The Electric Image Express: Recent Episodes
Sean Niu
The Electric Image Express celebrates Asian American/Asian films and their creators. On each episode we invite our guests to share their personal creative journey and explore their latest work. Episodes come out every two weeks!
You can reach us via e-mail: electricimageexpress@gmail.com or IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress
Ray, Alan, and Renee discuss Eddie Huang's coming-of-age, basketball drama and why it resonated differently among the team. They talk about the unique perspective of the Black/Asian cultural interactions, how the basketball scenes were shot, and where this fits in the ranking of popular basketball movies.
Hint: Space Jam is still the best.
Links to donate/educate/organize to stop AAPI hate: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
DONATE so we can improve the show at [https://ko-fi.com/electricimageexpress] E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com Follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
In episode 40, we sit down with Tik Tok creator Lily Lei as she shares her jourrney to obtaining Tik Tok fame over the last year. As we are all well aware, Tik Tok is an incredibly influential video platform. As a podcast interested in how Asian Americans portray ourselves across any creative medium, we were really fascinated by how Lily employed many elements of her Asian upbringing into her skits, and how those skits helped contribute to her rise. Lily also gives us insight into her versatile background as a design researcher and entrepreneur and how those experiences helped her gain over 700K followers on Tik Tok.
Before we get to Lily, we also have a 20 minute segment discussing the 2021 Oscars with Katie Quan from This Asian American Life. This year's awards marked many firsts for Asian Americans in Hollywood and Katie broke down her feelings about the necessity of the Oscars in 2021 and how she felt about the three movies that most prominently featured Asian Americans: Minari, Nomadland, and Sound of Metal.
Editors note: Sorry about the sound quality in some parts, some of these recordings were done while traveling!
Katie Quan's This Asian American Life Lily's Tik Tok
Notes:
1) Start of Oscars segment: (1:52) 2) General reactions on the 2021 shows (5:00)
3) Deeper dive into Minari, Nomadland, and Sound of Metal (10:23) 4) Do we (as Asian Americans) need the Oscars in 2021? (20:47) 5) Lily's background and how she decided to become a full-time Tik Tok creator (27:51) 6) How she identified what worked for her audience (35:27) 7) How she outgrew her initial Asian American Auntie/parent skits (38:15) 8) Accents or no accents? (43:06)
Links to donate/educate/organize to stop AAPI hate: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
DONATE so we can improve the show at [https://ko-fi.com/electricimageexpress] E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com Follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
It's our ANNIVERSARY! THANK YOU to all of our listeners and fans for your continued support! THANK YOU to our guests for lending your time and sharing your stories, and THANK YOU to everyone else who has contributed to the show!
We've added a BONUS episode for our anniversary: Raymond Luu and Alan Duong from [The Reel Asian Podcast] (https://www.reelasianpodcast.com/) join us to revisit Kinji Fukasaku's Battle Royale.
Notes:
1) The Reel Asian guys explain the appeal of Battle Royale and Sean shares some background and the impact of the movie (3:50) 2) Which characters did our high school selves' identify the most with? (14:25)
3) What does BR say about Japanese society's generational divide? (16:02) 4) We work through our strategies for surviving Battle Royale (24:40) 5) How Battle Royale's ultra-violence heightened its deisrability. (Aka the Streisand Effect (28:44) 6) If it came down to it: would you kill your best friend in high school? (30:50) 7) We draft our ultimate BR team (1 weapon, 1 BR character, 1 Asian film character) (40:13)
Links to donate/educate/organize to stop AAPI hate: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
DONATE so we can improve the show at [https://ko-fi.com/electricimageexpress] E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com Follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
It's our ANNIVERSARY! THANK YOU to all of our listeners and fans for your continued support! THANK YOU to our guests for lending your time and sharing your stories, and THANK YOU to everyone else who has contributed to the show!
In this episode, Hon Hoang returns to talk about (what else) Wong Kar Wai's Days of Being Wild and some Haruki Murakami. COULD there be a more appropriate topic for a Sean Niu-hosted podcast?
Watch Hon's films and appreciate his photography here: https://honhoang.com/
Notes:
1) An extended introduction discussing the Electric Image Express so far (0:00) 2) Background on Days of Being Wild (7:53)
3) We discuss why this movie could only be made by a young WKW and what it says about his past (13:25) 4) Leslie Cheung's character: a romantization of the fuck boy? (16:01) 5) More of Leslie's brilliance and how only he could play this role (18:13) 6) Andy Lau: the straight and narrow foil to Leslie (19:57) 7) Why Days of Being Wild hints at a Haruki Murakami influence on WKW (24:59) 8) Our one sentence description of the movie (29:45)
Links to donate/educate/organize to stop AAPI hate: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
DONATE so we can improve the show at [https://ko-fi.com/electricimageexpress] E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com Follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
Director, writer, and professor Valerie Soe joins Sean to share her creative journey and the making of her newest documentary: Love Boat: Taiwan
You can watch Love Boat here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/loveboattaiwan
and you can watch more of Valerie's activist-oriented films here:
Picturing Oriental Girls
The Chinese Gardens
Notes:
1) Valerie gives her thoughts and action items in reaction to the recent violence on Asian Americans (3:27) 2) Valerie shares her career path as a multi-disciplinary artist and professor. (17:40)
3) As well as her activist history, and how she sees the new generation of activists (20:58) 4) Valerie's thoughts on the recent growth of Asian Americans on screen and how we should think about what we want to see next. (Hint: more creators behind the camera) (28:00) 5) Valerie's experience making Love Boat (32:17) 6) Sean asks Valerie about how making Love Boat helped inform her about Chinese diaspora identity (40:58) 7) Valerie shares what she learned about Love Boat as a strategy for the Taiwan gov to spread policy (52:52) 8) And finally, what surprised her the most while making the documentary. (57:03)
Links to donate/educate/organize to stop AAPI hate: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
DONATE so we can improve the show at [https://ko-fi.com/electricimageexpress] E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com Follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
Director Patrick Chen and Actor Perry Yung join Sean and Hon Hoang to talk about their upcoming film A Father’s Son: A 90’s Chinatown Noir Thriller based on the character’s from Henry Change’s Jack Yu crime novels. Kickstarter
Patrick and Perry are long time filmmaking veterans. You can find some of Patrick’s shorts here: (I personally like Love Express the most bc surprise surprise, it reminds me of Wong Kat Was)
Love Express https://vimeo.com/181145058
Underneath The Grey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6eAKmUDHSI
Sonnet 48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZUEXWUTZrg
And you probably know Perry Yung as Father Jun in Warrior. He Also plays the protagonist’s dad in Eddie Huang’s new movie Boogie.
Notes:
1) Patrick’s history, how he got into filmmaking, and how that ties into A Father’s Son (7:24) 2) His opinion on East Coast/West Coast life as an Asian filmmaker. (14:54)
3) Western and Eastern movies that most inspired Patrick before we deep dive into a cult classic: Shanghai Kiss, (24:13) which is a surprisingly deep and thoughtful movie, and definitely underrated. 4) Thoughts on the recent growth in Asian American opportunities on screen and behind the camera, and how social media has helped Asian American creatives (33:37) 5) Perry joins at (41:48) and shares how he met Patrick and joined A Father’s Son 6) Perry gives insight into his new string of roles playing the “bad”/strict Asian Father in Warrior, Boogie, and A Father’s Son (46:43) 7) Perry answers Hon’s question on compartmentalizing similar roles with different experiences/lives and create new ones (52:46) 8) Patrick shares how he pitched A Father’s Son with a special shout out to the late Corky Lee (59:42) 9) Perry and Patrick share advice they’d give to their younger selves, or any young Asian American creatives out there. (1:02:52)
Links to donate/educate/organize to stop AAPI hate provided by Patrick: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate https://www.welcometochinatown.com/
DONATE so we can improve the show at [https://ko-fi.com/electricimageexpress] E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com Follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
Hello! Below is my book critique of Kenneth Pai’s Taipei People. Kenneth Pai is a Chinese literary giant that pioneered modern Chinese/Chinese American literature. I was also honored to get to interview him in the podcast episode attached.
In Taipei People, Pai Hsien-Yung (Kenneth Pai) captures a hauntingly beautiful snapshot of Chinese identity through the lives of Waishengren, mainland Chinese like Pai who fled to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War.
