AMST 329(F) U.S. Wars in Asia and their Legacies (Same as English 329)

ENGL 329(F) U.S. Wars in Asia and their Legacies (Same as American Studies 329)
The rise of U.S. as a global power in 20th century has been inaugurated and marked perhaps most prominently through its wars in Asia-in the Philippines, Pacific Islands, Korea, Vietnam, etc. These wars have left profound impact and legacy in American political and cultural landscapes, littering them-figuratively speaking, of course-with remnants and excesses of war. And while wars themselves have been theorized as traumatic experiences that resist representation, they have also been, paradoxically, immensely generative of numerous literary and cultural narratives. This course examines texts that engage with these cultural legacies of U.S. wars in Asia. Rather than asking how literary texts represent war and experience of war, we will ask how they respond to, produce and/or problematize the multiple crises and narratives generated through the experience and history of wars in Asia. In addition to the literary texts that we will read (works by Chester Himes, Tim O'Brien, Joan Didion, Graham Greene, among others), there will also be a fair amount of secondary readings that will provide additional historical and theoretical frameworks.
Format: discussion/seminar. Requirements: active class participation, short response papers, and a final paper (8-10 pages) that will incorporate some independent research.
Prerequisite: a 100-level English course, except 150. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 25).
Hour: UM