You and Yours: Fall 2016

GENERASIAN NYU'S PREMIER ASIAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION FALL 2016 • VOL 15 • NO 1

LETTERS

from the

EDITORS

Dear readers and members, I learned about Generasian the same way many of you did—pushing through the throngs of other freshmen at Club Fest trying desperately to find some community to cling onto in the vastness that is NYU. Some are successful in this respect, and others hop around from club to club. I’m thankful to say that I did find a community in Generasian, one of like-minded individuals who are interested in Asian-Pacific American issues and communicating them through creative platforms.

This is the one club that I’ve stuck with from the very beginning, and although my term as Editor-in-Chief has been a short one, it is one that I will treasure. I hope that being a member of Generasian has allowed you to have your own voice, to tell stories that you feel are important to you as an Asian or Asian American, and most importantly, to feel as if you’re a part of something bigger, whether it be our club at NYU or the A/P/A community as a whole. To our readers, I hope these pieces bring you the same joy, curiosity, and new revelations that I experienced when reading them for the first time.

Thank you all for your continued support!

Shirley Foo, Editor-in-Chief

Dear readers, In light of recent events, our community and creativity are more important than ever. I am so grateful for the passionate and talented community here at Generasian, and for the tireless work that our writers, artists, and other creatives have poured into this magazine.

This semester’s issue explores the concept of “you and yours.” Join as we delve into what we, as an Asian American community, identify as truly ours. What informs and compels our capacity and willingness to exert ownership over our intellectual, emotional, and cultural spaces of belonging? Whether reclaiming a last name, a mother tongue, or a food culture, we hope you resonate with these stories and carry them forward along with your own.

Happy reading,

Rebecca Kao, Editor-at-Large

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WHAT’S INSIDE 01 Cover Graphic Zoya To 02 Letters from the Editors Shirley Foo & Rebecca Kao

FOOD

CULTURE

04 Evolution of Chinese Food Lauren Zou

28 Escaping Silence Shashank Rao

06 Mukbang Suji Ahn

30 Keeping Arakawa Emily Arakawa

10 Singapore: A Nirvana for Foodies Herman Lee

31 Miao Embroidery: A Dying Art? Haiyun Chen

POLITICS & MIGRATION 11

Artwork Jenny He 33 China Dolls: China’s Second Wives Culture Michelle Zhang

Across the Ocean Jessie Yeung Artwork Kevin Tu

13 Asian American Immigration Lina Wu

ART 10 Lunch Break Danou “Jenny” He

16 Still Fresh Off the Boat Faith Choi

ENTERTAINMENT

18 Festival Whei Lujan 22 Below the Surface Tatiana Hollander-Ho

19 Media Highlight Jeffrey Wu 27 And So He Walks Kevin Tu 20 Zombies: The Pandemic Spreading 35 Enlightenment in Love Ziying Zhou

to Asia Jihoon Yang 23 Animation: Your Name

and Its Success Manchen Wang 25 Asian Filmmakers in the U.S:

LAST LOOK 38

Classifieds Staff

A Dialogue Olia Zhang

EXECUTIVE STAFF Editor-in-Chief Editors-at-Large Art Director Media Director Blog Directors Layout Director Public Relations Treasurer

Shirley Foo Rebecca Kao

EDITORIAL STAFF Deputy Editors Deputy Art Director

Anna Oehlkers & Jessie Yeung

Layout Contributors

Suji Ahn

Herman Lee

Tatiana Hollander-Ho

Avery Chang Jeffrey Wu Alison Cheng & Katie Huang

Emily Arakawa

Megan Liao

Jamie Sung

Haiyun Chen

Anna Oehlkers

Casey Lee

Lucy Chi

Jihoon Yang

Tiffany Chen

Sarah Hahn

Jessie Yeung

Jenny He

Olia Zhang

Table of Contents 3

FROM STINKY TOFU TO GENERAL TSAO’S CHICKEN:

THE EVOLUTION OF CHINESE FOOD

by Lauren Zou

T

Image: http://cookdiary.net/wp-content/uploads/images/General-Tso’s-Chicken_17145.jpg

oday, Chinese food in America

entity almost diminishes the vast

Francisco were warmly welcomed, and

is almost unrecognizable

diversity that can be found within

white patrons considered them cleaner

to many people from China. The

Chinese food. Typically, the different

and more professional than restaurants

overwhelmingly sweet and the heavily

styles of Chinese cooking are broken

owned by Americans. However, this

fried food characterize Chinese food in

up into the distinct “eight cuisines”,

mindset did not last, as anti-Chinese

America, but are very rare in authentic

which differ in the ingredients used

sentiment grew in America during the

Chinese cuisine. Many Chinese

and styles of cooking. The ingredients

late 19th century. The white American

immigrants dislike Americanized

that were easily found in China were

working class did not want competition

Chinese food, and try to avoid it as

uncommon in America, so immigrants

for jobs, a driving factor in passing the

much as possible. “It sucked,” said

had to make do with what they had.

1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. The Act

Shumeng, a Chinese international

Key elements of food commonly used

prohibited Chinese immigrants from

student, describing her first experience with Chinese food in America. She went on to add that the quality she was used to in China was not present in the food she had in America. “The

“The rice is harder, it tastes completely different, and it’s not traditional.”

rice is harder, it tastes completely different, and it’s not traditional.”

The food made in the pioneering

entering the US over a ten year period, and national propaganda painted Chinese people as immoral and filthy.

This rising fear and disdain, dubbed the “Yellow Peril,” changed American public opinion to view Chinese people

in their regions of origin, such as bok

as uncivilized, lesser beings. During

choy, sesame oil, and various spices,

this time, Chinese restaurants garnered

Chinese restaurants during the 1800s

were not readily available. Therefore,

the reputation of being dirty and low-

were not totally authentic, even though

the food they made was a slightly

class, which prevails today. A study

they were made by the recent Chinese

different version of the food back in

published by the International Journal

immigrants. Chinese food consists

China. Later, Chinese restaurants began

of Hospitality Management found

of a variety of complex cuisines that

to adapt to American tastes, making

that “ethnic-operated” restaurants

requires an abundance of ingredients

dishes sweeter and more fried.

had notably higher rates of inspection

and time. Referring to it all as one

At first, Chinese restaurants in San

and critical violations. MSG, a

1 Rude, Emelyn. “A Very Brief History of Chinese Food in America.” Time. February 8, 2016.

2 Harris, Kimberly, Kevin S. Murphy, Robin B. DiPietro, and Gretchen L. Rivera. “Food Safety Inspections Results: A Comparison of Ethnic-operated Restaurants to Non-ethnic-operated Restaurants.” ResearchGate. April 2015.

4 Food

flavor enhancer commonly found

the richer its emigrants are, the more

for the Irish and Italian immigrants

in Chinese food, was the center of

likely its cuisine will command high

to be integrated as “Americans,”

many xenophobic fears surrounding

menu prices.” Japanese restaurants

since they were considered white.

Chinese cuisine. People were scared

in America are an example of this

of alleged health effects from MSG

principle, as they are typically seen as

habits of Chinese people are often

called the “Chinese Restaurant

expensive and high class. Now, many

jokes that “Chinese will eat anything.”

Syndrome”, but most scientists are

of the Chinese immigrants in America

After finding out I was Chinese, a girl

now in agreement that these fears

are wealthier and the Chinese economy

once asked me if I ate dogs. She was

are unsubstantiated, as the health

is growing, which could indicate a

completely genuine about it. When I

effects don’t differ much from salt.

change in the way we view Chinese

stuttered out that, no, I do not in fact

food. However, authentic “ethnic”

eat dogs, she quipped, “Stay away from

food is still expected to be cheap.

my dog!” These are misconceptions

This view of “ethnic” food as being cheap and unhealthy is nothing new.

Italian food was originally looked down upon when Italian immigrants began arriving in the US, but now many Italian dishes are a staple of American food, and can even be seen as high class. Chinese food is seen as

Chinese food is seen as cheap partly because of the notion that China produces cheap materials and labor.

cheap partly because of the notion that China produces cheap materials and

Stereotypes surrounding the eating

and stereotypes that originate from China’s past with poverty. People may have eaten dogs and other animals in the past, but nowadays this is looked down upon by the majority of China.

Furthermore, the act of eating dogs is only a taboo in Western culture because

Perhaps authentic Chinese cuisine

of the cultural beliefs that Western

labor. Another factor is the economic

is sometimes seen as disgusting in

society holds. In many cultures, eating

position Chinese immigrants were

America because American mindsets

beef or shrimp is a taboo, though

in when they started restaurants.

are so entrenched in Western culture.

in Western society, those meats are

The initial influx of poor Chinese

Dishes like lo mein, General Tso’s

quite popular. Stereotypes such as

immigrants was viewed as low class,

chicken, and the pu pu platter are

these may lead to the assumption that

and by extension, so was their food.

popular in America. However, there

Chinese food is “gross” or “dirty.”

is a distaste for more authentic dishes

American perceptions of Chinese

such as stinky tofu, steamed fish, and

culture and traditions will certainly

beef liver. Many times, our perceptions

change as the status of Chinese

of other foods don’t have anything to

immigrants and of China’s economy

do with actual taste, but rather our

changes. Chinese fusion restaurants are

views of the people associated with

becoming especially trendy and popular

the food. American culture tends to

in places like New York City, where they

shy away from cultures that are too

are typically upscale and modern. Could

“exotic” or “ethnic.” Venturing out to

it be that combining “ethnic foods” with

eat foods that are not from a Western

“high class” foods will lead to a better

culture seems to be commended as

view toward those so-called “ethnic

a real feat. Different cultures have

foods?” Either way, it seems like there is

foods that are seen as repulsive by

a trend where Chinese food is becoming

others, so it only makes sense that

more highly regarded. It may be that

Yellow Peril propaganda depicting the threat

“ethnic food” is typically seen as food

Chinese restaurants will be viewed

of Chinese immigrants on American society.

from a poorer minority community

similarly to Japanese restaurants. So

in America.⁴ It also is defined by

the next time you walk into a Chinese

According to Krishnendu Ray, author

how “American” that community is,

restaurant, notice the prices!

of The Ethnic Restaurateur and a

seeing as how Italian food is no longer

professor at NYU, “The more capital

lumped in as “ethnic.” Race definitely

Lauren is a freshman in the Liberal Studies

or military power a nation wields and

plays a role in this, as it is was easier

program. She is a tofu enthusiast.

G

3 Nogrady, Bianca. “Is MSG as Bad as It’s Made out to Be?” BBC. November 10, 2015.

4 Godoy, Maria. “Why Hunting Down ‘Authentic Ethnic Food’ Is A Loaded Proposition.” NPR. April 9, 2016.

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Evolution of Chinese Food 5

TELEVISING THE TABLE

A short overview on the Mukbang phenomenon and how it relates to the South Korean Society

has been a platform where people connect and reconcile, an agora where groundbreaking ideas are exchanged and developed, a communal activity that calls for cooperation and collaboration.

In an interview with CNN, Professor Sung-hee Park of Ewha University’s Division of Media Studies explains, “for Koreans, eating is an extremely social, communal activity, which is why even the Korean word ‘family’ means ‘those who eat together.’” Intertwined with the practice of eating are ideas of Photo courtesy of Shoogi, one of the most popular South Korean Mukbang show host

community, camaraderie, and comfort.

by Suji Ahn

T

he lights of Seoul shine

brightest in the night. One by

Still, such form of entertainment

the equivalent of Youtube in Korea)

where masses of people would regularly

enables show hosts to communicate

watch others stuffing food down their

one, nameless, formless scavengers surf

with their viewers in real time. With

throats has been unprecedented.

through the virtual space, searching

the viewers conversing freely with

Why has this form of amusement

for a haven to relish on. With a wisp

the host at an almost personal level,

seen such a sudden, meteoric rise in

of skepticism and a wisp of thrill, I

the show conjures a lifelike dining

the entertainment industry, to the

joined the others in the pilgrimage.

experience with the host. Quite often,

point where it is consolidated as a

It was not long until I finally settled

when viewers deem the show to be

major, legitimate genre of a show?

on a site that seemed to be the hub of

worthwhile, spectators remunerate

the ravenous rummagers. Yet, rather

the host with star-balloons, a form of

than finding a place where I could sit

virtual money. The show host would

back and unwind, I found the haven

then return the courtesy by openly

of theirs to be weirdly appalling - a

acknowledging the username, speaking

beautiful lady with an enchanting

directly to each individual user who

smile tirelessly gorging herself with

has made a financial contribution.

piles of food arrayed before her.

