I have to admit, most of my Asian American heroes belong to the TV and movies. For instance, I really admire Bruce Lee because he put Asian martial arts movies in mainstream media in America. He popularized Asian American as ass-kickers who dominate, and are not weaklings. Also, I really admire Betty Nguyen, a news anchor for CNN, as an Asian American female, I think that she is great for representation and can be seen by many people across America
My Asian American heroes are Michelle Kwan and Lucy Liu. They broke through cultural barriers and paved the way for Asian American success & respect in their respective careers :)
One of my Asian American heroes, although his identity can be disputed, is Synghman Rhee. One of the earliest Korean-Americans, he was a revolutionary that helped found the modern government in Korea when he returned there. However, his time at the US was extensive, and he was completely integrated and American. He attended Princeton, spoke English fluently, was involved in Congressional hearings, and stood up for American values such as justice and liberty while fighting for Korea's independence. He was also one of the first Asians who adopted the Western practice of putting his family name after his first name (Synghman Rhee, not Rhee Synghman).
My asian american heroes and role models are first and foremost my parents and first generation family/relatives. To me, they are the people who had to define head on what it means to be Asian in America because that's literally what they are. Today, its hard to look to the media and say they are role models for our community because many times, the mainstream depictions of our people are skewed or stereotyped that many people in our generation and younger have a hard time finding/defining their personal and cultural identities. Shout out to Wong Fu productions for trying to show everyone Asians are normal people to and not the people who hollywood and corporate power want us to be.
He published a book with only people's pictures and their answers to the question "What are you?", a question that was up to the interpretation of each person. There were people of all ages. It was really cool to see that different people took the question so differently, and some answered with their nationality and ancestry, while others had answers like "I am a person on planet Earth." Some people even just drew pictures instead of writing.
He came to our school and gave a speech, and it was super inspiring because he was hilarious and he made the Asian-American identity struggle, especially the hapa identity struggle, accessible to everyone at my school.
My role model is Bruce Lee, a fearless warrior that has created his own unique ideas on life and Asian culture. He traveled across various different countries in South East Asia and learned martial arts from each place he visited. After learning many of them, he used bits and pieces of each style in order to form the best type of martial arts that suited him. What I really wanted to get out of this post is that everyone can learn from other people's cultures. To be too hidebound in view is a hindrance not only to you, but to the Asian community as a whole. It's imperative to know that we should be open to different perspectives, take into account what other people have experienced, and form something substantial of your own from what you learn.
Growing up, Michelle Kwan was one of my ABC models. I grew up in an area with very few Asian-Americans, so I was super excited that she was like me, ABC, and she was out there doing amazing things with the whole world watching.
Hmm, this is actually harder than I thought. After much conversation here are some..:
Ryan Higa - #1 most viewed Youtube star Mulan - first Asian Disney Princess (sort of) Rain - K-pop singer and actor in Speed Racer and Ninja Assasin Kim Yuna - the figure skater
My Asian American hero is the singer/songwriter/whatever-he-is-now, Wang Leehom. Huh, you say? This really only applies to people who listen to Chinese music.. but ok.
For those who don't actually know Leehom, he is an Asian American who is now one of the most respected singers, actors....etc etc in Asia. His music not only brings forth the mainstream American styles but also incorporates more acceptable Asian styles.
He's my "hero" because, in truth, he is the inspiration that took me from New Zealand to America. Yes, he is why I decided to leave all the awesomeness of the Pacific Down Under and come to America. The fact that this Asian American can have such a big influence on the Asian music industry, the fact that he has taken all that America has taught him and used it to conquer the Asian music scene is definitely an admirable quality.
The idea that one Asian American can achieve such success is something amazing in my mind.
While I'm not sure I agree with how she dealt with other people in the DC district and how exactly she put her reforms into action, Michelle Rhee really stands out to me as a strong leader who is not focused on just an Asian American goal, but one that affects all Americans. We really needed someone to at least come in, shake things up a bit and bring attention to the failures of urban education.
Another one of my Asian American heroes is author Adeline Yen Mah. You can see through her autobiographical books "Chinese Cinderella" and "Falling Leaves" that she really struggled through the different traditions of being Asian and American and found strength through it.
CASI is helpful for us to see the four big aspects of a certain social issue: context, power, resources, and history. We need all these four to get a deeper understanding of the social issue, and also shows how/what to do to do something about this issue.
A compelling issue we discussed today is stereotypes. Stereotypes are big barriers for Asian Americans to go forward in American society. Stereotypes are usually negative, and used as put downers, which can hinder us to achieve..
My internet wasn't working during CIRCLE! I definitely admire the journalist Lisa Ling because of her bravery which you can see simply from everywhere she has dared to go for her job. I also really admire Eric Liu, the author of The Accidental Asian--his book definitely opened up the world of Asian American literature to me--as well as Hawaii-based authors Lois-Ann Yamanaka and Kaui Hart Hemmings.
I have many heroes but for now I'll talk about one
One of my heroes is Kero One, a Korean American who is a self taught MC, and Producer who makes Hip Hop infused with some Jazz and meaningful lyrics. He had humble beginnings making his own tracks and caught a lucky break when he made demos that made it to Japan. He's big there now, and has done some projects with Korean Hip Hop group Epik High. His following is still growing in the US, but with time, he will get his due recognition.
This is him in his creative process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPyrqtWZo3w
And this is his current song:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlEbIrmE8uY&feature=related
If I'm not at IRC, I'll be at PRB, but feel free to call/text me. I have unlimited! :)
(626)500-7113 I look forward to getting to know you guys better!
@kevin: When you mentioned Wang Lee Hom during session, I freaked out a little bit inside (okay well outside 'cause I suck at hiding my emotions). I LOVE HIM! WO FEI CHANG AI TA. His new album was seriously disappointing. I preordered it in Taiwan with the special limited edition key, but they never gave it to me! I'm waiting for him to go on tour in the States. It'll probably be either Christmas or Chinese New Year. Last time, it was in Vegas, and I was screaming/singing the entire concert. We can fangirl later.. hahah
I thought this was hilarious in light of our discussion about how Koreans might appear to be well off because they dress so nice, but their median income says otherwise:
Today we went to visit SEACA (Southeast Asian Community Alliance) and got to see their office and hear about what they do. I am genuinely inspired by the measures the SEACA staff has taken to empower and educate the local youth and for their work on addressing the gentrification of the area. This topic of gentrification particularly resonates with me because I really began to notice it this past summer when I would go to Chinatown Summer Nights, a festival that features food trucks, dancing, vendors, and elements of Chinese culture, whether through cooking or film. What struck me was how most of the crowd were Caucasians in their 20s or "hipsters" as some might call them. While I was glad that Chinatown was developing a nightlife, I also realized it was because of the new art studios, clothing boutiques, and cafes which are slowly taking over the area. I'm not sure how I feel about this- I'm down for new businesses, as long as they consider the socioeconomic status of the local residents. I guess time will tell how Chinatown will shape up, though I have a feeling that a new crowd will eventually take over. But before I get too carried away with this, I have to say that tonight's event was awesome. The pho was amazing, my sillybands make me feel that much cooler, and it was fun chatting with my fellow Circlers. Thanks Circle! Now let's win us a pizza partyyy!
Our CIRCLE visit to Chinatown and SEACA was an eye-opening experience for me. Chinatown has always been one of those districts of LA I've always frequented, just to grab good Chinese food and stroll along the streets. Hearing from the organizers in SEACA made me realize that this community I've always taken for granted was facing serious problems that much of LA is facing as well. You hear about these kind of inner-city problems often, but this is one of the few times I've seen the problems up close. Also, our discussion on the problems of education that this community faces was of particular concern to me since I once attended public schools in the same area and have friends who do still attend these schools. I also gained a new respect for SEACA and all the other non-profit organizations that tackle such huge problems that no one else is willing to face with such little resources.
The pho was delicious and a nice change from parkside and evk, and getting to know my fellow circlers was also fun.
