Juxtapose two of the readings from weeks 1 through 4: This is a writing assignment based on your reading skill, in which you put into conversation two of the critical essays that we have read for class. You are being asked to demonstrate your understanding of the readings, as well as your ability to situate them vis-à-vis one another. That is, to facilitate a meta- discourse — simply put, a setting — surrounding both of the readings you choose.
For example, you could focus on the topic of the politics of representing race, bringing together a chapter in Ono/Pham with John Tchen’s essay, or you could consider the question of national identity projected upon the bodies on screen as written about by Gina Marchetti and Anne Cheng; you would comment upon not only their arguments and examples, but also their methodological approaches. Another possibility could be to discuss the trajectory of Asian American cinema and the concept of “Asian American identity” as both Renee Tajima- Peña and Peter Feng discuss them; you need to articulate how they handle or theorize the topic of Asian American film and video practice. If you want to pursue a paper about strategic approaches in film and media making, there are several potentially good pairings you could compose. For example, Sandra Liu’s essay which raises (and rejects) the bifurcation between margin and center would be a nice selection to write about in conjunction with any number of other essays.
The choice is yours, but please be aware that the more thoughtful you are in selecting which two readings to bring together, the stronger and more intriguing your critique and assessment could be. Consider them all carefully, then decide.
What is the main thesis of each essay? How does one essay’s thesis relate to that of another? Why do you think a specific argument is particularly effective, or perhaps problematic? What is being articulated about the representation of racial figures, and what is suggested or declared in terms of creating alternative, more empowered/empowering images? In drawing out the major arguments and ideas in the two essays you are examining, offer your own thesis statement regarding your understanding of the essays.
Tip 1: Identify quotations that articulate key points, and which you think are particularly choice as you weave together ideas from two different essays.
Tip 2: Choose readings that you like.
You are free to be creative in your pairing. Be incisive and efficient in your writing; that is, be specific since you must express your points clearly in four pages. If there is an article on the syllabus that sparks your interest that we have not yet read (by Monday, April 29th), you can read ahead, however, please speak with me or Meloddy about your plan in advance.
Grading Policy:
Papers must be typed, double-spaced, with formal one-inch margins, and follow a consistent editorial style (i.e., Chicago). The quotations, ideas, or theories that you refer to must be properly cited.
Papers will be graded on conceptual rigor and fluency of writing style. (Tip 3: Do not turn in a first draft.)
A late paper will be marked down in respect to those papers that are turned in on time; but please don’t be shy about being in communication if you think you will need to request an alternative due date.
165D Readings Week 1 through Week 4 include:
Chapter 1 of Asian Americans and the Media (AAM)
Chapter 2, The Persistence of Yellow Peril Discourse (AAM)
Chapter 4, Problematic Representations of Asian American Gender and Sexuality (AAM) John Kuo Wei Tchen, “Modernizing White Patriarchy: Re-Viewing D.W. Griffith’s Broken Blossoms”
Renee Tajima, “Moving the Image: Asian American Independent Filmmaking 1970-1990” Renee Tajima-Peña, “No Mo Po Mo and Other Tales of the Road”
Karen Ishizuka and Robert A. Nakamura, “An Experiment in Community-based Filmmaking”
Michael Chin, “Dear Spence”
Gina Marchetti, “White Knights in Hong Kong”
Peter X. Feng, “Recuperating Suzie Wong: A Fan’s Nancy Kwan-Dary”
Peter X. Feng, “Being Chinese American, Becoming Asian American: Chan Is Missing” Sandra Liu, “Negotiating the meaning of Access: Wayne Wang’s Contingent Film Practice” Janice Sakamoto, “Wayne Wang Speaks”
Anne Cheng, “Beauty and the Ideal Citizenship: Inventing Asian America in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song (1961)”
L.S. Kim, “Unresolvable Roles: Asian American Servants as Perpetual Foreigners”
