Surfing the Waves of Identity

Despite the rich diversity of Asia and its cultures, Asian Americans have often been viewed as a monolithic group. This book explores the diverse notions of being Asian and Asian American by examining socio-political, cultural, and historical changes, specifically through the lens of evolving representations of Asian Americans. Using a chronological approach to Asian American dramatists’ works, it traces the origins and impacts of racist stereotypes, their variations, and resurgence of archetypal stereotypes over time. By analyzing Asian American representation, the book offers nuanced and thought-provoking perspectives on the evolving portrayals of Asian Americans in U.S. culture. In this sense, the book is a quest to understand the current U.S. American consciousness and how it has viewed and stereotyped Asian American others.