Schema Magazine

Carlos Celdran | Manila's Story Told Through Vancouver's Walls

"If These Walls Could Talk" is the name of famed Manila tour guide Carlos Celdran's show and within minutes of seeing him in action, I knew the walls would be yapping.

When I arrived at Cathedral Square, I spotted a diminutive man in his 30s, wearing a barong tagalog, a wooden rosary, a straw top hat, black trousers and a pair of Air Max 90s. Yep, he's definitely Filipino. He was already chatting with members of the crowd of about 80 people: families and people of all ages.

The Friday and Saturday tours, co-sponsored by Tulayan (Vancity Workshops on Filipino Language, History & Culture) and the Kapisanan Centre (Toronto's Filipino Canadian Art & Cultural Centre), were planned in recognition of Philippine Independence Day: Sunday, July 12.

It was the ideal occasion to take the tour, because we would soon find out just how subversive, surprising, candid and downright enjoyable Carlos Celdran's interpretation of Manila's history could be. For an American equivalent, try picturing Neil Patrick Harris channeling Howard Zinn.

1st stop: Cathedral Square (Richards and Dunsmuir)

The show - an English-language walking tour of the historic Intramuros district of Manila, adapted to downtown Vancouver landmarks - begins in front of the Cathedral; colonial Manila and Intramuros were founded upon the Manila Cathedral.

Celdran explains that the Spanish arrived in Manila in 1570. Having already conquered Mexico, they arrived via the Pacific. Even back then the Philippines were an extension of the Americas.

Celdran explains that for nearly 400 years, the Philippines were governed under theocratic rule, controlled by a parochial friar class that operated like a "Catholic Taliban where the Pope was Osama Bin Laden." The crowd laughs; some of the older attendees smirk.

Yup. He went there. And he's grinning like a 7-year-old at show and tell as he says it, displaying flipchart images of Old Manila. But he's telling the truth. He's done his homework and it's refreshing. His delivery is at once articulate, unapologetic and funny.

2nd stop: Fountain at Credit Union Central of B.C. (Dunsmuir and Hamilton)

Celdran tells of how the power shifted away from the Church in 1896, following the execution of Jose Rizal, the Filipino national hero.

Two years later, he adds, the Treaty of Paris marks the end of the Spanish-American War and the Philippines (along with Puerto Rico, the Mariana Islands and Guam) are sold to the U.S. for $20 million.

The U.S. brought a move from theocracy to secularism, creating a separation between Church and State. Along with it came countless U.S. cultural influences: movies, music, fashion, commercial products and food. Infrastructure followed: public schools, public sanitation, and public roads and highways. "The U.S. cured cholera, typhoid, tooth decay and illiteracy."

It was a Golden Age for Manila. "The city became a sophisticated, modern city. A gateway to Asia," Celdran says. "But Manila's beauty would be lost by the end of WWII."

3rd stop: Victory Square (W Hastings and Cambie)

"After Warsaw, Manila was the second most destroyed city after WWII," he says. "The destruction of Manila was due to gross miscalculations by General Douglas MacArthur."

The Japanese bombed Manila the day after they bombed Pearl Harbor and MacArthur was caught off guard. He fled to Australia and made his famous promise to the Filipino people: "I shall return."

He came back to Leyte two-and-a-half years later and led the U.S. forces in battle with Japan in the Philippines. "From Feb. 4 to March 5, 1945, the Japanese massacred 75,000 Filipinos. To stop the slaughter, MacArthur bombed Manila repeatedly. Another 120,000 Filipinos were killed," he said.

"If you kill the heart, the body dies. Intramuros was devastated. Old Manila was dead."

Final stop: The Network Hub (Richards and West Hastings)

"The show will be funny again, I promise," Cedran says, reassuring the crowd.

"The Americans rebuilt St. Augustine Church in Intramuros after WWII. But it wasn't rebuilt in traditional Gothic style. It was done very plainly," he adds. "Kind of like a jeepney.

"Does this mean we are without culture?" he asks. "No. To be Filipino is to truly be a halo-halo."

