Inquiry into Asian Americans' Self-identity through A/r/tography
Statement of Problem 1.Background of the Study For decades in the United States, immigration has been a topic of intense interest. Many important studies have been done on the immigrants and their offspring. One report (Vox Magazine in July 31st 2014), states that mid-western Asian Americans struggle to find their self-identity. It demonstrates that young Asian Americans discover their identities amidst stereotypes. Moreover, the newspaper MISSOURIAN Feb 3rd2016, released a report that Asian students at the University of Missouri – Columbia are reluctant to report episodes of discrimination, and racism. Furthermore, it is significant to know that the total Asian American population in Columbia, Missouri is 5,628 in 2016, 2017 which makes up 5.6% in the whole population. The current circumstances are readily apparent but few people question the reason for these circumstances. In my opinion, in seeking the answer, it would be worthy to consider the environment, the campus itself, and the society of Columbia. Certainly, the first step which I think is the most important part is to get to know Asian Americans, and to understand how they self-identify themselves, how they feel towards life here, and what they value most about their place in Columbia culture. It is vital to give them opportunities for introspection, to explore themselves, and to voice and defend their personal identities and value systems. 2. Purpose of the Study This research explores Asian Americans’ self-identity through a/r/tography. A/r/tography is a research methodology which does not create the invention while it does gain new understanding based on existing knowledge (Irwin, 2013). Based on this research methodology, the purpose of this study is to provide a safe place for Asian Americans to explore their own identities, and to gain a new understanding according to their exploration. The process of making art is paralleled with the reality that they encounter. The artworks they have created are not just a means of expressing themselves, but also a way of recognizing and thinking about the real world. Research Questions and Sub-questions How do Asian Americans currently self-identify themselves in terms of nationality, culture and ethnicity in Columbia, Missouri?
Related Research 1. Theoretical Framework The definition designated as Asian American has changed markedly through a very short history. Prior to the late 1960s, people of Asian ancestry were usually referred to as Oriental Asiatic, and Mongolold (Mio, Jeffery Scott, 1999). The term Asian American was coined by historian Yuji Ichioka, who is credited with popularizing the term, to frame a new “inner-ethnic-pan-Asian American self-defining political group” in the late 1960s. Today, Asian American is the accepted term for most formal purposes, such as government and academic research. In the US Census, people with origins or ancestry in the Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent are classified as part of the Asian race (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009). Based on those theories, the participants – Asian Americans – can be classified quickly. All cultures are equal; diversity is an asset; cultures evolve and cannot be confined to boundaries; cultural processes are as important as products; and cultural forms of expression are effective means for social transformation. (Adams and Goldbard 2001:14) According to MU Campus Climate Study in 2005, among minority students, there were two central themes: (a) recognition that on many accounts the climate at MU has improved over the years, and (b) a sense of dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. Moreover, 23.6% of Asian/Asian Americans in the sample reported experiences of harassment on campus. According to MU Full Time Student Enrollment Report from 2007 to 2016, Asian Americans represent 2.6% the MU total enrollment for fall 2007, 2.49% for fall 2008, 2.46% for fall 2009, 2.35% for fall 2010, 2.41% for fall 2011, 2.27% for fall 2012, 2.23 for fall 2013, 2.28% for fall 2014, 2.25% for fall 2015, and 2.21% for fall 2016. It is obvious that the enrollment of Asian Americans in Fall 2016 is lowest among 2007 – 2016. 2. Key Literature Areas IRWIN, RL; et al. (2009). The City of Richgate: A/r/tographic Cartography as Public Pedagogy. The process of this research could be divided into three parts. First, the definition of the appropriate research topic. Richmond is a city of many immigrants and therefore full of many different cultures. It is worthwhile to research the immigrants’ situations and feelings. The researchers interviewed eight groups of immigrants by integrating themselves into the community. They collected their immigrant experiences and stories. Finally, they created “the gates” as the topic for making artwork. Secondly, in order to explore the actual reality of their daily lives, they collected the research data in the form of art. The researchers in this study collected the interviewees’ photos, and took observational notes as well as analyzing/categorizing them, and made a documentary. Third, the researchers presented the research results in a delicate and multicultural form. The study shows that culture and memory can be transformed and maintained. Site, home and location can be more than one place, and more likely somewhere in between. The metaphor of “the gates” represents each family’s journey, describing a flow of their immigration, and the establishment of place, identity, and transformation. SHIN, Ryan. (2009). Promotion of Ethnic and Cultural identity through Visual and Material Culture among Immigrant Koreans. This study focuses on visual and material culture in the Korean immigrant community in Tuscon as an example of immigrant ethnic culture in North America. Korean markets, restaurants, Korean language schools, Korean churches play significant roles in the life of Korean immigrants. Korean ethnic infrastructure, organizational activities, leisure, media consumption, and lifestyle indicate that Korean visual and material culture helps immigrants sustain or promote their native identity. In addition, the internet is vital to maintain and strengthen ethnic and cultural identity of immigrants. (Rios & Gaines, 1998; Soruco, 1996; Viswanath & Arora, 2000) Many Korean, at least those of the first immigrant generation, rather than being completely assimilated into American culture, have formed their own unique visual and material cultural practices as an important part of their American experience. They have protected and continued to share among Koreans many forms and expressions of Korean visual and material culture as valuable reminders and communicators of their Korean ethnic identity. Räsänen, M. (2012). Cultural identity and Visual Multiliteracy. This article consists of broad definitions of visual culture and cultural identity. The author claims that different micro cultures are represented in the products of material culture, thus, it is significant to know how constructive dialogue between different cultural groups can be built through artworks and other visuals. Moreover, it is also important to know how students’ understanding of themselves and others can be supported through the interpretation of visual culture using artistic production as its main tool. Furthermore, the author talks about the factors affecting cultural identity, as well as multicultural identity. She believes that cultural identity is based on verbal, artistic, and other stories created in a certain time and place. Rituals, clothing, and images mediate traditions that connect an individual to a group. Additionally, she asserts that representation is a useful concept for understanding the relationship between the individual and culture. Representation refers to all verbal and spoken language, visual presentations, and combinations of words and images, which means something that represents a thing, a person, an object, or a phenomenon. Pan, Steve. (2011). Mizzou Climate: Asian American Asian-Americans are the third smallest minority group on the MU campus, according to MU chancellor’s Diversity Initiative. Unlike the histories of other minorities in the United States, Asian-American history is rarely studied in the Midwest. In addition, many stereotypes, such as the minority modal, often go unchallenged because they might be considered more positive than traditional racial stereotypes. In this article, some Mizzou students, who are Asian-American, speak about their experiences at Mizzou. Some talk about occasional jokes - high achievement, some talk about harassment they received on campus. Additionally, Asian-American students do not receive minority-based scholarships from MU because they are not considered a member of an ethnic group who are under-represented in Missouri higher education. 