As such process repeats over time, the entertainer becomes much more

Mukbang, the combination

familiar with her fan base, thereby

of eating (muk-da) and broadcasting

allowing her to better cater the show to

(bangsong) has been the latest craze in

her followers, fortifying viewer loyalty.

Professor Sung-hee Park of Ewha University’s Division of Media Studies says, “for Koreans, eating is an extremely social, communal activity, which is why even the Korean word ‘family’ means ‘those who eat together.”

South Korea. Typically lasting about an hour or more, these shows feature

Food and feasts. Since the

One of the speculations attributes

hosts - mostly young, beautiful, and

inception of their civilization, Koreans

the exorbitant penchant for “well-

surprisingly thin, women - televising

have built a complex relationship

beingness,” to be a major reason behind

themselves devouring large quantities

around the practice of eating. Eating

the popularity of Mukbangs. With obesity

of food. Apart from eating, the

was never an obligatory task merely

now associated with incompetence, Korea

interactive platform of Afreeca TV(

to refuel and recover. Rather, it

has rushed into an era where the state of

6 Food

Ultimately the haven

being skinny is no longer a choice - it’s

“generation who foregoes the three,”

now a social requirement, whether

points to the discouraged millennials

I discovered was not merely a

in forming romantic relationships or

who forego romantic relationships,

recreational ground for the restless - it

finding a lifetime job. When it comes

marriage, and child rearing due to the

was a refuge for the desperate souls

to women, corpulence is no longer a

high unemployment rate, employment

who were unable to find their place

socially acceptable attribute. Such

instability, and high cost associated

in society - a sanctuary without the

societal pressure for a “fit” body

with marriage and child rearing. The

excruciating judgements categorizing

induces young women to resort to

category further stresses to “oh-po se

them to be negligent, inadequate,

excessive diets, where they would

dae,” or “the generation who foregoes

and misfit, based on their body

turn a blind eye to their body’s cries

the five,” embracing the additional

figures, social status, or financial

for nourishment and ventilate such

renouncement of socializing and

stability. A virtual asylum where

desires into other windows. Mukbangs

homeownership. Socioeconomic

they could be themselves, not what

come to play as a major window for

deprivation, and the inferiority

others expected them to be. Rather

young women who vicariously satisfy

complex derived by the guilt of not

than shunning these lights for their

their desires watching beautiful young

living up to their family’s expectations

abnormality, perhaps it is time

ultimately drive the deflated generation

for us to rectify the socioeconomic

to withdraw themselves from society.

structure that inhibits each and

Mukbang, in a way, creates a sense

every one of these lights from

of companionship and effaces shades

radiating in their own special way.

Park Seo-Yeon, one of the major mukbang broadcasters in Korea who goes by the name of DIVA, says, “my fans tell me that they really love watching me eat because I do so with so much gusto and make everything look so delicious.”

of solitude for the recluses suffocated by society’s shackles. Virtually accompanying the spectator to dinner,

Suji Ahn is a sophomore studying

Mukbangs turn the individualized

Economics in CAS.

event once again communal.

women binge eating high calories. In an interview with CNN, Park Seo-Yeon, one of the major mukbang broadcasters in Korea who goes by the name of DIVA, confessed, “my fans tell me that they really love watching me eat because I do so with so much gusto and make everything look so delicious.” Contrary to other culinary programs, Mukbang satiates both the desire of women to be slim and fit, as well as the desire to enjoy a nice, delectable meal.

Another major cause for the rise of Mukbangs could be ascribed to the economic instability of South Korea.

Amid the slow economic growth,

Photo courtesy of the NPR

many of the younger generation has failed to land on stable jobs, rendering depression and demoralization.

With the youth unemployment rate

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8cpLSTSyFU

peaking a total of 9.4%, the millennial

2. http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/03/24/392430233/koreans-

terminology, “sampo se-dae,” or the

have-an-insatiable-appetite-for-watching-strangers-binge-eat

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Televising the Table 7

G

SINGAPORE:FOODIES A NIRVANA FOR

By Herman Lee

S

ingapore’s cuisine is renowned worldwide, and for good reason

too. It’s a delightful fusion of Chinese, Malay and Indian culinary influences, expressed through a vibrant hawker culture. “Hawker food” is supposed to mean “street food,” but hawker food in Singapore is no longer eaten on the streets. Usually, hawker food is eaten in hawker centers, open air complexes

Bak Kuh Teh: http://www.founderbkt.com.sg/wp- Assam Laksa: https://hungryaustralian.com/

where hawker stalls congregate.

content/gallery/home-page-slider/founder1.jpg

wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_87261.jpg

Hawker centers are where the best and cheapest Singaporean food is sold, making them an essential part of Singaporean food culture. They let you enjoy all the pleasures of street food, without having to worry about things like exposure to the elements, poor hygiene, or traffic problems, or having nowhere to sit. In the words of food writer Anthony Bourdain, “You know, most cultures, most places, they treat street food like a problem to be

Teh Tarik: http://carnivalmunchies.com/wp-content/ Nasi Lemak: http://i1.wp.com/angsarap.net/wp-

solved. But for me, it’s the number

uploads/2015/12/6836327620_648f79b711_o.jpg

content/uploads/2014/11/Nasi-Lemak-Wide.jpg

one reason to come to Singapore.”

In any typical hawker center in Singapore, you would be hard pressed

Bak Kut Teh Bak Kut Teh literally translates

Teh Tarik Teh Tarik, literally “pulled tea,” is

not to find at least one stall plastered

as “Pork Rib Tea.” It is a dish of great

not a drink for connoisseurs. It is made

with newspaper clippings, certificates,

beauty and simplicity – picture great

from low grade black tea, giving it an

and photos of the owners proudly

hulking slabs of rib meat, floating in a

acrid flavor that is only offset by the

posing next to beaming celebrities

peppery herbal broth, with a steaming

cloying sweetness of the condensed

and politicians. It’s light on your

bowl of rice on the side. For the daring,

milk, and the creaminess of the

wallet too, especially by Singaporean

there is a small saucer of soy sauce

evaporated milk. Its most distinguishing

standards (Singapore is one of the most

seasoned with red hot slices of chopped

feature is the way it is mixed – the tea is

expensive cities on the planet). It’s no

bird’s eye chili. Preserved vegetables,

repeatedly poured from a great height

wonder that eating out is a national

sheet tofu, fried dough and peanuts

between two containers, which serves

pastime here! Singaporean cuisine is

are popular, if superfluous, additions.

to cool the drink down and give it a nice

incredibly rich and diverse – there are

For someone who loves meat, carbs

layer of froth on top. The end result is

hundreds of mouthwatering dishes

and hot soup, it’s the perfect dish. The

a drink that is almost overwhelmingly

that deserve mention in this article.

“Founder Bak Kut Teh” restaurant on

strong, sugary and creamy. It’s crude

Unfortunately, there’s no space to

Balestier road has some of the best Bak

and unsubtle in the best possible way.

include them all, so here is a short list

Kut Teh on the island, so be sure to

It is one of my favorite drinks on the

of some of my personal favorites:

check it out if you ever visit Singapore!

planet. After a good cup of Teh Tarik,

8 Food

the delicate flavors of Earl Grey and the

of green kaya, a coconut jam made

dish. It is the Southeast Asian answer

gentle nuances of Green Tea just don’t

with pandan leaves, sugar, egg and

to the English breakfast – heavy,

… feel … right anymore. If I weren’t

coconut. The toast can be dipped

fattening and bad for your heart,

so worried about my family’s history

into the half boiled eggs or kopi, or

but also a bloody good way to start

with diabetes, or the very real threat of

both, whatever floats your boat!

the morning. I cannot recommend

advanced tooth decay, I would gladly

this dish highly enough. It is a must

have a cup of Teh Tarik at every meal.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Curry Laksa

Singaporean comfort food. Hearty,

Chicken rice is the ultimate Curry Laksa is the heavier,

ubiquitous, and easy to understand,

try for any visitor to Singapore.

You know, most cultures, most places, they treat street food like a problem to be solved. But for me, it’s the number one reason to come to Singapore.

richer cousin of Assam Laksa. It

it’s no wonder that many consider this

consists of rice noodles or vermicelli,

to be Singapore’s national dish. The

swimming in a thick curry gravy.

rice is sinfully oily, not from boring

Floating around inside are cockles,

old vegetable oil like fried rice, but

shrimp, fish cake, fried tofu and

from being boiled in chicken fat and

bean sprouts. Those looking for an

garlic. The greasy richness of the rice

extra kick can stir in a spoonful of

is livened up by sweet dark soy sauce

sambal belacan, a wonderful spicy

and spicy chili garlic sauce. A bowl of

dishes not mentioned here – Char

and savory paste made from chili,

chicken broth, and slices of chicken

Kway Tiao, Hokkien Mee, Roti Prata,

fermented shrimp and lime juice.

and cucumber marinated in sesame

Prawn Mee, Rojak, just to name a

sauce, complete the experience. It’s

few. There are some great places that

amazing, even when compared with

serve Singaporean food near NYU.

the other great fare that Singapore has

Nyonya, a Malaysian restaurant in

should be a multi-pronged assault on

to offer. With a dish like this, there

Chinatown, is a particularly good

the senses. This one-of-a-kind noodle

is a great temptation to overindulge

choice - I’ve tried it out personally, and

dish has a wonderfully complex flavor

– after your first fiery, heartburn

I can guarantee that it serves authentic

and texture, as you would expect from

inducing encounter with chicken rice,

fare at a reasonable price. You can

a dish that lists tamarind, shrimp

you may start wishing your stomach

find out more at www.yoursingapore.

paste, mangosteen, shredded mackerel,

was stretchier, and start counting

com/dining-drinks-singapore/local-

pineapple, onion, chili and mint among

down the hours till your next meal so

dishes.html, or better yet, just hop

its ingredients. The taste is impossible

you can have another go. When this

on a plane and fly to Singapore!

to describe – it’s sweet, sour, savoury,

happens, just remember that chicken

fishy, minty, spicy, tangy, but above all,

rice is pretty much just saturated

damn good to eat. Just reading about

fat and carbs, and it isn’t worth

Assam Laksa doesn’t do it any justice.

risking a heart attack over. Or is it?

Assam Laksa A good bowl of Assam Laksa

There is a myriad of other excellent

G

It’s something you simply have to experience for yourself to understand.

Nasi Lemak

Kaya Toast and Half Boiled Egg

is a dish born from pure genius. A

Nasi Lemak, literally “greasy rice”, Kaya Toast, Half Boiled Egg, and a

spoonful of Nasi Lemak is the perfect

cup of Teh (tea) or Kopi (coffee) - this

marriage between crunchiness

http://www.inspirefusion.com/media/2016/

is the classic Singaporean breakfast

and wetness – the roasted peanuts,

singapore_flag_with_food.jpg

served at the “Kopitiam” (coffeeshop).

fried anchovies and fresh cucumber

The half boiled eggs are soft and

crackle satisfyingly between your

Herman is a Freshman in Liberal Studies,

runny, and can be taken with pepper

teeth, while the spicy shrimp paste

planning to major in Journalism and

and sweet soy sauce. The kopi is dark

and fragrant coconut rice takes away

Economics. He misses Singapore very,

and thick. The toast is crustless,

the dryness from your mouth. A

very much. He also really wants to land

and toasted evenly until it is crispy

hardboiled egg, some fried chicken,

a good journalism gig in New York.

throughout. Sandwiched in between

or even a chunk of rendang beef are

the toast is a solid, totally unapologetic

welcome, but ultimately unnecessary

hunk of butter, and generous helpings

additions to this immensely popular

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Singaporean Food 9

LUNCH BREAK

The Taiwanese nighttime heat and humidity, the stench of grilled squid and stinky tofu, the iconic By Danou “Jenny” He game over sounds within an earshot from the numerous arcades are the senses I remember most.

