Grammy 2018 Nominations: Why We Should Be Happy and Also Weary

So, the 60th Annual Grammy Nominations were announced yesterday morning, and somehow it left me with more mixed emotions than I’ve felt in a long time. On the one hand, we have many reasons to celebrate this year--the 2018 list of nominees is the most diverse group in all of Grammy history, especially when it comes to Black and LGBTQIA inclusion. Jay-Z, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, and more were all (deservedly) nominated for record of the year. Kesha and Lady Gaga were both nominated for two Grammys each, and out songwriter Justin Tranter was nominated for his first award as well. 

When it comes to inclusion in the entertainment industry, we’ve come a long way, and these nominees are just one example of that. Unfortunately, this progress has not been reflected within the Asian American community, as you can clearly see by the lack of Asian nominees for the 2018 Grammys. I can’t say I’m surprised, considering there aren’t really any huge Asian American names in the music industry. But it’s not because we’re not trying--it’s because those who run the system aren’t listening. This year I got the chance to discover Alice Gao, Niki Zefanya, Yaeji, and several other incredible Asian artists whose music deserves recognition--but none of them are getting the attention they deserve. 

While Grammy nomination entries can by submitted by any artists/record companies with commercially released music, all submissions are reviewed by a group of over 350 experts in the fields of jazz, R&B, rock, classical, new age, and more. These experts within the Academy go through several rounds of screening, being advised to vote in up to 15 categories in their areas of expertise as well as the 4 general categories (Record of The Year, Album of the Year, Song of The Year, and Best New Artist). Unfortunately, if you are a lesser known artist in the US (aka most Asian American artists) signed to a label with more well known artists, your label will most likely submit their song/album to be considered for Grammy nomination over yours. At the end of the day, it’s pretty much a self fulfilling prophesy. Since Asian American artists are almost never well known enough to qualify for the final rounds of nomination, their work is not often submitted. As a result, Asian Americans are continuously left out of the mainstream. The whole thing is a cycle that seems to have no end. 

Don’t get me wrong, I believe we should celebrate the victories we achieve, but I’m honestly so tired of writing and complaining about Asian American representation. You guys have heard it all before and I’m not here to preach the same message all over again, but my soul is tired y’all. While we should celebrate and cheer on our fellow POC, let’s remember that the entertainment industry is still far, far, from being the all inclusive community that we so desperately need. 

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2017: Why this year’s show is going down in history

As the weather gets colder, and the semester starts to come to its end, many of us can get into the dreary mood. There are so many things to do at the end of the year, holiday markets are opening in parks around New York City, coffee shops are coming out with their signature winter scents, and your parents are putting up the holiday decorations around the house back home.

Does it sometimes seem like the world is snuggling into the year-end festivities but you are hopelessly stuck in Bobst Library clawing away hundreds of pages of school work?

Give yourself a break on November 28th by cuddling up with some friends and throwing a viewing party for the “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2017 Catwalk Spectacular” set to air at 10pm EST that night (In which you can stream here: https://www.victoriassecret.com/fashion-show).

There might have been rumors and dramas around the show, but it is going to be not anything but  grand, a step of progress in globalization of western and eastern cultures.

(Source: AEG Worldwide)

Previous locations have included New York, London, Los Angeles, Miami, and Cannes. This year, the show is set in Shanghai, China, in the Pudong District’s Mercedes Benz Arena.

Although no one straight up wrote about it, many people question the compatibility of location of the show, calling it a disaster in the making and an “International Nightmare”. It is true that the location of the event this year has brought a few set backs and difficulties, like how Katy Perry, Gigi Hadid and several other models’s visas being denied by the Chinese government due to actions the government has deemed to be offensive towards China.

However this does not mean that the show is going to be a flop. Many of us question the reliability of something when we first try it out. This is easily just people being nervous to try out something different. After all, there are reasons behind why such an extravagant event has decided to tread halfway across the world. Victoria’s Secret has greatly expanded its market in Asia, with almost 30 flagship stores across China itself. Shanghai specifically, has slowly become one of the most trendy cities in not just mainland China but all of Asia. Which is why it is no surprise that everyone working for the show wants it to be a success.

