ENGL 738 (01) - Asian American Studies

Asian American Studies

Durham   Liberal Arts :: English
Credits: 4.0
Term: Spring 2023 - Full Term (01/24/2023 - 05/08/2023)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
Class Size:   20  
CRN: 56230
Are you captivated by the stories, histories and experiences of Asian Americans? Do you want to learn about their cultures, struggles, and accomplishments? This course examines the variety and complexity of Asian Americans through literature, poetry, film, essays, photography, music, and web-based presences. Specific course topics, as arranged by the instructor, include the Japanese American internment, the literature of popular culture of the Vietnam War, Asian American graphic narratives, transnational adoption, and food and culture. Prereq: ENGL 401.
Registration Approval Required. Contact Instructor or Academic Department for permission then register through Webcat.
Equivalent(s): AMST 615
Classes not allowed in section: Freshman
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
Instructors: Monica Chiu

Times & Locations

Start Date End Date Days Time Location
1/24/2023 5/8/2023 MW 11:10am - 12:30pm HS 108
Additional Course Details: 

Spring 2023 Special Topic: Asian American Studies in Prose and Pictures

“I’m not a virus” resonated among Asian North Americans during the height of anti-Asian violence, instigated by the Covid-19 pandemic. With allies, they railed against a resurgence of the repellant notion of a Yellow Peril. They called for better understanding and new representations of Asian North Americans. What do you want to learn about the histories, cultures, and stories of Asian North Americans? This course will use both very contemporary written works (novels, short stories, poetry) and the medium of graphic narrative to widen our understanding of who Asian North Americans are as expressed in their own words and self-images. Possible course texts include the following pairings: Cao’s novel Monkey Bridge with GB Tran’s graphic narrative Vietnamerica; Ng’s novel Everything I Never Told You with Chong and Webber’s graphic pathography Dancing After TEN; Otsuka’s novel When the Emperor Was Divine with Tamaki’s collection of graphic narrative vignettes Boundless, among other titles.

In Spring 2023 this course satisfies the Race Requirement for English Department majors. 

In Spring 2023 this course satisfies a DH (Digital Humanities) requirement for ENGL: TBD majors.

In Spring 2023 this course satisfies a Post-1800 Literature requirement for English Department majors. 

ENGL 738 may be taken for Capstone credit by general English majors if not used to satisfy other major requirement areas. Pick up a Capstone Declaration Form in the main English office (HS 230F) if interested.