@Nicole: Yeah! what the hell is his new album on about? I guess that one song about the vinegar, rice, oil.. (oh god, it's just so awkward translating Chinese proverbial stuff to english) was all right. I don't know, I only recently got the album so I'm trying to drown myself in it... hoping to be so accustomed to it that I'll like it. it's not working too well. And yes, we can "fangirl" later..... um. yeah.
SEACA: I actually really enjoyed our trip to SEACA. I've only been to Chinatown once and that was just to Dim Sum (I don't know why it's called Dim Sum here, I call it Yum Cha) so I didn't know or get any exposure to the realities of Chinatown living. It was quite an eye-opening experience, regardless.
I didn't know that Chinatown was such a dynamic area. The thought of "Chinatown" having residents who are /not/ from China... just never occurred to me. I praise SEACA for its initiative and the movement its trying to push forward. It's important to raise awareness about social issues that occur around us - because without advocacy, we won't have a chance at getting results. I really like the idea that they're targetting primarily high school students - the earlier the exposure, the more time it will allow them to digest and contemplate about the issues and their complexity. Arming these high schoolers with awareness of these social issues will enable them to find solutions in the future.
Perhaps the only comment I would make would be that SEACA is only an advocacy committee. With limited budgets and perhaps limited resources (networking with powerful individuals, politicians, corporations...), there's really no way for SEACA to pursue activisim and create any "tangible" change. Ultimately, tangible solutions are the ones that will create a difference. However, advocacy is always important.
Thanks CIRCLE for taking me to Pho. I haven't had it in ...like a few years (Yes, that's depressing, I know). I have refound my love for soupy noodley stuff :)
@Kevin I'm really glad you enjoy the SEACA site visit, but I also feel that no act or thought is too small when it comes to social movements because it often takes a series of little small things to create that big change.
In addition to focusing our lense at what these high schoolers are doing to address gentrification in their hood with their direct advocacy with city officials (the power aspect of CASI), we should also look at what SEACA has done tangibly for these high school students: they gave them the tools, the space, agency, politicization and identity awareness to feel empowered to act. It's 40-50 students who wouldn't have been active in their community if not for SEACA....40-50 students who wouldn't desire an education to help their community instead of being apart of the 70-80% high school drop out rate. What SEACA is doing with these students is activism and a tangible change especially when it comes to their lives.
Going on a site visit to SEACA was really cool. The work that they do with high school students is amazing, and the way they empower students is a really great way to encourage students in school and in other aspects of life. But I'm not sure about the long-term implications of their goals concerning gentrification. I totally agree that raising rent because of development is awful. It's hard to balance gentrification with development in a community. If other areas in LA get developed, how would that impact the rents in the Chinatown area? Also, is the rising of rents an unfortunately natural outcome because of the huge population rise in America?
I briefly mentioned about Bamboo Nation (http://bamboonation.blogspot.com/) a few sessions ago. So I thought I would formally talk about it here ....as a comment on the Monday blog.
Bamboo Nation is a blog run by USC faculty, Prince Gomolvilas (he teaches in the Master of Professional Writing Program). I'm not sure how relevant it is to CIRCLE's "CRITICAL" issues part, but he does address things such as racial issues - just with a touch of humour and style. Check it out!
...We're like 10 posts behind Wednesday. WHAT IS THIS?
The Circle session today was really enlightening. I enjoyed the speakers and the gender card activity because it was a creative way to determine the social stereotypes of what is feminine and masculine. I realize I definitely have my own preconceived notions of what is feminine and masculine which I need to reevaluate. I also appreciated everyone's honesty in sharing their thoughts and personal experiences- it's interesting to think that some of the stuff we share in that room are things are long-time friends and even family members may not be aware of. As for the battle between Justin Bieber and David Beckham: http://lesbianswholooklikejustinbieber.tumblr.com/
I was so sad I missed CIRCLE this week! but I went to the Voice for the Voiceless benefit concert for North Koreans and it was very touching. I got to attend a documentary showing at the Film school a few weeks ago about Kim Jong Il and the second holocaust going on in North Korean. Even though I'm Korean, I've actually never heard much about this! I was so shocked.. Coming to college really opened my eyes to all the atrocities still going on in these modern times!
