Week 3. Anthony Tran. ASA 114

In Christopher Lee’s article, “Diaspora, Transnationalism, and Asian American Studies: Positions and Debates,” there are some really good points some are very familiar in the sense that Professor Valverde had gone over. I enjoyed the points about pedagogy, queer theory, and “decentering Eurocentric discourses previously considered universal” (30). These made really good points especially on the fact that American society is so used to being taught by white folks or those that have had white educators that heavily biased the way they teach. It is a concept recently focused on in another Asian American Studies course that with Professor Chung’s Policy and Community course where ethnic studies were fought for because that perspective from who is teaching and where that history is coming from can really make a difference in the work those students are going to be doing their communities. We are all so used to just taking what is being fed to us, from the government, the media, etc. that are aren’t critical enough of it. Seeing how everything is built off of racism European colonization, whether it is direct or indirect, they influence too much in how we operate today. Beyond that, there was this notion if placing same-sex desire in a transnational frame. I found it quite fascinating how it was interpreted as a way to “rethink hetero-normative assumptions stemming from the cultural nationalism of the 1960s” (30). We are starting to see Asian diasporas more openly express their identities and speak against those stereotypes and heteronormative ideologies. Breaking them down and making progress in regards to diversity and recognition. Lastly, I would like to point out the globalization aspect that the professor specified this week. To see that Jewish diasporas was used a "prototype" that lead the conversation as they have transforming ethnic ties as a dispersed population is eye-opening and made the lecture clearer.

Question: In what ways are the texts with Asian diasporas and queer desires affecting the pedagogy revolving Western-based heteronormative ideas?