Being Asian

American
Mai Kou Vang

Jeff Ux

Nhut Tran
 Asian American
Definition
— Those of Asian ancestry from countries on the South
and East ends of the Asian continent (China, Japan,
Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Korea, Taiwan,
Mongolia, etc.) and those islands residing close by
in the Pacific (Philippines, Guam, Tonga, Samoa,
Fiji, New Zealand, etc.) living in America that
choose to identify themselves as Asian American.
 What Constitutes Asian
American Culture?

— Should be created by someone who fills the criteria

of an Asian American.

— Includes ideas that find roots in the mindset of one

that has grown up in the cultures of the Asian and
Pacific countries.

— Forms of expression that promotes Asian and

Pacific Island culture by integrating it with Western
ideas.

— Does not include expressions that exploit Asian

Background of Ang Lee

— He is one of the greatest contemporary film

director of today.
— Born in Taiwan, 1954.
— Graduated from National Taiwan College of
Arts in 1975.
— In 1978, he immigrated to America at 24 years
old in hopes of becoming a great director.
 Big Hit

Wo Hu Cang Long a.k.a. “Crouching Tiger

Hidden Dragon” (2000, made in China)
—Although the movie is based on a Chinese
fairy tale by Wang Dulu, Ang Lee brings a
modern Chinese approach to a classic
Chinese fantasy. The film retains the craft of
martial arts while incorporating modern
action sequences. In addition, the movie
embodies a story romance and tragedy
which show character development.
Big Hit continue

— It was the highest received foreign film

ever released in America.
— The film got nominated for 8 Academy
Awards and went on to win 4 of them.
— The film was a representation of who he
is, containing Western culture and
Chinese Culture.
BRANDON & RYAN TING
— USC Football Players
2003-2007
— First Asian American
twins to play and win
national championship.
— Father is Chinese, mother
Japanese.
— Both received
undergraduate degrees in
Asian American Studies.
— Honored in 2007 at the
LA Chinese New Year
Parade.
ARE THEY PART OF ASIAN
AMERICAN CULTURE?
•YES
•They are Asian American
•Their actions promote
Asian American culture in
a sport where there are few
Asians aside from
Samoans.
•As a result they serve as
role models to aspiring
young Asian American
athletes.
Native Guns
— - Both MC's (Bambu and
Kiwi) are Filipino
American and their DJ (DJ
Phatrick) is Chinese
American.

— - They reside in both LA

and the San Francisco Bay
Area.
What Makes Their Music
‘Asian American
— American Rap and Hip Hop group

— Most of their songs are in English, but sometimes they

lace Tagalog in their lyrics.

— The message from a lot of their music is about social

justice and Filipino pride.

— They also talk about the struggles of being Filipinos in

both the Philippines and the U.S.

— Their song 'Work It' is a good example of how they

bring the struggles together. The beat and tone of the
song is slower with a girl's voice whispering 'oh yeah'
in the background to imply that it might be about sex,
but the lyrics talk about female sweatshop laborers and
plantation workers. They mix together the struggles
that women face in the Third World, and the
exploitation of women and how they're represented in
the media (i.e. the idea that sex sells).
 John Cho

— Born 06/15/1972 in South

Korea, raised in LA

— Actor (American Pie,

Harold and Kumar)

— Represent the few Asian

Americans in Hollywood.

— Had roles as realistic Asian

Americans.
 Jake Shimabukuro

— A 5th generation
Japanese American
born in Honolulu,
Hawaii

— "A ukulele virtuoso

known for his
lightning fast fingers"
 Jake Shimabukuro

— Jake does not fit our Asian American Culture definition.

— His music doesn't include ideas that have found root in the
mindset of one that has grown up in the Japanese culture.
Also, forms of expression aren't promoted for he doesn't
integrate his culture with Western ideas.
 Spencer Nakasako

— Emmy award winning

documentary filmmaker.

— Currently he is a film
professor in Ethnic Studies
at UC Berkeley.

— Major films includes

Refugee, AKA Don Bonus,
Kelly Loves Tony.
“Spencer Nakasako is undoubtedly one
of the most colorful, outspoken and
provocative personalities in Asian
American cinema today.” - SFIAAFF
 Are His Movies Considered
part of Asian American
Culture?
— All of Nakasako’s movies are
about South East Asian refugees
trying to survive in the US or
their kids that were born in the
States trying to understand
where their families came from.

— AKA Don Bonus – About an 18

year old Cambodian immigrant
living in San Francisco.

— Kelly Loves Tony – Laotian teen

couple living in Oakland.

— Refugee – Three Cambodian

American friends take a trip to
Cambodia to learn about their
heritage.