Clara C was amazing. I've never heard of her or any other Asian American artists before.. Hopefully this is the start into getting Asians into the media. =]
Hey guys! I found this New York times piece really interesting in its commentary about age, ethnicity, and the author's specific experience being Korean American: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/going-korean/?hp
Hey Folks, an acquaintance of mine wrote this response piece to an article or blog that deemed Canadian Colleges too Asian. They are relevant arguments to us as being California college students.
It's crazy how much the values of a culture can affect students. Because education is such a huge part of Asian culture, many students are expected to graduate from college, and many parents are expected to pay for their kids' education. I was talking to my friend the other day (she's Latina), and she pays for all of her expenses besides her tuition. She wishes that she could pay for her tuition as well, because her mom likes to tell her "I could bring you back any time I want." My parents have never made any kind of threat like that, I think because education isn't an option in their minds--it's the only path to take.
Last Circle session...boo :( But at least we'll have retreat! Mm, last question of the day: Is USC diverse? Not as much as it could be. My friend commented that it seemed a lot of the African American students were athletes. I don't agree with that, but I must admit, many who I see on an average day are wearing athletic gear. Don't blame them- polyester is COMFY. But I think we've progressed. We'll see if this continues.
hey guys!
ReplyDeletewhat happened to all of our posts? :'(
looookie here. just thought this was an interested article.
http://marginallyinsane.com/2010/10/13/the-new-asian-girl-movie-stereotype-crazyass-bitch-marginal-movies/
tbh, i'm sure people have called me a crazy a-- b-tch, but they just have to remember that i'm not crazy, just fierce.
see you guys in 28 minutes! :)
I have to admit, most of my Asian American heroes belong to the TV and movies. For instance, I really admire Bruce Lee because he put Asian martial arts movies in mainstream media in America. He popularized Asian American as ass-kickers who dominate, and are not weaklings. Also, I really admire Betty Nguyen, a news anchor for CNN, as an Asian American female, I think that she is great for representation and can be seen by many people across America
ReplyDeleteLaura Ling and Charice!
ReplyDeleteAnyone who can emerge triumphant from being detained and who can sing a Whitney Houston song is a hero in my book :)
My Asian American heroes are Michelle Kwan and Lucy Liu. They broke through cultural barriers and paved the way for Asian American success & respect in their respective careers :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my Asian American heroes, although his identity can be disputed, is Synghman Rhee. One of the earliest Korean-Americans, he was a revolutionary that helped found the modern government in Korea when he returned there. However, his time at the US was extensive, and he was completely integrated and American. He attended Princeton, spoke English fluently, was involved in Congressional hearings, and stood up for American values such as justice and liberty while fighting for Korea's independence. He was also one of the first Asians who adopted the Western practice of putting his family name after his first name (Synghman Rhee, not Rhee Synghman).
ReplyDeleteMy asian american heroes and role models are first and foremost my parents and first generation family/relatives. To me, they are the people who had to define head on what it means to be Asian in America because that's literally what they are. Today, its hard to look to the media and say they are role models for our community because many times, the mainstream depictions of our people are skewed or stereotyped that many people in our generation and younger have a hard time finding/defining their personal and cultural identities. Shout out to Wong Fu productions for trying to show everyone Asians are normal people to and not the people who hollywood and corporate power want us to be.
ReplyDeleteMy Asian-American hero is Kip Fulbeck!
ReplyDeleteHe published a book with only people's pictures and their answers to the question "What are you?", a question that was up to the interpretation of each person. There were people of all ages. It was really cool to see that different people took the question so differently, and some answered with their nationality and ancestry, while others had answers like "I am a person on planet Earth." Some people even just drew pictures instead of writing.
He came to our school and gave a speech, and it was super inspiring because he was hilarious and he made the Asian-American identity struggle, especially the hapa identity struggle, accessible to everyone at my school.
-Mindy
My role model is Bruce Lee, a fearless warrior that has created his own unique ideas on life and Asian culture. He traveled across various different countries in South East Asia and learned martial arts from each place he visited. After learning many of them, he used bits and pieces of each style in order to form the best type of martial arts that suited him. What I really wanted to get out of this post is that everyone can learn from other people's cultures. To be too hidebound in view is a hindrance not only to you, but to the Asian community as a whole. It's imperative to know that we should be open to different perspectives, take into account what other people have experienced, and form something substantial of your own from what you learn.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, Michelle Kwan was one of my ABC models. I grew up in an area with very few Asian-Americans, so I was super excited that she was like me, ABC, and she was out there doing amazing things with the whole world watching.
