Synergy: Spring 2015

LETTERS from the

Dear Generasians,

EDITORS

I am so excited and proud to bring you our first magazine in 2015. This issue holds an especially dear place in my heart as the last magazine I will publish in my NYU career. As I graduate with my fellow seniors, I can’t help but reflect on my experience and growth as both a student and a member of the Asian American community. It’s been a breath-taking journey, replete with challenges and rewards alike. I’m honored to be Editor-in-Chief of a magazine I’ve loved since my freshman year, and blessed to be able to address readers and supporters like you.

Generasian will always have a fond place in my heart, and I am blessed to have been a part of it for so long.

Our theme this issue is ‘synergy’. Synergy is defined as the coming together of organizations, people, or substances to produce a combined effect or impact greater than that of each of the individual components. In other words, it embodies the idea that we are stronger together, that while each of us is incredible in our own right, we can accomplish even more inspiring things as an organized group. Generasian’s writers and artists have worked tirelessly to put together this issue for you, and their time and effort shine through in their work. We sincerely hope you enjoy reading our magazine as much as we did working on it, and look forward to seeing you again in the next issue!

With all my love,

Catherine Ye Editor-in-Chief

Dear readers, The Asian American community is a multi-complex of an identity, built out of the many, many different ethnicities, genders, sexual identities, backgrounds, economies, and political parties. Like a diamond, each facet of Asian America creates a new sparkle—shines a new light. Synergy is the creation of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Separately, our parts are great; each salient identity can be independently discerned and untangled. However, it is when we join together that Asian America becomes the force that it is. Synergy does not imply that all facets of the Asian America will blend and perfectly coexist, but rather demonstrates that solidarity and understanding of difference will better ourselves as a community.

This semester, our staff of writers work with their own brand of synergy. As always we each contributed our own ideas, perceptions, skills and time to mold the issue into what now is in your hands. The differences housed under one publication’s name make Generasian the dynamic magazine it has been for years.

Thank you for the support this past semester; we hope you will enjoy reading this issue.

Cheers,

Jolene Hsu and Kim Chen Editors-at-Large

WHAT’S INSIDE 01 Cover Graphic Avery Chang 02 Letters from the Editors Catherine Ye & Jolene Hsu and Kim Chen

IDENTITY

COMMENTARY

04 Stories of Home: A Chinese Experience Will Shi

24

The Asian Advantage: All Fun and Games Nicole Bernardo

27

The Asian American Mental Landscape Avery Chang

29

The Things We’ve Lost Nora Hexter

08 Don’t Wear Me Down Jolene Hsu 10 Stepford Asians: Seemingly Perfect Casey Lee

ENTERTAINMENT 14

Rocking the Boat Shirley Foo

16

Crime and Punishment: Korea Vs. America Swan Cho

18

ART 7

Bleeding Mountain Georgie Fu

13

Mouse Deer Demi Phoon

I Need an Asian American Hero Huiqin Ong 20 Shilin Windows Larry Wu

NARRATIVE 22

32

Self Portrait Cindy Qiu

EXECUTIVE STAFF

EDITORIAL STAFF

Catherine Ye

Layout Director

Jolene Hsu and Kim Chen

Avery Chang

Layout Editors

Avery Chang

Nicole Bernardo

Kim Chen

Joyce Chen

Will Shi

Hui Ong

Swan Cho

Will Shi

Nora Hexter

Joyce Chen

Casey Lee

Editor-in-Chief Editor-at-Large Art Director Treasurer Public Relations Manager Community Director Media Director Online Editors

Swan Cho

Pigeon Man Jamie Sung

Jolene Hsu

CHECK OUT GENERASIAN.ORG /nyugenerasian

Table of Contents 3

STORIES OF HOME A CHINESE EXPERIENCE

by William Shi

C

hinese immigrants in America have a long history encompassing

Sometimes, Kong would be

laborers. Seeing an opportunity, he took

heckled by the white miners. He had

up the laborer job and began working

most of America’s life as a nation. What

seen newspaper reports of the brew-

on what would be known as the Cen-

follows are the stories of three fictional

ing anti-Chinese sentiment: “Chinamen

tral Pacific Railroad, the western half

characters at key points in the history of

are getting to be altogether too plenti-

of the Transcontinental Railroad.

these Chinese immigrants in America.

ful in this country,” as the governor

After working there for many

himself stated in response to growing

years, Kong saw the dramatic increase in

Chinese immigration. It was a good

not only his fellow countrymen, but also

man living in the bustling city of San

thing for Kong and other Chinese min-

in the discrimination directed towards

Francisco. It was 1853, and he had ar-

ers that he had found a large group

them. Chinese laborers were paid paltry

rived in the United States to escape

of Chinese miners to work with.

sums compared to their white counter-

d

Kong Ah was a middle-aged

from the high taxes being levied in his

Kong was always fearful

parts. The Chinese laborers were usually

home country, Qing China, following

though, as he should have been. As

tasked with handling the dynamite

the Opium War. Tens of thousands of

soon as he arrived, California passed a

for tunnel explosions, subjecting them

others like him had immigrated to the

foreign miner’s tax, aiming to generate

to extremely dangerous conditions,

US in search of fortune and a better

tax revenue from non-citizen miners. Of

especially during bad weather. These

life promised by the tales of the Gam

the 20¢ Kong would make per day, more

laborers were also working 14 to 16 hours

Saan, or gold mountain, that repre-

than half would go to the state. However,

a day. These issues came to a head when

sented the American Gold Rush.

that didn’t deter Kong - following the

Chinese workers went on strike, Kong

floods and droughts that plagued his

included. They demanded higher wages,

down to the local camp to look for gold.

hometown in the province of Kwang-

reprieve during dangerous working

Although the white miners had started

tung, he considered the money he made

conditions, and 10-hour workdays. The

using a new mining technique called

in America to be more than sufficient.

men in charge of the railroad offered

Everyday, Kong would go

“hydraulicking,” Kong learned from his

Kong lived in the area for

no concessions however, going so far as

fellow Chinese miners and utilized the

many years, traveling with his group

to withhold food from the entirety of

older method of placer mining. Even

of Chinese miners to other claims after

the striking workers for over a week.

though it was less efficient than “hydrau- one had dried up, sending some of his

Kong was understandably malnour-

licking,” Kong and his compatriots found

savings home to support his family, and

ished and tired of the strike, and when

that their combined efforts in placer

even taking some time off on occa-

presented with the opportunity to return

mining could provide sufficient amounts

sion to visit the ample brothels in San

to work with the only punishment being

of gold from claims that white miners

Francisco. One day, however, Kong was

a mere fine, he, and others, took it.

had deemed unproductive.

told of opportunities further to the east.

“Chinamen are getting to be altogether too plentiful in this country,”

4 Identity

After leaving his hometown,

Companies were

Kong would never see his family again.

building massive

He spent his life working in the US and

lines of rail-

sending money to his loved ones. Kong

roads across the

died of lung failure shortly after the pass-

country and they

ing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.

were looking for

d

Chinese immigrant miner utilizing placer mining http://image.hnol.net/c/2008-08/13/16/200808131613004561-200765.jpg

Yak Fun Sum was a young man

try into the country despite their Chinese

living in Canton when his father, Wah Bo

nationality. Yak was one of hundreds,

Sum had returned from America after

even thousands of Chinese immigrants

many years. Yak hadn’t seen him since

who would enter the country as the sup-

he was a boy when Wah left in search

posed son or daughter of “citizens.” But

of a better life abroad. It was now 1906

life was better here in the US. He would

and Wah had successfully claimed his

realize that over the next decades of

status as a US citizen before returning to

his life as China descended into revolu-

China in order to bring his family back

tion, factionalism, and warlord states.

with him. San Francisco had just had a

giant earthquake that resulted in the loss

ing odd jobs over the years to support

of many documents, including proofs of

himself and his father. Wah had broken

Yak found himself work-

citizenship. Although many of his friends his leg working and was no longer able were not as lucky, Wah found himself

to perform manual labor tasks. Yak,

passing the rigorous inspection of his

therefore, had to support his father as

well-crafted history. Now back in China,

well as his family back home by work-

not only could he bring back his own son, ing multiple jobs. Eventually, he had he could also attempt bring back his oth-

saved up enough money to open his

er family members, close friends, and,

own laundromat. It was a good profes-

perhaps, even strangers, under the pre-

sion, Yak thought. Anyone would want

tense of them being his “sons” or “daugh- their clothes clean, and, for a small fee, ters.” However, Wah saw too much

he would be the one to clean them.

risk in doing so, and opted, instead, to

only bring his biological son back.

laundromat, he met his future wife.

Yak arrived in San Francisco

Not long after Yak opened his

Although a customer at first, she would

as the son of a fake US citizen. He was a

spend inordinate amounts of time just

“paper son,” allowed into America under

to talk with him. They began dating,

a provision in the Chinese Exclusion Act

and, before llong, got married. They

that gave the children of US citizens en-

had three children together, and Yak

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Records of a “paper son” http://jrjung.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/jungben1921.jpg

Stories of Home: A Chinese Experience 5

and his wife made just enough money to send them all through school, making sure they were provided with a good education to ensure their futures.

Yak would live to see the

repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943 with the passing of the Magnuson Act. He thought it was great how China and the US, his two home countries, were allied in war, and hoped for better relations between the two countries and further relaxation of immigration restrictions. However, he would not live to see his birth country reunited; Yak died of old age before the end of the war surrounded by his wife and children. d

Flushing, NY http://urbanomnibus.net/redux/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Flushing-Chinatown.jpg

Ling Hao Zhang came to Ameri- mother who was still living in China.

ca as a young medical professional on va- cation in 1989. It was during her time on

Ling met her husband during

her second year of residency. Although

science. Ling and her husband were distraught. They truly wanted only to make their son happy, and they thought

vacation that the Tiananmen Square Pro- they were both doctors, they found

that medicine would lead him to a safe,

tests occurred in China. Following these

a reasonable balance between their

secure, and prosperous life. But when

protests, America granted refugee status

professional lives and their personal

they heard just how passionate Michael

to any Chinese scholar or student in the

lives. They were married to each other

was about software engineering and

country. Ling, shocked at the sudden op- by 1995. The following year, Ling gave

technology, they relented. Although

portunity presented to her, and believing birth to a son. She and her husband

medicine is “safe,” it wouldn’t have

her future prospects to be much better

decided to name him Michael.

brought Michael happiness. Ling came

in the US, decided not to return home

to understand that and supports her son

and stayed in America permanently.

up intelligent and athletic. Michael was

in his studies in computer science now.

always ahead in schoolwork and partici-

She hopes that he can find happiness as

Ling arrived in New York City

Ling watched her son grow

in 1990, with one of the largest Chinese

pated in the community’s local youth soc- a software developer after he graduates.

populations in the entire country. How-

cer team. Ling, always wanting the best

d

ever, she had trouble establishing herself for her only child, told Michael how he

in her new home, finding the need to

should grow up to be a doctor. She knew

all Chinese immigrants in America.

constantly balance between studying for

first hand the job security, prestige, and

No story really can. But what they do

her medical board exams and work-

salary that the profession provides, and

represent are shared, generalized experi-

ing part-time as a waitress to pay bills.

it would set her son up for a happy life.

ences that most immigrants can relate

Discovering the large Mainland Chinese

Michael, however, had doubts about the

to. They represent a history of these

population in Flushing, Ling moved into

medical field. Although he acknowledged Chinese immigrants that come over from

a small studio apartment in the area.

the practical benefits of entering the

a land on the other side of the world in

By 1992, Ling had managed to finish

profession, he agonized about the years

order to find a better life in America.

studying for her medical board exams

of study he would undertake and the

They represent a shared identity. This

and passed. She found a residency at a

pains and sufferings he would endure

identity is unique, because they are

major hospital in the city and received

of the patients he would see everyday.

not born into it. Rather, they find their

a resident’s salary of $30,000. Lin was

He voiced these concerns to his parents,

way into it, contributing to it, and,

ecstatic as this was the most money she

but they were ultimately dismissed.

ultimately, leaving a cultural legacy. G

had ever made, and decided to send a

sizable portion of her salary home to her

Michael decided to major in computer

After entering college in 2014,

William Shi is a Junior studying History and on the Pre-med track at the College of Arts and Sciences.

6 Identity

These stories don’t represent

MOUNTAIN BLEEDING

By Georgie Fu

This piece is a reflection on the relationship between human and nature. I used watered down oil to create a light wash over the wood, and black marker to create a distance from the landscape and face. There is a serenity found in nature that cannot be replicated through urbanization.

I found that I was very inspired by the wood I painted on rather than looking through magazines or online. I took the liberty to hammer down and destroy some parts of the wood to create more texture and dimension, as nature is not always smooth and beautiful.

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Bleeding Mountain 7

DON’T WEAR ME DOWN

T

By Jolene Hsu

his May, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala

will open their latest exhibition: “Chinese Whispers: Tales of the East in Art, Film and Fashion.” Scratch that. The committee was just given notice that the term “Chinese Whispers” is actually offensive, implying the Chinese language and culture totally incomprehensible. This May, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala will open their latest exhibition: “China: Through the Looking Glass”. Down the rabbit hole we go.

Since Marco Polo, westerners have been admiring, altering, misunderstanding and stealing foreign customs and costumes. Purti Pareek, 20, thinks about Iggy Azalea’s music video for her song Bounce, which was filmed in India.

She says “two hippie Williamsburg directors decided to film in india because they think Indian culture ‘deserves so much recognition and the clothes and smells and women were worthy of attention.” Your basic “white man’s burden rhetoric as if [the Indian culture] couldn’t just stand on its own.” So while the media has often reported what white celebrity has decided to play offensive dress up, what’s less often talked about is when people of actual Asian cultures wear their traditional attires and why these clothings so important to them.

Jacqueline Szeto, 19, plays the traditional Chinese instrument the Guzheng.

Every time she performs, she wears a Cheongsam, a traditional Chinese dress. Wearing the dress while playing makes her feel connected to the long standing history of Chinese musical culture. “It makes me feel like I’m doing something important, like I’m a part of something bigger” Szeto says.

“When I put on the dress and tie up my hair, I am not just performing an instrument; I feel like I’m in a part of history.” Jenny Mai, 20, echos Szeto’s sentiments. Every Lunar New Year, Mai dons the Vietnamese Ao Dai. “It’s just a part of the celebration. Everyone in my family dresses up and we have a big dinner...I think I would feel weird not wearing one on Lunar New Years.”

While misinformed costumed white celebrities have the spotlight shown over them again and again, perhaps a better way to learn is by example. It’s more fruitful and positive to celebrate Asians wearing their heritage clothing. There is pride, history and legacy in cultural clothing and this approach will best teach those foolish individuals to think twice before they start speaking in Chinese Whispers.

Jolene Hsu is a Sophomore studying Media, Culture and Communications in Steinhardt.

8 Identity

G

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Don’t Wear Me Down 9

THE STEPFORD ASIANS

by Casey Lee to be Asian American! Imagine a Stepford, Connecticut filled with Asians. A quote from the website: “Asian Americans are the highestincome, best-educated and fastestgrowing racial group in the U.S, with Asians now making up the largest share of recent immigrants. A Pew Research survey finds Asian Americans are more satisfied than the general public with their lives, finances and the direction of the country, and they place a greater value on marriage, parenthood, hard work and career success” (Pew Research Center 2010).

A majority of Asian Americans also believe that life in the United States is better than in their countries of

Photos courtesy of pewsocialtrends.org

Identity Crisis?

W

hen you are a minority, it’s kind of hard not to think

about race. Race was skin color. It was

to get ahead, better conditions to a figment of your imagination. Uh?

By the Book

So what “counts” as Asian-

brown eyes and black hair. Race was

American anyway? Well, The Office

being the one green apple in a second

of Management and Budget (OMB)

grade class full of red apples. But that’s

says anyone with “origins in any

not really what race is. Race is actually

of the original peoples of the Far

a “social construct.” It’s kind of mind-

East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian

boggling, to understand intrinsically,

subcontinent including, for example,

characteristically, whole-beingly

Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea,

what something is and yet be told

Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine

that it is not. It might elicit some soul

Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.”1

searching and provide some food for

In 2010, the Pew Research

thought: questions like “What now?”

Center came out with an infographic

and “Who am I?” or “What is this life

about how Asian Americans were

then?” Being Asian (American) is a

faring in the US.2 There are a lot of

HUGE part of many of our individual

statistics about all sorts of things. It’s

identities; even when you occasionally

actually pretty impressive. On their

forgot that you are Asian, it’s much

website, you can even filter through

like standing in the shadow of a huge

by ethnic groups to see numbers

statue. There stood this monumental

specifically concerning them.

pillar of your personhood and you just learned that for two decades it’d been

The infographic painted a pretty nice picture. Hey, it sounded great

1. http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMP/asian.html 2. http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/asianamericans-graphics/ 10 Identity

origin, providing more opportunities raise children, and more freedom to express political views and practice religion among other things.

The Stepford Asians Like Nicole Kidman’s character in

the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives,

one can’t help but search for the flaws in the apparently perfect lives of the Stepford Asians. Even the one statistic about racial discrimination looked docile! Life isn’t perfect and living in minority status makes that doubly true.

There had to be something. Something these infographs were missing.

Shruti Kumar (18), an Indian NYU Stern student from Jersey, sees both sides, “There are a lot of problems that Asian Americans face that aren’t represented by the infograph. The whole phenomenon of balancing the values your parents taught you and the values you see on TV or with your friends can’t be represented by a statistic. It’s a very

It’s kind of mind-boggling, to understand intrinsically, characteristically, wholebeingly what something is and yet be told that it is not.

no one really talks about, like

are so many stereotypes; the notorious

the Men’s Club of Stepford?

tiger moms, the math prodigies?

Shawn: “I feel like Asian people, in terms of marriage… the concept of divorce doesn’t exist.

unique Asian American experience.”

Jason Lee (19), an NYU CAS student,

Everything centers around the kid so they know if they got a divorce it

thinks so too, “It’s hard to generalize

would screw up the kid’s future. So

things because there are so many

their willing to sacrifice their happiness

people out there. [….] Statistics never

for the sake of their children.”

tell the whole story but it’s not like

What about the fact that 39% of Asian Americans say parents place too

“That’s the trickiest thing about numbers and facts, they don’t lie and yet they can’t be wholly true.”

Shruti: “[A]s an Asian American

I disagree with anything. They’re

kid that grew up here I don’t think

numbers; you can’t lie with numbers.”

that [the US] that amazing because I

much pressure on their children to

can see the problems that exist. But I

do well academically and that 49% of

American Stern student, says, “I’d say

can see why our parents would think

Asian Americans have a bachelor’s

quantitative wise, based on finances

that it is because they came to America

degree or higher (as compared to

and education, Asian people are

for a reason[…]. They believe in the

28% of the U.S. population)?

in a really good spot. But I feel like

American Dream and if you think that

there’s this emotional instability in

the American Dream is true and real,

such a high value on education that

Asian American families that are

then you would think that America

it’s the highest priority sometimes.

addressed by this ‘model minority’

is awesome. A lot of people think that

They place too much stress on it

label that are placed on Asians.”

they can go from rags to riches by

for their kids, which is not a good

Shawn An (19), a Chinese-

That’s the trickiest thing about

Jason: “Asian Americans place

virtue of living in America, but there

thing because it […] doesn’t place

numbers and facts, they don’t lie

are a lot of socio-economic boundaries

enough value on relationships.”

and yet they can’t be wholly true.

that are unique to America, not just

So for all those nice figures about

for minorities, that keep people from

stereotype that their kids have to be

the importance of marriage, family,

moving up, which is pretty ironic.”

doctors or whatever so in terms of

education, is there a darker experience READ OUR BLOG

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And what about education? There

Shawn: “There is that Asian

that I think that… well it’s like that The Stepford Asians 11

immigrant factor. They think “I threw

agreed that stagnation is

because we’re becoming more and

everything (life family, language,

something to watch out for.

more American. Most of the Asians

and society) away to come here”

Shawn: “[O]nce you get comfortable

in the US now were foreign-born but

so they could build better futures

where you are you lose the drive

the longer we stay here, the longer

for themselves and their kids so we

to go further. I think that a lot of

we’ll become like the norm.”

need to acknowledge that fact. Like

Asian Americans will break through

for my parents, they could’ve done

socio-economic barriers but I think

can see the problem so when we

fine had they stayed in China but

a lot of them will stay stagnant.”

grow up we’ll be more disillusioned

they knew for me, I would do better developmentally here in America.”

So what about the future?

The interviewees generally

Jason: “I think the statistics will

Shruti: “We grew up here so we

than our parents. Also, I think the

likely average out as the years go

statistic about success will become

by. Like they will get more similar

more even [to the general population]

to the general population of the US

[laughs] because every successive generation is more American. Like you can see it even now—I know Indian kids who refuse to call themselves Indian and want to be as far removed from the culture as possible.”

Statistics leave out so much of the human experience. Race may be a construct, yes. People may have prejudices due to said racial construct, yes. Those prejudices may or may not be true. Point is, a lot of that information about being highest-income, most lifesatisfied, highly dedicated parents and partners is true. They would be great things to aspire to, to look forward to.

But life isn’t as magenta-tinted and 2-D as the data on a screen. Those numbers tell only that which we have already achieved. Our personal definitions of what it means to be Asian American may still be a bit hazy, maybe not.

But getting there takes time, a little everyday. It’s a dialectic of sorts fdssthat changes as we give meaning to it. Maybe the infographic and the statistics then are less about who Asian Americans are now and more telling towards who we can be. At the end of the day, we are who we are. As Shruti puts it, “As hard as the Asian American experience is, I want [my kids] to have it because [the difficulties] makes them better in the end.”

G

Casey Lee is a freshman majoring in Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences.

12 Identity

THE MOUSE-DEER AND THE CROCODILE

By Demi Phoon

In high school, I had to tell a folktale from my culture. I searched and found this fable about the mouse-deer. The mouse-deer is highlighted in Malaysian culture because even though it is small, it is very smart. So I choose the story about The Mouse-Deer and the Crocodile for my project in high school. I thought it would be interesting to bring this story as a cartoon on paper for Generasian.

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Mouse-Deer 13

ROCKING THE

by Shirley Foo

F

BOAT ABC, 2015, Fresh Off the Boat

resh Off The Boat​,

based on celebrity chef Eddie Huang’s memoir, has recently been one of the most widely talked­about new TV shows on broadcast television, and it is no surprise why. The show has been named the first Asian­American focused sitcom in 20 years since 1994’s Korean­American comedy ​

All­-American Girl ​starring Margaret Cho, which was later canceled by ABC after one season due to low ratings and offensive content which was severely criticized. It was a caricature of Asian America rather than a showcase and served as an apology for the race, instead of a celebration.

Unlike ​All­-American Girl​, ​Fresh Off The Boat​has received positive reviews and appears to be here to stay. Set in the nineties, the Taiwanese Huangs move from Chinatown in Washington, D.C. to a predominantly white neighborhood in Orlando, Florida, experiencing culture shocks and differing levels of difficulty in assimilating into white­American culture.

Fresh Off The Boat​is seen as a breakthrough for the Asian­American community, who are one of the least represented minority groups on television. With an estimated 18.9 million people of Asian descent living in the 14 Entertainment

United States, we are still largely invisible on television. TV shows in America are mainly dominated by white culture, so for a show to feature

With an estimated 18.9 million people of Asian decent living in the United States, we are still largely invisible on television.

a predominantly Asian cast is a definite feat.