Each storefront, cramped between others, is just a small window to people’s lives and their culture.

Medium: Digital Danou is a sophomore studying Studio Art in Steinhardt

10 Art

ACROSS THE OCEAN

O

By Jessie Yeung

Artwork by Kevin Tu

the number of students attending

practice tests, tutoring sessions, and

age of thirteen, I set foot for the first

ne September night, at the

American high schools on F-1 visas

harmful practices (one picture online

time in the boarding school I would

has increased from 1,700 in 2009

shows students with intravenous

come to call home. I was overflowing

to over 80,000 in 2014, of which a

drips to give them strength to keep

with nerves; beneath the typical

large percentage are Chinese.¹

studying). Failure is not an option,

worries about making friends and

This flood of Chinese students

and often times the pressure has fatal

juggling academics lurked the fear of

into America for high school can

consequences. In a 2013 Chinese study,

entering a new world by myself, a vast

seem puzzling, but there are myriad

92% of student suicides were related

ocean away from home. Though my

reasons to send your thirteen-year-

to academic stress; the cases occurred

previous school was American-based

old halfway across the world. In

after the students received poor exam

and international, it was one thing to

the end, most of these reasons boil

scores, were rejected from universities,

mingle with white students in Asia, and

down to obtaining a better education

or had been criticized by teachers.²

another entirely to attend high school

and better future opportunities.

Going abroad, therefore, is a way to

in a small New Hampshire town.

The hopes and fears I experienced

The first goal of a better education is born of a desire to escape the

escape the unforgiving gaokao system.

The desire to study abroad also

that night are echoed across the nation

high-pressure Chinese education

reveals the different natures of

every year. Asian students began

system. Unlike American colleges,

Western and Eastern education.

flocking to the United States in the

Chinese colleges don’t require essays,

Chinese lessons often focus on rote

1980s, when wealthy families in Hong

extracurriculars, or recommendations

memorization, producing students

Kong, Taiwan, and Korea could afford

- instead, there is only the grueling

who follow directions well and can

to send their children abroad. Chinese

gaokao entrance exam, which consumes

rattle algorithms off the top of their

families in particular jumped on the

students’ lives. Students begin studying

heads. In comparison, American

bandwagon, due to their massive

years in advance, attending cram

education focuses more on creativity,

population and rising upper class.

lessons and working until dawn. More

individuality, and the underlying why

According to the Council on Standards

than nine million students take the

of issues and concepts, not simply the

for International Educational Travel,

test each year, amassing countless

what. Both systems have their benefits

1 Chang, Cindy, and Frank Shyong. “Teens’ Attack on Chinese Girl Draws Comparison to ‘Lord of the Flies’ from Judge.” Los Angeles Times. July 2, 2015.

2 Roberts, Dexter. “China Exam System Drives Student Suicides.” Bloomberg News. May 15, 2014.

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Across the Ocean 11

and disadvantages, but America’s low-

to increased suspicion

pressure, holistic style appeals to many

and scrutiny towards

Chinese students who have never had

Chinese applicants.

the chance to actually enjoy learning.

The last motive for going abroad

Another problem is that of cultural differences,

for high school is to (supposedly)

which begin at the

clear a path to attending an American

application process and

university. In China, if you don’t

endure far beyond the

perform well in the gaokao and don’t

student’s acceptance. The

get into a top university, your career

cultural gap is apparent

options are severely limited. Therefore,

from the get-go; an article

many look to the most elite colleges

from The Atlantic explains,

in the United States as an alternative.

“American applications, which ask

those kids out there on their own,

Harvard, Princeton, and Yale (also

open-ended behavioral questions and

and problems like this happen.”5

known as The Big Three) conjure

request casual personal statements,

up images of successful careers and

can feel unfamiliar, even confusing.”³

tragedies, the emigration of Chinese

comfortable lives; so, to chase their

To Chinese students, who are used to

students is clearly a complex issue that

version of the American Dream,

strict instructions and standardized

delves into mental health, globalization,

Chinese students go abroad for high

test scores, these personal questions

and cultural differences in education.

school to strengthen their future college

can be baffling. The differences in

The influx of Chinese students will also

applications. Despite the $200,000

values and expectations continue

undoubtedly change both countries’

price tag of a private American

when students arrive at their new

education systems; U.S. schools have

schools; sometimes they do well,

already increased efforts to recruit

excel academically, and continue

international students who add to the

onto good colleges. Other times, they

sought-after standard of diversity.

struggle with language barriers, social

Meanwhile, perhaps galvanized by the

problems, loneliness, and resentment.

outflow of students, Chinese schools are

More than nine million students take the test each year, amassing countless practice tests, tutoring sessions, and harmful practices.

These difficulties can manifest in depression and mental health problems, but also in violence. One infamous

With both success stories and

emerging with more “Western” styles that emphasize freedom and creativity.

With the punishing gaokao and no

high school education, for China’s

instance is the 2015 attack on Yiran

room for creative thought, it’s easy to

wealthy, it is a calculated investment

Liu in Los Angeles, in which a group

see why Chinese students are flooding

to pave the way to the Ivy League.

of fellow Chinese students stripped,

to the U.S. Conversely, with the amount

beat, and burned Liu. The attorney of

of challenges they face, it’s also easy

a number of problems have arisen

one attacker later said, “I’m sure they

to see how some students flounder.

for both the system and the students.

[the attackers] suffer loneliness. So

Although I was fortunate and adjusted

To snatch those coveted high school

they bond with other kids in the small

quickly, I vividly remember the anxiety

spots, Chinese families often employ

Chinese circles with no supervision, no

of navigating a new school in an

agencies and consultants to help their

one to turn to for assistance.” Whether

unfamiliar country. The flow of Chinese

children’s applications. This popular

or not this is an accurate depiction

students is unlikely to diminish,

tactic, also used for college applications,

of the case, the statement highlights

especially at NYU, which prides itself

leads to ghost-written essays, cheating

the danger of teenagers experiencing

on being multicultural. They aren’t

on the SSAT, and memorizing scripts

their most formative years in an

simply part of your classes, your dorms,

for interviews. American admissions

unfamiliar environment, away from

your parties - they are part of America’s

officers find it increasingly difficult to

steadying adult influences. Even the

future. Let’s welcome them as such.

tell which applications are legitimate

father of one attacker admitted, “I

and honest, and which are products

think an attack like this would have

Jessie is a sophomore in CAS studying English

of education agencies - in turn leading

happened sooner or later...You leave

Despite the benefits of going abroad,

and Media. Her first crush was Simba.

3 Gao, Helen. “How China’s New Love Affair with U.S. Private Schools Is Changing Them Both.” The Atlantic. March 28, 2012.

4 Li, Cao. “Q. and A.: Zhang Fan on Chinese ‘Parachute Kids’ in the U.S.” The New York Times. March 01, 2016.

12 Politics & Migration

G

ASIAN AMERICAN IMMIGRATION

by Lina Wu

“B

uild the wall!” is a statement loudly echoed by Trump

Chinese workers

Why We Rise Promo

fought to receive

followers across America. However, it

the same pay as

is often overlooked that a large propor-

white workers,

tion of undocumented immigrants are

they still worked

of Asian descent. The Asian American

longer and harder

community has some of the fastest

hours. 1Regard-

growing numbers of undocumented

less, Chinese im-

immigrants, and the 2016 election

migrants still ex-

results will determine the fates of these

perienced heavy

lives. For thousands of years, people of

backlash from

Asian descent have migrated into the

the American

U.S. both legally and illegally. Un-

public, and were perceived as job-

an American ally against Japan, so the

documented and documented Asian-

stealers and threat to American society.

Magnuson Act was passed to repeal

American immigration has had a long

American legislators would stop

the Exclusion Act. However, only 105

and arduous history that will be exam-

at nothing to prevent “yellow peril”

Chinese immigrants were allowed

ined countless times when looking at

from continuing to spread across the

in per year, and the Magnuson Act

America’s current immigration policy.

United States. “Yellow peril” is a racial

still reflected the strong prejudice

The United States has exploited

stereotype for people of Asian descent

against Chinese people in America.

people of Asian heritage throughout

rooted in European colonialism. It es-

The Anti-Coolie Act was passed

the years. One example is the labor of

sentially implies that people of Asian

years later on February, 19th, 1962;

the Transcontinental Railroad. Chinese

descent are a threat to the West. In the

“coolies” referred to Chinese im-

immigrants contributed a large part

spring of 1882, one major discrimina-

migrants, specifically unskilled

of the railroad labor force in the 19th

tory piece of legislation was passed to

laborers. It banned transportation

century, and were exploited because

stop further immigration from China.

of Chinese workers to America. 3

American contractors had difficulties

Signed by President Chester A. Arthur,

controlling Irish laborers, who re-

The Chinese Exclusion Act aimed to

Act, immigration was regulated by

fused to take on the harder jobs for the

stop Chinese immigrants from “steal-

the provisions of the National Origins

railroad. As a result, Chinese workers

ing jobs.” It put a 10-year absolute

System. The National Origins System

took their place. American contractors

moratorium on Chinese immigration.2

was implemented in 1924 as America’s

found them to have a better work ethic

During World War II, China was

first set of comprehensive immigration

Around the time of the Anti-Coolie

so Chinese workers were chosen for the most difficult work. Even though 1 “American Experience: TV’s Most-watched History Series.” PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

2 “Milestones: 1921–1936 - Office of the Historian.” U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

3 “Chinese Exclusion Act (1882).” Open Collections Program: Immigration to the US,. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

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Asian American Immigration 13

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f8/e1/7e/f8e17ef3aed21d9332e87a6a6e2091c6.jpg

mented Asian immigrants arriving regulations, and restricted immigration

of systematic exclusion and oppressive

in the U.S. has increased 202% from

from certain nations based on immi-

immigration policies, aiming to elimi-

2000 to 2013. “The Asian countries

grant percentages and quotas. It ef-

nate the former national origins quota.

with the largest growth are India (306

fectively limited immigration from Asia

No longer would race, national origin,

percent), South Korea (249 percent),

at token levels because it excluded im-

and ancestry be used as the basis for

and China (148 percent).” But why do

migrants from an “Asiatic Barred Zone”

entry. Despite these benefits, it wasn’t

these nations have the largest growth?4

except Japan and the Philippines. Al-

entirely progressive, as it prohibited en-

Today, Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing minority groups in America; according to the Pew Research Center we made up 5.8% of the American population in 2011.

Despite the fact that undocumented

try for LBGTQ people

immigrants often come from low in-

on the grounds of

come backgrounds, this is not entirely

“mental illness.”

the case for Asian immigration. South

People of Asian

Korea, China, and India have developed

descent have

thriving economies that make it more fi-

been systemati-

nancially possible to migrate to America

cally excluded from

- undocumented or documented.5

American society

Today’s immigration legislation has a

though China was not in that zone, Chi-

by restrictive immigration regulations

great impact on the lives of these undoc-

nese immigrants were already barred

and other forms of legislation. Today,

umented Asian immigrants. Deferred

entry under the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Asian Americans are one of the fastest

Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Legislation like this allowed for an

growing minority groups in America;

is one of these pieces of legislation.

environment that tolerated nativism

according to the Pew Research Center

Those who entered the U.S. before the

and xenophobia. It used literacy tests

we made up 5.8% of the American

to prevent entry from “unskilled im-

population in 2011. We also are a large

migrants”, and the system didn’t end

part of the undocumented population:

until the Immigration and Nationality

according to a new report by the the

Act of 1965. This Act reversed decades

Migration Policy Institute, undocu-

14 Politics & Migration

1 4 Phippen, J. Weston. “Asians Now Outpace Mexicans In Terms of Undocumented Growth.” The Alantic. Atlantic Media Company, 20 Aug. 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

age of 16 qualify for DACA. Recipients

versity’s Transactional Records Access

as “lazy burdens to America”, none

receive postponement of deportation

Clearinghouse as deportation rates rise,

of that is true. Undocumented immi-

and a opportunity to request work

officials try to deport the wrong people.

grants are hard workers looking for a

authorization. Many undocumented

The Justice Department’s Executive

better life, and we must respect that.

