From Sonny Le, a Hyphen advisory board member
For two million Vietnamese in America, our journey here began on April 30, 1975, the day the Vietnam War officially ended. The longest and one of the deadliest conflicts of the 20th Century ended 30 years ago this week.
Continue reading "Fall of Saigon"
Posted by melissa at 2:48 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Seems like every couple of months, we write about some radio DJs who say stupid racist shit on the air. This time it's two hosts on New Jersey 101.5 FM's talking about Jun Choi, who is running for mayor in Edison, NJ. Details here at Poplicks, where you'll also find a link to the transcript. (Hot 97's Miss Jones, by the way, is back on the air.)
Here's an excerpt:
Craig Carton: I'm using Jun Choi [said in fast-paced, high-pitched, squeaky voice] as an example of a larger problem.
Ray Rossi: and you know...
Carton: We're forgetting the fact that we’re Americans.
Rossi: You know that he’s going to get the... whatever that vote is
Carton: And here's the bottom line... no specific minority group or foreign group should ever ever dictate the outcome of an American election. I don't care if the Chinese population in Edison has quadrupled in the last year, Chinese should never dictate the outcome of an election, Americans should.
Continue reading "Another Day, Another Racist Radio DJ"
Posted by melissa at 4:46 PM | Comments (22) | TrackBack (0)
Over the past few years there have been quite a few 'revisited' movies that somehow make their way into US theatres. Movies that originated elsewhere. Some are 'reinterpretations,' or '(heavily)inspired by,' while others are outright cut and pasted facsimiles of the originals (though they star actors who are a bit more "American" in deference to the American audiences). Some rather obvious examples are Amenábar's "Abre Los Ojos" (AKA "Vanilla Sky"), Shimuzu's "Ju On" (AKA "The Grudge") and Nakata's "Ringu" (AKA "The Ring").
Recently I heard rumors that "Holy"wood is planning to remake the Wai Keung Lau/Siu Fai Mak HK film "Infernal Affairs,"(Wu Jian Dao) with a star-studded cast directed by Martin Scorsese. The cast includes Leo "The Titanic Aviator" DiCaprio, Marky "Mark" Wahlberg, and Matt "One-hit Wonder" Damon, in addition to others. The original film has garnered critical acclaim for it's direction, storyline, production, and acting. I've seen the original and it is, in my opinion, worthy of much of the kudos it's been given. I wonder why a re-interpretation is necessary?
Some have said that the remake craze merely pays homage to the original directors/actors/producers. Others have said that they hope to spark interest in global cinema by doing such a thing (somewhat of a similar line of reasoning Sean Combs utilized in his blatant use of old R&B/Soul tracks in their entirety) in other words, getting people to start crate digging for movies. Still others say they hope to give access to ideas that may not be otherwise seen by the average mainstream moviegoer.
Perhaps recycling has so permeated our popular culture that it has even affected our movies and music? And this is not to say film producers outside the United States haven't and still don't bite US movies for concepts. It is, to all intents and purposes, a two-way street. What do y'all out there think about this phenomenon? I'm torn, sort of like Natalie Imbruglia.
Posted by claire at 7:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
When we say that Hyphen is a grassroots, by-the-seat-of-our-pants organization, we're not exaggerating. We do EVERYTHING ourselves. Not because we're particularly industrious, but because it saves money. Subscriptions, bookstore sales and advertising doesn't pay all the bills. Not even close. Our writers, editors, designers, illustrators and photographers generously donate their talent. We would like to pay these amazing people. But for now, we've got to pinch every penny twice. If you’ve ever donated to us, you can be assured we’re not spending your money recklessly. In fact, we've done some pretty ghetto things to stretch our dollars to the max (doing our part to keep that stereotype of stingy Asians intact).
Continue reading "Lotsa Paper Cuts This Weekend"
Posted by melissa at 1:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Speaking of racism (and aren't we always?) a little exercise in journalistic spin this week illustrated to me how well accusations of racism sell news.
Continue reading "Racism Sells News"
Posted by claire at 11:44 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
With the scandal-ridden resignation of city Assessor Mabel Teng, Supervisor Fiona Ma will be the only Asian American to hold elected office at City Hall in San Francisco, one of the most Asian American of American cities.
Continue reading "No Political Clout in S.F."
Posted by harry at 11:10 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Whoo-hoo! Issue 6 was just delivered today at 3 PM. Thanks to erin for holing up in her apartment all day, waiting for them to arrive. And thanks to Willie, the UPS guy, for helping us lug them up all those flights of stairs.
Subscribers, your copies will be in the mail Monday.
Posted by melissa at 4:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
One fun thing about working at a magazine is that you get a lot of mail. Checking the mail has always been one of my favorite things to do every day. But unlike your mailbox at home, where you find a lot of bills, our PO Box always has something unexpected. The best are subscriptions from readers, an affirmation of our work. We love the scribbled notes. And your checks of course. But we really get excited about folks subscribing from a ways. No disrespect to our local readers in the Bay, but when mail comes in from Wisconsin or Maryland, our imaginations start to run wild. Who are you? How did you hear about us? What are you like?
Continue reading "Surprise in the Mail"
Posted by melissa at 11:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
From our Director of Photography, Seng Chen:
I'm a procrastinator. If there's a way to avoid something until the last second, I'll do it. The more important it is, the longer I'll put it off. On a last minute assignment, I'll procrastinate to protest of the lack of preparation of my taskmaster. Don't they know how long these things take? Once you factor in an appropriate amount of time for reading catalogs and watching TV instead of doing work?
But there are some things that have deadlines, real ones. The assignment might go away and you might be none the worse for it- because no one really, really expected it do get done - but you know you should have and could have done them anyway. Because they aren't about getting around your responsibility, they have an affect on other people's lives.
Eddy Zheng is in danger of being deported to China. Why should you care?
Continue reading "Eddy Zheng's Last Chance"
Posted by melissa at 12:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
So I just got in from my doctor's appointment today. I'm totally healthy. In spite of that, I'll be taking 9 months of antibiotics, using steroid cream, (prescribed!) and getting a series of three shots. And wouldn't you know it, all of the above conditions are related to my Asian-ness.
Warning: this blog contains waaay too much information about my health. proceed at your own risk.
Continue reading "J Huang Visits the Doctor. A Cautionary Tale"
Posted by jennifer at 2:03 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Got a chance to see Making Tracks, the Asian American rock musical, at the San Jose Repertory Theatre this past weekend before it ended its run.
I was impressed with the scope of the story and delighted to see an accurate portrayal of Asian American history that really tugged at your heartstrings. Anyone whose family has come from someplace else to the gilded shores of America can identify with this story.
Making Tracks is a groundbreaking work of Asian American theater and the anti-Miss Saigon, though its narrative maybe too much for those who haven't taken an Asian American studies class. Some reviewers have noted this. About half the audience I saw the play with was non-Asian and maybe many of the Asians Americans have never heard any of the history, but most of them took part in the standing ovation at the end. I think there was enough in the story for the uninitiated to understand the history, and the great performances and music also pulled in the audience.
The story covers six generations of a family and encompasses the major events in Chinese and Japanese American history -- from the Gold Rush and building the railroad, to picture brides, World War II and the Japanese internment, to the struggles of Asian Americans to find themselves in today's American society.
One quibble is that other Asian groups are left out (there are some minor references to Filipinos, and most of the actors are Filipino), though the themes resonate across ethnic and racial lines.
Another minor quibble is that in a couple of the songs, the Mandarin pronunciation for "America" (mei guo) is sung by the characters even though they're supposed to be Gold Rush-era Cantonese immigrants. This reminds me of the Fruit Chan movie Dumplings, set in Hong Kong, where Bai Ling's character speaks Mandarin and everybody else is speaking Cantonese. What's with the dissing of Cantonese?
But I digress. Making Tracks was worth seeing and hopefully there will be a national tour, as the producers want.
Posted by harry at 3:36 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
The SF Chronicle magazine ran a lengthy cover story yesterday on Iris Chang and her struggle with bi-polar disorder. "Historian Iris Chang won many battles. The war she lost raged within."
Posted by melissa at 10:00 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
I probably shouldn't let this shit bother me, but almost every week it seems the New York Times, or some denomination thereof, pubishes something to piss me off--on the Asian front--thereby yanking me back from the brave new world of post-Asianness I am trying to swim to.
Continue reading "Japanese Girls Sexualized! Again!"
Posted by claire at 6:21 PM | Comments (32) | TrackBack (1)
It's crazy.
Though I am far from being a native in this city, I still notice the gradual decay of culture. I've bore witness to it as I've been a "hella" nor cal-er since day one. And I wonder, why does such a thing irk me so? Is it the "back in the day" nostalgia that's starting to creep in? The cliched fuzzy haze of old age memory...I don't know. I wonder, like Del Shannon, as I wander about the Richmond and my ever so hallowed Clement Street, echoes and shadows of what it once was are becoming more the norm rather than the rarity. All that's left are vestiges...I wonder, as I wander about the Sunset, and notice that the sounds of Cantonese being uttered are slowly being drowned out by valley girl english desperately trying to veil itself as hip. Trying hard, but trying to look like they're not trying too hard.
"Absorbing attention is a must. You don't want to be overlooked. Yeah, but you don't want to be looked over too much."
I've long since given up hope for the salvation of the Mission. Though the prospect of urban renewal from within is appealing, I doubt it will ever happen. I won't even begin to discuss what the 3rd Street light rail extension is already doing to the China Basin/Dogpatch/HP area. This city is on the way to becoming an oversized gated community.
On a Saturday evening, early spring, I take a stroll on Irving and I notice the sad homogeneity of the bulk of the populace. I try to write it off and place the blame on the fact my MUNI stop is precariously close to one of the culture killers; Starbucks. That's probably the case. But from time to time I see folks who actually look like they belong here; folks who look like they're from here. This city. Not the ubiquitous plastic UCSF students who seem to uncontrollably ooze out of every orifice this side of the city has to offer up. I suppose Irving west of 19th Ave is still legit. It still serves as a refuge since the fragrance alone seems to repel a lot of the would be gentrifiers. A melange of decaying matter both plant and animal that oddly comforts me. Yet is so alien and foreign, so exotic, that outsiders never allow themselves to become insiders.
