In the reading, "Theorizing Diasporas: Three Types of Consciousness", Regina Lee talks about the three different types of consciousness in a diasporic community. The three different types are "idealization of homeland, boutique multicultural manifestation, and transitional/transformational identity politics". Because the definition of diaspora does not have a specific meaning, Lee's article helps better understand what it means. As the author mentioned in the article, idealization of homeland is a "magical belief" created from the past that is put into the present. An example would be Little Saigon or Chinatown. Boutique multicultural manifestation is the idea where these different cultures could be seen explicitly unique. A Lee explained in the article, this idea is "meant to be universally the same" where it is distinct, but not one culture being dominant over the other. The last type of consciousness would be transitional/transformational identity politics. This is the understanding of the identity of two cultures. For example, one being Chinese American or Filipino American. I do believe in these consciousness in a diasporic community because I could understand being a Filipino born and raised in America. I may understand and know a lot more of the American culture, but I will still be seen as a Filipino through the eyes of others.
Question: Do all Asian immigrants today wish to go back to their homeland?
Work Cited
ImageLink: http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/diasporas/files/diasporas/imagecache/zoom/South%20Asian%20Diaspora.jpg
Lee, R. "Theorizing Diasporas: Three Types of Consciousness." Asian Diasporas: Cultures, Identities, Representations. Ed. Robbie Goh and Shawn Wong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2004. Online.
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