Asian American immigrants are too scared to actually sign up for DACA. Thousands of undocumented Asian American immigrants are eligible to DACA as we speak, but are either unaware or unwilling to come out of the shadows. Ultimately

Our ancestors migrated to the US searching for better futures for them and new generations. To this day people of Asian descent continue to enter the US searching for better lives. As our presence continues to be solidified in American society, our stories must have increased representation.

How do we respect that? We can’t support candidates like Donald Trump that echo xenophobic nativist rhetoric. We can’t support legislation that punishes the innocent for searching for a better

there needs to be more of

life. We need to demand

an effort to tell the stories

more support from

of these undocumented Asian im-

Office for Immigration Review’s records

government figures for legislation that

migrants so that less fear will shroud

indicate that many times, immigration

protects undocumented immigrants.

their presences in our society.

officials had either tried to deport the

But there needs to be more done

wrong people or requested dismissal of

beyond that. We can demand more

ing Asian American Immigrant Stories

cases because they didn’t have enough

representation of the lives and stories

on the East Coast work to tell the stories

evidence to justify deportation. 5

of undocumented Asian immigrants

Groups such as RAISE: Revolutioniz-

of undocumented Asian Americans.

Films such as 2013 film Why We

in Hollywood. To be more inclusive of

However, we do not see enough positive

Rise directed by Corinne Manabat and

Asian American lives in Hollywood

attention from the mainstream media,

Brian Redondo are perfect examples of

is not just stopping the whitewashing

which merely continues to add fire

fighting back against such negativity.

of Mulan, it is also telling the stories

to the bigotry of Donald Trump and

The film follows three undocumented

of all members of our community.

Asian American

Although the Asian American

students in New

identity hasn’t been alive for that long

York, and gives

in American society, the creation of our

an intimate

identity has been in the works for hun-

perspective on

dreds of years. Our ancestors migrated

the struggles of

to the U.S. searching for better futures

undocumented

for them and new generations. To this

Asian Ameri-

day people of Asian descent continue to

cans.6 Although

enter the U.S. searching for better lives.

we often see big-

As our presence continues to be solidi-

oted stereotypes

fied in American society, our stories

that portray

must have increased representation. G

undocumented immigrants

Donald Trump

his followers calling for the increased deportation of undocumented immigrants. By increasing deportations, we’ll be effectively sending many people back to worse situations. According to 2010 data obtained by Syracuse UniREAD OUR BLOG

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Lina Wu is a second year at NYU who’s curious about the world and its problems.

1 5 Wang, Marian. “As Deportations Increase, So Have Officials’ Attempts to Deport the Wrong People.” ProPublica. Pro Publica Inc, 10 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

2 6 Hjandu. “PBS ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL: “WHY WE RISE” FILMMAKERS Q&A.” CAAM Home. 2014 CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA, 16 June 2014. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

Asian American Immigration 15

S T IL L FR E SH OFF T HE BO AT A force that drives discrimination simultaneously inspires unity, and that’s a sad but beautiful thing.

T

by Faith Choi

http://hmhinthenews.com/hs_snlean792200_228p_article/

wo months ago I sat in the

back row of an Uber on the way

to a party, legs beginning to cramp from the ridiculously tight space

Because what exactly is the word FOB?

to create a divide between those

Are we, Asian Americans, allowed to

using the word and those being

use it? Is anybody else allowed to use it?

categorized under this term.

Fresh off the boat, or FOB, was

I always thought that the insult

six other people and I had managed

popularized in the 1960s. Its original

of being called “FOB” just because I

to squeeze into. The rowdy chorus

definition encompassed any and

was Asian was a bitter pill I had to

of my intoxicated friends shouting

all foreigners who came overseas

swallow -- that it was better to stay

random things had all started to

(back then by boats/ships) to live in

quiet and not start an argument. But

sound the same until I heard one girl

the United States, but over time it

now, I have noticed that the group

sitting in the front say, “But there

has evolved to become a derogatory

are, like, so many FOBs at NYU.”

racial stereotype of Asians. It can

Another girl, squeezed in the

also be used to describe the actions

back row with me, gave her a slap

and characteristics of someone or

on the shoulder and gasped, “You’re

something. Calling someone a “FOB” or

not supposed to use that word!”

describing their clothing and speech as

“Why not? All my Asian friends use it.”

“I’m Korean, but it’s not like I’m from a different planet or anything.”

“FOB-ish” is rarely a compliment; it is

targeted by this term is beginning

used to criticize and insult. Jin Youn,

to fight back. We (the “FOBs,” so

a Korean American NYU freshman

to speak), have taken the first step

how to feel about the whole situation.

majoring in music performance, puts

towards reclamation. We have decided

Was I supposed to be upset? Angry?

the situation into context: “You’re

to no longer ignore the history and

Did I need to confront this girl?

basically categorizing them… I’m

the finger-pointing that term brings.

So, there it was. I didn’t know

But before I said or did anything,

Korean, but it’s not like I’m from a

This fight is evident when you

I realized I didn’t know what to say

different planet or anything.” It creates

google “fresh off the boat” and find

except, “Hey, don’t use that word!”

an “us” vs. “them” environment

results linked to ABC’s latest hit

16 Politics & Migration

comedy show instead of derogatory comments. We keep the struggles and the painful memories of our ancestors while trying to move on and create

of this generation to reclaim this term.

So are we, as Asians, allowed to use the word “FOB?” I should think so, for the

more memories with the present.

sake of reclamation.

This is part of the Asian American

“But I don’t think it’s necessary to use the word to describe someone,” Sarah Shin, a Korean American senior in Stern, points out. And she is correct. Ultimately, there are better expressions that can be used besides “FOB,” and it is not necessary to have in one’s vocabulary. Like many fraught words, I believe there may be certain times, places, and groups you can use it in. For the sake of reasonability, I am for the idea of reclaiming this discriminatory term rather than strictly tabooing it.

In the end, the girl in the Uber could’ve phrased her sentence differently. I may go so far as to say it would’ve been best if she hadn’t said it at all. Should I have called her out on it? Probably. Because isn’t individuals speaking up how collective change is set in motion?

Despite the fact that almost 60 years have passed since the coining of this term, it’s evident

transition to redefine, reclaim, and embrace a term created to taunt us.

The aforementioned TV program Fresh Off the Boat shows that “FOB” does not need to have a derogatory connotation (and how it can be reclaimed) -- sometimes it can be humorous and good natured. The show sheds light on a story that is part of the American history not often told -the Asian American immigrants who traveled far to start a new life. While the usage of “FOB” still has its original purpose of isolating a group of people and ridiculing them, it also has the power to do the opposite, and unite that very group of people together.

People often bond over shared hurt and experiences, and being called “FOB” fits into both of these categories.

A force that drives discrimination simultaneously inspires unity, and that’s a sad but beautiful thing. This sense of oneness is the very thing that drives many Asians

that much remains the same.

America, especially the east and west coasts, started off by being called “melting pots” that represented and still represent many different cultures from many different places, and New York stands as a prime example. NYU, as a smaller community within that city, is no exception. It is one of the most diverse higher education institutions in the whole world, and I believe that as a student attending a college with that reputation, I bear some sort of responsibility. I believe that we, regardless of race, all bear that responsibility. We all must learn to understand and embrace cultures that are different from ours, and work towards breaking down the walls of racial stereotypes and stigmatism. G Faith is a freshman in the Global Liberal Studies program looking to concentrate in Contemporary Culture and Creative Production. She is an avid lover of dogs and food, but NOT dogs as food (contrary to the popular Korean stereotype).

ABC’s new hit comedy show, Fresh Off the Boat http://tvline.com/2016/07/25/fresh-off-the-boat-season-3-premiere-taiwan/ (ABC)

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Still Fresh Off the Boat 17

FESTIVAL

By Whei Lujan

Since I was a child I’ve loved to read about mythology and folktales. With this piece, I wanted to combine this aspect of myself into imagery.

Whei is a Sophomore studying Computer Science in the College of Arts and Science.

18 Art

GENERASIAN: MEDIA HIGHLIGHT (2016)

By Jeffery Wu

An interview series where we talk to important figures in the AAPI space to pick their brain, explore their work, and share their thoughts.

This year we caught up with directors Sueann Shiah and David Tyson Lam, who represent AAPI interests and cultures in documentaries and movies respectfully, as well as Ryan Liu, director of AAPI for Hillary. More than ever, having frank and enlightening conversations about our identity, race, and culture through a variety of lens is sorely needed. (EST: 2016)

CHIT-CHAT

NOM

A food review series that explores New York’s old and new culinary establishments and explains the culture and the stories behind a cuisine or dish. This year we saw the rise of Asian-American entrepreneurs crafting and showcasing cuisine from abroad.

Whether it was Thai rolled ice cream, matcha lattes, or Taiwanese baos, Asian cuisine has been heavily represented in new restaurants popping up over New York City. (EST: 2013)

A video series providing much needed inside look to the variety of Asian & Asian-American interest clubs on campus. It is actually the very first series started on Generasian Media with an interview of NYU’s Korean Student Association. Since then, it’s evolved to cover a wider breadth of clubs to not

ACROSS THE BOARD

only inform incoming students, but current students as well. (EST: 2012)

WATCH MORE: youtube.com/nyugenerasian

“Now in our fifth year of existence, Generasian Media provides a space and a platform for media creators and artists alike to create content for the content-less. In the past, our role was primarily that of a traditional media outlet, covering and promoting restaurants, events, and even artists. While it’s increasingly important to discuss the creations of other Asian-Americans, I realized Generasian Media could do more...”

Read the full story on: generasian.org/media2016

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Media Highlight 19

ZOMBIES: THE PANDEMIC SPREADING TO

ASIA

affirming the profitability of this genre. Even the global hit Game of Thrones has its version of zombies in the form of the ‘White Walkers.’

This zombie craze is now spreading towards Asian countries, Drawing courtesy of Zoya To

Y

which have traditionally focused on ghost stories. After all, the modern

by Jihoon Yang

zombie was born in the Western world ou have nowhere to

escape. You can hide in

Singapore to make their own. These

through the Voodoo religion in Haiti,

films have often followed the same

which then spread to North America

your room with the door locked or in

trend: killer female ghosts who died

when the United States occupied

the most remote of shelters, but she

tragically in urban settings are out to

Haiti in the 20th century. With the

will find you. She has snow white

seek revenge. These films resonate with

global expansion of American pop

skin and pitch black hair, dark as the

Asian audiences because they represent

culture, it seems only natural that

void in her heart. Her eyes are both

deeper issues within contemporary

zombie cinema would spread as well,

cold yet hot, smoldering with the

society, such as moral disquietude

as evidenced by this summer’s zombie

flames of vengeance. Her grip on you

or disparity between the rich and

releases of Train to Busan in South

is inescapable, and, having nowhere

poor . Yet this trope of Asian horror

Korea and I am a Hero in Japan.

to run, everything starts caving in

movies is starting to slow down and

on you as fear rises in your throat.

make way for a genre of horror from

huge hit in Korea, earning $99 million

the Western hemisphere: zombies.

worldwide, making it the biggest

That is the image many movie enthusiasts imagine when they think

1

America is the the parent

Train to Busan quickly became a

release of the year, as well as the

about Asian horror movies. They tend

of zombie trope films, which have

biggest Korean release in Taiwan, Hong

to think of movies like Ju-on: The

undoubtedly become one of America’s

Kong, and Singapore. But what led to

Grudge and The Ring, both of which

most popular genres. This was made

this sudden release of a zombie films,

have ghosts. Ever since the 1990s,

clear with the release of World War Z,

which proved immensely popular in

the birth of “J-Horror,” or Japanese

which grossed $540 million worldwide,

Korea? Particularly when, according

Horror, has led to huge box office hits

becoming the highest grossing zombie

to Train director Yeon Sangho, in 2011

within the Asian cinema industry,

film of all time2. Popular American

to 2012 a series of zombie movies were

leading other Asian countries like South

TV shows like The Walking Dead

canceled during development stages

Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and

have also spread around the world,

for lack of commercial viability.

