Introduction to Asian American Studies (210-0-1)
Instructors
Tara Fickle
Meeting Info
Locy Hall 214: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
Introduces students to the history and culture of Asian America from the late 19th century to the
present. We will examine a broad range of media forms produced by and about Asian Americans, including court documents, literature, photographs and film, social media, and oral histories. Students will learn how the term "Asian American" emerged as a radical sign of 1960s political solidarity — to replace the term "Oriental" and to transcend individual ethnic designations like "Chinese American" or "Indian American" - and how that solidarity has been mobilized and challenged through contemporary contexts such as 9/11, COVID, affirmative action, Black Lives Matter, and the rise of China.
Learning Objectives
1. Learning the major milestones of, and vocabulary used to discuss, Asian American history
and culture from the late 19th century to the present, including its local history at
Northwestern.
2. Improving critical thinking and reading skills by analyzing a wide variety of texts and media
forms produced by and about Asian Americans (court documents, literature, film, etc) with
attention to genre, language, and context.
3. Expanding understanding of Asian American history and experience to include a broader
global backdrop of US-Asian relations, and in complex interplay with other racial groups
and settler colonial histories
4. Recognizing and reflecting on the impact of racial histories on one's own past, present, and
future
Class Materials (Required)
course materials available through Canvas or free online access through Northwestern Library.
Class Notes
Attendance in discussion section is mandatory
Class Attributes
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - University Hall 101: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Hall 121: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM