01.31.03
New York Times review for The Perfect Score: To Brown or Cornell, on the Wings of a Heist. Leonardo Nam is noted as "a newcomer and natural scene-stealer." Otherwise, the movie has gotten dismal reviews across the board. Oh well.
01.31.04
Yao Ming is an All Star. Yao overtook Shaquille O'Neal in the final balloting and will be the starting center for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game for the second straight year: Yao edges Shaq in closest race. Says O'Neal: "That's cool. Where he's from, there are 2 trillion people." That's funny, since Yao edged Shaq by less than 32,000 votes, and it was Shaq who got more electronic votes from fans around the world, while Yao had the advantage in paper ballots available in the United States and Canada. Give it a rest, Shaq.
Speaking of Yao, here's Steve Kerr's OFFICIAL APOLOGY for his "Chinaman" comment, reported by the Organization of Chinese Americans.
01.31.04
Article on stores recently pulling David and Goliath t-shirts from their racks: Under pressure from protesters, some retailers withdraw "Boys Are Stupid" merchandise. Todd Goldman, the guy behind the shirts, getting negative press and loving it. It's like free advertising. Face it—he's out to offend, and wants it to be a selling point for his products. Of course, the article makes no mention of the rest of David and Goliath's collection of offensive, racist clothing. Basically crapping on anyone and everyone to make a quick buck. That's racist!
01.29.04
01.29.04
Democratic candidate John Kerry likes Asian Americans. Maybe.
01.29.04
Gotsta get ANGRIER. Here's a nice perspective from Thomas T. Huang: Developing a Mean Streak
01.29.04
Steve Czaban weighs in on the controversy over Steve Kerr's remarks, and doesn't get the big deal behind "Chinaman": Steve Kerr's Chinaman Flap. CHINAMAN IS A DEROGATORY REMARK. I'm so over this.
01.29.04
The Dim Sum of All Things, a novel by Kim Wong Keltner: Novelist uses irreverence to demystify her culture
01.29.04
This news story is just plain strange... Pitcher Kazuhito Tadano appeared in a gay porn video, and got shunned by pro baseball teams in Japan. End of career? No. It looks like he may get a second chance stateside with the Cleveland Indians:Tough lesson
01.28.04
About a year ago, lawyers at Dewey Ballantine registered on the racist radar by performing an offensive parody song at the firm's annual dinner. Well, they're at it again. More allegations of racial insensitivity, this time stemming from a partner's joke that was emailed to all of the firm's New York employees. This week, an employee sent a firmwide email advertising some puppies available for adoption. Douglas Getter, who heads Dewey Ballantine's European mergers and acquisitions practice, then sent a firmwide reply: "Please don't let these puppies go to a Chinese restaurant!" Again with the dog-eating jokes. That's racist! This guy is going down: Dewey Partner's E-Mail Causes Upset Over Racial Insensitivity
01.28.04
Headlines today are focused on the chilling final phone call of Betty Ong, a flight attendant aboard American Airlines Flight 11, made just before the plane was crashed into the World Trade Center. The panel investigating the September 11 attacks heard portions of the 23-minute conversation with the operations center on the second of a two-day hearing Tuesday: Flight Attendant Calm on Sept. 11 Tape
01.28.04
Check it out: ChinksSteaks.com. One man's effort to raise awareness and illuminate the controvery behind the ill-named Pennsylvania eatery. Nice job. Expect some hate mail, buddy. But stay angry.
01.28.04
Attention! Citizens of Campbell, CA: Evan Low is running for Campbell City Council. And yes, he's as young as he looks. Help, contribute, disseminate, vote.
01.28.04
Is this seller specifically trying to make me angry? Actual t-shirts selling on eBay:
FILET MING POOP ASIAN T SHIRT
ASIAN FETISH SEXY P0RN T SHIRT
That's racist!
01.28.04
A sad day, as noraebangs grow dark and quiet across the city: Karaoke Ban Angers Some; Police Link Crime.
Makes me want to buy a Noraebang Superstar shirt from Happy Lucky Me.
01.28.04
By the way, if you feel like contacing Senator Hollings and letting his office know how you feel about his "Chinaman" remark from last week, look no further: Your Opinion Counts
01.28.04
My In-Box has been bombarded by this virus going around. I received something like 50 of them today, on top of my regular email. It's been a chore to separate the crap from the real stuff...
The Sundance Film Festival wrapped this weekend. It is worth mentioning that Ferne Pearlstein won an Excellence in Cinematography award for Imelda. Other winners for short films include the Jury Prize for When the Storms Came by Shilpi Gupta and an Honorable Mention for Curtis by Jacob Okada.
Also, Academy Award nominations were announced on Tuesday. Ken Watanabe was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Last Samurai (I still have to see that), and The Twilight Samurai was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. It seems to be all about the samurai this year.
01.27.04
Someone make it stop. Just when you thought we'd left that crap behind: MAVERICK ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES DVD RELEASE OF POPULAR ANIMATED SERIES MR. WONG. Yes, Mr. Wong, of Icebox.com infamy. They just couldn't let it die—this racist garbage comes back to haunt Asian Americans. Back in 2000, the online cartoon caused an outrage, with its tasteless and racially offensive depiction of the yellow-skinned Mr. Wong. Of course, the controversy just fueled its popularity, before the site eventually fizzled out and the cartoon retreated into relative obscurity... until now. It's back, in DVD form. I ain't buyin' it. That's racist!
01.27.04
Man, WHAT IS UP with word CHINAMAN these days? Senator Fritz Hollings lets it loose in New Hampshire, in a rambling introduction speech for John Kerry: Landslide Kerry. According to the article, as Hollings was explaining that "50 percent of the furniture in this country comes from China," a loud pop crackled through the speakers and startled most people in the room. "Some Chinaman got mad at that," Hollings said to laughter. (Later, when more noises popped through the speakers, Kerry politically corrected the joke to, "This Chinese guy is still around.") Now that's just unnecessary. Is it that hard remove "Chinaman" from one's vocabulary? Chink and Chinaman. They just keep coming up this month. That's racist!
01.26.04
Last week, law-enforcement officials raided six houses made arrests in connection to a suspected prostitution and human trafficking ring operating out of residential homes in San Francisco. Still, many residents of the predominantly Asian-American neighborhood said they saw and knew nothing. Such silence about such illegal activity is apparently common in the Asian American community: Calls for Asian community action
01.26.04
Just received another press release... ImaginAsian TV (iaTV) will launch in August 2004 as the first national, 24-hour Asian-American television network. Read all about here. Looks like they're really making the push for this. Stay tuned...
01.26.04
Here's the trailer for Takeshi Kitano's Zatoichi, hitting American theaters in the summer.
01.26.04
Goodness. Ever seen Lady and the Tramp? Yeah, I'm talking about Disney's Lady and the Tramp. The one with the dogs, and that spaghetti scene. Well, that movie also has one of the most racist characterizations ever put to film. I'm talking about the infamous Siamese Cats, who sing "We Are Siamese." And yes, it's as bad as it sounds. Well, Disney is putting out an album with current artists covering classic Disney tunes. Unfortunately, "We Are Siamese" has made the cut on Disney Mania 2, performed by none other than Hillary Duff (with older sister Haylie). Freakin' Lizzie McGuire! That's racist! Listen to this travesty here: We Are Siamese
01.26.04
Interview with Jason Wong, up-and-coming junior figure skater who recently placed 2nd at the 2004 US Nationals in Atlanta, courtesy of AsianAthlete.com: Jason Wong: "A Talented Skater On the Rise"
01.26.04
Hilarious posting about a crazy-ass racist casting call, over at banana-coconut magazine: Hollywood Never Ceases To Amaze
01.26.04
Just a reminder, Nelson Wong stars in USA's Traffic: The Miniseries as Ronny Cho, one of those bad Chinese underworld types. Because we just don't have enough of those on TV. The series premieres tonight.
01.25.04
Will Yun Lee was on ABC's 10-8 tonight as Detective Danny Chang.
01.25.04
I don't know why I bother to comment on racist stuff that happens on The Tonight Show. It's just the same crap over and over again. You just get tired of it... Friday night, there was a skit titled "Celebrity Jeopardy" where the contestants were Michael Jackson, Martha Stewart, and George Bush. Michael kept on screaming various perverted topics he wanted to choose from the board, including Naked Boy Scouts, etc. The last topic he wanted to go over was "Hairless Asian Teens." Once again, reducing Asian-ness to a objectified novelty. A cheap joke at the expense of Asians, on national television. When will it end? That's racist!
01.24.04
Good article on Steve Kerr's "Chinaman" remark from earlier in the week, addressing concerns and recent similar occurrences involving Asian athletes: Sincere, appropriate apology
01.24.04
Movie stuff... Devon Aoki is in the movie D.E.B.S., which made its premiere at Sundance.
Smile, now in production, is a coming-of-age drama set in the U.S. and China.
Aishwarya Rai might have a role in the next James Bond movie. You'll see her next in Gurinder Chadha's Bride and Prejudice.
01.23.04
The screenplay for Bend It Like Beckham, by Gurinder Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges and Guljit Bindra, has been nominated by the Writers Guild of America for best original screenplay of 2003. Other nominees include Dirty Pretty Things, In America, Lost in Translation, and The Station Agent.
01.23.04
Noel Toy, the nation's first Chinese American fan dancer (= exotic dancer), died Dec. 31 at the age of 84: Noel Toy -- famed exotic dancer of '40s. Sounds like she was a pretty scandalous lady.
01.23.04
Silly Caucasian girl likes to play with samurai swords. The teaser trailer for Kill Bill, Vol. 2 is online. Not much to it. But they say in this one, she kills Bill.
01.23.04
Filmmaker Mike Kang gets a mention in this month's Filmmaker Magazine. The article includes a still from his film, The Motel, currently in post-production.
01.23.04
What's your fetish? Behold, exoticism! Yet another example of objectification of Asian women. Spotted in the 'Men's' section of Netscape.com, a general advertising link to find websites and offers for: "Asian Women, Sports Illustrated, Breast Enlargement, Erase Tracks, Adult DVDs, Better Sex." Here's a screenshot. It's on the right side. How do you explain this, when Asian women are commodified alongside adult DVDs and Sports Illustrated? That's racist! (Big props to Curtis)
01.23.04
First two articles in the current issue of Sports Illustrated are on Korean/Korean American athletes: 14-year-old golf whiz Michelle Wie and 7'3" NBA hopeful Ha Seung-Jin. Both teenagers, Korean, and freakin' tall.
And while we're talking about sports, how 'bout those Asians in the NHL: Manny Malhotra 2 goals; Richard Park 2 goals; Paul Kariya 2 assists...
01.22.04
Britain's Channel 4 is running a series of five-minute documentaries about Chinese culture, and asks why there are so few Chinese actors and sports stars in the UK. The program is hosted by two Chinese British comedians, and features appearances by former Chinese Detective David Yip, Pink Panther star Burt Kwouk and England rugby hero Rory Underwood. So what is this show called? The Missing Chink. I'm not joking: Channel 4 under fire over 'racist' show. That's racist!
Man, January kind of feels like the Month of Chink.
01.22.04
Perspective piece from The Princeton Packet: Racism at the Supermarket. It can happen anywhere.
01.22.04
Here's an interesting commentary that touches on some of the points I made earlier this month on the Lord of the Rings trilogy: 'Lord of the Rings' vs. 'Matrix': Patriarchy vs. the Rainbow Coalition. The title alone was enough to intrigue me... But what's more interesting are the comments left by users at the end of the article. Check it out.
01.22.04
Hey, so what happened to Last Comic Standing winner Dat Phan? Actually, he's been pretty busy. He just completed production on a film, (Cellular), an episode of The West Wing, his special for Comedy Central and is a headliner for all his stand-up performances through July, according to an NBC spokeswoman... I look forward to these projects, but really really really really hope he doesn't just rely on the Vietnamese accent stuff. It needs to be phased out of his act.
01.22.04
Oh yeah, Happy Lunar New Year!
01.22.04
Brace yourself. Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado is returning to NYC: The Mikado. Take a look at those photos... Classic YELLOWFACE in its finest form. That's racist!
01.22.04
Ridiculous. The History Channel's been running their new special on savage early mankind, the Barbarians. The part that doesn't make sense: Genghis Kahn is white. That's right. In the program's segment about Genghis Kahn and his people, the Mongols, they are all played WHITE ACTORS. You've got to be kidding me. That's lazy, stupid and racist.
01.22.04
Heh. Steve Kerr article on Yao Ming: Evolution of the big fella
01.22.04
I was wondering if she's (part) Asian, and multiple folks have told me so: April Wilkner is a contestant on America's Top Model, and apparently turning out to be solid competition.
More than a few folks have also been quick to point out that her profile lists Breakfast at Tifanny's as her favorite movie... GAAAH. Even Mickey Rooney? I wonder if she's like me: the movie pops up on AMC, I love Audrey Hepburn, but I have to start throwing things at the TV when Mickey Rooney shows up onscreen. Mr. Yunioshi is easily one of the most racist characters in cinema history. That's racist!
01.22.04
Another disturbing article on the rapidly increasing number of racially motivated attacks against Asians, blacks, Indians and Pakistanis in Northern Ireland: Intolerance in Northern Ireland: Religion, and Now Race
01.22.04
Here's an article on the so-so success of Asian talent making the crossover to Hollywood in recent years—a topic that's come up a lot lately (Jackie Chan ditching Hollywood, John Woo's Paycheck SUCKING): Chop suey. From an English-language paper in Asia.
01.22.04
Spotted actress Lela Lee in a H&R Block commercial.
01.22.04
Here's an interview with Margaret Cho on her involvement with MoveOn.org, and recent hateful run-ins with crazy right wingers: BuzzFlash interview: Margaret Cho. Here's a good quote...
"Almost 99% of the hate mail that I was seeing haven't pointed out anything about what exactly made them mad about what I said. What they pointed out is that I'm a Chink, and I need to go back to the Orient or go back to where I came from, or go back to my country, which is kind of hard because this is my country. I can't really "go back to my country" because I'm already here."
Like I said before, I can relate.
01.21.04
Here's the "B.C." comic strip I mentioned earlier this month. It ran on January 19:
By Johnny Hart. I believe some papers actually opted not to run the strip that day, out of concerns for its sensitivity. Like I said before, it's a lame, cheap, pun at the expense of Asians. That's racist!
01.21.04
Commentator Steve Kerr has released an apology statement regarding his "Chinaman" remark the other night:
"I would like to extend my heartfelt apologies to anyone who was offended by my comment last night. I was unaware that the term I used was derogatory and in no way meant to offend Chinese Americans."
Details here: The Links
01.21.04
So... been watching American Idol? The promos going into the season weren't very promising, with a significant number of Asian people exhibited as examples of bad auditions. Maybe it can be attributed to the fact that they held auditions in New York, Hollywood, San Francisco and Honolulu—cities with high Asian populations. Fox just better also show us some GOOD examples of Asians auditioning. But I'm not holding my breath. I didn't watch Tuesday's episode, but I caught the premiere on Monday. The most memorable audition had to Paul An, from Old Tappan, NJ. This dude opens up with some crazy military diatribe about stabbing between the second and third ribs... then busts out rapping in Korean! Hilarious. But it ain't gonna send him to Hollywood... You can view video clips here: The Worst of New York City, Jan. 19
01.21.04
Yet another remake of an Asian film: Rob Cohen's Live-Action Kite Moving Forward. From Rob Cohen! Perpetrator of The Fast and The Furious and xXx!
01.20.04
Some people think all Asians look alike. That's racist! To this guy, all Chinese restaurants must look alike: Man's complaint is misdirected
01.20.04
If you're in the LA area this weekend, check out Double Standard (Year of the monkey), a Lunar New Year Party to benefit workers' rights & KIWA (Korean Immigrant Workers Advocate). Looks like a fine evening of SHAKE-YO-ASS HIP HOP—the best kind.
Of course, if that's not your thing, you can check out CommandoFilms.com screening of X. Dean Lim's short film sensation The Yellow Truth, 10:00pm at the Key Club in Hollywood. It's a party.
01.20.04
The following are two separate casting calls for MTV programming:
Are you a Bicultural Kid Struggling with Your Body Image?
MTV is on the lookout for kids that are growing up bi-culturally in America and battle with their body image on a daily basis because of it. Do you struggle with your self-image because of your cultural background? Do you face double standards because you grew up in a bi-cultural household? We want to hear your story!
Most young women today face the pressure of being and looking sexy. Parents, boyfriends, and peers add expectations of how girls should look and dress, which severely impacts how they see themselves. What's your story?
- Do your parents prohibit or encourage you from dressing a certain way because of their cultural beliefs? Are your parents concerned with your body weight, do they want you to be skinnier, fatter, or anything but who you really are? Do your parents nag you about what to wear when you go out? Dress up or down? Do your parents feel you're an embarrassment to the family because of your image (dress, talk, make-up, body parts, body weight, etc.)?
- Do you get harassed by your peers because of the way you look? Do you dress too sexy or too conservative for them? What about at school and church - are your teachers and superiors constantly calling you out on the way you look?
- Do your parents, boyfriend/girlfriend, or peers expect you to dress a certain way because of your cultural background, but you refuse to give in? Do you feel like you have to sneak around in order to feel independent and fit in?
This is an interesting topic I've discussed before, especially in terms of body image conflicting with the "American" aesthetic of beauty. I'm aware of Asian parents who are artlessly candid about speaking their opinion of a given individual's appearance, and exactly how he or she should change it—directly to their face. However, I also find it somewhat ironic that MTV wants to dissect this issue, considering that the network's programming is largely responsible for some of the skewed perceptions of "beauty" among today's youth.
An increasingly amount of young people have families that have recently arrived in this country and yet they live their lives as All-American kids but with a twist. Most of them when they go back home are still immersed by the customs and rules that derive from their backgrounds.
What's your story?
-Are your parents super-duper strict? Are you stuck between two worlds, i.e. American until you get home and have to deal with your immigrant parents? Do you feel like you're different than most Americans, and if so, in what way?
-Are you a high school senior about to graduate and want to go away to college but your parents won't let you? Do you have to run home after school to cook, clean, watch your siblings and can't participate in extra curricular activities but want to and PLAN to in the near future? Are you thinking about dropping out of high school or college to help support the family? Is there ANYTHING that you want to do BUT your parents won't let you because of their cultural beliefs?
This one sort of bugs me. Sounds like your average culture clash exposé (I'm so over that), but there is something kind of loaded about the language. Doesn't it suggest that there's something inherently oppressive about being bi-cultural? The balance between "being an American kid and being the kid your parents want you to be." Personally, I think there's something VERY American about being the child of immigrants, and it shouldn't be questioned. Don't get me wrong—there are Asian kids who struggle with parental pressure/cultural identity issues. But I can imagine someone watching the show and thinking, "Man, those Asian kids and their parents... they have it bad."
How about a MTV program about what's REALLY oppressive about being bi-cultural in America? Racism.
01.20.04
New York folks, check out "The Emerging Mixed Race Community," a panel on community-building among persons of mixed racial heritage. Part of the Fusion Series
01.20.04
The ultra indie indie indie low-budget film Lumpia got a write-up in the January 14 edition of Variety:
Taking low-budget to new heights, "Lumpia" is a youth project that got delightfully out of hand. Shot on vid in South-of-Frisco Daly City over a period of six years, genre-spoofing pic is riddled with discontinuities -- the thesps keep gaining and losing height and weight -- that only add to the fun. Leroid David's deft cartoon panels frame the action and set the tone for Patricio Ginelsa's street-level affectionate look at kid culture among Filipino immigrants. Pic should click with ethnic-minded fests, and should be shown in high-school media classes across the continent.
Rambling plot centers on conflict between established immigrants, entrenched with straight-outta-Compton attitude, and more naive islanders fresh off the boat. Newly named James (Francis Custodio) and his nerdy crew are always in danger from big cheese Tyrone (Edward Baon), but all James wants to do is get with cute Kelly (Elizabeth Mendoza) -- slow R&B tune plays whenever she appears. The FOBs have a protector -- the Silent Avenger (mustachioed Carlos Baon, brother of the guy who plays the villain) -- who knocks out adversaries with the titular snack, aka, deep-fried egg rolls.
-Ken Eiser
Reviewed at Hawaii Film Festival (The Filipino Experience), Nov. 1, 2003.
01.20.04
On the TNT broadcoast of Monday night's Rockets/Grizzlies game, commentator Steve Kerr referred to Yao Ming as a "7'6" Chinaman." On national television. Obviously, he made the comment out of ignorance—a slip of the tongue. But he should know that the term is considered derogatory. That's racist!
01.20.04
CASTING CALL: Young actors are needed to play "youthful Chinese characters" in the upcoming feature film, Dark Matter, starring Meryl Streep. In addition to a young male lead, there are 10 to 12 strong supporting roles, both male and female, all of whom must pass for Chinese nationals. The film is "a psychological drama set in the world of astrophysics, this story of innocence, ambition and betrayal follows the fate of a young Chinese student of genius and vision, who expects a career of achievement and prestige, but whose life takes an unexpected turn to the dark side." Learn more here.
01.20.04
Heather Fong has been appointed acting chief of the San Francisco Police Department: Fong sees need to reform SFPD
01.20.04
Don't forget to send Indigo Som your local Chinese take-out menus.
01.20.04
Check out this NPR report on trends and changes in the Sundance Film Festival: Sundance Seeks Return to Indie Roots. Some very interesting observations about the ignorance of Hollywood near the end of the piece, from filmmaker Alan Brown. It's all detailed nicely here in Andrew's blog: betterwrittenthanspoken.
01.19.04
Today is Martin Luther King Day. Are you honoring the Dream? The race dialogue in this country is more important and complex than ever, and it extends far beyond discussions of just Black/White. America, we still have a long way to go.
01.19.04
Just read that Michaela Conlin (formerly of ABC's short-lived MDs) will be joining the regular cast of the upcoming ABC drama The D.A.
01.19.04
A.O. Scott's review of Japanese Story: Back in the Spotlight After 10 Years. Toni Collette/Gotaro Tsunashima = Romance in the Australian Outback.
01.19.04
I don't believe this. More racist crap in a song by Chingy.... These are actual lyrics from the refrain of "Chingy Jackpot," spoken by Chingy and a female voice:
[Chingy] What's up?
Why yo eyes so chinky?
I dunno
Is it because you've been smoking and drinking?
Maybe so
What is up with a racial slur like "chink" being thrown about like nothing, like a regular ol' party song? Oh, by the way, the artist known as Chingy is NOT Chinese. I'm told that MTV does blip out the word when they air the video, but it's still quite obvious what's being said. To add insult to injury, they have an Asian woman lip synching the lyrics! I guess when you're a rapper named Chingy, there aren't a lot of words that actually rhyme with 'Chingy.' That's racist!
01.18.04
I'm hearing stuff about a racist line on last week's episode of Friends. So the premise of the episode is that Chandler and Monica want to move out of the city. Phoebe says to them, "Why do you guys want to move out of the city, what if you want Chinese food at 5 am ....or Asian hookers?" What the hell?? Another throwaway line for a cheap laugh, where Asians are denigrated and objectified—on NBC's flagship sitcom! I'm sure the writers and network execs thought nothing of it when they decided to throw that joke in like a little novelty. Can you envision the line being employed using another racial or ethnic group? That's racist!
01.18.04
Tonight on Alias: the North Korea episode! Which had to be one of the most laughable depictions I've ever seen. I suppose being such a mysterious, closed-off nation leaves it open to some ridiculous interpretation (i.e. Die Another Day). But I literally laughed at the episode's scenes of a North Korean village and LA's Koreatown. Not to mention your usual evil, barking Asian military men. North Korea seems to be television's evil nation du jour. Well, hooray for Hollywood.
01.16.04
Bad week for Asian men on reality TV. On the second episode of Average Joe: Hawaii, Phuc got eliminated. I was sorry to hear that. Though maybe not attractive in the conventional sense (none of the contestants are), he seemed like a pretty cool guy. At least, less of a freak than some of the others... Was race a factor in Larissa's decision (Phuc is the only obvious person of color)? YOU NEVER KNOW.
And on the latest edition of The Bachelorette, Andy got eliminated right away. I didn't see it, but I'm told he got minimal screen time (you saw the back of his head in the last half hour), and then he got the cut. In the first episode. But honestly, what did you expect? Like she was going to choose the lone, token Asian guy out of that bunch?
01.16.04
Torque, directed by Joseph Kahn, opens in theaters today. Kahn is acclaimed and known for his high-concept music videos, but this is his first feature film. It looks like your regular old-fashioned high-octane matinee action flick. Sounds like good times. Actor Will Yun Lee is in the movie, and has a pretty prominent role as a "heroic, good looking loverboy character," though you wouldn't suspect that from the movie's posters. However, I read that Kahn apparently fought the studio hard to get him the movie as one of the leads. So that's encouraging. Why not watch it, help a brother out? It will open doors for his future projects...
Addendum: It looks as the Torque is getting ridiculously trashed and trounced by critics... Garnering a mere 18% at Rotten Tomatoes. Well, you can't win 'em all.
And then I get this quote: "As for the dialogue, it careens from dumb to dumber to racist. There are a string of tiresome racial epithets that trash Asians and Caucasians, with some African-Americans acting out loutish stereotypes. Everyone is guilty. Don't American filmmakers tire of turning life into a race war?" From this review: Torque never gets out of reverse gear
On the other hand: "This is a movie that knows you know it's dumb, and that's enough to make the whole thing worth tolerating."—from the Boston Globe.
01.16.04
Actress Tania Gunadi is in the Disney Channel original movie Pixel Perfect, which premieres tonight. It's about a rock band and holorgrams or something. (Sounds kind of like Jem!) Of course, you may remember Tania from the "sweatshop" episode of Boston Public. Movin' on up!
01.15.04
The Outdoor Life Network will debut Samurai Sportsman this month. Yoshi Amao is a modern day Samurai who will combine humor and a fun spirited approach as he utilizes his martial arts training to master traditional American outdoor activities. Well hooray for that. Another example of this American craze for all things Japanese... I don't think I even get this channel.
01.15.04
Troubles for the Asian American Writers' Workshop: Hard tale for Asian writers. I was unaware that the situation was so bad for the organization. Visit their website at www.aaww.org. SUPPORT ASIAN AMERICAN ARTS ORGS!
01.15.04
TV stuff... James Shigeta, Kathleen Luong, Sung Kang, and Will Yun Lee—all on tonight's episode of Threat Matrix. Whoa, it's a party! There can be only one explanation: the North Korea episode.
Jamison Yang and Yi Ding were on ER as Mr. and Mrs. Tseng, expecting Chinese parents who come to America to have their twin babies. Their babies are born prematurely, and one of them must be cared for extensively in the NICU. However, the couple leave the unhealthy one behind and disappear without a trace. Doh! Michelle Noh is also in the episode as a NICU nurse.
01.15.04
NPR story on Michelle Wie: Wie Takes Golf World by Storm. KOREANS RULE AT GOLF.
01.15.04
Disturbing news out of the UK: Racist war of the loyalist street gangs. This is one angry nation. Northern Ireland holds the UK's record for the highest rate of racist attacks: spitting and stoning in the street, human excrement on doorsteps, swastikas on walls, pipe bombs, arson, the ransacking of houses with baseball bats and crow bars, and white supremacist leaflets nailed to front doors. It's almost too frightening to be true... and some of this article's reporting smacks of sensationalism. Still, it's disturbing all the same. That's racist! (Courtesy of Turbanhead)
01.15.04
The Sundance Film Festival begins today in Park City, Utah. The annual festival is the premiere destination showcasing the best of independent cinema, and this year there are a whole bunch of works by Asian and Asian Pacific Americans:
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
Ramona Diaz - IMELDA
Ryan Shiraki - HOME OF PHOBIA
James Wan - SAW
Jessica Yu - IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL
Greg Pak, Karen Chien, Abraham Lim - Harry Davis' MVP
Dong Kim Won - REPATRIATION
Im Sangsoo - A GOOD LAWYER'S WIFE
Kim Ki-Duk - SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER AND... SPRING
Kim Moon-Saeng - SKY BLUE
Kitamura Ryuhei - AZUMI
Takeshi Kitano - ZATOICHI
Andrew Lau - THE PARK
Lee Kang-Sheng - THE MISSING
Amir Muhammad - THE BIG DURIAN
Park Sunmin - SKY BLUE
Ian Iqbal Rashid - THAT TOUCH OF PINK
Pen-Ek Ratanaruang - LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
Arving Sinha - JOURNEYINGS AND CONVERSATIONS
Sabian Sumar - SILENT WATERS
Royston Tan - 15
Vahid Mousaian - SILENCE OF THE SEA
Prashant Bhargava - SANGAM
Shirley Cheechoo - IN SHADOW
Shilpi Gupta - WHEN THE STORM CAME
Dean Hapeta - NGATAHI - KNOW THE LINKS
Vilsoni Hereniko - THE LAND HAS EYES
Jong Lim Ro - IRON MOUNTAIN
Shawn Ku - PRETTY DEAD GIRL
Popo Malufaitoaga (Lilo) - TIGA E LE ILDA
Hirofumi Nagaike - FLYING
Jacob Akira Okada - CURTIS
Jinoh Park - SLOWLY SILENTLY
Tanon Sattarujawong - A SHORT JOURNEY
Taika Waititi - TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT
Koji Yamamura - MOUNTAIN HEAD
SUNDANCE ONLINE
Motomichi Nakamura - PUNTO ZERO
Kristy Kang - TRACING THE DECAY OF FICTION; THE DAWN AT MY BACK
Elvis D'Silva - SCALPEL TO VEIN
You'll remember that Better Luck Tomorrow made its world premiere at Sundance 2002. If you happen to be going to this year's festival, don't miss the third annual Asian Pacific Filmmakers Reception...
01.15.04
Russell Wong is in the upcoming movie Twisted. He's prominently featured in the trailer (SPEAKING LINES), so check it out. That's right. A movie set in freakin' San Francisco better have some Asians showing up. Can you dig it?
01.15.04
T-shirts! Good ones. Asian American Theater Company is now selling cool new black shirts. The men's one says "I Don't Do Kung Fu." The women's one says "I'm not Lucy Liu." Daaaaamn right. So go buy one, at the special introductory price of $15, plus free shipping!
01.14.04
Once again, someone out there is peddling racist crap: Mr. Chew's Fortune Cookies. And take a look at the picture on the bag. "Hilarious novelty item." My ass. That's racist!
01.14.04
Recently, I've received numerous inquiries regarding an RSS feed for this website. People emailing in, asking for one. Problem was, being only nominally tech-saavy, I had no idea what 'RSS feeds' were. Some kind of strange buzzword that's been going around... So I could only blankly respond with, "Uh, yeah. Maybe. Not quite sure if that's the direction I want to go with this."
Anyway, it apppears that someone has created one here. I don't what it's for, how they made it, or how you use it, but from what I understand, it makes things easier for you. In other words, it makes you lazier. But if this helps people in some way, then so be it. I don't know how these things work, but it would've been nice if the feed's creator had gotten my permission first... or maybe they did ask, and I forgot? Ah well. What's done is done. Anyway, there you go.
01.14.04
Ken Ogata, a Japanese American veteran of the Korean War, is finally presented with his medals: Half a century later, vet gets Purple Heart in Petaluma
01.14.04
Earlier this week, comedienne Margaret Cho performed at the MoveOn.org Awards, with a set that included less-than-flattering remarks about the Bush Administration. Someone subsequently posted a partial transciprt of the set at freerepublic.com, a conservative news forum. Now Cho is getting deluged with hate mail: www.margaretcho.com/attacks_from_the_right.htm. For example: "Why don't take your slant-eyed ass back to the orient if you don't like it here, you worthless troll." Sounds kind of familiar. That's racist! Having received my share of hate mail, I can sympathize, though the volume of mail is probably nowhere near that of Ms. Cho.
I'm not sure what you can do to fight this. I suppose the key is simply awareness and respect. Whatever your political leanings, whatever side you ally yourself, right or left. Of if you're a fan of Margaret Cho, or even if you're not, and you're just sensitive to racist, homophobic, misogynistic hate.
01.14.04
Earlier this month I mentioned a news item about three minority who were falsely accused and arrested for mugging an elderly Chinese lady in Seattle's Chinatown (Police caught Samaritans, not real mugger, teens say). Basically, they were helping the woman, yet a witness saw otherwise, and because the victim did not speak English to clear up the matter, the three were thrown in jail. Police obviously made some assumptions about them based on their age and race. Nearly two months later, the teens were exonerated (Charges against teens dismissed), but not without heavy costs. Here's a current follow-up, after CBS News ran a story on the case: Story of teens' arrest on
national news. They're still seeking an apology from the city.
01.14.04
Lyrics from "Holidae Inn" by Chingy featuring Snoop Dogg & Ludacris:
"My eyes chinky, I'm wit Chingy, at the Holidae Inn"
I believe that Ludacris raps on this particular portion of the song. More senseless use of the slur "chink" like it's fair game. How can they throw this in a song like it's no big deal? They don't even bleep this on the radio. What's up with that? Just another instance of blatant disrespect, and no one cares. Dude, that's racist!
01.13.04
Bai Ling and Joanna Bacalso are in My Baby's Daddy. Goodness. I'm sorry, I think I'll pass.
01.13.04
A movement has formed to protest Chink's Steaks:
"Our group comes together for the purpose of changing the name of Chink's
Steaks and to create an awareness of why the name is derogatory for
Asian-Americans. This detrimental and dehumanizing racial slur conjurs up
painful experiences in America's history as well as in many of our
personal lives. It is a figurehead of ignorance that deserves no place of
acceptance in our society."
You can join here: Movement for the namechange of Chink's steaks
01.13.04
Manchester United has signed Chinese football prodigy Dong Fangzhou: It's a Dong deal for United. Pretty interesting, though I know most of us stateside could really care less about professional football (aka soccer). Still, I'm interested in seeing how he performs.
01.13.04
Michelle Wie will compete in the PGA Tour this week... She's the youngest player to compete in a Tour event, and the youngest girl. Only last year, Annika Sorenstam became the first woman in 58 years to play in the Tour. Wie will be playing against older, seasoned champs. No question, she's a golf phenom. But at age 14(!), could she be taking on too much too soon? Read here: An Education With Hard Courses.
You know what I think? Forget all that. Michelle, kick someone's ass. Tear up that course.
01.13.04
This is interesting. High school students, you will now be able to take AP Chinese: Chinese Officials and College Board Announce Advanced Placement Course in Chinese Language and Culture. In high school, I took AP French. Man, I HATED that class.
01.12.04
This week on Threat Matrix: One of the Threat Matrix team is killed in an attempt to prevent the North Korean Prime Minister's daughter from being kidnapped! Damn, I'm tuning in.
01.12.04
Those crazy Asians are at it again. Spreading SARS. Selling Mad Cow meat. Eating dogs and other beloved animals. And now, trafficking black bear parts: Va. sting nets 100 in black bear trafficking. Crazy! Man, you just know someone out there is thinking this. That's racist!
01.12.04
Last week, the hosts of a Boston morning radio show, John Dennis and Gerry Callahan of WEEI-AM (850), discussed a sex scandal involving the Chinese national table tennis team. The bit included a sound bite from the movie Full Metal Jacket (you know where this is going) in which a Vietnamese prostitute says to an American G.I. "me so horny." Read further here. One, why is that morning radio shows, like late night talk shows, are breeding grounds for ignorance? Two, I hate Full Metal Jacket. "Me love you long time." Five words that continue to plague and perpetuate stereotypes about Asian women. That's racist!
01.12.04
David Henry Hwang's "revisal" of Flower Drum Song makes its Houston debut this week: This 'Flower' blossoms
01.11.04
Figure skater Michelle Kwan won her eighth national title on Saturday night, earning seven perfect 6.0s for artistry while she was at it: Seven perfect marks in free skate. Funny, at age 23 she's considered an "old lady" in the sport.
01.11.04
More Anna May Wong coverage from the New York Times: A Dragon Lady and a Quiet Cultural Warrior. Good article.
01.11.04
Andy, a dentist from Dallas, TX, is one of 25 eligible suitors on the latest edition of The Bachelorette. Good luck, buddy.
01.11.04
Lela Lee was on ABC's 10-8 tonight.
01.11.04
FREAKIN' RACIST CRAP ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. In last night's episode, hosted by Jennifer Aniston. About an hour into the show, there was a sketch called the "Coco & Matsui Super Show," in which Maya Rudoph and Fred Armisen play stereotypically kooky Japanese talk show hosts interviewing Aniston. Sure, I'm always bugged when SNL uses non-Asians to play Asian characters (this isn't the first time Maya Rudolph has played a Japanese woman—why can't they get a regular Asian cast member?), but what bugs more is that they completely played up the stupid stereotypes. Coco and Matsui are racist Japanese caricatures with a limited, comic grasp of English. It's cheap comedy. One wonders if they took a few cues from Lost In Translation for this one... That's racist!
Addendum: I recently learned that Fred Armisen is actually half Japanese. I was wondering about him... Also, Maya Rudolph's step-mother is Japanese. That also makes a little more sense. But it still doesn't make the characterization any less stereotypical.
01.10.04
Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai will star oppositte Meryl Streep in the drama Chaos, a remake of a French film: Bollywood Actress Aishwarya Rai Finds Chaos
01.10.04
I've been curious about The Perfect Score ever since I saw Leonardo Nam on a poster back in July. Asian guy in a teen movie about the SATs? Must be the math nerd, right? Then I saw the trailer a few months back. What the-?! Nam plays Leo, the stoner/slacker guy. Not your typical Asian role, eh? And I've been waiting for the movie ever since... In theaters January 30.
01.09.04
Indigo Som is on a mission to collect the takeout menus from every Chinese restaurant in America! It's funny and geeky, but this is more than just some kitschy hobby. It's actually a project with aims to investigate and elucidate the complex relationships between Chinese restaurants and 3American2 culture. Here is a statement from her website:
Chinese restaurants are so ubiquitous throughout the U.S. that they constitute an integral part of American life. They are the most pervasively visible manifestation of Chinese American presence in this country. For most Americans of non-Chinese descent, Chinese restaurants provide the main point of contact with Chinese culture and Chinese people.
Yet this potent influence remains generally unacknowledged, even invisible. Historical patterns of racism have stereotyped Asian Americans as perpetually foreign and intrinsically un-American, so that Chinese food, despite its position as a fixture in the American foodscape, remains an exoticized outsider to the usual considerations of "American" culture and identity.
I like it. I've always wondered about those Chinese restaurants in the middle of nowhere, like Chang's Chinese Restaurant in Greenville, IL. How did it get there?? Pretty intriguing. Read all about here: Chinese Restaurant Project. She wants those menus, and you can help! So send 'em all in, every last one!
01.09.04
Be sure to check out Colorvision, a groundbreaking new series that showcases the works of independent filmmakers and producers, currently airing on public television. Comprised of 23 short films and segments (including a large number of Asian American works), it's a multicultural showcase of media, dialogue and music. For full program descriptions, take a look at the website. And check your local listings. It's good stuff.
01.09.04
"Two Wongs don't make a Wright." No, that's not a typo. It's the punchline in an upcoming installment of the comic strip "BC" by Johnny Hart, referring to two Asian characters who fail in their attempt to build a working airplane—a play on words about the first flight of the Wright brothers. Unfunny, stupid, and offensive. A few papers have already decided to not to run it: Two newspapers substitute "B.C." comic strip. It's a lame, cheap pun, at the expense of Asians. AND TOTALLY UNORIGINAL, lifted from a freakin' t-shirt. Been there, done that, with Abercrombie. That's racist!
Who even reads "BC" anyway?
01.09.04
An update on Chink's Steaks in Philadelphia: Steak shop's name stirs controversy. The restaurant is named after the late owner's nickname. Yes. "Chink." Why is it that people insist this is an acceptable name for a restaurant? If it were any other racial slur, the community would be up in arms. But once again, "chink" gets a pass. And this restaurant has been around for 55 years! The original owner got his nickname from neighborhood kids at age 6, because he apparently had slanty eyes. Man, kids are brutal. The article raises an important point: sometimes it's not simply about intent. Racism can exist outside of good and innocent intentions. And in this case, "chink" still means "chink." That's racist!
01.09.04
Check out the Bay Area's Growing Up Asian in America contest, an annual essay and art competition for students grades K through 12. This year's theme is "On Friendship." Get to work, kiddies!
01.09.04
I just learned about Mam Non, an organization dedicated to sharing and communicating Vietnamese culture to the adoption community. And look, they're selling t-shirts. All proceeds go to supporting the org's programs, so check it out.
01.09.04
Check out this Mavericks/Warriors recap: Dallas 105, Golden State 99. The last paragraph: "With Fortson pulling back his hair into a John Belushi-esque samurai look, a smashing gong sound was played when he scored his first basket. It drew so many laughs and cheers that it was used again when he re-entered the game." Ugh. The dreaded sound of the gong. It's one of those things that bug the crap out of me, yet I can't really articulate why. It just does. A cheap, faux shorthand to connote Asian-ness. That's racist!
01.09.04
Being sort of a pop culture junkie and TV sloth, I usually enjoy VH1's various countdown/"greatest"/retrospective programs. (I'm a huge fan of I Love the 80s.) I'll watch them all, from the intriguing to the downright useless—like their latest list, 100 Hottest Hotties. In case anyone's curious, the racial breakdown of "hotness" is as follows: 75% White, 13% African/American, 9% Hispanic, 2% Asian/Pacific Islander. The two APA representatives are Lucy Liu and The Rock. This list is pretty arbitrary, so I don't take it to heart. But I'm secure in knowing we are hotter than 2 freakin' percent. I suppose it's just indicative of the number of visible Asians in entertainment. The powers that be are holding us down from showing our true hotness. That's racist!
01.09.04
Upcoming Frontline report on Katrina Leung, alleged Chinese spy: From China With Love
01.09.04
With Academy Award nominations just around the corner, critical fave Lost in Translation is a name that gets thrown around a lot in conversations. And one discussion that still isn't going away: Is the Film 'Lost in Translation' Racist?. Good editorial.
Another discussion that's been generating heat... people have been taking issue with Cold Mountain for its lack of diversity. You've got Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger and... ? ? Really, where were all the people of color in this movie? The story of Charles Frazier's bestselling novel takes place in the Civil War-era south, with a diverse, engaging cast of supporting characters—Swimmer, a Cherokee boy who grows up with Inman (Law) and teaches him Indian beliefs about nature and Cold Mountain; Big Tildy, a black prostitute who nevertheless controls the men around her; Lucinda, a slave woman sold to the Deep South because it is discovered that the slave owner's son is in love with her; and yellowman, one of a group of slaves who hide Inman and draw him a map (based on the Underground Railroad) to get him home. In addition, in the book, Ruby (Zellweger) is clearly of mixed race. Yet in the movie adaptation, every one of these characters is eliminated or made white. The film is whittled down to simply feature 30 seconds cotton-picking plantation slaves, while Brit Jude, Aussie Nicole and Texan Renee run around and shoot and look beautiful for THREE HOURS. This is a well-made, well-acted movie. It's just too bad the story's been whitewashed and Hollywood-ized. That's racist!
01.08.04
Is Yao Ming too nice? This article suggests that cultural differences prevent Yao from being as aggressive as he could be on the court: Rockets Seek to Uncover Yao Ming's Mean Streak. Get Angry, Yao! DOMINATE.
01.08.04
Speaking of sucky Stateside careers, I saw Paycheck and man, what a stinker. John Woo, another Hong Kong great who seems to have lost his touch... I lost much respect after Mission: Impossible 2. However, one can hold on to hope... Now he wants to do a film that explains Chinese culture to viewers in the West: Woo Wants to Make Chinese History Movie. This desire is fueled by what he perceives as a lack of understanding of Asian culture in the West. AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH? I'd definitely like to see this movie. (As long as it doesn't star Tom Cruise.)
01.08.04
Seeking a fun alternative to logo-laden T-shirts for kids? Try a Fortune Tee. Neatly packaged in a panda-decorated Chinese takeout box. Ah yes, another example of the commodification and exploitation of Asian culture. Cute mock exoticism for the sake of a buck. For your kids, no less! The irony is that you'll never find fortune cookies in China—they're an American innovation.
As a general rule, I try to avoid any restaurant/t-shirt/car dealership that uses the 'wonton' font. Unless of course you're talking about the STEREOTYPE t-shirt by Blacklava.
01.08.04
I've been reading here and there that Jackie Chan has reportedly expressed his desire to leave his Hollywood career behind, and return to his Hong Kong movie roots. He's been busy working on New Police Story in Hong Kong, but has apparently declined numerous Hollywood projects he's been attached to, including Rush Hour 3.
This wouldn't be a surprise to me. Let's be honest, Chan's U.S. films haven't been great. Consider stinkers like The Medallion and The Tuxedo. It's enough to make you cry, considering his talent. Only the Rush Hour series can be considered legitimate hits, and I have major problems with those movies. Don't get me wrong—I consider Chan one of the greatest movie stars the world has EVER known. At his peak, he was THE greatest actor in the WORLD. But he is not the performer he once was, and his recent movies show it. Still, I'm confident even now in older age he has the talent to make great, entertaining films. He's just been underutilized and exploitated in America, just like everything else Hollywood does when it comes to depicting Asians.
Here's hoping Jackie Chan will find renewed success in the future...
01.08.04
Bend It Like Beckham has been nominated for best picture in the NAACP's annual Image Awards. The other nominees include Bad Boys II, The Fighting Temptations, Deliver Us From Eva, and Whale Rider. The Image Awards honor persons of color in the film industry. So I have to ask, which of these films deserves to win? Bad Boys II?? I'm sorry to say I've seen it, and that mess is a piece of crap. Truly, a solid waste of my time and money. Haven't seen either Temptations or Eva, but neither quite looked like the year's best. But I also recently saw Whale Rider, and it's a great film. Probably the best in that bunch. So the outcome should be interesting. The awards will be presented on March 8.
01.07.04
Hillary, you fool! Senator Hillary Clinton makes a stereotypical, racially insensitive joke about Ghandi running a gas station: Hillary Clinton 'truly regrets' Gandhi joke. She subsquently apologized and called it "a lame attempt at humor." Indeed. That's racist!
01.07.04
Remember Shaobo Qin, who played Yen, the very memorable Chinese acrobat in Ocean's 11? They're making a sequel, but he won't be back. They need someone new for the role: Member of "Ocean1s Eleven" Crew Recast for Sequel
01.06.04
I've seen Lord of the Rings: Return of the King twice now, and without a doubt, the trilogy is a well-crafted, amazing achievement in epic moviemaking. But while I loved ROTK, there's something that has bothered me about the trilogy since the first installment. There is this disturbing racial subtext underlying the the story and characters. Think about it. Almost all of the major protagonists, the agents of good in Middle Earth, are white. White, fair, beautiful and blue-eyed. The Hobbits of the Shire, those gorgeous Elf people, the men and women of Gondor and Rohan ("Men of the West," they call themselves). Not so much Gimli the Dwarf, I guess. And then take a look at the trilogy's villains, who are predominantly men and creatures of color. The Orcs and Uruk-Hai are dark, almost black-skinned—and abolutely primitive and ferocious. You could argue, yeah, yeah, but they're not human. But consider that even the humans fighting on the side of Sauron's army—referred to as men of "the South"—are not white, but dark skinned, almost Middle Eastern-looking. Riding atop these exotic, gargantuan elephant creatures, they march along the side of evil, all trying to invade and overtake Middle Earth. Do you see it? It's a little disturbing.
Now, I'm not charging that Tolkein or Peter Jackson and Co. are trying to perpetuate this belief of white goodness. I don't believe that, and I definitely do not subscribe to this interpretation. I'm just saying if you look for it, the interpretable subtext is there. And there are people out there who believe it, and will abuse it. I've actually come across white supremacist websites that avidly subscribe to this interpretation of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. They praise the films for their 'white-is-right' virtues, and it's scary. Scary because on some levels, the trilogy does seem to support and fit into their skewed vision of the world.
I guess that's what you get, when you create a good-vs.-evil movie franchise with solely white protagonists. But I'm not suggesting that they should have cast some of the Hobbits or Elves with Asian actors or anything. While it would've an been interesting and admirable to see, say, mutiethnic elves, in the end I imagine it would've also been a distraction to the movie's overall effect. The all-white cast is good as it is. Unfortunately, it just leaves the movies open to certain unfavorable interpretations.
Like I said, the trilogy is an achievement. Make more movies like this—meaning, good ones. But it just gets me back to what I'm always getting at: Hollywood also needs to support and make more films and opportunities that tell diverse stories, with diverse characters, for diverse talent.
01.06.04
If you've been watching Fox, maybe you've seen promos for the new season of American Idol. Basically, it's potential Idols auditioning, both good and bad. Unfortunately, the prominently featured bad singers happen to be Asian. I've seen two with Asian guys, and one with an Asian girl. And they are B A D. Why is it that with such a lack of positive Asian representation on television, they have to blatanly display these folks as the negative examples? I'm sure they could have dug up a multiracial sampling of bad singing. That's racist! But then again, this is Fox we're talking about, and I highly doubt these considerations register very high in their decision-making. On the other hand, bad singing is bad singing—and it's got some entertainment value. The appeal of watching American Idol is as much about the bad singers as it is the good ones... (at least for me). And I think the commercials are actually pretty freakin' hilarious. I just really really wish the third season would feature hot, phenomenal Asian American singers with some real potential. One can hope.
01.05.04
More praise for USC offensive coach Norm Chow, somewhere in this little BCS rant/rave: Rant: BCS title game is an insult to reasonable minds
01.04.04
There have recently been a number of articles on Hollywood legend Anna May Wong, spurred by a newly published biography (Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend by Graham Russell Gao Hodges) and film re-release (Piccadilly):
Anna May's Burden
A woman ahead of her time
Rediscovering Anna May Wong
01.04.04
Asian women in the United States have an alarmingly high rate of suicide. Disturbing statistics... Chinese American women have the highest suicide rate of all racial and ethnic groups nationwide, with 20 suicide deaths per 100,000 population, according to recent studies. Suicide occurs at a rate 2.5 to 3 times higher among Asian women in the United States than among Caucasian women. A mental health crisis is brewing in the Asian American community: Hiding the Pain: Suicides High Among Asian Immigrant Women
01.04.04
"Silly Caucasian girl likes to play with samurai swords." — O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) in Kill Bill. Here's another interesting article from the New York Times on the recent spate of American films set in Japan (i.e. The Last Samurai, Kill Bill, Lost in Translation), and the ensuing debate on whether these depictions are "racist, naive, well-intentioned, accurate—or all of the above.": Hollywood's Land of the Rising Cliché. I think I've noted this trend in previous entries. But the article is pretty interesting, with perpsectives from moviegoers and critics in both American and Japan, as well as historical contexts for Western depictions of Japan. It's kind of good to see major press taking notice of these issues. These films have achieved a lot of commercial/critical success, but it's important for viewers to examine the underlying subtext. It's easy to criticize a film like Dumb and Dumberer for its obvious and intentional racial missteps, as well as dimiss it and move on because, well, it's Dumb and Dumberer. It's the critical darlings that need harder looks.
01.04.04
Check out this screenshot of CNN's website, posted early Sunday morning. The headline prominently features a photo of NASA engineer Wayne Lee cheering the Mars rover landing. And wearing the stars and stripes, looking rather patriotic.
01.04.04
From the Honolulu Advertiser:
Massie case is back
Expect to see, hear and read a lot about the notorious Massie case in the coming weeks and months.
The 1931 case — involving the alleged gang rape of Navy wife Thalia Massie by five local men (all were acquitted) and the subsequent kidnapping and murder of one of the defendants (Joseph Kahahawai) by Massie's husband, mother and two enlisted men— drew national attention and and shined a bright light on issues of race, class and power in the Territory of Hawai'i.
Kumu Kahua Theatre, the Judiciary History Center of Hawai'i and the University of Hawai'i Center for Biographical Research are hosting two free public events—Jan. 13 and 20—that examine the Massie-Kahahawai trials and their lasting impact on Hawai'i.
The events coincide with Kumu Kahua Theatre's production of "Massie/Kahahawai," which runs Jan. 8 to Feb. 8. (For more information, call Kumu Kahua at 536-4441.) A pair of books on the case, one by David Stannard and one by John Rosa, are expected to be released in 2004. PBS is working on a documentary about the case.
I'd never heard of this case, but it sounds pretty interesting.
01.03.04
Pay attention to number 8: Listen up, network execs
01.03.04
I've previously posted several news items on the city of Cupertino, CA. The city's ethnic population has undergone rapid expansion and change in the last twenty years, and along with it, community tensions and growing pains. Its population of 50,000 is now 44.8 percent Asian American, compared with less than 10 percent in 1980—and the demographic shifts have translated into significant political involvement. Here's another article, in the New York Times, of all places: In One Suburb, Local Politics With Asian Roots. Pretty interesting. As a local guy myself, these issues and stories definitely have a degree of personal relevance.
01.03.04
The Robot Stories trailer is currently playing in theaters in New York and DC. Remember, Robot Stories begins its theatrical run February 13 in New York, and February 20 in Washington DC.
01.02.04
This is about Man Show and Love Line host Adam Carolla, so it shouldn't come as any sort of shock. More crap spewing out of this man's mouth: KPOI, listeners cry foul. Carolla calling Hawaiians dumb, doing what he does best—offensive idiocy purely for the sake of shock and insult. Are you really surprised? That's racist!
01.02.04
This news story out of Seattle is angering on several levels: Good Samaritans -- Busted. Basically, three young men, Rico Ford, Ken Woo and Yi Ming Lin, saw an old Chinese woman being mugged on the street. So they ran to help the woman. However, a witness on the street saw differently, and claimed that the three were the actual muggers. And because the Chinese woman couldn't speak English, and was unable to clarify the situation to police at hand, the three boys were cuffed and locked up. The charges were later dropped when a translator was finally put on the case. The boys have received neither an apology nor any refund for thousands in legal fees. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the case was that the boys' bail appeared to be "color coded": $10,000 for Yi Ming, $20,000 for Ken, and $25,000 for Rico—varying amounts essentially based on the shades of their skin. Incredible. That's racist!
In other police-related news, a new Illinois law requires police officers to record the race of each driver they stop and whether the motorist is ticketed, searched or sent on their way. The law became effective yesterday, in an aim towards identifying patterns of bias for police stops: New law requires police to record race
01.01.04
"In a world of racial diversity, what is 'white'?" Here's an interesting perspective on the tenuous, changing idea of America's melting pot, multiculturalism and assimilation: Defining 'American': How do we manage the new melting pot?
01.01.04
Here's another, more recent article on USC's Norm Chow: Chow is the brains behind USC's offense
01.01.04
Happy New Year. Haven't seen Last Samurai yet. Can't find anyone who wants to watch it with me.
I've heard there's extended "Asian"-themed scene in Tim Burton's Big Fish, involving Siamese twins, evil North Korean soldiers and chop socky karate moves... Sounds great! I guess I ought to check that out too.