There are, of course, other shows besides F ​ resh Off The

Boat ​that feature non­white leads.

Having a person of color as a lead character in popular shows is indeed progressive, but it is not enough, as many characters still have backward portrayals. Asians cannot be limited to one­dimensional stock roles. This only emphasizes the fact that Asian characters are in dire need of complex and dynamic makeovers, which is why ​Fresh Off The Boat ​is such a hit.

There is a clear lack of Asian protagonists on American television.

Asians are often relegated to secondary roles or side actors who play into Asian stereotypes. Han Bryce Lee in 2 Broke Girls​ is portrayed as asexual and unable to understand American culture. Rajesh Koothrapalli in ​The Big Bang Theory​ is crippled by his inability to speak to women. Such roles clearly sideline and heavily stereotype Asian presences on screen and also contribute to the emas-

culation of the Asian­American male

acter in a dominantly white context.

If ​Fresh Off The Boat​revolves

and the “foreigner” aspect of Asians in general, who are shown as unable to

around Asian­American culture and be-

Fresh Off the Boat successfully places racialized characters in a nonracialized context. assimilate into white­American culture.

On the other hand, while F ​ resh Off

The Boat ​is rightly hailed as a standout and a breakthrough for Asian ­American presence on the screen, its arrival has perhaps diminished the accomplishments of other Asian­American actors who have also played significant, non­ racialized roles onscreen. Lucy Liu in ​ Elementary​, Aziz Ansari in P ​ arks and Recreation​, and Mindy Kaling in ​The Mindy Project​are all examples of Asian protagonists in shows that are not centered around their race and do not rely on stereotypes to form the basis of their characters. The fact that they are Asian is not a defining personality trait of their characters. Yet, they are still typically the single Asian­American char-

ing Asian is an important aspect of the Huangs’ life, is the show racialized, then? We must remember that

Fresh Off The Boat​is not simply a story about an Asian family and it is not only focused on the race of its protagonist, even if race is an important theme of the show. F ​ resh Off The Boat is based on a nonfiction book, celebrity chef Eddie Huang’s memoir.

Hence, it is perhaps less of a show about race, and more of a show about how a young boy grew up in a world where he was different. F ​ resh Off The Boat​ successfully places racialized characters in a non­racialized context.

The cast of Asian leads is the main focus of the show, yet somehow, it does not singularly revolve around the theme of race. While the show would certainly be different if the cast was not Asian, the fact that the characters a ​ re​Asian is not the driving force of the plot.

Although ​Fresh Off The Boat ​does indeed promote diversity on the televi-

ABC, 1995, All American Girl

sion screen and provide an outlet of expression for Asians as a minority group, it does not strive to be a savior for us all. It does not represent every single Asian­American, nor does it attempt to brand itself as the mouthpiece of Asian­American culture. It is first and foremost an individual’s reflection on his life––the fact that he is an individual of Asian heritage does not make ​Fresh Off The

Boat​the final solution for all other Asian ­Americans. G Shirley Foo is a Freshman studying journalism in the College of Arts and Science.

Nahright, 2013, Eddie Huang;

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Rocking the Boat 15

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT:

KOREA VS. USA

by Swan Cho

S

tars, they are just like us.

forgiveness between both cultures is

him. His newest album released in

And like any of us, they at

incredibly vast. One of the greatest

2014, “Miss Me or Diss Me”, received

many points in their lives make the

falls of the Korean entertainment

mixed reviews but the overall reaction

wrong choices. Individuals of the

industry is a young man named

was negative. MC Mong is a prime

entertainment industry both in

Shin Dong-Hyun also known as, MC

example of what breaking the law as

Western and Eastern cultures break

Mong. Shin released his first single

a celebrity in Korea looks like but not

the law. The difference between the

album in 2004 with the album “180°”

the only one. No Hong-Chul, a variety

stars and us is that the world gets to

which allowed him to finally break

TV favorite, radio show host, and a

watch their mistakes unravel. What

through into mainstream music and

Korean “fashion” icon was caught

is truly interesting to observe, is

gain the attention of the country. His

drunk driving and was edited out of

the reaction of the culture to which

“monkey-like” looks and humorous

all his TV episodes and immediately

these entertainers belong. Why is it

music videos captured the hearts

replaced. Kang Ho-Dong, an award

that the same crime committed by an

of many people all over the world

winning TV Host and considered a

American star in American culture

and he slowly rose to fame. Five

Korean legacy, was arrested for tax-

is received differently when than

albums later, MC Mong had his own

fraud and was forced to retirement.

a person commiting a crim in the

radio program, was a permanent

Korean entertainment industry?

member in multiple variety T.V.

As celebrities continue to come and go – it becomes obvious that the gap of

shows and even had his own online shop. Then in September 2010, MC Mong was charged with deliberately extracting teeth as to avoid Korea’s

As celebrities continue to come and go - it becomes obvious that the gap of forgiveness between both cultures is incredibly vast.

mandatory 2-year military service requirement for all male citizens. As these allegations hit the public, he was immediately cut out of all variety

Noh Hong-Chul. Photo from DramaFever

16 Entertainment

These Korean artists, actors, and

shows he was a part of (regardless of

entertainers who have been in the

whether the episodes had been filmed

industry for years and loved by the

or not), his music was no longer

people were instantly shunned once

played on any radio stations, and he

they commit a crime. The celebrities

was banned from performing on live

are not required but expected to hold a

television. Ten months later, after

nationwide press conference explaining

he was proved innocent, meaning

their wrongdoing and apologizing for

the court recognized that his teeth

disappointing their country. They

extraction was not intentionally

are supposed to stop being active in

performed to get out of military

public and most citizens request that

service, Korea still had not forgiven

they give up their careers altogether.

Many celebrities retire after making a mistake but if they do return, they start from the bottom again. They lose their “seniority” and their careers are defined by their crime. Anyone would agree that they should be disciplined, they did break the law therefore they must face the consequences but is ending their career the correct punishment?

On the other spectrum are American celebrities who have broken the law. Mike Tyson an American boxer and a former undisputed heavyweight champion was arrested for driving under the influence, drug possession, and physical violence in public throughout his career. Justin Bieber, a teen idol, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and drag racing in 2014.

Chris Brown, award winning recording

Mike Tyson (left) and Chris Brown (right). Photo from WireImage

Perhaps neither society has the correct approach and there should be a balance between the two cultures.

role models and as public figures have an obligation to be perfect. On the other hand, the American culture is incredibly individualistic. People encourage these public icons that

artist and platinum record holder,

fall to redefine themselves or use

pleaded guilty for attacked his then-

their new image to build something

girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. Will Smith,

arrests during his early acting career

new. They are punished much less

a renowned American actor, was

over drug related charges, including

than the average citizen for the same

arrested in 1989 over a vicious assault

cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. All

crimes and are given very special

that left his victim with a fractured

of these entertainers are still very

treatment throughout their sentence.

left eye. Robert Downey had multiple

famous today and are not solely

The question that remains is, which

remembered for their crimes. They

reaction is the appropriate one? And

served their time, minimally or not at

why are the reactions so different?

all due to their status, and continued

Should celebrities be shunned from

their career. They are revered for their

the industry after they commit a

comebacks and proclaimed as “brave”

crime, or should they be given special

for being able to fight drug addictions

treatment because they are famous?

and turn their life around. Even those

Perhaps neither society has the

who are known for their mistakes,

correct approach and there should be

such as Mike Tyson and Chris Brown,

a balance between the two cultures.

are both still active on television and

Without a doubt, all people should

Brown has released multiple albums

be required to take responsibility

after his arrest. Their mistakes are

for their actions, famous or not.

either forgotten or their wrongdoings

Nonetheless, they should be given

are attributed to their personality.

the opportunity to be forgiven

The Korean culture, as many

and to receive a second chance. G

Eastern countries, is based on an Robert Downey Jr.’s mugshot in 1999 for

honor system and their celebrities are

Swan Cho is a junior majoring in Mathematics

drug possession. Photo from DigitalSpy

expected to be at their best. They are

in the College of Arts and Science.

1. http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/133359/20141108/why-is-mc-mong-receiving-so-much-negative-feedback-for-his-comeback.htm 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Tyson 3. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2216135/Will-Smith-1989-mugshot-connection-attack-left-man-blind.html 4. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269279/chris-brown-charged-with-assault-on-rihanna

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Crime and Punishment: Korea Vs. USA 17

I NEED AN [ASIAN AMERICAN]

HERO

by Hui Ong

T

he faces on television are white, white, white and Will Smith,”

Shing Yin Khor penned above a watercolor sketch of the Yellow Ranger looking wistfully into the distance, as she writes from experience as an Asian growing up in America. Amidst the sea of superheroes on screen she finds herself drawn only to the Yellow Ranger: “She is my goddess.

Jesus Christ is white, but Trini Kwan looks like me.” The absence of racial diversity in children’s entertainment can indeed be punishing for the self-esteem of most American kids – save for white boys, according to a 2012 study published in Communi-

“What would Trini Kwan Do?” Shing Yin Khor1

would be relinquishing his role as Captain America to his

cation Research. Children are affected psychologically

African-American partner Sam Wilson. Yet, as Jeff Yang -

when they do not see themselves represented. Simi-

columnist of Tao Jones on the Wall Street Journal and editor

larly, lead characters in superhero comics or cartoons

of two Asian-American graphic novel anthologies - expressed

are predominantly white (think Batman, Spiderman,

in a commentary for the CNN in July 2014: “The problem with

and an overwhelmingly large proportion of the suppos-

non-white characters taking over the legacies of established

edly all-inclusive X-Men). Other races, if present at all,

white characters is that the changes never seem to stick… The

are commonly reduced to the margins of the narrative,

costume almost always reverts back to the original wearer.”

rearing their heads as forgettable sidekicks at best.

In the readers’ minds the white narrative has already been

Fortunately there has been a turn towards diversifying

firmly cemented. To stuff a new character under the same

the pop culture that children are exposed to, not begin-

cape for conspicuous purposes of diversity is effective only

ning and certainly not ending with the realm of com-

in highlighting the contrasts between different racial ex-

ics. Last August, Marvel announced that Steve Rogers

periences, which can make the story seem disjointed.

To stuff a new character under the same cape for conspicuous purposes of diversity is effective only in highlighting the contrasts between different racial experiences, which can make the story seem disjointed.

What is really needed, then, are “fresh, new heroes who represent us in all our vibrant diversity,” Yang emphasized, “with origin stories that are authentic to their identities.” They would come from backgrounds that Asian-American kids can readily connect to, with none of the historical baggage of rehashed storylines.

To help you get started, here are four AsianAmerican superheroes to look out for:

18 Entertainment

1

Tony Chu, from Chew

Set in an America plagued catastrophically by birdflu, Chu plays the unlikely hero as a cibopath, i.e. with a bite of anything he gets a psychic vision of the subject in question. He is swiftly picked up by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an extremely powerful bureau in this strange world, and encounters wildly unusual characters with other food-related supernatural powers.

2

Cindy Moon, aka Silk, from Marvel Released in stores in February, Moon is the first Asian-American female to get her own Marvel series. (“It’s funny that this is 2015, and these are still firsts,” said Jeff Ayers, manager of the

Chew2

comics store Forbidden Planet, in an interview with the NBC.)

Born in Queens, Moon was bitten by the same irradiated spider that produced Spiderman. She was locked in a bunker for her own protection for thirteen years, and upon release joins forces with Spiderman to fight villains.

3

Amadeus Cho, aka Prince

of Power from Marvel This Korean-American is not strictly

Cindy Moon3

a superhero, but a superhuman with a hypermind. It enables him to work out an infinite number of mathematical calculations within moments. If you remain, for some reason, unimpressed: Cho deftly hacks into Iron Man’s state-of-theart suit with a fourth-generation GameBoy and manages to outmath a laser-guided missile.

Amadeus Cho4

4

Ken Mack, aka Mettle, from Avengers Academy.

He was just a typical teenager surfing the Hawaiian waves, before an accident at sea revealed the red iridium skull under his skin. He is quickly transformed into a full body of pure iridium, realizing his abilities to exhibit Herculean strength and withstand scorching temperatures and blunt trauma. G Mettle5 Hui Ong is a Sophomore studying Economic in the College of Arts and Science.

1 http://the-toast.net/2014/07/02/ what-would-yellow-ranger-do-cartoon/ 2 http://majorspoilers.com/2011/07/08/review-chew-19/

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3 http://marvel.wikia.com/Cindy_Moon_(Earth-616) 4 http://marvel.wikia.com/Amadeus_Cho_(Earth-616) 5 http://marvel.wikia.com/Avengers_Academy_Vol_1_13

I Need an Asian American Hero 19

SHILIN WINDOWS

By Lawrence Wu

20 Art

The Taiwanese nighttime heat and humidity, the stench of grilled squid and stinky tofu, the iconic game over sounds within an earshot from the numerous arcades are the sense I remember most. Each storefront, cramped between others, is just a small window to people’s lives and their culture.

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Art 21

SELF PORTRAIT

by Cindy Qui

Silver w ings of hope Brought me to a spaceA space of confusion And ut ter happiness.

They say of this place, Sunshine w ipes dr y tears Of wear, of despair.

They said, you’ll be the w inner Of this golden race.

In the crayon age, I dabbled outside the lines.

They used their reds and v iolets To make eter nal gardens.

I used bland c harcoal To draw abst rac t shapes They’ll never perceive, For they saw circ les From a mesh of squares.

Only light hair in sight, I revered dark ness.

I k new not a world Where I can paint different tales, Without flashy-sk in teens Sit t ing on my dreams.

Girls w ith eyes like mine Wave that magic marker Hoping lines w ill c hange their fate.

I also drew lines, On outsk ir ts of our young lives, To say we’re not the same.

Not a sunshine-haired scant, Nor a fair-sk in per fec t plan.

Just a menager ie Of shat tered color ful glass.

P iecing the par ts together Shows an incomplete pu zzle.

22 Narrative

The poem that I wrote, entitled “Self-Portrait,” juxtaposes tales of journeys: physical journeys, such as migrating to a foreign land, and emotional journeys, such as navigating the labyrinth of friendships and relationships. “Self-Portrait” outlines that chronology, based on my own experiences, from the actions and thoughts of fifth graders to those of college students. It tells of times when it was only accepted to follow the status quo of middle school or high school hierarchy. And that is certainly relatable. However, gradually, one (hopefully) realizes that the status quo is simply an imaginary, fickle concept meant to be broken. The idea that one needs to follow a certain life path is instilled, but meant to be challenged.

The stage of c hange is set.

I showcase my blue hear t, Inscr ibed w ith their names.

But in rooms w ithout air, I breathe through small holes Of laughs about this phony place.

I lear n too muc h too late About false promises And red envelopes of difference.

I never smoked societ y To c limb to their high.

Obsessed w ith silver screen da ze, They dressed away their wage.

My enemies’ enemies Broke their promises to me.

It’s a ladder w ith no end Even when I reac hed the sky, I saw flashes, but no signs.

Four years of c hanging escapes, Through unreflec t ive mir rors, A hollow pic t ure of me Persists t il the ver y end.

Once colored w ith pure, pink paint, Now spot ted w ith dots of gray.

Changing lyr ics r un my brain, Unw illing to sway its pace, Til I found my c hosen phrase.

Now I tell fragmented tales Of a nomadic young life.

Mov ing away from things Without thought, st ill my for te.

St ill judged by blac k lines on eyes.

But your voice, a faint blemish On my glow ing t ic ket out of here.

Some say they like the lines.

Some tell me to add w ings. G Cindy Qiu is a Freshman studying English in the College of Arts and Science.

