Schema Magazine

Grandview Park Riot, Commercial Drive Block Party | Hits and Misses

A crowd gathered at Grandview Park tonight for a Commercial Drive Block Party, organized to protest redevelopment of the area. I was there for some of the party. I was not there for the spraypainting, window-breaking and fire-starting that ensued. I did come back and I got to see the after-effects.

Construction of Grandview Park is scheduled for July 2010 at which time the park will be closed for a year after. According to information posted on the Facebook group 'BLOCK PARTY on the Drive', 'the official complaints in favour of redevelopment' are a thin guise for eliminating poorer people from the area. Though it has been pointed out that the redesign is not radical (in that the park will still be a park, have trees, and probably have a few more paths), the official complaints cited (without a listed source) are, for the organizers, indicative of the intention on the part of the city authorities to gentrify the area.

On the website Defend Grandview Park, the alleged presentation the "Friends of Grandview Park" made to the Vancouver Parks Board is taken apart point by point. Good counterarguments are made. Action is called for. Back on the Facebook group, guerilla action is the kind intended, specifically taking the streets and wreaking havoc. Now, I may be nitpicking here, but isn't havoc a bit contrary to community welfare?

Don't get me wrong: the energy tonight, especially before midnight, was great, and the cause, when articulated well, seems worth its while. I've been to this park a couple times for the annual Parade of the Lost Souls and it's always magical. Vancouver needs places like this where people can gather. Community spaces that are for everyone, that are not exclusive. The music at the Block Party was bumpin'. People danced, and lay or sat sprawled on towels, smoking (case in point, Vancouver Parks Board: GP is for soft drugs) and drinking and making merry. All sorts came out. Though there were mostly twenty-somethings in all their hipster garb, hippy glory, or quirky undefinables, older people did join in, and a child or two was spotted. Even a fluffy park pooch that seemed to answer to no one, kinda in keeping with the spirit of the evening.

A man took the mike and encouraged people to take to the street. He said something about either banners or bans. As about half the crowd dribbled on to Commercial, we knew the police would be around soon. We danced with those who remained in the park. Then a woman spoke over the music, telling us she had been in a protest earlier today, preventing the mayor from cutting ribbon at a residence inauguration. She told us the homeless had been promised 75% of an allotment of new housing post-Olympics in Vancouver and (I believe she said) those actually receiving it were cops. People booed. More took to the street.

Shortly after, we left for another event. Past 2 AM we returned to see if the party was still on, and found cop cars lining the road. There were a few ambulances and fire trucks, too. As we got kitty corner to the park, a man announced for us that the protestors/partiers had started a fire in the middle of Commercial Dr. Sure enough, there was a large, tarry patch square in the middle of the road. Police lined the edges of the street and the park. There was some sort of passive aggressive standoff between remaining protestors and cops apparently still in progress, as the former would occasionally shout something about the park, but took no other action, and the cops stood there.

Apparently all the violent action was diffused before we returned. We saw a few windows that had been cracked, shot with something like a paintball gun. On closer examination, I discovered that this was the address of the 'Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General' and 'Vancouver East Community Correction'. The irony, and intended 'sticking-it-to-the-man', are almost ham-handed.

A group that was, according to a bystander, dressed and masked very like the anarchists who had attacked store-fronts downtown during the Olympics, was responsible for this window. They were a minority of the people who filled Commercial Dr. tonight. However, the fire had something to do with 'hippies' according to the same abovementioned bystander. So I'm not sure who was responsible for it. There are gaps to be filled. All in all, a lot of people who wanted the rush of a full-fledged protest got their fix, it seems, even if violence was not intended by the majority.

New Asia Film Festival 2010 | Richmond, B.C. | May 27 - 30, 2010

By Genie MacLeod

Do 21st century sensibilities make interracial relationships easier, or even more complex? How do Chinese Christians maintain their faith in a country with freedom of belief but no freedom of practice? What would you do if chocolate suddenly became illegal? At the end of this month the Richmond Cultural Centre will play host to the 3rd annual New Asia Film Festival, where filmmakers from Canada and around the world explore these very questions and many more.

The NAFF brings together 28 films from 12 countries and regions, includes several home-grown talents, as well as multiple formats and genres of film, and a host of perspectives on what Asian culture means, and how it is perceived in the 21st century.

Ying Wang, Director of New Asia Film FestivalYing Wang, the chair of Cinevolution Media Arts Society and director of the festival, envisions this year's NAFF as an "examination of the relationship between our inner and outside world, and between art and life," and features films that "reveal...the inner landscape of contemporary Asian culture."

The creative minds behind NAFF are as committed to bringing film to the people as they are to bringing the people to film. In addition to the four day film frenzy, NAFF is co-hosting two film forums and embarking on a youth outreach program called the Dream Project. The first forum, DocuAsia, which was inaugurated at last year's NAFF, is presented in collaboration with the David Lam Centre at SFU, and will feature a two-part screening and panel discussion of China's Leap of Faith, produced and directed by Christopher Sumpton. The director will be in attendance at both installments, as will Dr. Paul Crowe, director of the David Lam Centre, Dr. Li Yu of the Asian Studies department of Langara College, Professor Daniel Overmyer of Asian Studies at SFU, as well as representatives from Vancouver's Buddhist and Christian communities.

The second forum features a screening and community discussion of Ohla ai, Ohla ai! (Listen Up, Watch Out!), a series of short films made by participants in the World Beat Project, Vancouver Community College's free education initiative for new immigrants. The participants in the program were given the reins to tell their own stories about blending their native cultures and values with a new life in Canada.

The Dream Project, Ying Wang's brainchild, is the result of a conversation Wang had with a school teacher about the importance of giving immigrant youth the chance to tell their stories. Wang decided to do just that, so she and filmmaker Jeff Chiba Stearns are putting cameras in the hands of kids from high schools across Richmond and giving them the tools to share their experiences through film. Wang chose the name of the project to encourage every kind of style or approach to storytelling, since "dreams," she says, "can be anything."

From hundreds of films submitted to be part of the festival Wang and the rest of Cinevolution whittled the selection down to 28, all of which, as per Cinevolution's selection criteria, have an intercultural aspect. That's the kind criteria that we at Schema are very much on board with! Wang explains that the "New" in NAFF reflects the changing demographic in Canada, and especially here in the Lower Mainland of B.C. This corner of the world is fast becoming a "New Asia" of sorts, and so the NAFF aims to explore how both Asians and non-Asians are presenting and engaging with Asian cultures here and now. The festival runs from May 27th to 30th, and be sure to check out the closing film, 7 Days in Slow Motion, which Schema is sponsoring. See you at the theatre!

