GENERASIAN
THE REINCARNASIAN NYU’S PREMIER ASIAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE • FALL 2010 VOL. 9 NO. 1 1
What is “Asian”?
The Hyphenated Koreans: in Perpetual Orbital around North Korea 2
Behind These Eyes: Circle Lenses on the Rise 3 Muted Blight: Attack on Asian Students Ignored 4
Live Free, Be Wired: Far East Movement Finally Takes Asian Mainstream
Meet the Artist: Jennie Liu 5
6
Why We’re Rooting for Jeremy Lin 7
WHAT IS ”ASIAN” ? by Sondra Morishima
P
ossibly the most difficult part about reviving
often asked whether I identify more as Chinese
content and audience. We hope to serve NYU’s Asian
or Japanese. But to me it’s an unfair question. It’s
and Asian American community, but what does
like being asked whether I identify more with
that really mean? What does it mean to be Asian or
being female or being an only child—it’s impossible
Asian American? One dictionary definition of “Asia”
to isolate the two and preference them.
included a footnote in bold stating, “can be confused: Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia.” Clearly, I’m not the only one having difficulty
When asking the question “what is Asian?”, we must reach into our own experiences and pull out what we know about ourselves. For some, it may be
understanding the full breadth of the term as
growing up Muslim or Buddhist; maybe you have six
well as defining its limits. “Asian” becomes an
siblings or speak three languages. The intersection of
increasingly slippery term to define as I try to make
these characteristics defines your own Asian identity,
sense of what separates Asia from the world—is it
and any variation in your life undoubtedly impacts
geography, culture, people’s physical appearances?
that identity. Because of this, we at Generasian seem
Or maybe it isn’t about what separates Asians
to have an endless list of relevant topics to discuss.
from other races, but what brings us together. Both of these directions lead to few answers and
Undoubtedly, each issue will bring something new and unique. We can begin to discuss what it
more questions, as Asians can trace their lineage
means to be Asian, an NYU student, and a part of the
back to places as varied as Japan, the Philippines,
Generasian community. We want your feedback and
Mongolia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Samoa. And
your voice, because we all deserve a say in defining
then we are faced with what distinguishes Asians
ourselves. With the revival of Generasian, I hope
from Asian Americans, and what issues and
that the Asian community at NYU will finally have a
histories overlap. The possibilities seem endless.
voice and forum to discuss the questions we face and
With all of these variables and more, how do
Generasian
fourth-generation Chinese-Japanese American, I’m
Generasian is the plethora of questions surrounding
the issues that are important to us. I look forward
we create a publication that represents NYU’s
to a future connecting the diverse individuals in our
community of Asians and Asian Americans? I’ve
community and transforming the role of Asians in
been wrestling with this question myself: As a
NYU, the country, and the world. G
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