Writing the Ghetto
Class, Authorship, and the Asian American Ethnic Enclave
By Yoonmee Chang | Publisher: Rutgers University Press
About the book
In the United States, perhaps no minority group is considered as \"model\" or successful as the Asian American community. Rather than living in ominous \"ghettoes,\" Asian Americans are described as residing in positive-sounding \"ethnic enclaves.\" Writing the Ghetto helps clarify the hidden or unspoken class inequalities faced by Asian Americans, while insightfully analyzing the effect such notions have had on their literary voices.
Yoonmee Chang examines the class structure of Chinatowns, Koreatowns, Little Tokyos, and Little Indias, arguing that ghettoization in these spaces is disguised. She maintains that Asian American literature both contributes to and challenges this masking through its marginalization by what she calls the \"ethnographic imperative.\" Chang discusses texts from the late nineteenth century to the present, including those of Sui Sin Far, Winnifred Eaton, Monica Sone, Fae Myenne Ng, Chang-rae Lee, S. Mitra Kalita, and Nam Le. These texts are situated in the contexts of the Chinese Exclusion Era, Japanese American internment during World War II, the globalization of Chinatown in the late twentieth century, the Vietnam War, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and the contemporary emergence of the \"ethnoburb.\"
Editions of Writing the Ghetto
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780813551753
- EBook
- ISBN 9780813583624
Read an Excerpt
In the United States, perhaps no minority group is considered as \"model\" or successful as the Asian American community. Rather than living in ominous \"ghettoes,\" Asian Americans are described as residing in positive-sounding \"ethnic enclaves.\" Writing the Ghetto helps clarify the hidden or unspoken class inequalities faced by Asian Americans, while insightfully analyzing the effect such notions have had on their literary voices.
Yoonmee Chang examines the class structure of Chinatowns, Koreatowns, Little Tokyos, and Little Indias, arguing that ghettoization in these spaces is disguised. She maintains that Asian American literature both contributes to and challenges this masking through its marginalization by what she calls the \"ethnographic imperative.\" Chang discusses texts from the late nineteenth century to the present, including those of Sui Sin Far, Winnifred Eaton, Monica Sone, Fae Myenne Ng, Chang-rae Lee, S. Mitra Kalita, and Nam Le. These texts are situated in the contexts of the Chinese Exclusion Era, Japanese American internment during World War II, the globalization of Chinatown in the late twentieth century, the Vietnam War, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and the contemporary emergence of the \"ethnoburb.\"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Writing the Ghetto about?
In the United States, perhaps no minority group is considered as \"model\" or successful as the Asian American community. Rather than living in ominous \"ghettoes,\" Asian Americans are described as residing in positive-sounding \"ethnic enclaves.\" Writing the Ghetto helps clarify the hidden or unspoken class inequalities faced by Asian Americans, while insightfully analyzing the effect such notions have had on their literary voices.
Yoonmee Chang examines the class structure of Chinatowns, Koreatowns, Little Tokyos, and Little Indias, arguing that ghettoization in these spaces is disguised. She maintains that Asian American literature both contributes to and challenges this masking through its marginalization by what she calls the \"ethnographic imperative.\" Chang discusses texts from the late nineteenth century to the present, including those of Sui Sin Far, Winnifred Eaton, Monica Sone, Fae Myenne Ng, Chang-rae Lee, S. Mitra Kalita, and Nam Le. These texts are situated in the contexts of the Chinese Exclusion Era, Japanese American internment during World War II, the globalization of Chinatown in the late twentieth century, the Vietnam War, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and the contemporary emergence of the \"ethnoburb.\"
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Writing the Ghetto?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism
Where can I read a sample of Writing the Ghetto?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780813551753
Is Writing the Ghetto part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series The American Literatures Initiative
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Writing the Ghetto?
Yoonmee Chang
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Writing the Ghetto is available as paperback(ISBN 9780813551753) and ebook(ISBN 9780813583624)
Where can I buy Writing the Ghetto online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Writing the Ghetto from below
Where can I buy Writing the Ghetto?