As we get closer and closer to the re-recording on October 20th, the final lineup of performers, was finally unveiled just yesterday. Instead of two or three, there will be four very distinct artists participating throughout the show. Previous One-Direction member Harry Styles will be joined by Miguel, popular Chinese singer Jane Zhang, and Tony Award-winning Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. The performers bring a variety of genres and there will unquestionable be a wide cultural reach during the event.

This year’s show’s success is definitely at a higher bate since it is playing with so many new aspects. However, we should be hopeful and trusting in both the company and the hosting country, as both want it to go down in history as the first but not the last show outside of western countries.

(Source: Getty Images)

Although we still don’t know what the themes for the show will be, it is certain that there will be no shortage of pink sparkles, great music, beautiful models, and a whole lot of glam. Are you ready??

Your Favorite Chinatown May Not Be What You Think It Is

For many of us millennials, it is not uncommon to think of Chinatowns as merely areas inhabited by a concentration of Chinese people. Whether we are grocery shopping at the Hong Kong Supermarket or grabbing our weekly dose of Dim Sum at Golden Unicorn, the historical background behind the neighborhoods that we now call “Chinatowns” never really seems to cross our minds. But let’s stop and ask ourselves, how did Chinatowns become Chinatowns anyway? How were they constructed in the first place and what does the name even imply?

I have to admit myself that I have only really started to think about these questions a couple of weeks ago when I was reviewing the readings for one of my classes. One reading in particular caught my eye--in an excerpt taken from a Kay Anderson book, I learned about the 19th/20th century construction of Vancouver’s Chinatown. Anderson notes in the text that “Chinatown” was an idea “constructed and distributed by and for Europeans” to “[affirm] their own identity and privilege” (Anderson, 1987). In an era where Chinese immigrants were heavily discriminated, the neighborhoods they occupied were often thought of as a hotspot for crime, drugs, and prostitution. As such, there was a constant desire for segregation away from these individuals, and classifying their neighborhoods as “Chinatowns”--a separate entity from the rest of the city--was an effective way of doing so. The construction of Chinatowns, therefore, was historically not so much a voluntary movement but more so a forced and unnatural effort. 

You see, the name “Chinatown” implies so much more than just another neighborhood in a city. It holds a history of segregation, discrimination, and rejection of the “underserved.” What’s important to recognize is that not only are these issues still alive and well today, but that by ignoring the racist history of a place like Chinatown we are further perpetuating the issue. For more information on the real story and how racism created American Chinatown’s, check out what Huffington Post had to say about it. So, next time you step foot in your favorite Chinatown, make sure to remember that there’s more to the story than meets the eye. 

Stretching the Color Spectrum - Innisfree USA Launches Largest K-Beauty Shade Range Ever

It was just a couple months ago that I bought the Innisfree cushion foundation, which was only offered in two shades. Yes you heard it--not ten, not five, but TWO color options. Compared to the newly released Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, which carries as many as 40 complexion selections, the shade range definitely seems a bit too frugal, just a little. While this foundation has good coverage, looks natural, and lasts long, I can only wear it during my palest times, which is no longer than two or three months out of the whole year.

When I found out that Innisfree USA revamped their Aqua Fit Cushion and Matte Full Cover Cushion ranges to form a total of 14 shades I was beyond excited. I wasted no time before rushing to do more research--after all, this was a big step in Korean Beauty. It meant that the K-beauty industry might finally be recognizing the importance of skin tone inclusion and facing the reality that skin comes in more than two shades. Ultimately, this upgrade will expand Innisfree’s customer market by abolishing the pre-conceived notions of pale beauty. 

Even as a relatively pale individual, I found it hard to match the original shades to my skin tone. Now think about the individuals who fall further from the ideal Korean skin shade, and how they’ve been completely excluded from enjoying the Korean beauty trends. That’s why this is a complete game changer!