Often bourgeoisie or military, many Waishengren brought cultural artifacts over to Taiwan that still remain on the island. However, Pai’s stories hold one treasure above all: memories of youthful romance and revolution. This treasure hypnotizes Pai’s characters into a state of inertia — they are unable to put down the past to confront the present. To them, a life in Taiwan or in the West could never surpass their memories of the mainland. Pai does not pass moral judgement on the cause of his characters’ displacement — little is said about Communist forces or of the native Taiwanese. His fourteen short stories focus on these exiled Chinese spirits who stubbornly hold onto the dreams of an aborted republic.
Pai’s people are my people — my maternal grandfather arrived in Taiwan as a young Nationalist Party official tasked with managing the Japanese handover while my paternal grandfather evacuated the mainland as a Republic of China air force mechanic. My image of them is patched together solely from the perspective and experiences of their dutiful children — my parents.
One grandfather’s temperamental brilliance lives on in my mother’s wistful smile as she recalls how he pushed her to graduate top of her class but refused correspondence for years after she opted not to attend Stanford’s business school. The other’s sturdy handicraft survives in my father’s steady hand which built the dental practice that supports our family. Separated from my ancestors by oceans of time and space, I never had the opportunity to be regaled by their dalliances, daydreams, and regrets. Thankfully, Pai’s vivid artistry and Patia Yasin’s nuanced co-translation have helped me fill a crucial void in my family history. Their stories offer a brief glimpse into the private lives of my ancestor’s peers: socialites, taxi girls, and retired military men from across China who while away their days dreaming of the mainland. Each toast of Kaoliang liquor, each playful barb traded over mahjong tiles, and each retelling of a well-worn war story breathes more life into my grandparents’ memory.
“Don’t forget that you will always be Chinese.” No statement was emphasized to me more during my childhood. But as the world is presented with a Chinese culture drastically different from the one my grandparents sought to preserve, I find myself constantly questioning what being Chinese means to me in 2020. Who dictates the direction of Chinese identity? How will I convey my heritage to my future children? While Pai’s vignettes do not provide me with all of the answers, they offer intimate insight into my past that frees me to determine my own future.
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In Episode 35, I’m joined by legendary Taiwanese writer Kenneth Pai (白先勇). Professor Pai’s works pioneered the modern Chinese experience: including as waishengren (外省人) living in Taiwan (Taipei People, Crystal Boys) and as immigrants to America. (Pleasantville, Death in Chicago)
In our conversation, we talk about:
- Professor Pai’s colorful background: born in China to a general father, migrant to Taiwan, and later America. (4:28)
- How he would represent Taiwanese today and the generational divide (10:53)
- Where a young Professor Pai and his peers found inspiration (Translating Western works and Chinese poetry and merging traditions) (17:44)
- Why Professor Pai left Taiwan to America (26:25)
- Pai’s observations on the evolution of Chinese and Taiwanese identity (28:14)
- His opinions on Asian American literature and his part in shaping it (40:00)
- And why his works adapt so well to the stage and screen, as well as his favorite filmmakers (49:00)
My further thoughts on Taipei People and Chinese Identity [https://sameseanniulook.medium.com/taipei-people-and-chinese-identity-540741f093b7]
Where you can watch his work: https://www.netflix.com/title/80233859 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goi6t_HCzwg&ab_channel=%E6%9D%8E%E6%98%8E%E6%BA%90 https://www.library.ucsb.edu/news/ucsb-library-digitizes-works-renowned-chinese-author-kenneth-pai
Notes DONATE so we can improve the show at [https://ko-fi.com/electricimageexpress] Resources to report AsAm violence and learn more about how to help: [https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/} E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com Follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
Welcome to Season 2! Happy Lunar New Year! 新年快樂! 새해 복 많이 받으세요 ! Chúc Mừng Năm Mới”!
After reflecting for a few weeks I decided to dedicate more time on the show talking to AsAm/minority creators and focusing the conversation around their journeys and experiences. I hope this helps you understand about how to pursue your own creative passions and furthers the conversation beyond variations of “what did you think of seeing someone that looked like you on screen?”
In Episode 34, I’m joined by Actors Charles Ryu and Yeena Sung as well as Writer Kat Kim from the Korean American movie Happy Cleaners. We start at (8:54) by talking about their memories of Seollal, or Korean New Year. Next (14:47) my guests share their varied journeys to become the creators they are today. Charles and Kat figuring out how to integrate acting/writing into their lives as preacher and lawyer, while Yeena pursuing a full-time acting career from a younger age.
Happy Cleaners is a movie that proudly displays its tight-knit Flushing community roots, and at (28:51) Kat elaborates on how their community was the driving force to enable the film. At (34:01) Charles and Yeena give us insight into how their family experiences influenced the characters they portray (father, daughter) in the film. Finally, Charles and Kat highlight the subtle thread of religion that ties the family dynamic together (44:24) and at (52:26) Yeena and Kat explain how their idea of the Asian American Dream influenced the ending of the film.
Notes Happy Cleaners is out now! It can be streamed on Apple TV, iTunes, Amazon, Youtube, and Vimeo and was produced by [https://koreanamericanstory.org/] DONATE so we can improve the show at [https://ko-fi.com/electricimageexpress] Learn more about what is being done to prevent further Asian Elder violence: [https://rb.gy/uno8of} E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
Merry Xmas and happy holidays to everyone! Akshay Singh returns to make good on the Xmas episode he promised us way back in episode 4.
Akshay and I first determine where we will record our next Xmas special when the pandemic (hopefully) finally ends (7:04) before we get into how we celebrate Christmas as non-Christian minorities in America (13:17) including Akshay's memories of Christmas growing up in Brazil and India. At (23:52) we get into the very bad/good movie that completes the Harold & Kumar trilogy--what's changed since the first movie, (29:14) how the movie reflects on the ugly truth of Christmas (30:36) and how it represents the end of the stoner movie genre. (32:43) (also, how it breaks ground by showing asian american penis on the big screen)
We end the episode by debating waffles vs. pancakes (36:58) and I share my first encounter with Black Ice. (43:01)
Info Subscribe to our newsletter: Electric Dreams E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
In Episode #29, Shannon Fong and Blake Lew-Merwin come back to revisit To All the Boys I've Loved Before: the 2018 high school Netflix romcom written by Jenny Han that notably features Lara Jean, a half-asian protagonist.
After sharing our first reactions, Shannon, our resident asian drama expert (and the only one of the shares the movie's plot similarities to Asian dramas (17:04) before we have a roundtable discussion on Jenny Han's "pragmatic" approach to racial representation (21:11), and where the non-asian creators dropped the ball in adapting from the book. (32:41) At (36:27) we react to the male romantic leads and some missed opportunities before Blake, our gen Z intern, gives her take on the accuracy of To All the Boys in representing modern high school culture. (45:17) Finally, I give my hot take on Netflix content (1:00:15) before we end (1:07:36) with Shannon giving her two favorite recommendations of where to go eat and drink in Taipei, a recurring feature that listeners can always find in our Google Maps bookmark on our website. NOTES Blake's interview with her young adult author sister in law Info Find our hidden geo bookmarks here: [Website] (https://theelectricimageexpress.carrd.co/)
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In Episode #28, we FINALLY get to the Wong Kar-Wai episode! Hon Hoang, photographer and director, joins me to talk about my favorite (and I suspect, one of his favorite) directors and his movie Fallen Angels. Hon starts by sharing his journey to become a visual artist (10:18) and where he gets inspiration for his stories. At (16:44), we start revisiting Fallen Angels. I asked Hon to pick a WKW movie to revisit, so at (25:11) he explains why, and how it encouraged him to break the rules of photography and filmmaking. At (31:16), I ask Hon as an Asian American filmmaker, if the WKW style has any limits in the visually different landscape of America vs. Asia. At the end, (37:09) I introduce a new segment where I show Hon 5 stills from the movie and ask him to react to the characters, cinematography, and more, including some really fascinating theories on Blondie and the Assassin’s amnesia! NOTES Hon’s website Subscribe to our newsletter: Electric Dreams E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express **
Today we have a special episode of the pod recapping the Vice Presidential Debate! I'm joined by Minh-Thu-Pham, Kim Thuy Seelinger, and Anuj Vohra-- legal and policy experts as well as founders of New American Voices, Asian Americans Against Trump, and Desis United to share our thoughts on Kamala Harris and Mike Pence's performance and what their organizations are doing to help Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win in 2020. After our guests share a little background on themselves and their organizations (1:21) we start with our immediate overall reactions to the debate an hour after it completed and how it felt seeing an Asian American woman on the VP debate stage. (6:47) Then, @ (18:22) we explore topics the VPs covered as they relate specifically to Asian American voters like China (19:04), social justice (31:35), the supreme court vacancy (40:41), and health care (43:50). We close out our final thoughts on the debate and how it will affect the election @ (48:36) before sharing our most important thoughts on how listeners can get out and help win this election! (54:23)
Interested in helping? Check out the links below to our guest's organizations! * New American Voices Asian Americans Against Trump Desis United
In Episode #26, we revisit Alice Wu's Saving Face:quietly one of the most important movies of the last 20 years for Asian American cinema. Our guest is Katie Quan,who teaches Asian American Issues through Film in San Francisco (basically, she's way more qualified than I am to host this podcast!) and runs This Asian American Life, a platform for highlighting and empowering Asian creators from all walks of life. Katie is joined by Vivian Liu, a former student whose passion and personal connection to the movie motivated her to lead and organize discussion in class.
