Leah’s Weblog
Just another WordPress.com weblogJon and Kate Plus 8 clip
I felt it was necessary to add in this clip of Jon and Kate Plus 8 since we’ve been talking about it in class. I can honestly say that this a show where the “Asian factor” isn’t important. This clip just shows the family (pictures and tiny clips) but I encourage you all to watch it on Monday nights, 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on channel 40 (TLC). It’s awesome, I swear.
Who said Asian people don’t show emotion?
So this movie, I must say, really had me thinking. The whole movie had me puzzeled, hence my question in class was ”what is the point of this?” . The idea of it being a representation of seeing Asians as having emotions/feelings makes me laugh. Clearly we all know that humans have emtions. I think people tend to believe that we stereotype more than we really do. Yes, there is some exceptions, but not every always thinks of Asians as stonecold people who only care about education and success.
I’m not sure what to think of all of the segements in the (overall) movie. Now that I think of it, I can see how they fit together but still have a difficult time understanding ‘why’. The story that most touched me was the “Robot Fixer”. The story of a mother and child always makes me tear up. It makes me sick to think that people think Asians don’t have feelings. I think that the director, and writer, stereoytped their own people in this clip. Do Asian mothers really yell at their sons about being ‘stupid’ when they are on their death beds? Are they really concerned about what type of job their child held while he is moments from death? No mother in their right mind would be freaking out over it. Yes, I’m aware I’m not Asian and a part of this culture, but I truly can’t fathom any mother doing this to their child during this time.
In regards to stereotypes, some cultures bring it upon themselves. The majority of the pieces we have read all have these negative ideas about Asians brought on by the authors who ARE Asian. Does anyone see a problem with this? From the moment we started this class, we have all tried so hard to not bring up stereotypes that we feel towards this culture. Yet it seemed so difficult to disregard them and ignore them ourselves because all of the authors were throwing them out infront of our faces. We couldn’t help but talk and discuss about it! So my question is why do Asians, if not all cultures, get upset when others stereotype them? They are clearly doing it to themselves! They know the stereotypes but don’t do anything about them. The movie is a perfect example. Of course they would put robots in there. Robots +Technology=Science=Scientists=Smart People=Asians does anyone else see this equation as easily as I do? What I’m tryig to say is, people shouldn’t get upset about things when they aren’t doing anything to change it. And this goes for EVERY situation in this world, not just stereotyping. But I think it’s important to keep this in the back of minds, the idea that people should be more open to everyone and every culture, including their own.
Seriously, the best clip ever!
http://www.videosift.com/video/Chris-Farley-Japanese-Game-Show
Alright, so I was watching “The Best of Chris Farley” and totally forgot about this clip! It’s so funny and really does relate to our class. Enjoy!
Films
I never really thought about Asian films. Yeah, we would all make fun of the Asian movies when the people would talk so fast and when they dubbed it in English, their lips would have stopped moving for 20 seconds while the English was still going. I don’t know why Asian films aren’t popular and why they haven’t made it “big” in America. Why do we as Americans have such problems accepting other films and other cultures into our country? Why do we not find them “as exciting” as American films. I’m pretty sure they’re better and less stereotypical than what we have today.
All of the films that were mentioned seemed interested and I’m excited to watch the movie on Monday. I wonder if the filming technique is different or they pay attention to more details. I guess I’ll have to wait and find out.
And so it ends…
Wow, so much to write about. So to start off, I’m extremely upset that Jane lost the baby. Like what a blow to the face; overcoming such odds and then still getting slapped in the face. And Akiko being pregnant! What?! One of my favorite parts relates to this, when Jane and Akiko are talking. ” ‘Don’t be,’ I told her. ‘i’m getting used to it. I’m hapy for you. Is it John’s?’ ” “Akiko nodded. ‘Of course,’ she said. ‘He rape me. Just before he left for Colorado.’ “ What a going away gift that was! But seriously, I don’t feel that it was fair. Akiko didn’t really want a child, or so it seemed. Jane was the one that wanted one for so long and wasn’t able to. But I am glad that her and Sloan are back together, probably going to get married. Maybe the nickle thing will work.
Anyways, Jane is pretty smart, and so are those Japanese men! Saving the tapes and keeping them from “John Wayno”; who by the way is not a pig anymore, just a straight asshole. Strange how on page 266 the cowboys (haha John Wayno) said, ” “Yup, these cows here’s goin’ straight to Japan…I heard they even eat the assholes and everything.” Strange how big of an asshole John is. But still, the whole notion of eating meat and loving it and making a show about it is still disturbing. I can’t believe that this idea would even fly with Japanese women. Wouldn’t they rather watch Rachel Ray and her 30 Minute Meals? Honestly.
The whole idea of DES and poor Rosie broke my heart. This 5 year old girl has boobs and is getting her period (again with the idea of periods). It makes me sick to think that this is really going on in our country and no one talks about it. It’s all hush-hush until someone brings forth a big story. And even though there are stories like this all the time and things supposedly get done about it, people STILL continue to eat meat. We can all bitch and complain but nothing is going to get done unless we do something about it. I don’t know much about the meat industry but I bet this stuff goes on all the time. This book is a true wake-up to all people who are farmers and produce our food. Unfortunately, we, as a country, are all talk and no action and people suffer from this everyday.
Who got their period??
So this book is great! Honestly, like one of those crazy soap’s and I love it! Let’s talk about Jane. What a gal! She honestly is trying to do the best she can. She seems to embrace her Japanese culture but isn’t sure what direction to head into. It’s almost as though she’s embarassed of her crew and can’t stand them as well. She goes against the what the Japanese head people want; a nice, clean cut white family and insteads casts these crazy people- the one family with like 8 Korean kids; yeah a little insane. But anyways, Jane is a great character but Akiko is the one we have to watch.
I thought it was interesting on page 87 where it says, “The modern Japanese housewife, living a hermetic existence, increasingly cut off from contact with the world, is literally losing her voice. Is it any wonder she prefers to interact with a machine?” Wow! Even today these women don’t have much of a say-forget what Takaki said! This is kind of like a step back for women. I thought this book took place in present day, not the ’70s. This shows true for Akiko. The poor girl even hates going grocery shopping! Her and “John Wayno” are strange ones and definitley need to be watched throughout the book. And I’m glad the African Americans at the church didn’t laugh at his joke (pg. 103). He’s a perve and shouldn’t be allowed to have babies. Hopefully Akiko won’t get pregnant, even though she got her period back. On that note, I wonder how the guys in our class feel about part of the book being focused around periods and sex…well, I know they like the sex parts but the periods..do you guys feel uncomfortable when we talk about periods? I guess I’ll have to bring up the issue on periods in class tomorrow..
But I’m a vegetarian!
My Year of Meats…what a book so far! I actually enjoy this one! We know exactly what Jane does and don’t have to guess who she is or what she does. I think this book is very relevant in regards to today’s world and the idea of “reality television”. Today, you can’t turn on a t.v. without watching something that pertains to “reality t.v.”. Every show has some sort of aspect of it; yet we, as Americans, LOVE it! So why wouldn’t the Japanese love it too? And the whole idea about meat? Honestly, how can anyone justify creating a show around cooking different meats? I liked the line where it said something like the show was really the commericals and the “commercials” was really the show. This book is just so absurd, but I love it!
I found it strange that this show, My American Wife!, was filmed in the U.S. Why not Japan? Wouldn’t the targeted audience relate better to Japanese people rather than Americans? And what was with the requirements given? They had to find attractive looking people who knew how to cook; almost impossible unless your on the Food Network. I just found it ironic that the people they did find, the “perfect” ones, always seemed to have something negative about them; such as Suzie Flower and her cheating husband. Another point that made me laugh was that they had to reshoot the Valentine’s day scene where the Flowers were to kiss. Uh…I thought this was “reality”, not staged! Oh, how people love these crazy shows!
