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Asian American Art. Washington DC. This Weekend. Free.

Visit the Freer and Sackler Galleries at 1050 Independence Ave. SW. For more info, call (202) 633-1000 or go to http://www.asia.si.edu.  Two picks:

Moving Perspectives:  Shahzia Sikander / Sun Xun
Date:  July 18-November 8, 2009, 10 am to 5:30 pm
Categories:  Transforming paper and canvas to the video screen
Venue:  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Cost:  Free
Details: Trained in Pakistan and in the United States, Shahzia Sikander (b. 1969, Lahore, Pakistan) deftly reinterprets miniature painting by isolating and abstracting formal compositional elements often found in this densely layered and intricate art form. The dynamism of her paintings is set in motion in her video works, where the repetition of abstract forms becomes a buzzing hive, calligraphy whirls in and out of view, and imaginary curves morph into vivid landscapes. Similarly, Sun Xun (b. 1980, Fuxin, China) creates hundreds of paintings and drawings by using old newspapers or entire blank walls. Filming his hand-drawn images, he transforms clocks, magicians, words, and insects into animated symbols that flicker across the screen in dark allegories on the nature of historical consciousness and the passage of time.

You Don’t Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story (2009 DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival)
Date:  Saturday, October 10, 2009, 2 pm
Categories:  Films
Venue:  Freer Gallery
Event Location:  Meyer Auditorium
Cost:  Free; first come, first served
Details: Featuring rare footage and interviews with co-stars and friends, including actors George Takei, Nancy Kwan, and Max Gail, comedians Steve Landesberg and Gary Austin, and producer Hal Kanter, this film by Jeff Adachi traces Jack Soo’s early beginnings as a nightclub singer and comedian to his breakthrough role as Sammy Fong in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Broadway play and the film version of The Flower Drum Song. The film also explores why Soo, a former internee who was actually born Goro Suzuki, was forced to change his name in the post-WWII era in order to perform in clubs in the Midwest. Due to his experiences, Soo refused to play film and television roles that were demeaning to Asian Americans, and he often spoke out against negative ethnic portrayals. United States / 2009 / 60 min. / English / video

Three things I didn’t know about Jack, among others: one, first Asian to be cast as a regular in a TV series; two, first non-African American to be signed to Motown Records, and; three, first male artist to record "For Once in My Life".

Below is a video clip of filmmaker Jeff Adachi: 

Any other potential Asian American leading men out there?

It might take more than another 'Harold and Kumar' to bring Kal Penn back to the screen, writes Paige Wiser.  Chicago Sun-Time's entertainment columnist lists Kal Penn as one of several Asian American actors she deems worthy to be a television leading man.  Kal Penn has left "House" to serve as associate director of the White House Office of Public Liaison.¹

The other contenders are:
- John Cho ("Star Trek", "Flash Forward")
- Masi Oka ("Austin Powers in Goldmember," "Heroes")
- B.D. Wong ("The Karate Kid, Part II", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit")
- Ken Leung ("Lost," "Sopranos")
- Daniel Dae Kim ("Lost")
- Tim Kang ("The Mentalist")
- Ken Jeong ("The Hangover," "The Goods", "All About Steve")

Wait a minute.  Didn't Ken Jeong play a role being beaten up by a group of angry co-workers after the lead character incites violence via a pep talk to his sales team?

I hope there are others then.  In fact, in another Paige Wiser column today, she writes about an Asian American actor who is getting a lot of air time and following on the hit HBO series, "Entourage".  Rex Lee plays Lloyd, the gay Asian assistant who is the object of "extremely creative slurs" from his boss Ari.²

Lee gives Lloyd an unsinkable ambition that will pay off during the next four episodes. Lloyd may be disrespected, but he never loses his dignity--or his impeccable argyle style.

We're yet to see what Lloyd's final pay off will be.³  Selecting positive roles makes better leading man qualifications to me.  Coincidentally, Jeremy Piven also plays the verbally abusive boss of Llyod in "Entourage."

¹Paige Wiser, "TVland of opportunity", Chicago Sun-Times
²Paige Wiser, "Gay, Asian ... and cool", Chicago Sun-Times
³Rex Lee, "Lloyd's Diary", HBO.com

SAT Scores Dip: Except For Asian Americans

In his NY Daily News op-column today, Stanley Crouch offers suggestions on how to reverse the continued decline of SAT test results in the past five years.  He takes mass media to task in portraying the attractiveness of intellectual capacity among our youth.¹

Important shifts in our culture are given national recognition through our electronic mass media. Let's begin to see intelligent young people, or those who study and work hard at doing well in school, depicted as more than merely nerds.

