Asian American Lit. Final

Choose three and answer in short essays:

1. Disease is an important literal and figurative element in Carlos
Bulosan's landmark novel, America Is in the Heart. Explain.

2. In Li-Young Lee's poem, "The Cleaving," the speaker refers to
many male figures (Chinatown butcher, grandfather, Emerson, Jew,
and so on). What kind of dynamic does he engender within that
imagery? Explain.

*

Cocksucker, motherfucker. Thief, Wetback. Colonial pig. Explain.

lover, brother, grandfather

Shulamite

*

3. According to Said in Orientalism, Flaubert created a model of the
Oriental Woman that went beyond the boundaries of his own liter-
ary works to influence popular notions of the Orient itself. Although
this man was a sex tourist in the mid-1800s, some of the exotic
imagery persists today. Give an example from our readings.

*

Dear Y—how do you teach Dictee in your class on the long poem?—K

Dear Y—this sounds like ruthless affirmative action—and it is—but
do you use your middle name when sending out poems? No one
would know from your name what you are. It matters.—K

*

4. Identify which literary works the following are from:
No Name Aunt
Kiyo
Jasmine

5. What is the significance of the title, Eat a Bowl of Tea?

12/2

In the corridor after the final: How can that bitch expect us to remember all
those names—they're weird. You know, like different. And who cares. What
would Traise say to them‑

6. Why No-No Boy?

7. How does the Asian American body appear in Jessica Hagedorn's
poem—
In Cathy Songs poem—
In Marilyn Chin's poem—
In Janice Mirikitani's poem—
In Meena Alexander's poem—
In Myung Mi Kim's poem—

*

In Frances Chung's Chinatown—
In Fay Chiang's—

*

In Lois Ann Yamanaka's Hawai'i—

12/2 continued

Asked an editor if they'd be interested in an anthology on Asian
American women and madness—like Hisaye's characters—

In Nellie Wong's—
In Mitsuye Yamada's—

12/2 continued

Do I recycle images hoping they will endlessly ignite? Do we all
recycle them? make our own clichés?

12/2 continued

S said she's not sure about high school—at the entrance test, the
girls were standing on line in ethnic clots. Where do I fit in? I don't look
Asian the way they do. Neither do I.

*

12/5

I am proposing a course on how Asian American writers react to
 the image of the Asian Other. Title: Sex and the "Oriental"

Notes

Must reread Shawn and Nora's books. And catch up on next
generation.

Notes

Relation to the English language involves betrayal and adoration—
like Latino writers except they have two (Spanish and Portuguese)
in the mix. Asian Americans have dozens—plus dialects. Plus class and
gender differences in speech.

anata
kimi

8. In 1989 Trinh suggested "a triple bind" for women of color. Is this still
a valid grievance? How and how not—give examples from
Charlie Chan Is Dead.

9. According to the Styles section, "ethnic ambiguity" is the new
thing. State your Own opinion.

*

In Marie Hara's—
In Mei-mei Berssenbrugge's—
In Ai’s—

*

12/7

Probably not cool to add something on Hahn's unbearable heart.

12/7 continued

intra-ethnic

12/8

I plan on proposing a course on Asian American work inspired by/influenced by Asian literature. Title: Continental Drift.