Ethnic Studies 14: Introduction to Asian American Studies
California State University, Sacramento
Fall 2015
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Instructor
James Fabionar, Ph.D. Office: Amador Hall 562C Email: [email protected] Office Hours: W 11:00 - 12:00 or by appointment Course Meetings Sections: 80, 81, 90, 91 Times: MW 1:30 - 2:45 Locations: Mon - Riverside Hall 1015; Wed - ARC 1010 |
Teaching Assistants
Sherrie Calibo (Reader for Sections 80, 90) Email [email protected] Office Hours: W 3:00 - 4:00 or by appt. Location: FCP Office Peter Han (Reader for Sections 81, 91) Email: [email protected] Office Hours: M 10:00 - 11:30 or by appt. Location: FCP Office |
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Course DescriptionIn the 1960s and 70s, the fields of Ethnic Studies and Asian American Studies emerged as pragmatic academic and political efforts to serve communities on the margins of American society. The two areas of studies evolved as extensions of radical social and intellectual movements that challenged mechanisms of subjugation of “third world people,” or those who endure the legacies of slavery, colonization, displacement, exclusion and other forms of inhumane treatment. Work in the field has historically provided academics and community members scholarship with which to resist, empower, and problem solve through collective action.
This introductory course in Asian American Studies builds from these forces to provide foundational knowledge of the field. It is organized into three parts. Part One introduces students to the social and intellectual movements that led to the creation of Ethnic Studies and Asian American Studies. The course explores what Asian American Studies is, how it came about, what kinds of questions its scholars ask, what theoretical traditions and methodological approaches are used to produce knowledge, and what types of intellectual projects define the field today. Part Two analyzes the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience from an historical perspective. This section focuses largely on works by social historians and those who take a historical materialism perspective to critique mainstream narratives of racialized subjects. Part Three focuses on the location of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the politics of race and ethnicity in the United States by exploring three “sites” of political conversation: media representations, education, and immigration. Beyond the intellectual work of the course, the goal of Asian American Studies is to provide students with a deeper understanding and appreciation of themselves, their families, their communities, and society. This course is organized to complement the topics and activities of the Full Circle Project, in particular the reflective work in ETHN 21: The First Year Experience. ObjectivesBy the end of this course, students will be able to
MaterialsThere are three required texts for this class. They are all available to purchase or rent at the CSUS bookstore. All other materials can be found on this website.
Fadiman, A. (1997). The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. New York. ISBN: 9780374533403 Bulosan, C. (2014). America is in the Heart. University of Washington Press. WA. ISBN: 9780295993539 Huang, E. (2013). Fresh Off the Boat. Spiegel and Grau. New York ISBN: 9780679644897 Requirements
Learning Environment ExpectationsIt is important that we all contribute to the creation of an optimal learning environment. I ask that you be physically present, mentally engaged, and socially and emotionally aware of what is unfolding in our classroom. Specifically, I expect you to be on time, to have read the assigned readings and completed assignments by the due date, and to be prepared to thoughtfully and respectfully participate in class activities. I do not accept late work. Cheating is not tolerated. I do not offer extra credit.
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