Acts of Naming

[Yes, these are just words, but we are writers here, invested in the power of words, the power of naming, the power of writing and speaking a thing into existence.]

Have you read Edwin Torres’s post, “Señor Smith to you,” at the Poetry Foundation blog? Torres writes about the recent SPIC UP/Speak OUT! event which took place at Spanish Harlem’s El Museo del Barrio. You can also read the NY Times article, and reading series host Emmanuel Xavier at the Letras Latinas blog.

Literary Activism and Community Work of Bridging

Joseph O. Legaspi was interviewed by Ada Yee at the Lantern Review blog. Here is an excerpt:

Just persist on writing. I know so many talented writers across cultural lines who just stop writing. In a way, it becomes an endurance game. So just continue writing our stories.

Support other Asian American writers. Buy their books, go to their readings, teach Asian American literature. Be community leaders, be in academia, be community activists. The more of us out there, the better.

But definitely, the root of it is, just keep writing. Sit down at that desk, and tackle that blank page.

Spring 2010: Syllabus Woe

First thing: My class is in danger of being canceled due to low enrollment. This is a little disheartening. Still, I am pressing ahead with my syllabus for Filipino American Arts, in which we will be reading, viewing, analyzing, discussing Filipino Art as it addresses different periods of Filipino and Filipino American history, as well as current issues. This class is challenging to put together because it is multidisciplinary. Moreover, it’s lecture, discussion, and studio/workshop.

Whereas the course I am teaching now is also multidisciplinary, this is true mainly for the material I teach. As for what I assign, that is all writing, albeit multigenre, and more loosely based in discussions of culture. As well, my current course is hardly “academic,” in terms of reading and discussing critical writing about the creative work.

I am loving having access to Project MUSE, and I believe I have access to JSTOR as well, though I haven’t figured out yet how to remote access the latter.