Graduate Student Teaches Literature of the Asian Diaspora
UL graduate students have the opportunity to design their own courses, resulting in a rich assortment of literary subjects being addressed in UL’s sophomore literature courses. Patrick Caoile, who is pursuing a PhD in English, designed a sophomore literature course titled “Literature of the Asian Diaspora,” which he unofficially titled “Not So Crazy Rich Asians.
The course focuses on the Asian diaspora and the complicated intersections of identity, language, family, and culture. During the first few weeks of class, students read up on definitions of diaspora and its foundational criteria. Since diaspora relates to the movement of people, students found it relatable to the migration stories of Acadians settling Lafayette and the greater Acadiana region.
The students began the semester by watching Crazy Rich Asians and examining the nuances of Asian identity between those who grew up in the United States and those who remained in Asia. To contrast the rom-com, students read “Esmeralda” by Mia Alvar and “A Temporary Matter” by Jhumpa Lahiri, two short stories resulting in heartbreak. Later in the semester, students will compare literary texts with visual media. They will read Ocean Vuong’s novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and discuss them in relationship to YouTube videos from nigahiga (Ryan Higa) and Uncle Roger (Nigel Ng).
Caoile notes the following about his own education: “There was a clear lack of literature from Asian writers. As a Filipino American, I rarely saw myself reflected in assigned texts. So, the opportunity to teach this course is deeply personal for me. But I also believe that Asian stories, whether on the printed page or on the big screen, are beginning to garner attention from many people who aren’t Asian. We’ve recently seen this on the big screen, as Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings broke opening day Labor Day records at the box office. The support for such Asian storytelling is promising.”
Because of the diverse courses English graduate students design and teach, UL undergraduates have the opportunity to explore the creative work of the Asian diaspora. Undergraduates should be on the lookout for the great course offerings provided by UL graduate students.