WGSS 66.40 Introduction to Asian American Studies

An estimated 22 million Americans are of Asian descent; a figure expected to grow at the fastest rate of any racial group. And yet how have Asian Americans come to be racially defined when consisting of such a diverse range of ethnicities, geographies, histories, and socioeconomic statuses? This interdisciplinary course explores the varied histories, cultures, and politics of Asian American subjects through anti-imperial and structural critique. We will study Asian American cultural politics and studies thematically by exploring and contextualizing a wide range of racial tropes central to the social construction of Asian American identity in order to debunk, deconstruct, and disavow them. The class will introduce students to a range of approaches to and engagements with the study of racial formation and social difference, including historical and cultural primary sources that consist of artworks, news items, films, poetry, and other media that contribute to Asian American racial discourse.

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies