Reading the Asian American Essay
Genres: Reading, Essay
In Person
Intermediate
6 Sessions
What makes an essay an Asian American essay? Are there certain concepts, images, or themes that must be incorporated in order for a text to be deemed "Asian American" enough? In this class, we'll read a wide array of essays written by writers both canonical and contemporary, and use them as a vehicle into discussions about craft, voice, audience, and more. Writers we'll study include Maxine Hong Kingston, Ocean Vuong, Jane Wong, Alexander Chee, and Porochista Khakpour. Folks who identify as Asian or Asian American are particularly invited to join.
ADDITIONAL CLASS DETAILS:
- This class includes:
- Reading: class engages in close study of one or more works.
- Work outside of class: 1-2 hours of writing or reading outside of class.
REGISTRATION DATES:
- December 4: Scholarship Donation Day
- December 5: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- December 12: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- December 18: Last day of Early Bird pricing
Joyce Chen
Joyce Chen is a writer, editor, and community builder who draws inspiration from many coastal cities. She has covered entertainment and human interest stories for Rolling Stone, Architectural Digest, Elle, Refinery29, the New York Daily News, and People, among others, and her creative writing credits include Poets & Writers, Lit Hub, Narratively, and Slant’d, among others. She has contributed op-eds to Paste magazine, and writes book reviews for Orion and Hyphen magazines. In 2022, she co-edited the anthology Uncertain Girls in Uncertain Times, a collection of poetry paired with essays and life lessons. She is a proud VONA alum and was a 2019-2020 Hugo House fellow. She is also the executive director of The Seventh Wave, an arts and literary nonprofit that champions art in the space of social issues.
FAQ
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Class sessions may be recorded if a session falls on a holiday, or if a student has access needs. Class recordings are not guaranteed.
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Classes may be cancelled if less than 5 students are enrolled within 10 days before the class start date. If for any reason Hugo House needs to cancel a class, students can choose between a full credit or full refund.
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