Asian American Studies (ASIAN AM) < University of Wisconsin-Madison

ASIAN AM 101 — INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES

3 credits.

Introduction to the historical, sociological, anthropological, political, and cultural study of Americans of Asian ancestry.

ASIAN AM/AFROAMER/AMER IND/CHICLA/FOLKLORE 102 — INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE US ETHNIC AND AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES

3 credits.

Introduction to comparative ethnic studies, examining race, ethnicity, and indigeneity within the United States. Includes perspectives from African American, American Indian, Asian American, and Chican@ and Latin@ studies.

ASIAN AM/DANCE 121 — ASIAN AMERICAN MOVEMENT

3 credits.

Techniques of exercises and movement forms derived from several Asian cultures as taught in the United States. Studied in the context of the construction and expression of ethnic and cultural identity.

ASIAN AM/ENGL 150 — LITERATURE & CULTURE OF ASIAN AMERICA

3 credits.

Since the 19th century, "America" has often been defined by its relationship with "Asia," through cultural influence, immigration, imperialism, and war. Traces the role of Asia and Asians in American literature and culture, from the Chinese and Japanese cultural influences that helped shape literary modernism to the rise of a distinctive culture produced by Asian immigrants to America and their descendants.

ASIAN AM 152 — ASIAN AMERICAN LITERARY AND POPULAR CULTURE: RACE, FANTASY, FUTURES

3 credits.

Explores fantasy as a conduit of political meaning in Asian American fiction, graphic novels, anime, and art. Analyzes race as it circulates in visual mediums and literary texts. Engages issues such as stereotyping, caricature, and microaggressions; whitewashing, yellowface, and passing; race fetishism; cultural appropriation; multiracialism; kawaii or cute style; techno- orientalism and virtual Asians. Foregrounding fantasies of bodilessness, examine race as it is grafted onto nonhuman forms-objects, digital avatars, robots-at the borders of science and fiction. Examines how projections of the future reflect cultural anxieties about race, immigration, and Asian Americans.

ASIAN AM/HISTORY 160 — ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY: MOVEMENT AND DISLOCATION

3-4 credits.

Examines the impact of colonialism, war, and capitalism on the movement of Asians to the U.S. Considers how racial, gendered, class, sexual, and national formations within the U.S. structured Asian immigration to North America.

ASIAN AM/HISTORY 161 — ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY: SETTLEMENT AND NATIONAL BELONGING

3-4 credits.

Examines the social, cultural, and political citizenship of Asians in the U.S. with particular emphasis on diaspora, transnationality, and place.

ASIAN AM 170 — HMONG AMERICAN EXPERIENCES IN THE UNITED STATES

3 credits.

Explores how Hmong's participation in the Secret War that the U.S. waged in Laos shaped their experiences in the U.S., heightening the importance of Hmong Americans' social, cultural, and political self-definition and in making known their contributions to the advancement of U.S. society.

Requisites: None

Course Designation: Ethnic St - Counts toward Ethnic Studies requirement
Breadth - Either Humanities or Social Science
Level - Elementary
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Increase awareness of how historical circumstances such as the U.S. Secret War in Laos impacted the lives of Hmong Americans.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Understand how racial privilege and dominance works to marginalize Hmong American experiences and to generate one-dimensional accounts of the Hmong in the U.S.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Understand how racial incorporation and political mobilization have contributed to empowering Hmong Americans to contest their marginalization and to develop nuanced representations of their experiences in the U.S.
Audience: Undergraduate

ASIAN AM/SOC 220 — ETHNIC MOVEMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES

3-4 credits.

Sociological analysis of historical and recent ethnic/racial conflict and movements in the U.S., including the relations between European Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans, with additional material on other groups and relations.

ASIAN AM 240 — TOPICS IN ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES

3 credits.

An examination of specific themes in Asian American life and culture. Topics may include comparative analyses of Asian American communities, Asian American experience and history, and the specific concerns and histories of Asian groups in the U.S., such as Korean, Hmong, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Japanese.

