230604 Asian American Literature and Literary Prizes in the US (S) (WiSe 2010/2011)

In recent years, public interest in Asian American Literature has increased enormously. An astonishing number of authors from Asian decent have won major literary prizes and specific “ethnic” prizes gain more and more public interest.
In this seminar we will explore general discussions around literary prizes: What are the objectives of the different parties involved in the awards? Can literary quality be judged in such a fashion? We are then going to focus on the importance of literary prizes for the field of Asian American literature in particular. In the course of the semester we are going to follow the proceedings of the 2010 award of the Asian American Writers' Workshop.
Next to theoretical discussions we will read and analyze two novels and several short stories that have recently won, or been shortlisted for, literary awards. The short stories will be made available online.

Please buy:
Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient
Chang-Rae Lee, A Gesture Life