For 2/27: Post your thoughts on Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) and Lee's Essay here!

"Controversy" over the film at the Sundance film festival (think about this in relation to the Tavis Smiley interview below)

Interview with Justin Lin, the director:

The 1992 murder of Stuart Tay that resembles the film:

Are You Watching the Oscars This Sunday?

Something for us to think about (in addition to the LA Times article below)....

NPR Story on The Help
Essence Article on The Help

Tavis Smiley debates with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer over The Help:

Watch the video here

"Linsanity" in the Media

The Guardian article on Jeremy Lin
"What Everyone Gets Wrong About Jeremy Lin," by Marie Myung-Ok Lee

Post-class Notes, 2.20.12

Here's a full text of Nikolai Gogol's "The Overcoat."

Nikolai Gogol

A conclusion of a sort on our section on "Asian American Film Goes to Hollywood"?

And the Academy Members Are....

A Dream in Doubt: Recommended viewing for class, 2/20

View the film: A Dream in Doubt

Visit the movie home page

Post your thoughts on THE NAMESAKE and Brennan's essay here!

Image from The New York Times movie review

Charlie Rose interview with Mira Nair (director of The Namesake, the film) and Jhumpa Lahiri (author of The Namesake, the novel)

Mira Nair

Jhumpa Lahiri

Post your thoughts on Ben Xu's essay here

Post your thoughts on The Joy Luck Club, the movie, here!

Wayne Wang, the director of the film, The Joy Luck Club (1993):

Here are some questions for you to consider:

1. What did you think of the film's depictions of what it means to be "American" and "Chinese"?

2. What did you think of the film's representation of Chinese/Chinese American men?  

3. What did you think about the film's focus on mother-daughter relationships?

February 6, 2012 Class

Post your thoughts on the novel, The Joy Luck Club (1989) here!

Amy Tan, the author:

Thoughts on Vincent Chin?

If you have thoughts about Vincent Who? or what happened to Vincent Chin, please share them here.

Examples of Asian American short films

Here are some films for you to consider in thinking about your final project:

Eli's Liquor Store (2007)
-A short narrative film directed by Arnold Chun

Slip of the Tongue (2006)
-A short film directed by Karen Lum

How to Do the Asian Squat (2006)
-A short "mockumentary" directed by Daniel Hsia

Hapa Perspectives (2008)
-A Short documentary by a student at Wesleyan University (this film won a contest at Current TV)

Here are some links related to Asian American pop culture that were mentioned in the movie, VINCENT WHO?

I particularly recommend Phil Yu's and Tazila Ahmed's sites.

Angry Asian Man Blog (Phil Yu) -- Click on the Angry GI Joe!

Sepia Mutiny Blog (Tazila Ahmed)

Giant Robot (Asian & Asian American Pop Culture)

Happy Reading!

January 30, 2012 Class

Here's the National Review cover that Robert Lee's introduction talks about:

Postings to the Readings for 1/30/12

Post your reactions to (or thoughts on) the Lee & Feng essays here.

Welcome to AAS/MACS 365!

Please feel free to post your response to the question I posed in class:


Do you think some of the ideas in SLAYING THE DRAGON are still relevant today?  What are some images that contradict that idea, and what are some images that perpetuate the same stereotypes seen in the film?