JAPN 307 - Japan American Experience
Course Description: This course focuses on Japanese-American experience from the 1860s to the present as an ongoing study in ethnographic assimilation, including early immigration and response; immigration and labor laws; property rights; and WWII internment. Students identify and evaluate the issues of the ethics of assimilation, racial and ethnic discrimination, educational opportunity, social justice, and cultural identity. Taught in English.
Reflective Narrative: I took this course as part of my 4th MLO, requiring students to take a course in a language or culture other than their concentration, and I have no regrets. This course was truly eye-opening, as I had no idea the intensity of racism faced by Japanese Americans. Of course, I had learned in high school of the Japanese Internment Camps here, but never to the extent that I learned in this class. Most of the semester was dedicated to this horrible part of our history, but I also enjoyed learning about the generational differences between the Issei, Nisei, and Sansei (and to some extent, the Yonsei) generations. I had never heard of Nisei Week before this class, nor had I known the role that Hawaii played in bringing Japanese emigrants to America. Additionally, Professor Pham brought a unique experience to the classroom and always made sure to make us laugh, which was necessary in such a class that was often somber, which I'm sure many others in the class also appreciated. At the end of the semester, I chose to research Gender Roles in the Japanese American community, and learned quite a bit! One of the big questions to my overall thesis was to compare the core values of Americans at the time with the Japanese values, and how Japanese Americans had to balance these values to fit in with American society. As I mention in my presentation, for example, they must have a strong work ethic (a Japanese value), yet have enough time for family (an American value). You can find my presentation here and my paper on the subject here.
Reflective Narrative: I took this course as part of my 4th MLO, requiring students to take a course in a language or culture other than their concentration, and I have no regrets. This course was truly eye-opening, as I had no idea the intensity of racism faced by Japanese Americans. Of course, I had learned in high school of the Japanese Internment Camps here, but never to the extent that I learned in this class. Most of the semester was dedicated to this horrible part of our history, but I also enjoyed learning about the generational differences between the Issei, Nisei, and Sansei (and to some extent, the Yonsei) generations. I had never heard of Nisei Week before this class, nor had I known the role that Hawaii played in bringing Japanese emigrants to America. Additionally, Professor Pham brought a unique experience to the classroom and always made sure to make us laugh, which was necessary in such a class that was often somber, which I'm sure many others in the class also appreciated. At the end of the semester, I chose to research Gender Roles in the Japanese American community, and learned quite a bit! One of the big questions to my overall thesis was to compare the core values of Americans at the time with the Japanese values, and how Japanese Americans had to balance these values to fit in with American society. As I mention in my presentation, for example, they must have a strong work ethic (a Japanese value), yet have enough time for family (an American value). You can find my presentation here and my paper on the subject here.
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