Still I sit upon my stoop with a coke and a bag of chips to watch the great Coronet Theatre fall for the sake of another parking lot or a multi-plex. Long gone is the Alexandria. And the Four Star is in peril.
What saddens me is that so many people seem to be utterly content with what is happening. Either they ignore it, or welcome it. I suppose there's not too much of a difference. The sources of the rich cultural fabric that make this city so strong, so vibrant, and so appealing, turn a blind eye to every mom and pop that falls. Whenever a lease is lost, and quickly gobbled up by a conglomerate which can afford to dump product onto the market. In their rush to continue their upward mobility, the sources of diversity don't care to see what's happening...
What's got me gurpin so? Perhaps I'm part of the very problem I loathe so much. Maybe that's what is really irking me.
"From the inside up, and the upside down, who qualifies to try to judge me now?"
Posted by claire at 8:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Link time! Here's a couple stories in the news:
Continue reading "Republican Clashing with Bush over Internment Memorial"
Posted by melissa at 1:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Fiction writer Lan Samantha Chang, whom we talked to in issue 4, has been named the new director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, the most pretigious creative writing program in the country. Awesome. Not only is she the first Asian American, but she's also the first woman to lead the workshop in its 70-year history. Associated Press story here.
Continue reading "Lan Samantha Chang to Lead Iowa Writers' Workshop"
Posted by melissa at 12:06 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Is anyone else tired of Gwen Stefani parading around with an entourage of Japanese girls?
Ah, appropriating other cultures, so cool and fun.
Posted by melissa at 11:45 AM | Comments (99) | TrackBack (1)
Sorry about all the action alerts (especially when it's not on my blog day) but there's a spate of scary legislation being voted on right now. I just received an action alert about the bankruptcy bill currently before congress. It's being voted on tomorrow (Wednesday) so call your representative tonight and leave a message. Below I've pasted what moveon.org says to do, and below that I've pasted a NYTimes article on the bill.
Continue reading "Save the American Middle Class!"
Posted by claire at 5:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Here's the story as I see it: Japan had a real imperialistic streak going and decided to conquer China. It invaded and did brutally nasty things to the population --well chronicled by Iris Chang in The Rape of Nanking. Japan lost but now, 50 years later, has become the world's second largest economy. It's trying to erase the ugliness of it's history by eliminating that chapter (literally) from its history books. It wants to be recognized as a world leader by its inclusion in the UN Security Council.
Continue reading "China vs. Japan: What's An Apology, Anyway?"
Posted by jennifer at 1:44 PM | Comments (42) | TrackBack (0)
I've been watching Grey's Anatomy, a new hospital drama about surgical interns. Sandra Oh has a prominent role as Cristina Yang, an uber-competitve tough cookie who looks out for herself and doesn't seem to have much interest in the human aspects of being a doctor -- she's in it for the amazing science of it. Nothing seems to make her more excited than the thought of scrubbing in and cutting some people up.
Continue reading "Another Asian American Doctor"
Posted by melissa at 11:15 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Oh joy, more on immigration! This time, of the documented sort--documented, that is, until you go to the DMV and try to get a driver's license.
Continue reading "Oh State Department, My State Department"
Posted by claire at 2:34 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
A white male Princeton grad student has confessed to cutting locks of hair from nine Asian American female students without their knowledge, as well as pouring his urine and semen into the drinks of Asian female students on more than 50 occassions. Real smooth.
Posted by Lisa at 10:37 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack (1)
Memoirs of a Geisha, the film, wrapped shooting at the end of January. I know we should stop bitching and moaning about mainstream media --because it just gets old. But dammit, the COMPLETE LACK OF PROGRESS also gets old.
Maybe I'm the last one to hear (since i tire of mainstream Hollywood I ignore it as much as possible) but the all-star cast of Memoirs includes, get this, Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li, and Zhang Ziyi.
Continue reading "Geisha girls! Same-same but Different!"
Posted by jennifer at 11:38 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Once again, our fabulous Art Director has pulled an all-nighter to get an issue of Hyphen to the printers. For the last week, I've been working the equivalent of two full times jobs. After my real job (you know, the one that pays), I head over to Stef's house and the two of us stay up all night making all sorts of adjustments and changes, trying to get everything just right. Sometimes we were joined by one of our designers, Andy.
This is going to be the best looking issue yet. Full color inside and out. Big, beautiful photographs. Matte paper. We've got some good stories too -- a look at Korean adoptees returning to Korea, interviews with M.I.A and IQU, and a first person account by David Miyasato, who sued the Army for trying to get him to serve in Iraq via a backdoor draft. We're very excited!
Continue reading "At the Printers!"
Posted by melissa at 4:24 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Love it! Hard on the heels of the United States' supremely condescending and hypocritical "report card" on other countries' human rights records (Country Reports on Human Rights Practices) comes China's annoyed and reactive response: Human Rights Record of the US in 2004.
Posted by claire at 1:47 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Categories
Recent Entries
Archives
Resources