1 “’Cinema-Spiritualism’ in Southeast Asia and Beyond. Encounters with Ghosts in the 21st Century [final Draft]. Forthcoming in Ghost Movies in Southeast Asia and Beyond Narratives, Cultural Contexts, Audiences, Ed. by Peter J. Bräunlein & Andrea.” Academia. Accessed October 26, 2016.

2 “World War Z (2013).” Box Office Mojo. Accessed October 26, 2016.

20 Entertainment

“I think the young people have been familiarized with the concept of zombies and innovative genre movies through those experiences.”

werewolves don’t get nearly the same hype nowadays. It turns out the appeal

zombie films to vent out their fears.

But there are other reasons why

of zombie movies is natural; with

zombies have become the sensation

constant news of global catastrophes

of the horror genre. According to an

cropping up left and right in the media,

article by the Huffington Post, one of

contemporary society has used zombies

the reasons why zombies appeal to us

as bringers of the imagined doomsday.

is that the depiction of the mindless,

Instead of actually imagining what

flesh-consuming undead acts as a

the more realistic nuclear war or

metaphor for the idea that death will

been exposed to diverse types of

global warming apocalypse might look

consume us all. Faced directly with

contents through the internet,” said

like, we use zombies as a safe guilty

death, the audience enjoys the spectacle

Yeon. “These include foreign zombie

pleasure.

of killing zombies. Not only do we

“The younger generation has

films such as World War Z and The Walking Dead. Also, there have been [many] web cartoons featuring zombies. I think the young people have been familiarized with the concept of zombies and innovative genre movies through those experiences.”

Zombie films have now become so popular that investors have

“Zombies are the perfect tool for exploring apocalyptic fears. There are things that are really scary out there in this world that are lot scarier than zombies, but we don’t talk about them.”

temporarily defeat death, but we also may kill without any feelings of guilt or remorse, because zombies cannot be cured or reasoned with. They embody the direct opposite of everything we desire, such as beauty or love5.

Maybe it has to do with the fact that whenever we turn on the TV, there’s always some sort of global

received several pitches for zombie

doom forecasted: global warming, the

films after the release of Train.

U.S. presidential elections, terrorism,

Train is even getting an English

“You have to believe that this could

and so many more. As teenagers

remake and Yeon has been offered

happen,” said Max Brooks, author

or young adults, we can not help

deals to direct in Hollywood .

of World War Z, in an interview

but feel overwhelmed by the sheer

to Newsweek. “Zombies are the

feeling of claustrophobia that these

zombie trend as well with the release

perfect tool for exploring apocalyptic

possible apocalypses induce, and

of the manga adaptation, I am a Hero.

fears. There are things that are

instead designate zombies as physical,

Similarly to Korea, the Japanese zombie

really scary out there in this world

tangible substitutes to deal with.

film scene has been quiet until now.

that are lot scarier than zombies,

Although not as financially successful

but we don’t talk about them.”

3

Japan has been following the

as “Train,” the film has received

It is in this sense that zombies

positive reviews for how brutal and

have become a symbol of uncontrollable

thrilling it is. While Train is relatively

events. Vampires and werewolves

non-gory for a horror movie, Hero

pale in comparison, they are night

does not hold back on the pools of blood

creatures that generally feed off

that one might expect from a zombie

small populations. The horde of the

film, making it a heart-racing end of

undead, on the other hand, is meant

the world movie. With the chilling

to play on contemporary society’s

sound effects of bones crunching and

primitive fears of suffocating modern

the visuals of black veined, blood

disasters4. Indeed, with so many

eyed zombie, Hero definitely keeps

issues rising every day such as global

audiences gripping onto their seats.

warming, terrorism, epidemics,

But why have zombies become

G

This is Jihoon’s first article for Generasian.

nuclear warfare, and economic

so popular compared to other tropes in

collapse, it is quite reasonable that

the horror genre? After all, vampires or

even Asian film industries are making

1 Kil, Sonia. “Blockbuster ‘Train to Busan’ Opens Doors to More Asian Zombie Pics.” Variety. October 06, 2016. Accessed October 26, 2016.

2 Kelley, Raina. “The Social Significance of Zombies.” Newsweek. October 29, 2010. Accessed October 26, 2016.

3 Miller, Dennis. “Why Zombies Rule.” The Huffington Post. October 30, 2012. Accessed October 26, 2016.

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Zombies: The Pandemic Spreading to Asia 21

This piece plays on the implications behind the phrase “Sink or Swim.� Sinking is understood as succumbing to defeat, while swimming is seen as victoriously overcoming obstacles.

With the use of light, I wanted to flip the dynamics of this phrase to show the burden of the expectations of success, as well as the inspiration and growth that flourishes out of failure.

SINK

22 Art

...OR SWIM?

By Tatiana Hollander-Ho Tatiana is a Junior studying Media, Culture, and Communication in Steinhardt.

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Art 23

JAPANESE ANIMATION: YOUR NAME & ITS SUCCESS A

by Manchen Wang

s a Japanese anime

director and former graphic

designer, Makoto Shinkai has produced many works, like The Garden of Words. On October

of noise, entertainment, and department

that men ought to be stronger than women

stores. The movie reminded me of my trip

has become a pervading theme in many

and the two opposite environments.

Japanese films. For instance, in the 2015 film

This contrast between glamorous city life

Tag, Mitsuko, a high school girl, discovered

4th, his film Your Name earned a total of

and the beauty of nature is a common theme

herself in a game called Tag, in which she

US$152.9 million. It ranked the sixth highest-

in many famous animations. Some aim to

could not escape a doomed routine of being

grossing Japanese film ever, and fifteenth

reveal the harm humans have inflicted on

chased by killers. She nearly got killed by

highest-grossing Japanese or overseas film

the environment, like Miyazaki’s Spirited

teachers, and was pushed to marry a man

overall. Though some have praised him as

Away, in which a river spirit is covered

with a pig’s head. Though she finally escaped

the next Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese film

with human-produced pollution. In other

the game, her role in the game reflected many

producer internationally famous for his films

animations, highly industrialized cities serve

real-life difficulties women face, like being

such as Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving

as the story’s stage, like Psycho-Pass and

pushed to marry an undesirable partner.

Castle, Shinkai himself thought it was an

Tokyo Ghoul. In these works, the crowded,

Shinkai’s films have had other widespread

overstatement. Nevertheless, his lasting

fast-paced city life fosters an intense

effects on viewers; for example, the fact that

success is undeniable. What lies behind his

atmosphere for danger and violence. But in

Your Name takes place in Tokyo and Itomori

films’ global impact is their cultural elements

Your Name, this contrast is portrayed in a

prompted anime fans from all over the world

and reflection of Japanese society as a whole.

clear, lively and positive way: through the

His newest film, Your Name, uses time-

lenses of Mitsuha and Taki, the audience

and space-traveling to illustrate two distinct

experiences what high school students’

lifestyles in Japan: thriving city life and rural

lives are like in Tokyo and rural Japan.

life in faraway villages. These two separate

Apart from the contrast of urban and

lives have played remarkable roles in various

rural lifestyles, another intriguing theme

Japanese animations and they actually reflect

in Japanese film is the difference in female

significant values in Japanese culture: the

and male roles. In Shinkai’s works, both in

This phenomenon of gender roles might be related to the Japanese idealism of family roles to travel to Japan. Your Name is not the first

worship of

Garden of Words and

film to have this effect. In the manga Lucky

nature as a

Your Name, the female

Star, the tea house “Otori-chaya” is usually

place of god,

characters are much

seen in the opening scene. As a result, it

and longing

more submissive than

left a strong impression on fans, and a large

for adventure

the male characters.

number of tourists began visiting the tea

in the big

When Mitsuha

house in search of the filming locations. The

city. In the

exchanged bodies with

tourists were not only domestic citizens but

story, Mitsuha

Taki, she appeared

were from all around the world. Many of my

Miyamizu

softer in her speech

high school peers visited Japan to take tours at

is a girl

and movements.

the sites where scenes were shot; my friends

who lives in the country town of Itomori,

As a result, “Taki” (really Mitsuha) seemed

and I travelled to Shinjuku Gyoen searching

and finds herself exchanging bodies with a

girlish and was made fun of. On the other

for the view in Garden of Word’s main scene.

boy, Taki Tachibana from Tokyo. Whereas

hand, when others were saying bad things

Shinkai’s skillful storytelling attracts

Tokyo has various commercial districts

about Mitsuha, Taki in Mitsuha’s body

more and more people to take trips in

and shops, Itomori does not even have a

directly fought back by kicking the offender’s

search of the beautiful scenes where his

single coffee shop. Taki goes to school by

table in the classroom. However, Mitsuha

films take place, and for some, the romance

subway every day, but Mitsuha commutes

herself would not have dared to do so.

that comes with it. If you are looking for

by walking. In reality, these two completely

This phenomenon of gender roles

a reason to explore Japanese heritage and

different lifestyles do exist in Japan. On a

might be related to the Japanese idealism of

culture, manga and animation would be

trip there, my friends and I went to a quiet

family roles—particularly, the traditional

an easy and fun start. Just the scope that

town in Izu, a faraway rural area to see

view that women should stay at home all

G animations cover is exciting enough. G

fireflies at night. Afterward, we rented an

the time, whereas men should spend their

apartment near Shinjuku, a Tokyo area full

lives working. Protests against the notion

Manchen Wang is a first year student in College of Arts and Science. She is from Beijing and she likes animation.

24 Entertainment

ASIAN FILMMAKERS : A DIALOGUE

by Olia Zhang

W

hat does it feel like to be Asian in the American film industry?

This question has haunted me since I was 13, after my dad gave me an iPad. I would watch films on that iPad everyday, gradually becoming one of those weird kids who enjoyed staying in her room all day watching films, thinking about life and love, war and peace with immature pretension. Almost all of the films were

ing to give her funding because they had

are facing huge opportunities in markets

American. They would pique my curios-

never seen any Asian directors before.

both domestically and internationally.

ity about the United States of America,

She had to work relentlessly to convince

where I would later decide to go to college.

them to put their doubts aside. After one

difficulties than Asian filmmakers. For an

As an aspiring filmmaker, I noticed

company finally promised to invest in her

actor who wants to gain recognition, an

that in all the American films I saw, the

movie, the manager still couldn’t let go

Asian identity and physical appearance can

number of major Asian directors, pro-

of his concerns and forced her to replace

be a decisive disadvantage. Which Asian

ducers and actors could be counted on

the Asian editors in her team with white

characters are you most likely to find in

one hand. Ang Lee is the only Asian to

editors who were much less qualified.