From the silly comedies of Jack Black to the hip-hop imbecilities of Lil Wayne, little room in our culture has been made for protagonists with brains. Now is the time when we need to see them out here.

Mr. Crouch points to a historical precedent in similar efforts, J. Edgar Hoover calling upon Hollywood to reverse the trend of glamorizing crime in the 30’s.  The author confirms that the call was heeded, leading at least to an expanded characterization in gangster movies with name stars also getting positive roles of defending society against criminal types.

The op-ed columnist suggests that media should also communicate the importance of study and high-quality performance, given that “Americans allow TV to become the favored baby-sitter and one of the biggest family influences on the children of the house.”   Mr. Crouch believes that is why the SAT performance of Asian American students does not follow the overall trend of decline.

The performance of Asian American students in the SAT tests in fact runs in contrast with other minority groups.  Says one AP article published in the New York Times, “Whatever Asian-Americans are doing, educators want to bottle it.”  The article expounds on the performance of Asian American students in the SAT tests and how taking prep subjects may be one of key factors that result in such a notable feat.²

The exception is Asian-Americans, whose average combined score surged 13 points to a combined 1623, while scores for whites fell 2 points to 1581. For black students, average scores dropped 4 points to 1276. Average scores for two of the three categories the College Board uses for identifying Hispanics also declined, and overall ranged from 1345 to 1364.

White kids are more likely to have access to advanced college-prep subjects than blacks and Hispanics, and the success of Asian-Americans on the SAT is also probably due in part to their push to enroll in such courses.

Such a push towards prep subject enrollments may not be where all the answers lie, nor can mass media be pushed into that redefinition of appealing character portrayal that Mr. Crouch idealizes.  For one thing, a push is a push; forced implementation or coercion is never appealing.  Yet, many Asian American students today experience such pressure to conform to traditional value that their families continue to weigh down on them.

Apart from study and hard work, there are other factors that matter and contribute to one’s personal growth and development.  Perhaps, mass media can be talked into promoting the notion that a good life-study balance is sexy as well.

1Stanley Crouch, “Until smart equals sexy, U.S. kids will lag on SAT scores”, The Daily News
2The Associated Press, “SAT Scores Dip for High School Class of 2009”, New York Times

First American-Punjabi TV Channel Launched

JUS Punjabi, the nation's first American-Punjabi television channel launched last week.¹  The channel features Punjabi language programs, daily news bulletins from both overseas (Punjab, Haryana and New Delhi) and from their office and broadcast facility in Long Island City, N.Y.  Major providers like DISH Network, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision IO, and Verizon FiOS TV carry the new channel. In establishing the company, President and CEO Penny Yogiraj Sandhu hopes “to reach out to the large and vibrant Indo-Punjabi/Sikh community and give them a voice and exposure in their adoptive country.”²

It joins other major South Asian content, including Sony Entertainment Television Asia, TV Asia, Zee TV and Bollywood Hits on Demand.  This development is a good sign for Asian American media, beset not only by the state of the economy but by its very diversity.

"The diversity of languages that makes up the Asian-American community is especially difficult for television and radio, where programming is primarily in the native language, which leaves a handful of broadcasters serving narrow segments of the population. This is especially hard for television programmers, where the cost to entry into the business can be higher than it is in print, and room on cable systems is limited."³

Other major players in Asian American television are the New Tang Dynasty Television, The Filipino Channel, The Saigon Broadcasting Television Network, TVB, and TVK.  Best wishes goes to this new addition to Asian American TV programming!

See related post, "Asian American Media Speaks"

¹  stamfordadvocate.com
²  juspunjabi.com
³  stateofthemedia.org

Asian American Media Speaks English

Two recent studies offer rich insights on the state of Asian American media.  Of particular interest are discussions regarding the role of English in its growth and development.

The New American Media estimates half a million regularly follow news from English-language publications that specifically target Asian Americans.  I know this may be just a drop in the bucket in relation to the total U.S. market though still bound to increase exponentially with the emergence of this fastest growing ethnic group.  Local areas with a high density of Asian Americans are already active targets of media attention.  Moreover, worldwide interest on this particularly unique, and affluent, population is destined to take off.

Pew Research questions whether fluency in the English language helps or hurts Asian American media:  Does mainstream media deliver enough to satisfy the needs of English-speaking Asian Americans, or is there a significant value in delivering highly targeted cultural news and information not available from mainstream providers?  I support the notion that ethnic media possesses an innate character that cannot yet be sufficiently portrayed by mainstream media.  Only ethnic media can offer the most credible portrayal of such character.  Furthermore, I believe that it never will be lost in another language.  In fact, with broader access to a wider English-speaking audience, that character itself will sustain our attention and enrich us all.