After sharing our reactions (16:50) Katie helps us understand what this movie brings to the table as the cornerstore of her Womxn Up module before I give a quick primer for our non-Chinese audiences of what "Face" means in Chinese society, and why it is crucial to the social fabric. (18:44) Next, we get personal and share our experiences of losing face in Chinese-American society (22:29) before Vivian gives her perspective of where Chinese American society still encoutners pitfalls for understanding queerness in 2020. (29:28) At (35:40), Katie shares how Saving Face succeeded in unearthing taboos around family relationships and race-- we then spend some time understanding Alice Wu's complicated journey and how her new movie Half of It is a spiritual successor to Saving Face. (43:59) Finally, we end with a few questions: Where do we see Vivian and Will's relationship going? (49:35) What would be on Will's Mom's 2020 dating profile? (53:33) and finally, Why has Saving Face not gotten the spotlight it deserves? (56:33)
NOTES Vivian's link on the double standard in rom-com behavior: Rape Culture and White Supremacy in Alice Wu's New Film Subscribe to our newsletter: Electric Dreams E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express **
In Episode #25, we revisit Parasite: one of the most acclaimed Asian movies of recent history...and the movie that caused our last collective moment of joy in 2020. Minji Chang-- actor, producer, activist and a whole lot more joins to offer her valuable insight into the movie and the Asian American creative community. After sharing our initial reactions to rewatching the film post the ongoing disaster of 2020 (8:55), I pitch a new measure of movie success: the memability of its scenes. (20:22) Parasite certainly has many relatable scenes stemming from themes of class divide and the perils of capitalism that is relatable to everyone. Minji then helps us understand how Parasite has influenced the Asian American film community. (Hint: representation isn't enough if your script is crap) (27:00) before extending our comparison to other Korean cultural exports, like Kpop (BTS, PSY) and how we feel about the American reaction to those trends. (35:04) Later, I put on my economic historian hat and point out what Parasite has to say about neocolonial free market ideals exported from America (42:05) which leads to some mind blowing stories from Minji about how American ideas of beauty were incepted into Korea. Finally, we end the show by bringing back Unanswerable Questions like: 1) How much was Kevin's tutor salary? 2) Is Art Therapy a real thing? and 3) Did our parents really sacrifice for us... or for themselves?
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20 years ago, on a balmy suburban summer evening I sat down on the couch next to my father and watched a few plucky Americans save the world. This time the heroes were a group of rugged oil drillers and brave astronauts who detonated a meteor barreling towards Earth.
Don’t worry world. America’s got this.
The United States— coming off a big game 7 series-clinching W from the Cold War— was the unquestioned leader of the free world. Each summer we tuned in to reaffirm that message and see how courageous Americans would pull the world’s ass out of the frying pan once again.
Science fiction disaster films like Armageddon and Independence Day were perfect mechanisms to deliver this message of American Exceptionalism. The stakes are naturally ratcheted up to a global scale, and each character is responsible for representing the views of an entire nation. These circumstances create a unique situation for filmmakers to illustrate their version of the global hierarchy. What countries are included in the group destined to save the world? Who will be the protagonist nation’s closest allies? Who will stand in their way? Who will be left out of the picture? And most importantly: which country will save the day?
In episode 23 of The Electric Image Express, Mazy Yap and Eric Lee join us to examine how the People’s Republic of China answer these questions in China’s first science fiction epic: The Wandering Earth. The Wandering Earth shares the same crazy science, unnecessary melodrama, and national message as Armageddon, and is worth watching just to observe who the CCP approved as friends and potential allies: A Chinese astronaut gets help from his Russian cosmonaut buddy to uncover a hidden plot. Chinese military race to an Indonesian station to deliver a crucial payload.
Don’t worry world. China’s got this.
Sci-fi epics in general mirror their real life space programs— the scale, skill, and technical resources needed are restricted to a few select countries. A successful domestic production gives that country’s movie industry a certain level of prestige.
For better or worse, inclusion in the Hollywood version of these movies as crew members, rival factions or even outright villains shows your country is influential enough to occupy space in the American collective conscious. Japan and China are the two Asian nations that have occupied the most Hollywood sci-fi screen time, neatly coinciding with their real life threat perceived by Americans to the USA.
Japan reached its economic prime in the 1980s: affordable, well-made Japanese electronics began flooding the US market lining the pockets of cash-flush Japanese businesses who started aggressively purchasing US property. Some of this cash also found its way to Japanese animation studios, allowing them to churn out daring new cyberpunk stories like Akira (which we revisited in episode 15) and Ghost in the Shell. The exportation of commodities, cash, and culture began to seep into the minds of Americans. Blade Runner is the movie that best encapsulates this phenomenon, setting the tale in a dystopian 2019 Los Angeles rife with Japanese and Cantonese influences.
“どうぞ” the ramen cook says to Deckard, asking him to please take a seat.
Fast forward 20-odd years and China supplants Japan as the representative Asian sci-fi power at roughly the same time the PRC’s GDP overtakes Japan’s. Here are some key movies in the time frame and the relevant characters involved:
Sunshine (2007): Saneda Hiroyuki and Michelle Yeoh are part of an international crew aboard the Icarus II that tries to restart the sun.
The Dark Knight (2008): Ng Chin Han plays corrupt businessman Lau who unsuccessfully tries to escape Batman by fleeing to Hong Kong.
Inception (2010): Ken Watanabe plays Saito, the Japanese businessman backing the dream thieves’ reverse-heist.
The Lau Effect: China overtakes Japan in GDP and in Hollywood
After 2010, China overshadows Japan in the genre. Chinese characters quickly evolve from side plots and environmental obstacles (like the Tiangong space station Sandra Bullock and George Clooney try to use to escape back to Earth in Gravity (2013)) to key plot drivers (rescue space crew in The Martian (2015)) and antagonists (General Shang and the Chinese military in Arrival (2016)).
By the time American viewers are watching Sandra enter the Tiangong, the majority already have an unfavorable view of China. I couldn’t help notice the tonal shift between the helpful space crew of The Martian who tap into their humanity to save Matt Damon and the belligerent and hardheaded Chinese military in Arrival coinciding with a change to a presidential administration with a more confrontational strategy with China. (Trade wars, COVID, Huawei, Tik Tok etc.) Where Japan is associated with tech futurism, China’s portrayal more closely resembles the Russians in Cold War fears of the past.
These portrayals are not necessarily troublesome by themselves, but can be problematic if constantly delivered by the hands of mainly White Hollywood creators as they can exacerbate economic-induced xenophobia with roots all the way back to the Yellow Peril and veer into Techno-Orientalism:
“The phenomenon of imagining Asia and Asians in hypo- or hyper-technological terms in literary, cinematic, and new media representations, while critically examining the stereotype of Asians as both technologically advanced and intellectually primitive, in dire need of Western consciousness-raising.”
However if we tie this back to The Wandering Earth, we can see that lazy writers of any culture can produce problematic stereotypes at the highest level: The only Western character with any meaningful lines is Tim, a stereotypical bumbling idiot inserted for comic relief.
“Hi, I’m Tim. I’m half Chinese half Australian but my hair is bleached white and I only wear white clothes. All of my scenes are designed for people to make laugh at me.”
Today a Chinese kid can sit down with his father and watch brave Chinese astronauts save the world. Science fiction allows us to portray a future we want to see, but can also perpetuate hardened world-views. As always, the message is this: the more well-researched content created by a diverse group of writers and directors we have, the brighter our future will look.
Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to get bi-weekly thoughts on Asian American representation and Asian film directly to your inbox.
Further Reading:
Chloe Gong: TECHNO-ORIENTALISM IN SCIENCE FICTION
Pew Research: U.S. Views of China Turn Sharply Negative Amid Trade Tensions
Variety: China Issues Guidelines on Developing a Sci-Fi Film Sector
NYT: How Chinese Sci Fi Conquered America
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When you think of Asian American icons in animation, The Animated, OG 1998 Mulan quickly climbs to the top of the list. When we started this podcast, Mulan was definitely on the shortlist. What better time to revisit this milestone thanthe release of the new Mulan? Returning guest Shannon Fong and rockstar intern Blake Lew-Merwin join us to share their memories of watching an Asian Disney princess growing up (for Shannon) and for the first time (for Blake). After we share our reactions, we give a brief history lesson on the original ballad (22:42) and where Disney took liberties with the plot. (Hint: the ballad had no lucky cricket and talking dragon) While some liberties are understandable for the audience and time period, we examine where a lack of diversity in the creative board room shows in the movie (25:27). While at least '98 Mulan had one Asian American writer in Rita Hsiao, '20 Mulan is criticized for not having any Asian American or Asian creative leads. Still, '98 Mulan was a huge milestone for Asian Americans, especially Millenials who grew up with her and we discuss why '20 Mulan might be for a different audience. (31:07) We're not making men out of anyone or fighting for any girls in 2020, but we still give '98 props for sticking its head out more than its peers with regards to mixing up gender roles, creating strong, intelligent female figures and masculine asian male characters. (34:21) We finish with a story of Shannon's 11-year old cousin's reaction to the movie (41:09) and choose our fav song from the movie. (48:55)
LINKS Translation of Original Mulan Ballad **
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The Wandering Earth gives us a once in a lifetime chance to observe a new superpower get behind the director's seat for the first time and inject their culture's values and world view through science fiction. Eric Lee and Mazy Yap join me to revisit The Wandering Earth, the Mainland China's first modern science fiction epic and explore the Remembrance of Earth's Past book trilogy written by Liu Cixin, whose short story is the foundation for The Wandering Earth.
After reacting to China's first foray into this genre, we discuss what Cixin prioritizes: science or characterization?(16:05) Then, we list our favorite absurd plot holes of the movie (19:06) and discuss how Ken Liu, the English translator of the book, helped avoid some of these issues. (22:08) We then as ourselves: what does this mean for a potential 3 Body Problem series or movie? (24:11)
At (27:06) we get into our big theme: how sci-fi allows you to potray the world hierarchy through your own POV and what The Wandering Earth might have to say about the Chinese government's perspective. We contrast this with how the Chinese government is portrayed in Hollyood movies like Arrival (shoutout to Ted Chiang!) and The Martian.
We then transition to discussing Liu Cixin's background and novels (33:59) and compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the books and movie. (39:51) We toss around topics like collectivism, wall facers (my favorite sci fi concept), long term planning, and the evolutionary limits of an individualistic society.
LINKS Accented Cinema's Wandering Earth Review Wandering Earth Short Story **
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Wait, didn't we already cover Lost in Translation? Yes-- but the Japan ex-pat experience is so close to my heart and so fresh in my mind that I had to get Mike back on the podcast and cover some specific experiences related to living life as a foreigner and a minority in Japan. Mike first gives his reaction to the movie (7:55) before we give our thoughts on the unique expat culture in Japan. (9:28) Foreigners come to Japan for different type of reasons-- and we share why we left America and how living in Japan changed our life goals. (12:33) At (18:40) Mike gives us his POV as a white man leaving America and how living in Japan has given him new perspectives, before I share my own constant internal conflict as a Taiwanese-American in Japan. Later(28:40) I tie up the movie discussion by relating to how expat life can give you a misguided distraction from relationship problems.
TOKYO SECRETS: If you came for the insider knowledge, you can find it at: (38:54) Building on Episode 21 on San Francisco Chinatown, we're back with more of our favorite spots in Tokyo. Mike and I spent a LOT of time poking our heads in random alleys, nondescript basements, and people's apartments as we tried to find the most interesting gems in Tokyo. Tokyo is a city where the more dig, the exponentially more you will understand the city, and so we thought we would provide our listeners with an extra bonus for being such great fans. THIS PART IS OPTIMIZED FOR YOUTUBE SO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HERE: YOUTUBE
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Welcome to the First Electric Dreams Asian American Athlete Draft! A fantasy exercise where 3 General Managers face off to construct their ideal 5-man lineup of the greatest Asian American Athletes of the modern era. The premise is simple: our GMs will take turns picking in snake draft order who they think are the greatest Asian American athletes.
The rules:
Modern: The player has to have played professionally in the last 20 years.
Professional: The player must have competed as a professional athlete. as of August 2020
Diverse: Each team must have at least one athlete who competed in a team sport and one athlete who competed in an individual sport.
Now, let’s get to know our GMs:
Picking first is… Sean Niu! To the surprise of no one, the author and owner of this draft has given himself the first overall pick, putting himself in pole position to dictate the message and direction of this creative exercise.
In second is… Kamala Harris! Fast off of her nomination as the first Asian American Vice President candidate, she continues her momentum by participating in this incredibly important and popular event. What a week it’s been for Kamala as she looks to charm the Asian American voters and kick Trump out of office.
Finally, our third participant is…my god, is that Bruce Lee? Somehow Bruce, the most celebrated Asian American athlete of all time has made a surprise appearance from the hereafter for this draft! Incredible! I’m sure the athletes will be eager to be drafted by Bruce and be mentored by this legend of legends.
Now that we’ve met our GMs, let’s get right into the draft.
1st Round
Sean: With the number one overall pick of the Electric Dreams Modern Asian American Athlete draft…. I’m picking my fellow Taiwanese-American, NBA point guard Jeremy Lin. What else did you expect? I’m a little biased, but Jeremy Lin checks all the boxes. 10 years on, Linsanity is still the most electric and feel good stretch of play involving an Asian American athlete. But before the euphoria, Jeremy was already breaking barriers as the first modern Asian American NBA player (shout out to Wat Misaka) whose journey to NBA success included overcoming well-documented racial abuse. Andrew and I praised him in Episode 21 for not only overcoming racial stereotypes but also embracing the mantle as an Asian American icon. No matter how much love he might get from our community, responsibly repping Asian America surely was an added responsibility that most NBA players don’t encounter when they’re trying to prove they belong in the League. Although not as dominant in his sport as later picks, Jeremy still carved out an excellent career as a constantly dangerous offensive weapon and on the ball threat, and his effort was recently rewarded when he became the first Asian American NBA champion. Finally, his Chinese heritage and breakthrough in one of the fastest growing global sports means he is one of the most impactful stars on this list. Combining all these factors, I’m thrilled to pick him first overall. (Jeremy also formed the first Asian American starting backcourt in NBA history when he played with Jordan Clarkson on the Lakers)
Kamala: Well, in that case, I am delighted to pick my fellow bi-racial superstar, Thai-American golfer Tiger Woods! Honestly I’m surprised he fell to me at second. The #1 overall pick in Dave Chappelle’s Race Draft, he’s a steal at #2. We all know he’s the modern golf GOAT, and with a Masters win last year his redemption arc is virtually complete. I really don’t think I need to say more about Tiger. His game and legacy speaks for itself.
Bruce: Good choice Kamala. Greatness should be recognized. Like Tiger, my pick is also one of the greatest at his sport. He also made the wise choice to pursue a career in film as well. I pick Samoan-American wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
…What? The judges are telling me wrestling isn’t a sport anymore? What the hell is the WWF? Actors? That’s ridiculous. No problem. I can be like water. I will change my pick to Chinese-American figure skater Michelle Kwan, the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history. Unfortunate she never won a Gold, but she dominated figure skating for over a decade. Her later involvement in politics as a public policy ambassador bridging ages, genders, and nationalities is an added dimension that I want in all my great Asian American athletes.