What: New Asia Film Festival
Where: Richmond Cultural Centre
When: May 27th - 30th (Check NAFF website for screening times)

What: DocuAsia Forum
Where: Part 1 - Richmond Cultural Centre
Part 2 - SFU Harbour Centre Campus
When: Part 1 - May 19th
Part 2 - May 21st

What: Ohla ai, Ohla ai! (Listen Up, Watch Out!) Screening and Forum
Where: Richmond Cultural Centre
When: May 28th

Schema Magazine's coverage of NAFF 2010 is sponsored by the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival

Posted by Genie MacLeod | May 21, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian, Asian American, Asian Canadian, Asian Heritage Month, Commentary, Community, Culture, Diversity, Ethnic Cool, Event, Film, Film Festival, Fusion, Identity, International

WEST is EAST Party & Fundraiser | May 27, 2010

By Schema Magazine and Sammie Jo Productions

Schema Magazine and Sammie Jo Productions present WEST is EAST, our annual Asian Heritage Month Party and Fundraiser on Thursday, May 27 at Fortune Sound Club. Join the excitement with Vancouver's world-class Asian DJs and dance performers! Featuring Boom Box Saints, DJ BLES-SED, DJ Krown, Niña Mendoza, Style-O-Phonics, and more! Partial proceeds for this fundraiser will go to Giant Robot Magazine. Sponsored by Georgia Straight, Snapbox Photobooth Rental and NAAAP Vancouver.

West is East
Thursday May 27, 2010
Fortune Sound Club | 147 Pender Street East
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door
Purchase tickets online
For ticket information email info@schemamag.ca
or visit Facebook event page.

The Line Up:

Boom Box Saints
This Filipino-Canadian MC duo and Vocalist, entered the music scene in 2000. Spanning from across Canada, Boombox Saints, of Filipino descent, came together to form in Vancouver, BC. A beacon in the Filipino community, they take pride in representing their people with dignity, heart and a strong work ethicSince then, they have worked alongside well-known artists such as Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jay Electronica, Kid Cudi and Sean Paul. Devilishly charismatic, seductive smooth- these multi-talented artists provide a searing new sound for the Urban Music community. This group emanates diversity. They can rock any house; from all ages events, fashion shows to concerts. Their unique sound and high-energy performances provide quality entertainment, which is second to none.

DJ Bles-sed
An unquestioned authority on all things old school, Bles-sed incorporates an impressive range of different musical genres into her already divine flow. So in addition to classic R&B and hip hop, expect some funk, soul, disco, electro, classic house, dancehall and everything 80's and 90's thrown into the cut as Bles-sed builds the vibe to one of heavenly heights. She has opened for Maceo (De La Soul), Estelle, Love & Electrik and Raphael Saadiq.

DJ Krown
Having had a longstanding love affair with music since his early teen years in Toronto, Krown, aka Steve Lui, cites English dance music pioneers Duran Duran, The Cure, Siouxsie & The Banshees and the raw energy of the Sex Pistols as early influences. When house music reared it's soulful groove, the DJ was bit and this DJs' unique sense of dancefloor madness was born. The now legendary night Pleisure at the Waldorf Hotel in the mid 1990s established Krown as one of the city's greats. Krowns' residencies at the hottest house nights in the city and his reputation as a dancefloor entertainer have allowed him to play alongside the greats, such as Mark Farina, King Britt, Marques Wyatt, Nick Holder, Fred Everything, Andy Caldwell, Halo, Charles Webster, Julius Papp, David Alvarado, DJ Deep, Mr. V, Jamie Thinnes, DJ Rap, Ravin (Buddha Bar), DJ Dayhota and countless others. Every Saturday, listen for the screams and follow them to Ginger62, Krowns' permanent home.

Niña Mendoza
Niña Mendoza (pronounced "NEEN-ya", like El Niño) is a Vancouver based music enthusiast/ DJ. She is armed with eclectic and discerning taste; apart from being a hip hop head, she's also got an extensive rare-groove, 80's funk, R&B classics, electro-boogie music library; and a magnetic je ne sais quoi. She's played alongside Esthero, Little Dragon, India.Arie, K-os and Jamie Lidell.

Style-O-Phonics
Versatility in Styles and in the Application of Music. This group has been in the works for many years; changing from CI8 to Infamous Muse and finally becoming Style-O-Phonics. The group has come into its own, making appearances in music video's, club venues, and various events throughout Vancouver. Individually, each member has different talents and strengths; but when brought together, we stand as a whole. Through our struggles, we are united by passion, devotion, and determination only to show others the love, heart, and soul of dance.

SNAPBOX photobooth Vancouver is bringing smiles and laughter everywhere we go.

Posted by Joy | May 26, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian Heritage Month, Dance, Ethnic Cool, Event, Fundrasier, Music

Blackface in the Fashion Industry

By Kwaku Adu-Poku

The National Film Board of Canada, Schema Magazine and the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) are proud to present the Vancouver premiere of The Colour of Beauty, a provocative documentary about racism in the fashion industry, on May 16th, 2010 @ 7:00PM at the MOV. The film deals with the under-representation of ethnically diverse (specifically black) models in the fashion industry while profiling Renee Thompson, a black model on her daily grind to reach the top. There is no better time than the present to discuss another issue regarding the representation of blacks in fashion.

The use of "blackface" in the fashion industry goes deeper than its historical connotations or inappropriateness. It begs the greater question, are white models being painted black in lieu of hiring black models themselves? In an industry that wants a black girl to look like a "white girl dipped in chocolate," it seems that they have finally solved their dilemma by doing just that.

Model Lara Stone as she appeared in the October 2009 issue of French Vogue

Some recent examples of blackface in the industry include model Lara Stone's 14 page spread in the October 2009 issue of French Vogue, the biracial photo shoot on cycle 13 of America's Next Top Model, an image of models Sasha Pivovarova and Heidi Mount in the November 2009 issue of V magazine, and a runway show by Paris based Mongolian designer Tsolmandakh Munkhuu for the Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography that took place a couple of weeks ago.

Black people are not actually "black" per se.

Racial categories are socially defined man-made groupings based on perceived phenomenological differences in skin colour. I'm actually more of a cocoa brown myself. Not all instances of painting a person the colour black should necessarily be considered instances of blackface. Sometimes the desired look is more of an aesthetic sensibility, and may have nothing to do with drawing a likeness to people of African ancestry. This is where I personally feel Tsolmandakh Munkhuu's collection falls.