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Self Portrait 23

THE ASIAN ADVANTAGE: ALL FUN AND GAMES

by Nicole Bernardo

H

ard work, a logical numerical system, and a language that enables enhanced memorization have been pin-

math is fun and important to life.

With multiplication alone, the Japanese have at least three ways for their students to find solutions, all of which are

pointed by author Malcolm Gladwell as tools in the Asian

arguably more fun than Western methods. Answers to the

math arsenal, but what if there were even more? Perhaps

most basic problems, such as 8 x 8, are taught very early on in

it is not just mundane methods that improve math profi-

the form of multiplication tables. This sounds familiar to the

ciency. Asians are putting a positive spin on mathematics

ubiquitous rows of factors and products we had to memorize

allowing their younger generations to view the daunting

as kids, but the main difference is in the method of memori-

subject as a fun puzzle or a challenging game. What hard

zation. Rather than monotonously reciting the problems or

truths can we learn about the West’s educational approach

copying them down over and over, Japanese schoolchildren

to math and the ways are we failing our schoolchildren?

memorize their times tables by singing. Yes, singing. The

For British broadcaster Alex Bellos, who holds a math

song, called kuku, is comparable to a nursery rhyme in its

degree, Asian superiority in mathematics is an enigma.

prevalence and reputation. Children recite basic multipli-

It is hard to pinpoint just one thing that makes them

cation problems to a tune with some of the words changed

more adept at the skill, but there are certainly concrete

to sound more musical and therefore easier to remember.

methods that seem to be working in mysterious ways

Often, they learn the song before they learn its meaning, so

we have yet to fully understand. Bellos traveled to Japan

the words become second nature, like memories. This must

and narrated a radio podcast for BBC that broadcasted

make it hard to forget simple multiplication! Bellos visited a

first in 2012 and again in August 2013. What he found

Japanese bar after the work day was over to see if the rhyme

there was slightly different from the robotic, rigid con-

was still used by adults. When he asked a lady what 8 x 8

trol we had assumed made math so simple for Asians.

was she remembered right away and said she had thought

Bellos believes the Japanese approach to math is a posi-

of the rhyme in her head. They remember the sounds of the

tive factor. Math is typically seen in America as tedious,

problems more than the meaning, but the answer is the same

convoluted, and absurdly abstract to those who do not favor

either way and is noticeably faster to recall. Plus, the nega-

it. From personal experience, mathematics was never a

tive stigma of forced memorization is erased since Japanese

strong point. I felt that the classroom was a battlefield of

adults are recalling a nursery rhyme rather than the cringe-

privates who were sacrificed and left for dead if they did

worthy lists of times tables American adults must envision.

not grasp basic concepts early on, and of elites, the officer division who excelled at such left-brain reasoning and were rewarded with A’s and friendships with the teacher. Most of the math I was taught from K to 12 was taught from similar textbooks, in similar manners. If you did not understand the teacher’s first explanation, most likely you would never get

Asians are putting a positive spin on mathematics allowing their younger generations to view the daunting subject as a fun puzzle or a challenging game.

the concept because many of the teachers could only explain the solution process one way or maybe two. Math was almost never fun for a student like me who was better with words

The second method allows students, with a bit of ef-

than with numbers and who could not visualize an equa-

fort, to solve more complex multiplication problems. Let’s

tion being imperative in the real world. What the Japanese

take the problem 123 x 321. Without a calculator, this would

are doing is different. They are teaching their children that

be arduous work by hand. The Japanese use a system of lines to solve problems like these with ease and accu-

24 Commentary

racy. First, you need to represent 123 with lines. Each

This brings us to the third method—the abacus.

group of lines represents each digit from left to right,

The abacus allows Japanese students to not only solve

so the first line by itself would represent the hundreds

multiplication problems, but also other basic math op-

place, the second cluster the tens place, and the last

erations such as addition. Bellos implies in his pod-

cluster (on the far right) the ones place. Like so:

cast that this small, originally wooden contraption

To represent 321, you need to draw groups of lines

may be a large factor in the mystery behind why Japa-

from left to right as well but perpendicular to the lines

nese enjoy mathematics more and are better at it.

of 123 so that you create a sort of grid-like pattern.

Next, you need to mark all the points where the lines intersect. You separate these points into areas that are close to one another.

Abacus Diagram from abacus.etherwork.net

An example of an average abacus is shown above. As Bellos lamented, half of U.K. adults have the mathematical skills of an 11 year-old, which costs the economy greatly. In Japan, where no such issue exists, a million children a year learn the abacus. Called soroban in Japanese, the abacus is a vertical contraption with five beads on each rod. With training, calculating a sum on the abacus is faster than using pencil and paper. With an abacus, one can often solve thirty multiplication problems in three minutes. In Japan, it is popular to take after school abacus learning classes. Bellos visited such a school.

The voice that crackled over the podcast adding up a number over a trillion with several other numbers in the billions in Then you add up the points in each area. The numbers become the digits in the product, or solution. Because there are more than 9 points in the center area, you

about thirty seconds, was that of a small child. The students in that abacus classroom were between the ages of 5 and 7.

Bellos has a math degree and said he would not have been

carry over the one like in regular multiplication, so the

able to even write those numbers down in the time it took

14 becomes 4 and the 8 becomes 9. The number of points

to solve it. The teacher at the abacus school said that even

in each area represent the solution from left to right.

though the abacus is old-fashioned, it is used to help children

Therefore, the answer is 39483. Check with a calculator—

gain basic math skills such as concentration and memori-

did you get it right? Yes! This is the Japanese line method

zation. Bellos said the soroban was comparable to judo or

to multiplication. Supposedly, this method always works

karate in that there are levels

even for huge factors, so if you have the time, try it out.

of mastery with the top level

Praised as the Japanese “trick” to accurate multiplication,

mainly about competition.

this method proves that there is always more than one

In Kyoto, the beautiful

way to solve a math problem, and there is always more

former capital, there is an

than one way to approach one. This method is effective

annual soroban competition.

in that no calculator is needed and there is no chance of

At the competition there are

mistaking 7 x 7 for 45 or something similar while in the

different categories, one with

long process of multiplying by hand the Western way.

paper questions like an exam, one with an orator who recites the numbers

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Image by Deviantart user sapphiresky1410 The Asian Advatage: All Fun and Games 25

better. With the time spent on average by Japanese schoolchildren learning the soroban, usually three hours a day, it is suggested that a student practicing how to solve math problems with pencil and paper for that same duration could drastically improve as well or perhaps at the same level. Perhaps the abacus alone does not majorly improve math skills, but the practice and effort put into mastering the method does. And by viewing math as a fun challenge and important skill equal to that of sports or other extracurricular activities, Japanese have become more successful with math than Americans.

Bellos also visited a shrine where a contestants must add up (it sounds much like an auction)

sangaku from the 1680s was displayed.

and one where there is also an orator but no sounds of the

Japanese people, often priests, throughout history would

clacking beads of the soroban because contestants solve the

hang up these mathematical demonstrations above the

equations in their heads. Visualizing an abacus in this way

entrances of shrines. Almost like proofs, these large sheets

is called anzan, or mental abacus. In flash anzan, fifteen

served as a kind of entertainment and an offering to the

numbers are flashed on a screen and contestants have to

gods. To Japanese, mathematics is beautiful. It is something

add them up mentally while getting less than a second to see

of value, and when new solutions are discovered they are

each number. The numbers get shown faster and faster until

shared with all. To them, mathematics is a public gift.

eventually it takes less than two seconds to show all fifteen

Perhaps then, America has much to learn from our East-

numbers! Each of the numbers are between 100 and 999, with

ern counterparts. How can our education system make math

the last round taking only 1.70 seconds to display all fifteen

fun? I personally think the greatest obstacle in American

numbers. Though open to all ages, the flash anzan champion

mathematical achievement or improvement is students’ per-

was an adult man, proving that the benefits of the abacus

spective of math. To Bellos, the abacus reflects a culture not

can allow for great mathematical feats into adulthood. Adults

as scared of math as British people or Americans are. The so-

in Japan are still enjoying and succeeding at basic math at a

roban, kuku, and Sudoku, all with origins in Japan, show that

higher rate than Western adults perhaps due to the abacus.

