Triangulating American, Japanese, and Korean Fictions of Asian America

Asian American literature is a diverse and vibrant body of work that has emerged in the United States over the past century. It encompasses a wide range of genres, styles, and perspectives, and it reflects the complex experiences of Asian Americans in the United States. While much of Asian American literature has focused on the experiences of Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, and Korean Americans, there is a growing body of work that explores the intersections between these three groups. This article will examine the complex interplay between American, Japanese, and Korean fictions of Asian America. It will explore how these fictions have shaped and been shaped by the experiences of Asian Americans in the United States, Japan, and Korea, and how they contribute to our understanding of Asian American identity and culture.

Minor Transpacific: Triangulating American, Japanese, and Korean Fictions (Asian America)

by David S. Roh

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6474 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	213 pages
Paperback	:	287 pages
Item Weight	:	11.8 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.5 x 0.65 x 8.5 inches

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The American Dream and the Asian American Experience

The American Dream is a powerful narrative that has shaped the United States for centuries. It is the belief that anyone can achieve success in America, regardless of their background or circumstances. However, for many Asian Americans, the American Dream has been elusive. Asian Americans have faced discrimination and racism in the United States, and they have often been marginalized and excluded from mainstream society. As a result, many Asian Americans have turned to literature to express their experiences and to challenge the dominant narratives of American history and culture.

American fictions of Asian America often explore the tensions between the American Dream and the Asian American experience. These fictions depict the struggles of Asian Americans to achieve success in a society that is often hostile to them. They also explore the ways in which Asian Americans have resisted and challenged racism and discrimination. Some of the most well-known American fictions of Asian America include Maxine Hong Kingston's The Woman Warrior, Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, and Chang-rae Lee's Native Speaker.

The Japanese Dream and the Asian American Experience

The Japanese Dream is a similar narrative to the American Dream, but it is rooted in Japanese culture and history. It is the belief that anyone can achieve success in Japan, regardless of their background or circumstances. However, for many Japanese Americans, the Japanese Dream has also been elusive. Japanese Americans have faced discrimination and racism in Japan, and they have often been marginalized and excluded from mainstream society. As a result, many Japanese Americans have turned to literature to express their experiences and to challenge the dominant narratives of Japanese history and culture.

Japanese fictions of Asian America often explore the tensions between the Japanese Dream and the Asian American experience. These fictions depict the struggles of Japanese Americans to achieve success in a society that is often hostile to them. They also explore the ways in which Japanese Americans have resisted and challenged racism and discrimination. Some of the most well-known Japanese fictions of Asian America include Jukichi Uno's The Thirty Thousand Leagues in Search of Mother, Hisaye Yamamoto's Seventeen Syllables, and Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being.

The Korean Dream and the Asian American Experience

The Korean Dream is a more recent narrative than the American Dream or the Japanese Dream. It is the belief that anyone can achieve success in Korea, regardless of their background or circumstances. However, for many Korean Americans, the Korean Dream has also been elusive. Korean Americans have faced discrimination and racism in Korea, and they have often been marginalized and excluded from mainstream society. As a result, many Korean Americans have turned to literature to express their experiences and to challenge the dominant narratives of Korean history and culture.

Korean fictions of Asian America often explore the tensions between the Korean Dream and the Asian American experience. These fictions depict the struggles of Korean Americans to achieve success in a society that is often hostile to them. They also explore the ways in which Korean Americans have resisted and challenged racism and discrimination. Some of the most well-known Korean fictions of Asian America include Chang-rae Lee's The Surrendered, Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, and Young-Ha Kim's I Have the Right to Destroy Myself.

Triangulating American, Japanese, and Korean Fictions of Asian America

The triangulation of American, Japanese, and Korean fictions of Asian America offers a unique and valuable perspective on the Asian American experience. By examining these fictions side-by-side, we can see the similarities and differences between the experiences of Asian Americans in the United States, Japan, and Korea. We can also see how these experiences have shaped the development of Asian American identity and culture.

One of the most striking similarities between American, Japanese, and Korean fictions of Asian America is the theme of immigration. Many of these fictions tell the stories of Asian Americans who have immigrated to the United States, Japan, or Korea in search of a better life. These stories often depict the challenges that Asian Americans face in their new countries, as well as the ways in which they have adapted and assimilated. Some of the most well-known examples of immigration stories in Asian American literature include Maxine Hong Kingston's The Woman Warrior, Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, and Chang-rae Lee's Native Speaker.

Another common theme in American, Japanese, and Korean fictions of Asian America is the theme of racism and discrimination. Many of these fictions depict the ways in which Asian Americans have been discriminated against and marginalized in the United States, Japan, and Korea. These stories often explore the emotional and psychological impact of racism and discrimination on Asian Americans. Some of the most well-known examples of stories about racism and discrimination in Asian American literature include Jukichi Uno's The Thirty Thousand Leagues in Search of Mother, Hisaye Yamamoto's Seventeen Syllables, and Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being.

In addition to these common themes, there are also some important differences between American, Japanese, and Korean fictions of Asian America. One of the most striking differences is the way in which these fictions depict the relationship between Asian Americans and their home countries. American fictions of Asian America often focus on the experiences of Asian Americans who have immigrated to the United States and are trying to assimilate into American society. Japanese fictions of Asian America, on the other hand, often focus on the experiences of Japanese Americans who have been born and raised in Japan and are trying to find their place in Japanese society. Korean fictions of Asian America, on the other hand, often focus on the experiences of Korean Americans who have immigrated to the United States and are trying to maintain their Korean identity while also assimilating into American society.

Another important difference between American, Japanese, and Korean fictions of Asian America is the way in which these fictions depict the role of gender. American fictions of Asian America often focus on the experiences of Asian American women. These stories often explore the challenges that Asian American women face in both American and Asian societies. Japanese fictions of Asian America, on the other hand, often focus on the experiences of Asian American men. These stories often explore the challenges that Asian American men face in Japanese society. Korean fictions of Asian America, on the other hand, often focus on the experiences of both Asian American men and women. These stories often explore the challenges that Asian Americans face in both American and Korean societies.

The triangulation of American, Japanese, and Korean fictions of Asian America offers a unique and valuable perspective on the Asian American experience. By examining these fictions side-by-side, we can see the similarities and differences between the experiences of Asian Americans in the United States, Japan, and Korea. We can also see how these experiences have shaped the development of Asian American identity and culture.

Asian American literature is a vibrant and growing field, and it is only beginning to explore the complex and multifaceted Asian American experience. By continuing to triangulate American, Japanese, and Korean fictions of Asian America, we can gain a deeper understanding of this important part of American history and culture.

Minor Transpacific: Triangulating American, Japanese, and Korean Fictions (Asian America)

by David S. Roh

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6474 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	213 pages
Paperback	:	287 pages
Item Weight	:	11.8 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.5 x 0.65 x 8.5 inches

FREE