Politicizing Asian American literature : towards a critical multiculturalism / by Youngsuk Chae.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chae, Youngsuk.

Series:

Asian Americans

Studies in Asian Americans

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American literature--Asian American authors--History and criticism.

American literature.

American literature--Asian American authors.

Politics in literature.

Multiculturalism in literature.

Yamashita, Karen Tei, 1951- Tropic of orange.

Yamashita, Karen Tei.

Ozeki, Ruth, 1956- My year of meats.

Ozeki, Ruth.

Emigration and immigration in literature.

Asian Americans--Intellectual life.

Asian Americans.

Identity (Psychology) in literature.

Asian Americans in literature.

Immigrants in literature.

Physical Description:

xii, 169 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Routledge, [2008]

Summary:

This book examines U.S. multiculturalism from the perspective of Asian American writings, drawing contrasts between politically acquiescent multiculturalism and politically conscious multiculturalism. Chae discusses the works of writers who have highlighted a critical awareness of Asian Americans social and economic status and their position as 'unassimilable aliens', 'yellow perils', 'coolies', 'modern-day high tech coolies', or as a 'model minority', which were ideologically woven through the complex interactions of capital and labor in the U.S. cultural and labor history. Chae suggests that more productive means of analysis must be brought to the understanding of Asian American writings, many of which have been attempting to raise awareness of the politicizing effects of U.S. multiculturalism.

Contents:

"Who consumes multiculturalism?"

Part I : Politically acquiescent Asian American multiculturalism

Cultural economies of model minority creation

measuring silences in popular Asian American literature

Part II : Politically conscious Asian American multiculturalism

Beyond ethnicity : the critical movement in Asian American literature

Is there any essential component of Asian American literature? : Karen Tei Yamashita's Tropic of orange

Counteracting the hegemonic discourse of "America" : Ruth Ozeki's My year of meats

Multiculturalism, or an international marketing of U.S. capitalism.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 157-161) and index.

ISBN:

0415960991

9780415960991

OCLC:

124163631

Online:

Publisher description