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Author Archives: JohnnyC
Non Je Ne Regrette Rien: So Long, So Long, So Long
[The following is an unpublished epilogue to Johnny C’s Asian America in 2013 series. He was originally planning to leave 8asians on a high note after finishing the series, but we persuaded him to stay a little while longer. Some … Continue reading
Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid: Platitudes on Passion in Asian America
The buzzwords “passion”, “amazing”, and “awesome” are commonly used by people to describe themselves or what they do. As Louis CK says, many words have lost meaning. The danger of the constant use of words like “passion” is that passion … Continue reading
Posted in Observations
Tagged goonies, inspiration, passion, platitudes, posers, rocky, tough love
1 Comment
Reflections from Vagabond Life, Or: Why Everyone Should Travel and Read More
Recently, I climbed Mount Elbrus in Russia. Having nothing but my friend and a few books, it was a good time to really take a step back and reflect on society–ton look at a distance and not be affected by … Continue reading
Posted in Observations
5 Comments
Cultural Blackmail: The Hipsterization of Asian America
Very few things can get me to pop in while I’m still vagabonding and give even an inkling of attention for something in another universe. Unfortunately for you all, the recent article about being “hip” to be Asian-American, which coincides … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Discrimination, Observations
Tagged adbusters, culture, hipsters, slavoj zizek, southern california, subtle magazine
14 Comments
Southeast Asian Rock: Your Imaginary Friends
Growing up in Manila in the late 90s and going to international school (long before MP3 file-sharing became the norm), I had an opportunity to hear a wide variety of music most people stateside had never heard of from around … Continue reading
Posted in 8Questions, Entertainment, Music, Observations
Tagged indie rock, manila, music, Philippines, rock, southeast asia, your imaginary friends
6 Comments
Slanted and Enchanted: Another Take on Last Week’s Rant and Some Traveler’s Tales
One of the things I enjoy about the Internet and Democracy is that you have the opportunity to engage in dialogues and see different points of view. One of the things I don’t like is that often, people have already … Continue reading
Posted in Community, Discrimination, Observations, Politics
12 Comments
Asian America in 2013: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Part 4: Cosmos, Chronos, and Telos
[pullquote]I know people, I know towns, farms, hills and rivers and rocks, I know how the sun at sunset in autumn falls on the side of a certain plowland in the hills; but what is the sense of giving a … Continue reading
Posted in 8Series, Current Events, Observations
Tagged marginal survivals, third culture kids
13 Comments
Asian America in 2013: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Part 3: All Boundaries Are Conventions
[pullquote]Many cultural identities are not discernible from appearance. Because all of us belong to many different groups, choosing generalizations linked to one apparent identity as a basis for relating is presumptuous. We know that cultural influences are variously salient in … Continue reading
Posted in 8Series, Current Events, Observations
Tagged americana, asayake, Bruce Lee, jeet kune do, kajukenbo, kyodo, seiichi tanaka, taiko, taikoproject, yukai
6 Comments
Asian America in 2013: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Part 2: The Red King Syndrome
[pullquote]They are trying as directly as possible to sell you experiences, i.e. what you are able to do with the car, not the car as a product itself. An extreme example of this is this existing economic marketing concept, which … Continue reading
Posted in 8Series, Current Events, Observations
4 Comments
Asian America in 2013: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Part 1: Sensus Communis
[pullquote]America is the only nation in the world that is founded on a creed. That creed is set forth in the Declaration of Independence; perhaps the only piece of practical politics that is also great literature. ― G.K. Chesterton[/pullquote] As … Continue reading
Posted in 8Series, Current Events, Observations
10 Comments
Book Review: ‘Revenge’ by Yoko Ogawa
Rarely do I pick up a book so engrossing that I realize that no matter how tired I am, I am compelled to read “just one more chapter” before I realize that I have come to the end of the … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Entertainment
Tagged asian books, book review, japanese author, Literature, revenge, yoko ogawa
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Mythmaking: On YouTube “Celebrity” Cults, Their Hubris, and Avarice
The person who experiences greatness must have a feeling for the myth he is in. He must reflect what is projected upon him. And he must have a strong sense of the sardonic. This is what uncouples him from belief … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, Movies, Music, Observations
Tagged Celebrities, Entertainment, Hollywood, youtube
21 Comments