Take ethnic TV programming as an example.  According to the New American Media study, what drives Asian Americans to watch ethnic television is that it provides viewers the ability to follow news coverage and information from the country of their background.  I believe that there will always be the need to follow Asian American media—that is, at least until we cease to identity with own ethnicity (What a horrible thought!)  And as younger generations of English-speaking, media-thirsty Asian Americans continue to seek news and information from the country of their background, ethnic media will remain viable and its use of the English language will become more relevant.

Debbie Lee: Bless your (two) souls

Korean American Debbie Lee has been voted of contention for the title of The Next Food Network Star.  Two are left competing for the finals next Sunday.  Debbie has effectively portrayed herself as a food lover caught between two cultures.  She asserts proudly that she “broke the mold and stereotypes of a typical Asian girl”.  However, the judges seem to have found that unique ingredient missing in the food she created last night.  Says one, “We want to see you bleed your culture if that’s what you want to use to express yourself.”  Adieu and good luck, Debbie!  God bless!  (See related post “Two Souls Feed As One”)

Two Souls Feed As One

Debbie Lee is one of three remaining finalists in the Next Food Network Star Season 5.  Will she remain in contention after this Sunday when they whittle it down to two finalists?  How will Bob Tuschman, one of the judges in the show, vote?  Mr. Tuschman has exhibited mixed feelings about Debbie, viewing her behavior with disfavor (“infuriating”, “appalling”) even as he applauds the quality of her food itself (“first rate”, “excellent”).  Whatever her fate is in the next couple of weeks, Debbie has already made her mark with her “impressive combo of quick thinking, humor, and charm” and her “TV-ready skills”.

Of the things I find remarkably charming with Debbie is her ability to inject her Asian American background in every segment, though sometimes they are not called for.  In one past episode there was really nothing substantially Korean in the food she assembled.  Debbie’s background inevitably folds into her culinary point of view, which she views as simple.  “It’s soul to soul, it’s the journey of my life as a girl”, she says.

I can’t imagine it being too simple though.  Growing up in the South (one part of her soul) as the only Asian girl in school, living with a grandmother (“the other part of her soul”) who only speaks Korean, a language she couldn’t understand, it must have been tough.  Sure enough, Debbie recognizes the need for an outlet; she confesses food made her like herself, giving her “inner peace and therapy”.

More than becoming the Next Food Network Star, I wish Debbie continued inner peace and comfort via this universal common ground.  “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, who you’re dealing with, when it comes down to the table, you guys can all sit down and finally find something in common, and to me that is a really powerful thing.”  Good luck!

Miss Diva: Hard to please

Kristine Sa features Asian American musicians, such as these fab four performing live, in her show “The Kristine Sa Show”. CP Phan, Kris Mark, Kinh Nguyen and Matt Clores belt out an original, “Miss Diva”. Kristine’s show is available for subscription on her website (http://kristinesaonline.com) and on VAN-TV (Channel 18-7 in Southern California) and VHN-TV (Channel 2073 on DirecTV). Not bad at all! Miss Diva should be pleased.

Amazing Drama

More and more, Asian Americans are being cast in a slew of reality TV shows.  In fact, the brother and sister team, Tammy and Victor Jih, have just won this season’s Amazing Race competition.  Their success stems not only from their raw strength and extended resilience, but also from their able calculation and handling of particularly difficult situations—including their quick rebounds from repeated  missteps.

Hopefully, Tammy and Victor Jih will not all too quickly join the ranks of the soon forgotten in this increasing expanse of reality broadcasting after their brief moments of fame.  Does anyone remember Yul Kwon?  Yul is one of the winners of another long-running popular series, Survivor.  Regardless, Yul’s celebrity status is now dim, eclipsed by other Survivor contenders with greater longevity in their prominence.  (Remember Ozzy?)

As Amazing Race champions, the Jihs have definitely exhibited true prowess, but sometimes that is not enough.  Consider how powerhouse-comedian Joan Rivers tramples over classy lady Annie Duke in last night’s Celebrity Apprentice finale.  Vile bitchy drama emerges and is rewarded aplenty with extended celebrity prestige or complementary infamy.

