Shawn Wong
Encyclopedia
Shawn Hsu Wong is an author and Professor of English and former Director of the University Honors Program (2003–06), Chair of the Department of English (1997–2002), and Director of the Creative Writing Program (1995–97) at the University of Washington
where he has been on the faculty since 1984. He is Chinese American
and a pioneer of Asian American studies
. Wong received his undergraduate degree in English at the University of California at Berkeley (1971) and a Master's degree in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University
(1974).
," first published by Simon & Schuster
in 1996, was adapted into an independent feature film entitled Americanese
(2010), written and directed by Eric Byler
and produced by Lisa Onodera
. The book was also re-issued by University of Washington Press in 2005.
Wong explained in an interview the title "American Knees": "When I was a child, kids used to come up to me and ask, 'What are you: Chinese, Japanese or Americanese?", while some asked if I was "Chinese, Japanese or dirty knees?"
"I never really knew what that meant when I was a kid," Wong says, "but I knew I didn't like it."
Wong is also co-editor of six multicultural literary anthologies including the pioneering anthology, Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian-American Writers
(reprinted in four different editions), Literary Mosaic: Asian American and Asian Diasporas, Cultures, Identities, Representations, and The Big Aiiieeeee!. He is co-editor of Before Columbus Foundation
Fiction/Poetry Anthology: Selections from the American Book Award
s, 1980-1990 – two volumes of contemporary American multicultural poetry and fiction.
Wong has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts
Creative Writing Fellowship and a Rockefeller Foundation
residency in Italy. He was featured in the 1997 PBS documentary, Shattering the Silences and in the Bill Moyers
' PBS documentary, Becoming American: The Chinese Experience, in 2003. He is also featured in the 2005 documentary, What's Wrong With Frank Chin?.
Wong also serves as consulting and contributing editor for Transtext(e)s-Transcultures: A Journal of Global Cultural Studies, http://www.transtexts.net
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
where he has been on the faculty since 1984. He is Chinese American
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
and a pioneer of Asian American studies
Asian American Studies
Asian American Studies is an academic discipline which studies the experience of people of Asian ancestry in America. Closely related to other Ethnic Studies disciplines such as African American Studies, Latino/a Studies, and Native American Studies, Asian American Studies critically examines the...
. Wong received his undergraduate degree in English at the University of California at Berkeley (1971) and a Master's degree in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
(1974).
Writings
Wong's first novel, "Homebase," published by Reed and Cannon (1979), won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award and the 15th Annual Governor's Writers Day Award of Washington. His second novel, "American KneesAmerican Knees
American Knees is a novel written by Shawn Wong, first published in 1995 by Simon & Schuster. It is currently published by the University of Washington Press...
," first published by Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
in 1996, was adapted into an independent feature film entitled Americanese
Americanese
Americanese is a 2006 American independent film acquired by IFC Films but not yet released. It is a romantic drama about the break-up of a couple, about love and memory, and how race plays into the lives of contemporary Asian Americans and Hapa/mixed-race Americans.- Background :The film was...
(2010), written and directed by Eric Byler
Eric Byler
Eric Byler is an American film director, screenwriter and political activist. He identifies as hapa biracial, born to a Chinese American mother and a white American father. He grew up in Virginia, Hawaii , and California. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1994, majoring in film...
and produced by Lisa Onodera
Lisa Onodera
Lisa Onodera is an American independent film producer, of such noted films as Picture Bride, The Debut and Americanese. She grew up in Berkeley, California, and attended UCLA where she received a degree from the School of Motion Picture and Television.Early film credits include serving as...
. The book was also re-issued by University of Washington Press in 2005.
Wong explained in an interview the title "American Knees": "When I was a child, kids used to come up to me and ask, 'What are you: Chinese, Japanese or Americanese?", while some asked if I was "Chinese, Japanese or dirty knees?"
"I never really knew what that meant when I was a kid," Wong says, "but I knew I didn't like it."
Wong is also co-editor of six multicultural literary anthologies including the pioneering anthology, Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian-American Writers
Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian-American Writers
Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian-American Writers is a 1974 anthology by Frank Chin, Jeffery Paul Chan, Lawson Fusao Inada, Shawn Wong and other members of the Combined Asian Resources Project...
(reprinted in four different editions), Literary Mosaic: Asian American and Asian Diasporas, Cultures, Identities, Representations, and The Big Aiiieeeee!. He is co-editor of Before Columbus Foundation
Before Columbus Foundation
The Before Columbus Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 by Ishmael Reed, Victor Hernández Cruz, Shawn Wong and Rudolfo Anaya to be "a multi-ethnic organizing dedicated to promoting a pan-cultural view of America," especially through the promotion of multicultural writers.One of...