American films? Nerds, Chinese restaurant

ever win a Oscar for “Best Director,”

Denise Zhou, a sophomore student

Asian actors in America face even more

owners, doctors, Kung Fu fighters, bystand-

and the last time an Asian actor won an

majoring in films at NYU said “The

ers, laundry men--the list goes on, and these

Oscar was in 1985. On the other hand,

school is like a bubble. It tries its best to

characters are almost always all stereo-

in 2012 only 2% of the voters for Oscars

ensure the inclusiveness and diversity

typed, misrepresented, and oversimplified.

were Asian, according to Times. When

of the student body so no one really

Raul, a student in Wharton School of

I arrived in New York, I decided to talk

gets a different treatment because of

Business in University of Pennsylvania, was

to Asian filmmakers here to find out

race. But we know that in the industry,

born in China and grew up in Los Angeles.

why there is such a shortage of Asian

things are very different. For example,

He described an audition where the cast-

representation. Here are their stories.

in American cinema, when competing

ing director asked him “Can you be more

with white people, Asian usually find it

Asian?” The implication was clear: he should

the film-making world, people treated us

harder to get hired. The market is pretty

act clumsier and speak with a funny accent.

like shit.” said Christine Choy, one of the

much white-dominant.”However, chal-

He was a passionate performer who worked

first Asian filmmakers in the US and a

lenges come with opportunities. Jamie,

four different jobs to support his career as

professor at NYU’s Tisch School of Arts.

a films and TV major student who grew

an actor even if he sometimes had to sleep at

She has made many nationally acclaimed

up in both Korea and the US said “I feel

McDonald’s to save money. However, after

films and is a member of the Academy of

my third-culture identity as an Asian

working as a professional actor for a year

Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which

American has very positive effects on

and a half, he eventually gave up on acting

nominates and votes for films at the Os-

my path as a filmmaker. I see endless

to study business. He has seen Asian actors

cars. She started her career as a documen-

potential in the future.” She believes

playing the same types of characters for 20

tary director in the 1980s. Back then, her

because there are fewer Asian filmmak-

years. He talked about no matter how uncom-

Asian identity gave her enormous trouble.

ers in this field than there should be,

fortable Asian actors feel about playing roles

Almost all potential investors were unwill-

those who enter this industry right now

that are misrepresenting our cultures, they

“When Asian people just stepped into

1 Aptly dubbed by Orchestrated Pulse contributor RobtheIdealist 2 http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/2/trayvon-martin-jordandavisracefatigueimplicitbiasstandyourground.html READ OUR BLOG

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Asian Filmmakers: A Dialogue 25

must often sacrifice their own feelings and

background.” James Lee, a film ma-

changing the stereotype against Asian filmmak-

values to cater to what the directors or

jor freshman from China had another

ers has been growing stronger and stronger.

producers want, who are usually white.

explanation:“Whether to work in Ameri-

W

hy are Asians still a minority in film industry?

There are many historical and social

can film industry sometimes is about

more new-comers to the film industry. For these

talent or hard work. It’s just what interests

aspiring filmmakers, my interviewees each of-

me is very different from what interests

fered advice drawn from their own experiences.

audience here in the US.” Even though he

One frequently mentioned suggestion was: no

came to the U.S. for the education system

matter what the environment is like, the most

aspects involved in the answer to this

and liberal environment, he thinks he

question. Comprising about 6% of the total

will go back to China after graduation.

population of America, Asians now don’t

In the future, things will get better, thanks to

Some situations in the American

To fight for a wider recognition of Asian filmmakers, I think what we should do is to expose ourselves and show people what we can do. Our ideas and work will eventually bring in-depth understanding to the public and change the situation.”

hold a corresponding percentage in

movie market are also preventing the

American cinema or receive correspond-

presence of Asians from expanding. John

ing recognition. Also, why is the number

said: “People are not used to seeing names

of Asians in the film industry so much

of Asian directors, producers, and actors

lower than fields like technology and

when they see a movie. That habit also

finance? One explanation is that the

affects the companies who then assume

history of Asians in cinema is relatively

hiring Asian people is against the need

short because they entered the industry

of the market. And this kind of became

later. Professor Choy discussed what it was

a cycle.” Why do we rarely see Asian

like when she began doing films in the 80s,

people as main characters on the screen?

important thing is to always be yourself and do

saying “There were almost no other Asians

Jamie mentioned that when the casting

your best doing what you want to do. Profes-

in the film school. I was only lucky because

directors hold auditions, there are usually

sor Christine said, “Don’t alienate yourself from

at that time state government started to

no specific indications of race in the script,

your ideas. The most crucial part of film-making

make policies to encourage schools to make

so the key is always about how the casting

is always original ideas and good storytelling.”

the student body more racially diverse.”

director imagines the characters’ races

Denise said, “Try to understand who you are

to be. Therefore, the answer might fall

and make the most out of your identity instead

of “correct” careers for Asian Ameri-

down to this unspoken assumption that

of being deterred by it.” And finally John said:

cans. “In my parents’ generation, Asian

most main characters are white, instead

“What matters the most is still your passion

Americans mostly would put financial

of Asian, Black or Hispanic.

and capability. Once you have these two things,

Another cause is the traditional notion

stability before anything else when choosing their careers.” Denise said.

Being a doctor, lawyer, engineer, banker, or accountant tend to be supe-

H

ow can we improve ?

“Systematic change takes lots of time

others things will work out themselves.”

Everyone who follows their passion for filmmaking deserves respect and equal treatment. At the end of the day, when we con-

rior choice for the majority of Asians in

and effort. But filmmakers and actors can

sider the term “Asian filmmaker”, the em-

the US. The movie industry brings up

start with taking a step” said Raul. True,

phasis should be put on “filmmaker”.

more uncertainty for future careers and

there is much to do if we want to create a

thus is usually perceived to be too risky.

better environment for Asians and Asian

of many filmmakers, I was inspired. I found

Families from the older generation fear

Americans in the US film industry.

myself sitting and thinking about what they

the unstable income and uncertainty of

Everyone I interviewed share a similar

After hearing the experiences and opinions

said for hours. My worries and complaints are

the film industry. This makes it difficult

optimism toward the future of Asian

replaced by a positive attitude. I wrote down

for Asians who are interested in pursu-

filmmakers in American cinema. Profes-

the insights and stories I grasped from our

ing a path as a filmmaker or an actor.

sor Choy said: “If you look at how things

conversations, and opened a new window on

were before, you would know why I am

my laptop to write a film proposal of my own.

The reasons why foreign Asian filmmakers are less represented in American

this optimistic. Now there are more and

cinema are more complex. John Lin, an

more role models the younger genera-

Olia is a freshman in Liberal Studies. She

editor and producer in the Graduate

tion can hold on to.” As a member of this

likes The Beatles, Socrates and bubble tea.

School of Chapman University said:“It’s

younger generation, Denise explained

mostly because of language and culture

her positive attitude: “The voice for

26 Entertainment

G

AND SO HE WALKS

By Kevin Tu

These are the characters in my web-comic "And So He Walks" found at inkwalks.tumblr.com. It's about the main character finding out who he was and how the world became the way it was. I was inspired to do something like this because I agree with Ai Wei Wei, not necessarily in all of his views, but in the fact that art can be a form of unique expression. This is how I want to express myself so I do it. Also I got into art because I loved reading Spider-Man as a kid and drew him everyday which led into me reading more comics and eventually manga. Then I read American Born Chinese and discovered Gene Luen Yang’s story. His conviction to make a comic inspired me so I decided to start my own. Now I draw for fun and I honestly love it, even if I'm not as good as I want to be right now.

Medium: Paint Tool Sai, Wacom Tablet Kevin Tu is a first year in Stern.

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Art 27

A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

by Shashank Rao

L

anguage has always been a sensitive part of my life. It’s a powerful force that has shaped my identity very strongly to this day.

English is my primary language, but it’s not my first language nor is it my favorite. At home, I speak Kannada, a South Indian language. I’m very attached to it and I use it as much as possible. However, there was a time when I couldn’t even speak it at all.

Not being able to speak is kind of like being trapped inside a glass jar, not really knowing the glass is there. You know there’s something going on outside but you’re not able to participate. It’s not unlike being Asian-American or any immigrant minority. You’re immersed in two worlds, but too incomplete to really fully belong to either.

The fact that I couldn’t speak Kannada was constantly repeated and reiterated throughout my childhood.

I resented not being able to really speak the language, not being able to lay claim to my heritage. I wandered aimlessly through a world that demands a category on a scantron.

I wandered aimlessly through a world that demands a category on a scantron.

Why couldn’t my parents just teach me Kannada? Well, while I was growing up, there were a lot of myths and half-truths about the languages of immigrants that are still flying around.

One that was particularly widespread was that children couldn’t be taught multiple languages at once. This is patently false given that my parents grew up learning three languages each as children, including English.

Many people grow up that way.

28 Culture

Multilingualism isn’t an anomaly.

That being said, this myth pervades many Asian-American and immigrant families. It’s not uncommon to meet a child of immigrants who doesn’t speak their mother tongue very well, if at all. Speech therapists told my parents that speaking two languages at home would confuse me, and that I’d fall behind other students. This thought of falling behind understandably scares immigrant parents, but now we know that this fear is unfounded, so I want to spread the merits of being multilingual. I don’t want other kids to spend their childhoods trying to reclaim their language and their connection to their heritage the way I did.

It’s been almost five years since I began my journey in relearning Kannada from the ground up. I pored over grammatical texts and dictionaries, compiling pages and pages of notes over the years. I even taught myself to read and write. It’s been a long, grueling climb, and there are still miles to go. My Kannada isn’t perfect but I think it’s pretty good.

You might think I don’t need to speak Kannada to be a Kannadiga but not being able to speak blocked me off from my community and culture.

Despite the progress I’ve made, I still feel somewhat invisible when it comes to my language. It’s enough to speak with family, right? But, among my friends and acquaintances, my language holds little to no value. People are excited to learn Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean. Those languages are big in popular culture, due in some part to utility of Mandarin, the popularity of K-pop, and the global audience for anime. But barely anyone even knows that Kannada is a language, because it’s not mainstream. Being visible makes speakers feel legitimized, feel real.

Even in the Indian-American community, few of my peers have

heard of Kannada. To be a minority within a minority feels depressing and demoralizing, especially when

Being visible makes speakers feel legitimized, feel real.

Asian-Americans fight so hard to have their upbringings legitimized. To the outsider, it might seem that languages they don’t know about are meaningless abstractions or distinctions. I have been told on more than one occasion: “No one cares that you speak Kannada.”

Even if we’re not mainstream, it doesn’t mean we’re not important.

I believe that our heritages are important, and it’s not for outsiders to decide. It’s our right to belong to our backgrounds, whether they’re dying or not. When you deny us even the right to belong, you tell us that our beliefs, traditions, and language mean nothing in your eyes.

To my fellow children of immigrants: never let someone else decide your identity for you, because the moment that you do, it’s no longer yours. We sometimes hide because we’d prefer that to be unnoticed than to be told that we don’t matter. But don’t run or hide. Once you do, you’ll find yourself lost and alone. I know that it’s hard to find the way back home, but if you look for the light, you’ll find it even in the darkest of places. G

Shashank is a sophomore in Global Liberal Studies, concentrating in Politics, Rights, and Development. He loves learning languages and practices calligraphy.

NIŚEYALLIRUVA KĀNTI

HANDWRITTEN BY SHASHANK RAO Rātriyalli kattaleyannu huḍukidare Kattaleyē mātra noḍāguttade mattu ninna Kaṇṇa barē kuruḍāgi hōguttave Niśeyalliruvudu cennāgirabahudu Ēkendare ēnu duḥkhavu kāṇuvadilla Saha innū uriyunṭāgi uḷiyuttade Hāgiddarū summane huḍukidare Ā hoḷeyuva mahāprakāśa siguttade Ellādannu prakāśisuva kandila!

Svadēśada sanskṛti, bhāṣe, mattu mūla Ellā namage śramadindamātra siguttade Devarē, adu śāśvatavāgi hēgirali?

Bēreyavara ātmavannu nōḍabēḍa Ēkendare artha hēge siguttade Bēreyavara ātmadalli hēge dorakuvudu?

Ninnoḷageyē huḍuku Allē ātmaviruttade Niśeyalliruva kānti!

Idē mārgavannaḍe Ninna kuṭumba, samudāya Maneyū kariyuttade.

translation: 1. If you look for darkness in the night

4. One’s own culture, language, roots

7. You need only follow this road

That is all you will ever see and your

By effort alone do we attain them

Your family, your whole community

Eyes shall only become blind

O God, how shall they remain?

Your home awaits.

2. To hide in the darkness may be good

5. Look not at another’s soul

For one cannot even see pain

For how can you find your own meaning

Pattern: 5 stanzas in modified shatpadi

Even if it yet remains a-burning

Looking into another Self?

- 7 foot verses then 5 and 4 Incomplete verses and half pādas are

3. However, if one but searches

6. You must look inside yourself

compensated by completing a missing foot

A great, effulgent light may be found

There alone does the Self reside

from a previous stanza or by an extra foot

An all-illuminating lantern!

A light in the dark!

on a separate line within the same stanza.

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t 29

M

iddle school was the bane of my existence. While we all had

our regrettable share of splotchy pizzafaces and embarrassingly haphazard

KEEPINGARAKAWA

by Emily Arakawa

‘relationships,’ I will never forget the offensive, intentional mispronunciation of my last name, Arakawa.