ReplyDeleteAsian American Heros and Role Models:
ReplyDeleteHmm, this is actually harder than I thought. After much conversation here are some..:
Ryan Higa - #1 most viewed Youtube star
Mulan - first Asian Disney Princess (sort of)
Rain - K-pop singer and actor in Speed Racer and Ninja Assasin
Kim Yuna - the figure skater
That's it for now. :]
My Asian American hero is the singer/songwriter/whatever-he-is-now, Wang Leehom. Huh, you say? This really only applies to people who listen to Chinese music.. but ok.
ReplyDeleteFor those who don't actually know Leehom, he is an Asian American who is now one of the most respected singers, actors....etc etc in Asia. His music not only brings forth the mainstream American styles but also incorporates more acceptable Asian styles.
He's my "hero" because, in truth, he is the inspiration that took me from New Zealand to America. Yes, he is why I decided to leave all the awesomeness of the Pacific Down Under and come to America. The fact that this Asian American can have such a big influence on the Asian music industry, the fact that he has taken all that America has taught him and used it to conquer the Asian music scene is definitely an admirable quality.
The idea that one Asian American can achieve such success is something amazing in my mind.
While I'm not sure I agree with how she dealt with other people in the DC district and how exactly she put her reforms into action, Michelle Rhee really stands out to me as a strong leader who is not focused on just an Asian American goal, but one that affects all Americans. We really needed someone to at least come in, shake things up a bit and bring attention to the failures of urban education.
ReplyDeleteAnother one of my Asian American heroes is author Adeline Yen Mah. You can see through her autobiographical books "Chinese Cinderella" and "Falling Leaves" that she really struggled through the different traditions of being Asian and American and found strength through it.
ReplyDeleteJournal 10/18/10:
ReplyDeleteCASI is helpful for us to see the four big aspects of a certain social issue: context, power, resources, and history. We need all these four to get a deeper understanding of the social issue, and also shows how/what to do to do something about this issue.
A compelling issue we discussed today is stereotypes. Stereotypes are big barriers for Asian Americans to go forward in American society. Stereotypes are usually negative, and used as put downers, which can hinder us to achieve..
My internet wasn't working during CIRCLE!
ReplyDeleteI definitely admire the journalist Lisa Ling because of her bravery which you can see simply from everywhere she has dared to go for her job.
I also really admire Eric Liu, the author of The Accidental Asian--his book definitely opened up the world of Asian American literature to me--as well as Hawaii-based authors Lois-Ann Yamanaka and Kaui Hart Hemmings.
I have many heroes but for now I'll talk about one
ReplyDeleteOne of my heroes is Kero One, a Korean American who is a self taught MC, and Producer who makes Hip Hop infused with some Jazz and meaningful lyrics. He had humble beginnings making his own tracks and caught a lucky break when he made demos that made it to Japan. He's big there now, and has done some projects with Korean Hip Hop group Epik High. His following is still growing in the US, but with time, he will get his due recognition.
This is him in his creative process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPyrqtWZo3w
And this is his current song:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlEbIrmE8uY&feature=related
-albert
Hi CIRCLE Mondays!
ReplyDeleteJust posting my availability here.
Mondays: 12-5pm (Location: Parkside IRC)
Tuesdays: After 3:30pm
Wednesdays 1-6pm (Location: Parkside IRC)
Thursdays: 4-8pm (Location: Parkside IRC)
Fridays: 12-5pm, 7pm-12am
Saturdays&Sundays: TBA, just ask
If I'm not at IRC, I'll be at PRB, but feel free to call/text me. I have unlimited! :)
(626)500-7113 I look forward to getting to know you guys better!
