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October 19th 2004: Issue 19
Soju. You have to give it its props. For such a potent drink that comes nicely packaged in a small 330ml bottle, it has come a long way. The most widley consumed spirit by volume in the world, it has helped me and many of my Korean American peers celebrate countless times, on many special occassions (sometimes those special occassions being that its "Tuesday"). You'll find it at any business meeting, traditional holiday celebration, or karaoke room. So why doesn't New York magazine recognize this? Apparently the Intelligencer, a hip, trend-spotting guide section of the magazine thinks its a Japanese drink and say that this underground drink is all the rage as the soon-to-be hip spirit to drink. Aren't they too cool for school! So hip! Someone fire their fact checker. And their resident trend spotter. (For one of the funniest profiles I have come across about the drink, read Land of Soju)
And yet another media jab at Koreans, this time from the Queen of Talk herself. Oprah broadcast a story, "Women at 30", which profiles women image culture in various countries around the world. Mexican women like to dress sexy. Great. In Brazil, bikini culture is big. Fabulous. And Korea? Well, Korean women "worship" plastic surgery. C'mon Oprah! Can't you find a better negative stereotype to pick? Keep up with the times—The Wall Street Journal insulted us years ago with this already.
Say what you will about Margaret Cho, but her recent response to Michelle Malkin's racially controversial book In Defense of Internment, shows that she is an eloquent, articulate woman with a strong foundation in her beliefs. For other good rebuttals to Malkin's positons, take a glance at (come on, you weren't doing work at office anyway) H Y Nahm's and Jeff Yang's piece. And just brief note—there's an interview with up-and-coming Korean American Sandra Oh (of Arli$$ fame) who stars in the critically acclaimed indie hit Sideways, set to be released tommorrow night, October 20th. And don't forget to read my review of Untold Scandal
-ubn
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THEATER
Mom, Dad, I'm Living With A White Girl
By Marty Chan, Directed by Ron Nakahara
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Now - November 7th
Wednesday - Saturday, 7:30pm, Sundays, 3:00pm
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West End Theatre
263 West 86 Street 2nd floor of Church of St. Paul
New York City
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$40, discounts for students/seniors/groups
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www.panasianrep.org | TicketCentral 212) 279-4200
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The 2004-05 season will open with a quartet of adventurous actors in Marty Chan's over-the-top Mom, Dad, I'm Living With a White Girl, a sparkling comedy/'satire about dating, disownment, and B-movie fantasies by Canadian playwright Marty Chan, directed by Pan Asian's Ron Nakahara, in which traditional Chinese parents are delivered their worst nightmare: their son wants to live with a white girl! Parents all dread the day their son or daughter falls in love with someone of whom they disapprove, not to mention the further indignity of seeing couples live together without marrying. For Chinese immigrants, the issue is exacerbated when their children choose non-Chinese partners. All these ingredients make for explosive comedy. Gasoline and Zippo lighters meet when Mark Gee introduces his white girlfriend, Sally Davis, to his horrified parents.
Interwoven into this domestic comedy is a ribald and fast-paced send-up of a B-movie called Wrath of the Yellow Claw. The Yellow Claw is, not surprisingly, The Mother, with Mark's dad taking the role of her henchman. They are pitted against Mark and Sally, who appear as secret agents in this film noir pot-boiler. These fantasy sequences reveal the subtext of the real story, allowing characters to discard their inhibitions and, as befitting a B-movie melodrama, say what they really feel about one another. When Mark finally confesses that he is living with Sally, for example, we see his mother's reaction in the Yellow Claw world: Mark stabs her in the heart with a poisoned chopstick!
In the fantasy world, Mark wants to defect from the ranks of the yellow horde; the yellow horde wants to kill Sally, and Sally wants to save Mark and the world from the yellow peril. Finally, In the end, fantasy and reality blur into one as Mark's worlds collide. Though he tried to find a way to bring everyone together, his efforts failed, and when forced to make a choice between family and lover, he surprises everyone!
