Asian Americans, we have an anthem. If you are Asian American of a certain age, there is a song that can immediately pull us into circle formation on the dance floor like synth siren's song. I am, of course, talking about "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order. If you know, you know. But why? What is about this specific track that has resonated so strongly with a generation of Asian Americans?
Our friend, sociology professor, DJ and music scholar Oliver Wang is formally asking the questions about "Bizarre Love Triangle" and doing some important work for the culture. Through a research study entitled "Bizarre Love Theories," he intends to get to the bottom of why New Order's 1986 dance chart hit has been embraced as an unofficial anthem of Asian America. And he needs your help. Check it:
And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.
Indian Restaurant Vandalized with White Supremacist Messages
In Santa Fe, an Indian restaurant was ransacked and vandalized with white supremacist obscenities and hate speech. The unknown vandal or vandals caused an estimated $100,000, damaging the restaurant's kitchen, dining room and storage area. They destroyed bottles of wine, broke tables, and shattered glasses and dishes. They also spray-painted walls and artwork with racist remarks directed at the restaurant's Sikh owners. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime. Oh, the cherry on top: amid the racial slurs, the words "Trump 2020" were spray-painted around the restaurant.
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Why Tina Fey Is in Hot Water With the Asian Community, Too
Tina Fey appears to be taking some responsibility for racially insensitive material in her comedy, but some people online are saying that the multi-Emmy winner still has plenty to answer for. Namely, her shitty track record when it comes to jokes targeting the Asian community. From Mean Girls to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, folks have not forgotten... and now it's apparently time for a reckoning.
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THE COVID-19 ADULT RESILIENCE EXPERIENCES STUDY (CARES)
Researchers at Boston University are conducting a study of how young people, ages 18-30, are coping with the COVID-19 crisis and the current climate regarding racism and the protests against police brutality. They're recruiting participants to talk about their personal experiences, physical health, and mental well being following the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will be asked to complete a 30-45 minute online survey. Take part and help an all-Asian team of researchers doing important work. Find out more here.
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Sandra Oh layers in her ethnicity on ‘Killing Eve’ because white Hollywood does not
Sandra Oh on how an Asian character subtly affects sound design: "I remember talking to the sound people, it's like, 'Hey guys, you are layering in the sound of me wearing shoes in the house. I don't wear shoes. My character doesn't wear shoes. I know you don't see the feet. But don't layer in the sound of shoes in the house, because that doesn't happen,'" she adds. "But maybe these people, mostly white English dudes, don't know that. It's something that you might not even think is important, but it is because that's how we start building the nuance of a character."
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'Claudia Kishi Club' to Premiere on Netflix
Just in time for Netflix's adaptation of hit book series The Baby-Sitters Club, they'll also premiere the short documentary The Claudia Kishi Club next month. Directed by Sue Ding, the 16-minute film features interviews with Asian American creatives about the influence Claudia Kishi -- the Japanese American member of The Baby-Sitters Club -- had on their lives and work. The short drops on Netflix on July 10.
And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.
Man Makes COVID-19 Related Anti-Asian Remarks and Breaks Woman's Cell Phone
In Queens, police are looking for a man wanted in connection with a racist attack on an Asian woman in Rego Park last weekend. On Sunday morning, a man made coronavirus-related anti-Asian statements to a 36-year-old woman. The woman then tried to use her cell phone to take a photo of the man, but he slapped it out of her hand, causing it to fall to the ground and shatter. Then the man ran off. Real brave, asshole.
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Director Jon M. Chu 'Disgusted' By 'Crazy Rich Asians’ Sequels Casting Scam
A Twitter user named Alan Baltes, claiming to be an actor and casting associate, posted a notice saying that the supposed Crazy Rich Asians sequels, China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems, were casting Asian actors, ages 20s through 40s, for lead roles via "live Zoom auditions." Director Jon M. Chu says they haven't started casting yet, the casting call is bogus, and this scam targeting hopeful Asian actors is "disgusting."
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Koreatown's Restaurants Struggle to Survive During Pandemic
Since California's dining room shutdown began in mid-March, the restaurants and bars in Los Angeles' Koreatown have struggled alongside the rest of the restaurant industry hoping to come out on the other side of the pandemic. Unlike Manhattan's Koreatown, which is dominated by corporate ownership, LA's Koreatown is a mosaic of small businesses, so most have chosen to stay open to earn whatever revenue they can by offering pickup, delivery, or both.
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Fighting COVID-19 Anti-Asian Racism with Research
Chuck Liu is a clinical psychologist and researcher at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, where his team is launching a study examining the effects of COVID-19 stressors on the mental health of both Asian Americans and the broader population to help understand the formation and impact of racism during this critical time. It's a unique study that looks not just at COVID-related racism and its effects on Asians, but tries to understand the factors that shape racist anti-Asian attitudes among non-Asians as well. However, this is a large study with 3000 participants and five waves of data recruitment, so they're raising funds and could use your help. Find out more here.
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Watch Over 50 Asian American Documentaries on Public Television in May
In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May, World Channel will showcase the stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. with 52 documentary films. With themes of social justice and courage, these films highlight the myriad of ways in which Asian Pacific Americans have triumphed and impacted history.
Asian American participants needed to take an online survey for clinical psychology dissertation.
Here's a research study that could use your help with online survey. Nicole Himuro-Fitzgerald, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Alliant International University in San Francisco, is working on a dissertation about whether culture impacts the relationship between romantic attachment and infidelity, and reasons for why people engage in infidelity. She's specifically focusing on the Asian American population because they're significantly underrepresented in the current research. Can you help her out?
The survey will take about 25-30 minutes to complete. They're looking for individuals who are 1) between the ages of 21-65; 2) identify as Asian Americans; 3) experience a romantic relationship lasting at least six months. Those who complete the survey can be entered into a raffle to win a $200 Visa gift card.
Chinese American participants needed for paid research study.
Hey, Chinese Americans! The Family Development Project is looking for participants for a paid research study on international separations during childhood. Specifically, they're looking for people who lived in China, Taiwan or Hong Kong as a child for at least six months while both parents were living in North America. If that's you and you'd like to share about experience, there are some people who would appreciate your help.
Seeking Asian/Asian American participants for an online research questionnaire.
Hey folks, help out a scholar. I recently heard from Joyce Lee, a doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, who is conducting a research study that examines the experiences and attitudes of Asian/Asian Americans living in the United States. She is currently recruiting Asian/Asian Americans, age 18 or older, to participate in two online questionnaires for her research.
Seeking Asian American participants, ages 18 and older, to complete an online survey.
Dr. Frances Shen, an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS), is conducting a research study on the impact of body image on the psychological well-being of Asian American men and women.
They're looking for individuals who (1) identify as an Asian American man or woman and (2) are at least 18 years of age to complete an anonymous web-based survey about Asian Americans' body image-related experiences and attitudes.
The entire study should take approximately 50-60 minutes. As a thank you, participants who complete the survey can enter into a lottery drawing to win one of four $25 gift certificates or one of four $50 gift certificates.
University of Southern California seeks smokers for a public health research study.
Are you Korean American? Are you in the Los Angeles area? Do you smoke?
I recently heard from a researcher at the University of Southern California's Health, Emotion & Addiction Laboratory who is currently recruiting Korean American cigarette smokers and vapers, ages 18 years or older, for a public health research study. I don't have much more in the way of details, but you will be compensated for your time and participation (and I hear the pay is pretty decent).
Seeking Asian American participants, ages 18 and older, to complete an online survey.
Passing along this research study that could use your help...
I recently heard from Dr. Frances Shen, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois at Springfield, who is looking for Asian American participants, ages 18 or older, to complete an anonymous web-based survey to develop a measure on body image for Asian American men and women.
UCLA Addictions Lab seeks Asian American participants for a research study on alcohol use.