3. Key Terms A/r/tography: A/r/tography is an arts-based research methodology, and the name itself examplifies these features by setting art and graphy, and the identities of artist, researcher, and teacher (a/r/t), in contiguous relations (Irwin, R. L., Beer, R., Springgay, S., Grauer, K., Xiong, G., & Bickel, B, 2006). The A/r/tography includes self-realization, self-development and the relationship between the self and the outside world, and extends to the reflection on education and teaching as well as personal life through artistic and aesthetic approaches to self-consciousness in education and social phenomena. This methodology does not place emphasis on the identity of the researcher, nor on the artist or the educator, while it focuses on when he/she is the researcher, or the artist, or the educator, including the transition between or among them. Moreover, these roles of “A/R/T” are not separate, they are united. Artist-researcher-teachers are inhabitants of these borderlands as they re-create, re-search, and re-learn ways of understanding, appreciating, and representing the world (Finley and Knowles 1995). A/r/tography places more emphasis on the close relationship between theory and practice, cognition and art than in previous educational research. Art is not just a means of expressing itself, it is also a way of recognizing and thinking about the world in reality. “A/r/tography is a living practice of art, research and teaching: a living message; a life-writing, life-creating experience (Irwin et al. 2001)”. It poses the questions - what does life look like? What are your feelings towards life? How can you capture the aspect of life? How can you achieve the goal of a/r/tography? Most importantly, a/r/tography as a research methodology does not create the invention while it does gain the new understanding based on the existing knowledge. As Irwin describes, researchers establish the condition for becoming a/r/tography. She claims that “the condition of possibility or the inventive potential creates the conditions for becoming (Irwin, 2013)”. In her view, the lines of intensity, movement, and events that entangle across time and place unfolds a cartography of a/r/tography. Immigration: The meaning of immigration from Oxford Dictionaries that “immigration is an action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country”, which means people come into a country where they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle or reside there as permanent residents or naturalized citizens, or to take-up employment as a migrant worker or temporarily as a foreign worker. Immigrant: The meaning of immigrant from Oxford Dictionaries is “an immigrant is a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country” where they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship. It usually refers to the first generation immigrant. This term is synonymous to permanent resident, green card holder and resident alien. Nonimmigrant: As U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services states, nonimmigrant is “an alien who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose”- whether for tourism, business, temporary work, or study, including temporary workers, students, exchange visitors, temporary visitors for business or for tourism. Assimilation: Assimilation is viewed as a one-way street whereby immigrants arrive in the United States with distinctive languages and cultures and over time steadily adopt American values, acquire American tastes and habits, make American acquaintances, move into American neighborhoods, and eventually come to think and act more like “Americans” (Massey & Sanchez, 2010). Assimilation involves an orderly passage through a series of three basic stages: acculturation, in which immigrants adopt the language and values of the host society; structural assimilation, wherein immigrants and their children enter into personal networks and social organizations dominated by natives; and finally marital assimilation, wherein the descendants of immigrants intermarry freely with native-born members of the host society. This scenario sees assimilation as an orderly, linear process. (Gordon,1964) Asian Americans: Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The term refers to a panethnic group that includes diverse populations who have ancestral origins in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau (Karen R. Humes; Nicholas A. Jones; Roberto R. Ramirez, March 2011). In this study, Asian Americans refers to those who were born and raised in the U.S and have ancestral origins in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. Permissions & Protection of Human Rights Anticipated Problems in Conducting Research I think the topic of “Asian American Identity” would be a sensitive topic on MU campus since the racism issues happened at MU in Fall 2015. As a result, it could be difficult to recruit some Asian American students to participate in this research. Moreover, Asian American students would be reluctant to express their true thinking even though they are willing to join in this research. Furthermore, truth-speaking plays an important part when conducting the research, but it requires courage, a safe place, most importantly, gaining trust from the participants. Based on this point, it is hard to maintain the veracity of the results. Finally, it could be difficult to get the permissions from