Texts

Nam Le

1) Story about Fathers and sons 2) Story about writers block; ethnic literature rids him of writers block. Style: Realistic Meta-fiction (Postmodernist); author is aware Should he write about the particular or the universal? Le makes the ethnic universal: Ethnic story (which meets the trinity of art: is good, will sell, and is important) is burned, giving Le freedom to write other things, not fully shaped by his heritage Questions whether minority writers have to write about race/ethnicity (like Tomine). Battles against ASAM stereotypes through emotions that humanize characters, not everyday topics (Tomine)

Apu

how do we understand the most popular Asian american character on television for the past three decades? 4 Perspectives 1)The portrayal is necessary to stand out to the public and be popular (see: Charlie Chan) 2)Apu will always be different; not necessarily better or worse, but different (see: Thind v US) 3) The accent is a marker of difference 4) Shows the limits of the model minority; does many American things but still isn't "American"

The Best We Could Do

Beginning: Sets parameters of what we should pay attention to -feminist power of childbirth, birth as a beginning -baby is late: pay attention to time (goes back in time for chapter 2). The present has no meaning without the past. Stories of her parents allow her to understand herself TBWCD is a story from the point of view of the child of refugees. -In humanizing the family, Bui questions the 'gook' -Bui creates round Vietnamese characters, contrasting flat characters of (macro, American soldier's perspective) US pop culture. Makes the particular universal Why TBWCD now? 1) Vietnam is an integral part of US history 2)primer on Vietnamese immigration, through one family's perspective 3)humanizes current migration

Y Men / Blue Scorpion+Chung

Y-Men: Traditionally Asian images are replaces with stronger images Blue Scorpion: Chung, the source of power, must sacrifice for the greater good Both examples construct ASAM identity through powerful cultural examples; ASAM as a source of power. Race is important for the narrative

Woods

Golf is a metaphor: man's ability to tame nature; etiquette; exclusivity 'The Bottom Line is I'm American'. Tiger was promoted before he ever found success: Ad #1 'Hello World': places woods in a Black Progress Narrative Ad#2 'I am Tiger Woods': multiculturalism (colorblind) narrative Contrast w/ Veejay Singh: only wants to talk about golf, even though he has a rags-to-riches past. Vijay also didn't fit into the (black) US racial narrative; ASAM Athletes don't fit into the American Story well Serial Infidelity led to him being read as more black than before (black threat -- no longer Robinson narrative) Jennifer Ho: We should think of him as a multicultural narrative (ie race is a social construct); instead, he was cast as the black savior to save out racial wounds. Woods' lack of discussion as Asian shows the lack of possibility of ASAM in sport. Asians are prominent in golf but not 'minorities'

Spelling

Spellbound movie shows spelling bees as a meritocracy; race and class can be overcome. Two finalists (of 8 that are a melting pot) are Nupur (Indian) and April (Working Class) Counter-narrative: time is takes to memorize words isn't egalitarian; word choice is random. Still, there's a difference between a meritocracy and a level playing field. Dhingra: Bee's offer 'liminal space' of typical sports without hyper-masculinity; competition separate from traditional sports Two Narratives 1)American Geeks (values hard work) 2)Foreign Freaks (race is still a limiting factor)

Linsanity

Wang: provides ASAM opportunity to rethink horizons of what is possible for ASAM in US. It isn't about Lin; its about us Ways to Consider: 1)Underdog: he was underrated and ignored 2) Model Minority: ideal ASAM; Harvard educated and hard working 3)Triangle Offense: team player; pass-first narrative -reality is he shot a good amount -seemingly contradictory to #1 4)NYC: center of media 5)Humble everyman: during 2012 recession (see #1) 6)God loving 7)ASAM Fandom: reflection of best possible Asian, as well as Asian masculinity 8)Negative Race Narrative: emasculated, given special attention b/c he's Asian

Tomine

makes human characters, work that is more mundane and grim: realistic fiction. Tomine humanizes his characters, moving past the 6 faces of the oriental. Combines themes with realistic style Post-modernist collapsing of high (content) and low (medium) Race is not the central motor; protagonist is marginalized in another way (impediment). Engages with race (saying narratives can be told without it) by engaging with race. Theme: sadness and the limits of men (turns trauma into art); Ending is an epiphany of the father and daughter