Subject Area
Higher education; Literature
Description
Independent Study Project
This course examines Cambodian American literature through memoirs, novels, poetry, and graphic narratives that explore the lasting effects of the Khmer Rouge genocide, forced migration, refugee resettlement, and cultural adaptation in the United States. Through works by Bunkong Tuon, Anthony Veasna So, Vichet Chum, Putsata Reang, Loung Ung, Maya Cheav, and Tian Veasna, students investigate themes of memory, trauma, resilience, family obligation, identity formation, language, queerness, and belonging. Throughout the semester, students consider how storytelling preserves cultural memory and connects personal narratives to larger historical experiences. By engaging with Cambodian American voices across multiple genres, students gain a deeper understanding of diaspora, intergenerational relationships, and the ways literature serves as a tool for survival, healing, and cultural preservation. The course culminates in a heritage-based project that encourages students to connect their own family or community histories to the themes and texts studied throughout the semester.
Publisher
Providence College
Publication Date
9-30-2026
Type
Project
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Included in
Asian History Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Fiction Commons, Higher Education Commons, Modern Literature Commons, Nonfiction Commons