Remember that alcohol research study I posted a few months back? They were looking for Asians Americans who drink alcohol to participate in a study -- all in the name of scientific research! I'm told it was a big hit and they got a huge response. So good for you, Asians, for getting your alcohol on. Oh, they're recruiting again.
The Addictions Research Laboratory in the Department of Psychology at UCLA is looking for Asian Americans who drink alcohol to take part in a study investigating a medication for alcohol use. You'll be compensated up to $446 for your participation, which will involve, among other things, providing a DNA sample, completing questionnaires... and consumption of alcohol. Sort of.
Research study on early childhood education in Southeast Asian communities.
This is for all my people in Minnesota... The state's Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans is looking for folks to participate in a research study on Early Childhood Education among Southeast Asian families in Minnesota, including the Cambodian/Khmer, Hmong, Karen, Lao, and Vietnamese communities. Take the online survey, and you'll help CAPM inform valuable research and funding for the Southeast Asian community.
Here are some more details on who's eligible to take the survey:
Where do I sign up? In the name of science, of course.
Do you drink alcohol? Are you Asian American? Are you in the Southern California area? Then I've got the opportunity for you... all in the name of scientific research! Saw this posted on Craigslist...
The Addictions Research Laboratory in the Department of Psychology at UCLA is looking for Asian Americans who drink alcohol to participate in a study investigating a medication for alcohol use. You'll be compensated up to $478 for your participation, which will involve, among other things, providing a DNA sample, completing questionnaires... and consumption of alcohol.
Seeking second generation Chinese and Korean American parents
Here's an interesting research study that could use your help...
I recently heard from my friend Julie Park, assistant professor of education at the University of Maryland, who is looking for research participants in the DC/Maryland/Virginia or Los Angeles/Orange County area to participate in a study on second generation Korean and Chinese American parents and their approach to education and child-rearing for their "third gen" children.
Here are some more details on the study and who is eligible to participate:
Seeking participants for a Virginia Tech graduate thesis study
I recently heard from May Kanti, a master's student in the Marriage & Family Therapy program at Virginia Tech. Her thesis research is about the experience of 1.5- and 2nd-generation Asian Americans caring for elderly parents, and she's looking for folks to participate in a research study.
The study entails a 10-minute telephone screening, a brief demographic questionnaire, and one-hour interview (in-person, over the phone or via Skype) about your experience as an Asian American caring for your parent.
Here's some more information about the study and who is eligible:
[UPDATE: The participation criteria has been changed. They are now recruiting both single and married individuals for this study. I've updated the details below.]
Hey, how about helping out some grad students? Patty Chung, Marissa Lee, and Joanna Tol are Master's of Social Welfare candidates at UCLA. They're currently conducting a research project on Asian Pacific American LGBTQ individuals' wellness outcomes, with a focus on parental relationships, and are asking eligible folks complete a research survey.
If you are at least 18 years old, identify as API LGBTQ, and reside in the United States, please consider participating in the "The QAPI Study." It should take you about 30-40 minutes to complete. Here are some more details about the study:
Hey, Asian American women! Here's a graduate student who could use your help...
I recently heard from Suah Kim, a doctoral candidate at Teachers College, Columbia University. She's conducting a study examining Asian American women's cultural values, race- and gender-related experiences, body image, and mental health, and is looking for Asian American women to participate in an online research survey.
I recently heard from Emily Le, a doctoral candidate in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA, who is conducting an online survey on the study abroad experiences of Asian American students, for her doctoral dissertation exploring how study abroad affects ethnic, racial, and national identity development.
Dr. Frances Shen, an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS), is conducting a research study on the impact of body image on the psychological well-being of Asian American men and women. 
Hey, how about helping out some grad students? Patty Chung, Marissa Lee, and Joanna Tol are Master's of Social Welfare candidates at UCLA. They're currently conducting a research project on Asian Pacific American LGBTQ individuals' wellness outcomes, with a focus on parental relationships, and are asking eligible folks complete a