ASAM 112 PZ -Asian American Literature: Racial Form, Aesthetics, and Politics

Institution: Pitzer

Description: Description: By exploring the tensions between formal (aesthetic) and materialist approaches to Asian American literature, this course will examine the concept of Asian American “racial form” coined by literary scholar Colleen Lye. We will ask the following questions: What is the relationship between aesthetics and politics, and between Asian American literature and American literature at large? What is the role of literary experimentation in Asian American literary history? What does literary form have to do with constructions of identity and relations of power? What makes a text “Asian American literature,” and what are the ideal formal contours and thematic characteristics of Asian American literature? We will read literary texts alongside criticism and theory as well as attend to the publication history and reception of each literary text. Lectures will provide historical and social context, but a more substantial portion of class time will be spent in discussion of the texts assigned for each class session.

Prerequisite(s): Please check course schedule for requirements.

For up-to-date information on current course offerings and details, please refer to the Pitzer class schedule on MyCampus2 Portal.