How do particular stereotypes of Asian Americans rely on the figures of the spy and the turncoat? How have Asian American writers mobilized tropes of betrayal, and to what effect? In what ways have accusations of race betrayal united and divided Asian American communities and readerships? This course focuses on the many ways in which treachery has emerged as a prominent motif in Asian American texts (fiction, poetry, drama, and videodocumentary). We will investigate the intersections between gender, race, sexuality, and nation. As such, we will begin by considering two highly sexualized, foundational icons of betrayal in American culture: Pocahontas and La Malinche. Together with the literary texts at hand, we also will discuss relevant legal decisions and historical events like institutional racism, exclusion, colonization, and internment. Topics related to betrayal include: assimilation, miscegenation, identity and identification, translation, exile, immigration, generational conflict, labor exploitation, and nationalism. Authors may include: Sui Sin Far / Edith Maude Eaton, Chang Rae Lee, Bharati Mukherjee, David Henry Hwang, Loni Ding, Lonny Kaneko, Jade Snow Wong, Maxine Hong Kingston, John Okada, Jessica Hagedorn, Ralph Pena, Lawson Inada, Lois-Ann Yamanaka, and R. Zamora Linmark. Requirements: one class presentation, several reader responses, one short paper, and one longer paper. Prerequisite: a 100-level English course, except 150. Enrollment limited to 25. (Post-1900)

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