2nd Round
With the first pick of the second round, I’m choosing Samoan American NFL safety Troy Polamalu. One of the greatest defensive players of his generation, 2x champion, a true fearsome warrior and icon for one of the most storied franchises in America’s most popular sport. He also commercialized his hair in one one of the most memorable commercial series starring a football player.
Kamala: Thank you Bruce for letting this pick drop to me, as I’m delighted to choose Japanese American tennis player Naomi Osaka. Don’t worry. I checked with the judges. Even though she gave up her US citizenship to play for Japan in 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she deserves to be here. Naomi grew up in a multicultural household in New York speaking 3 languages, you can’t get more American than that. Although she’s only 22 she already has 2 grand slams and is the first Asian American to hold the #1 rank in singles. A quick browse through her Twitter feed easily lets you know she speaks her own damn mind and is constantly advocating for female empowerment and racial justice.
Sean: Kamala, I think you got a steal there. hopefully the future is full of global citizen stars like Naomi. I’m going to follow your pick with another young star—Korean American snowboarder Chloe Kim. Chloe is the youngest woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal in snowboarding and first halfpipe champion in all 4 major events. She’s only 20, continues to rack up firsts for women in snowboarding feats, and is set up to be a young GOAT in her sport.
Third Round
To start the third round I’m following Bruce’s cue and taking Troy’s former teammate, Korean American NFL wide receiver Hines Ward. Hines is the first and only Asian-American to win the Super Bowl MVP— meaning he was the best player in the most important sporting event in America. Talk about having an impact on the field. Hines leveraged his success and fame into advocating for acceptance of foreigners in Korea— especially mixed race individuals like himself. Barack Obama also appointed him on the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders… a commission that I didn’t know existed…but that’s cool! Who knew the mid 00s Steelers was Asia America’s team?
Kamala: Not me! Always been a Niners fan. I’m also going to use this opportunity to pick from another of my favorite teams and choose Filipino American MLB pitcher Tim Lincecum. I’ll never forget the 3 World Series championships he brought to San Francisco and his dominant run that earned him multiple Cy Young awards while I was attorney general.
Bruce: Baseball is still America’s pastime right?…. right? Well at least it looks like martial arts and combat sports have taken off in America. I’m pleased to take the first martial artist off the board by choosing Korean-American mixed martial artist BJ Penn. BJ caught my eye with his reputation as a quick learner— he earned his black belt in BJJ in only 3 years and then quickly became the first American to gold medal at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. More famously he later established himself as one of the best lightweight fighters in the world and one of the only fighters to win titles in multiple weight classes. He was one of the initial inductees of the Modern Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame. Great to see another Asian American excel at martial arts.
Fourth Round
For my fourth pick, I’m going back to dominant athletes on ice and picking Japanese-American inline skater Apollo Ohno. He is the youngest skater to win a World Cup event title, the first American to win a World Cup overall title, and is the most decorated athlete in Winter Olympics history. Bar none. Picking one of the greatest athletes in the Olympics in round 4 seems like a steal to me, and a big W for Asian Americans. Apollo continued to extend his presence in the American eye by competing and winning the 4th season of Dancing with the Stars. I have a soft spot for multi-disciplinary excellence.
Kamala: Bruce, a lot has changed in the last 40 years. Football is America’s pastime now, and it’s time for me to pick an athlete from our most loved sport… and I select Chinese-American NFL safety Patrick Chung. He’s played a key role in pass defense of the most consistently dominant team in American sports of the last 20 years… the New England Patriots. Patrick has helped the Patriots win 3 of the last 6 Super Bowls…and I. pick. winners.
Sean: Asian Americans appear to dominate at football and ice skating. That makes a lot of sense. I’m going to continue the run of famous Asian-American football stars because 1. It really is our favorite sport by a wide margin and 2. It’s the pinnacle of testosterone-fueled masculinity. Our successful presence in the NFL across multiple positions is a direct middle finger to the meek Asian male stereotype. With a nod to Korean-American Kyler Murray, Tongan-American Haloti Ngata, Vietnamese-American Dat Nguyen, and Chinese-American Taylor Rapp, I’m going to pick Samoan-American NFL quarterback Marcus Mariota simply because Quarterback is THE alpha dog position in football, and arguably across all sports. To be a successful quarterback in today’s NFL you have to be athletic, skilled, and also charismatic as hell to earn the respect of your team. Quarterbacks are also the most famous players in the NFL and often the only recognizable faces for the casual fan. While Kyler has a higher ceiling, Marcus has a longer track record— including success in the playoffs— while matching Kyler’s college achievements by winning his own Heisman. Even if Mariota’s career has sputtered recently, he’s still young enough to make a resurgence. When Asian Americans bring up NFL players, they often cite Dat—maybe that’s because Dat is very visibly East Asian while you can tell the other guys are mixed race or are Pacific Islanders. A hall of fame-level asian af-looking hall of fame-level quarterback would truly shatter the stereotype: Marcus doesn’t quite check the box, but he is progress.
Fifth Round
And with my last pick, I’m going to pick our first soccer star. This was not an easy choice— but I’m picking Chinese-American MLS forward Brian Ching. I really wanted to pick our first Vietnamese-American Lee Nguyen here, and Lee did have a greater regular season peak, (having scored the most goals from a midfielder and named 1 of 3 finalists for the 2014 MLS MVP award) but Brian is a veritable MLS legend. His club success far exceeds Lee’s, winning 3 MLS Cups and being named MVP for one of those championships. Brian is also the all time leading scorer for the Houston Dynamo. Equally as important is Brian’s international record, where he has represented the USMNT in the World Cup and scored in qualifiers. He’s the only Asian American drafted so far that has represented America in a “team” sport. (Unless you want to count the Ryder Cup) Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and is a sport where our perceived shortcomings (namely height) shouldn’t hinder how scouts evaluate Asian Americans. An Asian-American soccer star helping Pulisic lead the USMNT to real international success would be a dream come true.
Kamala: With the final pick for Team Kamala, I’m going with a woman who pushed the gender boundaries of her sport—Korean-American golfer Michelle Wie. While Korean ladies from South Korea dominate the LPGA and have accumulated more accolades than Michelle, many cite her as inspiration for her willingness to challenge in the PGA tour. She never reached her projected ceiling, but still won a major in 2014 and deserves to be recognized for helping other women dream bigger.
Bruce: And to finish my team, I’m picking an athlete from another untouched sport: Chinese-American swimmer Nathan Adrian. Not only is he a decorated warrior in the pool, winning 5 gold medals across 3 Olympics as an anchor for the men’s relay team, but he also has overcome great adversity in his fight with testicular cancer. After his diagnosis, he went on to win more medals in the World Championships and plans to qualify for Tokyo.
Well, there you have it folks. The First Electric Dreams Asian American Athlete draft is over. Let’s see the teams and hear from our GMs:
Team Sean:Jeremy Lin, Chloe Kim, Hines Ward, Marcus Mariota, Brian Ching
My team has legends, new superstars, and most importantly—Asian faces in some of the most important positions in American sports: NBA guards and NFL quarterbacks.
Team Kamala: Tiger Woods, Naomi Osaka, Tim Lincecum, Patrick Chung, Michelle Wie
My team features people from all over Asia and the world— as well as activists and trail blazers fighting gender boundaries as well as Asian stereotypes. Oh did I mention I have Tiger Woods?
Team Bruce: Michelle Kwan, Troy Polamalu, BJ Penn, Apollo Ohno, Nathan Adrian
My team dominates on ice, on the field, in the arena, and in the water. Everyone of my selections is or will be in the hall of fame of their sport. What better way to celebrate Asian American greatness than to show we can succeed in any environment?
Honorable Mentions that just missed the cut: Johnny Chan (Poker), Johnny Damon (MLB), Rickie Fowler (PGA), Cung Le (MMA), Nathan Chen (Figure Skating), Shibutani Twins (Figure Skating), Tua Tagovailoa (College Football), Justin Wong (eSports)
Who do you think won?