On cue, Tulayan volunteers enter the room, serving halo-halo - an assortment of candied fruits topped with shaved ice and condensed milk, whose name literally means "mix-mix" - to all the guests. The crowd is delighted.

Jayne Spooner, 21, was one of the few non-Filipinos in attendance. One of her best friends is Filipina and brought her along. "I thought it was great: really informative, fun to listen to and really interactive. I found out so much about Manila's history, origins and culture."

The Lonely Planet has called Celdran's Intramuros tour "the most entertaining ticket in town."

RJ Aquino, co-founder of Tulayan, took Celdran's tour in Manila in 2009, upon the recommendation of a friend on Twitter. "I went, checked him out, loved the show, and the first thing I thought was: The Filipino community in Vancouver NEEDS to see this."

To see a preview of the tour, check out the video below!

Kapisanan presents: If these Walls Could Talk by Carlos Celdran from rj leveriza on Vimeo.

Re-Branding Historical Icons | It's All In The Name

By Kait Bolongaro

Recently a United States cargo ship has been named after César Chávez, a farm worker's rights activist and unionizer. It's ironic though since he told PBS that the worst two years of his life were spent in the Navy. However, this political tactic isn't surprising -- from Che Guevara to Malcolm X, Chávez is one of many racial minorities whose image or name has been used by the institutions they spent their lifetime fighting against.

One of the most iconic examples is Ernesto 'Che' Guevara. Born in Argentina, Guevara was instrumental in overthrowing the Batista regime in Cuba and establishing the Communist state that still exists today. Guevara fought for a worldwide communist revolution -- in particular in developing nations. Now, the infamous image of Guevara in his beret can be seen on clothing and accessories available for purchase from large capitalist corporations he despised.

Malcolm X is another example. Malcolm X fought against deep seeded racism in American society towards African-Americans, and advocated for the dismantling of the US government. In 1999, in honour of Black Heritage month, Malcolm X was featured on a US postage stamp and painted as an 'enlightened' patriot who wanted to fix the system as opposed to wanting to destroy it.

So why does 'revolution sell'? Because it's human nature. The public wants to feel as though they were a part of important social movements. However, there is a better way to understand what outspoken individuals fought for than buying a t-shirt with their face emblazoned on it. Perhaps by reading books they authored or listening to speeches they gave to find out what they truly believed in, and not what large institutions tell us they do.

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | June 16, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Activism, Commentary, Pop Culture

Tuition Protests in South Korea

By Rosel Kim

Korean students pay a steep price for a university education --Joongang Daily, one of the daily newspapers in Korea, reports Korean universities have the 2nd highest tuition rate in OECD countries, after the U.S.

However, some argue Korean students (and their parents) are put in a tougher situation than their American counterparts for a number of reasons. First, minimum wage in Korea is only 4,320 won (about $3.50-$4 Canadian), so working summer jobs or part-time during the school year doesn't help much. Second, there is a lack of federal, low-interest loan programs for students.

To demand better access to post-secondary education, Korean citizens have been protesting the government for about 2 weeks now, demanding "half-price tuition." Candlelight vigils were held in various quarters of Seoul. Since the first time I've written about the protests, they have not slowed down - on June 10th, there was a student walk-out from many universities including Korea University and Ewha Women's University.

Whether President Lee Myung-bak and his government will actually take notice remains to be seen, but the amazing resilience from the Korean citizens is a great portrayal of solidarity.

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | June 13, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Korea

Louis Vuitton | Now a Tourist Attraction

By Olga Pazukha

Fashion is art. For anyone who dares disagree ask them what they think of the recently opened Louis Vuitton Voyage exhibit at the National Museum of China in Beijing.

Part art installation, part ultimate window shopping, part history lesson, the exhibition is all about the exclusivity and surprising inclusiveness of the Louis Vuitton brand. When Louis Vuitton first opened its doors to Chinese consumers, they were committed to providing the same exclusive experience as to their regular patrons in Paris.

The LV Voyage opened just before Louis Vuitton's 20th anniversary in China, celebrating the sturdiness, elegance and precision that brought the brand its glory. Showcasing various pieces, the attendees are taken on a voyage through Louis Vuitton's humble beginnings as a luggage shop to its international fame and success. It is no wonder the tourism growth in China is bringing flocks of visitors to the show. After all, the cultural history of the country is experiencing a Louis Vuitton-like trend -- rising from a production-based industry to a global super power across business, art and cultural spheres.

Now if only I didn't have to choose between buying the luggage and traveling to see the exhibition...Or maybe I don't have to choose, perhaps a sacrifice for art's sake is worth it!

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | June 15, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: China, Events, Fashion

Obama Sushi Rolls | A Championship winner

By Vinnie Yuen

If you think deep fried California rolls are innovative, then you'll be really impressed by Chef Ken Kawasumi's Obama sushi rolls, which helped him win the championship in Chiba, Japan.

Mr. President's skin was made from amis (small shrimp), his hair was made from black sesame, and his teeth was made from fish paste. Kawasumi used red tuna and raw squid for the colours in the American flag.

I wonder if Obama will send Kawasumi a thank-you card for making such a delicious version of his face!

I'd love to see this talented chef take on other celebrity faces such as Paris Hilton and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Posted by Vinnie Yuen | June 14, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Food, Japan

Mama Mia! It's Italian Heritage Month!

By Gayatri Bajpai

Come celebrate your appreciation for all that is Italian during the official food and wine week of Italian Heritage Month. So much that comes from Italy is palatable that we can ignore minor digressions like Berlusconi's womanizing ways. Pizza, wines, varieties of espresso-making and much more can be experienced at ITM's celebration on Commercial Drive between the 13th and 19th of June.

I hear Italians drink such strong coffee because they traditionally drink wine with their meals. In order to get through the rest of their day, post-lunch they take espresso shots to counter their tipsiness. So here's a proposition: go to Italian Quality Seal Restaurant Awards on Monday for a hearty meal. Hit up Wine Wisdom the next day at 7 PM when you have regained consciousness and been relieved of your carb coma. Then relapse on Wednesday at Pizza 101. Then rest. On Saturday, return in the morning and brace yourself for an education in espresso-making and biscotti at the pithily-named 'Espresso Yourself!' Sunday is Italian Market Day, where you can buy delicacies for your home, and learn about the history and evolution of gelato in a special segment. It'll be like you had a five course meal over a week. Surely the healthy way to do it...

Many events (both free and priced) require registration, so make sure to get on those lists. Check out the website www.italianculturalcentre.ca.

Posted by Gayatri Bajpai | June 13, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Festival, Food

VACT's 12th Annual Asian Comedy Night | June 17th

By Justin Ko

For those of you who think that the only Asian-Canadian comedians are on YouTube, think again. The Vancouver Asian Canadian Theater (VACT) will be hosting their 12th annual Asian Comedy Night next week, featuring new comedy troupes such as ODE2SILLY, F.O.B. (Fresh Off the Boat) and South Asian sketch group I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT BUTTER CHICKEN.

These groups will be joining established and returning teams SFUU MAN CHU, THE YANGTZERS, and LAUGHING MAKE MIND DAMAGE! All six are slated to perform in the sketch comedy showcase at the Roundhouse Performance Centre, on Davie and Pacific Boulevard, for 3 performances running from June 17th at 8 pm and 18th at 7 pm and 9 pm. This year, the showcase is entitled ETCH-YOUR-SKETCHOFF! "in 3D", a tongue-in-cheek mockery of 3D movie mania, among other things.

All groups this year will be performing sketches celebrating the City of Vancouver's 125th birthday. For instance, on June 17, each group will be given a 6-10 minute set to perform their sketches in front of a live audience, where a panel of celebrity judges will award the winner the coveted RICE BOWL trophy. On June 18, in two performances, the audiences will be the judge where, through their applause, they will award the winner-take-all PEOPLE'S CHOYS AWARD to the top team at both shows.

