Infusing Asian Literature at UNG

Anastasia Turner

Challenges

•Consolidation: •UNG = GSC + NGCSU

•New 4-year classes @ home campus

•Proposed M.A. in English (Global Focus)

•Chinese flagship program for Dept of Defense

Developed Two Tracks

• Immediate• Buddhist addition

to American Multicultural Lit (2xxx level)

• Addition/Change to ENGL 1102 (Composition Based)

• Future• Chinese Literature• Special Topics in

World Literature• Graduate

Literature• Study abroad

Taiwan, summer 2014

• INED 2903• Chinese Learning

Community / Lit

Original Idea: Marilyn Chin’s Revenge of the

Mooncake Vixen"Yes, I am an American poet, a hyphenated American poet, to be precise; and what is

American about my poetry is my muse's indomitable conviction to hammer

the rich virtues and contradictions of my adopted country into a fusionist's delight."

Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen

• In Chin's words, "The structure of this book is based on ancient Buddhist beliefs in reincarnation and the eternal cycles of suffering."

• Mixes Buddhist Koans, revenge tales, etc.

• Themes: Chinese American identity, Exile, Loss, Assimilation, Women's Rights, Bodies, Sexuality

Three Endings

Three Endings

• Eats last mooncake her grandmother made, no regrets, Zen state– “nothing more wonderful than the

sweetness of this moment”• Offers to boys mini-mooncakes

– “sweeten your mouth, sweeten your words, and all will be perfect”

• Deathstars dipped in Blowfish poison– Dogs convulse / boys run off– She climbs up, eats strawberry, urinates

Class Plan

• Brief lecture/information on Buddhism

• Discuss Thirteen Buddhist Tales• Student Assignment:

– Choose one of the Tales or another story

– Track down inspiration (Buddhist, etc)– Argue how Chin uses text

• What does she use?• What does she repurpose?• What is her take?

Outcome:

Students

understand

Buddhist basics

and how Chin

subverts for own

purposes

ENGL 1102

• Multicultural Asian/Asian American

• Class for Basic Writers (2nd in sequence)

• Begin with Reader Response – Eases students into literary analysis– Begins using “level 1” evidence

without realizing it– Develops writers’ confidence

Meaning = Text + Reader

Akutagawa’s “In a Bamboo Grove”

• Students each given one section to read (Except last)

• Discuss section as we did• Introduce other views to class (CSI)• Go home and read whole text• Come back and discuss / themes

Assignment: Reader Response

• What about this story, poem or play stands out in my mind?

• What in my background, values, needs and

interests makes me react that way?

• What specific passages in the work trigger that reaction?

• How do your reactions and thoughts move with the text? What ideas or sensations does the text bring about?

• Did the work challenge you or any of your preconceived notions? How and why?

Chinese Literature from Beginning to Present:

Highlight Reel

Basic Spiritual Writings• Selections from 三教• Analects, Zhuangzi, Buddhist Koans

Poetic Interludes: • Tang Dynasty Poetry • Wang Wei, Li Po, Po Chuyi, etc.

Prose:Journey to the West(西遊記 )Dream of Red Chamber (紅樓夢 )Movie: Raise the Red LanternTong Cheng School of writingMoving to the Modern EraMay 4th WritersLu Xun’s “Diary of a Madman”Movie: Farewell my Concubine

New Culture Movement: Ba Jin’s Family A Cheng’s King of TreesSelections by Bei DaoMovie: Lust/Caution (Eileen Chang’s Love in a Fallen City)Contemporary Writing:Gao Xingjian’s One Man’s Bible -- or -- piece from Mo YanHa Jin’s short story collection.

Special Topics: East Asian Spiritual Travels• 西遊記Monkey/Journey to the West • Matsuo Basho’s Narrow Road to the Deep North• Ramayana• Ezra Pound, “Personae” and selections from Cathay• Jack Kerouac, On the Road• Gary Snyder, selections from Axe Handles• Maxine Hong Kingston, Tripmaster Monkey• Bharati Mukherjee, Jasmine• GaoXing Jian, Soul Mountain• Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of

the World• Getting HomeIf just Spiritual Travels: • Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony

…and lots more ideas

MAHALO!