Merchants of Cool

I previously watched this film in a class I took a couple years ago (SOC 25: Popular Culture) so it made a lot more sense watching it the second time around. It's quite insane how much power and influence the media has on the young generation when it comes to marketing what is seen as cool or popular. Various media outlets are constantly competing with one another nowadays to highlight their message, product, etc and almost brainwash their audience as much as possible. Teenagers are increasingly relying on the media to provide them with a ready made identity on what is cool so that they can fit in and be like everyone else (or better). However, it's sad and unfortunate that the media is always telling teenagers the wrong message such as they are not thin enough, they're not pretty enough, they don't have the right friends, they are losers unless they're cool, etc. Realistically, I don't think anybody really ever feels cool enough.

Laotian Daughters

This piece was particularly interesting to me since it deeply focuses on the generational gap between first and second generation immigrant families as well as the gender roles that are especially present in Laotian (and other Asian) families. In addition, I think it covers the struggle of identity in a way that is relevant to me since I, too, have trouble figuring whether I identify as Indian, Punjabi, American, or a combination of the above. In terms of Laotian girls, the strict parental control that is present in their lives and the emotional effect that it has on them pushes them away from their Laotian culture and pulls them into assimilating into American culture. Love for family, on the other hand, pulls them away from American culture and pushes them back into their Laotian culture. Overall, social meanings of gender, generation, and ethnicity are produced, appropriated, and contested through social interactions inside and outside ethnic communities.

Heterogeneity, Hybridity, and Multiplicity

I think this article was especially important because it discusses and points out the differences in Asian groups as opposed to the ignorant notion that "all Asians are the same." Heterogeneity is used to show the differences among Asian Americans in terms of national origin, gender, class background, economic conditions, etc. In addition, Lowe uses the term hybridity to explain the history of survival within relationships of unequal power and domination. Overall, Lowe tries to use these two terms as well as multiplicity in order to shift the paradigm of Asian people being homogenous, fixed, and stable.

Indo-Chic

Bohemian style and Indo-chic later influenced Western fashion eras during the 1970’s flower power and 2000’s Coachella style. In addition, Bohemian style was intertwined with India fashion influence. In the 1970’s, many considered Bohemian style as “hippie-clothing” and was often associated with free-flowing attire. As many fashion styles changed within each decade, the Bohemian style fashion cycle returned. The adoption of indo-chic has a gray line of appropriation because many of the western influxes especially those of middle class are being to use this culture to their fashion advantage. Nonetheless, the contradiction derives between Native Indians wearing the style to western adoption of the style. If western fashion wears the style it is seen as chic, but if Indians wear the style it is seen as traditional.

Vietnam Idol

Vietnam Idol was an attempt to bring western-influenced popular culture to the market. Vietnam was trying to modernize it culture, particularly for young people between the ages 18-30. However, while doing so, they simultaneously tried to incorporate other geo-cultures like the Japan, China, and Korea. This effort was not successful because they did not see the country as its own. Vietnam, compared to the three Asian countries mentioned, was extremely poor and had different priorities and cultural beliefs. It is as of the hegemonic power tried to group the Asian groups together hoping they would collide and make a smooth transition to western popular culture. It seems as if these show business treat young people as commodities for the international market. They're training and conditioning them to compete and partake in a globalized culture to put their country in the international spotlight. However, I believe that it is important to point out and acknowledge that they're not utilizing their country's own culture, but are using a global culture controlled by the western world.

Kwon and Aoki

I find it quite interesting that the immigrant issues mentioned in Kwon's article are always brought about to the public by pan-ethnic groups. It is beneficial for small immigrant group to be represented by larger pan-ethnic groups in order to gain attention. However, I believe that sometimes these groups should not always represent smaller Asian American communities. It is important for small Asian American communities to place their stake in America and confront issues that are specific to them. Additionally, the relationship between the youth and the Cambodian immigrants in the context of holding little power in politics is somewhat similar to the first wave of Asian immigrants and their children as people unable to acquire citizenship.

The film Aoki highlights the beginning of ethnic studies in California. I thought it was interesting how the struggle was hard fought and how it put Asian American bodies on the line. In addition, I noticed how Richard Aoki's outfit was very similar to the Black Panther style. It is also worth noting that both Aoki and the Black Panthers were militant and radical in promoting pan-ethnic solidarity and resistance of police force.

Billionaires for bush & Meme Warfare

One of the things that I found very interesting about the article was memes. Memes is a very powerful tool to show the truth and spread the truth fast. However, do memes show all of the truth? Memes definitely help the truth spread quickly, but it does not show every side of the story. Also, memes are usually biased and show the popular opinion rather than the whole picture. This relates to many the memes posted on college pages on FaceBook. Many of these memes show many college students relating to each other since we are all failing together. However, another side of the story that is not often talk about is that these students are relating to each other since they are all trying to get a higher education at the institute.