IRB. Data Sources I would conduct this research in the Asian American Association (AAA) at the University of Missouri – Columbia which is located in the city of Columbia, Missouri. As AAA states on their website, “the Asian American Association unites MU students of all backgrounds to bring campus awareness and understanding of Asian Pacific Islander American culture, history, and current issues to Mizzou. We are the voice of the Asian American students at MU.” According to my research questions, the participants should be born and raised in the United States. However, it does not specifically require participants’ age, gender, or current occupation, but most participants would be college students aged from 18-22 who have previous art instruction during their high school education, and this research would begin during the fall semester where the study occurs so that as many as possible Asian Americans can participate in this research. Methods and Data Analysis Intended Sampling Procedures
Data Collection: In this study, I would collect data through the processes of interview, observation, and creation of artworks (including documentation videos and raw video clips). Meanwhile, the data would be recorded through digital camera. Analysis Procedures:
Time Line
Discussion/Possible Findings This study has the potential to gain some new insights into how Asian Americans self-identify themselves according to culture, ethnicity, etc. However, this study would be limited by the time and length of meeting times. Reference Gordon, M. M. (1964). Assimilation in American life: The role of race, religion, and national origins. Oxford University Press on Demand. Mio, Jeffrey Scott, ed. (1999). Key Words in Multicultural Interventions: A Dictionary. ABC-Clio ebook. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 20. ISBN 9780313295478. Retrieved August 19, 2014. The use of the term Asian American began in the late 1960s alongside the civil rights movement (Uba, 1994) and replaced disparaging labels of Oriental, Asiatic, and Mongoloid. Tung, M. P. (2000). Chinese Americans and Their Immigrant Parents: Conflict, Identity, and Values. Routledge. New York, Haworth Clinical Practice Press. ISBN: 978-0789010568 Adams, D. and Goldbard, A. (2001). Creative Community: The Art of Cultural Development, NY, New York: Rockefeller Foundation. MU Campus Climate Study Volume 2. (2002). University of Missouri – Columbia. This study can be seen at https://diversity.missouri.edu/climate/2001-05/mccs-2.pdf Irwin, R. L. (2004). A/r/tography: A Metonymic Metissage. In R. L. Irwin & A. de Cosson (Eds.), A/r/tography: Rendering self through arts-based living inquiry (pp. 27-38). Vancouver, BC: Pacific Educational Press. "State & County QuickFacts: Race". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 31, 2009. Shin, R. (2009). Promotion of Ethnic and Cultural Identity through Visual Material Culture Among Immigrant Koreans. In E. M. Delcruz, A. Arnold, A, Kuo, & M. Parsons (Eds), Globalization, Art and Education (pp. 47-53). Reston, VA: National Art Education Association. Irwin, R. L., Beer, R., Springgay, S., Grauer, K., Xiong, G., & Bickel, B. (2006). The Rhizomatic Relations of A/r/tography. Studies in Art Education, (1). 70. Karen R. Humes; Nicholas A. Jones; Roberto R. Ramirez (March 2011). Irwin, R. L., Bickel, B., Triggs, V., Springgay, S., Beer, R., Grauer, K., & ... Sameshima, P. (2009). The City of Richgate: A/r/tographic Cartography as Public Pedagogy. International Journal Of Art & Design Education, 28(1), 61-70. doi:10.1111/j.1476-8070.2009.01593.x Massey, D. S., & Sánchez, M. (2010). Brokered boundaries: Immigrant identity in anti-immigrant times. Russell Sage Foundation. Kang, Hye-Kyung. (2010). Cultural Citizenship and Immigrant Community Identity: Constructing a Multi-Ethnic Asian American Community. New York, NY: LFB Scholarly Publishing. ISBN: 978-1593323431 "Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved January 5, 2012. Räsänen, M. (2012). Cultural identity and visual multiliteracy. Visual culture: Readings. Evora: Research Centre of the University of Evora (CIEP) and Fundaēćo Eugénio de Almeida (FEA).(In print.). Irwin, R. L. (2013). Becoming A/r/tography. Studies In Art Education, 54(3), 198-215. Zou, Dandan. (Jul 31, 2014). Asian-Americans Struggle to Find Sense of Self in Midwest. VOX Magazine. The article can be seen at http://www.voxmagazine.com/news/features/asian-americans-struggle-to-find-sense-of-self-in-midwest/article_8a0c4f72-c234-5d81-8123-14e7e9b0b14d.html Na, Sean. (Feb 3, 2016). MU’S Asian Students Reluctant to Report Episode of Discrimination, Racism. MISSOURIAN. The article can be seen at http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/mu-s-asian-students-reluctant-to-report-episodes-of-discrimination/article_e384936e-963b-11e5-8813-c34632bd9101.html Current Columbia, Missouri Population, Demographics and Stats in 2016, 2017 can be reached at https://suburbanstats.org/population/missouri/how-many-people-live-in-columbia The website of Mizzou Asian American Association can be reached at https://multiculturalcenter.missouri.edu/aaa/ and http://aaamizzou.weebly.com/ MU Full Time Student Enrollment can be seen at http://ir.missouri.edu/enrollment/e3-g.pdf The MU Campus Climate Study for Underrepresented Groups can be seen at https://diversity.missouri.edu/climate/2001-05/mccs-3.pdf