Paris based Mongolian designer Tsolmandakh Munkhuu pictured with two models wearing her collection from the Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography earlier this month

Of course, there are many instances of more blatant and deliberate attempts of trying to pass a white person off as black in fashion. I think Maurilio Carnino, the MTC casting director and producer that Renee Thompson meets with in the film, said it best when he half jokingly explained that industry professionals want a black girl to look like a "white girl dipped in chocolate." It's nice that someone can laugh about it because black models everywhere are grinding their teeth as they struggle with careers that may never take off because of such prejudice. As the film expresses, it can be difficult for black girls to book jobs in the first place, but what is the black model to do when the industry calls off the search, and opts to paint a white girl black instead? Not only does this close off a whole host of potential jobs from black models, but it opens up a debate surrounding the integrity and intentions of the fashion industry itself.

We need to consider both the context and the purpose of each instance individually, as the lines are a little more blurry in something like the America's Next Top Model shoot, which transformed models of various ethnicities into a number of biracial counterparts. That being said, allow me to make a blanket accusation and generalization for a moment. I say that by and large the use of blackface in fashion most definitely comes down to blatant discrimination and an unwillingness to employ black models. But that's just my opinion.

Posted by Kwaku Marfo Adu-Poku | May 13, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Advertising, Art, Black History, Diversity, Fashion, Film, Media, Race

Work For All | Week 8: The Colour of Beauty

By Genie MacLeod, in partnership with NFB's Work For All

A stunning and statuesque black woman struts down a busy urban street in the opening credits of Elizabeth St. Philip's film The Colour of Beauty. In the next shots the same woman is touched up by make-up artists and hairstylists as she poses for fashion photographers. Going by the title and opening scenes alone, you might think that this film is a tribute to the successful career of the black model, and to the changing face of the fashion industry. Wrong. The first words out of the model, Renee Thompson's mouth are, "I think sometimes it's so blatantly racist it's disgusting." The camera pans to a breathtaking head-shot of Renee in her voice-over saying,

"You're constantly under the scrutiny of something you can't do anything about...This is the skin I was given, this is who I look like, this is what I look like...you know, I'm sorry."

Can someone seriously be contesting this woman's beauty?

"I'm sorry" - The Colour of Beauty, NFB, 2010

The Colour of Beauty is St. Philip's contribution to the National Film Board's Work For All series, which explores racism in the workplace. The film follows Renee, a Canadian model of Jamaican descent trying to get ahead in the business, as she walks down the streets of New York meeting with agents and auditioning for casting directors.

The film also interviews prominent figures in the industry including Renee's New York and Toronto agents, the Editor-in-Chief of Flare magazine, fashion photographer Dallas J. Logan, and Jeanne Beker, the host of Fashion Television. Renee's goal is be the it girl of New York's Fall Fashion Week, but the conventions of the fashion industry are working against her.

"Fashion," says Mann, Renee's hairstylist, "is stuck in 1955." The attitudes on display in this film reveal just how ingrained racism is in the fashion world. Renee explains that it isn't uncommon in her line of work to hear, "we're not looking for black girls," or "we want white girls only." Comments such as these are frighteningly similar to the hiring policy of employers in any industry circa 1950: Blacks need not apply.

Because white models have been the standard for beauty for so long, there is an overwhelming reluctance, and even fear, within the industry to branch out and try to represent an image of beauty that reflects our multi-ethnic world. The unanimous opinion in the film is that if a black model is going to succeed in the industry she has to look like "a white girl dipped in chocolate," because apparently, white sells and black doesn't.

The nonchalant acceptance of racial discrimination in the industry is shocking to see. Renee's meeting with Maurilio Carnino, the casting director for Fall Fashion Week is a disturbing example of this entrenched racism. Carnino praises Renee's beautiful face and her perfect catwalk strut, but then goes on talk about her figure, commenting that she'd be great but she's also,

"...slightly, slightly, slightly wide on her hips...Black models then tend to be a little wider hips and a little bit more like...round..and so sometimes, you know like the face is amazing, she has a fit problem."

Now, the fashion industry is notorious for setting impossible standards of beauty no matter what your skin colour, but Carnino's criticism seems unreal even by industry standards. Astounded that anyone could foresee a "fit problem" with the almost impossibly slender woman on the screen before me, I did some investigation on Renee's measurements. Her hip size, according to her profile on fashionmodeldirectory.com is 35 inches!

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Genie MacLeod | May 11, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Advertising, Black History, Commentary, Culture, Diversity, Fashion, Film, Media, Race

Stereogum Presents Björk | A Tribute to Post

By Jocelyn Gan

I first listened to Post in 2004 (in my defense I was born in 1987) and I remember feeling a heightened sense of elevation. To me Post is such a memorizing and beautifully crafted album. The mixture of cacophonous sounds, intensified by Björk's strange yet melodic vocals all coming together to open my ears up to such new sounds. 6 years after my initial encounter with Post, the album still remains just as intriguing, raw, and fearless as it was on my first listen. 15 years after the album was released I think many people feel the same was as I do.

In honour of this record Stereogum has complied a compilation of artists covering the tracks off of Post. The artists chosen to be a part of this compilation couldn't have been better selected. From Liars, Final Fantasy featuring Ed Droste, Xiu Xiu and Dirty Projectors, the artists certainly respected the original tracks, yet they managed to bring their own sound through on the songs.

You can check out the compilation on their website.

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | May 11, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Music

Cedar & Bamboo | Behind The Scenes Look

By Claudia Ho & Gayatri Bajpai

Back in the spring of 2007, two UBC students of Aboriginal descent, Karrmen Crey and Amy Perreault, put together a film called Why Do Indians Love Chinese Food?. The film explored how food was the binding element that reinvigorated a sense of interconnectedness and invoked sentimentality for Chinese restaurants in Vancouver's Chinatown. Crey and Perreault's film uncovered a long forgotten history of relations between Aboriginal peoples and the Chinese in British Columbia. Since then, the Chinese Canadian Historical Society (CCHS), along with a number of community sponsors (e.g. Aboriginal History Media Arts Lab) have picked up where Crey and Perreault left off.

Cedar and Bamboo is the film that will make you wonder why on earth you didn't know about the Chinese-Aboriginal relations in BC before.

What began as a small project, a student film of three or four minutes, blossomed as producers Karin Lee and Jennifer Lau honed their ideas for the focus of the film. With Dr. Henry Yu, UBC Professor and Director of the Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies (INSTRCC), on board as historical advisor, Karin and Jennifer found that the more they learned, the more the project grew and thus, became not just a student project, but a community endeavour.