One line that stood out in my mind was on pg. 56 when Jane introduces Sloan as 6 different people and none of the Japanese crew members catch on. She says, “maybe it was that all Americans looked the same…” What?! I thought it was the other way around! Isn’t it that we see Asians all “looking the same”?! Is she trying to poke fun at us, to say that Asians think the same way about Americans?
Jane seems like a great character but loves to discuss about sex..strange. Oh well, atleast this book is interesting and actually modern and could really happen, unlike the other 900 books we read this semester.
Finally, the end
So good old John Kwang dug himself a grave. Change-Rae Lee should just be the new Miss Cleo, exploting the idea that our government officals are involved with prositutes…scandalous! Also the idea that Kwang was giving money to illegal immigrants, just like Spitzer wanted to give immigrants licenses…strange! Anyways, I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I know I state this opinion in every post but seriously, I just couldn’t get into it. I did enjoy reading about his experiences with his family but not his whole work thing. It just got so repetive and not needed at points.
At the end, when Kwang is missing, May, his wife, fears he may have taken his own life. Henry says, “But I told her she was wrong. I know he is alive. Koreans don’t take their own lives. At least not from shame” (pgs. 332-333). I thought this was interesting because at one point, Henry’s dad says that Koreans are made up of pride and shame. This may relate back to the tales of Takaki and how the Koreans were overtaken by the Japanese and how they may have felt that shame as to not being able to hold their own grounds. They were used to feeling “shame” as people and as a country. So used to it that it never affected them like it would any other person. I feel that Change-Rae Lee relates themes amongst his family and his work; as though they are connected as one.
The last part of the book, “calling all the difficult names of who we are” (pg. 349) is a great ending to this book. To me, the “difficult names” are all the different people that have been apart of Henry’s life. All of them, non-white people, were different. Kwang changed his name once arriving in NYC and I’m pretty positive Henry’s name isn’t his “real” name. To sum it up, everyone’s name tells a story of who they are; all are unique, regardless of their pronunciation.
Who knows?
Alright, so before reading more into this book, I’d like to take a moment to reflect about everything that has gone on. For some reason this book just isn’t grabbing my interest; I don’t know why, it’s just not happening.
So, so far we have Henry Park, who is estranged from his wife, Leila. Together, the two had a son, Mitt, who died in a tragic “accident”, although Leila flips over Henry using that term. It seems that Henry’s whole family is gone: his mother, father, Mitt, Ahjuhma, and now his wife. Although Henry’s family is gone, he seems to have a close relationship with the people he works with. Speaking of his job, we’re still unsure of exactly what he does. We know that he stalks people and tries to become a part of their life (ie-Kwang). Yet, for some reason, when he’s done with these people, they end up dead, such as the pysciatrist. What have these people done that they must be killed?
As much as I’m not enjoying this book as much as the others, I am intrigued as to why certain things are happening. Obviously, there are some underlying factors that have caused these events to happen. I feel nervous for Henry, afriad that he will slip up and end up revelaing who he is and what his real job is. What will become of him? These burning questions make reading this book so difficult because I feel that it is so drawn out. But, what can I do? Continue to read!
Who can it be now?
Okay, so once again, I really don’t know how I feel about this book. It’s almost like we’re detectives trying to find out who Henry Park really is. I haven’t been able to read the whole section that’s due for tomorrow yet but I did get through the first 50 pages. So although I don’t have a true answer as to what I may be blogging about, these were my thoughts as I read:
I think the beginning of this reading really says a lot. Henry Park and the people he works with really don’t know who they are. They live two separate lives and don’t know which one to really connect with. On page 33, Park discusses this idea of living two lives. He says, “Our work is but a string of serial identity. But then who was the Jack that loved and buried Sophie; was he just another version in the schema, or the true soul, or could he have been both?” This quote shows the struggles that these people go through. Who are they really? Is their home life really who are they are or is another character that they are portraying to make others happy? Park lives a complicated life and I feel that he’s trying to find out who he really is, outside of his work-life.