Remember Ronald and Christina Hsu, the father and daughter team who competed in the twelfth episode of Amazing Race?   Followers will recall the broadcast-worthy drama they contributed, albeit uncalculated and self-inflicted.  Viewers, especially Asian Americans of this generation, would have clearly identified with Christina.  Her father’s stubborn, self-righteous, and condescending attitude and demeanor towards her, and Christina’s pathetic, martyr-like deference to the evil elder ought to make your heart bleed and cry.  Mr. Hsu seems not half as obnoxious as Joan River’s performance in Celebrity Apprentice, but has certainly stirred enough discomfort to merit momentary pause to their certain path to obscurity.  Recent Amazing Race winners Tammy and Victor (and Yul of Survivor) will take the short route.

Who else is there?  Remember William Hung, the vocally challenged accidental celebrity from American Idol?  Oh well, that’s another story.  How about Ongina in RuPaul’s Drag Race debut season?  Imagine a flamboyant drag queen coming out to her family with her HIV-positive status via nationwide cable?  But, that too is another story.  The bottom line is, celebrity or non-celebrity, Asian Americans tend less to crank up the volume and play their own drama in full blast.  Nevertheless, the quality and depth of the drama itself, though sometimes regrettable, shouts out effortlessly on the bullhorn.

Reality shows have become a pervasive presence in the current entertainment landscape. I surmise a majority of Americans knows someone who has in one way or another pursued celebrity fame via a reality television show.  I do.

Rudy Zhao, then a medical researcher in New York, has been a remarkable competitor in Quest USA, a 2004 Chinese reality production broadcasted on the International Channel.  While Rudy represents the Beijing team, he has in the show exhibited a remarkable personality that breaks free from the traditional Asian mold.  In fact, his own teammates identify him as a sore thumb—i.e., “too talkative” and “too outgoing”.  I like Rudy.  Pure clean drama emanates from his true self, unrestricted yet uncontrived, forming a mold kneaded from East and West, a very close semblance to what we may describe as today’s Asian American.

Augusto's Reservations

“What is a Filipino?” Anthony Bourdain asks his Philippine host in a recent Travel Channel episode set in that country.  Anthony may have very well posed the question to the wrong person.  After all, though from Philippine lineage, Augusto Elefanio was born and raised in Long Island, New York.  He concedes lacking in expertise on the subject matter, having visited the country only once—two years ago, and only for a week.  Furthermore, Augusto confesses he’s still trying to figure out who he is.

“I’m not entirely American.  I’m not entirely Filipino.  I’m kind of stuck in the middle and that’s a hard thing…for a lot of Filipino-Americans.”

In Augusto’s audition tape, he comes off as a strong contender—lively, enthusiastic, and confident.  While Augusto’s performance in the tape may have been strongly influential, the decision to enlist Augusto may have come from gut—and Mr. Bourdain’s desire to savor the best-tasting slow-roasted whole pig rotisserie-style (a bait craftily incorporated in Augusto’s audition presentation).

The choice has raised some chatter in Philippine blogs; many concur Augusto is not qualified.  However, as Anthony points out, the show is all about the food.  Right or wrong, Augusto has tickled his palate in search of that elusive definition of Filipino cuisine.  (After all, he features other local food experts in the show.)  In fact, Augusto’s selection is appropriate; his story serves as an elemental counterpoint—a complimentary side dish—with the lad’s own quest for identity.  Anthony laments that, “however badly Augusto wants to be a Filipino and reconnect with his roots…he’s still American.”

Anthony eventually tastes his “best pig ever”, thanks to Augusto.  And thanks to Anthony, Augusto gets a timely nudge to answer the question of his Filipino identity.

A Super Happy Kai-lan

What is quite fascinating about Nickelodeon’s new TV animation series for children is not only its multi-cultural premise.  Its facility to engage young viewers in relevant American and global educational themes is succinctly supplemented by its ability to impart positive values through traditional Chinese culture.

Kai-lan is the show’s main character, an adorably cute Chinese-American girl with a diverse group of other preschooler friends and playmates.  The episode I recently stumbled upon brings the young ensemble together as an aspiring band that is—complete with their DJ scratching and hip-hop moves—looking to participate in a musical contest.

Hoho, the designate free-lance vocalist unfortunately faces a writer’s block.  Finding words that rhyme isn’t too easy, he realizes.  After several futile attempts, encouragement comes in the form of the proverb “try, try again.”  Kai-lan finally saves the day by inspiring her budding-artist audience to greater lyrical creativity:  help identify objects in the scene that are oblivious to Hoho.

Kudos to Nickelodeon for promoting multicultural understanding from this optical (“being bicultural and bilingual is being American”)!  My inner youth harmonizes with Kai-lan’s resulting exultation, "You make my heart feel super happy."