Toward a New Balance: Literary Canon Formation and the Evolution of Chinese American Literature

Abstract

This thesis aims to locate the borderlands that exist in American literature. It aims to unravel the importance of a work’s aesthetic value as opposed to the influence it might have as a multicultural artifact. Furthermore, it focuses on authentic as well as stereotypical Chinese American writings, in order to examine Chinese American literature’s position in society. The debate on canon formation has often evolved in American society, from its early beginnings until today, and this holds true for the position of Chinese American literature. Therefore, this thesis focuses on Chinese American literature in the canon, literary anthologies, the classroom, and in American society, in order to provide the historical and present status of Chinese American literature as well as to supply further implications on teaching Chinese American literature together with the American literary canon and it aims to contribute to the debate on multiculturalism and canon formation and proposes a color-less reading of American literature.