Vote here
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The NBA is back! To celebrate, Andrew and I take a look back at Jeremy Lin's historic career through the documentary Linsanity. Can you believe it's been 10 years since he entered the NBA?? Time flies. We start with recalling our favorite memories from those crazy few weeks (10:01) and I break down how some league-defining events shaped his career for the worst. (13:47) Even with the NBA giving up on him, we admire how he took on the mantle as one of the faces of Asian America, even while he was constantly trying to prove himself in a league that always doubted him (18:34)
We can't talk about Jeremy and Linsanity without getting into Jeremy's faith. Having come from a similar religious background, Andrew thinks about how Jeremy's devotion fit into how he approached pivotal moments in his NBA career, and perhaps exacerbated some of the barriers he had to overcome. (23:22)
At (38:37), we start looking into the aftermath of Linsanity and how his success impacted the prospects of other Asian American ballers, and discuss the disparity of success for Asian Americans in team sports vs indiviual sports. (47:04) We finish off with some NBA bubble thoughts: who to watch out for, who can succeed, and of course, how the Lakers will continue their dominance.(1:03:48)
Subscribe to our newsletter: Electric Dreams E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link Website Kobe's disrespect was 'hella annoying': Jeremy Lin***
Imagine you are a resident of an imaginary COVID-free San Francisco. You have just finished Padma Lakshmi’s Taste the Nation episode on SF Chinatown and now crave Chinese Food. You find a list of restaurants she visits.
Which would you choose?
http://misterjius.com/
https://www.yanksing.com/
https://rnglounge.com/
https://www.haidilao.com/en/index/index.html
Depending on your demographic and mood, you probably came to wildly different decisions. Each website represents a different ownership mindset and business model. Compared to other popular food-discovery platforms like Yelp or Instagram, your standard restaurant website gives the restaurateur creative freedom to put their best foot forward for their desired clientele.
Taste the Nation sprung from Padma’s work as an ACLU ambassador on immigration, and the human embodiment of “effortlessly charismatic” doesn’t hide that her show focuses as much on the stories of the minorities behind the wok as it does glamorizing the dishes they serve. In this episode, Padma and her guests thoughtfully chose an eclectic mix of restaurants that represent the different personas within Chinese America and the varying visions they have for Chinese American cuisine.
In Episode 20, Akshay and Eric join me in revisiting Padma’s adventure through Chinatown. After giving our own recommendations for the best SF Chinatown (and adjacent) restaurants, we asked each other: where does Chinese Food’s future lie in America?
Mister Jiu’s and Yank Sing are both run by young owners: Brandon Jew and Vera Chan-Waller, but one is a maverick chef and rising star in the hip culinary world while the other is an heiress to a multi-generational culinary kingdom. Accordingly, they have pushed Chinese Food in completely different directions.
Mister Jiu’s: Brandon Jew unabashedly molds his restaurant and menu to help his trendy, in-the-know customers associate Chinese food (and specifically, Chinese Bay Area food) with quality over value. Brandon is close to hitting IG Foodie BINGO by proudly displaying his Michelin star and James Beard nominations (catnip to the #foodporn crowd) while draping his take out in Millennial Pink.
“When people say, ‘Why is this so expensive?’ I’d like if they thought about that for Italian food or French food,” he said. “The sophistication of Chinese food is just as high.
“It’s like, I’m sure you’re not complaining about the price of the agnolotti that was last night’s roast that’s ground up,” he continued. “A leftover dumpling that’s basically served back to you.”
Yank Sing: Vera Chan-Waller was groomed from youth to be the 3rd generation owner of her family’s dim sum dynasty. Her father (Henry Chan) not only passed down hugely successful restaurants but also a determination to "uplift the vision of dim sum."
Henry’s vision in 2005:
Henry Chan realized that to succeed, Yank Sing should set itself apart from other dim sum restaurants. He thought it needed to become a restaurant that appealed to middle-class "Americans," not just Chinese and adventurous Caucasians. And that meant moving out of Chinatown, where he says cutthroat competition was keeping food quality low and bathrooms filthy.
Vera has certainly displayed this vision on her website. A luxurious close-up shot of a xiao long bao and elegantly displayed tagline promises “Contemporary & Traditional Dim Sum.” Note: “Contemporary” takes precedent over “Traditional.”
Both restaurants are trying to re-imagine Chinese American cuisine as something more than Chop Suey and dumplings— something Americans would open more of their hearts and wallets to enjoy. Brandon and Vera aren’t alone. The next generation of ABC restaurateurs all over the nation are aiming their sights higher and asking more from their clientele.
These ambitions are important, but selfishly I wonder: where does that leave the food? At [41:13] of the pod, we start listing our favorite SF Chinatown restaurants, including at least one from Padma’s show. None of us picked Yank Sing and Mister Jiu’s. Our unanimous winner was R&G Lounge because at the end of the day, the most delicious dish wins out. Authentic Cantonese flavors mattered more than interesting new takes on old classics or kitschy Instagram posts about old family memories.
R&G Lounge: Judging by its matter-of-fact early 00s webfront (and having eaten there many times) Kinson Wong, the owner who founded the restaurant in 1985 (he likes to say R&G stands for “Real Good”) still calls the shots and focuses on his dishes instead of his digital presence. Without looking into their finances, I would guess that R&G is able to stand toe to toe with the other two on a solid combination of delicious food, prime real estate, and healthy word of mouth.
Other hole in the wall places that focus on preserving a corner of culinary tradition might not be so lucky. In New York, pod favorite 88 Lan Zhou Handmade Noodles just announced they are closing permanently. Even in a pre-COVID world, they stood on shaky ground compared to the wildly successful Xi’an Famous Foods. The Veras and Brandons are pushing American consumers to expect something more, (or perhaps something different) from Chinese restaurants. And most don’t have the budget or the savvy to appeal to broader groups outside of Henry Chan’s “Chinese and adventurous Caucasians.”
Support your local favorites
However, Henry might have overlooked a new wave of Chinese immigrants that were starting to enter the country right as he made that statement. These immigrants from mainland China were wealthier than previous generations and came in large enough numbers to create their own digital communities like Amy Duan’s Chi Huo and attract successful Chinese chains like HaiDiLiao to establish multiple branches in the US.
HaiDiLiao: The multi-national’s website is fitting for a company of its scale. Knowing that you’ve probably reached the website through other marketing channels, HaiDiLiao tries to offer the most inoffensive stylistic choices possible, focusing on providing you with efficient information on its soup bases and dishes rather than selling you on the experience. With Corporate Social Responsibility and Investor Relations more accessible than meat cuts, you would not be blamed for wondering if you’ve stumbled upon the website of a Chinese cellphone provider.
While HaiDiLiao might be on the top end of businesses benefiting from these new Chinese immigrants wanting a taste of home, smaller mom and pop shops might be able to double down on traditional flavors desired by the Chinese community to stay in business.
In a perfect world, traditional flavors and “uplifted” new takes coexist in delicious harmony. In practice, flavor often gets deprioritized for presentation and marketing. Whichever path the owner of the next Lan Zhou or Kingdom of Dumpling chooses, they should know that the IG Foodie crowd is here to stay— #foodporn close up shots and witty marketing quips are now table stakes. How do we make sure the classic flavors many of us love aren’t left behind? Maybe its time for some enterprising Asian-American MBAs to roll up their sleeves and make sure the old traditions can keep up with the New Vanguard. For the rest of us, make sure to support your local favorites—a little extra love can go a long way.
Further Reading:
Padma talks about her new show with Domino
The best damn guide to Chinese Food in the Bay
SF Gate article on Yank Sing's dim sum dynasty
LA Times: Fancy Chinese food is here to stay — and it’s about time
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Episode 20! Wow! It's crazy how quickly we got here and we couldn't have done it without your encouragement, support, and constructive feedback.
This week Eric and Akshay join me to get real deep into a topic near and dear to our hearts: Chinese Food in America, while revisiting Padma Lakshmi's Taste the Nation "SF Chinatown" episode. Specifically, San Francisco and New York Chinese Food. We start out by explaining why, in a world of self-proclaimed foodies, you should trust our opinions about food (7:22) before explaining why Padma's show is as much about the culture and politics behind food...and how her show chooses an entirely new direction from the GOAT, Tony Bourdain. (15:47) At (41:15), we start getting into the good stuff: CHINESE RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS! Including when to go, what to order, including some off the menu items. To finish the epsiode we look at a (58:13) case study of Lan Zhou Noodles vs Xian Famous Foods: will our favorite mom and pop shops that maintain delicious tradition survive in the face of savvy innovation, superior marketing, and appeal to broader (non Asian) tastes?
