The Asian American Experience

The Asian American Experience

Hello class,

I hope you are all well.

This week we have been taking some time to look at the history of Japanese Theatre, its traditional forms and functions. It is important for us to look at Asian Theatre and (for this course specifically this Spring) Japanese Theatre styles.

As a class we will be moving next week from the history of Asian Theatre to its modern American application and how the different styles and iterations of Asian Theatre in America speaks to the cultural and societal needs of this great social block, especially here in southern California.

For our discussion question, I would like for you to consider your overall outlook, knowledge and familiarity with Asian history in the U.S. and the potential struggles that Asian Americans have endured in the last century(s) as there was mass migrations in the middle of the 1800’s. Looking at the Asian American experience in America is important as we consider the building blocks of our nation, with railroads, industry, internment camps during WWII, the deep culture of education and tradition that is so socially important to the overall history of this group of study and the important contributions that we as a society have enjoyed from key figures in Asian American history.

Now we have not spent time in detail study of these questions apart from a Brief History of Asian in America video clip which was provided. This discussion is mainly about what your personal thoughts and experiences are as a consumer of pop culture, entertainment, news, and working and living today in Southern California. We can all speak with a certain level of experience and knowledge, either directly or indirectly, to what we think would be important elements and issues to discuss within the Asian American culture.

I would like you to discuss what you believe to be an important issue(s) that could be explored within the vehicle of good storytelling (Theatre, TV, Film) and why you believe it to be an important issue to be raised and wrestled with for the greater American body politic.

You can certainly address an issue(s) that is a current or ongoing issue for the Asian American public. If you are in the class and are Asian American, I would love you to discuss any personal (as long as you are comfortable) insight you may have.

Please respond to two posts. Your post should be at least 150 words in length.

first student: Borna

I would like you to discuss what you believe to be an important issue(s) that could be explored within the vehicle of good storytelling (Theatre, TV, Film) and why you believe it to be an important issue to be raised and wrestled with for the greater American body politic.

You can certainly address an issue(s) that is a current or ongoing issue for the Asian American public. If you are in the class and are Asian American, I would love you to discuss any personal (as long as you are comfortable) insight you may have.

The relative invisibility of the Asian-American population on the electorate and why they somehow fail to vote inspite of high levels of media and voter literacy. Many first and second generation americans treat Amercan elections as a spectacle, only for entertainment, without caring what the end result is primarily because there are almost no issues that end up being directed or courting them. Asian Americans are a diverse group and an ever increaseing percentage of the electorate, yet their impact is almost never felt politically. Asian is a label that hides the true level of diversity in the population, the same way Hispanuc does to the subgroups in that culture group.

We always talk about outreach toward minority voters, but why do we never hear about outreach to the Asian American groups? By ignoring this group, Politicians will be at risk, as they are one of the largest grouping groups in the country.

second student: John

I would like you to discuss what you believe to be an important issue(s) that could be explored within the vehicle of good storytelling (Theatre, TV, Film) and why you believe it to be an important issue to be raised and wrestled with for the greater American body politic.

You can certainly address an issue(s) that is a current or ongoing issue for the Asian American public. If you are in the class and are Asian American, I would love you to discuss any personal (as long as you are comfortable) insight you may have.

I think that an important issue that would be worth exploring through film would be the segregation that Asian Americans experienced during WWII and how it stems into society today. I chose the avenue of film because I believe it to have the largest stage for getting the word out and would reach the maximum amount of people. As someone of a history-buff of the United States, WWII is a topic to which I have increased knowledge about; however, until I viewed the overview video provided, I had somewhat forgotten about the oppression of Asian American during that time. I think that the majority of Americans are not aware of what type of treatment that Asian Americans have been subject to over the past two hundred years in our country.

I would like to see the film tell the story of an internment camp detainee and follow his/her story to present day. Perhaps the person that the story is centered around could be a grandparent in present day telling the story to their grandchildren. Then after the story is told it could incorporate some of the stories of the grandchildren as they may face similar types of racism in present day. I think that if the production was well-made, and incorporated well known Asian actors of today, such as Ross Butler or Christine Ko, it would have great potential for furthering Asian American integration into the theatrical arts in America.