0 Comments
Tung, M. P. (2000). Chinese Americans and Their Immigrant Parents: Conflict, Identity, and Values. Routledge. New York, Haworth Clinical Practice Press. ISBN: 978-0789010568
Dr. May Tung is a clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco, California, USA. Her experience and research has benefited from her work with Chinese Americans and their immigrant parents in her practice as well as her own personal background. Unique and practical, this book provides parents, educators, and mental health professionals with first-hand insight into the lives and feelings of Chinese-American immigrants. The reason why I choose to use this book is to understand and gain knowledge of the search by Chinese-American immigrants to find and shape their cross-cultural identity. Irwin, R. L. (2004). A/r/tography: A Metonymic Metissage. In R. L. Irwin & A. de Cosson (Eds.), A/r/tography: Rendering self through arts-based living inquiry (pp. 27-38). Vancouver, BC: Pacific Educational Press. Rita Irwin is an artist, researcher, and teacher deeply committed to the arts and education at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In this article, the author introduces a/r/tography as a metaphor for informing artist-researcher-teacher identites, including self-realization, self-development and the relationship between the self and the outside world, and extends to the reflection on education and teaching as well as personal life through artistic and aesthetic approaches to self-consciousness in education and social phenomena. A/r/tography is a form of “living inquiry”. Art is not just a means of expressing itself, it is also a way of recognizing and thinking about the real world. Additionally, as a/r/tographers, they occupy “in-between” space. “Those living in the borderlands of a/r/t recognize the vitality of living in an in-between space.” This is an introduction to research novices as to what the a/r/tography is and how it works. Significantly, it builds up the foundation of a/r/tography as an approach which helps people gain new insights towards life through perceptual practices that reveal what was once hidden. Irwin, R. L., Bickel, B., Triggs, V., Springgay, S., Beer, R., Grauer, K., & ... Sameshima, P. (2009). The City of Richgate: A/r/tographic Cartography as Public Pedagogy. International Journal Of Art & Design Education, 28(1), 61-70. doi:10.1111/j.1476-8070.2009.01593.x The authors are researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, use data from eight intergenerational immigrant families in The City of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada to examine their experiences and narratives through a community-engaged process that employed a/r/tography as a methodology. The study shows that culture and memory can be transformed and maintained. Site, home and location can be more than one place, and more likely somewhere in between. This research is precursive and unprecedented which supports my research topic – Asian American Identity. It helps me understand a/r/tography and the practicalities of how to conduct a/r/tographical research. Shin, R. (2009). Promotion of Ethnic and Cultural Identity through Visual Material Culture Among Immigrant Koreans. In E. M. Delcruz, A. Arnold, A, Kuo, & M. Parsons (Eds), Globalization, Art and Education (pp. 47-53). Reston, VA: National Art Education Association. Ryan Shin is an associate professor at the University of Arizona, Tucson, United States of America, uses data (visual and material culture) from the Korean immigrant community in Tucson as an example of immigrant ethnic culture in North America. He found that Korean markets, restaurants, Korean language schools, and Korean churches play important roles in the life of Korean immigrants. Korean ethnic infrastructure, organizational activities, leisure, media consumption, and lifestyle indicate that Korean visual and material culture helps immigrants sustain or promote their native identity. Additionally, he found that many Korean, at least those of the first immigrant generation, rather than being completely assimilated into American culture, have formed their own unique visual and