math is seen there as something to have fun with and to learn

Mathematical successes using the abacus suggest that

from. We have to start from the bottom-up, and show our

physical props make students more comfortable with

children and schools everywhere that the Asians got it right

numbers than approaching them in an abstract way would.

when it comes to math. Math is something desirable to learn,

In America, math is taught as an abstract concept, and

something to be proud of succeeding at, and an honorable

students must grasp at thin air to imagine how to solve

skill that shows a reverence to the cultures that instilled hard

problems. Anzan counters this issue by allowing students

work. By aiming to achieve great wonders through math-

and adults to envision a physical, understandable object

ematics, Asians are also leaving behind a public gift to benefit

in their head, and they can subsequently visualize math

the children of tomorrow. Isn’t it time we did the same?

problems as tangibly solvable challenges rather than imagi-

Nicole is a Sophomore majoring in English

nary abstractions. According to Butterworth, the abacus

in the College of Arts and Science.

actually changes the way the brain makes calculations.

Parts of the brain that control motor function and other areas are activated when the Japanese process calculations versus when Westerners try to solve the same problems.

Of course, no one is sure if training with an abacus or spending more time with pencil and paper math would be

26 Commentary

Works Cited: 1 Bellos, Alex. “Land of the Rising Sums.” Audio blog post. BBC Radio 4. BBC, 7 Aug. 2013. Web. 4 May 2014.

2 “How do Japanese multiply??” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 27 June 2008. Web. 4 May 201

G

THE ASIAN AMERICAN MENTAL LANDSCAPE

W

ithin a society that prides

itself on having such an

by Avery Chang

any amount of attempted suppres-

to act accordingly when in certain

sion. To many young Asian Americans

situations that call for certain cultural

inexhaustible amount of opportunity

equipped with the Eastern values of

norms. At home, they are taught a

that happiness is barely even a hop,

their parents and grandparents, depres-

code of behavior that aligns with more

skip, and a jump away, it comes as no

sion is often trivialized as just one facet

traditional values that their parents or

surprise that coming to terms with

of the pursuit of the American Dream.

grandparents lived by in their country

one’s depression is a most daunting

Psychological research has congregated

feat. While it is necessary to note that in recent times, America has made steps towards a more careful comprehen-

Depression is often trivialized as just one facet of the pursuit of the American Dream.

sion of mental health, we must also remember

1

of origin. But at school or anywhere

a wealth of evi-

outside of the home, these young Asian

dence supporting

Americans are taught more western

the fact that young

principles of living. So, it is unsurpris-

Asian Americans

ingly that these young Asian Americans

possess a mental-

are under a great deal of stress just from

ity caught between

having to decide on how to behave.

two wildly

There is often public and self-

that much of the mental landscape

contrasting cultures. Culture has a big

inflicted stigma attached to depression

is still rather uncharted territory.

effect on the human mind - much big-

within the Asian American community.

ger than we typically give it credit for.

Public stigma arises from Eastern val-

a whole may be moving towards accept-

A person’s culture can act as the very

ues that emphasize suppression of any

ing and understanding mental illness

foundation of their psychology. Culture

sort of weakness that does not inspire

- but that is not to say that all of its parts

often dictates a person’s behavior, the

self-improvement. While Western

are moving at the same speed. From

way they view their self in the context

culture emphasizes care of the indi-

afar, the Asian American community

of a larger society, and even the heuris-

vidual before care of the group, Eastern

appears wholly perfect. Hard-working,

tics they draw from when confronted

culture focuses itself much more on

successful, intelligent - images consis-

with any sort of problem commonly

the opposite - the group before the

tently reinforced by the model minority

encountered in the human experience.

individual. Such a value would cause

myth have caused many to forget that

Young Asian Americans, who often

a person to try to repress any sort of

mental illness arises in anyone despite

have to switch from one cultural men-

weakness that has proved itself difficult

tality to another, are under great stress

or impossible to fix. But mental illness

Slowly, but surely, America as

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The Asian Mental Landscape 27

reports of sadness and hopelessness are ignored. Even if the individual has come to terms with the existence of their sadness or hopelessness, without the help or acceptance of their family, they may not be able to receive proper assistance.

Many parents may construe signs of depression as typical young moodiness and write off such behavior. And others may downright ignore the signs, only acknowledging them to chastise their children for being unhappy despite all that they have, being here in America.

Often, ignoring a problem

only causes the problem to become worse. Such is the case in regards to the stigma of mental health issues in the Asian American community.

Refusing to recongize an issue can only result in furthered and unnecessary pain. For today’s generation of 3 Infographic depicting the gap in suicidal thoughts between

Asian Americans, the space outside of

Asian American students and students of other races.

home is becoming more understanding and more accepting of mental and

is not something that goes away even

less were rampant enough to inter-

emotional health. As they continue

under the pressure of continued, consis-

fere with their daily lives. This figure

to grow in such an environment, it

tent personal effort, which ultimately

compared to those of students of other

is inevitable for the Asian American

would give rise to self-inflicted stigma.

racial groups (28 percent) is higher.

attitude to move in a direction that

The development of such a personal

recognizes metal health as a legitimate

brand of shame and disgrace that is

asked about, the gap between Asian

concern. One day, the environment

only augmented by the unwillingness

American students and students of

both in and out of the Asian Ameri-

to help of those who belong to greater

other racial groups only increases.

can home will match up in regards to

society to which one also belongs,

Upon asking Asian American stu-

recognition of mental health. Younger

would only cause one to descend deeper

dents if they had seriously considered

members of the Asian American com-

into a negative place of thinking.

suicide during the past year, the CDC

munity are becoming more aware of

reported that 19 percent answered

the concept of mental health and will

American teens possess stable emo-

yes, compared to 16 percent of all high

hopefully lead a change in the Asian

tional and mental health, surveys

school students. And about 4 percent

American perception of mental health.

conducted by Centers for Disease

of Asian American teens reported a

Control and Prevention (CDC) have

suicide attempt within the past year

shown that quite a few have emotional

that required medical attention, com-

struggles. 29 percent of the surveyed

pared to 2 percent of all students.2

Asian American students reported

feeling “sad or hopeless� for at least two

ings of sadness and hopelessness may

weeks in a row during the past year.

actually be clinically depressed. But of-

Such feelings of sadness and hope-

ten in the Asian American society, most

And although most Asian

When suicidal thoughts are

Not all teens who harbor feel-

1 journal.animationstudies.org/alison=loader-were-asian-more-expected-of-us 2 journalismcenter.org/article/adressing-stigma-mental-health-asian-american-communities 3 aapivoices.com/model-minoirty=mental-health 4 newamericamedia.org/2013/09/a-psychological-lifeline-for-asian-american-teens.php 28 Commentary

Avery Chang is a Sophomore studying Psychology in the College of Arts and Science.

G

THE THINGS WE’VE

LOST transnational adoptees are often un-

familiar with Korean culture, values and norms. Therefore, many Korean adoptees who have grown up outside of their birth country feel “personal and collective losses, violations, and Lillian and Nora Hexter, 4 months

as part this transnational diaspora.

M

ost people grow up hearing

stories about their births:

the hours of labor and the first happy cry upon entering the world. They are cleaned up, swaddled in warm blankets, and passed immediately into the tired, blissful arms of their mothers.

Pictures of these momentous occasions, taken in crowded hospital rooms, are tucked away into family photo albums.

For transnational Korean adoptees living in the United States and beyond, their stories often do not begin in a hospital room. Most often these stories begin on a plane, babies flying an ocean away from their birthland.

