I grew up with the notion that tattoos and piercings equated to "gangster" and "not lady-like." But is that really the case? During the Zhou Dynasty in China, tattoos were associated with barbarians, criminals, and bandits. Criminals would get the symbol "prisoner" on their faces as punishment. On the other hand, pre-colonized Filipino tribes used tattooing to show rank and … [Read more...] about Tattoo vs Taboo: A Question about Body Art
Till Death Do Us Part: Foreign Vietnamese Bride Killed in South Korea
Hoang Thi Nam, 23 was murdered by her Korean husband Lim Chae Won, 37. Last month, a South Korean man named Lim Chae Won stabbed his Vietnamese wife Hoang Thi Nam to death as their baby lay next to her. Last year, a mentally challenged Korean man murdered his Vietnamese wife after one week of marriage. That same year, a Vietnamese bride, unable to communicate to anyone … [Read more...] about Till Death Do Us Part: Foreign Vietnamese Bride Killed in South Korea
What Does it Mean to be a College Grad?
After May 14th, I will be a college graduate. By Fall, there will be no more acappella rehearsals, no more papers or exams, no more sleepless nights, no more weekday drinking, no more 1AM milk tea runs, no more San Francisco Bay Area exploring. I won't be with the people I now see daily. I won't have the same job with the same awesome boss. I won't be singing under Sproul … [Read more...] about What Does it Mean to be a College Grad?
Why Vietnamese Films Aren’t Popular & What We Can Do About It
Note: The second round of the Vietnamese International Film Festival kicked off yesterday, and the final curtains drop on Sunday, April 17. The third ViFF event won't take place till 2013, so be sure to check out the site and make a note of which films you can attend before it comes to an end. Here are some musings on the Vietnamese cinema to keep you in a pensive movie-going … [Read more...] about Why Vietnamese Films Aren’t Popular & What We Can Do About It
The Future of Media: Getting More Asians in Front of and Behind the Camera
I often bring up the injustices of the misrepresentation and under-representation of Asian Americans in the media. It's true that actors, singers, models, and writers haven't been receiving fair and honest exposure. The Asian American Justice Center just published their annual report card on television diversity so you can see for yourself. But rather than just talking or … [Read more...] about The Future of Media: Getting More Asians in Front of and Behind the Camera