Introduction to Asian American Literature

This course is intended to familiarize students with key issues that have shaped the study of Asian American writings and to provide a sense of the historical conditions out of which those works have emerged. As a literature course, it will focus on textual analysis--on how particular texts give representational shape to the social, historical and psychological experiences they depict. Readings consist primarily of works that have a canonical status within Asian American literary studies but also include newer works that suggest new directions in the field. It also strives to provide some coverage of the major ethnic groups.