1:15-2:30 p.m.
This course identifies theoretical and methodological tools which distinguish Asian American Studies as a field of investigation. Asian American Studies not only documents the experience of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders but also provides an approach to theorize, analyze, teach, community-build, and research.
ASAM 150. Contemporary Asian American Issues: Asian American Youth Cultures.
D. Adachi, LINC1135 PO, MW 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Asian American youth represent one of the fastest growing population groups in the United States. This course reviews a wide range of perspectives on Asian American youth cultures in different geographic locations at different times since 1965. Some of the topics to be covered include early Asian American campus social movements, Asian American hip-hop, and Asian American beauty pageants. Students will be encouraged to be highly critical of all materials and will be required to explore the margins and the intersections of our topics.
ASAM 160. Asian American Women’s Experiences.
N. Park, HM121 SCR, MW 2:45-4:00 p.m.
Course explores the histories, experiences, politics, identities, representations and agency of Asian American women from the mid 19th century through the present. We will study various forms of oppression and resistance in light of larger systems of governance. The class discussions will explore how the intersecting discourses on race, gender, sex, class and nation position Asian American women within Asian American communities and a transnational context. Asian American women's experiences will be examined through oral histories, media representations and cultural productions of, by and about Asian American women.
ASAM 179A. Asian American Communities.
C. Oh, TG203 HMC, T 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Examination of past and present issues for Asian American Communities in the U.S. Class will further demystify the ‘Model Minority Myth’ when looking at 2nd generation Asian Americans, their identity, and how a “success-driven” mentality within their communities pervades hidden issues on: 1) racism/ discrimination by other groups; 2) mental/ emotional stress issues in assimilating into American society; 3) generational conflict between parents; and 4) intra- and inter-ethnic conflict between groups. Class will provide implications on leadership and mobilization for the next generation of Asian Americans.
ASAM 179B. Asian Americans and the Law.
B. Yang, LINC1121 PO, R 7:00-9:50 p.m.
Analyze the intersection of Asian American history to American Jurisprudence, especially Constitutional and Immigration law. In many regrettable instances, our legal system has been used to oppress Asians and Asian Pacific Americans. However, Asian Americans have used the courts to fight back for equality and justice, contributing immensely to the formation of Civil Rights in the United States. The class will attempt to tie in current events and contemporary issues to past legal struggles and victories. We will use actual court cases in the same manner that a law school course might to examine issues such as Immigration, Property Rights, Employment, Education, Hate-crimes, Racial Profiling, among others.
ASAM 187. Art, Activism, and the Asian American Social Movement.
N. Park, HM103 SCR, M 7:00-9:50 p.m.
Course addresses the lack of recognition given to the role of the arts in the Asian American movement. It will primarily focus on the role that the arts have played in social justice and awareness work situated in the context of the Asian American movement. It will look at how art, whether in music, fine arts, street art, poetry, etc. has transformed as a part of social justice and awareness work and responded to changing times. This course will encourage students to support local Asian American art events with their participation and attendance as well as their boundless creativity. Individual and class projects will include the production of creative works, publications or workshops and conferences. In addition, students will collaborate to create the next year’s ASAM 197 course topic and syllabus.
ASAM 191SC/191PO. Asian American Studies Senior Thesis.
Students will work with one or more faculty on original thesis research toward completion of senior thesis.
HIST172. Empire and Sexuality.
C. Johnson, BH207 PZ, MW 2:45-4:00 p.m.
The construction of gender and sexuality was central to British and French imperialism. This course examines the formation of genders in colonial Asia and Africa from the 18th through the early 20th-centuries. We will look at men and women, colonizers and colonized and hetero- and homosexualities in order to understand the connections between gender, sexuality, race and power. Themes will include gendered discourses that defined political authority and powerlessness; the roles that women’s bodies played in conceptualizing domesticity and desire; and evolving imperial attitudes toward miscegenation, citizenship and rights.