While they had initially intended to bring on the student filmmakers from Professor Yu's class who made a documentary entitled "Why Do Indians Like Chinese Food", due to practical complications, other directors had to be found. Karin thought of bringing on board Kamala Todd and Diana Leung, who had already worked together. The project became about very personal stories of intermarriage between Chinese and First Nations people and families. Jenn constantly busy even after the new directors were brought on board. She tells us the entire project from birth to finish must have taken about 2 ½ years, even though total filming time was probably closer to two weeks.

In the beginning of April, Schema Magazine was invited to a private screening of the film Cedar and Bamboo. Sent to represent Schema were Gayatri and Claudia, two girls who soon discovered that what they knew about the history of British Columbia was shamefully limited. The film was an eye-opener, uncovering for us a history that could easily have been forgotten or unknown.

The storytellers featured in the film come from a range of backgrounds. They are Howard Grant, Judy Joe, Hannah Yow, Jordie Yow, Chief Mike Maquinna, and Marlene Liu. The one thing they all share in common is that they can trace (in some cases only recently discovered) their lineages back to First Nations and Chinese unions.

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Claudia Ho | May 11, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags:

Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo | A Film About Japan's Love Affair With Bugs

By Jocelyn Gan

Here's a list of what I know about Japan:

• Japanese food is absolutely delicious
• The fashion found on the streets and underground are one of a kind
• The landscape is breathtaking
• Hello Kitty was born there
• Godzilla almost destroyed Tokyo
• Gwen Stefani loves Harajuku style
• J-pop is fastastic
• And Japanese people are obsessed with...bugs?

From the latest documentary by Jessica Oreck, Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo explores the mystery behind the development of Japan's love affair with bugs. The documentary untangles the cultural and deep histories behind Japan's fascination with insects.

This came as a complete shock to me! I had no idea Japanese people had this obsession with bugs! While watching the trailer I was in awe of this love affair. Who knew that insects play such an important role in Japanese culture. It is such a lucrative business that one person interviewed in the documentary was able purchase a Ferrari by selling beetles! Okay, I'll be honest and admit that I am NOT a bug person. But regardless of that, the premises of the film itched my curiosity nerve.

The film will be released on May 12.

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | May 11, 2010 | Comments (1)

Tags: Film, Japan

The Colour of Beauty Screening & Panel | May 16, 2010

By Schema Magazine, NFB and Museum of Vancouver

Join the NFB, Schema Magazine and the Museum of Vancouver for a special film screening and panel on Sunday, May 16th

The National Film Board of Canada, Schema Magazine and the Museum of Vancouver are proud to present the Vancouver premiere of The Colour of Beauty, a provocative documentary about racism in the fashion industry on May 16th, 2010 @ 7:00PM.

Directed by Elizabeth St. Philip, the film will screen as a special companion event to the Fox, Fluevog & Friends exhibit opening May 11th at the Museum of Vancouver (MOV).

The Colour of Beauty is a short documentary made as part of Work for All—an online film series about racism in the workplace produced by the National Film Board of Canada, with the participation of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

The film follows Renee Thompson, a Canadian trying to make it as a top fashion model in New York. She's got the looks, the walk and the drive. But she's a black model in a world where white women represent the standard of beauty. Agencies rarely hire black models and when they do, they want them to look "like white girls dipped in chocolate."

Screening and Panel Discussion

Museum of Vancouver | 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, B.C.

Doors open at 6:30 PM | Screening at 7:00PM

Followed by a discussion panel made up of industry professionals, artists and policymakers.

PANELISTS

Olivia Cheng
Actress, media personality, producer and published writer

Joleen Mitton
Model

JJ Lee
Menswear Columnist, The Vancouver Sun
CBC Radio Fashion Columnist

Wendy Chen
Media Literacy Specialist
MA, Media, Culture and Communications, NYU

Tricia Romani, MPH
Owner/Agency Director
InspirationALL Talent & Modeling Group, Inc.

People can also participate online by visiting the NFB's Work for All website or via Schema Magazine's Call for Submissions.

ABOUT THE FILM

The Colour of Beauty
Director: Elizabeth St.Philip
Producer: Alexandra Yanofsky
Line Producer: Aisling Chin-Yee / Marie-France Côté

The Colour of Beauty is a shocking short documentary that reveals just how blatant racism in the fashion industry can be. Is a black model less attractive to designers, casting directors and consumers? What is the colour of beauty? Industry insiders like Canadian icons Jeanne Becker of Fashion Television and Lisa Than editor of Flare Magazine offer their insights. (Canada, 90 mins).

For more video about racism in the fashion industry, see Schema's Call for Submissions.

Posted by Alden | May 16, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Activism, Asian Heritage Month, Black History, Commentary, Diversity, Fashion, Film

To Our Mommas: Thank you Schema Moms!

By Schema Magazine, inspired by our moms

It's the end of the weekend, the end of Mother's Day and after celebrating a yearly breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner with our moms, we'll all go back to our daily routines. It might be a while before we tell our moms how much we love them and likely another year before we recognize our moms for all the things they've done for us. Meanwhile, they'll be the ones thinking about us everyday, making sure we have enough to eat, nagging us about our messy rooms, advising us not to stay out too late, and patiently waiting for us to come back home safety after a weekend party.

So now that Mother's Day is over, let's raise one more toast to our moms. Thank you for loving us unconditionally and for making us better people!

"I'll never whistle at night"

Mothers often refer to their child as a gift from God. I can wholeheartedly say that my mom has never failed me and never will for as long as she lives. With her sometimes weird, unique and very odd life lessons, over the past 23 years of my life, I've learned that, as long as I listen to my mom, nothing can go wrong. How could you not love someone who tells you not to whistle at night because it'll bring out the snakes? Or someone who can make your tummy ache go away just by simply rubbing your stomach? My mom is tall, slim, with big honey brown eyes and a high nose bridge. I on the other hand, am the chubbiest one in my family, with small Asian eyes and nose. She often jokes and tells me that she found me under a bridge. I can only hope to be half the person she is. Her courage, confidence, patience and knowledge of everything in life amazes me. She is my best friend, role model and the rock of my life. My mom is MY gift from God and she's the greatest gift that God could have ever given me. There's nothing in the world that I can't accomplish with my mom on my side. Sa-rang hae uhm-ma!

