Topics in Multiethnic Literature (280-0-20)
Instructors
Jennifer Comerford
Meeting Info
Locy Hall 109: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
When half-British, half-Malaysian actor Henry Golding, was cast in Crazy Rich Asians (2018), controversy abounded over whether Golding was "Asian enough" to play the role. While some accused Hollywood of whitewashing, Golding responded that he was "Asian through and through." Political figures including Barack Obama and Kamala Harris have likewise been subject to questions around how they represent their racial identities. These debates raise questions about how those who are multiracial or multiethnic are allowed to claim and perform their racial identities when simultaneously characterized as too much and not enough. At the same time, these conflicts also highlight the complicated combination of racism and privilege that mixed-race individuals (and especially those who are white passing) experience. Through novels, essays, and short stories, we will explore the mixed feelings and experiences of being mixed race in America from the nineteenth century to the present. We will consider how the legacy of slavery and the one-drop rule continues to influence racial politics today while contradictory policies imposed on Indigenous communities have been leveraged to reduce Indigenous sovereignty. Other topics we will discuss include racial fluidity and ambiguity, performance, and intergenerational tension.
Class Materials (Required)
Possible texts include The Woman of Colour (1808), Nella Larsen, Passing (1929), and Justin Torres, We The Animals (2018) as well as selected short stories and essays by authors including Sui Sin Far, Toni Morrison, Nick Medina, Danzy Senna, and Samira Mehta.
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity