GENERASIAN NYU's premier Asian American publication Fall 2014 • Vol 13 • No 1
Letters
from the
What’s Inside
Editors
Dear Readers,
I am so excited to present to you our Fall 2014 issue: Diaspora. I’ve been a part of Generasian for
almost 3 years now, and I’m pleased to say that the magazine just keeps evolving, improving, and bringing
01 Cover Graphic Georgie Fu 02 Letters from the Editors Catherine Ye & Jolene Hsu and Huiqun Ong
Culture
narrative
04 Shipping Christmas: Filipino Culture and
21 Dearest Darling Daughter Cindy Li
the Balikbayan Boxes Nicole Bernardo
new thoughts and ideas to the current discourse. Much as a diaspora is the dispersion of people from their homeland, we have treated diaspora as an extension of identity, a learning process, an addition of unique
facets to the overall experience of being an Asian American. Now more than ever, Asian American issues
06 First Generation Cuisine Avery Chang
25 Asian, Unmasked Catherine Ye
have come to the forefront and all the important conversations are finally being had--it is our duty as the young generation to lead this movement and make sure that the issues we care about stay relevant.
With each subsequent issue, our writers emerge stronger and more passionate than
09 Asians and Asian Americans: How Do
You Catagorize Yourself? Shirley Foo
27 New Money, Same Parents Jolene Hsu
ever. From short stories to personal anecdotes, from research to informational pieces, each writer has etched into history his or her own voice, raw and perfect at the same time. Reader, we hope you enjoy listening to our stories. Thank you so much for your support and we look forward to sharing our experiences with you in the next issue. All the best,
Commentary
11 A Giving Community: Tzu Chi’s Mission
to Provide Universal Aid Jenny Gao
29 The Struggle for Gender Equaltiy Christine Wang
Entertainment 13 A Computer Game as a Sport Jamie Sung
Catherine Ye Editor in Chief
15 Literature in the Landscape of Asian America Alyza Liu
Art
19 A Case for Anime William Shi
8
Ritual Union Georgie Fu
23 Time Temple: Universaltiy Among
18
Dokkaebi Jaimie Kim
31
Asian American Then and Now Huiqun Ong
Dear readers,
During the college years, everything is moving. We move from hometowns to campuses, from cities
Distinctions Yanchu Zho
to bigger cities, even from one country to another. We bring with us our ideas, cultures, and identities, hoping to find a place for these familiar values in a foreign world. In this sense, we are all experiencing a diaspora of sorts. Be it the assimilation of Asian foods in fusion cuisine, the Balikbayan boxes that contain a piece of Filipino home, or the literal movement of Asian populations to America, this issue of Generasian deals with the difficulties and rewards of navigating between different who we were, who we are and who we will be. This semester’s staff of writers have grappled with these issues of journeying head-on. They have unapologetically explored their own biases and challenged them, coming out with deepened perspectives. There is no right or wrong, but rather, there are only new places to look from. Generasian will continue seeking out unchartered territories, to forward the Asian-American conversation.
Thank you for the support this past semester; we hope that you will
enjoy reading this issue as much we had fun putting it together. Cheers, and Jolene Hsu and Huiqun Ong
EXECUTIVE STAFF Editor-in-Chief Editors-at-Large Art Director Treasurer Marketing Director Community Manager Online Editors Media Director
Editorial Staff
Catherine Ye
Section Editors
Avery Chang
Jolene Hsu & Huiqun Ong
Kim Chen
Kim Chen
Shirley Foo
Nicole Bernardo
Alyza Liu
Tonya Liang
Layout Editors
Avery Chang
Huiqin Ong
Kim Chen
Joyce Chen & Swan Cho Alex Sim
CHECK OUT GENERASIAN.ORG /nyugenerasian
Editors-at-Large Table of Contents 3
Shipping Christmas:
Filipino Culture and Balikbayan Boxes
by Nicole Bernardo
C
are packages are no strang-
of the Philippines Overseas Employ-
free if customers use the same ship-
and young age, I was not often expected
It was as if we were shipping Christ-
ers to college students, many of
ment Administration in 1983”⁶. With
ping company who provides them¹ .
to give gifts to others— I was always
mas each time. I can only speculate
“The Filipino diaspora has not hindered the ample gift giving familiar to Filipino culture.”
whom delight in receiving the various
so many citizens abroad, Marcos began
receiving them—but with Balikbayan
that the joy of giving to loved ones in
items sent from family or from friends
to allow “tax-free entry of personal
24” x 24” x 24” with slightly smaller and
boxes, I was finally a part of that giving
the Philippines is jointly shared by
such as clothing, gifts, and food that
goods into the country from the several
larger variations available, and have
process. I would be a help in sending
each Filipino migrant as is the need
quell cravings or homesickness. Noth-
million Filipinos working overseas”².
a maximum weight of about 70 lbs.³⁵.
the gifts that would hopefully light up
to always take care of family first.
ing seems to beat the euphoric thrill of
Thus, the cultural phenomenon of
Balikbayan boxes from the United
my cousins’ eyes with delight or bring
Balikbayan boxes are often sent
receiving a “present” at your dorm or
sending Balikbayan boxes was born.
States to Metro Manila—the greater
a smile to my grandparents’ faces. My
as gifts and messages of prosperity
to Filipino culture. With the holiday
A Balikbayan box is approximately
hindered the ample gift giving familiar
apartment—except perhaps giving
area of the Filipino capital—costs $85
sister and I would help our parents pack
from family living abroad. Though I
season upon us here in America, per-
one. Crazy, you say? Actually, giv-
and has a transit time of 35-45 days.
those boxes like a real-life Tetris game
am fortunate that my extended family
haps this is the best time to consider the
The cost and transit time are greater
with fragile items fatly wrapped to keep
in the Philippines lives comfortably,
benefits of giving back to family and
for other areas in the Philippines such
from breaking in transit. The sound of
many relatives of Filipinos abroad are
the joy it may ultimately bring us.
as important as receiving. It has
as Visayas, where it costs $90 to send
long strips of duct tape being rolled out
not as privileged, so the boxes are a
become a custom for families
a box in 30-40 days, and Mindanao,
still makes me cringe today, but the fun
way of giving back to loved ones at
where it costs $100 to send a box
ing is second nature for Filipinos. In Filipino culture, giving is
“In Filipino culture, giving is as important as receiving.”
living abroad to send the Filipino equivalent of an elaborate care
Balikbayan boxes have cargo ship-
of wrapping an entire cardboard box to
home. Regardless of financial circum-
in 42-52 days⁵. Shipping these boxes
watertight protection in order to send
stances, Balikbayan boxes represent
package to relatives in the Philippines.
pers worldwide. The top countries that
often takes a month or more because
it across an ocean to a faraway land was
a “sending back of oneself,” as if we
These packages are known as Balik-
send the most Balikbayan boxes include
most Balikbayan boxes are sent via
magical indeed to a young girl in the
are sending parts of ourselves back
bayan (buh-lik-buh-yun) boxes ¹.
(from greatest to least): the Middle East,
cargo ships, therefore families often
suburbs. My family often sent books,
home or to our parents’ birthplaces.
USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy, UK,
must plan ahead in order to send gifts
new and gently used toys, clothes, and
Being born in America, and sending
for certain occasions or holidays.
plenty of food and gifts for each extend-
those packages, often with American
ed family member in the Philippines.
goods, truly symbolized me sending
In the 1970s, the Philippine Department of Tourism coined the word
Korea, and Taiwan⁵. With so many
balikbayan, meaning “return to coun-
Filipinos migrating to other countries
try,” in “recognition [of] the hard work
for work and new beginnings, the niche
depends upon each family and what
and persevering spirit of the Filipino
business of providing supplies for and
their relatives in the Philippines
expatriates”⁴. These expatriates were
shipping balikbayan boxes has become
prefer or request. An assortment of
politically dubbed “Overseas Filipino
a lucrative and booming one. As of Au-
food, clothes, toys, gifts, and perhaps
Workers” or OFWs⁶. During this time,
gust 2014, the Philippine Department of
cards or pictures may be included.
and proven that it does not wane with
there was a national campaign encour-
Trade and Industry listed 616 accredited
Boxes are often packed to the brim with
distance. The Filipino diaspora has not
aging Filipinos to work overseas, and
shipping companies just for Balikbayan
goodies for each receiving relative.
as citizens began to leave en masse,
boxes⁷. “Most major cities with major
Western or American commodities
Sources:
concepts such as balikbayan came into
Filipino populations” sell Balikbayan
are also highly valued and desired, so
¹http://www.thefilipino.com/balikbayan-box-to-send-box-to-the-philippines/
use. The encouragement for migration
box services, and “you can either find
American or European brand items
²http://www.kcet.org/arts/artbound/counties/los-angeles/the-balikbayan-box.html
was a consequence of an unsuccessful
a balikbayan cargo box agent, Filipino
are often included in the package.
³http://johannapoethig.com/exhibitions-installations/balikbayan-box-tracing-a-strain/
attempt at independent “free market
store, [or] Filipino restaurant” that will
capitalism” which resulted in “rising
sell the boxes¹. After packing a box,
living outside of the Philippines have
⁵http://www.dti.gov.ph/dti/index.php/resources/consumer-tips
unemployment and serious foreign-
families can drop it off at the shipping
been sending care packages for longer
⁶http://www.academia.edu/242430/OVERSEAS_FILIPINO_WORKERS_EMERGENCE_OF_AN_ASIAN-PACIFIC_DIASPORA
debt problems.” Former president
center or store or have specific Balik-
than they have been receiving them,
⁷http://www.pinoy-ofw.com/news/33400-dti-accredited-balikbayan-box-cargo-forwarders.htmlt
Ferdinand Marcos then “initiated…
bayan box shipping companies pick
and this is true for me. The excitement
8
the Labor Export Policy (LEP)—with
up the package from their houses at
of seeing the box get dropped off and
Presidential Decree 442 in 1974. It
a set date, depending upon the com-
shopping for gifts and special foods was
was followed by the establishment
pany. Often, boxes are provided for
special to me. With my limited means
4 Culture
What goes into these boxes? That
Many young people in families
“It was as if we were shipping Christmas each time.”
G
Nicole is a sophomore in College of Arts and Science majoring in English.