Now to see how the product lived up to its hype, here’s the rundown:

There are clearly a lot more shades to choose from. The formula, however, remains the same as before. The new cushions come in two finishes - Matte and Dewy. If you prefer a more natural look you can try the “dewy” finish, but if you have oily skin like me, you should opt for the “matte” finish.

Innisfree is first (but hopefully not last) to take a huge step forward within the Asian beauty industry. Many Korean makeup and skincare brands have globalized, but if they don’t adopt the mantra of inclusivity, they’ll never be fully accepted by the beauty community. While it might not seem like a big deal, it is definitely proof that the cosmetics industry is changing, and that inclusion is more important than ever before.

Check out the YouTube video below to learn more about how this cushion is breaking boundaries

Shop them here: http://us.innisfree.com/make-up/face/

88Rising: The Label Behind Rich Chigga, The Higher Brothers, and More

You may not have heard of 88Rising, but you’ve probably listened to Dat$tick by Rich Chigga at least once or twice; well, the label behind Rich Chigga’s creative genius is 88Rising, an NYC based music label founded by Sean Miyashiro.

Over the months, 88Rising has gotten more and more spotlight—not only for curating incredible music, but also for giving Asian artists some of the attention they deserve. When Dat $tick went viral, Rich Chigga got the stamp of approval from tons of US rappers, such as Migos, 21 Savage, and more. From there, things have only gone up.

88Rising partnered with The Higher Brothers, a Chengdu based rap group who is breaking barriers in a musical and physical way. Because they don’t have direct access to YouTube in China, they have to work extra hard to interact with their fans, but they do it because it’s all worth it. They have a true appreciation for rap culture that transcends geography and language; for their fans it’s about the flow, the delivery, and the charisma.

88Rising’s Sean manages all of these artists and more, not just because they’re Asian, but because he believes in their music. He told Pitchfork, “Real talk, from a music perspective, if I don’t fuck with it, just ‘cause it’s from the Philippines, I’m not gonna put it up. I think that 1000 percent of the time, the music needs to be good.” And his philosophy shows, too. They recently debuted Indonesian singer NIKI, an R&B artist whose style is characterized by smooth and heavy beats. She’s young, but her potential is definitely there.

In many ways, 88Rising is exactly what the Asian community needs. They obviously want to bring attention to the real talent thats brewing all over Asia, but more than that it’s also about putting out music that’s truly worthwhile. In that way, they’re paving a way for Asian artists to be taken seriously in the music industry. Check out the video below to see some of our favorite rappers reacting to the Higher Brothers and click here to see more of 88Rising’s YouTube content. 

"Wait..You're not American? Why don’t you have an accent?"

No, I am not American, I'm from Hong Kong. But yes, I do know how to speak English. My Asian appearance and profile probably threw you off there, as you were probably expecting me to sound “international”. Within less than a week of college, I have had to explain to numerous people why don’t I have an ‘accent’ — well, what they consider an ‘accent’, that is.

I don’t have an “accent” because I learned English my whole life and was taught by American/British teachers. But I mean, isn’t an American accent still an accent too? It seems that someone who speaks with correct grammar and vocabulary can be judged based on their foreign sounding vowels. Sometimes, I wonder whether I should take it as a compliment or an insult when I get comments on my ‘lack of an accent’.

There seems to be a common misconception that if you don’t come from the West, you must speak broken English. Yet, it’s hard to judge one's language ability based solely on where they're from. In fact, Hong Kong was a British colony for over 150 years, which makes English one of the official languages. Thus, not knowing the history and culture of a place unfamiliar to you and making baseless comments can make you look ignorant.

Sometimes, we think we’re complimenting someone without realizing the superficial assumptions that we are making. With that, I want to encourage you to step out of your personal bubble of thoughts and think about the implications of what you're about to say--even if you think it's a compliment. After all, our perceptions of truth may not always be true, and the last thing we’d want to do is to offend anyone when we never intended to.

