Week 4 Blog: Winnie Chen

“Asians on the Rim” by Arif Dirlik discusses the issues of understanding “Asian America” because of the contradictions between the global and the local. On the global level are the oppressive institutions and systems that produce capitalism, colonialism, and upward mobility, which are hidden under the guise of the American Dream and upward mobility. The contradiction lies in the local concept, in which the contemporary Asian American consciousness combats these oppressive institutions and systems, and uncovers the “’buried past’ of Asian America” (Dirlik 1996). This reminds me of a discussion I had on whether Asian Americans actually identify as “Asian American”. From the results, about 90% of the group identified themselves with their ethnic group. For example, I am Chinese American, but when I am asked why, it’s hard to give an answer because just like being Asian American does not mean much to an Asian American person, it is hard to explain what being Chinese American means. With these contradictions, being Asian American is nothing but an identity.

Question: In place of all of the contradictions, what is Asian American Studies' role in reconfiguring the Asian American identity?

Work Cited:

Dirlik, Arif. 1996. Asians on the Rim: Transnational Capital and Local Communities in the Making of Contemporary Asian America. Amerasia Journal, 22(3), 1-24.

Image: http://rlv.zcache.com/mapa_del_dibujo_animado_del_rompecabezas_de_asia-r6f6d884321dd41a5b3e606c7c15cd5b1_ambtl_8byvr_512.jpg