Rethinking Anti-Asian Tropes (NeMLA 2027 Conference)
Newport, RI
Organization: NeMLA
Event: NeMLA 2027 Conference
Philip Kan Gotanda’s play Yankee Dawg You Die centers a conflict between two Asian American actors. The aging Vincent Chang built his career playing bumbling Japanese soldiers and one-dimensional Asian stereotypes in classic Hollywood. He’s confronted by the up-and-coming Bradley Yamashita, who insists that Asian (American) characters should be played with dignity and accuracy. The heart of the play is an ambivalence about Asian (American) representation and whether viewers should sympathize with Chang for taking the only acting jobs available or with Yamashita in his condemnation of the racist roles—or with both.
This panel seeks to explore comparable ambivalences in Asian/diasporic representation. We specifically seek papers about contemporary attempts to re-negotiate or reclaim depictions of Asian people, culture, literature, myth, history, etc. The papers may examine any form of media and utilize any theoretical lens, as long as the media in question seek to address anti-Asian racism or stereotypes, or to explore ambiguities in Asian/diasporic experience. “Asian” for the purposes of this panel, includes anyone (descended) from the Asian continent. By challenging imagery and cultural conceptions that stereotype or limit Asian people, this panel intends to engage the conference theme by exploring empowerments of Asian communities, whether in Asia or abroad.
Please submit a 200-300 word abstract at https://cfplist.com/nemla/Home/S/22330 by 30 Sept.
https://cfplist.com/nemla/Home/S/22330
Phillip Zapkin