The Future of Slam Poetry with Alex Luu

Recognized as one of the most popular Asian face in the slam poetry community, Alex Luu is a poet who has created poems with thousands of Youtube hits. As the founder of USC Spoken Words Club, he is actively involved in the renowned Def Poetry, USC Slam Poetry, and USC Spoken Words Club. As modern day technology goes, while he was driving his car in the depths of LA traffic, and I was sitting in my dorm room overlooking Washington Square Park in NYC, we “sat down” to chat via Skype about his poetry inspiration and story.  

Q: What does slam poetry do?

For me, the function of slam poetry is to tell my personal truth/story/narrative. It is to speak on behalf of people who don’t have the privilege as I do. It is to speak my culture, civilization and history.

Q: Why did you choose to do spoken word?

I actually wanted to be a rapper [laughes] but I didn’t find talent in that. Then I found spoken word. To me, poetry is the cleanest form of expression. It is someone deliberately giving truth to the audience. When I first started, I wrote about love, personal relationships and mental illnesses. It was a process of understanding myself.

Reaching back to the late 1500s, Generasian has collected and made accessible a visual representation of some of the important events crucial to the Asian-American identity.

What is whitewashing? How did the controversy surrounding Ghost in The Shell affect its box office reel?

The Lunch Box

My mother’s homemade Chinese cuisine is always the best, unless it was for lunch. Somehow, packing it in a lunch box and bringing it to school just diminishes it’s value and makes it weird. Yes, WEIRD, as my classmates would describe: the weird shaped dumplings that my mother would hand make from scratch, the weird colored noodles that she would stay up to prepare the night before, the weird smelling fried rice that she would carefully cook for just the right amount of time... While everyone else was enjoying their pepperoni pizza or cheese burger, talking happily amongst each other, I always sat in the corner, where no one would pay attention. 

“Eww is that dog food?”

“No you can’t sit with us.”

…

I hated being the girl with the weird food. The more my classmates commented on my food, the worse it tasted, as if others’ glares on my lunch could transform the food from delicacy to trash. I begged my mom to pack me something else. I told her the food was horrible. I begged for her to sign me up for school lunch. She was confused, thinking that I disliked her cooking, but also seeing me gorge down dinner like it was the best thing on earth, which it was. She didn't question me, but agreed to my request.

Finally, I got the same plates as everyone else. I got the same food as everyone else. And I got to sit at the same table with everyone else. School lunch was so much better! It looked better, it smelled better, and it tasted better. I could finally eat the burnt bread, the unevenly heated frozen pizza, the artificially flavored meatballs. I thought I was the luckiest kid on earth.

Until now... 

Time flies and in a blink of an eye, I am not an elementary school kid anymore. I've set off to college, away from my family, to a new place where I would have to be on my own. Only now, do I realize that the most precious meal, is the lunch box that my mother would pack. Not only do I miss the delicious food, it is also the taste of home, of family. 

I longed for my mother’s cooking, for the taste of home. I tried to replicate her dishes, but they will never be as half as good. I want to yell at my seven-year-old self, to make my younger self realize what a luxury it was to eat the “weird” food.

Sometimes my friends bring meals from their home to school after breaks or holidays, and we would all gather around to admire how delicious the food is. Despite not being a cuisine we’ve ever seen or even heard of before, the strong flavor and rich taste always leads to “MMMMs” and food dances. It’s different, not weird, it’s distinct and unique. Instead of running away from what other’s may perceive as “weird”, we should all embrace our identity, our culture, our family traditions, before it’s too late. And as outsiders, we should stop judging what we may not understand. The world is a diverse place, and let’s all help keep it that way.

My Grandma Once Told Me... : Decoding Chinese Superstitions

Have you ever read your fortune cookie slip and thought “Where on earth does this kind of thing come from??” There are many Chinese superstitions that don’t make sense, but if so many people believe in them, doesn’t it make you want to know what they are? Chinese culture has a strong emphasis on superstitions which often influence a person’s daily life. It’s fair to assume that luck and wealth are a common concern for Chinese people, so it’s not surprising that many of these sayings have to do with that. None of these are scientifically proven, so just take them light-heartedly for a enjoyable mid-day read.

