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
Melodies and Motif
Often times, music is one of the first few aspects of a culture that is embraced by people of other cultures. Moreover, most cultures have a very distinct combination of melody, tempo, meter, harmony, texture, dynamics, timbre, and articulation. So, what better way to celebrate Vietnamese American musicians, including both instrumentalists as well as vocalists, than by … [Read more...] about Melodies and Motif
Video Mondays: She said what now?
Welcome to the second installment of Video Mondays, brought to you today by your humble blogger. First is a clip from a Korean drama I've been watching called "Romance Town." Yup, I'm guilty of being another one of those K-drama addicts, and nope, I don't mind if you judge me for it I hadn't intended to watch this drama--the title "Romance Town" rubs me the wrong way--but I … [Read more...] about Video Mondays: She said what now?
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