@kevin: When you mentioned Wang Lee Hom during session, I freaked out a little bit inside (okay well outside 'cause I suck at hiding my emotions). I LOVE HIM! WO FEI CHANG AI TA. His new album was seriously disappointing. I preordered it in Taiwan with the special limited edition key, but they never gave it to me! I'm waiting for him to go on tour in the States. It'll probably be either Christmas or Chinese New Year. Last time, it was in Vegas, and I was screaming/singing the entire concert. We can fangirl later.. hahah
I thought this was hilarious in light of our discussion about how Koreans might appear to be well off because they dress so nice, but their median income says otherwise:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.yesstyle.com/en/home.html
Today we went to visit SEACA (Southeast Asian Community Alliance) and got to see their office and hear about what they do.
ReplyDeleteI am genuinely inspired by the measures the SEACA staff has taken to empower and educate the local youth and for their work on addressing the gentrification of the area.
This topic of gentrification particularly resonates with me because I really began to notice it this past summer when I would go to Chinatown Summer Nights, a festival that features food trucks, dancing, vendors, and elements of Chinese culture, whether through cooking or film. What struck me was how most of the crowd were Caucasians in their 20s or "hipsters" as some might call them. While I was glad that Chinatown was developing a nightlife, I also realized it was because of the new art studios, clothing boutiques, and cafes which are slowly taking over the area. I'm not sure how I feel about this- I'm down for new businesses, as long as they consider the socioeconomic status of the local residents. I guess time will tell how Chinatown will shape up, though I have a feeling that a new crowd will eventually take over.
But before I get too carried away with this, I have to say that tonight's event was awesome. The pho was amazing, my sillybands make me feel that much cooler, and it was fun chatting with my fellow Circlers.
Thanks Circle! Now let's win us a pizza partyyy!
Our CIRCLE visit to Chinatown and SEACA was an eye-opening experience for me. Chinatown has always been one of those districts of LA I've always frequented, just to grab good Chinese food and stroll along the streets. Hearing from the organizers in SEACA made me realize that this community I've always taken for granted was facing serious problems that much of LA is facing as well. You hear about these kind of inner-city problems often, but this is one of the few times I've seen the problems up close. Also, our discussion on the problems of education that this community faces was of particular concern to me since I once attended public schools in the same area and have friends who do still attend these schools. I also gained a new respect for SEACA and all the other non-profit organizations that tackle such huge problems that no one else is willing to face with such little resources.
ReplyDeleteThe pho was delicious and a nice change from parkside and evk, and getting to know my fellow circlers was also fun.
@Nicole: Yeah! what the hell is his new album on about? I guess that one song about the vinegar, rice, oil.. (oh god, it's just so awkward translating Chinese proverbial stuff to english) was all right. I don't know, I only recently got the album so I'm trying to drown myself in it... hoping to be so accustomed to it that I'll like it. it's not working too well. And yes, we can "fangirl" later..... um. yeah.
ReplyDeleteSEACA: I actually really enjoyed our trip to SEACA. I've only been to Chinatown once and that was just to Dim Sum (I don't know why it's called Dim Sum here, I call it Yum Cha) so I didn't know or get any exposure to the realities of Chinatown living. It was quite an eye-opening experience, regardless.
I didn't know that Chinatown was such a dynamic area. The thought of "Chinatown" having residents who are /not/ from China... just never occurred to me. I praise SEACA for its initiative and the movement its trying to push forward. It's important to raise awareness about social issues that occur around us - because without advocacy, we won't have a chance at getting results. I really like the idea that they're targetting primarily high school students - the earlier the exposure, the more time it will allow them to digest and contemplate about the issues and their complexity. Arming these high schoolers with awareness of these social issues will enable them to find solutions in the future.
Perhaps the only comment I would make would be that SEACA is only an advocacy committee. With limited budgets and perhaps limited resources (networking with powerful individuals, politicians, corporations...), there's really no way for SEACA to pursue activisim and create any "tangible" change. Ultimately, tangible solutions are the ones that will create a difference. However, advocacy is always important.
Thanks CIRCLE for taking me to Pho. I haven't had it in ...like a few years (Yes, that's depressing, I know). I have refound my love for soupy noodley stuff :)
@Kevin
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you enjoy the SEACA site visit, but I also feel that no act or thought is too small when it comes to social movements because it often takes a series of little small things to create that big change.