Comedian/writer/performer Tetsuro Shigematsu will host the event with a guest appearance by comedian Tom Chin, and a musical performance by Carson "Chi Sun" Ho.

Tickets will be available at the door for $23 or $16 available only online at www.vact.ca.

Posted by Justin Ko | June 13, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian, Comedy, Events

'Made In Cardato' Contest | Calling All Young Designers

By Kayo Homma-Komori

If you are a young designer (18-30 years old), interested in sustainable design, and looking for your next big break, look no further. The Prato Chamber of Commerce and Prato Textile Museum team up to present Made In Cardato, an international design competition that urges young creatives to produce unique fashion and product designs using Cardato regenerated CO2 neutral textiles, the world's first-ever certified "zero-emission" textile product.

Prato, located in the picturesque Italian region of Tuscany, is a city that is closely tied to the textile trade, dating back to the Middle Ages. Therefore, it seems only fitting that they would present such a contest focused on innovative textiles, giving the city an opportunity to showcase its expertise in traditional textile products. Supported by leading companies in the industry, the competition will facilitate the exchange of ideas, industry expertise and resources between these young designers and established textile companies, thus enriching the overall industry.

Six lucky finalists will be flown to the beautiful Tuscan countryside to develop a prototype of their idea, which is a prize in and of itself. In the end, winners in two categories will win the grand prize of 2500 Euros! Did I hear someone say European shopping spree?

For more information, or to find out how to apply, please visit the Made In Cardato website at www.cardato.com.

Posted by Kayo Homma-Komori | June 17, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Environment, Fashion

New Summer Footwear From Oliberté

By Jocelyn Gan

2 years ago I was introduced to Oliberté, a footwear company that manufactures its shoes in Africa, using the country's natural resources to make its products. Oliberté's views of Africa are far from those of poverty, corruption, and economical underdevelopment. Africa has the ability to grow and support its people, and Oliberté sees this becoming possible by "building a world class footwear brand that can create thousands of jobs and also encourages manufacturers from other industries to work in Africa."

With summer finally making its way here, Oliberté has released its summer footwear line. From loafers to slip-ons to flats, there is a wide variety of shoes to choose from. For the guys I'm digging the Grey Nubuck Adibos, and for the ladies I have my eye on the Teal Nubuck Andellas.

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | June 7, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Fashion

The Today Show's New Lineup | A Step towards a Future of All Colours

By Brandon Woo

With Meredith Vierra leaving her position as host, the new lineup of the Today Show with Ann Curry as co-host will be one of the most multicultural shows on North American television.

Curry's co-anchor Matt Lauer and the show's Savannah Guthrie are both white, meteorologist Al Roker is African American, newsreader Natalie Morales is of Hispanic descent, and Curry herself is half-Japanese.

This is a huge win for multiculturalism being portrayed in mainstream television.

As we've seen in the past, the media has the ability to tell people what society should be like and what we as human beings should aim for. The problem with this is that North American media depictions of people—especially visible minorities—are often incorrect. And to make matters even worse, opportunities for visible minorities and diversity in media are simply not present in society yet.

Fortunately, circumstances are changing in our society. North America's racial composition is changing faster than ever before. Asian Canadians are the fastest-growing population in Canada and many of the first visible minorities to hold high public offices have been of African American descent. People are defeating the stereotypes of the past.

The future isn't black and white anymore, and Curry's promotion and the Today show's new lineup only strengthens this belief.

Check out Curry's first day as anchor on the Today Show!

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | June 9, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Race, Television

Little Saigon Cafes

By Guest Contributor Kenneth Chan

Picture Vietnamese iced coffee served by cute girls in hot outfits. Heaven?

No—it's just Asian cafe culture in Orange County LA. Situated in Garden Grove, a city which serves as a hub for South California's Vietnamese community, coffee shops are opening featuring attractive female servers in sexy outfits.