Fiction/Poetry Anthology: Selections from the American Book Award
American Book Award
The American Book Award was established in 1978 by the Before Columbus Foundation. It seeks to recognize outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors, without restriction to race, sex, ethnic background, or genre...
s, 1980-1990 – two volumes of contemporary American multicultural poetry and fiction.
Wong has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
Creative Writing Fellowship and a Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
residency in Italy. He was featured in the 1997 PBS documentary, Shattering the Silences and in the Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers is an American journalist and public commentator. He served as White House Press Secretary in the United States President Lyndon B. Johnson Administration from 1965 to 1967. He worked as a news commentator on television for ten years. Moyers has had an extensive involvement with public...
' PBS documentary, Becoming American: The Chinese Experience, in 2003. He is also featured in the 2005 documentary, What's Wrong With Frank Chin?.
Wong also serves as consulting and contributing editor for Transtext(e)s-Transcultures: A Journal of Global Cultural Studies, http://www.transtexts.net
Career
Shawn Wong specializes in Creative Writing and Asian American studies. Since 1972, Wong has taught at several colleges and universities, including Mills College, University of California at Santa Cruz and San Francisco State University. He has also taught at the Universität Tübingen (Germany), Jean Moulin Université (Lyon), and at the University of Washington Rome Center (Italy).Author
- American KneesAmerican KneesAmerican Knees is a novel written by Shawn Wong, first published in 1995 by Simon & Schuster. It is currently published by the University of Washington Press...
— A novel, Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
, 1995; Scribner paperback, 1996; re-issued by University of Washington Press, 2005 - HomebaseHomebase (novel)Homebase is a novel written by Shawn Wong, first published in 1979 by Bookpeople. It is currently published by the University of Washington Press in 2008 and was also published by Plume in 1991....
— A novel, Reed & Cannon, 1979; re-issued by Plume/NAL, 1990; re-issued by University of Washington Press, 2008
Editor
- Asian Diasporas: Cultures, Identities, Representations—with Robbie Goh, Hong Kong University Press, 2004
- The Literary Mosaic: An Anthology of Asian American Literature — Harper Collins, 1995
- The Before Columbus Foundation Fiction Anthology: Selections from the American Book Awards 1980-1990 — with Ishmael ReedIshmael ReedIshmael Scott Reed is an American poet, essayist, and novelist. A prominent African-American literary figure, Reed is known for his satirical works challenging American political culture, and highlighting political and cultural oppression.Reed has been described as one of the most controversial...
and Kathryn Trueblood, W.W. Norton Co., 1992 - The Before Columbus Foundation Poetry Anthology: Selections from the American Book Awards 1980-1990 - with J.J. Phillips, Ishmael Reed, Gundars Strads, W.W. Norton Co., 1992
- The Big Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Chinese American and Japanese American Literature — with Jeffery Paul ChanJeffery Paul ChanJeffery Paul Chan is a Chinese American author. He is a professor of Asian American studies and English at San Francisco State University, where he also received his masters degree and has taught for 38 years until his retirement....
, Frank ChinFrank ChinFrank Chin is an American author and playwright.- Life and career :Frank Chin was born in Berkeley, California, but was raised to the age of six by a retired Vaudeville couple in Placerville, California. At six his mother brought him back to the San Francisco Bay Area to live in Oakland Chinatown...
, and Lawson Fusao InadaLawson Fusao InadaLawson Fusao Inada is an American poet and was the fifth poet laureate of the U.S. state of Oregon.-Early life:Inada is a third-generation Japanese American...
, Meridian/NAL, 1991 - Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian American Writers — with Frank Chin, Jeffery Paul Chan, Lawson Fusao Inada, Howard University PressHoward University PressHoward University Press was a publisher that was part of Howard University, founded in 1972. It closed in 2011, and a majority of its titles were acquired by Black Classic Press....
, 1974; most recent re-issue by Meridian, 1997
See also
- Chinese American literatureChinese American literatureChinese American literature is the body of literature produced in the United States by writers of Chinese descent. The genre began in the 19th century and flowered in the 20th with such authors as Sui Sin Far, Frank Chin, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Amy Tan....
- List of Asian American writers
External links
- Shawn Wong profile on University of Washington website
- Shawn Wong discusses "American Knees" becoming a movie, at Rainbow Bookfest (minority authors) in Northwest Asian WeeklyNorthwest Asian WeeklyThe Northwest Asian Weekly is a weekly Asian American newspaper based in Seattle, Washington's International District. Distributed free, it was founded in 1982 by Assunta Ng, founder of the Seattle Chinese Post. It has a circulation of 16,000....