Sunday, November 22, 2015

Week 7 - Sunny Tran

Louisa Schein. “Diaspora Politics, Homeland Erotics and the Materializing of Memory.”

Schien discusses the meaning of "homeland", and its multiplicity of implications on identity and identity development. The Hmong people had to negotiate the location of their imagined homeland, their name as a people, and the power or lack of power they had in relation to others. Especially important in his critique is the role of sexuality and the interdependence of the personal and social-cultural. Schien's connections are especially important as tourism in Southeast Asia is at an all time high, and more Southeast Asian women are being taken advantage of. Another connection to current events is the Syrian refugee diaspora, which many are comparing to the diasporic events following the Vietnam War. It's important to critically examine the meaning and importance of the homeland in these times of globalization. How can we navigate power, privilege and oppression used against and within our own communities to connect and help other communities experiencing similar struggles?

YouTube: AJ+ "I Was A Boat Person: Vietnamese Refugees Look Back"

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