Cultural Compass

By Benito M. Vergara Jr. and Cleo Qian

Book Overview

Cultural Compass re-writes the space of Asian Americans. Through innovative studies of community politics, gender, family and sexual relations, cultural events, and other sites central to the formation of ethnic and citizen identity, contributors reconfigure ethnography according to Asian American experiences in the United States. In these eleven essays, scholars in anthropology, sociology, ethnic studies, and Asian American studies reconsider traditional models for ethnographic research.Drawing upon recent theoretical discussions and methodological innovations, the contributors explore the construction and displacement of self, community, and home integral to Asian American cultural journeys in the late twentieth century. Some discuss the unique situation of doing ethnographic work "at home" -- that is researching one's own ethnic group or another group with Asian America. Others draw on rich and diverse field experiences. Whether they are doing homework or fieldwork, contributors reflect on the ways that particular matters of identity -- gender, class, sexuality, ethnicity, age -- play out between researchers and informants. Individual essays and the book as a whole challenge the notion of a monolithic, spatially bounded Asian American community, pointing the way to multiple sites of political struggle, cultural critique, and social change.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566397731
• ISBN13: 9781566397735
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Temple University Press
• Length: 265 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.0" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

a useful book on the topic of ethnographic research

I happened upon this book by accident and am glad I did. There are some good chapters on different concerns in conducting ethnographic-type research in an Asian American community or organization as a co-ethnic. What kinds of things to beware of, what kinds of co-optation could possibly occur.Seems like some young, new researchers who are excited about the possibility of researching Asian Americans in real day-to-day situations. Some good insight into problems which could come up and the special advantages of "researching your own."Deals also with concerns of Asian Americans from one ethnic group conducting research with other ethnic Asian Americans.