Struggle for Identity: American Born Chinese
Struggle for Identity: American Born Chinese
Asian American students today are faced with the issue of identity in the American society. They are faced with this issue because of their unfamiliar background to the American society. They want to fit-in and become accepted in school’s diverse environment. The graphic novel, American Born Chinese by Gene Yang, exemplifies the issue of Asian American students search for identity in the American society. He wanted to target teenager that are struggling to find an identity and acceptance in school. To target Asian American students, Yang uses the stories of three different characters: Monkey King, Danny, and Jin Wang. Each character in the story faces the issue of finding an identity and acceptance. Yang mostly focused on the story of Jin Wang because his Chinese background constantly plagues him. Jin tries to do everything to fit-in with the American students. He tries to conceal his Chinese background, and tries to change his appearance. In the end, he learns to accept his Chinese background; therefore, finding his identity and acceptance. Yang wanted to show that accepting yourself is the key to unlocking your identity and finding acceptance in the American society. Yang wanted Asian American students to connect with his book by strategically converging the three stories, negative experience of characters, and negative stereotypes to show that accepting themselves will allow them to find their identity and acceptance in the American society.
Yang converges the three stories to strategically show Asian American students the three different perspectives. The first story is about the Monkey King. He struggles to find acceptance in the Heavens because he was a monkey. The second story is about Jin Wang who is constantly plagued by his Chinese background. The last story is about Danny, in the end revealed to be Jin Wang, struggles with his embarrassing stereotypical cousin, Chin-Kee, that forces him to switch
Asian American students today are faced with the issue of identity in the American society. They are faced with this issue because of their unfamiliar background to the American society. They want to fit-in and become accepted in school’s diverse environment. The graphic novel, American Born Chinese by Gene Yang, exemplifies the issue of Asian American students search for identity in the American society. He wanted to target teenager that are struggling to find an identity and acceptance in school. To target Asian American students, Yang uses the stories of three different characters: Monkey King, Danny, and Jin Wang. Each character in the story faces the issue of finding an identity and acceptance. Yang mostly focused on the story of Jin Wang because his Chinese background constantly plagues him. Jin tries to do everything to fit-in with the American students. He tries to conceal his Chinese background, and tries to change his appearance. In the end, he learns to accept his Chinese background; therefore, finding his identity and acceptance. Yang wanted to show that accepting yourself is the key to unlocking your identity and finding acceptance in the American society. Yang wanted Asian American students to connect with his book by strategically converging the three stories, negative experience of characters, and negative stereotypes to show that accepting themselves will allow them to find their identity and acceptance in the American society.
Yang converges the three stories to strategically show Asian American students the three different perspectives. The first story is about the Monkey King. He struggles to find acceptance in the Heavens because he was a monkey. The second story is about Jin Wang who is constantly plagued by his Chinese background. The last story is about Danny, in the end revealed to be Jin Wang, struggles with his embarrassing stereotypical cousin, Chin-Kee, that forces him to switch
Cited: 1) Yang, Gene. "American Born Chinese." YouTube. YouTube, 04 June 2009. Web. 25 Aug. 2012. 2) "Perceptions of Asian American Students: Stereotypes and Effects." Perceptions of Asian American Students: Stereotypes and Effects. Web. 31 Aug. 2012. 3) "Being Asian” Cracked.com. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. 4) "Giving Chin-Kee A Chance: Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese." Web. 01 Sept. 2012. 5) Yang, Gene Luen, and Lark Pien. American Born Chinese. New York: First Second, 2006. Print.