Youth Culture and Creativity PDF

Preview

Summary

Lecture...

Description

Youth Culture and Creativity What can you do with. Background in AAS/Ethnic Studies? A: Anything you want

Examples of Youth Culture and Creativity Arts as an antidote (though not THE definitive antidote) to social inequalities Cyberspace Media and Pop Culture Yahoo - Search engine/email server (est 1995), co-founded Jerry Yang YouTube - co-founded by Steve Chan and Javed Karim in 2006 BlackLava - Apparel and accessories (est 1992) founded by Ryan Suda MANAA (old website, expired) - Media Action Network for Asian Americans (est 1992 as newsletter before going online), founded by Guy Aoki AngryAsianMan - News, Media and Culture blog (est 2001) founded by Phil Yu Estarla - Food/Lifestyle blog (est. circa 2004) by Esther Tseng Asian Pacific Cultural Body Art DreamJungleTattoo - Tattoo Parlor in Long Beach InkFiendArt - Tattoo Parlor in Alhambra Fashion and Merchandising (1980s to 2010s) In addition to Asian/API brands like Uniqlo, BAPE, Nigo’s, Neek Lurk’s, ASSC Mainstream: Forever 21 - Do Won & Jin Sook Chang est 1984 Southpole - est 1991 Community-Founded: Crooks & Castles - Urban Apparel (est 2002) Beatrock Music - est 2008 Collective Lifestyle - est 2014 by CJ Berina (CSUN AAS alum) The Elements of Hip-Hop culture: 1 DJing 2 Rapping 3 Breakdancing 4 Graffiti Art

5 Knowledge (Culture & lifestyle, according to Afrika Bambaata) In the early 70s: DJ Kool Here organizes the first hip-hop parties in the Bronx, New York. Soon later, former gang member in the BX formed “crews” as an alternative to gang violence and neighborhood crime. *Afrika Bambaata’s Universal Zulu Nation sets the tone with the motto: “Peace, Love, Unity and Having Fun” Bambu “Old Man Raps” (Beatrock Music, 2010) Joe Bataan, godfather of salsoul (soul vocal latin rhythms) First API hip-hop artist with “Rap-O Clap-O” Spoken Word Poetry Beau Sia, “Asian Invasion” (HBO Def Poetry, 2007) Ruby Ibarra, “Beyoutiful” 2012 Patrice Mead (class of ’16) at the Katipunan Poetry Slam, 2014 Creative Writing Fiction, Non fiction (essays, memoirs, journal, commentaries) and poetry Yumi Sakugawa Kundiman Asian American Writers Workshop

#aas100

The Nature of Social Inequalities Part 1 - Race, Class and Identity “Intersectionality” (Prof Kimberle Crenshaw, JD, presented in 1989) Who is privileged (or opressed/marginalized), in a given social circle? Who has more, ore “better”, social access and mobility? Layers of identity to consider. How do these factors intersect? Where do you “fit”? Rich / Poor Male / Female “Heterosexual”/ LGBQIA Cisgender / Uransgender Racial or ethnic “majority” / Racial or ethnic “minority” Religious “majority” / Religious “minority” Citizens / Non-citizens “Native-born” / “Foreign-born” “Educated” / “Uneducated” English-fluent / “ESL” Able-bodied / “Disabled” “Attractive” (per cultural aesthetics) / “Unattractive”

Race is, or may be 1 Cultural Socially constructed, not “scientific” [See Kenyon Chan and Shirley Hune] Race is an idea, not a scientific reality Kind of like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny! Racial ideas are different, unique in every culture Examples: “Whiteness” in America may not be the same in another country, “Colorism” (preference for lighter complexions) in Asian cultures. 2 Dynamic Its cultural meaning changes throughout history “A quasi-scientific method of classifying people, loosing based on biology and phenotype” - Curtiss Takada Rooks Quasi-science of the 1800s: “3 Races of Man”

Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid Examples of “yellow peril” racism during the 1940s: “How to Tell Your Friends from the Japs” (Life Magazine) “Wipe that Sneer off his Face” (Dr Seuss) 3 Political See Chan & Hune, Omi & Winant Example: Asian Americans are defined by common social and historical experiences Irish Americans of the 1800s were not considered “white” Bhagat Singh Thind case: leads to redefinition of “white” identity 1933 Salvador Roldan vs LA County challenge race and anti-miscegenation laws 4 Personal See Teresa Williams “The personal is political” (Carol Hanisch, feminist scholar) Biracial/Multiracial identity Eg. Tiger Woods, a “Calinasian” Note: there are no “pure races” Races have been “mixed” all throughout history 5 Melancholic See Anne Cheng: What does she say about race? Melancholia is a form of clinical depression 6 Distinct From (Different Than) Ethnicity or Natinoality Racism isn’t the same as prejudice (ignorant prejudgements) Racism means the power to oppress: Ethnicity - culture, behavior patterns Nationality - pertains to citizenship and country of residency (ie most of us are Americans) 7 Based upon Class Privilege Issues of power and status quo Racism is an evil structural power, not just a matter of personal prejudices Example: The ”Three Fifths Compromise” of 1787 An individual slave in Southern American states was counted as “three-fifths” of a person in the national census. That is, if you were enslaved you were legally considered 3/5 human -

thus, you were “owned” property (and not represented in government) A person without personal racial prejudices can still enable, support, or enforce (knowingly or unknowingly) racist policies. Racism is about power, not just personal views For midterm 2, clearly identify and describe these individuals: 1. Vincent Chin (Died in Detroit, MI 1982) 2. Joseph Ileto (Died in Granada Hills, CA 1999) #aas100

The Nature of Social Inequalities Asian Americans are the Model Minority

“Pro”: The Facts [Time, Newsweek] 1 Japanese American success after World War II William Petersen, “Success, Japanese American Style" The New York Times, 1966 2 Southeast Asian immigrant success during/after 1970s 3 API Families tend to have: Low government aid rates (see SNAP stats) High education and per-family income (see Pew Research Ctr. Stats)

The “Explanations” [Time, Dr Timothy Fong] 1 Nature/Genetics 2 Culture & Upbringing 3 “Relative Functionalism” (INTERSECTIONS of culture, class, I&S history, etc.)

Considerations 1 What is “success”? 2 Why are APIs “good at math & science”? Limited English Proficiency 3 Are API parents “hard” on their kids? Stress from immigrant parents; stress levels 4 What kinds of careers are open to, and “realistic” for, APIs? Limited Economic Mobility 5 What are API families like, and where do they live? API “family” dynamics and urban residency niche (higher living costs) 6 Who are “Asian Americans”? Some individual communities don’t fit the “MM” mold Compare Chinese American Monterey Park vs Cambodia Town Long Beach Note articles by Kang, Dunn, Brooks and Walsh Note Pacific Islanders in pro-sports

Problem with the MMM [Stacey J. Lee, Time, Hu, Hernandez,

Samhita’s “Five Ways…”] 1 Some communities FAR from successful (consider stats re: Cambodians, Hmong, PIs) 2 Overlooks discrimination “glass ceilings”, against APIs 3 Since “the Asians made it”, the MMM justifies racism against other people of color

The Fact of Life “Hard Work and Sacrifice” = Success 1 …based on stereotypes and/or the expectations of OTHERS? 2 …based on what makes sense to your own hopes, dreams and goals?

#aas100

The Nature of Social Inequalities Part 2 - Gender, Sexuality and Identity Who is PRIVILEGED (or oppressed/marginalized), in a given social circle? Who has more, or”better”, social access and mobility? Rich/Poor Male/FEmale “Heterosexual”/LGBQIA Sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and culturally “normalized” toxic masculinity - like racism and classist elitism - is about the POWER to oppress

Gender and Gender Roles Ideas of masculine/feminine behavior patterns in daily culture 1 Socially and culturally constructed, like race 2 Dynamic (PHOTO: “Good Housekeeping: Good Wife’s Guide”, 1955) 3 Political 4 Personal

API Women in American History 1800s - late 20th century [see Kim, Otani, Mazumdar] Sex Workers Picture Brides (Prevalent among Japanese and Korean Americans) War Brides Homemakers, Financial and Cultural Foundations for API Families

Present Day Roles and Issues Relatives of US Citizens, catalysts of “chain migration” (better known by some as “family reunification”) Majority (65-70%) of modern API women are part of the American workforce Professionals Human Trafficking Survivors [see Leilani Albano’s “Slavery in Los Angeles”] API Women, ages 15-24, have highest suicide rates in the US As researched and documented by Prof. Eliza Now, CSU Fullerton

See Renee Tajima: “Oriental” sexual exoticizing of Asian women 1 Lotus Blossom 2 Dragon Lady “Asian and Asian American Women’s Media Stereotypes”, Prof. Norma Jones