—Christina Jung, Co-Editor in Chief

"Momma Ho, you CRAZY...but I guess I still love ya"

Don't be fooled by my mom's chubby cheeks or her alluring smile, she's deceivingly crazy. Momma Ho is the reason why I talk a little too much, laugh uncontrollably at the little things, am easily amused, have an overly active imagination, why I still watch cartoons, why I've seen Pride & Prejudice (BBC Version) about 100 times, why I sleep cautiously for fear of her spying on me at night (I've caught her a couple times), why I get drunk off half a glass of wine (this is beyond bad "Asian" genes) and why I like eating hard-boiled eggs with soy sauce and sugar. Momma Ho is also crazy because she likes to show everyone who visits, a 24" by 16" portrait of my four-year-old self, insists on calling me her "birthday baby" in front of everyone I know and constantly suggests suitors like youtube star KevJumba (who is at least five years my junior), because he "respects and loves his dad, he's a good boy." But I guess, as weird and as crazy as my mom is, she shows me everyday how committed she is to her family and how deeply you can really love someone. Mom, thanks for making me as weird and as crazy as you are.

—Claudia Ho, Co-Editor in Chief

"You sacrificed everything for me"

My mom has made a lot of sacrifices throughout her life to get me to where I am today. The biggest would be leaving her family behind in Malaysia and immigrating to Vancouver. For that reason alone, I am truly thankful. Her sacrifices for me and her family are endless, and I don't think I can ever convey how thankful I am. I can only try to make her a proud mother as I am proud of her. I'm continually awed by her strength, intelligence, courage, positive outlook on life, and unconditional love. I can only hope I will be able to instill the values she has on me unto my own children in the future. I love you Mom!

—Jocelyn Gan, Managing Editor of People To Watch

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Claudia Ho | May 10, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Children

Shogun Rua defeats Lyoto Machida in 3:45 of Round 1 | UFC 113

By Alden E. Habacon

Photo: from forums.ufc.production.sparkart.net

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Lyoto Machida (aka. The Dragon).

My jaw hit the floor as I watched Mauricio "Shogun" Rua knock out Machida in under four minutes of their highly-anticipated rematch, which tool place at the Bell Centre in Montreal. In their last fight (UFC 104 in October), Machida won by a unanimous but controversial decision by the judges.

Machida has never lost a fight and I believe this was likely his first knock out.

Rua landed a grazing right and the two went down. Rua then landed a crushing right from the top that closed Machida's eye and essentially ended the fight. (from sports.yahoo.com)

Devastating. But a classic clash of mixed martial arts titans. In defeating Machida, Rua now holds the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title.

Posted by Alden | May 8, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Martial Arts, Sports

Colour of Beauty | Call for Submission | Race in Fashion

By Christina Jung, Co-Editor in Chief, Schema Magazine

Photo: Dallas Logan. From Colour of Beauty (2010).

When all of us at Schema Magazine first heard about Work for All, the National Film Board's (NFB) initiative to raise awareness of racism in the workplace, it was an instantaneous love at first sight! We were thrilled to jump on board and support NFB.

To make this partnership ever so memorable, Schema Magazine is partnering with the Museum of Vancouver's (MOV) upcoming fashion exhibit, Fox, Fluevog & Friends, and NFB's Work for All film series, to launch a community event and screening for Colour of Beauty, a short film about the lack of diversity and minority representation in the fashion industry. This event takes place at 7pm on May 16th at the Museum of Vancouver (more info).

With modeling agencies pining over models like Naomi Campbell, who is considered as the epitome of a "white model dipped in chocolate," it stands to reason that there is a serious lack of diversity within fashion. But we're dying to hear what you think.

Have you or someone you know struggled to be a model, agent or designer because of ethnicity or race? How does the fashion industry or advertising shape mainstream attitudes around the "colour of beauty?"

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Christina J. | May 8, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Art, Asian Heritage Month, Commentary, Diversity, Event, Fashion, Identity

Cedar & Bamboo | DOXA Documentary Film Festival | May 11 | Vancouver

By Tamiko

Why is this the first I've heard of the historical relationships between the Chinese Canadian and First Nations communities in B.C., including a community of mixed-Chinese/First Nations peoples?!? Somehow they've been ignored by BC historians until now, what with the research of the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC.

These relationships have been given breath by the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of B.C with their project Chinese Canadians and First Nations: 150 Years of Shared Experiences. Their efforts have culminated in a 22-minute documentary film called "Cedar and Bamboo".

Cedar and Bamboo will be screened at the DOXA Documentary Film Festival in Vancouver that runs from May 7-16th. Cedar and Bamboo will be screened along with two other documentary films on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 @ Pacific Cinematheque, 3:30pm (more info here).

In Cedar and Bamboo, Diana Leung and Metis-Cree filmmaker Kamala Todd spotlight the issues the community members of both Chinese and First Nations descent have faced. Here's the CEDAR AND BAMBOO synopsis:

British Columbia has some beautiful landscapes, both physical and cultural. Cedar and Bamboo explores the inter-community histories and shared experiences of Chinese Canadians and First Nations. The first generation of mixed blood descendants share captivating stories about the hardships they endured as a result of their confusing cultural heritage. The younger generation is drawing strength from the proud pasts of their elders, and they're choosing to take the best of both worlds.

CEDAR AND BAMBOO TRAILER:

Cedar & Bamboo (trailer promo) from johnny darrell on Vimeo.

Posted by Tamiko | May 7, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags:

Don't Pollute, Commute Safe | Retire Your Ride

By Christina Jung

Do you have an old vehicle thats just collecting dust in your garage or driveway? Unsure of what to do with it? I found a great solution that's not only simple and easy, but it'll also leave you with some extra cash in your wallet without spending a dime!

Retire Your Ride, is an environmental friendly initiative from the Government of Canada to help decrease the number of high-polluting vehicles. From January 2009 to March 2010, the program has recycled approximate 10,904 vehicles in British Columbia alone and aims to retire at least 50,000 by the end of March 31, 2011. Although each province has different requirements and rewards, the goal of the program is the same

"to improve air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering exhaust pollutants" -BC Scrap-it

The program offers many great incentives, while guaranteeing you that your old car will be recycled properly to avoid the release of any environmentally harmful toxins. Need to get another car when you retire your old vehicle? No worries. The Retire Your Ride program offers you $300 cash or rebate on the purchase of a 2004 or newer vehicle. Public transit passes seem a little expensive? Retire your ride got you covered with a FREE transit pass.

Participate in protecting our environment. If you have an old vehicle that needs to be retired, check out the Retire Your Ride site, for BC Scrap-it for specific British Columbia requirements and incentives! Recycle your old vehicle responsibly.