After fourteen hours in the air, Korean adoptees arrive in their new homes, awaiting the open arms of excited new parents. Though pictures of teary-eyed family and friends at bustling airport terminals now fill the family photo albums, adoptees must cope with the loss of the crucial first months— sometimes even years— of their lives. For many Korean adoptees living in the U.S., their han has traveled with them READ OUR BLOG

consequent resentment” precisely because of their removal from Korea

by Nora Hexter

generasian.org

over thousands of miles of land and sea.

•••

Han is arguably one of the most complex concepts in the Korean culture and language, seemingly transcending time, history, and space. It embodies countless meanings, but is most commonly associated with feelings of resentment, injustice, and grief. Han “expresses both personal and collective losses, violations, and consequent resentment—the tragedies of individuals and collectivities of different sizes and inclusiveness can all be represented with the term han—and also provides the victims with a means of representing and eventually resolving resentment” (Roy Richard Grinker).

The universality of this concept connects the Korean people together via shared history--a shared past of pain and suffering, and most importantly, a shared urgency to resolve their han.

Since the end of the Korean War, over 200,000 Korean babies have been sent overseas for adoption, nearly half of them to the United States. These

Maybe adoptees’ han is not the han their birth parents and grandparents and ancestors have possessed in the past. Perhaps this is a new kind of han that embodies a sense of loss and resentment adoptees’ ancestors would never have understood, but that adoptees living in the U.S. understand every day of their lives.

•••

Brendon is a 28-year-old Korean adoptee living in Boston, Massachusetts. He was adopted as a one-year-old with his four-year-old brother. For him, “the void,” as he calls it, “starts that our lives don’t begin where everyone else’s do….My life doesn’t even

You grow up and you have these questions, but the answers are never really as good as you want them to be...and you just continue to have this void.

The Things We’ve Lost 29

tion with them. It was just

guess this could be attributed to being

weird. It was bizarre. These

adopted, essentially with han--this is

things that you should feel,

a force upon you, this loss. You lose

you don’t feel and so it’s

your country and people, birth fam-

like, Why am I not feel-

ily. You’re taken away from it and so…

ing anything? But maybe

maybe that’s why I have attachment

I shouldn’t be feeling any-

issues, even to objects sometimes.”

thing because they’re really

in South Korea. He felt a certain sense

ever, I just have the void.”

of isolation due to his inability to

For many adoptees

fully communicate and understand the

like Brendon, the void or

language, but in other ways he felt com-

han cannot be overcome

fortable being surrounded by people

with one simple answer or solution. These feelings Brendon Albrizio, 28

start really with a birth; it kind of

Last semester, Jon studied abroad

just strangers. And so for-

of loss require a lifetime of questions and answers,

I understand [han] as a struggle against a higher power you can’t control.

almost starts with a paper death. My

some of which remain unanswered or

Korean name and my Korean iden-

unsatisfactory. Sometimes the resolu-

tity dies, or just disappears; it goes

tion to adoptees’ han is not in the grand

who looked so much like him--“my

away one day and then I’m born.”

reclaiming of Korea as their birth-

people, in a sense,” he says. Further,

land or reconnecting with biological

Jon explains that he feels his han more

to try to fill the void because I don’t

He goes on to explain: “I do things

relatives, but instead lies in the simple

strongly now after having lived in Ko-

know what the void is and I don’t

complexities of their daily life.

rea. Being there, immersed by the peo-

know how you fill it. We had a set of parents; I had a mom, I had a dad,

•••

Jon is a 20-year-old Korean adoptee

and then we get adopted and then you

majoring in Studio Art at Macalester

go through that whole process. You

College in Saint Paul, Minnesota . He

grow up and you have these ques-

explains his own conceptualization

tions, but the answers are never really

of han: “I learned about han when

as good as you want them to be...and

I studied abroad in Korea. There

you just continue to have this void.”

are a lot of different translations

For Brendon, filling the void means

country, he says, “I feel like I have more

han since studying abroad and learning what I’ve lost--learning more about the

since it can’t be directly translated

fostering his intense ambition to be

into English. I understand it as a

great at his job. He’s the head of the

struggle against a higher power

digital marketing department at an

you can’t control. It’s a simmer-

advertising agency in Rhode Island.

ing revenge-type of thing. It sits

While many adoptees return to Korea in

inside of you and it never goes

order to fill this void, Brendon says that

away and it continues to grow. It’s

returning to his birth country and even

always passive; it’s never aggres-

meeting members of his birth family

sive. It’s just sitting and stewing.”

did not resolve the han he has his life.

He goes on to discuss the ways

“I was in Korea but I might as well

in which he sees his han play out

have been in any other country because

in seemingly small instances in

I was a stranger in that country. I mean,

his everyday life: “I really hate

people looked like me but they weren’t

losing things. Misplaced keys or

me. I didn’t have this connection to

not being able to find something-

the land.” Upon meeting his birth

-thinking that I lost it or that

father’s brothers, Brendon explains the

someone took it--really upsets

confusing and ambivalent feelings he

me, I think more so than other

had: “I didn’t feel some innate connec-

[non-adopted] people. I

30 Commentary

ple, culture, and language of his birth

Jon Straker, 20

culture and reconnecting with my birth

who helped foster

mom.” He admits that he is sometimes

my sense of Kore-

overcome with grief when reflect-

an identity while

ing on how much loss he has endured

also reminding

through the process of his adoption.

me that I was

•••

I am a Korean American transna-

not the same as Korean Koreans. I

tional adoptee. I arrived in the United

became an Execu-

States on a late, humid July night with

tive Officer for the

my twin sister, Lillian. At four months

Asian Students

old, I had no conscious recollection

in Action club

of my birth family or country. Grow-

in high school.

ing up, my parents helped my sister

I was elected

and me in cultivating our identities

Vice President

as Koreans, encouraging us to at-

for the Korean

Lillian and Nora Hexter, 1 year old

tend culture camps and driving us to

American Student Association in col-

overcome in one sitting— potentially,

Korean school every Saturday morn-

lege. I declared an East Asian Studies

not even in a lifetime. Adoptees like

ing for almost seven years. Attending

major and devoted the remaining years

Brendon work hard to be great at their

Korean school strengthened my desire

of my university career to study-

jobs to fill an inexplicable void in their

to connect with the language of my

ing Korean culture and language.

lives; adoptees like Jon and I strive

birth country. I craved the sounds of

This is my han and how I am

to regain a sense of Korean cultural

this beautiful, unfamiliar tongue and

constantly struggling to reconcile it. I

identity that we were forced to give

fantasized about the day I would be

will always feel these missing pieces-

up when sent away from Korea. Other

able to create these sounds on my own.

-pieces of the shared history and

adoptees negotiate their han by moving

culture of the Korean people that I had

back to Korea to cultivate relationships

I was Korean, I always felt I was not

to leave behind 21 years ago. This is

with their birth families or legally

Korean enough. I wanted to be Korean

how I feel my han--through fractured

regaining South Korean citizenship.

without having to explain why my last

fragments of my identity that still

name isn’t Kim or Park or why I can’t

tell me I’ll never be Korean enough.

For most of my life, although I felt

speak the language. I wanted to be ac-

Han arguably follows most

For each individual, han

is manifested in intimately distinct ways; on a larger scope, the collective

cepted as Korean, no questions asked.

adoptees from birth into adulthood in

transnational Korean adoptee diaspora

And so, I made it a mission to not only

some capacity, whether consciously

has effectively lost the land to which

become fluent in Korean but to as-

or unconsciously, and each individual

we were born, the parents who gave us

similate myself into Asian communities

holds a unique approach in attempting

our blood and bones, and the language

until I felt I belonged. I dated a Korean

to resolve it. However, han cannot be

that sounded into our newborn ears.

We may never be able regain all of the physical and emotional casualties that have occurred throughout our lifetimes. In order to resolve— or at least, come to terms with— our han, we must always remember this loss.

G

Nora Hexter is a junior majoring in East Asian Studies and minoring in Social & Cultural Analysis in the College of Arts and Science.

Lillian and Nora Hexter, 21

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The Things We’ve Lost 31

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