I was known as an incredibly shy and awkward girl during middle school, and of course, my bullies took advantage of that. Whenever the teacher took attendance and completely butchered my last name, everybody snickered and repeated the teacher’s mistake.

As the shy and awkward girl I was, I raised my hand hesitantly while looking down. I did not correct my teacher. I did not speak up for myself against my

I even played along with the joke,

elegantly into the marble tombstone.

classmates. I felt completely defenseless

pretending to enjoy the spotlight. I took

My father told me that all my ancestors

in the sea of derisive laughter.

part in their mockery as some sort

were very prominent doctors in

of self-defense mechanism, feeling a

Japan. They were even doctors for the

false sense of heightened self-esteem.

Tokugawa shogun, prominent leaders

Although they laughed at me, I

in feudal Japan. As my father proudly

pretended that they laughed with me.

told me about the Arakawa ancestry,

Over time, I felt as if the shame

I began to feel pride for my last name

I felt as if the shame surrounding my last name had become expected for me.

surrounding my last name had become I experienced this outside of the

expected for me. On every Powerpoint

and shame for my attempts at hiding it.

After almost seven years of trying

classroom too. Whenever I walked

presentation title slide and first draft

to reconcile my Japanese background

past the intimidating crowd of my

that was to be peer edited, I just wrote

with my American upbringing, I

classmates, they always yelled my

my name as “Emily” or “Emily A.”

began to accept that being Japanese is

name and gawked at me. “Emily

Whenever my teachers took attendance

inescapable. My last name will always

Arakawaaaaa!!” they would scream

and stopped at my first name, I would

be attached to Japanese culture. My

across the halls, pronouncing my last

immediately interject with a hasty

travels to Japan every summer have

name as if it were a karate yell from

“Here!” Yet people still referred to me as

helped improve not only my fluency in

an old martial arts movie. As always,

“Emily Arakawaaaa!!” instead of just my

the language, but also my understanding

laughter ensued and my cheeks flushed

first name. No matter how “Western”

of a complex yet beautiful culture that

bright red with embarrassment. I began

my first name sounded, people still

I was previously ashamed of. To fit in,

to walk faster and avoid eye contact,

appropriated my Japanese culture, a

I disowned not only my name, but also

wishing that I could be invisible.

significant part of my identity, for their

my family and my culture. Throughout

entertainment. And so, I pretended

the years, I have come to love and realize

name as a form of entertainment.

that this part of my identity did not

that my unique tongue-twister of a

Confronting them was useless. Even

exist in the first place—that is, until

last name is a symbol of my pride for

when I mustered up the courage to

I visited my family grave in Japan.

my Japanese culture, and honestly, I

I got used to people using my last

confront my bullies about their antics,

After my grandfather passed away,

would never trade it for anything else.

G

it was obvious that I was completely

my parents and I were responsible for

powerless. My voice always trembled

burying his ashes in the grave of our

Emily is a freshman at Gallatin studying Asian-

whenever I pleaded them to stop

ancestors in Nagoya, Japan. Massive

American media representation. She loves Disney

mocking my last name. “But why?”

kanji characters for Arakawa and a

and her mom’s Japanese home-cooked meals.

they retorted, “Your last name is so

description of the many generations

cool, Emily Arakawaaaaa!!” Over time,

that rest in peace there were etched

30 Culture

MIAO EMBROIDERY: A DYING ART? T

by Haiyun Chen

hey walk down the

evergreen broad-leaved

mountains in an explosion of color and extravagant jewelry. Their history, as glorious as the Spartacus march and the Chinese Red Army’s Long March, has been full of turbulence and migration. Yet, led by destiny and extraordinary faith, they have survived. The Miao ethnic people, one of the 55 minority groups of China, develop their own colorful and earthy customs. Their understanding of the cosmos is crystallized into the highly abstract form of embroidery, which allows them to carry across borders and through centuries.

Ethnic Miaos have no written language. Their cultural values are handed down by oral stories, and most importantly, by embroidery patterns on their costumes as the material form.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911), the Miao were “a stone in the shoe of central empire,” politically and militarily.¹ To eradicate potential decentralizing threats, the central government coerced Miao people to assimilate into the dominant Han traditions. In response, the Miao people rejected this and revolted. Therefore, the emperor implemented multiple discriminatory political methods to ostracize the Miao from coastal plains,

Art courtesy of Jenny He

significance of their embroidery.

forcing them to migrate to mountainous

Some have moved further into

regions. In a state of turmoil, different

Southeast Asian countries such

tribes could identify their members

as Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

time and energy consuming. The Miao

according to the unique patterns of

The Miao has become a “unique

only sew embroideries on costume

embroidery on clothing. The essence

transnational and transcontinental

clothing for important events, not

of Miao embroidery is beyond art;

ethnic group in the world,” said

for casual wear. A single garment for

it acts as a totem, a symbol of the

Miao ethnic culture researcher

weddings or funerals usually takes

tribe. Embroidery is their language.

XianYang Zeng. Contemporary

five years to complete. When one piece

Most embroideries are extremely

scholars have studied extensively on

of embroidery is too labor-intensive,

reside in southwestern China,

the broad history and culture of the

the work might be divided among the

especially in the Guizhou Province.

Miao, but not many scrutinize the

women in the family. For example, a

Nowadays, the Miao primarily

1 Elleman, Bruce A. (2001). “The Miao Revolt (1795–1806)”. Modern Chinese Warfare, 1795-1989. London: Routledge. pp. 7–8. 2001.

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Miao Embroidery: A Dying Art? 31

wedding gown calls for a joint effort of

or specific elements of nature. Instead,

Chinese government. Women in this

grandmother, mother, and daughter.

the Miao are concerned with preserving

self-reliant community face obstacles

However, the Miao people are happy

their spiritual connection with the

of modernization, but their voices are

to spend this time because putting on

universe due to their migratory status.

heard through cultural ambassadors

embroidered costumes embodies the

If there is only one thing they would

like Zeng Li, Curator of the Guizhou

spirit of the ancestors. The work is a

carry in a hurry, they would carry

Ethnic Cultural Museum. Inspired by

symbol of their devotion to the spirits

their symbols of faith and beliefs.

her father’s photography collection

of their ancestors, who shield, protect,

Years of low demand and attention

of the Miao culture in the late 1970s,

and bless the offspring. Scholars sort

to folk art have endangered the Miao

Zeng Li re-explored all the existing

Miao embroidery techniques into 20

embroidery. Thirty years ago, Miao’s

Miao villages in China. She worked

different categories. Each skill requires

traditional handcrafts were less than

with Miao women and invited them to

substantial time devotion for a piece to

$2 USD, adjusted to current exchange

exhibitions, workshops, and museum

manifest into dense, even, and clear-cut

rate. With increased awareness in

programs to demonstrate Miao sewing.

embroideries with unbelievable quality.

preserving ethnic cultures, Miao

Besides educational forums, she also

embroidery has risen to the top of

designed silk scarves inspired by Miao

is almost equivalent to religious

Chinese aesthetic treasures. The same

embroidery prints and sold them to

meditation or spiritual practices

piece right now would be worth 2000

spread awareness of cultural heritage

The process of embroidering

like Zen, in which the embroiderer has to fully concentrate. Miao ladies cannot sew when a crying baby is present, when frogs are croaking, or when hands are soaked in sweat. It is crucial that the embroidering process faces no distractions. Moreover, the

The essence of Miao embroidery is beyond art; it acts as a totem, a symbol of the tribe.

Embroidery is their language.

protection across the country.

Western institutions are also recognizing the beauty of Miao embroidery. During the 2016 New York Fashion Week, Marie Claire and the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation presented “China Miao Embroidery Charity Exhibition.” Five complete

process of making a costume is always

garments used classic Miao embroidery

specialized for individuals. This means that from cotton growing, to silkwork

RMB (roughly $285 USD). Nevertheless,

methods and intricate designs. This

keeping, spinning, knitting, dyeing,

the embroidery heritage still faces

exhibition strengthened the cultural

and finally embroidering, everything

several major challenges in the future.

exchange between China and the

is done to promise singularity. There are no exact duplicates for each piece.

The sacredness of Miao embroidery

Most Miao girls barely have time to be apprentices because many go to school at day, do homework and watch

United States, and echoed the theme of sustaining indigenous cultures.

Along with African tribal cultures

also lies in content. A common

TV at night. More young adults move to

and Polynesian cultures, Miao

combination of butterflies and birds

cities and start new lives away from the

embroidery is only a small example of

derives from the Miao’s genesis story.

villages. As the modern material world

the many beautiful ethnic splendors.

According to the folktale, the cosmos

emphasizes fast factory production

The vivid colors and emotions seen on

was created through 12 eggs hatched by

rather than handmade time-consuming

the work touch the not only the heart

the Butterfly Mama. She was unable to

products, Miao girls have no interest

of the Miao people, but the hearts of

incubate the last egg so she asked the

to learn embroidery skills because the

all. “This is the source of joy which is

Jiyu Bird, the Divine Bird of the Miao,

craft is challenging to their livelihoods.

neglected by the many contemporary

for help. In this way, the forefather of

Their mothers also spend most of their

people,” said Zeng Li. No matter

the human race was born.² Whence,

time working outside, so they have less

what understanding one gains from

the cycles of life are synchronized with

time to sit down and learn to sew with

learning about traditional cultures,

generations of butterflies and birds. The

the same devotion as generations before

all can partake in the universal

folktale demonstrates the Miao’s three

had. The elders at the villages cannot

appreciation for cultural heritage.

anthropological questions: Who am I?

sew anymore due to their decline in

Where do I come? And where will I go?

What differentiates Miao embroidery from other Chinese needlecraft is that it does not present details of daily life,

eyesight and their clumsy hands.

Thankfully, Miao embroidery

Haiyun Chen is a first-year student at Liberal Studies. She loves dance and swimming.

is listed among the first catalog of non-material cultural heritage by the

2 Zeng, Xianyang, and Li Zeng. Ethnic Miao Embroidery: The Zeng’s Collection and Appreciation. Print. 2009.

32 Culture

G

CHINA DOLLS:

CHINA’S SECOND WIVES CULTURE

https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-XE011_hermes_P_20130422023818.jpg

by Michelle Zhang

I

n a ghostly Shenzhen neighborhood, a 22-year-old girl

“good.” Ernai in China are seen as

earning jobs and become second

a status symbol to the men who

wives as a way to supplement their

can afford them; these women are

incomes and send money back home.

akin to a luxury good because only

Older, already married men in turn,

sits in a nail salon with a credit card

the very successful and very rich

view the income and material items

bearing another person’s name. Her

can afford to keep second wives.

they provide to their second wives as

friends live next door in high rises and

There are multiple economic

status symbols. The prettier the wife

their exclusive clique claims monopoly

factors and legislation that led to the

and the richer she’s dressed, the more

over the businesses that surround

continuing practice of second wives in

their apartment complexes. This girl,

China. Although China is considered

along with a number of other young

one of the fastest growing economies

women, is part of the rising Chinese

in the world, there are still economic

phenomenon of ernai - second wives.

divides between the classes that led

“The prettier the wife, the richer she’s dressed, the more successful the man is”

to the flocking of rural dwellers to the

successful the man is to his friends

in the global economy comes a new

city. Young women from rural areas in

and colleagues and thus, the entire

generation of upper class people and

China are often the target demographic

enterprise has a competitive edge to it.

entitlement. Luxury goods flood the

to become the second wives of richer

The young women that become

market in China, and men in particular

businessmen and politicians because

second wives are also sometimes just

are self-indulgent. Wealthy men in

these women need the money the

someone to fill up empty apartment

China are the biggest consumers

most. Most of the girls that come to

space. The current housing bubble in

of second wives - one such opulent

the city work for relatives in wage-

China has investors and businessmen

With the rise of China’s dominance

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China Dolls: China’s Second Wives Culture 33

buying up properties in cities with

history to why second wives were

to become second wives as a last resort

skyrocketing apartment prices, in

accepted in East Asian society. Many

in order to improve their station in

the hopes prices will keep rising and

global cultures, not just China, has

life. While China has been making

they can sell complexes back at a

long been obsessed with maintaining

headway in eliminating the second

marked up rate. Once these houses

the family line through male heirs. It

wives practice by banning polygamous

and apartments are bought by affluent

was seen as a symbol of power and a

marriages in 2003, the government

businessmen and real estate investors,

pillar of stability if an empire had a

still needs to address the overarching

they sit empty. This is why the

prince, if the family had a heir. From

discrimination that women face in

houses become an ideal place for the predominantly male owners to gift to a second wife. Second wives, if housed in the mainland, usually live in areas like Shenzhen where soaring real

Second wives are no longer a necessary precaution for procreation but rather a “luxury good”

estate prices lead to the development

China. Jobs specifically designed for young women in the city and outreach programs to educate girls who can’t afford education need to be readily available. Only by offering sustainable alternatives to the practice of second

of ernai neighborhoods. Second wives

this notion of always needing sons,

wives can we actually prevent these

will band together in areas that are

the practice of Chinese Emperors and

girls from going down that path.

almost exclusively tailored to the needs

other powerful men having multiple

of ernai. Salons flood these areas,

wives and concubines was born. While

Michelle is a freshman at SPS

determined to keep the second wives

this practice used to have a logical

studying Hospitality. She is a

looking the best and spending the most.

element behind it, today’s rise of second

firm believer in horoscopes.

