Semester of Graduation
Fall 2025
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Professional Writing
Department
Department of English
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Dr. Chris C. Palmer
Second Advisor
Dr. Jeanne Law
Abstract
This capstone project examines how language, identity, and cultural belonging are constructed in Korean American experiences within the American South. Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, the study combines textual analysis of three professionally authored works—Bina’s Six Apples (Suh), Minari (Chung), and So We Meet Again (Park)—with semi-structured interviews of Korean Americans born and raised in Georgia. Cluster criticism of the texts reveals an evolving narrative arc from survival to adaptation to reinvention, reflecting historical and cultural shifts across generations. Interview data identified four major themes: navigation, representation, belonging, and transformation. Findings highlight persistent challenges such as intergenerational language barriers, intersectional expectations, and the absence of authentic representation in mainstream media and literature. While literary works portray resilience and cultural negotiation, they often omit nuanced realities such as parental absence, hybrid language use, and gendered pressures. This study proposes a redefinition of authentic representation as a dynamic narrative of adaptation shaped by multigenerational histories and hybrid identities. Future research should expand participant samples and explore collaborative models to ensure evolving identities are represented with depth and integrity.
Included in
Anthropological Linguistics and Sociolinguistics Commons, Asian American Studies Commons, Creative Writing Commons, Korean Studies Commons, Literature in English, North America, Ethnic and Cultural Minority Commons, Rhetoric and Composition Commons, Theatre and Performance Studies Commons
Comments
Readers may reach out to jhuh2@kennesaw.edu for a copy of the research thesis before the end of embargo period.