Not surprisingly, these cafes have sparked controversy within the city. Reports have been released that Garden Grove's council hopes to regulate what the waitresses are allowed to wear. Further regulations include restricting smoking and arcade games within the cafes. These cafes, which are becoming very popular within Garden Grove, draw both people and money into the city's Little Saigon. However, city police believe that these cafes also draw in crime, and they hope the council can keep them from turning into strip clubs.

Though the idea of these cafes might make some people uncomfortable, it's interesting that Orange County—an area with one of the most superficial and sexed up images within the United States—is targeting Little Saigon.

Council and law enforcement there believe that the cafes are becoming illicit hangouts. Yet, the various Hooters, and Caucasian-owned sexpresso stands that are spread throughout Southern Los Angeles seem to be deemed okay. The Council is cool with those places, just not the ones thriving in a tight-knit Asian-American community owned by Asian-American people.

So, this leads me to ask 3 things:

1. If Council views Vietnamese lingerie cafes as inappropriate, why are the two Hooters in Orange County not also included under the new regulations being passed?
2. What's Garden Grove police hanging around and wasting tax dollars "busting" Vietnamese cafes anyways? Were they bored after arresting Kevin for killing Marissa Cooper?
3. Why doesn't Vancouver have any of these cafes? I'm pretty sure a lot of Vancouver guys like Vietnamese coffee and cute waitresses too.

The point is, Garden Grove police should focus their efforts on more crucial issues. If their City Council wants to regulate dress code and what arcade games can be played in Vietnamese cafes, then they need to apply the same standards outside of Little Saigon. It's easy to attack something controversial happening within an ethnic community, but it's not right if those same regulations don't apply outside of it.

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | June 14, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian American

Treacherous, Amorous, Joyous | TAJ is an Emotional Rollercoaster Ride through Culture & History

By Olga Pazukha

Who would have thought a lesson in history could leave you glued to your seat? And no, its not because you're falling asleep!

Everyone knows of the Taj Mahal, and its symbolism as a monument to undying love, but not many know the human (hi)story behind the creation. Presented in the universal language of dance,TAJ -- a dance-theatre production by Toronto's Sampradaya Dance Creations -- has captivated audiences with its emotional portrayals of the main characters behind the monumental structure. Starring international performance star Kabir Bedi and acclaimed Canadian actress Lisa Ray the production features kathak dance choreography performed by dancers from Canada, U.K. and India.

The story moves seamlessly across generations and weaves an intricate tale of love, jealousy, deception and power struggles through theatre, dance and music. Background knowledge of the Taj Mahal is not necessary as the cast takes the audience on an emotional journey showcasing the human side of history. While the celebrity of the stars can be the initial appeal of the production, it is the quality of performance and complexity of the story that keep the viewers rooted in their seats until the very end.

Artistic direction from TAJ creator Lata Pada, supported by Governor General's Award Winning playwrite John Murrell and Dora-winning opera director Tom Diamond, lays the foundation for the story. It is the performers who map out a route to navigate South Asian culture and history with the universally understandable language of movement, music and emotion.

For more information check out sampradaya.ca.

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | June 8, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Dance, Music, Theatre

TwoMangoes.com | A Dating Site for South Asians

By Vinnie Yuen

TwoMangoes.com says they are "South Asian dating done right!" The premise of the website is that dating sites for South Asians are too out-dated, stale and just plain "FOB-ish", and that they have a fresh approach to the South Asian dating scene.

Their YouTube advertisement mimics the "Mac vs. PC" commercial, with a dorky East Indian man with an accent and a bow tie and a suave groomed East Indian man in a casual suit and a hot woman on his arm.

While TwoMangoes.com seems "modern" and "hip", the ad itself adopts a traditional, centuries-old underlying value: that beautiful women contribute to men's status and make them look cool when compared with other men. The cool guy gets the hot girl, while the dork doesn't get one at all.

Furthermore, what does "FOB-ish" mean? Having an accent? Dressing in a dorky way? How does one become non-FOB-ish? The site raises all kinds of questions about what being a "FOB" means, especially when it comes to dating. The message of the ad is that the "FOBs" want to date the hot girls, but can't, so they must resort to becoming matched with Indian girls they've never met before.