According to Prof. Elizah Now API Women in the US, ages 15 to 24 bear the highest suicide rates - marginalization (abused overtly and/or microaggressively) on account of gender, race and class “expectations” and pressures upon API women

Factors that may contribute to Sexuality and Sexual Orientation 1 Biochemical (Not limited to factors assigned sex) 2 Psychological* 3 Emotional 4 Cultural Race, Ethnicity and Nationality are not “one and the same”, neither are Sex, Gender and Sexual Orientation Thus, LGBTQI is a political umbrella terms for diverse, individual sexual orientation and gender identities Consider INTERSECTIONS of racism with sexism, homophobia, transphobia and CISGENDER privilege In course reader, see essay by Richard Fung: Who is the character “Sum Yung Mahn”? (Note Intersections of gay cisgender identities and race) *Note HuffPost and Josh Saul “Week 7” Article Regarding transphobia and violence against individuals whose gender

identity

differs from their assigned sex Maganda siya - that person looks beautiful (no gender) Two forms of harassment in the workplace (per racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia and transphobia): 1 “Quid pro quo” - power institution, exchanging inappropriate “services” or “favors” 2 “Hostile Environment” - inappropriate comments, physical contact, or physical actions.

Asian Americans in Popular Media Media, plural of “medium”: a vehicle of broad, widespread communication of information, images and identities. Oral Tradition (ie. Storytelling, songs) is the oldest medium Realms of Media: Print Film (motion picture arts) Broadcast (ie. TV, radio and music production) Cyberspace

Media Issues In AAS 1 How are APIs (mis)represented? 2 How fo API artists represent themselves? direct reaction to stereotypes “the personal is political” (Carol Hanisch, 1969) The Six Faces of the “Oriental” (Prof. Robert G. Lee, historian from UCB) 1 The Pollutant - 1850s (stereotype of the foreigner…) 2 The Coolie - 1870s - 80s (…the laborer) 3 The Deviant - 1870s - on (…the immoral sex object) 4 The Yellow Peril - early 1900s (…the military threat) 5 The Model Minority - 1950s - 70s (…oh, you know….) 6 The Gook - 1970s (…the gangster) Print Entertainment propaganda and racializing others Eg Detective comics Film “Yellowface” (Cultural kin of “Blackface”) Non-asian actors portraying Asian stereotypes (with makeup) eg. “Charlie Chan”, portrayed by Warner Oland eg. “Mr Yunioshi”, portrayed by Mickey Rooney in 1961 General Historic Stereotypes

Women: “Lotus Blossom” or “ Dragon Lady” Men: “Villian”, “Nerd/Pervert” or…martial artist Oscar Winning Firsts Anna May Wong: first API movie star Sessue Hayakawa: first API male lead Miyoshi Umeki: 1st Oscar-winning actress (supporting, Japanese American) Dr. Haing Ngor: 1st Oscar-winning actor (supporting, Khmer American) Ang Lee: 1st (2 time) Oscar-winning director special shoutout Tyrus Wong: animator, designer of Disney’s Bambi The paradox of Bruce Lee 1 He broke stereotypes of Asian men, and was a real Asian hero (+) 2 After his death, the “chop socky” stereotype emerged (-) While “Yellowface” involved makeup and overt stereotyping “Whitewashing” refers to non-Asians (no makeup) cast as what should be Asian characters, e.g Emma Stone as “Allison Ng” in Aloha (2015) Mackenzie Davis as “Mindy Park” in The Martian (2015) Television 1 First API on TV Anna May Wong, The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong (10 episodes on 1951) 2 “New adventures of Charlie Chan”, featuring J. Carrol Naish, first fictional API “hero” on television Commercial ads (which pay for airtime - this is why TV shows are “free”): “Jello-O Baby” 1958 Groundbreaking Network TV shows with primarily API cast members “Mr T and Tina” (1976), starring Pat Morita “All American Girl”, starring Margaret Cho (1994) Fresh Off the Boat (2015) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend feat. Vincent Rodriguez as a romantic lead (2015) Masters of None with Aziz Ansari & Lena Waithe (2015)

Cyberspace Notable API internet pioneers Jerry Yang, co-founder/CEO of Yahoo Steve Chen, Jawed Karim, co-founders of Youtube Ryan Suda (Merchandise) Phil Yu (news and culture blog) #aas100...