History 346:Introduction to Asian American History
Winter 2002Professor J. Wu
Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:30-3:18Office:261 Dulles
Smith 3082/Ohio Union 436Phone:292-9331
Office Hours:Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30-4:30Email:wu.287@osu.edu
Course Description and Objective:
This course introduces the field of Asian American history, which focuses on the experiences of people of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, South Asian, Pilipino, and Southeast Asian ancestry in the United States.Lectures, readings, films, and discussions will examine the continuities as well as changes in Asian American experience through three chronological periods:the first wave of immigration (mid-19th to 1934), the years of exclusion and international conflict (the middle decades of the 20th century), and the second wave of immigration (post-1965).The course will explore two overarching themes:1)how the experiences of Asian Americans complicate the existing understanding of American race, class, gender, and international relations; and 2)the similarities as well as differences between various Asian American groups, i.e. the historical validity of a pan-Asian American identity.
Course materials represent a variety of disciplines (Anthropology, Sociology, Education, Literature as well as History) and sources (oral history, newspaper articles, film) that contribute to the field of Asian American History.I encourage you to engage each assignment critically.What does the source tell us about the experiences of Asian Americans?What is the purpose of the author or filmmaker in creating this work?What types of evidence are used to support an argument or perspective?You will be asked to share your insights through discussions, presentations, essays, and exams.In other words, this course encourages you to develop critical reading, thinking, and writing skills.

The course syllabus, lecture outlines, and reading questions are available on-line at the following website: http://www.history.ohio-state.edu/people/wu.287/courses.html.Be sure to look for the winter 2002 version of History 346.

Enrollment

All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the second full week of the quarter.No requests to add the course will be approved by the department chair after that time.Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of each student.
Course Materials:
Ronald Takaki, Strangers from a Different Shore:A History of Asian Americans (1989).
Mary Paik Lee, Quiet Odyssey:A Pioneer Korean Woman in America (1990).
Karen Isaksen Leonard, Making Ethnic Choices:California's Punjabi Mexican Americans (1992).
Gary Y. Okihiro, Storied Lives:Japanese American Students and World War II (1999).
Yen Le Espiritu, Asian American Panethnicity:Bridging Institutions and Identities (1992).
Optional:

Alice Yang Muray, What Did the Internment of Japanese American Mean? (2000)

The books are available for sale at SBX.They also are on reserve at the Main Library.

In addition to the books, a course packet will be available through COP-EZ at the Tuttle Park Garage.

Assignments:

All work presented in class or turned in must be a student's own.Plagiarism or any other form of academic misconduct will be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the University's Committee on Academic Misconduct and will seriously affect a student's grade.

If you have a learning disability requiring special arrangements for completing assignments, please let me know as soon as possible.

1)Discussion participation (30%).You are invited to share your opinions regarding the readings, films, and lectures through presentations and discussions.The frequency, quality, and enthusiasm of your participation will determine your grade.If you are unable to attend a class, be sure to inform me beforehand.You may not be able to pass this course if you have too many absences.

2)Midterm that covers materials through February 19 (30%).

3)Exhibit and essay on Asian Americans in Ohio/Midwest (40%).Design an exhibit and write an accompanying 5-8 page essay that examines the history of Asian Americans in Ohio or the Midwest.Select a particular topic, person, ethnic group, or organization that you want to research.Collect written and visual documents about your subject.If possible, interview the subject(s) to gain insight into their experiences and perspectives.Make sure to inform the interviewees about the purpose of the interviews and what you plan to do with the materials.Create an exhibit that presents your findings in an educational, analytical, and entertaining fashion.Your display is due on March 12th, and we will install it in the Multicultural Center on the 4th floor of the Ohio Union.You will be asked to give a short presentation about your exhibit on the 12th and 14th, and we will end the course with a reception.You are welcome to invite friends and family to attend the presentations.In addition to creating an exhibit, you will write a 5-8 page essay that discusses the significance of your subject and contextualizes that person, group, or organization's experiences in the broader history of Asian Americans.The essay will be due on March 19th at 1:30. At that time, we will dismantle the exhibits.

Class Schedule:

8 January Introduction to Course lecture outline

View:My America, or Honk if you love Buddha, Part I

Part IFirst-Wave Immigration and Second-Generation Asian Americans

10 JanuaryImmigration Under Capitalism lecture outline

Takaki, pp. 3-75 - reading questions

15 JanuaryChinese American Immigration and Exclusion lecture outline

Takaki, pp. 77-131 - reading questions

17 JanuaryPlantation Hawaii lecture outline

View:Act of War

Takaki, pp. 132-176

22 JanuaryEthnic Enclaves lecture outline

Takaki, pp. 179-229 - reading questions

24 JanuaryThe Second Generation lecture outline

Takaki, pp. 230-269

View:Forbidden City

29 JanuaryKorean American Life, Labor, and Politics lecture outline

Lee, entire book - reading questions

Analyzing Oral Histories

31 JanuaryLibrary/Research Workshop.Meet at the Main Library, room 122.

5 FebruarySouth Asian American Family and Community Formation - lecture

View:Roots in the Sand

Karen Leonard, pp. ix-120. reading questions

7 FebruaryMulti-Racial Identity

Leonard, pp. 123-219

12 FebruaryPilipino American Labor and Love - guest lecturer Roland Coloma - lecture outline

View:Filipino Americans:  Discovering Their Past for the Future

Takaki, pp. 315-354 - reading questions



Part II International and Domestic Politics

14 FebruaryNationalism, Race, and World War II - lecture outline

View:Slaying the Dragon

Takaki, pp. 355-405

19 FebruaryDay of Remembrance - lecture outline

View:Days of Waiting

Gary Y. Okihiro, Storied Lives - reading questions

21 FebruaryMidterm

Part IIIPost-War Immigration

26 FebruaryCold War Asian America and the Second Wave

View:My America, Part II

Takaki, pp. 406-492. - reading questions

"Success Story of One Minority Group in U.S.," reprinted from U.S. News & World Report, 26 December 1966, in Roots, pp. 6-9.

Optional:

Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, "'Loveliest Daughter of our Ancient Cathay!':Representations of Ethnic and Gender Identity in the Miss Chinatown U.S. A. Beauty Pageant,"

28 FebruaryThe Asian American Movement

Espiritu, Asian American Panethnicity, pp. ix-52. - reading questions

View:Kelly Loves Tony

5 MarchCriticisms of Pan-Ethnicity

Espiritu, pp. 53-133

View:Who Killed Vincent Chin? (begin)

7 MarchAnti-Asian Violence

Espiritu, Asian American Panethnicity, pp. 134-176.

View:Who Killed Vincent Chin? (conclude)

12 MarchAsian Americans in the Midwest

Everyone's exhibits are due - installation

Papers and presentations for Graduating Seniors

14 MarchPresentations and reception

19 MarchFinal papers due at 1:30 p.m.

Dismantle exhibits

Back to Courses Page