material cultural practices as an important part of their American experience. They have protected and continued to share among Koreans many forms and expressions of Korean visual and material culture as valuable reminders and communicators of their Korean ethnic identity. Although this research did not use a/r/tography as the methodology, it really builds good foundation for my research sub-questions, “Are they completely assimilated into American culture?” “If not, how do Asian Americans cross the cultural boundaries and ethnic borders?” Kang, Hye-Kyung. (2010). Cultural Citizenship and Immigrant Community Identity: Constructing a Multi-Ethnic Asian American Community. New York, NY: LFB Scholarly Publishing. ISBN: 978-1593323431 Kang, Hye-Kyung, associate professor at Smith College, Northampton, United States of America, has shed some light on the identity of an Asian American immigrant community in Seattle’s International District. In her view, immigrant identity is not only based on a distinctive image as viewed from others, it is also based on attaining citizenship to maintain civil, political, and social rights. In addition, she defines cultural citizenship as their identity itself. This is because culture reproduces historical, philosophical, social and even racial distinctiveness. This book is a good foundation for me to understand cultural citizenship and immigrant community identity and it will help me to analyze the data collected from Asian American students. At least, this is an introduction to immigrant history in general and it adds to my knowledge of immigrant identity. Irwin, R. L. (2013). Becoming A/r/tography. Studies In Art Education, 54(3), 198-215. Rita Irwin is an artist, researcher, and teacher deeply committed to the arts and education at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In this article, the author introduces what a/r/tography is and the possibilities of how it can be utilized. Most importantly, she describes how researchers establish the condition for becoming a/r/tography. In her view, the lines of intensity, movement, and events that entangle across time and place unfold into a cartography of a/r/tography. Becoming-intensity/becoming-events/becoming-movement affect each other mutually. This article helps me understand a/r/tography in depth and how to develop and create a/r/tography. Additionally, it gives me a model of an event which becomes one of – a collaborative a/r/ography project working with immigrant families in the city of Richmond – and really helps me conduct the a/r/tographical research. Statement of the Problem
1. Background of the Study For decades in the United States, immigration has been a topic of intense interest. Many important studies have been done on the immigrants and their offspring. One report (Vox Magazine in July 31st 2014), states that mid-western Asian Americans struggle to find their self-identity. It demonstrates that young Asian Americans discover their identities amidst stereotypes. Moreover, the newspaper MISSOURIAN Feb 3rd2016, released a report that Asian students at the University of Missouri – Columbia are reluctant to report episodes of discrimination, and racism. Furthermore, it is significant to know that the total Asian American population in Columbia, Missouri is 5628 in 2016, 2017 which makes up 5.6% in the whole population. The current circumstances are readily apparent but few people question the reason for these circumstances. In my opinio, in seeking the answer, it would be worthy to consider the environment, the campus itself, and the society. Certainly, the first step which I think is the most important part is to get to know Asian Americans, and to understand how they self-identify themselves, how they feel towards life here, and what they value most. It is vital to give them opportunities for introspection, to explore themselves, and to voice and defend their personal identities and value systems. 2. Purpose of the Study This research explores Asian Americans’ self-identity through a/r/tography. A/r/tography is a research methodology which does not create the invention while it does gain new understanding based on existing knowledge (Irwin, 2013). Based on this research methodology, the purpose of this study is to provide a safe place for Asian Americans to explore their own identities, and also to gain a new understanding according to their exploration. The process of making art is paralleled with the reality that they encounter. The artworks they have created are not just a means of expressing themselves, it is also a way of recognizing and thinking about the real world. Research Questions and Sub-questions How do Asian Americans currently self-identify themselves in terms of nationality, culture and ethnicity?
