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P.O.P./Semester Recap (Blog 8)

Signing up for this class, I thought I’d become just a little bit more cultured. Yet I experienced and gained much more than just an outside culture. With AAS in 218, lead by Irene Duller and her team of amazing TAs, Josh, Troy and Mav, and the rest of the classmates aside from myself, I had a full experience and not solely another class added to my schedule. Through the course of the first day, I knew the class was going to be different. This class pushing so much on group work and relying heavily on projects rather than written assignments, not only have I gathered a deeper textbook knowledge of Asian American history, but also an experience of growing community regardless of background. Of course I felt a little out of place on the first day, but that quickly faded as we delved deeper into the semester, and with that community development, the semester went by too fast. I wish we could carry it out further, and the friendships I’ve made in our groups or through the class alone, I know will carry the essence of AAS 218 long after the class has come to an end.

To put a little more attention on P.O.P., that experience in itself was a first since being at SF State. I am endlessly grateful to have been a part of that performance. My only disappointment was that more people didn’t know about it and hadn’t gotten to experience it as well. For our performance being fashion, I got to work close with Sabrina, but not close enough. Sabrina had amazing ideas to put at the forefront of the project and as soon as she started throwing ideas and showing her excitement, I knew that we would be making something good. I do not want to give all the credit to Sabrina, as it was a group effort and we all had to work to make it happen. Though, if P.O.P. had a later deadline, which is another thing I couldn’t help but think about after our performance, I know we could’ve come up with some even more amazing things. As for my groups, myself, the rest of the class, and Irene and her teaching team, I know there’s only more amazing things to come.

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Blog 12 My hometown San Gabriel

Everyone goes to San Gabriel for the amazing food but people don’t realize that there are so many Asian Americans coming to San Gabriel. Asian American cities or neighborhoods in the region doubled from 6 to 12 over the same period. People come to San Gabriel because it is easier ti start a business here and since the population is majority Asian American, it makes minorities feel a lot safer and easier to live with one another.

San Gabriel doubled in population thanks to the assimilation and Gabrielino High School has finally achieved a great score and are well recognized in Los Angeles. San Gabriel has a mixture of Asians and are deeply impacted by poverty and low wage work with environmental challenges. The increasing of Asian American.

Living in San Gabriel taught me acceptance because of the diversity and so many Asian American I live around. With Pasadena being 5 miles away with all the white washing, it seems that San Gabriel is the only one who can learn how to accept.

- Jeremy Nguyen

https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2018/02/22/report-san-gabriel-valley-asian-american-population-larger-than-those-in-42-states/

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Blog 11 Miss Universe is Filipino!

Why is Miss Phillippines winning such an important to Asian American society? The reason why it is such a huge importance is that she’s repping all of the Asians everywhere! Catriona Gray brought home toe title of winning the Miss. Universe Pageant in Bangkok. She beat out 93 other contestant. She states that it wasn’t important for her to win but to be there.

The reason why she is such a huge part of the Asian American Culture is that she’s breaking boundaries that only a few Asians have broken. She may not be Asian American but she does inspire Asian Americans to break their habits to pursue their passion. Asian Americans want to have a stable income and you don’t really anticipate Asian American to being showing their bodies when our parents tell us to cover up so we don’t look like bad kids.

Miss. Phillippines has such a big impact on society and made me take risks in my life. She inspires Asian Americans to take risk and do things that they are passionate about and not for being stable. She is different from other people such as defending other female and respecting everyone. She is an ideal women and ideal model that everyone should follow because she’s humble and I want to be like that someday.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/miss-universe-2018-miss-philippines-catriona-gray-n948681

- Jeremy Nguyen

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Blog 10 rave much?

When I was in high school, I honestly thought edm and rap was the devil’s music so I stuck with R&B. But I soon found passion at my first rave. A rave is an organized dance party at a nightclub, outdoor festival, warehouse, or other private property playing flows of electronic dance music.  There are so many Asians at these events but what are the motivation behind the Asia American movement?

Harvard Alumna Judy Soon Park argues that cultural beginning has played a large role in the Asian American youth’s participation in rave events. In the Asian American Culture, partying plays a very huge factor because we Asians love to party and we party hard. With all of the pressure of studying and trying to get a good job, it helps Asian Americans escape reality for a bit ad made a cultural community under one collective racial identity. Raving is a space for people to express themselves without judgment.

Raving is literally in my blood. A lot of people say I rave too much but it’s literally a way to escape reality sometimes. We Asian Americans don’t want to fail in life and sometimes we’re scared of what’s going to happen to our future and to escape from it, we break out necks by headband and shove people to the group when we mosh pit. So yeah, I rave a lot but it’s a way to calm my mind so I can get ready for a stressful time while having fun.

https://dailytrojan.com/2017/10/15/game-rave-culture-fosters-asian-american-racial-identity/

- Jeremy Nguyen

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Blog 9 Elephante

Elephante was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan was boring November 10, 1989 who’s real name is Tim Wu. He gained recognition for remixing songs of artist such as Clean Bandit and Lorde. He’s an Asian American who began playing music at a early age, receiving classical piano training before teaching himself to play guitar. He graduated from Harvard ad broke into the music business. He started to create remixes before producing original tracks.

Elephante is literally one of my favorite djer’s because just like every typical Asian, he was born into an Asian family that made him play piano and gradually learned how to play guitar. He followed his passion into becoming a liberal arts major ad succeeded into doing so because he’s pretty famous and well known. He’s also representing the Asian Americans because there aren’t many within that industry ad him playing shows to the future generation that passion is better than stable.

I LOVE MY BOY ELEPHANTE! He has such a charming smile and is the most humble person to talk to. He’s very communicative with his fans and plays with such a passion. He isn’t a big artist right now but he will be soon. If he continues to work he will eventually make it up the ranks with his huge Asia American fan base.

- Jeremy Nguyen

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/elephante-mn0003390584/biography

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Blog 8 Apature

I went to my first aperture event where I got the chance to listen to awesome artist singing to their heart content who were Asian American which cost me $15.00 to enter... any I couldn’t eve get a beer. But to keep on track, it was such an awesome time because they explore their own heritage and culture. This even was pretty interesting because it’s not usually songs that I listen to but it impacts a lot of people because of the way it flows and the words that were sung from their mouth.

I was pretty fond over the First Lady who sang because she gave me the chills after talking about her grandma and dedicating a song to her. It touches me how assimilated these people are and trying to get to know their culture more. The vocal range that they have and talking about their culture really impacts an individual because it hits home. We’ve been assimilated from our culture that it takes time to hit it home.

I love her voice and their passion to music. It reminds me of home and shows how people are distant from their elders. This apature event taught me to calm down and listen to everything that I hear because I’m to separate from the my culture and I need to learn how to embrace it.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wK8Eo2XXP87XE24R6

I couldn't get the picture to load so there’s a site for it.

- Jeremy Nguyen

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Blog 7 Sam WOO BBQ

I LOVE FOOD TO THE POINT WHERE I WILL TRAVEL ALL THE WAY TO SAN JOSE JUST TO GET BOBA ANND KOREAN BARBAQUE! I love sam woo so much and they are on of the oldest restaurant because its decaying architecture. It was on the heart of Chinatown which had a cramped kitchen ad was small. David Ho has owed Sam Wo for the past 30 years and it was closed for good sure. Sam Woo is very popular in the Asian American Culture.

Sam Woo is a place where fans flock to chinatown just to eat there. It was a place that was close to home for many Asian American and it helped shows White people a little glimpse of what it is like to be living with Chinese people. They have been ranked top so many times within their existence and losing Sam Woo BBQ became a tragedy for a lot of people. But they soon found a place one kearny st.

Sam Woo has bee a very popular place and I love that place so much and it does remind me of home because of the food that they serve. They are known for so many things and achieved honorable awards from food critiques. With so many selections, it seems that food lovers will crave for more.

https://www.kcet.org/food/roasted-ducks-and-cantonese-bbq-at-sam-woo

- Jeremy Nguyen

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Blog 6- Chinese New Year!

Is it me or every time when Chinese New Year, I be making more bank every year. Every year during the beginning of February, Chinese New Year is where all the Asians are looking up to because you’re mom ad dad be giving that big buck up. It celebrates the beginning of a ew year o the traditional Chinese Calendar. People tend to Clean their house and decorate for Chinese New Year which reunites a lot of family. People launch fireworks to worship their ancestor and burn fake money to send to their ancestors.

But Chinese New Year is literally for the money now. Asian Americans come and get their money but don’t realize the importance Chinese New Year has on so many people. This assimilation into the American culture isolates them because it’s just basically forced religion. Saying Happy New Years in our language is supposed to connect us more with our culture but it seems that we are driving it  out of our body. Chinese New Year is celebrated 15 ays through the middle of the first month but Asian America skims through it within 3 hours.

I was always fond of Chinese New Year because it brings my family together but when I get older and more kids start to come into our family tree, I see that it’s meant for the money and not the reunion of ancestry. Even though it makes us younger kids richer, I believe that money is not fortune but the fortune is when they bless us for safe travels. We need to come to our senses before our culture vanishes within our eyes.

- Jeremy Nguyen

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Group Blog- Iron Chef

Ingredients

5 ½ cups cassava grated 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 ½ cups sugar ¼ tsp salt 1 ⅔ cups undiluted coconut milk ½ cups water 5 pandan leaves Instructions Preheat oven to 375°F Drain grated cassava into small bowl and save starch for later. Put grated cassava in a large mixing bowl and add in all ingredients including starch. Mix together all ingredients and take pandan leaves out once batter is mixed. Pour batter into cupcake tins. Bake for 30 minutes Take cupcakes out of the oven and let rest for 15- 20 minutes. Frost cupcakes and enjoy!

For Iron Chef, our group had Malaysia as our country. From the start of the project, our group already knew that we wanted to make some sort of dessert. However, we had a hard time picking what kind of dessert to make. At first, we wanted to try to make durian ice cream, but decided against it because it would have melted. Then, after a lot of discussion, we finally decided we would make the Malaysian dessert, Kuih Bingka Ubi Kayu, and mix that dish with cupcakes. One of the hardest parts of this project was finding a time that everyone in our group could meet because many of us had conflicting schedules. However, we solved this by meeting in smaller groups at a time and FaceTiming each other. Overall, this project was really fun because we were able to learn more about a culture that we didn’t know that much about. Moreover, it was also really fun to help make and try our dessert for the first time.

Push- racial tensions + New Economic Policy: Since there are many different ethnicities within Malaysia, some groups feel conflict with others. This is especially because under colonization, the British stressed their differences to each other in order to keep them divided and easier to control. Also, the New Economic Policy favors Malays over other ethnic groups, making it harder for other ethnicities to get into higher education. This causes them to leave the country in order to attend college. Pull-better education + job opportunities: Affirmative Action in the United States helps minorities get into higher education, so they have more education opportunities here.

References:

https://www.asiapacific.ca/blog/migration-matters-malaysias-double-edged-sword-diverse-yet

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PSA: THIS THURSDAY IF YALL WANNA GO TO THE MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM THEN LET ME (TROY) KNOW AND I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION :)

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Akira Kurosawa and Shakespeare (Blog 6)

Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese film director as well as screenwriter. Kurosawa is not only considered successful with a career as a director lasting 57 years (spanning from his entrance in 1936 to the early 1990s before his passing), with 30 films, but also being highly influential in the early years of cinema and still to this day.

Though Kurosawa grew more successful in the earlier half of his career in Japan, as he became more popular and gathered merit, his acclaim extended from just Japan to globally -- earning one of his early awards at the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, to a later Academy Award here in the U.S. Later after passing away, Kurosawa was named “Asian of the Century” by AsianWeek magazine, a magazine known to be the first as well as largest publication dedicated to and serving Asian Americans.

Kurosawa was known for writing and making samurai films, coming from samurai family himself. Moreover, he made three films I wanted to point out, two in the earlier half of his career, and one produced in the ending years of his career; Throne of Blood (1957), The Bad Sleep Well (1960), and Ran (1985), respectively. Each of these films were adaptations of plays by the ubiquitously known English playwright, William Shakespeare. Throne of Blood being an adaptation of Macbeth, The Bad Sleep Well being an adaptation of Hamlet, and Ran being adaptation of King Lear. Both Throne of Blood and Ran hold great significance and popularity in the film industry to this day with their relationships to Shakespeare. Throne of Blood, for example, is and has elements of, Shakespearean England transformed into futile samurai Japan, from a Scottish prophecy to a Japanese samurai, with aspects such as the three witches in Macbeth, something very common to 17th century England, being adapted to one ghostly spirit more common to Japanese folklore. Akira Kurosawa’s legacy, especially with his Shakespeare adaptations, is an early example of cross-cultural work of art and literature.

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Blog 12 | POP + Semester Recap

Man I’m not even sure where to start with this blog post….

HI!  Welcome to my TedTalk.

Before anything, I just want to say thank you for being such an amazing class.  I love all of you!! <3

Alright where to to start…  Well POP was such an interesting, stressful, fun, experience for me.  Being one of the choreographers brought me closer to my group and to the mentors as well.  All the blood, sweat, and tears that were laid out on the stage was all the dedication we took after each practice.  But POP wasn't all shits and giggles.  Trying to choreograph for POP was probably one of the most stressful things ever.  I was a dancer, but I was never capable of ever creating my own choreography for a whole class and pull through with it.  

I remember when we were still fresh into POP, I tried making a choreo in my room, trying to figure out what song to use, and try to figure each count, and come up with dance moves.  I did breakdown…..A LOT.  It was very overwhelming because I wasn’t going to use Make It To Me By Sam Smith..it hit home too hard and I wasn’t ready to put that on the table...but I knew I would be showing the most emotion..I just danced and danced and what was scary was Mav wanted our whole group to meet up to dance, and I knew I had to have something down.  And I had parts of it done, I couldn’t add much, or finish anything but I did have a set idea.  THANK YOU MAV.  Seriously, you’re probably one of the saviors that helped me through my piece and helped me have an end product that was as good at the performance at POP.  

Another moment that stressful, was getting everyone else in the group, to clean up our pieces of the dance.  I did have my days and so did me and Mav, but in the end it was all fun and I honestly wish I can go back to it all.  To my dancers at POP, you guys did great!  I’m so glad I’ve made such a great bond with you guys and I honestly can’t want to see you guys around campus...or maybe even hangout.  

To everyone else in the class, YOU GUYS KILLED IT.  I am so proud of each and everyone one of you.  Thank you for giving me the courage to keep going, and thanks for hyping us up in the crowd and even during class when we had to showcase something.  

This semester has been a blast!!  All the different groups I trickled myself in, and all the close bonds I ended up making we most of the people in the class.  218 really impacted me the most because I have never been so driven to do anything for any class.  I was always excited to come to this class, and even Ivene my boyfriend says he loves the class as well.  I honestly feel so close to my group, even though majority of the time we were in different groups, but I just want to say I cherish every moment with y’all, especially when we always try to get boba together and when we do, we end up driving out an hour away to get Pekoe and KBBQ.  

TO IRENE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME SO MUCH COURAGE IN SHOWING WHO I TRULY AM WITH MY CULTURE.  Even though I still back out in speaking Tagalog to other people, but I’m slowly easing my way into it.

TO THE TEACHING TEAM, THANKS YALL.  YOU GUYS ARE HELLA RAD!!  I’m so happy I’ve gotten close with you guys, and you guys manage to teach me and inspire me to have work for a minor in AAS.  

Thank you guys so much,  TBH, I’m not gonna miss these blogs, but I will miss the class. <3 

Thank you for listening to my TedTalk.

-Krys

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Blog #10- Asian Americans in the Music Industry

Asian Americans seem to never make it in the mainstream music industry some examples are P-lo, Stupid young, Rich Brian. P-lo is a Filipino American rapper in the Bay Area which he has some singers like “Never Goin Broke” and “Put Me on Something”. There is also Stupid Young who has also made two single with one million or more views on each and he still hasn’t been sign nor get the popularity like some other rappers that come out with one single and drake contacts them and gives them the opportunities. Then there is Rich Brain who has had many singles and had a label sign him, but he since has gone MIA or has fallen off the face of the plant since we have not heard any new music from him or any tours from him.

