Description
This innovative essay collection explores Asian American cinematic representations historically and socially, on and off screen, as they contribute to the definition of American character. The history of Asian Americans on movie screens, as outlined in Peter X Feng's introduction, provides a context for the individual readings that follow. Asian American cinema is charted in its diversity, ranging across activist, documentary, experimental, and fictional modes, and encompassing a wide range of ethnicities (Filipino, Vietnamese, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese). Covered in the discussion are filmmakers-Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Ang Lee, Trinh T. Minh-ha, and Wayne Wang-and films such as The Wedding Banquet, Surname Viet Given Name Nam, and Chan is Missing.
Throughout the volume, as Feng explains, the term screening has a twofold meaning-referring to the projection of Asian Americans as cinematic bodies and the screening out of elements connected with these images. In this doubling, film representation can function to define what is American and what is foreign. Asian American filmmaking is one of the fastest growing areas of independent and studio production. This volume is key to understanding the vitality of this new cinema.
About the Author
PETER X. FENG teaches English and women's studies at the University of Delaware.
Reviews
Cover to cover, Screening Asian Americans, a collection of 15 essays, is fabulous. * AsianWeek.com *
This scholarly book uses 15 contributors to explore the various images of Asians, many of which have been negative. * Burlington County Times *
Book Information
ISBN 9780813530253
Author Peter X Feng
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Rutgers University Press
Publisher Rutgers University Press
Series Rutgers Depth of Field Series
Weight(grams) 510g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 18mm