Pan Asian Repertory Theatre the pioneer Asian American company directed by Tisa Chang, continues to surprise and challenge with its vast and varied repertory of works by Asian and Asian-American playwrights, performed by actors whose countries of birth, or heritage, include China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Viet Nam.
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MOVIE RELEASE
Untold Scandal
Read my review of Untold Scandal here.
Acclaimed Korean period drama, E J-Yong's Untold Scandal, starring Korean superstar Bae Yong-jun is set to open in New York on Wednesday, October 13th. Set at the dusk of the Chosun dynasty in the late 18th century, Untold Scandal translates all characters from Choderlos de Laclos' Les Liaisons Dangereuses into Korean archetypes of an unspoken but highly regulated social fabric. The cold and perverse male lead is played by Korean sex icon Bae Yong-jun, the commanding Lee Mi-Suk re-defines psychological manipulation as his stunning royal cousin (a role played by Glenn Close in Stephen Frears' Dangerous Liaisons) and Jeon Do-yeon evokes the romantic equation of goodness and decorum as the young widow who falls victim to their destructive scheming.
By turning de Laclos' controversial tale of conquest, love and betrayal into an exquisite Korean tragedy of manners, director E J-Yong infuses Untold Scandal with the perfect blend of cultural specificity, Machiavellian eroticism and human poignancy. Upper class debauchery never looked this sharp. Untold Scandal is not rated. In Korean with English subtitles.
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FORUM
The Perpetual Moment: Visions from within Okinawa and Korea
Okinawan and Korean photographers document the cause and effect of the US military bases on the Okinawa archipelago and the Korean peninsula. In association with the exhibit at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center / MoMA October 17th ?December
13th. The 20th Century is labeled with bloodstained regret as “A Century of Wars,?and in those 100 years innumerable photographs were taken of battles and wars, and of the plights of the people and places they affected. The images associated with this exhibit are US military bases that have been in existence since 1945 in Okinawa and on the Korean Peninsula. These photographs reveal the lives and suffering, as well as the joy and relief, of the local sovereign people living in these areas.
The conscientious photographers of this exhibition reveal how one decisive moment persists over time and resurges with tragic effects. They were taken through the eyes of insiders, through the eyes of privies, they tell the story of their reality in a tone deeper and more polyphonic than that of outsiders, echoing the decisive moment of their history. Through their own poignant reality, they witness the perpetual moment of history.
This free public symposium will reflect upon the complex history that gave rise to the reality depicted in
the pictures of the exhibition through a broader discussion on the role and effects of the US military bases on the local populations. Endorsed by: Peace Education Center, The Korean Graduate Students Association, Teachers College Columbia University Teachers College, Columbia University.
Panelists
Lee Yong Nam (Photographer, Korea)
Ahn Hae Ryoun (Photographer, Korea)
Lee Jae Gab (Photographer, Korea)
Noh Soon Taek (Photographer, Korea)
Toyomitsu Higa (Photographer, Okinawa)
Mao Ishikawa (Photographer, Okinawa)
Discussion Moderator
Dr. Betty Reardon (Peace Education Center)
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COMEDY
The Kimchi Show: The Korean-American Comedian Show
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Tuesday, October 19th, 9:00pm
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New York Comedy Club (Main Showroom)
241 East 24th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Ave
New York City
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$15, $18 at the door
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ibediaproduction@yahoo.com
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IBedia Production presents "The Kimchi Show: The Korean-American Comedian Show". Come out and enjoy the comedy show by three well-known talented Korean-American comedians. Although it is called, "The Kimchi Show", you will never hear any jokes from these comedians about kimchi because we are all sick and tired of hearing them! These three comics have appeared on various television shows including Comedy Central, various late night talk shows, and live performances
across the nation. Come out and share some gut-busting laughs with your friends! There is limited seating, so please reserve your seats now.
Featuring:
Steve Byrne www.stevebyrnelive.com
Eliot Chang www.echang.com
Tina Kim www.tinakim.com
There is a two drink minimum at this club. Also be forewarned that they include the tip on your final bill, so don't double tip--get your exact change back.