1. Twitching on the left eyelid forecasts fortune; twitching on the right eyelid forecasts misfortune.

You’ve probably experienced your eyelids twitching and wondered why. This superstitious saying has become ingrained into many Chinese people’s minds. If it’s your right eyelid, be careful of a small misfortune that might happen soon. But if your left eyelid twitches, smile and know that you’re about to receive some money.

2. You lose wealth when you shake your leg.

This is one of many examples from the Chinese Feng Shui belief. Many find it stress-releasing to shake their legs, but according to Feng Shui, you’re losing your fortune whenever you shake your legs. If you wanted to get rid of this habit but find it hard to, think about your bank account and this Chinese saying. It just might help.

3. Sometimes it’s better not to give.

Watches. This has to do with the pronunciation of the word “watches” in Chinese. It’s considered ominous to receive a watch on one’s birthday, since “gifting a watch” sounds similar to “sending off the dead” in Chinese. Both are pronounced “Song Zhong”.

“Umbrella” and “lose/fall apart” also sound alike in the Chinese language (“San”). It’s considered inappropriate to gift an umbrella to a friend or significant other, which insinuates that your relationship will fall apart.

4. The unlucky number 4.

The number 4 in Chinese is homophone for “death.” Thus, just like Americans’ attitude towards the number 13, Chinese skip level 4 in their buildings and avoid the number 4 in their lives.

Similarly, 8 is the lucky number since it sounds similar to “fa,” which means to be prosperous.

5. Stepping on manhole covers will cause misfortune.

My deepest fear of living in New York is that one day I’ll fall through the basement entrances covered by two thin iron boards. But here’s an excuse to being scared of those -- some Chinese believes that manhole covers are soaked with evil spirits and stepping on them lead to bad luck.

6. One should wear red during one’s “ben ming nian” (本命年)

Like the western 12 astrology signs, China has 12 sheng xiao（生肖）or animal zodiac signs, according to the Lunar calendar. The year of your animal zodiac is called your “ben ming nian”（本命年). Red is believed to be a jubilant and auspicious color. Thus wearing red during one’s “ben ming nian” is a long-kept tradition that is meant to make the year particularly prosperous. Think about it as an all-year-long Christmas.

2017 is the year of Rooster. Find out what your animal zodiac is here.

On the heels of whitewashing accusations of Netflix's Iron Fist, a new trailer has been released for the adaptation of popular Japanese anime Death Note. Generasian dives deep to analyze public opinion

Chinese American food has continually evolved in New York City and East Village's new restaurant, The Tang, is no exception. We talk with The Tang's Eric Sze about fusion Chinese food and try out some noodles! Special thanks to Eric for taking time and talking to us.

Eat ZhaJianMian here https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-tang-new-york

Music by bohkeh - Sky ft. Baechel https://soundcloud.com/boh-keh/sky-ft-baechel

Produced by Megan Liao Shot by Sarah Hahn, Monica Mai, and Jeffrey Wu Edited by Joyce Lee

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Read Generasian's blog generasian.org

Japan and United States has been inextricably linked ever since World War II. Their back and forth cultural dialogue is present in many different aspects of society like fashion, film, and music. The most recent incarnation of such discussion is the sukajan or souvenir jacket. Generasian explains how the trend recently resurfaces

Read Generasian's publication https://issuu.com/generasian

Read Generasian's blog generasian.org

A movie review exploring the beauty and depth of Park Chan-Wook's "The Handmaiden."  

Music Label: NINETOFIVE Artist: The Laidbackz Song: Grey Colors

Read Generasian's publication https://issuu.com/generasian

Read Generasian's blog generasian.org

Using the annual Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown, New York City as a backdrop, Generasian briefly explains the history and importance of Lunar New Year

Next segment in our ACROSS THE BOARD series, we meet SAKPC (Society for the Appreciation of Korean Pop Culture). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read Generasian's publication https://issuu.com/generasian

Read Generasian's blog generasian.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music: Bohkeh - tell me what feat. osmoji https://soundcloud.com/boh-keh/tell-me-what-feat-osmoji?in=boh-keh/sets/cotton-ep

Produced & Edited By Megan Liao Shot by Megan Liao and Jeffrey Wu