The Electric Image Express Map! As a special treat for our 20th episode, We have shared a Google Maps bookmarks list below so if you're interested in any of the restaurants we recommended, you can check them out yourself post COVID! CLICK HERE FOR THE MAP
Want to tell us your favorite Chinatown restaurants? Want to reassure us that traditional Chinese will survive? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link*
Asian Americans are born juggling multiple cultural identities. Some labels come with your birthplace, others are given to us by the history and hopes of our family. Although family expectations are not unique to us, our cultural proclivity for long-term sacrifice adds the weight of generations to these well-meaning wishes. Asian Americans are thus faced with a difficult choice: embrace these expectations or set them aside so we can navigate our own path.
In Episode 19, my guests Stephanie Cheng and Michael Yap debate this choice as we revisit Infernal Affairs— a movie that has as much to say about self-agency and destiny as it does about subterfuge and the criminal underworld. Both protagonists' character arcs climax when they take decisive actions towards the future of their identity. Andy Lau's character proactively sets events in motion to erase his corrupt past, while Tony Leung makes the difficult decision to remain true to his values at the cost of his legal reputation.
To show how deeply ingrained filial piety is in Asian identity, the movie only grants our moles agency over their sense of self after literally killing their father figures. It’s a dramatic move, but the movie's message is not far off. In the podcast we center our conversation and debate different approaches to integrating our parents expectations as a core element of our identity.
“Asians don’t believe in therapy, but we believe in ghosts” -Stephanie Cheng
Stephanie strongly encourages separating ones identity from parental expectation. She believes that rejection gives you the freedom to fail and to craft an identity more suited to operating in our world of constant uncertainty. Michael stands on the other side: returning to Hong Kong after spending his youth abroad and finding fulfillment leaning into family expectations and tradition. Both of my friends have enjoyed success and happiness in their own right— demonstrating that everyone’s story requires personal examination and constant reflection.
Personally, my struggle with family tradition has led me to question the very tribes I identify with. Growing up, my parents interspersed nuggets of Chinese wisdom between efforts to give me a Hallmark American Life. These pieces of advice were usually told through idioms that my Chinese Lit major of a mother would always admonish me for not remembering. However there was one message they would never let me forget: you are, and always will be, Chinese.
This is why Billi’s father pushing back on the “always Chinese” label felt so important
Recently, I've grappled with how much that label means to me. I see a future where Chinese identity is associated with concepts incongruous with my own values. At the same time, Diasporic identity in this context feels weak and almost meaningless. To explain further, I’d like to share an excerpt from a book I am writing. The format is addressed to my (imaginary) future child:
Dear Child,
To Be Chinese
The story of China matters to us in the macro sense, and the story of Taiwan matters to us in the micro sense. Understanding the story of China (along with an equally important understanding of the history of minorities in America) will help you answer questions such as: Where did my values come from? How did my family get here? The story of Taiwan will answer other questions: What were my grandparents like? Where will I find kindred spirits?
For the first 20-odd years of my life, Taiwan was the simple answer to the oft-asked question: “Where is your family from?” (The real answer is that we were from Orange County) I knew my grandparents were from China, but I didn’t understand the careful nuances that might distinguish two Taiwanese citizens of Han Chinese descent. Now, the short answer is still Taiwan, but I always feel the urge to follow it up with a brief history lesson: without China you’re not painting the full picture.
Our family’s path through China and Taiwan matter, and they are sequential acts to the same story. There is no proper delineation. However I want to focus on China first for a couple of reasons: 1) practically speaking, I want to trace our roots back as far as possible and 2) because I believe there will be a tremendous shift in the perception of Chinese identity from when I write this to when you read it.
What does it mean to be Chinese? What are true Chinese values? I, nor anyone else can give you a definitive answer. But the question of Chinese identity dearly matters to our family…
….We are part of the wave of Chinese Diaspora born from World War 2 and the Chinese Civil War. Our elders escaped persecution by the Japanese and reeducation by the Communists and fled to Taiwan, America, Canada, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and many other parts of the world where they had the freedom to teach us what they believed it meant to be Chinese. But will any of it matter to the rest of the world compared to the money and power of 1.5 billion Mainland Chinese who say otherwise? They share a closer set of values and history underneath a single flag, while the rest of us remain fragmented as we assimilate into other cultures. I want to advise you to not let what the world thinks influence what you believe, but I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you it will impact your life.
My parents still hold out hope that one day China, their homeland, will adopt a democratic system. Their parents were involved in the defense of the Republic of China on the mainland and its establishment on the island of Taiwan, and thus they hold this hope close to their heart as a remembrance of the blood, sweat and tears of their mothers and fathers. However, I do not share the same hope. All the evidence points otherwise. The government censors information, builds technology to monitor and control its people, and cracks down with extreme prejudice on any minority group that wants to speak its mind. If I have to bet, I would wager that by the time you are reading this China will be closer to a police state than a full-fledged democracy. Like true Confucian citizens, my parents think only about the long, long, long term future of China. They don’t care if they are not around to see it. In my Westernized opinion-- what’s the point?
I also believe that as an ancient culture, we are taught to think for the long term-- we are taught to look beyond our own lives: cherish the sacrifices our ancestors made and continue to sacrifice for our children. That mindset definitely influences me to write to you. But I’m not sure I carry the same mindset of sacrifice for your generation as my parents did. By the time you read this, I might have left this identity behind. I chronicle our history for you here, but leave the choice to you.
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In Episode 19 Stephanie and Michael Yap joins us to revisit Andrew Lau's Infernal Affairs. We kick it off by establishing some sides: Team Tony Leung vs Team Andy Lau? (8:28) After reflection of our rewatch, I describe how Infernal Affairs represents the wonderful memory of discovering incredible content from one world (Asia) and sharing it with another (America). (16:50) At (21:23), we start exploring the big theme of the podcast: agency over identity. By (43:38), Steph and Michael have gotten real deep into the therapist chair as they explore their radically different approaches to integrating family tradition and expectations into our identity, and at (50:12) I share how my mindset is somewhere in the middle: not having ties to physical space, but still highly prioritzing my family's desires .
I STARTED A NEWSLETTER! Do you want to read an excerpt from my book on Chinese Diaspora identity? Do you prefer reading over listening? Do you want to just have all of our content sent to you in an e-mail instead of checking Spotify? Read and Subscribe here!
*Want to tell us how Andy Lau's character will never be a good man? Want to share how Infernal Affairs compares to The Departed? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
In Episode 18 Lea Vue and Vang Xiong join us to revisit Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino and share their perspective on growing up Hmong American, and Hmong America's relation within the Asian American community and with other minorities in America. Although having many problematic portrayals of Hmong culture, we discuss at (4:00) the tradeoff of cutting cultural corners for a perceived foot in the door... and why that foot hasn't led to more truthful portrayals.(9:26) At (17:29), we discuss why Hmong Americans continue to feel that their story is not well understood and acknowledged, even within the Asian American community--and how that relates to the reaction to Tou Thao and BLM. Later, we look at the strong sense of community within Hmong America, (33:56) how that might lead to a focus on representation in activism over entertainment, and why the greater Asian American community has overlooked many South East Asian voices (42:08)
I STARTED A NEWSLETTER! This week's edition of the newsletter was a tough one, but I'm glad I wrote it. I talk about the need to understand, acknowledge, and uplift the variety of stories that constitute Asian America. We haven't always done a good job in the past. Read and Subscribe here!
*Have questions for us? Interested in collaborating? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
In Episode 17 Trung brings his good friend Deirdre Bosa to revisit Sophia Coppola's Lost in Translation and share our varied AAPI expat experiences across Asia-- from Japan, China, to Vietnam. At (17:57) we reveal what emotions and motivations brought us to move to Asia before lifting the veil and sharing the lonely lows we encountered after all the fun and partying. (28:07) Later, we reveal which of the varied expat stereotypical groups we fell in with (39:52) before finishing with some theories on one of the all-time ambiguous endings. (50:06)
I STARTED A NEWSLETTER! This week I examine how Scarlett's character redefined Japan to millenials as the solution to our existential crises. Read and Subscribe here!