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DINNER
2004 Caring For Children Awards Dinner
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Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF)
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Wednesday, October 20th, 2004, 6:00pm
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Jing Fong Restaurant
20 Elizabeth Street
New York City
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www.cacf.org
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The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), an advocacy organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Asian American children in New York City, is hosting its annual dinner Wednesday October 20th. Honorees include: apl.de.ap, Founding Member, Grammy-nominated hip-hop group The Black Eyed Peas; Michael Dadap and Yeou-Cheng Ma, Directors, Children’s Orchestra Society; S. Mitra Kalita, Education reporter, The Washington Post & President, South Asian Journalists Association; Lois Lee, Director, Chinese American Planning Council Queens School Age Day Care Center at P.S. 20 in Queens; Changsam Suh, M.D., Psychiatric consultant, Drug Rehabilitation Program at Phoenix House and Opti-Healthcare; Newsday, New York Daily Newspaper.
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BENEFIT DINNER
The YKASEC 20th Anniversary Gala: "Advancing Immigrant Rights Through Civic Participation"
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The Young Korean American Service & Education Center, Inc. (YKASEC)
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Friday, October 22nd
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Crystal Ballroom
Seoul Plaza
150-24 Northern Blvd
Flushing
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www.ykasec.org | ysm@ykasec.org
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The YKASEC 20th Anniversary Gala: "Advancing Immigrant Rights Through Civic Participation" is coming up on Friday, October 22nd. Please reserve your seats by October 15th.
Keynote Address:
Karen K. Narasaki, President & Executive Director
National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC)
Awardees:
Korean Community Services of New York (KCS)
Shin Son, Executive Director
New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health (NYCOSH)
Joel Shufro, Executive Director
New York Foundation
Maria Mottola, Executive Director
The Young Korean American Service & Education Center, Inc. (YKASEC) is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization that has been serving the Korean American community of greater New York since 1984. YKASEC seeks to enhance the lives of Korean Americans in New York by serving as a sharing place and a community center for advocacy, education, culture, and social service. In particular, YKASEC places a special emphasis on meeting the needs of those within the Korean American community that are marginalized and have less access to mainstream resources such as the youth, elderly, low-income of our residents, recent immigrants, and those who are Limited English Proficient (LEP). The most active participants of our programs are recent immigrant young adults whom we view as critical in bringing about sustained community activism in the Korean American community.
YKASEC's mission in our program areas of education, advocacy, culture, and social service are as follows respectively
To educate the general public on issues related to the Korean American and other immigrant experience.
To encourage Korean American civic participation and immigrant community activism through long-term, pro-active organizing strategies, and education programs.
To preserve our roots through the promotion of our ethnic and cultural heritage
To provide needed social and community services.
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THEATER
"Comfort Women"
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October 23rd - November 28th
October 23rd - 27th: Previews
Opening Night: October 28th
Tuesdays - Saturdays, 8:00pm, Saturday & Sunday Matinees, 3:00pm
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Urban Stages
259 West 30th Street between 7th and 8th
New York City
Group Sales (212) 421-1380
Previews $15 (Oct. 23 - 27);
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General Admission $35; Students $20, Seniors $25
Groups $30 (10-15), $25 (15 and above)
Opening Night, October 28th: $70
Patrons' Night, November 4th: $125 (Cocktails, show, dinner)
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www.urbanstages.org | Tickets
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Urban Stages presents "Comfort Women" by Chungmi Kim, directed by Frances W. Hill. "Comfort Women" (formerly "Hanako"), written by the Korean-born playwright Chungmi Kim, tells the story of several of these women as they begin to acknowledge and speak out about their experience. Kim's powerfully lyrical play depicts the collision of past and present when a young Korean NYU student and her grandmother meet two of these "comfort women" during the 1994 UN protests. Starring Tina Chen with Jade Wu, Jo Yang,
Haerry Kim , Ji-young Kim.
