Asian and Asian American Studies
Answer each of the following on Asian and Asian American Studies: Each question is worth 20 points.
1. Throughout course we have addressed the overarching questions of American “people-ness & equality” in relation to Asian immigrants and Asian Americans. Discuss the ways in which the various discursive narratives (e.g. Sojourner vs. Settler; yellow peril; forever foreign; invisibility; & model minority myth/image) about Asian Americans in the national/regional discourse over time have impacted the lives and the livelihoods of Asian migrants to the U.S. and their inclusion or exclusion as the “people.”[Hint: For this question you might want to define discourse and illustrate using textual references the narratives & additional course concepts (e.g. structural racism) upon which you will focus in making your argument. In addition to Zia you might look at Chan, Park, Roger Daniels, Pyong Gap Min, Stacey Lee, Claire Kim, Jun Xu and JZ Park, et. al]
2. Each of the class presentations in some way explores the notions & concepts of “ethnic identity” and “ethnic
community.” Framing your discussion in the course definition & discussion (rest, re-creation & resistance) of ethnicity and ethnic/cultural community critically analyze the ways in which these presentations illustrate the “building of ethnic community” and address the concepts of agency & cultural tool kits as they relate to the development of ethnic community and ethnic identity. [Hint: This is not an opinion editorial. You must make a declarative statement(s) that addresses the statement, e.g. agree with or disagree with, and then use the course resources (e.g., Park, Zia, Lee, Min, Xu, Asian American Psychology, class lecture and class presentation notes) to support your statement/argument. Also be sure to provide definitions for course concepts.] For full credit you must reference at least four presentations.
3. Earlier in the semester we explored the vital role played by immigrant women in the development of ethnic
communities among Asian immigrants to the U.S. In describing the development of both Asian American identity and community (these two terms as defined by concepts used in this course) Helen Zia also alludes to the centrality of women in APIA history and community. Building on Zia and using the course lectures and readings (e.g. Suchen
Chan’s Immigration and Livelihood; Takaki’s Strangers From a Different Shore: “Raising Cane” Chapter 4 & 6;
Kikumura’s Through Harsh Winters; Suchen Chan’s “Quiet Odyssey”) write a historical essay describing the role of
women in the shaping of Asian American communities. [Hint: This is not an opinion editorial. You must make a declarative statement(s) that answers the question as your thesis and then use the course resources to support your
answer.]
4. Critical race, gender, class, ethnicity and culture have been at the core of the analyses in this course. Using policy
(e.g. various immigration legislation and court decisions), historical & contemporary events (e.g. World War II
Japanese Incarceration Camps, Vincent Chin, 1992 LA Rebellion/Riots & 911, Yellow Face in Hollywood) and
“stories” (e.g. historical memoir and biography – Kikumura, Mary Paik Lee, metaphors from Short Girls and Southland) discuss the intersections of these class concepts in the development/evolution of Asian Pacific American
communities, identities and relationship within (i.e. intra-ethnic and among various communities (i.e. pan-Asian
American, other communities of color and the dominant mainstream community). [Hint: For full credit you will need to define the various concepts and the ways in which these concepts work in interpreting the various policies, events and illustrations. Key in this essay is a strong thesis statement and use of textual references from course materials to support and illustrate your argument. ]
5. You were asked to identify a particularly meaningful passage in the novels Short Girls by Bich Minh Nguyen and
Southland by Nina Revoyr. In most cases the passages chosen by you and your classmates represented a personal
connection from your life story and that of the novel’s characters. For this essay, I want you to move beyond personal
connection to a discussion of how the passage you chose illustrates the dilemmas (e.g. cultural conflict & identity, model minority, gender relations, sparse and one dimensional representations in media/film/TV, etc.) faced by contemporary Asian Americans using additional course materials (readings, lectures, presentations, and discussion) to support you argument. [Hint: Be sure to make a strong thesis statement and use specific illustrations and textual references from the course to demonstrate the various connections you wish to make in support of your discussion.]
Answer preview for Asian and Asian American Studies
Access the full answer containing 4820 words by clicking the below purchase button