Requisites: Satisfied Communications A requirement

Course Designation: Ethnic St - Counts toward Ethnic Studies requirement
Breadth - Either Humanities or Social Science
Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: Yes, unlimited number of completions

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand how Hmong-U.S. relations during the American War in Southeast Asia resulted in the creation of a global Hmong diaspora in the U.S.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Learn about the global politics, particularly, the relationship between the Soviet Union, China, and the United States, over the control of Southeast Asia during the Cold War
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Analyze how empire and war cause massive devastation and disruption in the form of trauma, displacement, and transnational migration and how these processes have dramatically affected family and community life
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Broaden their knowledge of the diversity of immigrant experiences to include refugees by learning about the history of Hmong refugees and how the U.S. war in Vietnam changed U.S. refugee policy
Audience: Undergraduate

ASIAN AM/ASIAN/HISTORY 246 — SOUTHEAST ASIAN REFUGEES OF THE "COLD" WAR

4 credits.

In-depth study of the peoples, conflicts, and wars in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, with emphasis on the Cold War era (1945-1990) and on the resulting migration and resettlement of over one million Hmong, Khmer, Lao, and Vietnamese in the United States. Not open to students with credit for LCA 246 prior to Fall 2019.

ASIAN AM 250 — EATING ASIAN AMERICA

3 credits.

Examines the diverse food cultures of Asian America as an entryway to questions about Asian American politics, identities, and histories. Considers Asian American food consumption, labor, and discourses in relation to challenging racism and fighting for belonging in the U.S.

Requisites: None

Course Designation: Ethnic St - Counts toward Ethnic Studies requirement
Breadth - Humanities
Level - Elementary
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Analyze food cultures in relation to intersectional understandings of race, gender, and class in Asian America
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Examine Asian American food as expressions of community, politics, and identity
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Connect histories of anti-Asian racism and xenophobia to contemporary discourse surrounding Asian American food
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Critically examine how race can be constructed through cultural mediums like food
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Collaborate with peers in developing empathy toward other worldviews and reflecting on personal relationships to race and food
Audience: Undergraduate

ASIAN AM/ENGL 270 — A SURVEY OF ASIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE

3 credits.

Survey of Asian American literature from 1880 to present.

ASIAN AM/AFROAMER/DANCE/FOLKLORE 319 — AFRO ASIAN IMPROV: FROM HIP HOP TO MARTIAL ARTS FUSION

3 credits.

An Afro Asian perspective provides a lens through which intersections between Asian American and African American dance and martial arts are studied and practiced. Asian American and African American movement genres provide tools to explore dance fusion, choreography, and improvisation, to create dances informed by African American and Asian American legacies of struggle, innovation and transformation, while cognizant of historical forces of oppression and racism. Building connections through respectful communication with others are learned through dance practice, discussion and writing about concepts learned through readings, videos, and guest artist visits. Engagement with dance as a cultural vehicle for creative problem-solving and risk-taking occurs through guided class or smaller group activities.

Requisites: Sophomore standing

Course Designation: Ethnic St - Counts toward Ethnic Studies requirement
Breadth - Humanities
Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Articulate perspectives on the diversity of the human condition through critical andinterpretive skills to analyze the past, present, and future of human movement in a complex world
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Prepare for participation in a multicultural society through developing a consciousness of self and other and building empathy towards others’ perspective, thinking critically and questioning assumptions of certain valued or devalued histories, and analyzing how these differences have promulgated disparities in contemporary American society
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Demonstrate skills in writing and speaking about dance in its historical, contemporary and cultural contexts
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Articulate Afro Asian perspectives on the intersections of Asian American and African American cultural, social and historical knowledge, and communicate important ideas through dance and story-telling performance
Audience: Undergraduate

5. Practice Asian American and African American foundational movement toolboxes as a basis for improvisation and dance choreography supported by concepts of theater and culturally-based learning traditions
Audience: Undergraduate

6. Engage in imagination-led and creative problem-solving movement activities
Audience: Undergraduate

7. Build connections with others through class practice, discussions, working groups within and outside of class
Audience: Undergraduate

8. Use the skills you learn to lead a calmer, more focused, responsible and productive life
Audience: Undergraduate

ASIAN AM/COM ARTS 420 — ASIAN AMERICANS AND MEDIA

3 credits.