In addition to focusing our lense at what these high schoolers are doing to address gentrification in their hood with their direct advocacy with city officials (the power aspect of CASI), we should also look at what SEACA has done tangibly for these high school students: they gave them the tools, the space, agency, politicization and identity awareness to feel empowered to act. It's 40-50 students who wouldn't have been active in their community if not for SEACA....40-50 students who wouldn't desire an education to help their community instead of being apart of the 70-80% high school drop out rate. What SEACA is doing with these students is activism and a tangible change especially when it comes to their lives.
Interesting article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/education/07china-t.html?pagewanted=1&hp
ReplyDeleteIt truly makes me appreciate the liberties we have in this country, at least when it comes to education.
Going on a site visit to SEACA was really cool. The work that they do with high school students is amazing, and the way they empower students is a really great way to encourage students in school and in other aspects of life.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm not sure about the long-term implications of their goals concerning gentrification. I totally agree that raising rent because of development is awful. It's hard to balance gentrification with development in a community. If other areas in LA get developed, how would that impact the rents in the Chinatown area? Also, is the rising of rents an unfortunately natural outcome because of the huge population rise in America?
I briefly mentioned about Bamboo Nation (http://bamboonation.blogspot.com/) a few sessions ago. So I thought I would formally talk about it here ....as a comment on the Monday blog.
ReplyDeleteBamboo Nation is a blog run by USC faculty, Prince Gomolvilas (he teaches in the Master of Professional Writing Program). I'm not sure how relevant it is to CIRCLE's "CRITICAL" issues part, but he does address things such as racial issues - just with a touch of humour and style. Check it out!
...We're like 10 posts behind Wednesday. WHAT IS THIS?
The Circle session today was really enlightening. I enjoyed the speakers and the gender card activity because it was a creative way to determine the social stereotypes of what is feminine and masculine. I realize I definitely have my own preconceived notions of what is feminine and masculine which I need to reevaluate.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciated everyone's honesty in sharing their thoughts and personal experiences- it's interesting to think that some of the stuff we share in that room are things are long-time friends and even family members may not be aware of.
As for the battle between Justin Bieber and David Beckham: http://lesbianswholooklikejustinbieber.tumblr.com/
'NUFF SAID.
I was so sad I missed CIRCLE this week! but I went to the Voice for the Voiceless benefit concert for North Koreans and it was very touching. I got to attend a documentary showing at the Film school a few weeks ago about Kim Jong Il and the second holocaust going on in North Korean. Even though I'm Korean, I've actually never heard much about this! I was so shocked.. Coming to college really opened my eyes to all the atrocities still going on in these modern times!
ReplyDeleteClara C was amazing. I've never heard of her or any other Asian American artists before.. Hopefully this is the start into getting Asians into the media. =]
Hey guys! I found this New York times piece really interesting in its commentary about age, ethnicity, and the author's specific experience being Korean American: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/going-korean/?hp
ReplyDeleteHey Folks, an acquaintance of mine wrote this response piece to an article or blog that deemed Canadian Colleges too Asian. They are relevant arguments to us as being California college students.
ReplyDeletehttp://wspucla.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/is-calling-a-university-too-asian-racist/
It's crazy how much the values of a culture can affect students. Because education is such a huge part of Asian culture, many students are expected to graduate from college, and many parents are expected to pay for their kids' education. I was talking to my friend the other day (she's Latina), and she pays for all of her expenses besides her tuition. She wishes that she could pay for her tuition as well, because her mom likes to tell her "I could bring you back any time I want." My parents have never made any kind of threat like that, I think because education isn't an option in their minds--it's the only path to take.
ReplyDeleteLast Circle session...boo :(
ReplyDeleteBut at least we'll have retreat!
Mm, last question of the day: Is USC diverse?
Not as much as it could be. My friend commented that it seemed a lot of the African American students were athletes. I don't agree with that, but I must admit, many who I see on an average day are wearing athletic gear. Don't blame them- polyester is COMFY.
But I think we've progressed. We'll see if this continues.