JPNT178. Japanese and Japanese American Autobiography.
L. Miyake, MA3 PO, TR 2:45–4:00 p.m.
The tradition of the native Japanese literary diary (nikki bungaku), modern Japanese autobiography and autobiographical writings, and Japanese American diary/autobiography, emphasizing works by women. Readings in literary criticism on autobiography in general and women's autobiography in particular.
MS 100AA. Asian Americans in Media: A Historical Survey.
M. Ma, BH210 PZ, W 7:00-9:50 p.m.
This is a historical survey of Asian American involvement in media production, beginning with the Silent Film Era and ending with contemporary projects in film, video, and new media. In this course, we will focus on the shifting yet continuous participation of Asians in the production of media in North America, and look at how changing political, social, and cultural discourses have shaped media representations of Asians throughout this period. Prerequisites: any intro-level Media Studies or Asian American Studies course.
PSYC 153AA. Asian American Psychology.
S. Goto, LINC1125 PO, TR 1:15-2:30 p.m.
Introduces students to the salient psychological issues of Asian Americans. Taking into account the social, cultural, and historical context of the Asian American experience, this course addresses values and cultural conflict development, acculturation, marriage and gender roles, vocational development, psychopathology, and delivery of mental health services.
THEA115N. Staging Our Stories: Contemporary Asian American Drama.
J. Lu, TE100 PO, TR 2:45-4:00 p.m.
This course examines several post-1960 dramatic and performance works created by Asian American artists, such as, Phillip Kan Gotanda, David Henry Hwang, Julia Cho, Ralph Peña, and Lan Tran, taking into account the historical and cultural contexts in which these productions emerged. We will look at how these different artists attempt to represent themselves and their experiences with dignity, how they preserve old traditions and create new ones, and at how these practices reflect different aspects of the relationships between the United States and various Asian countries, and between different ethnic groups in the U.S. This course includes a field trip, a written review of your experience, as well as a self-written monologue, and a final paper or dramatic performance.
K. Yep, BH210 PZ, TR 1:15-2:30 p.m.
This course identifies theoretical and methodological tools which distinguish Asian American Studies as a field of investigation. Asian American Studies not only documents the experience of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders but also provides an approach to theorize, analyze, teach, community-build, and research.
ASAM 150. Contemporary Asian American Issues: Asian American Youth Cultures.
D. Adachi, LINC1135 PO, MW 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Asian American youth represent one of the fastest growing population groups in the United States. This course reviews a wide range of perspectives on Asian American youth cultures in different geographic locations at different times since 1965. Some of the topics to be covered include early Asian American campus social movements, Asian American hip-hop, and Asian American beauty pageants. Students will be encouraged to be highly critical of all materials and will be required to explore the margins and the intersections of our topics.
ASAM 160. Asian American Women’s Experiences.
N. Park, HM121 SCR, MW 2:45-4:00 p.m.
Course explores the histories, experiences, politics, identities, representations and agency of Asian American women from the mid 19th century through the present. We will study various forms of oppression and resistance in light of larger systems of governance. The class discussions will explore how the intersecting discourses on race, gender, sex, class and nation position Asian American women within Asian American communities and a transnational context. Asian American women's experiences will be examined through oral histories, media representations and cultural productions of, by and about Asian American women.
ASAM 179A. Asian American Communities.
C. Oh, TG203 HMC, T 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Examination of past and present issues for Asian American Communities in the U.S. Class will further demystify the ‘Model Minority Myth’ when looking at 2nd generation Asian Americans, their identity, and how a “success-driven” mentality within their communities pervades hidden issues on: 1) racism/ discrimination by other groups; 2) mental/ emotional stress issues in assimilating into American society; 3) generational conflict between parents; and 4) intra- and inter-ethnic conflict between groups. Class will provide implications on leadership and mobilization for the next generation of Asian Americans.
ASAM 179B. Asian Americans and the Law.