Balikbayan box
8
a part of myself back to the roots my parents had come from. Balikbayan boxes have exemplified the Filipino tradition of familial love and support
⁴http://seethisideup.blogspot.com/2005/03/balikbayan-box-history.html
http://retiringphilippines.org/balikbayan-shipping-items-to-the-philippines/
Read our blog
generasian.org
Shipping Christmas: Filipino Culture and the Balikbayan Boxes 5
Founder of the Momofuku restaurant group, David Chang, among others like Eddie Huang the founder of BaoHaus and food truck maverick Roy Choi, have been dabbling in what can really be called American Asian cuisine. The dishes these young chefs are churning out is nothing like the Chinese takeout Americans loved so dearly in the 1900s or the fusion food that primarily
First Generation Cuisine
white chefs were creating right before the turn of the Twenty-First Century; this cuisine is the culmination of their experiences as Asian Americans living in a wide and varied food landscape.
by Avery Chang
C
These chefs grew up eating the not onsider any beloved
in America was a chicken dish . So
the more adventurous American diner .
only the food their grandparents ate
apparently, this mainstream strain of
But tastes and ingredients typically
when they were children themselves,
in America and you will find myriad
Chinese food we tote around in take-out
linked to the idea of the “Asian flavor”
but also the food of the environment
instances in which traditional dishes
boxes is about as American as it gets.
- soy glazes, notes of ginger, sweet and
around them in America. As a child,
“Asian”food phenomenon here
were adjusted in taste, presentation, or
1
This story of American Chinese food
2
sour sauces - started to find its way into
overall essence to better appeal to the
is something we
average American consumer. Avocado
often see with any
is not exactly a sushi staple in Japan.
introduction of
And cream cheese is almost nonexistent
foreign food to the
in Southeast Asia; so don’t expect to
American palate.
find any “authentic” crab rangoons on
Hard-working im-
your next visit to Thailand. It is clear
migrants relocate
to see that in order to gain mainstream
to America the land
American acceptance, traditional foods
of opportunity; hard-working im-
the restlessness of their food audi-
must undergo a rite of passage struc-
migrants introduce elements of their
tured around the American palate.
ethnic cuisine to the American food
However it remains murky whether this rite of passage is assimilation into
It is clear to see that in order to gain mainstream American acceptance, traditional foods must undergo a rite of passage structured around the American palate.
Pictured Left: Takeout Boxes3 Top: Momofuku Restaurant Group Founder David Chang4 Bottom Left: General Tso’s Chicken5 Bottom Right: Korean Tacos6
David Chang would eat kimchi at home with his family and then go out to eat tacos with friends - and now he is making kimchi tacos for a living.
with crispy wonton bits and a drizzle of
ization, self-proclaimed adventurous
The current state of fusion food
sweet-and-sour dressing. In the years
American diners set out on a hunt for
resembles the sort of awareness that
immediately preceding the Twenty-
more “authentic” cuisine – cuisine
first, and even second generation
First Century, the quality of fusion food
that had stayed immune to the urges
children, have - strong ties to the
became cheapened. Fusion became all
of the American palate and true to its
cultural background of their parents
about putting spicy sauces, sweet-and-
roots. Family-owned-and-run res-
but also a deep appreciation for all of
ence - bored by the usual pastas, meat
sour glaze, peanut pastes - stereotypical
taurants became extremely popular
the other cultures they have come in
loafs, and chicken bakes - chefs started
Asian flavors, if you will - into salads
for this “authenticity.” The hunt was
contact with in America. A title more
environment; hard-working immi-
to dabble in creating hybrid cuisines.
and noodle dishes and then tacking
just a competition for these adventur-
appropriate than “fusion food” for this
grants end up adjusting their cuisine’s
Culinary giants like Jean-Georges Vong-
on “Asian” before the name of the dish
ous eaters, tired of the vanilla cuisine
new development of cuisine is “first
America’s melting pot or a bastard-
flavor to better suit American taste
erichten and Wolfgang Puck pioneered
just to make things official. It was a
they were served at whatever five-star
generation cuisine.” This food is no
ization of cultural cuisine. Does this
buds; hard-working immigrants are
the rise of fusion food - primarily
way for fusion food to become more
restaurant they were trying out. Being
longer about manually and intently
sticky-sweet Chinese food better repre-
rewarded with mainstream societal
mingling Asian flavors with French
accessible to the general public - after
able to boast, “I had real Vietnamese
fusing together the various aspects of
sent America’s multicultural land-
acceptance and subsequently, better
ones - in America about twenty years
all, not everyone could afford to dine
food this weekend” or “I went to the
two cultures to wow a bored crowd. It
scape or a society in which “foreign”
business, for said adjustment. It’s a
preceding the turn of the Twenty-First
regularly on the works of chefs trained
cutest, most authentic Chinese place for
has become something more natural
cultures are secondary to those that
classic story of assimilation at its finest.
Century. Framing Asian Ingredients
both in European and Asian methods
dinner last night” was apparently more
than that - an effortless enmeshing of
Western dishes. To quell
have already established their place?
The first major flood of Chinese
with French techniques created some-
of cooking. Because of the extreme
important than appreciating the actual
cultures that happens as easily as first
When prompted with the term,
immigrants came to the United States
thing chic and exciting - something
artificiality and accessibility, America
cuisine and its cultural background.
generation children becoming friends.
“Chinese food,” many Americans will
in the 1850s, thus introducing this
even more exotic than the weekend
began to think of fusion food as fake
immediately think, “sesame chicken,”
Americanized strain of Chinese food
takeout Americans had been consum-
and cheap, and thus lost all interest.
“chop suey,” and “ General Tso’s
that would reign as America’s favorite
ing for so long already. These renowned
chicken.” And while it has become
token “ethnic” food for practically a de-
chefs playing around with what they
stir fry, and whatever other dish had
have been taking it upon themselves to
ubiquitous all around America, this
cade. Up until mid-to-late 20th century,
thought were exotic and unexplored
undergone an Asian-themed revital-
spotlight the food they grew up eating.
strain of Chinese food does not actu-
the appeal of traditional Asian food lay
Asian flavors was unheard of in the
ally reflect the cuisine found in China.
in the general American perception of
scope of America’s Eurocentric palate.
In fact, descendants of General Tso
its exoticism. Chinese food was strictly
still living out in his hometown of
for a special takeout occasion and chop
to die down, fusion food started to
Xiangyin County actually had no
suey was often just offered as a side dish
take a downward spiral. It started to
idea that the General’s claim to fame
option to supplement a steak dinner for
manifest in fast food salads topped
6 Culture
After the initial excitement started
Forgoing the Asian salad, the Asian
Fusion has only just recently entered its third stage of development. A stage
It is perhaps the most literal embodiment of America’s melting pot title.
G
in which young Asian American chefs Avery Chang is a sophomore studying Psychology in the College of Arts and Science.
1 www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_8_lee_looks_for_general_tso?language=en 2 www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2012/04/asian_fusion_comeback_american_s_love_hate_relationship_with_asian_inspired_cooking_.html 3 http://inkchromatography.wordpress.com 4 http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/nov/14/david-chang-momofuku-interview 5 http://comm350.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/the-search-for-general-tso/ Read our blog
generasian.org
First Generation Cuisine 7
ritual union
By Georgie Fu
Two things inspired me to paint “Ritual Union”: The Japanese Koi and Yin & Yang. Koi symbolize love and friendship, and Yin & Yang explains how two contrasting figures can be quite complementary. “Ritual Union” is about a spiritual journey that one takes in order to find his or her identity. Like most Asian Americans, I thought it was hard to accept and live out two cultures. However, like Koi, I’ve found that I must treat every part of myself as a friend. I will always have internal conflicts, but thinking of Yin & Yang, those conflicts will eventually bleed into one another and balance out. Medium: Watercolor and Ink
8 Art
Asians And Asian Americans: How Do You Categorize Yourself? by Shirley Foo
T
and
o the general public, Asians
Asian Americans may seem
women being “horrible at driving”. Yet, in Asia, she considers herself
like a single entity. In actuality, native
American. “I’m American because
Asians (Asians who are born and raised
I speak English, and that’s just how
in Asia) and Asian Americans (Ameri-
people label me,” Halim explained.
cans of Asian descent who have since
When one can switch from being
immigrated to the United States) are
Asian to being American depending on
radically different when certain fac-
geographical location, by straddling the
tors, such as social behavior, are con-
line between an Asian heritage and an
sidered. As a native Asian who recently
American lifestyle, identity becomes
moved to the United States, I noticed
fluid, rather than fixed. From Halim’s
that Asian Americans are generally
point of view, one can conceivably be
more outgoing and open than native
both American and Asian, but only at
Asians, and their ability to assimilate
different times, suggesting that both
Grace Tang, 18
into American culture and society is a cultures cannot necessarily coexist
lot better than that of native Asians.
within someone simultaneously.
Looking at these apparent differences often give rise to questions that can
Instead, it may be a matter of being able
throw a native Asian or Asian Ameri-
to switch from one identity to the other
can’s sense of identity into jeopardy:
at will.
Are Asian Americans “Asian”, “Ameri-
Grace Tsang, an 18-year-old inter-
can”, or both? Can a native Asian
national student from Hong Kong, also
become Asian American, not simply
spoke about the shifts in her identity
in terms of citizenship or immigration
according to geographical location. She
status, but according to one’s own per-
highlights the distance that separates
ception of oneself? Is someone consid-
her from both Asians and Americans. “I
ered an Asian American just because
feel like I need to assert my Asian iden-
they’re an Asian living in America?
tity more when I’m in America,” she said. In Asia, she considers herself more
Chris Halim, age 18, is a United States citizen born to Indonesian parents. She said, “I think of myself as Asian when I’m in America, because most of the time I still feel like an outsider. Sometimes I don’t feel welcome in certain places because I’m Asian.” She
Westernized because she studied at an
Chris Halim, 18
international school instead of a local
Is someone considered an Asian American just because they’re an Asian living in America?
school, but in America, she constantly mentions that she is from Hong Kong. What fuels this need to emphasize the existence of an Asian background? Why does it matter to distinguish oneself as
cited the example of enroll-
a native Asian, as opposed to an Asian
ing in driving school with an
American? To separate and categorize
instructor who joked about Asian Read our blog
generasian.org
Asians and Asian Americans: How Do You Categorize Yourself? 9
part of either one of these cultures. Still, others may feel very strongly about clinging onto their Asian side. Kevin Chung, age 18, said, “After studying here for four years, I’ll still consider myself a
Asian Americans often feel that they are “not Asian enough” when they are in Asia and “not American enough when they are in America.
foreign citizen and international student with no association to the
Teresa Lee, 18
native Asians and Asian Americans
American nation.” It is evident that
Asian communities have strong pres-
to some native Asians, their short
ences, she doesn’t find it difficult to stay
stint in America is for the purpose of
connected to Asian culture outside Asia.
education only. “I think we remain
While Lee has assimilated to life in
much more connected to our home
America after years of living here, even
and culture because we may not have
considering herself Asian American
any intention of settling in the United
at this point, native Asians who have
States long-term,” Chung states.
recently moved to the United States
is to underscore the divide between
If it is the lack of intent to fully
both groups of people. They may not
become a part of the American com-
they’re part of the Asian American
may still be struggling to feel like
be physically different, but the differ-
munity that differentiates native
community. After all, are you an Asian
ences in their cultural expectations and
Asians and Asian Americans, it is also
American just because you’re an Asian
societal ideals result in this divide.
interesting to think about whether
living in America? Tsang remarks,
Although the differences between
“I would only consider myself Asian
the two groups appear to be quite divi-
American when America felt like home
sive, at some point, native Asians who
to me. So far, it’s still not a place I feel
have relocated to the United States do
entirely comfortable in.” Presenting
begin calling themselves Asian Ameri-
yet another definition of what it means
can. Teresa Lee is an 18-year-old who
to be Asian American, Tsang suggests
lived in San Francisco before moving
that the transition from native Asian to
to Manhattan, although she was born
Asian American occurs gradually over
in Taiwan and visits periodically. She
time, after one becomes accustomed to
said, “I think I started considering
life outside Asia and inside America,
myself Asian American some time in
shedding light upon the notion that
high school. It wasn’t until then that
it is possible to be natively Asian
the word ‘Asian American’ was really
and later become Asian American.
brought to my attention.” Lee also re-
The term “Asian American” is open
flects on the ambiguous identity of the
for interpretation. Some people believe
Asian in America. “Asian Americans of-
that being Asian American is a mat-
ten feel that they are ‘not Asian enough’
ter of shifting in and out of their Asian
when they are in Asia and ‘not Ameri-
and American identities at will; others
can enough’ when they are in America.
define themselves as Asian American
I consider myself Asian American because I’m caught in the middle, needing to balance drastically different Chinese
Kevin Chung, 18
Asian Americans still consider them-
when they begin to blur both identities into a single one; and to some, it may not be a matter of what kind
and American cultural ideas.” Here, Lee
selves a part of the native Asian com-
of passport they hold or where they
offers another perspective--her own
munity. Lee notes, “I still feel connected
were born, but a matter of if they
definition of what constitutes an Asian
to my Asian heritage because I speak
are able to call America home.
American. To her, being Asian Ameri-
Mandarin at home with my parents
can means having the capacity to be
and they brought me up with Chinese
both Asian and American, even when
values.” Having lived in San Francisco
one doesn’t identify completely as being
and New York, where the respective
10 Culture
G
Shirley Foo is a Freshman studing journalism in the College of Arts and Science.
A Giving Community: Tzu Chi’s Mission to Provide Universal Aid by Jenny Gao
P
erhaps one of the biggest testimo-
nies to the generosity of mankind
from labor complications but was re-
As her work progressed, Master Cheng
fused treatment because she could not
Yen realized that TC’s work should
is the overwhelming emphasis the
afford the NT8000 (200 USD) medical
not be confined to Taiwan, and thus
global society has placed on service.
fee . Filled with sorrow, Master Cheng
began the development of TC’s global
From Girl Scouts to the American Red
Yen wished to do something to help
presence. Wherever TC goes, it seeks
Cross to the March of Dimes, we pride
those who did not have access to basic
to spread its four pillars: medicine,
ourselves in the small deeds of kindness
health services. After much planning
humanistic culture, charity and educa-
we carry out. Yet, for many, volunteering is a hobby rather than a career. But in Taiwan, members of Tzu Chi (TC) foundation
1
There is something very genuine and very real about human interaction, and the mission of TC is to foster that sincerity so that at the end of the day, the world is hopefully a little bit better than it was yesterday.
provide the community with a clinic that not only effectively cures diseases, but also at reasonable rates. In 1986, TC constructed the Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital in Hualien, Taiwan, which has treated thousands of patients since. The second principle of charity
view community
is meant to guide individuals to help
service not as a side activity, but as a lifetime devotion.
tion2. The first pillar, medicine, aims to
and discussion, Master Cheng Yen and
those around them. By helping others,
her thirty monastic disciples agreed
regardless of his own situation, one
Master Cheng Yen, who was enlight-
to save NT50 (1 US cent) everyday in
becomes more appreciative of what he
ened when she visited a local clinic. At
their respective bamboo banks be-
has. The third principle of culture is to
the clinic, Master Cheng Yen saw a pool
fore going to the market1. The group’s
spread integrity and respect to those
of blood on the floor and upon inquiry,
united efforts would gather enough
from different cultures. TC aims to
the staff members told her that the
money to save the woman’s life.
influence its followers to show re-
TC was founded in 1966 by Dharma
blood was from a woman who suffered
Read our blog
generasian.org
spect not just to each other, but also to
A Giving Community: Tzu Chi’s Mission to Provide Universal Aid 11
Mother Nature by reducing, reusing,
community for all of its members. It
who make them laugh, and family
and recycling materials. Lastly, Master
regularly hosts conferences such as the
that encourage them to be stronger.
Cheng Yen realized that the teachings of
Tzu Chi Collegiate Association Leader-
TC had to be taught to the next genera-
ship Conference and the Northeast
seek to change the world in a gran-
tion in order to raise them to be moral
Region Tzu Chi Fall Retreat. Here in
diose or noble way. They realize that
and upright. And so, TC offers educa-
New York, TC has a branch located in
all humans are coping with some sort
tional services, from kindergarten to
Flushing, Queens. Every Sunday, high
of adversity. And although we may
graduate studies, to students. Beyond
school students arrive at the building to
feel dejected and lost at times, we
teaching classroom material, TC also
gather for various events such as street
must realize that there is always a
educates its students on the impor-
cleaning and flea markets. Members
community that we can reach out to.
tance of being kind-hearted. Students
are also encouraged to participate in
However, perhaps more importantly,
are able to receive quality education
The Power of 5, a fundraiser in which
as members of a global community, we
with emphasis on selfless giving.
participants donate $5 every month
have the responsibility to help those in
for relief efforts and charity works.
need, whether they are friends, foes
wreaked havoc in Haiti, TC volunteers
This program serves as yet another
or strangers. There is something very
organized 84 distributions that benefit-
example of how the modern TC stays
genuine and very real about human
ted 196,411 survivors and sent volunteer
close to its roots by continuing the same
interaction, and the mission of TC is
doctors who treated more than 15,000
method as the fundraiser first started
to foster that sincerity so that at the
wounded citizens . Perhaps what was
by the thirty housewives decades ago.
end of the day, the world is hopefully a
most remarkable was that by 2013, TC
At NYU, TC members collaborate with
little bit better than it was yesterday.
rebuilt three schools for Sisters of St.
other chapters such as the Columbia
.G
Anne, a Roman Catholic institution.
University branch, to host events like
TC’s efforts in Haiti were not limited
the annual Iron Chef Cook-off. Ap-
to immediate relief - they went above
proximately once a month, NYU TC
and beyond to assure quality education
meets with the other chapters in its
for the children after Haiti’s recovery.
Chinatown branch to visit nursing
When Hurricane Sandy devastated
homes or help out at soup kitchens.
thousands of families on the East Coast,
It hopes to promote the ideas of TC to
TC volunteers saw to it that the victims
college students, since they are respon-
did not have to cope with the destruc-
sible for carrying on the missions.
In 2010, when an earthquake
3
tion alone by mobilizing volunteers
There is something incredibly
to the damaged sites. To this day,
heartwarming and poignant about
TC members are still providing the
those who wish to do good in a world
survivors with hot food, eco-blankets,
plagued by disease and suffering. Their
direct cash aid, and moral support.
eagerness to serve inspires optimism
In the end, members of TC do not
Jenny Gao is a freshman in the College of Nursing.
1 www.us.tzuchi.org/us/en/index. php?option=com_content&view=arti cle&id=159&Itemid=198&lang=en 2 www.us.tzuchi.org/us/en/index. php?option=com_content&view=a rticle&id=293&Itemid=283&lang= en www.us.tzuchi.org/us/en/index. php?option=com_content&view=arti cle&id=308&Itemid=282&lang=en 3 Tzu Chi Northeast Region; Yang Shengwei
and motivates me to do something for
4 Tzu Chi Orange County Center; Zhang Wenxian
the countless number of other volun-
others. Oftentimes, humans focus so
5 Tzu Chi Austin Center; Chen Zongkun
teer organizations is its emphasis on
much on the competition that they ne-
creating a harmonious and welcoming
glect things that truly matter - friends
6 Tzu Chi Northridge Service Center; Wang Yili
What truly distinguishes TC from
Farthest left: 2013 Winter clothing distribution in Brooklyn, New York hosted by Tzu Chi Northeast Regional Office to benefit families affected by Hurricane Sandy. Second from the left: Volunteer nurse GongWang Ziaowen welcomes a patient to the free clinic in Santa Ana, California for immigrant and uninsured families. Third from the left: Tzu Chi Austin Service Center volunteer signing with an elderly resident of the Westminster nursing home at a Christmas celebration. Furthest right: Sushi chef and Tzu Chi volunteer Feng Lifan teaching students at a Tzu Chi Northridge Service Center summer camp. 12 Culture
A Computer game as a sport? An introduction to league of legends, in play and competition
Transparent Teemo (c) Riot Games, rendered by Aurablade on DeviantArt, August 2, 2012
by Jamie Sung
Y
ou’ve probably heard of League of Legends, but what is it exactly? Why is it so popular? And most importantly, who is Teemo and why do you hate him?
The Game League of Legends (commonly referred to as “League” or “LoL”), is a free to play, online computer game run by Riot Games. The relatively small company, which only produces League, first released the game in late October of 2009. Since then, the game has grown steadily to a player base of 27 million daily players, making it the most popular game of its kind and one of the most popular games of all time.
How do I play? Step 0: We’re going to start at zero because it’s just that simple. Just download the game on leagueoflegends.com. Every now and then, the game will update automatically to fix errors in the code and to keep the game interesting. Sit back, relax, and wait for the action to start.
and backstories. In the most popular gamemode, each person on your team must pick a different character, and the five members of the opposing team will do the same, resulting in 10 different champions.
Captain Teemo is a small creature known as a yordle. Unlike most champions, who stand and fight, Teemo primarily fights using hidden mushrooms that slow and poison enemies that walk over them.
Step 3: Pick a role. The map is separated into three lanes and a jungle. Each role is determined by map position: top lane, mid lane, bot lane (which has two players in it, a marksman and a support), and jungle. Each role brings something different to a good team composition and will take down enemy players, towers, and inhibitors. For example, a marksman gives the most damage, but is easily killed and must be protected by the support. You can also roam and take your champion out of your designated lane to help your teammates across the map. Step 4: Win! To do so, take down the enemy player’s Nexus, a large crystal in their base, after destroying at least one inhibitor and a number of towers. Each game averages 20-40 minutes. Have fun!
Step 1: You’ve installed the game, and now it’s time to play! You can play with up to 9 other strangers or invite friends to play with you on a team. Your team can also play against computers for a less competitive game. Step 2: Choose a champion. There are currently 122 playable characters or “champions,” each with unique abilities Summoner’s Rift Minimap (c) Riot Games, taken from League of Legends Wikia, Novemeber 2014.
Read our blog
generasian.org
Meet a Champion
The map is separated into three lanes and a jungle. This is the most common map, Summoner’s Rift.
After playing for a while and gaining enough game experience, you will unlock a ranked game mode. Play to see how your skill matches up with the rest of the League community!
eSports In recent years, League of Legends has also joined the eSports (short for electronic sports) scene. eSports is a term that is used to refer to professional gaming, and is a relatively new industry that began in 1997 with the first person shooter game Quake. The League competitive scene has been steadily developing across several regions and culminates in a once a year global competition - The League of Legends World Championship, or simply “Worlds.” All official matches are broadcast through Riot Games on lolesports. com and have around 32 million viewers, many of whom do not even play League of Legends. Five major regions compete each year: North America, Europe, China, Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and Korea, with a few wildcard teams from other regions. This year, Worlds began A Computer Game as a Sport? 13
on August 7th and spanned a little over 10 weeks.The Finals were held in Seoul, South Korea, and had an intricate opening ceremony with traditional Korean song and dance, an orchestra, and a guest performance by Imagine Dragons,
Matches can have around 32 million viewers, many of whom do not even play. The Worlds Trophy: The Summoner’s Cup (c) Riot Games,
who are avid players of League as well! On October 19th, Korean team Samsung White beat Chinese team Star Horn Royal Club 3-1 in a best of five series to take the Worlds Champion title. The games were ruthless, proving why many cited White as being the best pro League team in history. However, due to upcoming changes in both Korean tournament scene and in the game itself, it is questionable whether or not White will be able to keep hold of their dominance for another year. The League of Legends eSports scene has officially been around for four “seasons,” each spanning approximately one year. Out of the four seasons, the past three’s winners have all been from
The Season Four Victors, Samsung White (c) Riot Games,
Asia—Taipei Assassins (Southeast Asia/ Taiwan) in Season Two, and SK Telecom T1 K (Korea) in Season 3. The Season 1 victors were FNatic from Europe.
eSports in Asia League of Legends is extremely popular in Asia and has three major Asian regions in its competitive scene: LoL Pro League or LPL (China), Champions (Korea), and Garena Pro League or GPL (Southeast Asia and Taiwan). Korea is widely acknowledged
14 Entertainment
taken from the League of Legends Wikia, 2014
as the best region, and contains notable player Lee Sang-hyeok, or “Faker.” The 18 year old member of SK Telecom T1 K is generally regarded as the best mid laner, and even the best League player, in the world. Outside of Korea, League of Legends is also very popular in China and Southeast Asia. Chinese playstyle is generally characterized as aggressive and chaotic, and is based largely on instinct, whereas Koreans are generally praised for their methodical and careful play.
eSports in North America If you live in the United States, you most likely play on the North American server. Here, competitive play is organized into the NA LCS, or North American League Championship Series. While North America is definitely perceived as one of the weaker regions, it is also a quickly changing region that is constantly improving. The most notable part of North American teams is the diversity in the players. Many teams have players with various nationalities, and even include non-North American residents, with the help of athletic visas. This year, one all-Chinese team, LMQ, even moved over to North America, prompting a rule change in the total number of foreign players allowed on any starting roster. In the last season, eight Asian players came over on foreign visas, joining five other foreign players from Europe and Latin America. The high number of imports
reflects the popular belief that Asians are synonymous with strength in the competitive scene. In fact, various amateur teams have tried acquiring foreign players, hoping that their latent skill would help them qualify for the NA LCS. One example of this would be the North American team Coast, who replaced two of their best players in favor of no-name Korean players, and lost their qualifying matches as a result. Ultimately, while the Asian regions may be more competitive as a whole, the individual players are still human, and must prove their skill just the same as everyone else. G Jamie Sung is a freshman studying Dramatic
Chinese playstyle is generally characterized as aggressive and chaotic, and is based largely on instinct, whereas Koreans are generally praised for their methodical and careful play. Writing at the Tisch School of the Arts.
Missteps and Monoliths: the Literary Problem of Asian America by Alyza Liu
I
am Chinese, and I was born
devils. By five, I’d
Princess Returning Pearl, China Television and Hunan Economy TV
in China, which, on the face of
already estab-
it, isn’t all that strange. I mean, on a list
lished Princess
of countries in which a Chinese person
Returning Pearl
might be born, I assume China is at the
as my favourite
very top. But growing up in America,
TV drama for
I’ve always felt a bit estranged from
life (that hasn’t
Chinese-Americanness, if such a thing
changed). So it
were possible, because I was neither
wasn’t really
born in the United States, nor had I
surprising that,
been a citizen of it. I didn’t immigrate
by the time I
to the States until I was five, and so my
learned how to
first exposure to media was Chinese
read, I became a voracious reader as
‘struggling immigrant narrative as the
media. Between cartoons and dramas
well. But mine was the standard fare –
only narrative in AsAm [sic] lit, and
and films, I saw East Asians in a variety
Harry Potter, The Secret Garden, Anne
would like to see more Asian Diaspora
of roles, time periods, and genres. My
of Green Gables, Little Women. It wasn’t
themes explored…specifically…narra-
default human being, as it were, was
until eighth grade that I began to read
tives where Asian American characters
black-haired, black-eyed, and spoke in
Asian American literature, and by tenth
visit their countries of origin.” Veronica
dubbed Standard Mandarin. I never
grade (when I did switch in my red
Wang, a freshman at San Francisco
had to think about my own identity,
passport for a blue one), I was already
State University, says that while “eth-
never even really associated myself
drifting away from its popular canon.
nicity and culture undoubtedly have a
Here’s the problem. After a while,
huge impact on [one’s] life, [she’d] like
until high school, when my parents
it began to feel like I was reading the
to read stories about Asian Americans
began the process of naturalization,
same narratives over and over and
outside of that –like Asian American
and I had to begin to think deeply and
over again. Immigrant narratives,
witches, Asian American superheroes,
critically about the notion of identity.
narratives about living in oppressive
or even something as mundane as high
with the moniker of “Asian American”
Ever since I can remember, I have
or war-torn societies, narratives about
school drama between Asian Ameri-
been an avid consumer of media, both
feeling the pressure to choose between
can kids.” Comic artist and NYU alum
print and broadcast. My favourite film,
clearly-defined, diametrically opposed,
Wendy Xu echoes some of these same
at the age of two, was Disney’s Alice in
“Eastern” and “Western” values. And
sentiments when she commented that
Wonderland (I liked it so much I wanted
it’s not just my problem. Eunice Kim, a
she “would…love to see more Asian
to be named Alice; my mother made me
recent graduate of Fordham University
American protagonists in fantasy, but
a compromise and called me Alyza).
who is now working as an Editorial
without the ‘mystical Asian’ fantasy
When I was three, my father called me
Associate for a major publishing house,
elements. [Asian Americans] can exist
from ten thousand miles away and I
mentions that “sometimes [she gets]
in a diasporic fantasy world.” What
blew him off for Demi-gods and Semi-
a little frustrated when [she sees] the
Asian America lacks in literature is
The “Outrage Machine” and the Facade of Anecdotal Racism 15
the diversity that colours our experi-
fit in, or wasn’t happy being Chinese, I
are perceived limits our own percep-
in, yet it is the land without which we
don’t want to write for the sake of being
ences as children of the world’s largest
loved to watch the Spring Festival Gala
tions of who we are, or what we can be.
would not be who we are. We know it
diverse, or buying something you’re not
continent, and narratives that ap-
every year. Even as I was made fun of
But even books by Asian Ameri-
well enough for others to consider us
interested in for the sake of supporting
peal to us as people, not as prepack-
and had my lunchbox thrown across
can authors that do not fixate on the
capable of telling “authentic” stories
an author, or that throwing money at
aged parcels of Ethnic Experience.
the cafeteria by wrinkle-nosed friends,
immigrant experience show a tenu-
about Asia, yet we do not know it so
a problem is going to make it go away
I loved making dumplings. And even
ous relationship to Asia itself. There is
well to avoid the trap of stereotyping,
(particularly when not everyone has
Diaz once stated that “if you want to
as I began to be involved with feminist,
often almost a performative aspect to
of Orientalism, of applying our own
money to spare), it is important that
make a human being into a monster,
queer, and anti-racist movements, I
the writing – as if we were writing for
Western gaze back onto our homelands.
we are able to understand that popu-
deny them, at the cultural level, any
am still profoundly indebted to my
acceptance by, writing for understand-
Ultimately, writing about Asia as
lar fiction is defined by the populace.
reflection of themselves.” And here,
culture, often mischaracterized as be-
ing from what Filipina writer Rochita
Asian Americans can be a double-edged
As Young Adult author Holly Black
perhaps, is the reason that I’ve turned
ing uniquely sexist, and homophobic,
Loenen-Ruiz terms “the imagined
sword, particularly in genre fiction.
states, “best selling authors don’t just
increasingly towards East Asian media
and ethnocentric. And even though
Western reader.” Sameera Mokkarala,
On one hand, it challenges the notion
HAPPEN [sic] to be in the mainstream
even as I began to feel more American
the bedtime stories my mother used to
a medical student at UC Davis, says that
of the normative West, and challenges
media. Selling a lot of books MAKES
– dramas, music, and even internet nov-
tell me about growing up during the
one of the weaknesses of Asian Ameri-
Western religion, social structures,
someone a bestselling author and GETS
els. In Asian dramas, in Asian novels, I
Cultural Revolution and participating in
can literature is that “it’s still catering
languages, and morality as being the
mainstream media attention.” But
can see myself in a variety of different
the Tiananmen Square protests weren’t
to a mostly-white audience…it seeks to
basis for all forays into the fantastic or
books are sold one at a time to read-
roles, as a number of different people,
always happy, they weren’t always
explain things that, if it were written
speculative. But on the other, there is
ers who make choices about which
from the kind and naïve high school
sad, either. There were stories full of
for an actual Asian American audience,
something essentialist about the tying
books they want to support. Publish-
student, to the street-smart wisecrack-
light, and laughter, and fun as well.
would not require definition or work-
of identity to contemporary geopolitics,
ing houses may channel more money
arounds or italics.” On these italics, Ruiz
particularly in non-realistic fiction. If
into promoting books that fit a certain
Dominican American author Junot
ing wuxia heroine to the driven modern
In a speech given at a TED Confer-
businesswoman and the scheming
ence, Nigerian author Chimamanda
states, that “if [the non-Western reader
Asians can only exist as an element of
mould (and conform to a certain colour
women in the palace harem. It was,
Ngozi Adichie warns of “the danger of
has] read and consumed works from
the fantastic in Asia, what does that say
scheme), they cannot force consum-
then, stifling, limiting, and frankly,
a single story.” “The single story,” she
writers from the West without com-
about the stories that Asian Americans
ers to buy one book over another. “If
tiring to find myself stuffed into these
says, “creates stereotypes, and the prob-
plaint, if we have gone that extra step to
are told about ourselves as distinct from
[readers] want more diversity, [then
very singular narratives that dominated
lem with stereotypes is not that they are
fully engage with that work, surely we
both non-diaspora Asians and white
they] have to buy more diversely.”
the landscape of Asian American litera-
untrue, but that they are incomplete…
can trust that those who seek out our
Americans? Are we still estranged from
ture – always the immigrant daughter,
they make one story become the only
stories will also take that extra step to
the narrative of normative America?
of our shoulders, and there is no easy
caught between sterile dichotomies
story…the consequence of the single
meet us halfway.” Italicised Romaniza-
Barred from the historic, the fantas-
or immediate solution. But ultimately,
of East and West, of tradition versus
story is this: it robs people of dignity.
tions, she claims, are a form of apology.
tic, the scientific , the romantic ?
we have to be confident that our stories,
modernity. Real life is much more nu-
It makes our recognition of our equal
They are a visual marker of the other, of
anced than the life that was offered to
humanity difficult. It emphasizes how
the strange, even in worlds where this
me in fiction – even as I didn’t always
we are different rather than how we
“other” would be the default, the norm1.
As social media has transformed the way we communicate, as well as the ways that social justice advocates disseminate information and mobilize their supporters, we have seen the creation of a seemingly unstoppable Social Justice Outrage Machine.
are similar.” One of
There is also a more fundamental
the dangers of the
tension at play – we may not be treated
immigrant nar-
as truly American in America, yet
rative is this – not
we live in a context that adopts cer-
2
3
It, then, is a problem that falls on all
whatever they are, deserve to be
Being constantly reminded of told, even if they deviate from the how we are perceived limits expected, and our cultures, whatour own perceptions of who ever they are, are interesting enough through whatever lens we experiwe are, or what we can be.
Alyza Liu is a sophomore studying East Asian Studies and an as-yetundecided second major in CAS. Sources: http://www.nj.com/ledgerlive/index.ssf/2009/10/junot_diazs_new_jersey.html http://malindalo.tumblr.com/post/94656672638/ sarahreesbrennan-hollyblack http://www.strangehorizons.com/2014/20140908/ loenenruiz-c.shtml http://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/brown-south-asianfiction-pandering-western-audiences#
ence them, that they do not have to
be dressed up or down to conform to The fault isn’t entirely on the shoul-
every Asian is an
tain attitudes towards our cultures of
immigrant, and even
heritage. And, whether we are aware
ders of Asian American authors, nor
off John Keats on this, fiction is truth
for those of us who
of them or not, we may sometimes
do these narratives exist in a cultural
and truth, fiction, and while that is
are, it is exhausting.
adopt those same mindsets. Asia, for
vacuum that doesn’t influence what
not necessarily all ye know on earth,
Being constantly
us, is at once familiar and strange – for
sorts of stories are viewed as authentic
nor all ye need to know, we need to ask
reminded of how we
many, it is not the land we grew up
and what sorts of stories are viewed as
ourselves what sorts of truths we are
more worthy of publication than others.
aiming to tell impressionable youths
However, as the consumers and the
through the medium of our fiction.
1 I think of Amy Tan’s italicized tang jie in her second novel The Kitchen God’s Wife, a tang jie that was (mis)translated and (incorrectly) explained to an audience that was clearly not meant to be Sino (despite the novel’s focus on Sino American identity) – because any Chinese, or Taiwanese, or Hong Kong, or Chinese diaspora audience with any grasp of Mandarin could tell you that the word does not translate into “sugar sister.” 堂姐, not 糖姐, though they are identically pronounced.
*While I did not cite the essay directly, Jabeen Akhtar’s Why Am I Brown? South Asian Fiction and Pandering to Western Audiences, published in the LA Review of Books, was a huge and formative influence for me through the process of writing this article, and while I wish I could have talked more specifically about the different regions of Asia and how each are presented within narrative fiction, I unfortunately did not have the time, the resources, or the ability to write responsibly about it in a more specific way. Instead, I’ve spoken through the lens of my own experience, and hope that, while the analysis is not as deep as I would have hoped, it raises some relevant questions for your consideration.
Orientalist fiction. Because, if I may riff
G
producers of such fiction, we should be responsible for the content that we consume and produce. And while I
2 It amuses me that Joss Whedon can conceive of a universe where white people participate in Chinese culture and squawk dreadful, poorly-structured Mandarin but cannot, apparently, conceive of a universe where Chinese people exist in a world of science fiction.
don’t believe in writing something you
3 To the surprise of no one, racist depictions do not, in fact, count.
16 Entertainment
Missteps and Monoliths: The Literary Problem of Asian America 17
Dokkaebi
By Jaimie Kim
As October was approaching I decided to do a Halloween themed piece. This portrays a dokkaebi (도깨비), a Korean mythical goblin creature that has horns on its head and carries around a club.
18 Art
Ghost in the Shell (http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--KMoBzPbe--/eeu0akaez3bmxh3cc1hb.jpg)
A Case for Anime by William Shi
W
hat is anime? Depending on
lar anime, both in Japan and abroad, are
limited exposure to Japanese anime thus breeds a belief that it is similar in scope and depth to American cartoons and is mostly considered as “childish.” Of course, it is true that not all
whom you ask, it can mean
called the “Big Three,” namely Naruto,
American cartoons are for children, as
several different things. In Ja-
Bleach, and One Piece. Another popular
there are some channels that air adult
pan, it means animation of any kind or
anime is
cartoons, such as
origin. However, in America, two com-
Pokémon,
FOX, Adult Swim
mon images anime seems to conjure up
which,
are as either animated, over-sexualized
due to the
girls or childish cartoons, although,
over-
in a general sense, it actually means
whelming
“animation of Japanese origins.” Anime
popular-
tral. The most
extends across a broad range of genres,
ity of
popular and
including comedies, action shows, dra-
Pokémon games outside of Japan, is
well-received adult cartoons on these
mas, and horror shows. The most popu-
very popular in the United States. These
networks, however, are usually in the
Naruto (http://htv3.tv/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NarutoShippuden-Wallpapers.jpg)
This limited exposure to Japanese anime thus breeds a belief that it is considered as “childish.”
(the nightly arm of Cartoon Network), and Comedy Cen-
four titles, and many
form of satire and/or comedy, with
others, are characterized
shows such as Futurama, Family Guy,
as shounen (少年) anime,
South Park, and The Simpsons being the
those that are gener-
most recognizable. Although they dem-
ally geared towards an
onstrate a focus audience separate from
audience of young boys.
children’s cartoons, they tend to show
However, although the
a severe lack of variety, as evidenced
Japanese audience has
by the bevy of comedy shows. Unlike
access to anime geared
these American cartoons, anime geared
towards adult audiences,
toward an adult audience contains
the American audience
much more diversity. Such anime can
generally does not. This
be characterized as either seinen (青年) A Case for Anime 19
or josei (女性), meaning young men and
action shows, but it also acts as a format
tations of live action, allowing
young women respectively, illustrating
that rises above certain limits of real-
free reign in its storytelling.
their intended market. In contrast to
ity. Being animated, Japanese anime
American animation, Japanese anime
can take many liberties with the style
media, anime also has several undesir-
demonstrates the variety that is pos-
of art, the emotions and reactions of
able aspects. The “sexual objectification
sible in cartoons, as seen in titles such
characters, and even the laws of phys-
of children” is indeed a problem that
Of course, like the majority of
as Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop,
damages
and Steins;Gate – all of which explore
the image
deep and well developed themes such as
of anime
the nature and purpose of technology,
both in-
existentialism and loneliness, and the
side and
emotional consequences of time travel.
outside
These ideas display a level
of Japan.
of maturity in content that differenti-
How-
ates anime from American cartoons.
ever, this
Perhaps, then, a better comparison for
doesn’t
Japanese anime are American live ac-
degrade
tion shows. In shows such as House of Cards, The West Wing, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones, we see an indus-
the House of Cards (http://www.bolumrehberi.com/images/tv-show/House-of-Cards/ house_of_cards_wallpapers_1920x1080_03.jpg)
quality of those
try similar to that of the Japanese anime
ics. This is in contrast to American live
shows that don’t engage in such ob-
industry. For one, live action shows
action shows that require a great deal
jectification. Likewise, in America,
encompass a wide range of genres, such
of expensive CGI to make the unreal
the quality of a show such as Breaking
as crime, thrillers, dramas, sci-fi, and
real. However, anime requires similar
Bad isn’t affected just because review-
many others, while basing their mate-
effort between those that are true to
ers dislike another series. You just
rial on different aspects of reality or the
reality and those that are fantastical.
have to see bad shows for what they
fantastic. Japanese anime covers similar
It becomes obvious now that anime
are and move on to the better ones.
