The study on Chinese American literature in international academic circles commenced in the 1970s, while scholarly interest in this field did not begin to emerge in China until the 1980s. This course primarily focuses on representative works by Chinese American novelists from the 1990s onward. By integrating historical context with textual analysis, it explores how Chinese American writers engage with themes such as race, identity, cultural conflict, and integration through their literary expressions. Furthermore, the course aims to guide students toward an understanding of the dual significance of Chinese American literature—as both a form of minority discourse and an essential component of American literature—while fostering cross-cultural awareness and critical thinking. Chinese American literature serves not only as a medium for the Chinese American community to articulate its experiences but also as a reflection of the multicultural fabric that constitutes American society. Through this course, students will gain a deeper insight into how minority literature challenges dominant narratives, reconstructs historical memory, and provides a literary lens for reflecting on cultural identity and shared human experiences within the framework of contemporary globalization.
