Masculinity Session 3: Constructing and Reclaiming Masculinity

Helen Mun

Read before class: Thangaraj, S. I. (2015). Desi hoop dreams: Pickup basketball and the making of Asian American masculinity. New York, NY: New York University Press.   Discuss each of the themes and ideas from Desi Hoop Dreams listed above. Using a graphic organizer such as the one below, develop each idea and draw connections between them. Be sure to discuss concrete practices that the South Asian American basketball players used to construct their masculine identity. Stages of identity formation (ex. Basketball court as a stage, strip club as a…

Download and Watch Movie Split (2017)

Helen Mun

Split (2017) HD Director : M. Night Shyamalan. Writer : M. Night Shyamalan. Producer : Mark Bienstock, Jason Blum, M. Night Shyamalan. Release : January 19, 2017 Country : United States of America. Production Company : Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Blinding Edge Pictures. Language : English. Runtime : 117 min. Genre : Horror, Thriller. Movie ‘Split’ was released in January 19, 2017 in genre Horror. M. Night Shyamalan was directed this movie and starring by James McAvoy. This movie tell story about Though Kevin has evidenced 23 personalities to his…

Our Davidson Asian dad

An Ha

This is Mount Fuji. Besides the name, it’s unrelated to Fuji, our advisor of this independent study class the past semester. The first time I officially met Fuji was at his house. The Asian Culture & Awareness Association had a welcome dinner in the beginning of my freshmen year. His living and dining room were so packed that some people ate their Singapore noodles standing up. He was sitting on his couch, looking completely at ease in his crowded home and poking fun at various students with his boisterous voice. This photo…

“Asians Do Poetry Too!” Vol. 3

Iqra Tabassum

Have you ever told your mother that you didn’t want to do something and she said something along the lines of “in ten years you will thank me”? For me, that thing I didn’t want to do was henna. Ten years ago, before henna became oh so trendy and inspired western fashionistas to get in touch with their ~creative~ side, it was something my mother used to decorate my little hands to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr (Muslim holiday following the Holy bluehost fasting month, Ramadan). I’d walk into class showing off all my…

If Lin Gets Fouled and Nobody Calls It, Is it A Foul?

Philip Yu

  As the NBA regular season winds down, Charlotte Hornets Jeremy Lin made the news again, and this time, it’s not for his erratic hair style. On April 5, 2016, a member of the Reddit’s NBA sub-reddit community cut together a video titled “Jeremy Lin: Too Flagrant Not to Call.” The video records a play involving Lin and Clipper’s Wesley Johnson, who blocked Lin as he drove up and court and hit him right on the nose, resulting in a nosebleed.  Other examples in the video includes a foul by…

4 Fire Songs by Asian Artists You’ve Probably Never Heard Before

Helen Mun

If you’re like me, music has been with you during some of the most difficult times of your life. Listening to music isn’t just about aesthetics, but a personal connection. Growing up with a hyphenated identity is unique, and consists of a variety of experiences and perspectives. But growing up, the only representation of my identity that I found in music was in k-pop, the occasional Asian-American musician who played a supporting role in a band, and, as I grew older and gained more access to the Internet, YouTube artists. Asian-Americans…

Asian American Body Perceptions

Kaylie Tram

                  Inspired by what went unexplained in this BuzzFeed Video: As an Asian American daughter I have grown up with criticisms towards my body from every one of my 10+ relatives, especially from my parents. The comments mostly involved weight. I was too curvy compared to my cousins who represented the typical Asian American body image. The comments started when I was in elementary school, but grew more critical as I hit puberty. “Kaylie, you’ve gained weight. Why aren’t you exercising more?” “Kaylie, why…

Dreamy and Asian

Melissa McKinney

When ABC announced the cancellation of Selfie after only 13 episodes, I was heartbroken. Okay, maybe not heartbroken, but there was definite disappointment over the decision. As an avid television watcher, I’m constantly on the prowl for new shows. Although network comedies aren’t really my thing (I’m a sucker for pretty much any show on CW though), I was really excited when Selfie began airing. For the first time ever on prime time American television, John Cho, an Asian American male, was cast as the romantic lead. It’s not exactly a secret that Hollywood…

Where did All the Asians Go?: A Future with No Asians in Blade Runner and Her

Evan Yi

“I love Asian fusion!” When Joaquin Pheonix’s character Theodore shouts these words to his date, played by Olivia Wilde, in the critically acclaimed 2015 film Her, they are not meant to be particularly illuminating in any way. Rather, the words are meant to be trivial chatter that Theodore shares with his date as a part of the dating game; he will ultimately betray his fear of commitment to her later that night, and Olivia Wilde’s character leaves him, never appearing again after her ten minute cameo. But whatever Spike Jonze meant…

Reflections of SERCAAL

Iqra Tabassum

Sometimes I just need a space where I can be as Asian as I want to be. So when I had the opportunity to go to the South East Regional Conference for Asian American Leaders in Atlanta, I thought why not? I didn’t expect much (except maybe to find people who love Korean Dramas as much as I do or a really cute desi guy…) I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did I meet tons of other Asian American activists, I had great conversations with people who cared about these…