Asian American artists seem to go mainstream everywhere else besides the United States. People in the United States seem to not appreciate talent and bottom line is talent is talent, you should not be judged on your race and this is an example of how Asian Americans are also suppressed by society. I feel that people should open up to new and different experiences when it comes to music or give other people an opportunity.   -Madison Motoyoshi

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Blog #9- Family and Traditions

For my New Year’s Day, I always go to my Bachan and Jichan’s house early in the morning to help my aunts prepare the smorgasbord of Japanese food for the day, while my uncles prepare the Mexican food. We have been doing this tradition since I can remember. My dad’s family is a mix of Mexican and Japanese and like to mix the cultures together for the New Years Day by representing it through the food. My Jichan has always been open to discussing the background of our Japanese background, which I am very thankful for, but sometimes I still feel like I do not know enough about my Japanese background. That is why I really appreciate New Years Day when we do this tradition because I feel connected to that part of me more than I usually do. During the day, the women of my family will begin the process of making the tempura, gyoza, udon, and sushi. I used to be on tempura duty, but because of an accident from a couple years ago, I got assigned to a new job of making the gyoza. Like I said, I have always appreciated this day, but this class has made me appreciate it much more. Especially, now that I have become more knowledgeable on the sacrifices my great grandparents made coming here and the effort my grandparents make keeping our culture alive.

-Madison Motoyoshi

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Blog #8- POP + Semester Recap

POP was a whole new experience for me. I have never done something like that in my all my years of school and I love every second of it. For POP I was in the Fashion group. Sabrina was honestly so amazing and we as a group were so fortunate to have her. The looks she made were beautiful and the least I could do was try to help her with anything she needed. The Fashion Group was really fun for me to be involved in. I got to know so many more people in class and collaborate on some great ideas. The best part POP was to see everyone’s visions become real when we started to practice before the show. You could tell the whole class put in so much work for this assignment and really cared for what they were producing. The energy in the room mad you so excited, yet nervous at the same time because you just did not want to mess up.

I am very grateful I took this class because I got to learn so much more about Asian American culture and history, while also learning more about myself. How the class was run was nothing like a traditional classroom set up. I was forced to interact with other students instead of listening to a teacher lecturing the whole class, making it something to look forward to.   

-Madison Motoyoshi

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Blog #7- Stereotypes

As we all have grown up, we have encountered stereotypes, whether they were directed at you or you are directing them towards someone else. Not many people think about how the stereotype might affect the individual. One thing is for certain, all stereotypes are damaging to one’s self, even if they are considered “good”. The Model Minority stereotype in particular, characterizes Asian Americans as successful and well-educated. While this is considered one of the “good” stereotypes, it is still damaging to the person it is directed towards. You are putting a huge weight on one’s shoulders that they have to succeed in whatever they do. While, also failing to acknowledge the other factors that come into play like, the very real socioeconomic and educational struggles that Asian Americans face in today’s society. Another stereotype that is very popular for people to say is that Asians eat dogs. I have heard this said to someone, way more than I should have. Yes, there is a place in China that does eat dog, but that does mean that small portion of the Asian population represents the entirety of the Asian population. Stereotypes whether they are good or bad should not be said to anyone or even be a thing. 

-Madison Motoyoshi

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Blog 11 | APAture: Korean Bell Of Friendship

Background on this historical landmark located in San Pedro Southern California in Los Angeles is that this Korean Friendship Bell is a gift from the Korean people that costs $500,000. Why is it so expensive you say? Well because it was dedicated to the veterans of the Korean War and to build a traditional friendship between the U.S nation and Korea to ease tension from both sides.  

Going to the Korean Bell of Friendship was a lot of fun.  It was up on a big hill, and you see over towards Catalina Island.  It was a fun experience trying taking pictures and sitting down now and reading History on it’s importance.  There was a lot of people also, so it’s your normal landmark kind of situation.  The Bell itself was pretty big, sadly we weren’t able to touch it but I can only wish to be there when they are ring the bell.  Apparently, they ring the bell four times each year on special occasions.

-Krys