American Culture 353/History 353
Asians in American Film and Television
Some students do everything in their power to avoid taking history classes. But I think, given the chance, I can show many of them that history is far more exciting than they realize. With this crowd in mind, I created this course, “Asians in American Film and Television.” I have no special training in media studies, so this eventually becomes a somewhat traditional history class focused on cultural imagery. About halfway through the course, many of the students realize that this is the stealth version of my Asian American history survey, using film and media representations to discuss the critical issues I tackle in that other class, such as race, gender, and transnational politics. Fortunately, most of them have bought into the course by that point.
Course Description
This course will examine how film and television have both reflected and shaped Asian culture and identity in American history. We will watch both feature films and documentaries produced by Asian Americans and non-Asians. These screenings, serving as required course materials, will provide a basis for comparing and contrasting representations of Asians from varying perspectives and across historical periods. Complementary readings will help place our studies into historical context and provide deeper bases for critical analysis of film and video content. Lectures and discussion sections are designed to help further integrate the different elements of the course.
Topics we will study include: Asian immigration and stereotypical images of early immigrants; white actors playing in “yellowface”; the World War II internment of Japanese Americans; the relationship between Asian Americans and other communities of color; representations of women and masculinity; the Vietnam War and the migration of Southeast Asian refugees; the relationship between the U.S., Asia, and the Pacific; hate crimes and anti-Asian violence; community activism and multi-ethnic coalition-building.
Required Readings
- Helen Zia, Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People (2001)
- Robert G. Lee, Orientals: Asian Americans in Popular Culture (1999)
- Coursepack (* denotes coursepack readings)
Film Screenings
- Required films must be viewed before class discussion. See schedule below.
- Films may be viewed in the Film and Video Library or rented/purchased on your own, if desired.
Course Requirements
IMPORTANT NOTE: To receive a passing grade, you must complete all course requirements satisfactorily.
Attendance/Participation (20%)
Participation is a large component of your overall grade. Regular attendance and participation in class are mandatory. Repeated absences and/or tardies will severely lower your grade. You are expected to have assigned readings and film viewings completed before Tuesday’s class each week. Your ability to engage in an informed and critical discussion of the readings will also weigh heavily upon your grade for participation.
Online Discussion (20%)
All posts will be housed on the class Web site at coursetools.ummu.umi.edu.
By Monday each week, post a one-page response to the weekly question provided by the instructor. By Friday of each week, post a response to any student posting (or thread). These are minimum requirements, but you may write as many posts as you wish. You are encouraged to exercise freedom in expressing your views, but be sure to treat all your classmates with respect.
Midterm (20%)
In-class, short answer and essay test based on readings, screenings, and class discussions.
Final Paper (40%)
Turn-in by e-mail on Sunday, December 19. Write an 8–10 page paper drawing upon what you have learned in the course to analyze a film(s) of your choice. Discuss your paper topic at instructor’s office hours as soon as possible but no later than November 9. Turn in your 1–2 page outline/bibliography no later than November 18. Use a minimum of 8 published sources.
Extra Credit Group Project (up to 10%)
Plan and implement a film screening and discussion for high school students. Proposals must be approved by instructor on or before November 9.
Class Schedule
Week 1
- Sept. 7 Course Introduction
- Sept. 9 Overview of Asian Women in Media, “Slaying the Dragon”
Week 2
- Read by Sept. 14: Zia, introduction and chapter 2; Lee, preface, introduction, and chapter 1
- FILM: Ethnic Notions
- Sept. 14 Discussion: Racial Stereotypes in U.S. History
- Sept. 16 Pre&8211;World War II Asian Immigration
Week 3
- Read by Sept. 21: San Buenaventura, “The Colors of Manifest Destiny”*; Mia Blumentritt, “Bontoc Eulogy, History and the Craft of Memory”*; Lee, chapter 2
- FILM: Bontoc Eulogy
- Sept. 21 Film Discussion
- Sept. 23 U.S. Relations with Asia
Week 4
- Read by Sept. 23: Lee, chapters 3–4; Dower, “Patterns of a Race War”*
- FILM: Toll of the Sea
- Sept. 28 Film Discussion
- Sept. 30 World War II
Week 5
- Read by Sept. 30: Lee, chapter 5; Williams, “Marriage Between Japanese Women and US Servicemen”*
- FILM: Sayonara
- Oct. 5 Film Discussion
- Oct. 7 Japanese American Internment
Week 6
- Read by Oct. 12: TBA
- FILM: Snow Falling on Cedars
- Oct. 12 Film Discussion
- Oct. 14 MIDTERM
Week 7
- Read by Oct. 21: Zia, chapter 1; Yuri Kochyama, “A Quick Reflection”*; Omatsu “The Birth of Asian American Studies and the Asian American Movement”*
- FILM: None
- Oct. 19 No Class, Fall Break
- Oct. 21 The Asian American Movement and Independent Film
Week 8
- Read by Oct. 21: Omatsu, “Fists of Legend and Fury”*; Tajima, “Moving the Image”*; Prashad, “Kung Fusion”*; Lee chapter 6
- FILM: The Chinese Connection
- Oct. 26 Film Discussion
- Oct. 28 Vietnam War
Week 9
- Read by Oct. 28: Zia, chapters 3 and 6; Wu, “Teaching Who Killed Vincent Chin”*; Tajima-Pena, “Fast Forward to History”*
- FILM: Rambo: First Blood 2
- Nov. 2 Film Discussion
- Nov. 4 Anti-Asian Violence, “Who Killed Vincent Chin?”
Week 10
- Read by Nov. 9: Zia chapters 4 and 7; Lee, chapter 7
- FILM: Rising Sun
- DEADLINE TO DISCUSS FINAL PAPER TOPIC WITH INSTRUCTOR
- Nov. 9 Film Discussion
- Nov. 11 The 1992 L.A. Uprising and the So-Called “Black-Korean Conflict”
Week 11
- Read by Nov. 16: Zia, chapter 9; Fung, “Center the Margins”*; Marchetti, “The Wedding Banquet”*
- FILM: Falling Down
- DEADLINE TO TURN IN FINAL PAPER OUTLINE/BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Nov. 16 Film Discussion
- Nov. 18 Race, Gender, and Sexuality
Week 12
- Read by Nov. 23: TBA
- FILM: The Wedding Banquet
- Nov. 23 TBA
- Nov. 25 No Class, Thanksgiving
Week 13
- Read by Nov. 30: Zia, chapters 5, 8, 10
- FILM: Bend It like Beckham
- Nov. 30 Film Discussion
- Dec. 2 Comedy and Stereotypes
Week 14
- Read by Dec. 7: Zia, chapter 10; Lee, chapter 8
- FILM: Margaret Cho: I’m the One That I Want
- Dec. 7 Film Discussion
- Dec. 9 New Identities
Week 15
- Read by Dec. 14: Zia, chapter 11–12
- FILM: Shopping for Fangs
- Dec. 14 Film Discussion
- FINAL PROJECT: DUE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19