Flags: Cultural Diversity in the U.S. and Writing
This course examines theatre, dance and performance art by and about Asian Americans. We analyze these media in social, political, and historical contexts. We also use these sources as models for creating our own original work. As such, this class is focused on praxis--the marriage of theory and practice. In other words, this course combines analysis of writing and media with learning basic methods for collaboration and devising performance. We define Asian America broadly, including both immigrants and people of Asian descent who have lived in the Americas for multiple generations. We engage with both documented (via text, video, or description) and live performance to examine how performance as a medium and mode of making meaning affects our perception of the world. We employ strategies from gender studies, queer studies, performance studies, and critical race studies to discuss how Asian Americans make meaning through performance, and how performance represents Asian America. Finally, we use our critical analysis to discover and apply creative strategies toward building meaning around Asian America that reflects our own political and social beliefs and hopes. This class is open to anyone who finds Asian American identity, identity more broadly, and/or performance of interest. No previous experience with Asian American studies or performance studies required.
Potential authors, companies, and texts include: Josephine Lee, Karen Shimakawa, Esther Kim Lee, Yutian Wong, Young Jean Lee, Ayad Akhtar, Chay Yew, David Henry Hwang, Jessica Hagedorn, Aasif Mandvi, D'Lo, Eiko and Koma, Ananya Chatterjee, Ma-Yi Theatre, East-West Players, Mu Performing Arts, Silk Road Theatre, Kristina Wong, Damon Chua, Pangea World Theatre, Teresa Cha, Yoko Ono, M.I.A., Qui Nguyen, and David Eng.