ground, having shows such as Terror
doesn’t just include either drawn out
in Resonance (thriller, crime, terror-
action sequences (in the case of the “Big
noted that anime isn’t for everyone,
ism), Ghost in the Shell (crime, sci-fi),
Three”) or sexualized pubescent and
and it doesn’t try to cater to every-
Clannad (romance, supernatural),
prepubescent girls, for it also includes
one. However, if your impression of
and Mushishi (historical, adventure,
a rich assortment of mature shows that
anime was formed from the extensive
fantasy). All of these shows, like the
tackle and explore real human prob-
sequences of the Big Three shows
live action ones listed above, are either
lems and concerns, whether through
or from shows that you would find
recently popular or somewhat older
the depiction of true-to-life characters,
distasteful, I urge you to try it one
critical hits for their respective audi-
or those that are as far removed from
more time. With a fantastic history of
reality as is
excellent shows that were mentioned
possible with
previously, and a brighter future with
the medium.
ever more powerful technologies for
And that is
animation, this is truly an excellent
what anime
time to begin getting into anime.
ences. From these shows, and many others, we can discern
…anime isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t try to cater to everyone.
the quality
is: a medium
of Japanese
of entertain-
animation in not just art, but also in plot
ment that lacks the many limi-
development, character depth, intel-
With this in mind, it must be
G
William Shi is a junior in CAS majoring in History, studying pre-medicine, and minoring
ligent dialogue, and overall direction. These qualities make anime very attractive for those who desire
Sources:
deeper and more complex stories and
www.animenewsnetwork.com
language. Not only does anime encom-
www.imdb.com
pass a range of topics as broad as live
www.crunchyroll.com
20 Entertainment
Read our blog
generasian.org
DEAREST DArlinG DAUGHTER by Cindy Li
growing taller with the knowledge that my family had wished for my death
made me question the reflection in the mirror
after all
how does one fade when
you never existed
my mother worked in an abortion clinic and now toils her days away in an ob/gyn sector
she grew so tired of aborting so many female fetuses that she yearned to wash
the red from her heart through a bloody child cradled in her arms thick dusty curtains hid my huddled niche from the world
overhearing people laugh over my grandmother’s hope for my abortion due to which sperm pierced the egg first and how i was not a male child
so i wore snapbacks and loose sturdy blues
kept my hair short and view more narrow
gleaning used scooters to rest my worn out sneakered feet
tears digging a path to the misery contained within my mouth
i had been young and unwanted, but thought i would be able to change the world
i shall be the first girl to be a man
i thought delightedly in my head
i shall do it all i am limitless
the united states is a tear-stained mattress of impossible promises
never broken since they were never truly given
homeland and motherland are familiar as air they are war just as you are
you are genocide
all connected by loss
you are holocaust
you are the past
you thought you could be the hero of the story
what is your ending my mother had a plan to give up
her life
for mine
unable to care for me
my family shipped me back to my motherland so i sat at the sharp edge of a plastic tub
drowning for air
for recognition choking upon the struggle for life the united states is a tear-stained mattress of impossible promises
never broken since they were never truly given
homeland and motherland are familiar as air they are war just as you are
you are genocide
all connected by loss
you are holocaust
you are the past
you thought you could be the hero of the story
what is your ending my mother had a plan to give up
her life
for mine please cut
into the tender flesh of my breast and remove the fat so i can be more human Dearest Darling Daughter 21
when a boy in my class stumbled and bled red
i stumbled and expected myself to bleed blue
my mother held remorse through her body and clung on to
birth as she cried out with pain
waiting for the delivery of her child
whose screams came
to a cacophony of
silence
history bleeds down my thighs
crawls between my legs when i curl over into positions of pain
this war is a self massacre where
the risk of asking for love just outweighs the fear of being
unloved i was given life to lift both feet off the ground and hang from unfeathered wings
tied
around
birth is a joyous event
a celebration of life
and so when i was born into
a coffin
22 Dearest Darling Daughter
my neck
i cried out with the burden of grief. G Cindy Li is a Sophomore in the College of Arts and Science.
Time Temple:
Universality among distinctions by Yanchu Zhao
C
hina has become the
market with the biggest potential in the art industry within the last decade. More and more artists have been exposed on the world stage. It is neither an accident nor the blessing of chance, but the improved skills of aspiring artists in the new age. On Oct. 31, Jianwei Wang presented his first solo exhibition, the Time Temple, in North America. The exhibition was an important
Jianwei Wang and associate
landmark in the Chinese art industry because it was the first feature
in a continuous sense. It is a universal
perspective through different lens
presentation under the Robert Ho
concept that everyone can identify with
and various forms of art. From the
Family Foundation at Guggenheim.
no matter their identity. He expresses
illustration of Guggenheim Museum,
that art should be free of boundaries -
the painting “mounted in four frames of
Jianwei Wang has been a pioneer in
of nationality, race, gender - just like
varying depth... emphasize the idea of
the Chinese contemporary art scene
what the Time Temple stands for. In his
the painting as a staged event much like
since the 70s. Academically trained
view, there is no definite interpretation
theater. When viewed, this variation
as a painter, he dedicated much of his
of time. There
education at the China Academy of Art,
should be tens
reading about existentialist philosophy
of thousands of
and history. “This led him to years of
interpretations
experimentation in conveying complex
of the term, he
ideas with painting before shifting
says, because
his focus to multimedia installation 1.” Wang has been long portrayed as
each person lives in his own concept of time. This
curator also explained how Wang
the philosopher among the artists. His
variety is demonstrated through
related the Time Temple to the futility
complex ideas about the relationship
the numerous types of mediums in
of the search for truth. Each truth
between time and space, reality and
the installation: paintings, films,
undercuts other truths, asserts Wang;
fiction, human nature and the internal
and live theater productions all hold
there is no ultimate truth but only
soul, or the finite life span and the
their own ground in a single space.
eternal time. “It is futile to think about
Born in 1958 in Sichuan, China,
It is a universal concept that everyone can identify with no matter their identity.
and repetition of content suggest both movement and the passage of time 2.” At the media preview, the
The largest installation in the
painting using traditional terms,
valuable in their artistic refinement
exhibition features a series of large-
such as style and color, but more
but also in the messages they convey.
scale paintings. Four panels are placed
important to think about painting
side by side to exemplify the artist’s
as an interpretation of time.”
infinite time make his works not only
Specifically, Wang considers time 1 Long March Space, 2010.
practice of transcending a single
‘Connection’ and ‘relationship’ Time Temple: Universality Among Distinctions 23
have been the key
and Europe. It is certainly not easy
phrases in Wang’s
to make oneself stand out amongst a
vocabulary. His work
sea of other groundbreaking artists.
can be interpreted as
That said, the prospects for
an attempt to discover
emerging Chinese artists are looking
and expose the
positively bright. The exposure of
connection between
Chinese artists has been increasing
beings, matters and
dramatically through the past decade.
concepts that may
Holding a solo exhibition as a Chinese
seem random on the
artist in one of the best museums
surface. What he
in New York was almost impossible
aspires to achieve is a
a few years ago. Wang’s success is
kind of integration of
therefore not only a reward for his
knowledge in many fields that gives rise
incredible talent and artistic audacity, Wang and the directors of the Guggenheim
to his distinctive
but also the beginning of a golden age for all plucky Chinese artists.
approach. Through abstract depiction
into his work. The art piece must
of ideas and reality, Wang renders the
showcase the artist’s skills while also
Yanchu Zhao is a senior studying Art
distinction between mundane reality
reflecting his independent thinking.
in the College of Arts and Science.
and aesthetic abstraction obsolete.
Being extraordinarily skilled is no
Furthermore, Wang expressly
longer enough. The thing that pushes
states: “I hope in the future I can be
an artist in front the audience is his
identified by my works of art, not
voice within. He has to break the cage
who I am and what I have achieved”.
of uniformity to pursue the unexplored,
His pronouncement highlights a
to shake things up. For Jianwei, that
significant point about the work that
special element is his artistic boldness.
awaits future Chinese artists who are
His courageous experiments in the
looking to make their mark. The bona
use of new media, performances and
fide artist, in the truest sense of the
physical installations are what he
word, has to incorporate personality
is recognized for throughout Asia
24 Entertainment
G
One of Wang’s installations at the Guggenheim.
asian, unmasked
M
Photo courtesy of Thana Brick
by Cathy Ye
y name is Jennifer Lee.
acknowledging a part of her past.
I stood there in shock and horror,
In my 25 years, I have been a mother,
But as time went on, I realized, much
staring back at the man with whom I’d
a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, a best
as she had, that it was a dead-end
trusted my career for the past three
friend. I have also been a laundromat
job. Most telling, perhaps, was when
years. “I’m a human, Ricky, a person.”
worker, a manicurist, a street peddler,
my agent started handing me roles
I whispered, “God, you piece of shit.”
a trophy wife, an exotic prostitute...
exclusively for minor characters in
Without another word, I fumed my
each of these roles lived out as
blue-collar jobs. One day, I’d finally had
way out of his office and into mine,
reality on stage and on screen. But
enough. I marched into his office on a
taking out my anger on my keyboard
somewhere along the way, I’ve gotten
clear summer day, tired and angry.
by typing up an ad for a new agent.
sick of playing tropes from cultures
“Ricky,” I said, “I don’t want to paint
‘Young female actress, 3 years of
that aren’t mine--a geisha, a Korean
people’s nails on screens for the rest of
experience. Extremely versatile,
mistress, the Chinese seductress. I
my life. Where are the other roles?”
has played roles between the ages of
am Chinese American, a product of
He didn’t even look up from his
16 and 35. Speaks English, Spanish,
two countries who refuse to take me
computer. “Babe, you’ve got to start
and Chinese fluently. Looking for an
as their own and two hardworking
somewhere to go somewhere.”
agent who has experience in casting
parents who paid for my freedom of
“But I’ve been the same damned thing
diverse roles.’ I sat and read it over
expression and access to opportunity
in the last four movies! I want to be
and over. Was I being clear enough?
with their sweat and blood.
someone with character, someone
Did an agent like this exist? After
For a while, I didn’t mind being cast as a
with a story--not that anonymous
another moment of hesitation, I hit
menial worker. My own mother worked
Asian girl hiding behind a surgical
send and brewed myself a strong
for years at the local laundromat,
mask. I didn’t even get my face on
coffee, preparing for the long haul.
pinching pennies and saving up for
the last one! Just my hands!”
And what a long haul it was. For the
a house in a neighborhood with a
He sighed and took his glasses off.
next three days, I received solicitation
good public school. In a way, playing
“Jenny, you’re Asian. What else
calls, men looking for a good time with
that role was paying homage to her,
am I supposed to cast you as?”
a nice Asian chick, more offers to play Asian, Unmasked 25
a geisha and nail salon girl. I was at the
I’ve made more progress than I’d
right on off 15 minutes later, but I
end of my wits and on my fourth cup
ever dreamed was possible. Yet the
sang my heart out for the whole of
of espresso the day I finally received a
most disheartening comments were
those 900 seconds. In a later Time Out
call from a soft-spoken woman whose
not from the mouths of the casting
New York review, I was remembered
first words were ‘Hi Jenny, you sound
directors, but from those around me,
as ‘easily the most passionate and
tired. How hard will you work to get
whether they be from my friends
entertaining minor character I’ve ever
the role you want?’. I clutched at the
and family or from total strangers.
seen in an off-Broadway production’.
arms of my chair as if they were all that
LeeAnn had smiled wider than I’d
were holding me to the ground. “I’ll do
audition for a new take on Newsies.
ever seen and made a point of keeping
anything,” I gasped, “Just don’t make
It was a small production, so the
the magazine it was featured in.
me play a laundromat worker again.”
building in which the auditions took
Her laugh was music to
place had many other casting calls
No mention of you being Asian.
my ears. “I promise.”
taking place at the same time. When
Just you being a human being, an
Her name was LeeAnn, and she was a wizened little Korean woman with laugh lines on her forehead and a knowing gaze that pierced right
Last year, I signed up for an
They forget about what’s under the cover, the mask.
“You see that, Jenny?
actress who rocked that stage.”
I’d looked back at her
thoughtfully. “You think it’ll keep being like that? People seeing me as
through me. Back when the only
an aspiring young female actress...
available roles were the ones I now
without looking at my eyes, my
refused to take, she was the silent
skin color, my ancestry?”
advocate--the actress who played so
I reached for the front desk, I put on
above and beyond her role that even
my best smile, but before I could say
people looking at what makes you you,
the most ignorant audience member
a word, the receptionist glanced up
Jenny. It’s just that people forget the
acknowledged her talent past her skin,
at me and gestured to her right.
whole is more than just a summation
her passion past her family name. She
of the parts. They forget about what’s
was everything I wanted to be, and I
room from the end of the hallway.”
under the cover, the mask. We can’t
was everything she wished she had the
Crestfallen, I simply stood and stared
take off the mask, and we shouldn’t--
chance to be--defiant, stubborn, and
at the top of her head as she continued
we just have to remind them that it’s
living in a time that offered me a good
smacking her gum. Sensing that I
there. Then they do all the work for
shot. We were perfect for each other.
hadn’t moved, she looked up at me
us.” She smiled gently at me. “Asian,
If you have a rule, stick to it, she told
again and mistook my dismay for
unmasked. That’s how it should be.”
me. That meant no exceptions. If I
nervousness. “Oh don’t worry, honey,
wasn’t going to play a heavily-accented
you’re the first Asian girl to walk in all
Cathy Ye is a senior majoring in Biology
character in one production, that meant
day for them, I bet you’re a shoo-in!”
in College of Arts and Science.
I could never do it for any production,
ever. But her best piece of advice had
stiffly, “Miss Saigon isn’t exactly known
nothing to do with what I wouldn’t
for its historical accuracy and cultural
do, and everything with what I was
respect.” We stared at each other.
willing to do and how far I would go.
“I’m here for the Newsies remake.”
“You want to play that role, you earn
it. You fall in love with it, you own
room here on my left. But honey…”
it. Don’t pay any mind to anything
She leaned in as if informing me
that doesn’t matter. The default color
of a great secret. “Honey, between
might be White, but that doesn’t
you and me, I’d turn right. There’s
mean you can’t change their minds.
no Asian people in Newsies.”
If you can relate to it, you can be it.”
I wrote out her words in my best
her. “Well after today, there will be.” I
handwriting and taped it on my
turned right on my heel and stormed
ceiling. I’ve lived by these words for
down the hall for the Newsies audition.
the last two years, and though I’ve
I landed the role of a minor character,
had my fair share of disappointments,
who sweeps on screen and sweeps
26 Narrative
“Miss Saigon, yeah? Second
“I’m not surprised,” I said
“Well...that’s the last
I leaned right back towards
“There’s nothing wrong with
G
New Money, Same Parents by Jolene Hsu
W
Goodreads: Kevin Kwan; Crazy Rich Asians [11] anted: Asian Teens with Cash
on a trip to China to celebrate the opening
to Burn and Parents Who Hate Their Ameri-
of her father’s brand new shopping mall
can Ways. That was the general message of
in Shanghai. As we watch Wang and her
a recent MTV casting call for their develop-
friends take a midnight stroll through the
ing reality show apparently meant to follow
shiny makeup counters and glossy high end
the rich Asian youths of America. The online
stores, we get a firsthand look at the “New
consensus around the show was less than
Money” accumulating in the country.
favorable: “Sounds like a disaster” “Tune in 6
to see the train wreck”6 From many angles,
Dorothy Wang, as the face of this “New Chinese Money,” echoes a looming presence:
the show appears to be a carbon copy of
Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novel Crazy Rich
countless other reality shows that capital-
Asians. The novel focuses around the ties
ize on vapidity and excessiveness, and
between three extremely wealthy Asian
yet, the idea that being “proud of…Asian
families who, unlike Wang, have had trust
American Heritage ” is a central theme to
funds since the early 1900s. The novel deals
the show reveals a new intrigue from the
with the families’ interactions in Western
media . Consumers have long been “burned
Europe and America, and the internal
out on American and English aspirational
scandals. The biggest struggle hovering
fantasies” . Dukes and Princesses fighting
outside their world is the decision to either
arrives, we put a spotlight on them; we try
in Europe? Typical. Blonde heiresses and
accept or reject the horde of Dorothy Wangs
to decipher and explain and probe. And
NBA players partying in LA? Yawn. These
attempting to break into their society.
the spotlight has just turned eastward.
3
1
MTV producers hope that mixing club
Perhaps this novel became such a best-
scenes with dumplings and catfights with
seller hit because alongside Kwan’s wealthy
This could be taken as a positive turn, especially when it comes to increased repre-
the burden of the American Dream will create some fresh entertainment magic. But rich Asians have been around since basically the
sentation of Asians in American
“Where did all this sudden Chinese wealth come from?
and western media. Each new show or novel or movie will “expand our portfolio of how
dawn of civilization, so why has the
Asians are perceived in the
camera lens only focused in now?
media”4. Every little bit counts.
Along with the developing MTV
families, the White American public is also
Interest in rich Asian Americans brings
show, a slew of wealthy Asian representa-
baffled by the sudden appearance of new
possible interest in Asian Americans in
tions are already circulating in mainstream
Chinese wealth. Both are asking the same
general. The media landscape gets little more
entertainment. One notable example is
question: “Where did all this sudden Chinese
colorful and Asian American experiences
Entertainment Network’s #Rich Kids of
wealth come from?”2 To put this in a global
get some sort of validity in the American
Beverly Hills, led by Cali-born Shanghai-
economic context, in 2013 China accounted
Dream. More likely, though, is a media that
nese heiress Dorothy Wang. Wang is the
for $22 billion of a $92 billion market7. That
merely wants confirmation on what they
epitome of the “New Money” of China with
same year, out of 1,426 billionaires on the
already “knew.” A spotlight cast in Orien-
a family fortune in real estate only recently
Forbes list, 122 were Chinese7. Their rapid
talism shade that does little but perpetuate
created in the 1990s. Wealthy, business
ascent to the top leaves many wondering:
foreignism. In the same episode of #RichKids
savvy and fluent in Chinese, Wang is the
Who are they? What are they like? How
of Beverly Hills that showcases Wang’s new
clear standout and a fan favorite on the
did they become so wealthy? Kwan’s novel
luxurious Chinese shopping center are the
show, and China has become a support-
and the upcoming television shows func-
repulsed reactions of her fellow white cast
ing actor. The second season even opens
tion both as a spectacle, and an explana-
mates to the traditional Chinese markets,
with Wang bringing her fellow cast mates
tion. When anything - or anyone - new
pinching their noses and going off in search New Money, Same Parents 27
of a McDonald’s. The similar foreignism is painted in Kwan’s novel, which caters to
and string of experiences that manifested in
casting an Asian face ever again? Blogger
the “touristy reader” utterly unfamiliar
their current lives. An immigrant who found
Phil Yu, known also as Angry Asian Man,
with anything Asian1. In between all of the
work as an engineer; a second generation
says, “If that [MTV] show makes it there…
complicated plotlines, Kwan finds the time to
child living in an Asian Bubble at college;
I’ma totally watch it”6. But perhaps we need
patiently explain Chinese delicacies, popular
a refugee who came over with nothing and
to do more than watch; we must critique.
vacation spots in Asia and traditional value
is still struggling; an adoptee struggling
Allow these books and television shows to
sets shared among many Asian families.
to find their ties to their heritage; to name
entertain our eyes and ears, but then take
The “voyeuristic” reader leans into these
a few of the different facets of the Asian
a step back, and then use the content as a
situations, observing not only the plot, but
American experience. Common sense tells
jumping point to teach others a more realistic
that obviously not every Asian American
view of the Asian American experience. If
has the same life story. And yet, media
The Jersey Shore doesn’t represent all of the
a more dynamic term from these media
representation (perhaps the enemy of com-
people in New Jersey and Paris Hilton doesn’t
representations; instead, in one fell swoop,
mon sense) continues to willingly clump all
stand in for every white, blonde woman in
the Western perception of Asian Ameri-
Asians under the same label and claim a few
the world, than we should be able to open
cans has us trading in our nail files and
Dorothy Wang/Kevin Kwan creations as the
discourse and reevaluate the views on Doro-
calculators for Prada fur coats and BMW’s.
poster childs. All of the thousands of mil-
thy Wang to understand her story as merely
Guardian book reviewer, Patricia Park com-
lions of different narratives and paths have
one facet of the Asian American experience.
ments that “Kwan presents a belly-aching
been washed out by the searing spotlight.
all aspects of “Asian” being thrown at them . 1
The “Asian American” has not come out
feast of stereotypes [including] ‘Taiwanese
It is clear that American media is lacking
Tornadoes [Taiwanese women-golddiggers
in its understanding of Asian American
who leave destruction wherever they go],’
experiences. Reality television as a form in
Hong Kong fashionista men, ABCs [Ameri-
itself “doesn’t allow for a lot of nuances”6.
can Born Chinese] and Chuppies [Chinese
Very easily these new shows have become
Yuppies or Chinese young professionals]” .
