Introduction to Asian American Studies ETHN 14: Introduction to Asian American Studies Department of Ethnic Studies & Asian American Studies Program California State University, Sacramento Week 12 Session 1 CRT and Media

Last Time Overview of Part III of the course Cultural Texts Analysis of cultural text, Master of None, Season 1, Episode 4 “Indians on TV”

Today Discuss the relationship between media representation and political representation. Conduct a Critical Race Theory (CRT) analysis of Episode 4 of Master of None.

Power/Resistance Overt and Covert control Identity How groups and individuals see themselves and are seen by “others” Culture Bounded system of values and traditions shared by a group Structure Institutions and patterns of social interaction 5 2 1 11 7 8 13 10 12 4 6 9 3

Critical Race Theory (CRT) In the decades following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, scholars and activists of color noticed racial and ethnic minority groups still had limited access to opportunity segments of society. Tenured positions in academia, resources in the judicial system, access to adequate education, health care, and housing. Movement among scholars and activists who believe race remains a relevant factor in the persistent inequality among groups. CRT has its roots in critical legal studies. Legal scholars of color became frustrated with the resistance to and discourse regarding civil rights and race. Offshoots of CRT focus on group experiences outside of the Black-White racial paradigm. Examples: LatCrit, CRF (feminism), AsianCrit, TribalCrit

What CRT Helps to Explain Across numerous academic fields, critical race theorists work to expose the forces that maintain domination of those at the bottom of society by those at the top. Analyses produced by CRT scholars are rooted in exposing what Gramsci called hegemony, or the means by which oppressive societal structures are legitimized and reinforced. Ladson-Billings and Tate (1995) argue that race is under theorized in the social sciences and remains a relevant factor in understanding inequality in school experience and performance. They emphasize that class and gender alone cannot explain unequal educational outcomes.

CRT Framing Ideas (adapted from Delgado and Stefanic (2001)) Four Key Themes among CRT Scholars Interest convergence Interest‐convergence principle proposes that change benefitting people and communities of color only occurs when those interests also benefit Whites. Revisionist history History needs to be understood from the bottom-up not just the top-down. Critique of liberalism Colorblindness and the view that race is not real is more harmful than color consciousness. Structural determinism Societal structures significantly impact life experiences and chances.

Central Idea Borrowed from CRT Commitment to social justice Race as a social construct – the meanings of race change over time and space. Racism is ordinary – privilege and bias are ingrained into our society in a level that is often subtle and undetected. Experiential knowledge is valid This allows scholars to position racial and ethnic minority experiences on equal footing with dominant group experiences. (Narrative vs. Counternarrative) Intersectionality - Forms of discrimination intersect and inform one another. Race is often hidden. Master Narrative vs. Conternarratives Master Narrative – Closely related to hegemony. Those representations of the past . Often appear objective and authorless. How we understand our self and others through Counternarrative – Viewpoints from marginalized groups.

Commitment to Social Justice What does social justice look like with regards to media? How do the producers of MON make this argument?

Race as a Social Construct Who are Indian Americans according to the dominant group? How would you describe the producers’ of MON’s views of what it means to be Indian Americans?

Racism as Ordinary Where does the idea that racism is prevalent come up in the MON? What forms of racism/discrimination/bias comes up on MON?

Intersectionality Where do we see other forms of identity intersecting with race in MON? Where do we see gender? Where do we see sexual orientation? Where do we see social class? Where do we see immigration status? What argument do the producers of MON seem to be making about how identities intersect?

Master Narrative and Counternarrative How is MON a counternarrative? What is the master narrative? How does MON critique the master narrative?

Interdisciplinary view of problems Power/Resistance Overt and Covert control Identity How groups and individuals see themselves and are seen by “others” Culture Bounded system of values and traditions shared by a group Structure Institutions and patterns of social interaction

To Prepare for Next Session Reading Notes on 3 articles: Yang, NPR Code Switch Huang, Vulture Magazine Chu, Salon