I don't see anything wrong with like-minded individuals who are looking for similar things in a partner. But the advertisement and the website's statement plays heavily on stereotypes and focuses on what the website isn't—a place where "FOBs" don't usually hang out, unless of course, by invitation.

Posted by Vinnie Yuen | June 9, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Advertising, Identity, India, Race

The Circle Lens | How to Achieve the "Kawaii" Look

By Kayo Homma-Komori

The latest beauty trend among young Asian women, the circle lens, is a cosmetic contact lens that gives the illusion of larger eyes by extending the diameter of the iris, mimicking the look of oh-so-kawaii anime characters.

You probably know the exact look I'm talking about. Young asian women, complete with bleached blond hair and feathery eyelashes, stare doe-eyed into the camera with their unusually large, doll-like eyes: kawaii.

Developed in Korea, the majority of the circle contact lens is covered by colour, thereby extending the diameter of the iris by a few millimeters, giving the appearance of large, anime-like eyes. The contacts come in a variety of colours, from natural to exotic, in prescription and non-prescription varieties.

While it seems to be common belief that Lady Gaga popularized the look, sporting enlarged irises in her music video for "Bad Romance", in actuality Gaga wasn't wearing circle lenses, but rather used digital enhancement to enlarge her pupils (according to the Wiki page dedicated to circle lenses). Moreover, celebs in Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan have been flaunting this look for years, long before "Bad Romance" was released. So take that, Miss Gaga.

However, we can credit Miss Gaga for spreading the trend to North America, as more and more Canadian and American women are catching on. But before you rush out to your nearest Asian cosmetics store to cop a pair, buyer beware: while these fashionable lenses may be easy to get your hands on, it's probably because most haven't received the stamp of approval from recognized health services, rendering them a safety risk for your already-gorgeous peepers. Some experts have noted that many of these lenses are manufactured in Asian countries where there is little to no guidelines or supervision over the production of lenses. Beauty always comes at a cost; just don't let this cost be the health of your eyes.

Posted by Kayo Homma-Komori | June 10, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Beauty, Fashion

Boticca.com | Wear a Unique Story

By Justin Ko

The crafting website Etsy.com represents a popular online marketplace model for artisans and creators to sell and advertise their wares worldwide. The founders of Boticca, however, decided to take the model one step further and really work to create an online marketplace specifically for unique, high-end jewelry, handbags, and accessories.

As a result, Boticca,, which is a London-based startup company, stands out from the pack because of its commitment to forging personal connections with the artists who are sought out for their innovative pieces and designs. Having been set up last October, the company has already received millions of dollars in online investments, signaling that its concept of "wearing a unique story" is proving to be an attractive one indeed.

Boticca now represents over 180 artisans representing 30 countries, which really demonstrates the diversity of its independent artists. These artists were all personally invited to join the site, to maintain Bottica's "heavily curated environment" where guest curators are invited to recommend their favorite designers on a Boticca blog. On average, Boticca shoppers have a price cart of $160, showing that their customers are able to connect with the artisans enough to be satisfied with their pieces and designs.

Co-Founder Avid Larizadeh is excited about the possibilities of the site, noting that "there is clearly a real market for high-quality, distinct jewelry, bags and accessories that come with a meaningful story...And the best part is, we are changing lives for these artisans as the same time."

Posted by Justin Ko | June 7, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Design, Fashion

Kibatsu Cinema | Perfect Reflection of the Eccentricities of Japanese Pop Culture

By Kayo Homma-Komori

In celebration of all that is eccentric in Japanese pop culture, the Powell Street Festival Society and Pacific Cinematheque presented Kibatsu Cinema from May 27-29th.

If you are like me, and feel slightly disoriented in the world of cult classics, here's the lowdown on a handful of films that were featured:

Youth of the Beast
There is no room for the weak-hearted in Seijun Suzuki's 1963 Yakuza B-film, where gangsters run free in the streets and deceit & betrayal are as widespread as the common cold. Unpredictable plot twists and unusual camera angles keep the audience intrigued. Suzuki's amped-up cinematography at times appears like a Surreal painting a la Salvador Dali. And while the film may not seem to reflect real life, the juxtaposition of cacophonous, unruly city streets with quiet, composed intimate spaces does a pretty good job of displaying the extremes that are evident in Japanese society to this day.

