Every other weekend for the past seven years I drive home from University and help my parents sell pottery. My siblings and I ominously call it "the Store" -- as if it takes precedence over all other shopping experiences. Our weekends are spent mostly rearranging, and sometimes even selling, those huge clay pots that have become all the rage in middle class suburbia. "Hi, … [Read more...] about What’s in a Vietnamese name? Or, how to piss off your local barista.
Op-ed
“How to Be Cool and Asian” According to White People
School has taught me not to trust most things I read on the internet. Experience has taught me not to trust most things I read anywhere. I'd say 99% of the incorrect information I read online just humors me since I know that info was probably written by an ill-informed person or an anonymous troll. However, there's still that 1% of internet content I peruse that still kind of … [Read more...] about “How to Be Cool and Asian” According to White People
Questionable Vietnamese Masculinity in Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam
Four score and seven minutes ago (party-on dudes!), I expressed some ambivalent feelings about Vietnamese representation in Luke Nguyen's Vietnam. Given the tantrum-like shit-storm that followed, I was hesitant to write the promised article, "Questionable Vietnamese Masculinity." After all, there's only so many people you can piss off before one of them comes after you. But … [Read more...] about Questionable Vietnamese Masculinity in Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam
A Fathers Appreciation Post + 3 Things to Share
Happy Father's Day! First, an unsolicited advert for Nintendo: To everyone: Isn't this the coolest father-daughter commercial you've ever seen? Perfect for today. To Legend of Zelda OoT fans: Isn't this the coolest commercial you've ever seen, like, EVAR? I want it, I want it, I want it. *** Second, something a little more filial: To all the Fathers, Fathers-to-be, and to … [Read more...] about A Fathers Appreciation Post + 3 Things to Share
Chinese Culture and the Politics of “Kung Fu” Panda
The following is a commentary by Andrew Lam that originally appeared in New American Media. You can view the original post here. In the age of globalization, there’s a caveat that often rings true: “You know your culture is a big hit when somebody else is trying to sell it back to you!” Nowhere is this more obvious than the example of the run away box office smash, Kung Fu … [Read more...] about Chinese Culture and the Politics of “Kung Fu” Panda