Hyphen Blog

May 13, 2008

Asian Baby in United Color of Benetton Ad

I came across this on Facebook the other day (yes yes, I have a Facebook account and so does Hyphen) and am I just crazy? Is this old and I just didn't notice it before?

And if I did notice it before, is this image more relevant today?

United Colors of Benetton has been known for its edgy ads, and of course, the diverse models. I admit. I don't own anything that's a UCB item but I do like their image. What do you see when you look at the image? Unfortunate for me, I see a young Madonna trying to adopt, well, a baby. Ok no seriously. Tell me what you see, because I am not exactly sure what United Colors of Benetton was trying to do here. Help me grasp the meaning of this!

Posted by lisalee at 11:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 12, 2008

Blogging from Slantyville

The first post. It has such a nice ring to it doesn't it?

It probably even sounds better in another language.

La primera entrada de blog.

Definitely like that.

Who knows, maybe after this I'll start posting in Spanish (even though I only know survival Spanish and phrases like "Sabado Gigante!"). Maybe I'll throw in a little ad hoc Cantonese and Vietnamese too (although I need to learn those languages first).

Really -- anything to make me sound semi-coherent, which only begs the question of what the hell I'm even talking about -- and to be honest, I don't even know.

Continue reading "Blogging from Slantyville"

Posted by Slanty at 2:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Singers Justin and George Nozuka On the Rise

Entertainment Weekly's website recently highlighted upcoming male singer-songwriters in a profile entitled, Guys on the Rise: 8 Emerging Singer-Songwriters. Clocking in at number 3 is Japanese/American Justin Nozuka who was born in New York but raised in Toronto, and is interestingly enough, nephew of American actress Kyra Sedgwick who's married to Kevin Bacon. Wow, six degrees of Kevin Bacon really does work.

Continue reading "Singers Justin and George Nozuka On the Rise"

Posted by sylvie at 9:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 11, 2008

Once and Future Radicals: Richard Aoki

I've recently watched a couple of documentaries about radical movements in the 1960s and 70s: Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst, The Weather Underground and a narrative film about the Naxalite movement in West Bengal called Calcutta My Love.

Continue reading "Once and Future Radicals: Richard Aoki"

Posted by neela at 9:59 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

Happy Mother's Day (For Peace)

That's a pic of my baby doing the Asian squat, which he learned pretty much as soon as he gained neck control. And check it out, he can cook stir-fry in a wok too!

In all seriousness, I promised to myself that I would take the time to write something on Mother's Day.

It is funny to say now that I am officially a receiver of the greeting "Happy Mother's Day." Being a mama is a very new part of my identity. I don't remember what I did last year on Mother's Day, but I'm pretty sure I was still adjusting to taking care of a newborn (Baby T was about 2 months then). Plus, those early early days are a blur now.

Continue reading "Happy Mother's Day (For Peace)"

Posted by momo at 8:35 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

NY Times Highlights Hmong American Rapper

It's so cool to see a subtle increase in stories about Asian Americans this month. This NY Times video on Minnesota Hmong American poet/rapper Tou Saiko Lee is pretty dope. I was especially interested in the end when he talks about performing with his grandmother: She busts a flow in ancient Hmong poetry and then he starts rapping with her. Have people seen any other subtle Asian Pacific American Heritage Month coverage that they're into?

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May 10, 2008

The Revolution Starts in the Kitchen

Continue reading "The Revolution Starts in the Kitchen"

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May 9, 2008

3 Pairs of Tickets for Silk Screen, Pittsburgh

If you can't tell already, Hyphen loooves Asian American films. What that means for you, is free tickets!

Get a quick Silk Screen tutorial with the Comcast Newsmakers Interview with Festival Director, Harish Saluja.

Continue reading "3 Pairs of Tickets for Silk Screen, Pittsburgh"

Posted by lisalee at 3:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 8, 2008

Is Eri Chan Appropriating an Asian Culture?

NPR's Second Stage music section profiles American ex-pat Lizzie Moore who lives in Japan and performs Asian-inflected indie/electro music under the name Eri Chan. Her debut album - entitled Fire Fox - has a lead track "KitsuneBi" ("fire fox" in Japanese) and much of the album explores, in the artist's words, "the thoughts of a girl living in Japan, fascinated by folklore and possessed by a fox."

Continue reading "Is Eri Chan Appropriating an Asian Culture?"

Posted by sylvie at 10:59 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

May 6, 2008

Everybody Loves the JabbaWockeeZ

I apologize for not posting as often as I'd like but I've been so busy with work and other pressing deadlines.

Anyway, I'm still amazed at the fact that people just can't seem to get enough of the JabbaWockeeZ group. Last week, I attended the East West Players (EWP) 42nd Anniversary Visionary Awards dinner held at the Universal Hilton Hotel. The EWP awarded the dance crew the Breakout Performance Award. Last year, Masi Oka of "Heroes" received the award.

Photo By: Gary Wong