Related Research 1. Theoretical Framework The definition designated as Asian American has changed markedly through a very short history. Prior to the late 1960s, people of Asian ancestry were usually referred to as Oriental Asiatic, and Mongolold (Mio, Jeffery Scott, 1999). The term Asian American was coined by historian Yuji Ichioka, who is credited with popularizing the term, to frame a new “inner-ethnic-pan-Asian American self-defining political group” in the late 1960s. Today, Asian American is the accepted term for most formal purposes, such as government and academic research. In the US Census, people with origins or ancestry in the Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent are classified as part of the Asian race (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009). Based on those theories, the participants – Asian Americans – can be classified quickly. All cultures are equal; diversity is an asset; cultures evolve and cannot be confined to boundaries; cultural processes are as important as products; and cultural forms of expression are effective means for social transformation. (Adams and Goldbard 2001:14) 2. Key Literature Areas IRWIN, RL; et al. The City of Richgate: A/r/tographic Cartography as Public Pedagogy. The process of this research could be divided into three parts. First, the definition of the appropriate research topic. Richmond is a city of many immigrants and therefore full of many different cultures. It is worthwhile to research the immigrants’ situations and feelings. The researchers interviewed eight groups of immigrants by integrating themselves into the community. They collected their immigrant experiences and stories. Finally, they created “the gates” as the topic for making artwork. Secondly, in order to explore the actual reality of their daily lives, they collected the research data in the form of art. The researchers in this study collected the interviewees’ photos, and took observational notes as well as analyzing/categorizing them, and made a documentary. Third, the researchers presented the research results in a delicate and multicultural form. The study shows that culture and memory can be transformed and maintained. Site, home and location can be more than one place, and more likely somewhere in between. The metaphor of “the gates” represents each family’s journey, describing a flow of their immigration, and the establishment of place, identity, and transformation. SHIN, Ryan. Promotion of Ethnic and Cultural identity through Visual and Material Culture among Immigrant Koreans. This study focuses on visual and material culture in the Korean immigrant community in Tuscon as an example of immigrant ethnic culture in North America. Korean markets, restaurants, Korean language schools, Korean churches play significant roles in the life of Korean immigrants. Korean ethnic infrastructure, organizational activities, leisure, media consumption, and lifestyle indicate that Korean visual and material culture helps immigrants sustain or promote their native identity. In addition, the internet is vital to maintain and strengthen ethnic and cultural identity of immigrants. (Rios & Gaines, 1998; Soruco, 1996; Viswanath & Arora, 2000) Many Korean, at least those of the first immigrant generation, rather than being completely assimilated into American culture, have formed their own unique visual and material cultural practices as an important part of their American experience. They have protected and continued to share among Koreans many forms and expressions of Korean visual and material culture as valuable reminders and communicators of their Korean ethnic identity. 3. Key Terms A/r/tography: A/r/tography is an arts-based research methodology, and the name itself examplifies these features by setting art and graphy, and the identities of artist, researcher, and teacher (a/r/t), in contiguous relations (Irwin, R. L., Beer, R., Springgay, S., Grauer, K., Xiong, G., & Bickel, B, 2006). The A/r/tography includes self-realization, self-development and the relationship between the self and the outside world, and extends to the reflection on education and teaching as well as personal life through artistic and aesthetic approaches to self-consciousness in education and social phenomena. This methodology does not place emphasis on the identity of the researcher, nor on the artist or the educator, while it focuses on when he/she is the researcher, or the artist, or the educator, including the transition between or among them. Moreover, these roles of “A/R/T” are not separate, they are united. Artist-researcher-teachers are inhabitants of these borderlands as they re-create, re-search, and re-learn ways of understanding, appreciating, and representing the world (Finley and Knowles 1995). A/r/tography places more emphasis on the close relationship between theory and practice, cognition and art than in previous educational research. Art is not just a means of expressing itself, it is also a way of recognizing and thinking about