ENGL M102A: Historical Survey of Asian American Literature
Prof. Nah
Question: Explore the theme of assimilation and its complexities in Asian
American literature. How do authors depict the tension between preserving
cultural heritage and embracing the American identity?
Response: Assimilation is a central theme in Asian American literature, examining
the challenges individuals face in reconciling their cultural heritage with the
pressures of assimilation. In Julie Otsuka's "The Buddha in the Attic," the narrative
explores the complexities of assimilation and the evolving sense of identity among
Japanese immigrants.
Question: In early Asian American literature, how did writers engage with the
concept of the "double bind," where they exist between two cultures but fully
belong to neither?
Response: Early Asian American authors like Edith Eaton and Younghill Kang
often navigated the double bind through strategies of assimilation and hybridity.
Eaton, in "Su-Yung," portrays the protagonist's struggles to conform to
Anglo-American ideals while retaining her Chinese heritage. Kang, in "East Goes
West," explores the challenges of bridging Korean and American identities through
the protagonist's education and cultural encounters. These works illuminate the
complexities of existing in a liminal space and the search for belonging outside
traditional definitions.
