Week10_EmmanuelCapua_ASA114

    Regina Lee’s “Theorizing Diasporas: Three Types of Consciousness” analyzes three types of diasporic consciousness: Homeland Idealism, Conception of diasporas as exotic, and conception of a transnational/transitional identity. One of the main arguments that Lee makes is that migration is closely linked, if not the main benefactor, to economic motivations to migrate, and uses the three diasporic consciousness types to prove her analysis. 

    One of the standout points occurs when Lee discusses how to convey a sense of “nation-ness” through shared commonalities. Lee shares that forgetting is a crucial factor in the creation of a nation (Lee 2004). Lee later continues by stating, “Commonality, of great significance here because it legitimizes the nation-state’s claim to homogeneity, leads to the imagination and idealization of a pure, unified self” (Lee 2004). Essentially what is being implied is that by claiming that a nation state shares this commonality, especially in America’s case of claiming “liberty and justice for all,” it creates the idea that America is the land that has no disparities and opportunities for folks to come and have their share of economic mobility. But, as we know, a lot of folks don’t experience that commonality that America claims and continue to live in the margins. This simply just goes to show the power that America holds when controlling a narrative, 

Question: What are some best practices to maintain homeland culture while gaining access and privilege in another country? 

Source: 

https://brianturchyn.net/running-a-diaspora-pod/
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.