Home > Bibliographies > AAST298J (Spring 2004)
This course conceives of art broadly to include henna, Hmong American textiles, and aesthetic creations emerging from hip hop culture. We will begin by examining the concepts of identity, culture, and agency, three ideas central to the field of Asian American Studies. Throughout the course we will apply these concepts to our readings asking how Asian Americans identify with, make connections to, and use art to form identities and create change. In addition to the art forms listed above, we will engage with the cartoons of Lynda Barry, architectural creations of Maya Lin, the work of Theresa Hak Cha, hindu templesin North America, objects created by children imprisoned in Japanese American concentration camps, murals, and the art of Golden Venture refugees. Hip hop culture will be our focus for the final month of the semester. Among the questions guiding our reading and discussions will be: How do Asian Americans define art and are there common themes in these definitions? Does art reflect or shape culture? How does art mediate and/or add meaning to life? What meanings does art hold and create for Asian Americans? Can aesthetics be joined with politics? You are welcome to add more questions as the semester progresses.