the world in reality. “A/r/tography is a living practice of art, research and teaching: a living message; a life-writing, life-creating experience (Irwin et al. 2001)”. It poses the questions - what does life look like? What are your feelings towards life? How can you capture the aspect of life? How can you achieve the goal of a/r/tography? Most importantly, a/r/tography as a research methodology does not create the invention while it does gain the new understanding based on the existing knowledge. As Irwin describes, researchers establish the condition for becoming a/r/tography. She claims that “the condition of possibility or the inventive potential creates the conditions for becoming (Irwin, 2013)”. In her view, the lines of intensity, movement, and events that entangle across time and place unfolds a cartography of a/r/tography. Asian Americans: Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The term refers to a panethnic group that includes diverse populations who have ancestral origins in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau (Karen R. Humes; Nicholas A. Jones; Roberto R. Ramirez, March 2011). In this study, Asian Americans refers to those who were born and raised in the U.S and have ancestral origins in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. Permissions & Protection of Human Rights I think the topic of “Asian American Identity” would be a sensitive topic on MU campus since the racism issues happened at MU in Fall 2015. As a result, it could be difficult to recruit some Asian American students to participate in this research. Moreover, Asian American students would be reluctant to express their true thinking even though they are willing to join in this research. Furthermore, truth-speaking plays an important part when conducting the research, but it requires courage, a safe places, most importantly, gaining trust from the participants. Based on this point, it is hard to maintain the veracity of the results. Finally, it could be difficult to get the permissions from IRB. Data Sources I would conduct this research in the Asian American Association at the University of Missouri – Columbia located in the city of Columbia, Missouri. Participants would be College students aged from 18 – 22 during the fall semester where the study occurs. These participants may have previous art instruction during their high school education. Methods and Data Analysis Intended Sampling Procedures
Data Collection and Analysis Procedures Data Collection: In this study, I would collect data through the processes of interview, observation, and creation of artworks. Meanwhile, the data would be recorded through digital camera. Analysis Procedures:
Discussion/Possible Findings This study has potential to gain some new insights about how Asian American self-identify themselves according to culture, ethnicity, etc. However, this study would be limited by the time and length of meeting times. Reference Zou, Dandan. (Jul 31, 2014). Asian-Americans Struggle to Find Sense of Self in Midwest. VOX Magazine. The article can be seen at http://www.voxmagazine.com/news/features/asian-americans-struggle-to-find-sense-of-self-in-midwest/article_8a0c4f72-c234-5d81-8123-14e7e9b0b14d.html Na, Sean. (Feb 3, 2016). MU’S Asian Students Reluctant to Report Episode of Discrimination, Racism. MISSOURIAN. The article can be seen at http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/mu-s-asian-students-reluctant-to-report-episodes-of-discrimination/article_e384936e-963b-11e5-8813-c34632bd9101.html Current Columbia, Missouri Population, Demographics and Stats in 2016, 2017 can be reached at https://suburbanstats.org/population/missouri/how-many-people-live-in-columbia Mio, Jeffrey Scott, ed. (1999). Key Words in Multicultural Interventions: A Dictionary. ABC-Clio ebook. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 20. ISBN 9780313295478. Retrieved August 19, 2014. The use of the term Asian American began in the late 1960s alongside the civil rights movement (Uba, 1994) and replaced disparaging labels of Oriental, Asiatic, and Mongoloid. "State & County QuickFacts: Race". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 31, 2009. Adams, D. and Goldbard, A. (2001). Creative Community: The Art of Cultural Development, NY, New York: Rockefeller Foundation. Irwin, R. L. (2013). Becoming A/r/tography. Studies In Art Education, 54(3), 198-215. Shin, R. (2009). Promotion of Ethnic and Cultural Identity through Visual Material Culture Among Immigrant Koreans. In E. M. Delcruz, A. Arnold, A, Kuo, & M. Parsons (Eds), Globalization, Art and Education (pp. 47-53). Reston, VA: National Art Education Association. Irwin, R. L. (2001). A/r/tography: A Metonymic Metissage. Irwin, R. L., Beer, R., Springgay, S., Grauer, K., Xiong, G., & Bickel, B. (2006). The Rhizomatic Relations of A/r/tography. Studies in Art Education, (1). 70. Karen R. Humes; Nicholas A. Jones; Roberto R. Ramirez (March 2011). "Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved January 5, 2012. |