Posted by Christina J. | May 13, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Canadiana, Community, Environment

World's Oldest Person, Kama Chinen of Japan, Dies | DISGRASIAN

By Claudia, Originally published by Jen of Disgrasian

This was posted by our friends on Disgrasian and I thought it was a good little reminder for those of us who still have grandparents. Seems like nowadays, there's a trend of finding out where we come from (historically and culturally) and there are many things about our heritage that isn't written in a text book. Spend some time and ask your grandparents to tell you stories about the ol' days. You might be surprised by what you find. Thanks, Disgrasian for the newsflash!

The world's oldest person, Kama Chinen of Okinawa, Japan, died Sunday, a week short of her 115th birthday. Chinen was also the 28th oldest person ever and the 25th oldest woman ever. In April, she became the last person born in 1895 who was still alive.

To put this in perspective, here are a few other things that were happening in 1895 (via Wikipedia):

* The game of volleyball is invented
* Alfred Nobel signs his last will and testament, setting aside his estate to establish this little thing called the Nobel Prize
* W.E.B. Du Bois becomes the first African American to receive his Ph.D. from Harvard
* China is still being ruled by the Qing Dynasty

And other people born in 1895 include Babe Ruth, Buster Keaton, and J. Edgar Hoover. You know, people who have been really dead for a really long time?

The oldest living person is now believed to be 114 year-old Eugenie Blanchard of France.

Posted by Claudia Ho | May 6, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags:

iWriteAboutMe.com: Giant Robot Invades Vancouver! | May 20, 2010

By Schema Magazine's iWriteAboutMe.com

Schema Magazine and Museum of Vancouver (MOV) are super excited to present the next featured speakers for the 5th iWriteAboutMe workshop, Asian American pop culture pioneers Eric Nakamura and Martin Wong, creators of the always fresh Giant Robot magazine!

Thursday May 20, 2010
6:30-8:00 PM | Museum of Vancouver (MOV) |
1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, B.C.

This is a FREE event and everyone is welcome. RSVP required as seating is limited. Please visit NA@AP Vancouver to reserve a seat. More on Facebook.

These icons of Asian American media will be joining us live via broadband from 6:30pm-8:00pm at the MOV for an exclusive interview about the past, present, and future of Giant Robot, Asian American pop culture, and more! (Look for directions below)

Eric and Martin took on their first issues of GR with a die hard DIY attitude, probably stemming from their anarchic punk aesthetic. In the 90s that sure took some hands-on work, and not just hands on a keyboard, with a 'publish' button. It took photocopying. A lot.

Now Giant Robot has evolved into a multimedia enterprise with its own line of products and a webzine a-bloom with input from a crowd of techno-savvy, tongue-in-cheeky bloggers. It has even spawned "Robot babies" with stores starting from its birthplace in California and spreading all the way to New York City's East Village. GR was 50 issues old in 2007 but has aged well and can now boast covers in bold colour, graced by street art, anime characters and cinema stills.

63 issues later, GR continues to be that "small, punk-minded magazine" that showcases the fun, quirky and just-plain-weird side of Asian American culture. Not to mention, it has inspired many prolific Asian American voices, including previous iWriteAboutMe.com speakers, Phil Yu, creator of the super-blog AngryAsianMan.com and Jen and Diana of the hilarious and ever-popular blog Disgrasian.com.

GR has set itself apart from all magazines out there today, proving that there will always be a demand for Asian American content and the more the attitude, the better.

Tell us, how can you say no to a FREE event that gives you the chance to listen to these inspiring icons speak, ask questions and learn about what could inspire YOU to make a difference as well?

Check out the event on Facebook. Space is limited! Please RSVP with NA@AP Vancouver.

Sponsored by The Laurier Institution and Bing Thom Architects.

View Larger Map

Eric Nakamura and Martin Wong are presented by Schema Magazine and the Museum of Vancouver, in partnership with the North American Association of Asian Professionals Vancouver (NA@AP), theTyee.ca, Fresh Media (Vancouver).

Posted by Gayatri Bajpai | May 14, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian American, Asian Heritage Month

"Babies" documentary explores how environment shapes humans

By Adrian Bailon

People may first be attracted to the upcoming Babies documentary by French director Thomas Balmès because of its undeniably cute subject matter - four babies from four very different regions around the world. Look deeper, though, and one would be surprised to see that the documentary is a unique look at how humans are shaped by their cultural and physical environments from the moment they are born.

Babies follows the very young lives of four infants: Ponijao from the Himba tribe in Namibia; Bayarjargal living in a rural farm in Mongolia; Mari from Tokyo, Japan; and Hattie from San Francisco, USA. Without the use of any narration, the documentary gives its audience an intimate look at exactly how different (and also similar) these infants' lives are. "I wanted to give a baby point of view," Balmès says, "just immerse you in a baby's world for 80 minutes."

Front and center of Babies is the contrast between the four cultures in which the featured babies grow up. "I chose four places at different development levels in [their] relationship with technology," explains Balmès, "From the absolutely zero technology of the Namibian family to the science fiction of Tokyo, where you feel like you're in Blade Runner. There, the space is so small, people are living in tiny [pods] almost, [compared with] the gigantic spaces of Mongolia and Namibia."

Despite their very different environments, however, Balmès gives viewers an important underlying message: "...[I]f children have their basic needs fulfilled and there is love, they'll all do well, wherever they grow up."

The film comes out in Canadian theatres on May 7, 2010. Read more about the documentary from this CBC News article.

Posted by Adrian Bailon | May 4, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: America, Documentary, Film, Japan, Mongolia, Namibia

Listen To This | The Suzan!

By Jocelyn Gan

There's something charming about The Suzan. There's something intriguing about The Suzan. There's just something about The Suzan that keeps me navagiting back to their MySpace page. Calling Japan and New York their hometowns, this 4 piece all girl group mixes classic rock and roll beats with fresh hooks and jungle-jam vibes.

Comprised of sisters Saori (guitar and vocals) and Rie (keyboard and vocals), along with pals Ikue and Nico, The Suzan sound promises you a good time of dancing is in order. In fact they have caught the eye (and ear) of Pete Bjorn, who will lend a helping hand in producing and releasing their upcoming album.

You can check out their tunes here.

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | May 5, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Music

AHM | Sense of Wonder | Asian Heritage Month Tour in Vancouver May 25, 2010

By Tamiko Ogura

In celebration of Asian Heritage Month (May!), Toronto's Reel Asian (Toronto's Asian Film Festival) is going cross-Canada in its first tour of thought-provoking Asian Canadian short films.

