It is extremely difficult and totally confusing to feel American and to look like the enemy, to think myself at home and be asked where I come from, to be a professor of English and complimented on my good English. - Amy Ling

 I don't bother to tell people I'm Japanese-American anymore, because that's not what they want to know. I just say I'm Japanese. Not pridefully or anything, just a statement of fact…. People don't say of Saul Bellow or Philip Roth, I'm going to read this Jewish writer. I… want to be generally accepted. But it's the general public that decides. Some will read my work because they consider it a valid part of American literature or some will read it because it's about a specific ethnic background. – Hisaye Yamamoto

"What is Asian American? Am I Asian American or am I am American? All through school they taught us to learn western history...don't speak Chinese...You're in America now boy. I always thought as...an Asian American I really had to write my own manual as to how to live in this country."  - Victor Wong 

In this class, using film as a teaching tool, we will explore and understand the role of media in influencing ideas of race and identity in the United States . The cinematic lens will particularly focus on Asian America to

• identify perceptions towards Asian Americans
• recognize the ramifications of such perceptions on Asians and Asian Americans
• see how the history of U.S.-Asia relations has to some extent shaped the course of events in the Asian American experience

The basis of choosing to look at Asian American is not only to narrow the lens but to also look at a minority group that has largely remained visible only through work and almost invisible as people.

The purpose of the class is two-fold – to first critically examine the importance of film and then to be involved in the actual production of one. Starting as the audience, students will progress towards becoming film critics and finally shift places to the other side of the lens. To extend theory to practice is the objective of education, so with camera in hand and armed with an understanding of the role that media plays in creating and perpetuating stereotypical images of various social subgroups in American society, students will create their own short films on identity. In the process of creation, students will not only learn a new skill but will also learn to tell a story the best way it’s possible.

Required Text

Jun Xing. Asian America Through the Lens: History, Representations, and Identity

Course Policies & Expectations

 Attendance 10

Group Presentation 10

Response Papers 20

CESJ Lecture 5

Major Paper 1 15

Video Project 40

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100 marks

WE WILL

• have intensive discussions. These classes will be primarily discussion oriented; therefore, class attendance and participation are essential parts of this course. You are allowed 2 unexplained absences. The 3rd absence will result in a grade reduction. With the 4th absence, you will be dropped from class. If you are late constantly, I will mark tardy on the attendance sheet. Every third late class, you will be marked absent.
• read all work assigned. Every class, you should be familiar with the assigned readings, and be prepared to ask questions about the text and to enter into dialogue with other class members regarding the ideas under examination.
• be prepared to share your thoughts in class.
• attend one CSEJ event.
• maintain a folder. Write your name & course number on the folder. Always submit your assignments in the folder.
• submit work on time. In case of an emergency, if you are unable to complete your assignment, you must e-mail me in advance and let me know the date of submission. Do not make a habit of submitting late assignments.
• type and double-space all written work. Students are encouraged to use both sides of the paper. Do not use very large or very small fonts. It is important that students not only write well stylistically and technically (spelling, punctuation, editing, grammar), but also with a clear and organized point of view and careful analytical skills.
• submit only original work. All sources used must be documented. Plagiarism (handing in work - in part or whole - that is not your own) will result in an F for the paper. No rewrites will be allowed.
• use the MLA style for documentation both within the text & in the bibliography. (http://www.thewritesource.com/).
• always ask questions & clear doubts.

Schedule

January

Tues 11 - Class - Introduction

Thurs 13 - Class – Read: Preface & Introduction

Tues 18 - Class – Read Chapter: A Cinema in the Making

Thurs 20 - Class - Film

Tues 25 - Lab

Thurs 27 - Lab

February

Tues 1 - Lab

Response Paper 1 Due

Thurs 3 - Lab

Tues 8 - Class - Read Chapter: Cinematic Asian representation

Thurs 10 - Class - Film

Tues 15 - Class - Read Chapter: Documentaries as Social History

Thurs 17 - Class - Film

Tues 22 - Lab

Response Paper 2 Due

Thurs 24 - Lab

March

Tues 1 - Lab

Thurs 3 - Lab

Tues 8 - Class – Group Presentation

Thurs 10 - Class – Group Presentation

Tues 15 - Thurs 17 - Spring Vacation

Tues 22 - Class - Read Chapter: The Family Dramas

Thurs 24 - Class - Film

Tues 29 - Class - Read Chapter: Hybrid Cinema by Asian American Women

Thurs 31 - Class - Film

April

Tues 5 - Lab

Response Paper 3 Due

Thurs 7 - La b

Tues 12 - Lab - Video Presentation

Thurs 14 - Lab - Video Presentation

Tues 19 - Class - Read Chapter: Marginal Cinema and White Criticism

Thurs 21 - Class - Film

Tues 26 - Class - Read – Conclusion

Response Paper 4 Due

Thurs 28 - Class

May

Tues 3 - Major Paper 1 Due

  the endnote: i reserve the right to makechanges in the course schedule. if you have any questions/doubts, i am an e-mail away!

have a wonderful semester!

- p

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My notion of democracy is that under it the weakest should have the same opportunity as the strongest.

- M. K. Gandhi

Working to make a difference...
Association for India 's Development (AID)
www.aidindia.org