Examines representations of Asian American in American media using historical, analytical, and critical approaches. Issues of cultural production, identity, race, politics, and gender are linked to examinations of specific media forms.

Requisites: CHICLA/COM ARTS 347, ASIAN AM 101, or sophomore standing

Course Designation: Ethnic St - Counts toward Ethnic Studies requirement
Breadth - Humanities
Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S
Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Connect the way that Asian Americans have historically been represented in mainstream media to the way that they are represented in contemporary media and to their treatment in contemporary society more broadly
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

2. Define anti-Asian racism and its connections to other forms of oppression, including sexism, heteronormativity, classism, colonization, and ableism
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

3. Analyze the different constraints and possibilities for how Asian Americans produce and consume media texts
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

4. Respectfully engage in nuanced discussions about race and reflect on the cultural perspectives and worldviews of others
Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad

5. Demonstrate advanced analysis of Asian American media texts that rigorously engages with scholarship in Asian American media studies
Audience: Graduate

ASIAN AM 441 — HMONG AMERICAN SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES

3 credits.

Explores the history and circumstances whereby Hmong Americans came together as a political unit to address the domestic and international concerns of the Hmong American community.

Requisites: Sophomore standing

Course Designation: Ethnic St - Counts toward Ethnic Studies requirement
Breadth - Either Humanities or Social Science
Level - Intermediate
L&S Credit - Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Spring 2023

Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand major sociological theories about social movements.
Audience: Undergraduate

2. Increase the awareness of the historical context from which Hmong immigrated to the U.S. and how this history shapes the domestic and international concerns of Hmong Americans.
Audience: Undergraduate

3. Explore how and why Hmong Americans came together as a political unit to address the domestic and international concerns of Hmong Americans.
Audience: Undergraduate

4. Advance the importance of Hmong political incorporation within the U.S., whereby Hmong are themselves active participants in advocating for and shaping social justice concerns in the U.S.
Audience: Undergraduate

ASIAN AM/ENGL 462 — TOPIC IN ASIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE

3 credits.

Topics will vary. All topics will emphasize the following learning outcomes: awareness of history's impact on the present, ability to recognize and question assumptions, development of critical thinking skills, awareness of relations between self and others, and effective participation in a multicultural society.

ASIAN AM/ENGL/GEN&WS 463 — RACE AND SEXUALITY IN AMERICAN LITERATURE

3 credits.

Explores the intersection between race and sexuality in American literature with an emphasis on sex/gender difference, feminism, transgenderism, and nationalism. Focuses on the nature of literature as advocacy, with an emphasis on Asian-American issues.

ASIAN AM/ENGL/GEN&WS 464 — ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN WRITERS

3 credits.

Major texts by Asian American women writers.

ASIAN AM/ENGL 465 — ASIAN AMERICAN POETRY

3 credits.

Throughout the history of Asian America, poetry has been a vehicle for the creation and exploration of an Asian American voice; in poetry we can see the continuing struggle over what form Asian American expression will take. Will it follow Asian or European models? Will it employ traditional forms, or experiment in search of new styles? Will it be individual or collective, introspective or political? We will explore these questions through a study of a wide range of Asian American poets from a variety of historical periods and ethnicities, including Janice Mirikitani, Lawson Fusao Inada, Li-Young Lee, John Yau, Myung Mi Kim, and Linh Dinh.

ASIAN AM 540 — SPECIAL TOPICS

3 credits.

Themes in Asian American Studies. Topics may include activism, public policy, history, poverty, family, law, immigration, diaspora, refugeeism, gender, sexuality.

ASIAN AM 560 — HUMANITIES TOPICS

3 credits.

Topics in the arts and humanities that illuminate the Asian American experience.

ASIAN AM/JOURN 662 — MASS MEDIA AND MINORITIES

4 credits.

Representations of minority groups in U.S. news and entertainment mass media. Historical, social, political, economic, and other factors influencing the mass mediated depictions of minorities.

ASIAN AM 699 — INDEPENDENT STUDY: DIRECTED READINGS IN ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES

1-4 credits.

Advanced directed study projects as arranged with a faculty member.