This panel seeks to spark critical dialogues on the intricate connections, intersections, divergences, disagreements, and entanglements linking Asia and Latin America within the framework of Transpacific Studies. By integrating critical race theory, cultural studies, ethnography, and film and media analysis, we aim to interrogate the complex dynamics between race, gender, ethnicity, archives, and technology. Our discussion will highlight the distinct anti-Asian narratives and legacies in Latin America, influenced by structural and historical manifestations of racial persecution and displayed in various visual representations within the mestizo racial regime of the region. The panel will also explore how communities of Asian descent have navigated and resisted these challenges through various survival and resistance strategies.
The panel will confront the frequently ignored aspects of racism in Latin American contexts, focusing particularly on the subtle expressions of anti-Asian sentiment through visual media. Despite the prevalence of these race-making practices, the conversation around anti-Asian racism has historically been muted in the region, highlighting the urgent need for critical examination, visibility, and awareness. Our panel contributes to an underexplored area of study, offering fresh insights into the race-making processes and survival strategies within a transnational context.
Transpacific Studies has come to signify a concept that nexus flows of culture, capital, ideas, and labor across the Pacific. A growing number of scholars across various disciplines are developing new models and frameworks for considering the geopolitical struggle over the Pacific and its attendant possibilities for domination and resistance. Our goal is to foster a deeper understanding of these dynamics, encouraging the development of critical research projects that broaden the temporal and spatial frameworks of the burgeoning field of Transpacific Studies.
Structured to maximize engagement and depth, the session comprises four focused presentations of 15 minutes each, followed by a dedicated 15-minute segment for unstructured dialogue and Q&A. This format is designed to foster a rich exchange of ideas, encouraging audience participation and facilitating a deeper dive into the discussed topics.
Alvarado Lugo and Gutiérrez del Ángel will present a case study on the adaptive strategies of Chinese migrants due to the racial persecution that the Mexican state carried out on Chinese Mexican communities in the 20th century. Their research spotlights the influence of secret societies and the formation of transpacific networks that reshaped local and international policies alongside the background of significant economic developments like oil discoveries. In this cultural context, Zapata Garcia will offer a critical analysis of Mexican cinema’s portrayal of China and its diaspora, placing these representations within the larger context of Mexico’s racial discourse and nation-building efforts post-Mexican Revolution. These presentations intend to elucidate the multifaceted narratives associated with the Chinese diaspora, enriching our dialogue on transpacific cultural interactions, migratory flows, labor relations, and racial dynamics while also deepening the comprehension of ethnic identities within Mexico. thereby enriching the dialogue on transpacific cultural exchanges and racial identity formation.
The regimes of power territorialize bodies. Concepts like race, sexuality, and nationality are a product of the striation over the body, territory, and time. Arana Blas presentation investigates how LGBTQ+ Peruvian fanzines leverage visual styles from shoujo anime and manga to challenge conventional narratives around race, sexuality, and nationality, proposing a visual disorganization that speaks to broader societal contestations. On the other hand, Castañeda intervention explores the manifestation of the yellow peril through techno-orientalist lenses in Latin American cultural production, examining how technological advancements are racially coded and contribute to the complex fabric of Asianness within regional race-making practices.
Panel Diversity Statement:
In selecting our panelists, we prioritized a diversity of voices, genders, ethnicities, and professional backgrounds, including queer identities and perspectives from across Latin America with ties to indigenous and Asian communities. This eclectic mix ensures a comprehensive and inclusive exploration of the panel themes, offering fresh insights into the ongoing dialogues around race, culture, and identity in Transpacific Studies.