Between 1937 and 1945, the Japanese Imperial Forces conscripted or abducted about 200,000 young women, some as young as 12, from Asian countries to serve as sex slaves, known euphemistically as “comfort women,?for more than 2 million Japanese troops and officers. Military brothels, or “comfort houses,?started appearing in 1931 after the Japanese invaded Manchuria. After 1937, these houses were rapidly established in countries that the Japanese invaded and occupied—from Manchuria to New Guinea. Chinese, Philippine, Indonesian, Dutch and other nationalities made up a small percentage (10-20%) of the comfort women. The rest, or 80-90%, of the women, most of them teenagers, were Korean, forcibly taken from their homes and sent to brothels all over the Pacific arena. Japanese military doctors confirmed that most of the women examined were Korean civilians and were free of sexually transmitted diseases. In the brothels, the women suffered from disease and malnutrition; many died as a result. They also were summarily beaten, tortured, or killed if they resisted in any way.
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SCREENING AND DISCUSSION
What's the Real Story Behind Better Luck Tommorrow?
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NYU A/P/A Studies Program and Institute
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Monday, October 25th, 6:00 to 8:30pm
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New York University
Jurow Hall, Silver Center 1st floor
100 Washington Square East
New York City
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www.apa.nyu.edu | melinda.aquino@nyu.edu
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What's the real story behind Better Luck Tommorrow? On October 25th, a screening of Justin Lin's Better Luck Tomorrow will be followed by an interactive dialogue to explore its connections to the real life 1993 murder of an Asian American teenager in California -- infamously dubbed by mainstream media as the Honor Roll Murder. During this exclusive and unprecedented event, you will have the opportunity to hear from one of the people intimately involved in the real incident speak out for the first time and engage in a discussion with him about the film. Cosponsored with Office for African American, Latino, and Asian American Student Services (OASIS), and Tisch student club Asian Working Artists (AWA) and the NYU A/P/A Studies. This program is part of the OASIS Pan-Asian Dialogue Series. RSVP to 212) 998-4316 or melinda.aquino@nyu.edu Space is limited!
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DISCUSSION
Local/Global: Race And Immigration Series - Part 2
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NYU A/P/A Studies Program and Institute
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Tuesday, October 26th, 6:30 to 8:30pm
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New York University
A/P/A Studies
269 Mercer Street, Suite 609
New York City
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www.apa.nyu.edu
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A current debate is brewing over allowing immigrants, both documented and undocumented, to vote in city elections. Immigrant advocates argue that providing the right to vote is a matter of civil rights as well as government accountability. Foreign born individuals comprise approximately 36% of New York City, yet they do not receive fair representation despite their countless contributions to the City¡¯s economic, cultural, political and social life. With this panel of university scholars, policy analysts and community advocates, this discussion will address the political implications of this proposal including the benefits and hurdles for communities of color. This timely discussion resonates with national issues debated in the upcoming presidential election. Co-sponsored by: Office for African American, Latino and Asian American Student Services (OASIS)
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Volunteers Needed to Defend Asian American Voting Rights - Presidential Elections
In past elections, Asian Americans have faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote. For example, ballots have been mistranslated listing Democratic candidates as Republicans and vice versa, lack of interpreters, denial of language assistance, hostility, and even outright discrimination. Then, when the news media reported on election returns and the vote by specific groups, Asian Americans were overlooked. In response, on Election Day, a coalition of Asian American groups will be monitoring the elections for compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act and anti-Asian voter discrimination, as well as conducting non-partisan multilingual surveys of Asian American voters to document Asian American voting patterns. We need your help!
Volunteers are needed to monitor poll sites, administer a multilingual voter survey in one or more 2-hour shifts on election day, and assist in follow-up and interviewing of voters who encountered problems after the elections. Volunteer will be at poll sites in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens (New York) and Palisades Park, Jersey City, and Edison (New Jersey). Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. There will be a short 45-minute training session for all first-time volunteers. All volunteers must be non-partisan during the time they help. In the 2000 elections, 350 volunteers helped survey more than 5,000 Asian American voters. Please consider volunteering your time. Thank you
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