Gangsters Geeks & Spies—Asians in the US
General
Course Long Title
Gangsters Geeks & Spies—Asians in the US
Subject Code
CCST
Course Number
181
Department(s)
Program(s)
CS BFA
Academic Level
UG - Undergraduate
Description
Gangsters Geeks & Spies - Asians in the US
Special Topics course for BFA-1 students only.
During the height of Covid-19, Asians in the U.S. experienced a surge of hate crimes that seemed to conflate their race with the pandemic itself. The language
directed at Asians was reminiscent of previous waves of anti-Asian racism, such as the Yellow Peril, the WWII internment of Japanese Americans, and the murder
of Vincent Chin. This course will use past incidents as a starting point to ask questions about the present. Why are Asians considered to be "perpetual foreigners"
and interchangeable? Why are Asians both over - and under sexualized? Has there been more representation of Asians in art and media recently, and has this helped to combat stereotypes?
We'll explore these issues through poems, fiction, film, music, stand-up, video games, and other forms of media. Cathy Park Hong's essays in Minor Feelings will unmask the gaslighting of immigrants and refugees. The Netflix series Beef will make us laugh (and sob) out loud at Seven Yeun and Ali Wong's escalating war of
road rage. And the shoegaze-y soundscapes of Mitski and Japanese Breakfast will remind us that culture is as much about joy as it is about resistance.
Special Topics course for BFA-1 students only.
During the height of Covid-19, Asians in the U.S. experienced a surge of hate crimes that seemed to conflate their race with the pandemic itself. The language
directed at Asians was reminiscent of previous waves of anti-Asian racism, such as the Yellow Peril, the WWII internment of Japanese Americans, and the murder
of Vincent Chin. This course will use past incidents as a starting point to ask questions about the present. Why are Asians considered to be "perpetual foreigners"
and interchangeable? Why are Asians both over - and under sexualized? Has there been more representation of Asians in art and media recently, and has this helped to combat stereotypes?
We'll explore these issues through poems, fiction, film, music, stand-up, video games, and other forms of media. Cathy Park Hong's essays in Minor Feelings will unmask the gaslighting of immigrants and refugees. The Netflix series Beef will make us laugh (and sob) out loud at Seven Yeun and Ali Wong's escalating war of
road rage. And the shoegaze-y soundscapes of Mitski and Japanese Breakfast will remind us that culture is as much about joy as it is about resistance.
Registration Restrictions
RGBFA1 - BFA 1 Students Only