| Course | Title | Instructor | Description |
|---|
| ASIANAM 60C | INTRO TO ASIAN AMRICAN STUDIES III | VO, L. | (Same as Soc Sci 78C) This course is the third and last part of the interdisciplinary introductory sequence to Asian American Studies. The focus of this interdisciplinary course will be on multiracial Asian Americans. We will examine racialized relations between Asians and other racial groups to understand how social interactions are shaped by larger political, economic, and cultural forces. We will analyze how anti-miscegenation policies, colonialism, military occupation,war, cultural production, and scientific theories have been instrumental in shaping these relations. Although our focus is on Asian interracial marriages, families, and children, we will also discuss in comparative perspective the experiences of mixed race populations in a global context. Our focus will be on the social, political, cultural, and legal constructions of race and the debates over racial categorization/classification, and its impact on the self-definitions of mixed race and heritage Asian Americans. Enrollment in discussion section is required. There will be a short paper, a midterm, and a final.
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| ASIANAM 101 | PERSPECTIVES ON RACE AND ETHNICITY | LIU, J. | (Same as Soc Sci 177A) This course examines the evolution and development of theoretical perspectives on race and ethnicity in the United States during the twentieth century. This course traces the shift from theories of assimilation to those that emphasize the social construction of racial and ethnic categories. The relevance of
these theoretical approaches to the study of Asian American experiences will be examined. This is a required course for students undertaking a major or in Asian American Studies. |
| ASIANAM 110 | SOUTH ASIAN LITERATURE IN THE DIASPORA | SHROFF, B. | (Same as Eng 105) In this class we analyze the work of writers who are of South Asian ancestry living in North America and Britain. A central concern is how through literary and cinematic representations, spaces of “home” and “belonging” are negotiated through narratives of disjunctures and displacements. How do the literary and cinematic texts represent multiple and contradictorily organized spaces where new identities must be negotiated? How do writers and filmmakers construct and negotiate their identities in their own specific cultural context and also in the larger diasporic context? We analyze
texts such as Meena Alexander’s “Fault Lines”, Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories “The Interpreter of Maladies”, Hanif Kureishi’s screenplay “My Beautiful Laundrette”, and Agha Shahid Ali’s poems “The Half Inch Himalayas”, among others. |
| ASIANAM 110 | ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL THEORY | RADHAKRISHNAN | (Same as Com Lit 103) What is Asian American Cultural theory? What is American about it? What is Asian about it? What is theoretical about it? Is it One or Many? Is it authentic or hybrid? What is the relationship between Culture and History in the context of Asian America? Is Asian America continuous or hyphenated? Is the “Asian” in Asian the same as the “Asian” in Asian American? What is the relationship of Asian America to other Americas? What is the relationship of Asian American Cultural Theory to Postcoloniality, Postmodernism, and Poststructuralism? Our purpose in this course is to explore these questions in the context of the many debates that have constituted the field of Asian American Studies over the past few decades. Here are a few themes that will be central to our analysis and appreciation: Nationalism, Transnationalism, Diaspora, Hybridity, Tradition, Modernity, Sexuality, Gender, Identity Politics, The politics of Representation, Authenticity and the Critique of Authenticity, Race and Ethnicity. We will be reading selectively from the works of theorists such as Stuart Hall, Rey Chow, Trinh Thi Minh Ha, Gayatri Gopinath, Lisa Lowe, David Palumbo-Liu, Sauling Wong, Sunaina Maira, Arjun Appadurai, R. Radhakrishnan, and others. |
| ASIANAM 110 | ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN PLAYWRGHTS | KATRAK, K | (Same as Eng 105) This course explores the theatrical representation of Asian American history by women playwrights. Our study includes both literary analyses of drama-as-text, and the dramaturgical elements that render a written text into a stage performance. Women playwrights Genny Lim, Wakako Yamaguchi, Velina Hasu Houston among others demonstrate the importance of self-representation, and the depiction of Asian American history that is usually marginal on the mainstream stage. We study a variety of dramatic styles from the realistic to the surrealistic and fantastical. We explore how drama reveals ideological currents at different historical times and changing perceptions of race and racialized identities of minority populations in the U.S. Requirements include: in-class writing, oral presentation, short essay and final exam. |
| ASIANAM 112 | ASIAN AMERICAN ARTISTS | WINTHER, D.E. | (Same as Art Hist 163) This course investigates a broad selection of Asian American art from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present. Moving roughly in chronological order, focus will be placed on a series of artists working in a wide range of media and representing diverse Asian American identities. Many of these individuals are/were remarkable for their extraordinary accomplishments, exceptional life stories, and privileged backgrounds. But while spotlighting these exceptional artists' contributions to American culture, their broader social context in Asian American history will also be taken into account. |