[A Small Misunderstanding | Dir. Leslie Supnet | Canada 2008 | 1:00]

[Ali Shan | Dir. Yung Chang | Canada 2009 | 7:00]

[Irma Vep | Dir. Jong Wook Choi | Canada 2009 | 4:00]

[Rex vs Singh | Dir. Richard Fung, John Greyson and Ali Kazimi | Canada 2009 | 29:38]

[Fish In A Barrel | Dir. Randall Okita | Canada 2009 | 7:00]

This program entitled SENSE OF WONDER: Asian Canadian Film & Videos will be seen in 4 different cities this May (click here for info):

* Winnipeg - May 13
* Montreal - May 16
* Ottawa - May 18
* Vancouver - May 25

SENSE OF WONDER features 8 Asian Canadian short films and videos by directors Leslie Supnet, Victoria Cheong, Jong Wook Choi, Lydia Fu, Paramita Nath, Randall Okita, Yung Chang, Richard Fung, John Greyson & Ali Kazimi.

The Vancouver screening of SENSE OF WONDER on May 25 @ The Pacific Cinematheque will have Randall Okita and Lydia Fu in attendance.

I was able to catch SENSE OF WONDER when it showed at the 2009 Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival. I have to *jumpy clap* over Lydia Fu's short film Permute. Loved it. Hey, I'm saw the films with a regular filmgoer's eyes ... which is why I have to admit (and probably will be scorned by the oh-so-arty souls) that I had no idea what in heavens was going on with Randall Okita's Fish in a Barrel. True, yes, but it looks really good and I can still remember it most from all the others, so that's saying something I hope.

On the flip side, all the film aficionados and film festival programmers were left gushing on how fantastic Fish in a Barrel is, so that's a better measure of the film.

MORE: Toronto Reel Asian | SENSE OF WONDER | Reel Asian Twitter | Reel Asian Blog | Reel Asian Facebook

Posted by Tamiko | May 25, 2010 | Comments (1)

Tags: Asian Canadian, Asian Heritage Month, Event, Film, Reel Asian, Sense of Wonder

Work for All | Week 6: Kanehsatake

By Gayatri Bajpai, in partnership with NFB's Work for All

In 1990 the mayor of Oka, Montreal, thought adding nine holes to a golf course was just cause for mowing down the pines of Kanehsatake, Mohawk territory. A fledgling protest on a dirt road leading into the land became a full-blown resistance movement led by the Mohawk people, joined by their indigenous and non-indigenous allies. Thus began the Oka Crisis, subject of the documentary Kanehsatake directed by Alanis Obomsawin. 270 years of resistance to giving up their territory had taught the Mohawk a thing or two about sticking to their guns. That said, the heroes of Kanehsatake show commitment to both their cause and the cause of peace, through escalating tension with the police, the army, and even townspeople inconvenienced by the blocking of roads through Mohawk territory.

The film shows the women of Mohawk telling army men surrounding their barricaded territory that they will be ashamed to tell their children where they were posted. You had better say you were in Germany, they say. Don't tell them you took other people's land. They receive no answer. Each soldier knows his only justification is 'orders'. Already having been betrayed by the Sulpician order, a religious organization, which took over rights to their land in the 1700s under pretense of supervision, the Mohawk stand tall against a history of oppression in 1990. They are not about to defer to any authority, or sink to the levels of those who do them wrong. They are simply out to defend the land.

Though history will tell you that their fight is not yet finished, the self-control exerted by their warriors, who did not hurt anyone except possibly in self-defense (one officer was hit after police efforts to control a protest led to shooting: who killed him was not known) is admirable. So is the perseverance of those Mohawk who remained within barricaded territory with their warriors till the very last stand, when the army had pushed them inwards, and continued to celebrate their culture as they became cut off from food and the months grew colder.

The Mohawk braved all sorts of hostility, mockery, and hardships from July to September of 1990. Despite their patient negotiations with the government, during which they remained vocal and refused to back down on their demands, not all of their concerns were met. When they finally walked out of the forest, having disposed of their weapons, they were treated with disrespect. Watch Kanehsatake for a revelatory look at a struggle many can relate to in Canada.

Read more on the Work for All website | Watch the making of Kanehsatake | Watch an interview with Alanis Obomsawin

Posted by Gayatri Bajpai | May 5, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Film

AHM | Canada Meets Japan: A Conversation of Authors | May 3rd, 2010

By Sara Chang

Simon Fraser University, in association with PEN Canada, Japan PEN and the Vancouver International Writers Festival proudly presents:

Canada Meets Japan: A Conversation of Authors

This event will feature Takashi Atoda, President of PEN Japan, Eto Mori, winner of the Naoki Prize for Kaze ni maiagaru biniiru shiito, and Jiro Asada, winner of the Naoki Prize for Mibu gishiden, together with Steven Galloway, author of The Cellist of Sarajevo, Nancy Lee, author of Dead Girls, and Timothy Taylor, author of Story House.

Special guests Ayako Sato, Takeaki Hori and PEN Canada spokesperson Douglas Coupland (Generation A) will be there too!

Date & Time: Monday May 3rd, 7 - 9:30 pm
Place: The Asia Pacific Hall, at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 West Hastings Street
Admission: Free. Please pre-register here.

So come join in for an evening of inter-cultural and cross-country discussions!

Please visit their website for more information.

Posted by Sara C. | May 1, 2010 | Comments (1)

Tags: Asian, Asian Heritage Month, Books, Community, Culture

Screening and Premiere of 'Dilated' at UCLA | Wednesday May 5th @ 8pm

By Tiffany Zhao and Claudia Ho

When it comes to action, often only the big shots in the biz can support it, but if all you have is a measly $10,000 budget, the odds of you making that blockbuster summer flick is rather far out of reach. FPS Productions (Film & Photography Society) at UCLA, however, took on this challenge with their short, but high-intensity action film, Dilated, and all that can be said is, WOW.

Director Brian L.Tan, who, by the way, is only 20 years old and already has a few completed films on his resumé, along with the film crew of UCLA students, didn't have professional technicians to create special effects or amazing computer graphics, nor did they have the thousands of crew members or grossly paid actors often required for making action films. Instead, all they had was 7 cameras, a small crew of 200+ people and a clear vision. It's evident after watching the trailer, that sometimes a bit of ingenuity, creativity, talent and most importantly, an ambitious passion can go a long way.

Dilated description:

Left for dead, abandoned, and confused, test subject D.I.C. cant recall anything about his past life. With a group of relentless mercenaries hot on his tail, all he knows is that they want him dead or alive. Slowly unraveling a sinister plot perpetrated by the highest levels of government, he learns that he may be the key to solving a mysterious, adverse epidemic that threatens the very fabric of society; a fact that still doesnt stop him from kicking ass and going out with a bang. —Excerpted from Dilated Official Site

With a trailer THIS amazing, be prepared to be blown away at the premiere of Dilated on Thursday May 5th, 2010 at 8pm at the Ackerman Grand Ballroom at UCLA. Admission to the premiere is FREE, on a first-come-first serve basis. It's definitely an event you can't miss!

