Comments on: PENN: Asian American Studies department funding http://www.8asians.com/2008/04/04/penn-asian-american-studies-department-funding/ A blog for Asian Americans Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:56:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jaehwan http://www.8asians.com/2008/04/04/penn-asian-american-studies-department-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-62252 jaehwan Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:31:18 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=1008#comment-62252 I think a main problem with Asian American Studies is the quality of the work that comes out of such departments. People question whether it exists, but people rarely question whether it exists in a way which benefits Asian Americans or social justice or even artistic/intellectual empowerment. The truth is that reading another Maxine Hong Kingston or Amy Tan or David Henry Hwang work isn't going to help anyone, especially since their works tend to perpetuate stereotypes rather than fight or exceed them. In any case, I think it's good for people to raise awareness of the issue because with the amount of interest among young Asian Americans, these programs are clearly necessary. But people need to also begin discussing what kind of programs we want. Do we want programs that echo the same orientalist programs of the past? Or do we want something newer and more exciting? I posted a bit about this question on The Fighting 44's (with respect to the Harvard situation). http://www.thefighting44s.com/archives/2008/01/27/the-fight-for-asian-american-studies/ I think a main problem with Asian American Studies is the quality of the work that comes out of such departments. People question whether it exists, but people rarely question whether it exists in a way which benefits Asian Americans or social justice or even artistic/intellectual empowerment. The truth is that reading another Maxine Hong Kingston or Amy Tan or David Henry Hwang work isn’t going to help anyone, especially since their works tend to perpetuate stereotypes rather than fight or exceed them.

In any case, I think it’s good for people to raise awareness of the issue because with the amount of interest among young Asian Americans, these programs are clearly necessary. But people need to also begin discussing what kind of programs we want. Do we want programs that echo the same orientalist programs of the past? Or do we want something newer and more exciting?

I posted a bit about this question on The Fighting 44′s (with respect to the Harvard situation).

http://www.thefighting44s.com/archives/2008/01/27/the-fight-for-asian-american-studies/

]]> By: jaehwan http://www.8asians.com/2008/04/04/penn-asian-american-studies-department-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-138097 jaehwan Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:31:00 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/?p=1008#comment-138097 I think a main problem with Asian American Studies is the quality of the work that comes out of such departments. People question whether it exists, but people rarely question whether it exists in a way which benefits Asian Americans or social justice or even artistic/intellectual empowerment. The truth is that reading another Maxine Hong Kingston or Amy Tan or David Henry Hwang work isn't going to help anyone, especially since their works tend to perpetuate stereotypes rather than fight or exceed them. In any case, I think it's good for people to raise awareness of the issue because with the amount of interest among young Asian Americans, these programs are clearly necessary. But people need to also begin discussing what kind of programs we want. Do we want programs that echo the same orientalist programs of the past? Or do we want something newer and more exciting? I posted a bit about this question on The Fighting 44's (with respect to the Harvard situation). http://www.thefighting44s.com/archives/2008/01/27/the-fight-for-asian-american-studies/ I think a main problem with Asian American Studies is the quality of the work that comes out of such departments. People question whether it exists, but people rarely question whether it exists in a way which benefits Asian Americans or social justice or even artistic/intellectual empowerment. The truth is that reading another Maxine Hong Kingston or Amy Tan or David Henry Hwang work isn’t going to help anyone, especially since their works tend to perpetuate stereotypes rather than fight or exceed them.

In any case, I think it’s good for people to raise awareness of the issue because with the amount of interest among young Asian Americans, these programs are clearly necessary. But people need to also begin discussing what kind of programs we want. Do we want programs that echo the same orientalist programs of the past? Or do we want something newer and more exciting?

I posted a bit about this question on The Fighting 44′s (with respect to the Harvard situation).

http://www.thefighting44s.com/archives/2008/01/27/the-fight-for-asian-american-studies/

]]>