And while these second wives groups

wives in Chinese society has neither a

provide support for each other, the girls

positive or even neutral element to the

have an underlying competition with

practice. Second wives are no longer a

each other about whose “husband” is

necessary precaution for procreation

richer and how long they’ll last with

but rather a “luxury good” solely for

the threat of newer, younger wives.

the status associated with them.

The phenomenon of second wives

G

However, even with the risk of

is also an unexpected byproduct

public humiliation and censure, there

of state legislature. The One-Child

are still many girls who would willingly

Policy enacted in 1980 drastically

become second wives. Due to the

reduced the number of children in the

institutional and cultural obstacles

demographics - especially girls. China

of simply being a woman, many girls

has always placed higher value on sons

from less affluent families are forced

Below: Wives of Emperor Puyi

than daughters because of cultural and economic reasons, which is why boys became the preferred gender for a family’s designated single child. This led to a gap in numbers between the genders, causing all girls (regardless of social or economic standing) - to be seen as a commodity. There simply are not enough women for every man wanting marriage. Whereas the rest of the world has 107 boys for every 100 girls born, China has a statistic of 116 boys for every 100 girls born. That’s why having second wives is seen as a show of power - the more wives an affluent man can afford to keep, the more he’s taking away from other men seeking wives.

In addition, there is a cultural 34 Culture

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/33/3c/a1/333ca18dac2cf63e324bc9130069ceba.jpg

ENLIGHTENMENT IN LOVE

By Ziying Zhou

Falling in love is a process of enlightenment. The four panels, reading from right to left, are meant to convey a love story in which a man, previously stuck in the dark, finds his way to the light with the help of his lover. In the middle two panels, we see his lover helping him stand up and reach enlightenment in which he is able to see himself more clearly.

Medium: Photography Ziying is a sophomore studying Nursing.

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Art 35

PERFORMING GENDER: THE BEAUTIFUL SPECTACLE OF TAKARAZUKA

by Anna Ijiri Oehlkers Art by Whei Lujan

I

was browsing YouTube for

both male and female roles. At first glance it appears

First of all, the troupe’s hisory

clips of my favorite video game,

liberating: powerful Japanese women in the spotlight,

began thusly: In 1913, Ichizo Kobayashi,

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney —

defying gender roles and being celebrated for it. It’s hard

president of Hankyu Railways,

a video game where you play as

to watch their performances and not feel in awe of them

wanted tourist attractions near his

a lawyer. Despite not garnering

-- especially when professional theatre spheres are often

railroad station in Takarazuka, Japan.

much acclaim in America,

so male-dominated. But alas, every rose has its thorn,

He decided that a theatre troupe

Phoenix Wright was absurdly

and it turns out that Takarazuka might not be so simple.

performing Western style shows

popular in Japan - so absurdly

would fit the bill, and made it all-

popular in fact, that it spawned

female to increase the novelty and

its own musical. That was what I

attract more attention. The revue

found on Youtube that fateful day:

was met with raving popularity and

a clip from the Takarazuka Revue

eventually grew to become what it is

performing their all-female,

today: a cultural phenomenon with

Broadway-level interpretation

five different established troupes

of this zany lawyer video game.

(Flower, Moon, Sun, Star, Snow, and

Tall, suave women wearing

Cosmos), hundred of players, and

sharp suits and masterfully

hundreds of thousands of fans.

contoured makeup strut across

There’s an elaborate and strict inner

the stage with sweeping arm

hierarchy in Takarazuka -- each troupe

gestures and deep, husky voices.

is overseen by a (male) member of the

I was utterly entranced.

Revue administration, then there’s the troupe manager, the vice-manager,

Takarazuka is a Japanese

chairpersons, the leading man, the

theatre troupe that is best

leading woman, the leading comic man,

described as a combination of

and the supporting actors. It’s important

Kabuki (traditional, all-male

to note that the actors who play male

Japanese theatre) and Broadway.

roles (otokoyaku) are of higher status

Like my lawyer video game,

in the hierarchy than actors who

Takarazuka is barely known in

play female roles (musumeyaku).

the U.S. and around the world, but is akin to a cultural phenomenon

Image source: http://miseloveles.blogspot.com/

in Japan. The troupe is all-

1. Robertson, Jennifer. Takarazuka: Sexual Politics and Popular

progressive at first, especially given the

female, with women performing

Culture in Modern Japan. Berkeley: U of California, 1998. Print.

context of Japan’s often sexist and strict

2.3. Robertson.

36 Culture

The idea of Takarazuka seems highly

differences. A player of male

The performance was cheesy and campy, with facial

roles should exude charisma and

and gesticular exaggeration that felt over-the-top even

confidence, which is disparaged in

from my seat in the back. The set and costumes were

Japanese women. A player of female

flashy and exuberant, rivaling those seen on Broadway.

roles keep her forearms pinned to her

It was all in

side, “constraining her freedom of

Japanese, so I

movement and consequently making

tried to follow

her appear more ‘feminine.’”2

along with the

Cross-dressing is inherently tied

But at what point does performance become performative?

plot according

to the idea of “passing” for the other

to the short

gender, an idea that reinforces the

English plot summary in the program, but with a

dualism of male and female identities.3

story so convoluted, my efforts were in vain. It was

To “pass” means that you sufficiently

wonderful, confusing, awe-inspiring in all the best

display the socially prescribed

ways, even when it reached levels of ridiculousness.

stereotypes that define either

When you watch the Revue, it’s easy to get lost in the

adherence to gender roles. But

gender. In Takarazuka, the ideal

spectacle and forget the sexist histories, hierarchies, and

at what point does performance

male is crafted from coded markers

implications of gender conformity that come with it. I

become performative? This is

-- a confident strut, a powerful

watched the show with conflicted feelings, but still found

a controversial question often

deep voice, a masculine physique.

myself drawn in by their confident struts and contoured

debated when it comes to drag: is it subverting gender roles and

faces. I was as utterly entranced as when I first I went to Japan early last year

encountered Takarazuka on YouTube. Despite its faults,

stereotypes or reinforcing them?

and finally got the chance to see

at its core Takarazuka remains a genuinely wonderful

When it comes to Takarazuka,

Takarazuka live for myself. What

form of entertainment that pushes Japanese women

evidence points to the latter.

show was I seeing? “Shakespeare:

into the spotlight and asks us to bask in their glow.

When players are accepted

The Sky Filled With Eternal Words,”

into the troupe, they are

an original musical that makes

assigned their “secondary

fictional romance out of the life of

gender” (the gender they will

Shakespeare, followed by the revue:

be playing) based on details

“HOT EYES!!” It was quintessential

like their physique, height,

Takarazuka in concept and title alone.

Anna Ijiri Oehlkers is a sophomore at Gallatin who loves Cheezits.

and voice -- markers based on gender stereotypes.1 A tall actor with a deep voice will be an otokoyaku while a petite actor with a higher voice will be a musumeyaku, as though men can only be tall and deep-voiced and women the opposite.

It also reinforces socially constructed behavioral

G

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Performing Gender: Takarazuka 37

GENERASIAN CLASSIFIEDS EDITORIAL: Second semester junior leaving to London to escape adulting responsibilities.

Searching for the return of my social life (or a paying summer internship??) - Shirley

land down under for the spring, always on the hunt for new coffee spots and dogs to pet. -J. Yeung Gallatin sophomore who has almost convinced her advisor that “Cats Across Cultures: The Intersection

Safe Travels to Shirley, Rebecca, Jessie, and Anna!

We’ll miss you!!

Sophomore trying to live life to the hilt while fueled by almond croissants and cold brew.

Leaving the Big Apple for Prague in a few months time.

In search of: fellow word-lovers to take up the baton of this venerated(ish) magazine!!

[Rebecca K.] Sophomore English major who spends far too much time napping. Off to the 38 Last Look

of Companion and Identity” is a viable topic for an individualized major. - A. Oehlkers

BLOGGING: [Alison C] Conducting an ongoing third year experiment in Steinhardt of keeping up with the millennial New Yorker experience while staying true to my granny-potatohomebody lifestyle.

ATTN: to all the bloggers of Fall 2016: Grace Cheng, Rachel Wang, Haiyun Chen, Yimei Shao, Priyana Rikhy, Joyce Lee, Jeffrey Wu

Just another failed photographer pretending that selfies with Instagram filters count as art. Seeking more followers to validate my selfworth (@T.HOLLA)

Please come back!

Come write for us! Contact Devoted East Asian Studies major who’s hell-bent on spreading East Asian culture, news, and politics around the NYU & online community.

- Katie H. READ: Talk American to Me by Yimei Shao http://bit.ly/2eULI3Z

A

ART:

Korean-American gal just trying to live her life. Seeking any opportunity to become the k-pop star she’s always been destined to be. Or a robot body to immortalize her consciousness in. -Avery C.

nyu.generasian@gmail.com

with the subject heading “BLOGGING” for more info!

LAYOUT: Perpetually exhausted Tischie looking for dedicated layout team to bring coffee and/or food to Pub Lab. Reward: the extraordinary gift of my friendship & select InDesign wizardry. - Jamie

Seeking non yellow or red color schemes for the Spring 2017 magazine. Send all inquiries to nyu.generasian@ gmail.com!

GENERAL:

Thank you to all Media contributors for the Fall of 2016!

English major turned Comp Sci major/ Psychology minor looking for fortune telling lessons or a Magic-8 ball repair service. Just trying to take life one step at a time until I attain clairvoyance.

Contact me at Bowllin’ on Tuesdays if you offer either of these services. ( C A S E Y . )

Emily Arakawa, Veronica Liow, Monica Mai, Nicholas Tong, Chen Lu, Joyce Lee, Sarah Hee Jo Jahn, Jennifer Mihn Du, & Andrea Yee

Searching for a British accent tutor for a semester abroad in London. Can already say “Cheerio!” and “G’day mate!”

LOVE,

GENERASIAN To AHM: working with you has been the longest month of our club’s existence.

Looking forward to rewriting the calendar with you in 2017, too.

CONTACT: A. OEHLKERS

JOIN THE PLAGUE for all the humor that just won’t fit in our serious, well-established publication.

Read our previous issues at issuu.com/generasian

To CMS: can’t stop thinking about the incredible time we had this semester. You are amazing. Call us?

Your Generasian eboard, Fall 2016

Come join the family!

General Meetings: Tuesday Evenings Contact: nyu.generasian@gmail.com

GENERAL MEETINGS: Mondays 6.30-7.30pm @ Kimmel 710 OR EMAIL: plaguemagazine@gmail.com

MEDIA: Sad, graduating second semester senior seeking mentee to pass on knowledge and people who want to do series other than NOM - only guy in Generasian

And last but not least, THANK YOU to all our readers!

Classifieds 39

GENERASIAN generasian.tumblr.com youtube.com/nyugenerasian

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