How Do We Conduct A Transnational Research in American Studies?
Transnational research in American studies can be conducted by focusing on the definition of transnational itself. Transnational research is a research which conducted by extending or going beyond national boundaries. In this case, transnational research is able to describe “a condition in which, despite great distances and the presence of international borders (and all the laws, regulations and national narratives they represent), certain kinds of relationships have been globally intensified and now take place paradoxically in a world-spanning common even though it is only virtual activity” (Vertovec, 2000:1-2). It shows that transnational research can study an issue within United States that has connection with other foreign culture or even vice versa. This type of research is not questioning about the national border because it is just a “geographical” border. Although, there is a national border, a nation can culturally, politically, socially influence other nation because of the presence of globalization. For instance, although South Korea never occupies United States, the influence of Korean culture such as K-Pop and other South Korean entertainment can be seen significantly in the middle of American society. The appearance of Korean boy band named BTS in American Music Award in 2018 can be an example of the acceptance of Korean popular culture in United States. In this case, conducting research towards this kind of issue can be considered as transnational research.
Furthermore, dealing with American Studies, conducting transnational research in American Studies should involve the elements of more than, at least, two nations, cultures, civilizations or societies. It can focuses on immigration, minority, popular culture, multiculturalism, pluralism and other transnational issue within American society or outside United States. As Fishkin said in his journal entitled Crossroads of Cultures: The Transnational Turn in American Studies, transnational in American studies can be conducted by looking at “historical roots of multidirectional flows of people, ideas, and goods and the social, political, linguistic, cultural, and economic crossroads generated in the process” (Fishkin, 2005:22). It means that transnational research in American Studies no longer focuses on nationalist issues like American exceptionalism within American society. However, if we conduct research about American myths and symbols such as American innocence “Adam before fall” or American dream in Japanese literature, it can be considered as transnational research because it involves two nations and cultures, in this case, United States and Japan. By this explanation, in other words, transnational research can cover not only “the present” but also the past. In fact, transnational research can be conducted by focusing on old literature. For instance, the popularity of Edgar Allan Poe’s in France and other European countries rather than in United States.
Therefore, transnational research is multidisciplinary studies which can be conducted by borrowing some approaches and theories such as postcolonialism, post-modernism, and globalization. It means that transnational research is not only considered as comparative research but also beyond that. It focuses on transnationality and universality. In this case, the connection between or among those nations can also be seen as influence of just a reflection. A journal by Sabine Kim and Greg Robinson entitled Introduction: Transnational American Studies in the “Age of Trump” can be one of the examples of transnational research in American Studies. This research discusses transnational movement during Trump administration. It focuses on the impact of race and ethnicity on immigration and refugee policy in United States under Trump administration. This research is considered as transnational research because it includes “beyond the nation border elements” which involves across cultural and social influences such as the refugee from Middle East, U.S.-Mexico relationship and other cross-cultural issues.
References
Kim, Sabine et al. (2017). Introduction: Transnational American Studies in the "Age of Trump". Journal of Transnational American Studies, 8(1). 1-14
Fishkin, Shelley. (2005). Crossroads of Cultures: The Transnational Turn in American Studies—Presidential Address to the American Studies Association, November 12, 2004, American Quarterly, 17-57
Vertovec, Steve. (2000). Transnational Challenges to the ‘New’ Multiculturalism. Paper presented at the ASA Conference, 20 March–2 April, University of Sussex
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