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Call for Papers

Asian American Literature: Discourses and Pedagogies (AALDP)

Special Issue on Mixed Heritage Asian American Literature

Special Issue Guest Editor, Wei Ming Dariotis
War babies, love children, tragic half-breeds, cosmopolitan saviors—how are mixed heritage Asian Americans imagined in Asian American literature, drama, and film? How are they represented in literature by people who are not Mixed Heritage Asian Americans? How are mixed heritage Asian Americans imagining and expressing themselves? This special issue invites scholars and writers to explore how one might teach such narratives and texts in various academic contexts. While traditional pedagogical lenses are appropriate, we especially encourage Critical Mixed Race Studies approaches to analyzing mixed heritage Asian American literature.

The following is a partial list of mixed heritage or transracially adopted Asian American fiction, poetry, drama, children’s literature, and memoir authors to explore:

Brenda Wong Aoki

Mei Mei Berssennbrugge

Evangeline Buell

Maylee Chai

Diana Chang

Samantha Chanse

Alexander Chee

Patricia Chao

Kiana Davenport

Peter Ho Davies

Brian Komei Dempster

Edith Eaton/Sui Sin Far

Winifred Eaton/Onoto Watanna

Mei Mei Evans

Heinz Insu Fenkl

Sesshu Foster

Kip Fulbeck

Jessica Hagedorn

Kimiko Hahn

Mari Hara

Mei-ling Hopgood

Toyomi Igus

Persis Karim

Nora Okja Keller

Mari L’Esperance

Sujata Massey

Sigrid Nunez

Ruth Ozeki

Greg Pak

Isabelle Thuy Pelaud

Chandra Prasad

Paisley Rekdal

Nina Revoyr

Rahna Reiko Rizzuto

Anthony Robles

Brian Ascalon Roley

Shawna Yang Ryan

Sara Suleri

Han Suyin

Janet Stickmon

Jane Jeong Trenka

Gail Tsukiyama

Fred Wah

Janet S. Wong

One could also analyze Asian American authors such as Shawn Wong, Gish Jen, Don Lee, Philip Kan Gotanda, Chang-rae Lee, or Lois-Ann Yamanaka who have explored mixed heritage themes in their work, but are not themselves of mixed racial or ethnic heritage.

Additionally, some themes to consider might include:

· Mixed heritage Asian American characters in literature by authors of heritage other than Asian American

· Mixed heritage Asian American characters in science fiction and fantasy, or other “genre” literature

· Mixed heritage Asian American children’s literature

· Queer themes in mixed heritage Asian American literature

· Asian American Transracial adoptees

· Transnational mixed heritage Asian American identities

· Multigenerational mixed heritage Asian Americans

· Multiple-minority mixed heritage Asian Americans

· Song lyrics, spoken word, and other non-traditional forms exploring mixed heritage identity would also be welcome (e.g. Colin “Senbei” Ehara’s “Paper Bullets”)

All articles must be between 2,000-7,000 words. Please follow the most current MLA format.

Book reviews on related texts are also welcome. Book reviews must be under 1,000 words. Please follow the most current MLA format.

Please address all inquiries for this Special Issue to Dr. Wei Ming Dariotis at wmdariotis@yahoo.com.

Full final articles must be submitted by July 1, 2011 online at http://www.comparativephilosophy.org/index.php/AALDP/information/authors