| ASIANAM 135 | ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY PUBLIC HEALTH | NGUYEN, T. | (Same as Soc Sci 179/Envir 100) Students in this class will learn about the health status of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), the fastest growing minority group in the United States. We will use a multidisciplinary model to discuss the areas of need in research and challenges in delivery of health care services for AAPIs. Guest speakers from various AAPI health-related organizations and community-based agencies will introduce students to diverse issues and community advocacy in areas of health in AAPI communities. Grading criteria: Students will be graded on tests, written papers, and oral presentations responding to assigned readings and lectures. There will also be opportunities to work on community-based group research projects. Prerequisites: Interest in Asian American public health. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors and graduate students. |
| ASIANAM 142 | MUSLIM IDENTITIES IN NORTH AMRERICA | LEONARD, K.B. | (Same as Anthro 125Z) This course explores multiple identities of Muslims in North America, including African American Muslims and immigrants of many national origins. We explore religious, political, cultural, ethnic, and class differences among American Muslims, turning to Islamic institutions in UC Irvine's immediate vicinity to conduct small research projects in the course of the quarter. |
| ASIANAM 150 | ETHNIC FOOD & ETHNIC IDENTITY | CHEN, Y. | (Same as Hist 190) The course explores the significance of food for understanding social and cultural changes. It will be focused primarily on American history and society since the early 20th century but will take a global comparative perspective at the same time. Topics will include how to apply different perspectives in our effort to appreciate the most basic part of our life, food; the relationship between the nation and national cuisine; representations of food as a window through which to understand society; nutrition; myths and science about food, and development of Chinese food in America. Mid-term, final and a short paper. |
| ASIANAM 164 | FILIPINO AMERICAN WOMEN | ROBLES, R. | (Same as WS 155) This course will explore the history and experiences of Filipino women in the United States, focusing on the twentieth century to the present. Topics for this course include immigration, labor, social organizations, family formation, and gender politics, all of which will be critically examined through the lens of the persistent influence of America and American imperialism. Course requirements include two reflection papers, midterm, final, and class participation and attendance. |
| ASIANAM 164 | ASIAN AMERICAN GENDER STUDIES | SHIGEMATSU, S. | (Same as WS 155) This course explores the gendered constitution of Asian American identities and community formations through a sustained critical engagement with Asian American literature, social criticism, visual texts, feminist, gender and queer theory. The course aims to critically analyze how Asian/American masculinities, femininities, feminisms and sexualities are constituted and destabilized, and how the practices of heterosexism and homophobia divide, repress, regulate and produce different Asian American communities. We will also explore the political meaning of cross-ethnic and interracial dating and marriages as part of these vexed and complex configurations. Grading is based on class participation (20%), three short reading response papers (20%), one take-home midterm exam (25%), and a final paper (35%). |
| ASIANAM 164 | QUEER ID, RACE, REPRESENTATION | MIMURA, G. | (Same as WS 155/ Com Lit 105) This course will examine the intersections between queer sexualities and race, and their significance for struggles by sexual and racial-ethnic minorities for historical and cultural representation. Course will draw on literary and filmic texts to examine issues of identity, history, adolescence, and popular culture. Grading will be based on attendance and participation, including pop quizzes (20%); midterm exam (40%); and final exam (40%). The midterm exam will be comprised of in-class short identifications and one take-home essay topic. The final exam will be comprised of two take-home essay topics. |
| ASIANAM 171A | COMPAR INTL MIGRAT | LIU, J. | (Same as Sociol 179) This course will comparatively examine Asian migration to three nations ?Australia, Canada, and the United States. The purpose of this comparison is: 1) to understand the general processes underlying international migration, 2) to examine how specific patterns of international migration are related to the process of globalization, and 3) to delineate how the experiences of Asians can differ widely despite migrating to nations that are culturally similar. To comprehend both commonalities and differences, the analysis will focus on each nation immigration policies, approaches to multiculturalism, economic integration of Asian immigrants, and response to transnational/diasporic sentiments. |