caricatures. Looking at the MTV casting call
These stereotypes have translated in very
again, after asking if one is “proud of their
real ways, especially in viewing Asia as a
Asian American heritage,” it then continues
consumer market. In one Forbes article, a
to ask if “you have trouble balancing between
writer comments that “if [Asians] could buy
living the American dream and your parents’
Broadway and Park Avenue, they would”
expectations of embracing your Asian
. Another categorizes all of China’s taste
culture”3. Jenny Yang notes that conflict be-
in consumerism as “anything new” . Not
tween American values and Asian parents is
only in American markets, but in Canada,
a “strong narrative they like to reinforce on
wealthy Chinese-Canadian immigrants
us”6. Asians have new money, but the same
4
7
7
In one fell swoop, the Western perception of Asian Americans has us trading in our nail files and calculators for Prada fur coats and BMW’s.
parents. The “rich” narrative is glossier, cooler to watch and read about, but nonetheless it has merely replaced rather than added to the facets of the Asian American experience.
been blamed for the “surging real estate
Much of this discussion revolves around
prices” in Vancouver . All of these stereo-
how Eurocentric or white viewers will react
types still leave Asians on the outside of the
to these new representations. But these rep-
American Dream, buying their way into
resentations raise a choice for Asian Ameri-
cities that they implicitly do not belong in.
can audience members as well. If we support
5
Perhaps, then, this fascination has less
the “Crazy Rich Asian” and its characters in
to do with understanding and more to do
full force, will stereotypes and singular nar-
with labeling and explaining away. Every
ratives merely be underscored on the televi-
Asian American has had a different path
sion screen? But if we turn away and reject, will media producers in return, retreat from
28 New Money, Same Parents
Jolene Hsu is a sophomore in Steinhardt studying in Media, Culture and Communication.
1 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/ books/kevin-kwans-crazy-rich-asiansdepicts-a-cult-of-opulence.html?_r=2& 2 http://www.vanityfair.com/online/ daily/2013/06/crazy-rich-asianskevin-kwan-asia-upper-crust 3 http://blog.angryasianman. com/2014/09/mtv-seeks-asianamerican-best-friends.html 4 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/03/crazyrich-asians-racial-stereotypes 5 http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2014/06/04/ultra-rich-asian-girls-to-get-reality-tv-show/ 6 https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xTwftoLPABg 7 http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2014/07/30/for-rich-chinese-us-becoming-giant-monopoly-game/ 8 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/15/ business/15sbiz.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0 9 http://www.bangkokpost.com/ business/news/365364/wealthyasians-not-finished-shopping 10 http://www.eonline.com/shows/ rich_kids_of_beverly_hills/news/496252/ the-richkids-of-beverly-hills-spendthousands-argue-and-talk-fetisheswatch-the-exclusive-sneak-peek 11 http://www.goodreads.com/book/ show/16085481-crazy-rich-asians
The Struggle for Gender Equality: Media’s Portrayal of Asian American Women by Christine Wang
S
exism. Racism. These words
and the latter as what seems to be a
hypersexualized, dehumanized female
touch on centuries of deeply
racially confused empress. Rihanna
props that exist merely for the sexual
entrenched misogyny, centuries of
was featured with chopsticks in her
gratification of the movie’s white male
typecasting and general misunder-
hair, which seemed to be an attempt to
main characters.”4 What was more
standing, especially for the Asian
imitate a Japanese
upsetting, however, was the fact that
American, but most importantly, they
geisha’s tradi-
are still very much in existence.
tional up-do, and
Unfortunately, even when Asian American rights are discussed, from 1970 until the present, there is a “relative absence of gender as a lens for Asian American activism and resistance.”
During the casting of the movie,
in several shots
The Good Earth, Anna May Wong, a
she had numer-
talented Chinese American actress,
ous arms like the
was considered for the main Chinese
Hindu goddess,
character, but was later replaced by a
Durga. But if this
white actress. Anna May was instead—
video was trying
insultingly enough—offered the role of
to pay homage
Lotus, a prostitute with bound feet, to
to a diverse range of Asian cultures, it
female actress Rebecca Davis labelled
which she stated indignantly, “You’re
certainly did not do a very good job. A
the women who were offended by the
asking me – with Chinese blood – to
thought-invoking quote from Michael
portrayal of Brenda Song as “feminist
do the only unsympathetic role in the
Starkey reads: “Imagine if the roles
killjoys,”5 effectively giving society
picture featuring an all-American cast
were reversed and an Asian or Asian-
more of an excuse to ostracize those who dare to identify as feminist.
portraying Chinese characters.” Even
American music star was wearing an
worse, instead of finding other Chi-
afro and doing a bunch of disconnected
nese actors and actresses, the director
stereotypically black things.” This
participate in sexism and who per-
instead decided to just use make-up
instantly makes us realize the uncom-
petuate stereotypes do not always do
artists to create a stereotypically
fortable nature of Coldplay’s portrayal,
so out of ill-will. “People often [per-
‘Chinese’ look with elongated, smaller
but the fact that racism against Asians
petuate stereotypes in a combination
eyes and a wider face structure.
must be framed in these terms in order
of respect, admiration, patroniza-
to be seen is even more disturbing.
tion, and humor....[W]ell-meaning
1
In other cases, Anna May was rejected for roles because “she did not
3
Furthermore, though the problem
Strangely enough the people who
people...go around with the expecta-
fit a Caucasian’s imagined ideal look
of a perpetual lack of strong female
tion that Asian American women
for an Asian woman.” Such instances
film roles has been brought to the
are subservient (sex) workers, and
of racism are not limited to the film
forefront recently, it seems as if Asian
then have the startling realization
industry. Just two years ago, Coldplay
American women have been excluded
that many not only fall outside of this
released a music video for their song,
from the little progress that has been
stereotype, but are offended by it.”7
Princess of China, featuring Chris Mar-
made. In the 2010 movie The Social
With the media coverage lately
tin and Rihanna as the lead characters,
Network, “Brenda Song’s Christy is
of different feminists advocating for
the former as some sort of flying ninja
only the most visible of a long litany of
equality, the idea of dealing with sex-
2
Read our blog
generasian.org
The Struggle for Gender Equality: Media’s Portrayal of Asian American Women 29
“relative absence of gender as a lens for Asian American activism and resistance.”8 Despite some activism for race equality, this equality incorporates no mention of sexism; this brings Asian American rights to a forefront, making the coverage of Asian American struggles seem sufficient and holistic, while only masking the importance of eliminating sexism towards Asian Americans. In fact, even the “Asian American activists...refute the label “feminist” although their work pays special attention to the experiences of women.” “Sometimes this feeling reflects a fear of alienating men”8 perhaps afraid that by offending men the ability for women to continue activism would diminish, since oftentimes the most powerful advances for feminism are made by men—ironically showing the lack of status women possess. Or perhaps they are afraid that the strength of the Asian American equality movement as a whole would suffer a debacle because of their actions. When even activists are unable to truly start the social movement toward gender equality, societies are unable Clockwise from Top Left: Anna May Wong9; Brenda Song in the Social Network10; Rihanna’s Princess of China11
to progress quickly in terms of moral growth. Consequently, without being given a lot of power, yet expected to
ism and the racism that is inevitably
for the equality movement. This is just
live up to impossible expectations
intertwined with it, has somewhat
an illusion. Both sexism and racism
and match unrealistic images, Asian
risen to be a priority. Sadly, this seems
still exist, and parameterizing, still
American women and Asian Americans
to have blinded some into thinking that
exist especially for Asian Americans.
in general have a hard time even begin-
the problem is being solved, or is almost
Unfortunately, even when Asian
completely solved, just based on the
American rights are discussed, from
couple happy stories depicting victories
1970 until the present, there is a
1 http://articles.latimes.com/1987-07-12/entertainment/ca-3279_1_dragon-lady 2 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0938923/bio 3 http://www.dominionofnewyork.com/2012/06/06/new-rihanna-coldplay-video-full-of-asian-stereotypes/ 4 http://www.racialicious.com/tag/brenda-song/ 5 http://www.businessinsider.com/the-social-networks-missing-female-links-2010-10 6 http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c830.shtml 7 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/17/not-your-asian-sidekick-asian-women-feminism 8 http://www.asian-nation.org/gender.shtml 9 http://behindthescenes.nyhistory.org/anna-may-wong-americas-first-chinese-american-star/ 10 http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/embedded/20120822-china-2-600x-1345676329.jpg 11 http://www.weheartpop.com/wp-content/uploads/Coldplay-Princess-of-China-Rihanna-e1338868721173.png 30 Commentary
ning to win in this fight for equality.
G
Christine Wang is a freshman, majoring in philosophy in the College of Arts and Science.
1850s
25,000 Chinese left their homes in Guangdong to search for the gold rumored to be in California.
140 000 South Vietnamese mostly skilled professionals fled to the US to escape the communist takeover.
1945
1882
The Chinese Exclusion Act was signed into federal law, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese labourers.
American women who married Asian men had their citizenship revoked.
Then
1922
1903
102 Korean immigrants set foot on Hawai’i. Within the next two years, 7,000+ Koreans arrived to work at sugar plantations.
Men of Asian ancestry who had served in World War I were granted American citizenship.
1918
1905
Enactment of the Californian Alien Land Law, prohibiting ‘aliens ineligible for citizenship’ from owning land.
65,000 Indians entered the States. They were mostly communities of single men, with a gender imbalance of 75 men to 1 woman.
1913
by Huiqun Ong
ASIAN AMERICA
A BRIEF LOOK AT POPULATION STATISTICS
NOw 12 4.0 $68,780 9000% 80% 1.5M $544B 1.1M MILLION CHINESE IN AMERICA
IWO-JIMAN AMERICANS
Chinese make up the largest Asian-American group, followed by Filipinos at 3.4 million.
GREATEST CONCENTRATION OF ASIANS IN NEW YORK CITY
50%
Rate at which the Bhutanese-American population is increasing. They are the fastest-growing Asian American group.
They are the smallest AsianAmerican group, followed by Maldivans, with only 127.
OF ASIANS AGED >25 YEARS WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHTER
MEDIAN INCOME OF ASIANAMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS
Percentage of Asians living in a household with internet accesss. This is the highest rate amongst other races.
Read our blog
California has the greatest number (510,000) of Asian-owned firms out of all the other states.
NUMBER OF FIRMS OWNED BY ASIAN AMERICANS
generasian.org
TOTAL PURCHASING POWER OF ASIANS
Asian America, Then and Now 31
Thank You!
GENERASIAN Read our blog FOLLOW US
generasian.tumblr.com @nyugenerasian