B. Yang, LINC1121 PO, R 7:00-9:50 p.m.
Analyze the intersection of Asian American history to American Jurisprudence, especially Constitutional and Immigration law. In many regrettable instances, our legal system has been used to oppress Asians and Asian Pacific Americans. However, Asian Americans have used the courts to fight back for equality and justice, contributing immensely to the formation of Civil Rights in the United States. The class will attempt to tie in current events and contemporary issues to past legal struggles and victories. We will use actual court cases in the same manner that a law school course might to examine issues such as Immigration, Property Rights, Employment, Education, Hate-crimes, Racial Profiling, among others.
ASAM 187. Art, Activism, and the Asian American Social Movement.
N. Park, HM103 SCR, M 7:00-9:50 p.m.
Course addresses the lack of recognition given to the role of the arts in the Asian American movement. It will primarily focus on the role that the arts have played in social justice and awareness work situated in the context of the Asian American movement. It will look at how art, whether in music, fine arts, street art, poetry, etc. has transformed as a part of social justice and awareness work and responded to changing times. This course will encourage students to support local Asian American art events with their participation and attendance as well as their boundless creativity. Individual and class projects will include the production of creative works, publications or workshops and conferences. In addition, students will collaborate to create the next year’s ASAM 197 course topic and syllabus.
ASAM 191SC/191PO. Asian American Studies Senior Thesis.
Students will work with one or more faculty on original thesis research toward completion of senior thesis.
HIST172. Empire and Sexuality.
C. Johnson, BH207 PZ, MW 2:45-4:00 p.m.
The construction of gender and sexuality was central to British and French imperialism. This course examines the formation of genders in colonial Asia and Africa from the 18th through the early 20th-centuries. We will look at men and women, colonizers and colonized and hetero- and homosexualities in order to understand the connections between gender, sexuality, race and power. Themes will include gendered discourses that defined political authority and powerlessness; the roles that women’s bodies played in conceptualizing domesticity and desire; and evolving imperial attitudes toward miscegenation, citizenship and rights.
JPNT178. Japanese and Japanese American Autobiography.
L. Miyake, MA3 PO, TR 2:45–4:00 p.m.
The tradition of the native Japanese literary diary (nikki bungaku), modern Japanese autobiography and autobiographical writings, and Japanese American diary/autobiography, emphasizing works by women. Readings in literary criticism on autobiography in general and women's autobiography in particular.
MS 100AA. Asian Americans in Media: A Historical Survey.
M. Ma, BH210 PZ, W 7:00-9:50 p.m.
This is a historical survey of Asian American involvement in media production, beginning with the Silent Film Era and ending with contemporary projects in film, video, and new media. In this course, we will focus on the shifting yet continuous participation of Asians in the production of media in North America, and look at how changing political, social, and cultural discourses have shaped media representations of Asians throughout this period. Prerequisites: any intro-level Media Studies or Asian American Studies course.
PSYC 153AA. Asian American Psychology.
S. Goto, LINC1125 PO, TR 1:15-2:30 p.m.
Introduces students to the salient psychological issues of Asian Americans. Taking into account the social, cultural, and historical context of the Asian American experience, this course addresses values and cultural conflict development, acculturation, marriage and gender roles, vocational development, psychopathology, and delivery of mental health services.
THEA115N. Staging Our Stories: Contemporary Asian American Drama.
J. Lu, TE100 PO, TR 2:45-4:00 p.m.
This course examines several post-1960 dramatic and performance works created by Asian American artists, such as, Phillip Kan Gotanda, David Henry Hwang, Julia Cho, Ralph Peña, and Lan Tran, taking into account the historical and cultural contexts in which these productions emerged. We will look at how these different artists attempt to represent themselves and their experiences with dignity, how they preserve old traditions and create new ones, and at how these practices reflect different aspects of the relationships between the United States and various Asian countries, and between different ethnic groups in the U.S. This course includes a field trip, a written review of your experience, as well as a self-written monologue, and a final paper or dramatic performance.