For more information, you can email or visit the Facebook event page.

Posted by Tiffany Zhao | May 3, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Daily Dose, Event, Film, Media

ABDC Season 5 | An American vs. Canadian Dance-Off

By Linda Chan

Canada is taking over the world, one MTV show at a time! Starting with Randy Jackson's America's Best Dance Crew. On its fifth season, the show featured its first Canadian dance team, Blueprint Cru.

The group originated in Montreal as an all girl group, with Thien-Lien "TL" Troung, Vanessa Gagnon, Lorena "Lo" Liebman, Nathalie Levy, and Kim Gingras in 2002. They eventually diversified adding three men, Derek "Derty" Rice, Vincent-Olivier Noiseux and Nicolas "Bboy Hero" Begin. The cru's strength comes from the strength of the individual dancers. Thien-Lien, Kim, and Vincent-Olivier have all been on So You Think You Can Dance Canada, with Kim and Vincent-Olivier making it on to the top 20. The group has become known for its precise and complex choreography. They are astounding to watch, because it looks like an optical illusion.

Placing as the runner-up on the season finale of ABDC, they made a proud representation of Canada, and the Canadian dance scene. Blueprint Cru were able to make their mark in the US, the mother country of hip-hop, and proved to the world, according to AngryAsianMan, that Canadians can dance!

Posted by Linda Chan | May 5, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Dance, Television

Lego Artisan Creates Endangered Species for Zoo

By Alden E. Habacon

Above image from neatorama.com

I love the earth. I also love Lego. I grew up playing with both. I can't think of a better way to deeply embed the reality of endangered animals deep into the imagination of children than with Lego. From treehugger.com:

With the precarious state of ecosystems throughout the world today, it is difficult to know for certain which threatened species will continue to be around for future generations - and which will have gone the way of the Dodo. But as sobering of a legacy that may be, it is increasingly important to raise awareness of these fading animals early and often to the children of today, whose attitudes and actions as adults may determine the fate of the planet's biodiversity. So, with that in mind, one zoo is educating its young visitors about the importance of preservation in an imaginative way--with an exhibition of endangered animals constructed out of Legos.

SLIDESHOW: See Even More Photos of these Incredible Lego Animals

More at livbit.com

Posted by Alden | May 26, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Design, Environment

PaperDoll | First Single Released in Mandarin!

By Jocelyn Gan, Originally found on Angry Asian Man

Thank-you Angry Asian Man for bringing this to my mention. New York based indie band, PaperDoll, have released their very first Chinese single! "Anything At All", performed in Mandarin by lead singer Teresa Lee, is bound to bring in a whole new audience for this band. The original English version of "Anything At All" can be found on their album Ballad Nerd Pop (which Phil Yu of Angry Asian Man highly recommends), as well as there is a free download of the both versions of the song provide on their website here.

PaperDoll will be perform in New York City at The Gramercy on May 22. If you're in the area make sure to check them out!

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | May 10, 2010 | Comments (2)

Tags: Music, PaperDoll

Daniel Wu's Shout-out to Giant Robot

By Claudia, (originally published in April 2010)

It's been a while since we've reminded you guys about Giant Robot (i.e. that awesome, pivotal, groundbreaking Asian American magazine that's changed the lives of many) and in the next few weeks, we promise to keep everyone informed more regularly!

So here goes.

Check out this youtube vid of Daniel Wu, an American-born actor, who's pretty damn famous in Hong Kong Hollywood. Daniel talks about how Giant Robot had changed his life, allowed him to be exposed to ideas, things, places and people that weren't otherwise considered cool. It's a compelling video and will hopefully make you want to help the Giant Robot Needs You Campaign.

Posted by Claudia Ho | May 19, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags:

Giant Robot Needs You (And You Need Giant Robot)

By Claudia

Giant Robot is a magazine that essentially galvanized the Asian American pop culture movement and has continued to do so for the past 15 years. But now on the cusp of its 16th year, the magazine is struggling financially and needs YOUR help to keep it running.

For those of you who have followed Giant Robot over the last decade and a half, you have probably been impacted in some meaningful way and for those of you who are unfamiliar with the magazine, read it, because you will then understand why it is worth pouring every ounce of your energy, time and effort into supporting the GR campaign.

Eric Nakamura and Martin Wong are the editors, writers and visionaries behind Giant Robot. Noble in their cause, they have delivered fun, interesting and (at times) controversial Asian and Asian American topics in every issue of their magazine. Eric and Martin have also built a large fan base and whether they have done so on purpose or inadvertently, their magazine has shaped their readers into more conscious and educated individuals...and have even inspired some writers out there today:

"I first discovered Giant Robot when I was in college. I was extremely excited to find a magazine that was covering "Asian Pop Culture and Beyond" with some attitude and an eye for cool -- and best of all, they were doing it completely on their own terms. It was inspirational. In truth, without Giant Robot there would be no Angry Asian Man." -- Phil Yu, Angry Asian Man

As young ethnically diverse people living in North America, we inherently develop complex identities. Even today, having lived in Canada all my life, I have only recently learned to be comfortable with who I am (and no, I'm not just a "CBC" (Canadian Born Chinese) nor am I a "white-washed" Asian). Magazines like Giant Robot force us to dig deeper -- this is where the "Beyond" part of their slogan comes in.

In Issue 19, entitled "Pray to Prey," the analogy of religion is used to express GR's purpose,

"...I'm more tolerant now. Religion is like music, literature or a work of art - anything crafted with an aesthetic and an attitude. You want to share it with people you care about. that's why new friends give mix tapes to each other, share favourite books and movies, and maybe even cook family recipes for each other. (By then, you may be more than friends.)"

"I should know, because Giant Robot is a combination of all those things. I don't know if we can promise eternal life or even a good party on Wednesday night. But we can do everything possible to make a magazine that makes a difference to us and, possibly to you."

For Schema, there is no doubt that magazines like GR compel us to continue doing what we're doing and THIS is why we need to do everything we can, from making donations to just spreading the word, to keep Giant Robot alive.

See Eric and Martin's video below.

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Claudia Ho | May 20, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian American, Magazines

This page contains all entries posted to Schema Magazine's Blog, "Daily Dose" in May 2010. They are listed from oldest to newest.

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