Live From Tokyo
This documentary by Lewis Rapkin explores the bizarre Tokyo indie music scene, through interviews with musicians & industry pros, and lengthy footage from live shows, while shots of Tokyo's dynamic city life providing the backdrop. Rapkin presents a unique & unassuming exploration of this underground scene, which left me wanting to jump on a plane and discover some obscure band in one of Tokyo's many live music houses.

Doman Seman
Easily the most "cult-y" of the bunch, Go Shibata's non-narrative film is outside the realm of pretty much any category you might try to place it in. Instead of "thinking outside of the box", Shibata takes a sledge hammer and splits that confined box into a thousand pieces. Doman Seman plays out like a tripped out video game on steroids. By the end of it, you may feel as though you've seen it all, hardly blinking an eye as pretty school boys beat up homeless bums, and innocent kindergarteners stage midnight seances.

Posted by Kayo Homma-Komori | June 1, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Film

Korean Food Gallery | A Feast for Your Eyes

By Vinnie Yuen

Photo credit: Korean Food Gallery

Warning: this website will make you hungry. Korean Food Gallery features a plethora of Korean food images and links all on one website. From appetizers to desserts and drinks, the site has got you covered.

Staple Korean foods such as Bibimbap (my favourite) and Kimchi get their own categories on the site. Just in the Kimchi section, you've got 35 different variations on the dish.

For newbies to Korean food, check out the 101 section which lists 10 essential ingredients. Each ingredient is illustrated in the cutest way possible, with cartoon faces on each one.

The photos of Korean food are submitted by food bloggers. The gallery is a starting point for finding recipes, stories and memories of Korean food. The goal is to promote and raise awareness about the richness and unlimited possibilities of Korean cuisine.

The website accepts submissions from bloggers through its online form. Bloggers submit an image, a caption of no more than 140 characters, and a direct link to the post about the image.

Korean Food Gallery is a project by Barrel, a digital creative agency in New York City founded in 2006 by Peter Kang and Sei-Wook Kim. In 2009, Peter and Sei-Wook created I Am Korean American, a website that features stories from members of the Korean American community and promotes Korean American entrepreneurs and musicians.

Posted by Vinnie Yuen | June 2, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Food, Food Marketing, Korea

"Necomimi" | Brainwave-controlled Cat Ears

By Justin Ko

Japan has always been a place where futuristic technology has often been combined with a distinctly whimsical and child-like aesthetic. Toys and robots have been developed for decades which, while becoming popular worldwide, still retained a recognizable Japanese tradition.

Japanese technology has not always required some utilitarian purpose, or at least a purpose that is easily understood, and in this way it often has an uncanny ability to fascinate and entertain. Even in the wake of the devastating earthquake, it wouldn't be Japan without new inventions being released which clearly have the potential to both puzzle and intrigue.

Neurowear, a Japanese fashion company, has designed accessories which respond to varying brainwave patterns. Neurowear Cat Ears, branded as "Necomimi," represent the first of many products to come. These are not your ordinary accessories -- they are more like things you might wear for a costume party. The Cat Ears can basically respond by raising up and lowering down, when the wearer "concentrates" and "relaxes", respectively.

While this sort of technology has been around for some time, it has rarely been thought of with consumer or fashion applications. Presumably the cat ears will allow the wearer to subconsciously convey "what's on their minds," although that would be restricted to indicating when they are thinking and when they are daydreaming or not thinking about anything in particular.

Check out the video below, which explains the Necomimi better than I ever could.

Posted by Justin Ko | June 6, 2011 | Comments (0)

Tags: Japan, Technology

This page contains all entries posted to Schema Magazine's Blog, "Daily Dose" in June 2011. They are listed from oldest to newest.

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