clothes

While all of the sites produced for this class were excellent, I managed to choose five of them, based mainly on quality of writing. I also took the various formats, and the ideas presented into consideration. The five I selected all present provocative ideas, which is, I think, one of the most important aspects of good writing.
One of the websites I particularly enjoyed was Susan Coykendall's page. Her graphics are charming, and the writing is concise and informative. Her discussion of And the Soul Shall Dance is clear, and introduces interesting concepts, such as the importance of the roles of women in that play. Tracy Heisler's page is a particularly pleasant one. The format is simple, and the writing eloquent. She handles the essay on Fred Houn and Arthur Sze in a particularly coherent way, so that it is actually a pleasure to read. Sunny Thies' page is a particularly good one owing to its blending of provocative graphics and straightforward writing. She has the honesty to admit what her true feelings are, about this class, and about the readings, which is certainly refreshing. Oliver Chen's page presents a strong Chinese perspective on the readings, which is extremely interesting, particularly his views on the importance of language in APA works. Danielle Lyon handles her subjects with a charming irreverence, which captures the readers attention, and makes some excellent point about Asian Pacific American culture. Her enthusiasm comes across in her writing and lightens her essays. She also uses pleasant graphics, which make the page even more enjoyable.

    Asian Pacific American literature is literature, written by an APA person, which may incorporate one or more of several themes. Some themes that are particularly APA are: the immigrant experience; minority disenfranchisement or a sense of not belonging; racial discrimination; gender discrimination; and the conflict between familial and societal values. It would be a mistake, however, to limit APA literature to only that which deals with these themes. After a great deal of thought, I believe that the definition of APA literature is similar to that of pornography (developed by Justice Wooley, who ruled that Joyce's Ulysses was not pornography) - I know it when I see it. I do not believe there is any kind of taxonomy that can determine whether a work is APA, any more than there is for pornography. It becomes something of a judgment call.
    I believe that "Clothes," by Chitra Divrakuni is an interesting example of APA art, because it deals with APA themes, but also extends beyond them. While "Clothes" is about the APA experience, it is also about love, and the fascinating relationship that people, and women in particular, have with their clothes. It is important to note this, because it is dangerously easy to focus only on the APA aspects of a piece of literature, ignoring all of the other themes, plotting, and imagery used by the author.
    Clearly, "Clothes" handles the question of the immigrant experience. The protagonist is a young woman who comes to America to live with her new husband, Somesh. Her perceptions of America are fresh and unusual. She visualizes the 7-Eleven store as an exotic place full of "amazing things." She sees even the name as "exotic [and] risky." America seems an exciting place to her, yet she scolds herself for becoming too westernized. Eventually, when faced with the choice of returning to India or making a new life for herself in America, she chooses to stay in the United States, breaking from her cultural traditions.
    Another interesting APA theme which occurs in this story is that of the conflict between familial and societal values. The protagonist is torn between a sense of duty to her husband's family, as is customary, and a desire to lead her own, more American, life. At first, she wishes that she and her husband could move into their own apartment, so that her life would not need to be so circumspect. They buy American clothes in secret, keeping their new ideas and desires hidden from Somesh's parents. Finally, after she is widowed, she decides to break with custom to continue living in the United States. She plans to get an education, and have a career. This is a common theme in APA literature, as characters are torn between traditional values, usually personified by the family, and the values represented by United States mainstream culture.
    "Clothes" also deals with the theme of the role clothes play in a woman's life. At first, when the protagonist is on the airplane, terrified, she visualizes the saris in her luggage to calm herself. They have a talismanic value to her; they are something familiar that she can cling to. But once she is setled in America, she is excited by western clothing. Her husband, Somesh, buys her a pair of blue jeans, which she finds beautiful and thrilling, as they reveal the curves of her body, unlike the modest saris she is used to. She is able to visualize a new life, with a career, when she wears a blouse and skirt that Somesh has bought her. Clothes are portrayed as having a transformative role in her life, as they allow her to see herself differently, ultimately causing her to choose a new life in the United States after she is widowed.