*Want to share your own AAPI expat story? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
In Episode 16 Stephanie Cheng joins us to revisit Disney's Big Hero 6 and examine Asian American representation in animation. Steph is an animation industry insider having worked at Dreamworks and now building Netflix's animation studio. We start by sharing how it felt to just see Asian American protagonists exist naturally in a story that is not explicitly about their ethnicity or culture. (9:55) We then debate whether it matters if a well researched movie that feels genuinely inclusive is not made by any creative leads of the relevant minority. (15:46) Later, Steph gives her expert take on the state of Asian American representation in animation today. (24:15) before giving us a fascinating lesson on the subtle challenges facing animation artists in accurately and respectfully portraying different ethnicities. (35:15)
I STARTED A NEWSLETTER! Do you want to read more about Asian American protagonists not having to operate in a story about their culture? Do you prefer reading over listening? Do you want to just have all of our content sent to you in an e-mail instead of checking Spotify? Read and Subscribe here!
*Want to tell us how Aladdin made you confused as a kid? Noticed how my name sounds just like the villain from Mulan? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
On the second episode of the Yellow Peril series, we discuss the vietnamese-american student Phuc Bui at Laney College whose professor demanded that she change her name because of his ignorant misunderstanding of the name's pronounciation.
Eric starts the convo by wondering out loud how he and his south asian wife Nadia have approached naming their future children. (7:03) Andrew asks the rest of us @ (14:50) how we would feel if our kid wanted to legally change their name, and finally Stephen brings us back to the key to approach any name you dont know how to pronounce: respect. (30:52)
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE How to pronounce Phuc Bui Atlantic article citing studies on how different names affect decision making
*Questions? Comments? Reactions? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Want to improve the show? Filll out our Feedback Form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
In Episode 15 Mike Nikolakakis joins us from Tokyo to discuss why Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira might just be the most important Sci-fi movie of the last 50 years. We start by breaking down why Akira's stunning visual style stands the test of time (9:42) and how Akira has influenced pop culture from Kanye West to the Matrix to Stranger Things. (13:11) Later we analyze how Akira's cyberpunk hellscape reflects Japanese sci-fi's unique cynicism and mistrust of technology and industrialization, tying back their often traumatic history with nuclear energy and reliance on technological innovation for their 80s boom. We use these obserations to compare what Akira got right and wrong about Tokyo in 2020. (20:40) Finally, we give our 3 favorite Tokyo hidden bars inspired by Akira, (29:45) our theories on the ending and the iconic last line: "I am Tetsuo" (37:33) and Mike gives us some hidden insight into the eclectic soundtrack that adds to the surreal viewing experience. (49:41)
Links mentioned in this episode:
- If you want to learn more about the music, Mike recommends this video by Cel-Shaded Music Theory
*Think I'm crazy for comparing Akira to MJ? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or DM us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
In Episode 14 Mazy Yap joins us to talk about Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer. Mazy helps us understand what it was like growing up with Stephen Chow's comedies constantly on TV in Hong Kong (10:00) and helps us break down his unique style of absurd, "nonsense comedy" called Mo Lei Tau (13:45) Later, we discuss how Mazy experienced balancing her Hong Kong past with her more recent Asian American identity (24:00) before we debate why Stephen Chow was never fully embraced by America and changed his style for the mainland Chinese audience. (26:45)
Links mentioned in this episode:
- When describing Mo Lei Tau, I reference this extremely detailed breakdown of Chow's humor by Accented Cinema
*Questions? Comments? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
A Bruce Lee 30 for 30 documentary dropping right as our podcast starts picking up steam is, to quote the wise Rob Pelinka: "Manna from Heaven"
Trung and Eric come on for our first Triple Threat 3-man episode and we switch up the format into a punchy question and answer roundtable and answer 5 big questions: 1: What was Bruce Lee's impact on you growing up? (3:45) 2: What similarities did you see between Bruce's Be Water and Michael Jordan's Last Dance? (16:20) 3: What hot takes have we heard about Bruce's death? (23:39) 4: How legitimate were Bruce Lee's fighting skills? (31:00) 5: And finally, what was his biggest impact for Asian Americans and what would he think of how we're viewed on screen and in society today? (37:36)
NOTES:
- Trung raves about the soundtrack for Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story @ (5:30). You can listen to the full theme song here
- Sean mentions @ (28:47) a Chinese MMA fighter who made it his life mission to expose "fake" tai chi and kung fu masters. His name is Xu Xiaodong (徐晓冬). A brief interview including fight footage is here
Questions? Comments? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: Feedback Form
Hey all! Trung, Eric and I were so fired up by everything that happened last week (ending 6/5) that we decided to record an episode only about the George Floyd protests and the surrounding climate. Engagement in understanding, processing, and helping end systemic racism and police brutality is going to be a lifetime marathon-- it won't dissapear just because your friends stopped posting about it, so we want to try and highlight these subjects (and related ones) on a regular basis.
Trung joins us first (4:19) to give his POV as a Canadian-Vietnamese. We start with the protests before moving on to longer term actions (VOTE) (10:00) and why, given all the turmoil in America, he still turns to the country for hope. (13:01) We finish his brief segment with wondering if the current movement needs a clearer end goal. (15:32)
Eric barrels in with a bundle of energy at (22:17) and spits fire in answering 3 questions from me:
- What do you think about the #blackouttuesday social media movement? (23:05)
- How does a normal person working a 9-5 keep pace with further education and involvement? (40:27)
- How have we continued to educate ourselves since Ep. 10? (50:14)
NOTE: Eric wants you to know he is NOT an expert or a professional activist, but is a strongly opinionated curmudgeon who really cares!
Questions? Comments? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
In Ep. 12 Andrew Noh joins us to talk about Justin Chon's Gook. Although we scheduled Gook before George Floyd's murder, the movie's human story on how Black and Korean communities suffered in the wake of the acquittal of Rodney King's attackers is clearly relevant to today.
Our conversation starts with our personal experiences talking to our families about traumatic cultural events and how we've approached the conversation around #BlackLivesMatter this month. (20:00) We then discuss how the Rodney King and George Floyd events affected our respective communities (27:00) (fuck #rooftopasians) before opening up on our experiences with the racial slur that doubles as the title for the movie. (37:00)
On the lighter side we give a deserved shout out to the 6th man of the movie Jesus, (51:30) I sharply criticize Justin Chon for his choice of NBA teams to rep in the movie, (58:25) and Andrew wraps it up by explaining his 형 experience compared to Eli and Daniel in the movie. (1:00:57)
Questions? Comments? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Everyone knows South Asians are stereotypically portrayed as terrorists in Western film. But have you considered that all terrorists on film have a stereotypical personality? Chris Morris's dark comedy Four Lions portrays terrorists first as people-- misguided, idiotic, clumsy fools who have been swayed to perpetuate evil not by holy scripture, but by anger, hate, fame, or listening to a misguided authority.
Anupam Sharma, a college friend and British Indian joins us to revisit his favorite comedy--that doubles as one of the few British films to give South Asian and Muslim characters almost all the screen time and dialog. Anupam starts with sharing his British minority's perspective on the US protests over George Floyd's murder (11:10) before sharing his view as a part-time actor/comedian on how comedy and Asian representation has evolved in Britain, and how Indians are portrayed differently in the UK and US over the last 20 years. (39:20) Once we get past the serious bits, we do our best impressions of our fav scenes...including my first desperate attempt at an accent on the pod.(55:11)
Questions? Comments? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
In Episode 10 Eric comes back to talk Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee,(14:30) but most importantly, the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police as the latest in a long string of institutionalized racist acts against black people in America. (21:55) We share how we have digested the events of the last week, how we have begun educating ourselves on the topic, what we and our listeners can do to help, and our largely unqualified understanding of our shared history as minorities in America.
NOTE: I will be donating $1 for every listener of this episode, and episode #9 (Crazy Rich Asians) and $5 for every feedback form filled out. The donations will be made 50% to the ACLU and 50% to Black Lives Matter I measure streams by unique downloads measured by my RSS provider Zencast and listeners measured by Spotify.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Please e-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or give us a follow on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Sean's website: https://sean-niu.squarespace.com/ Feedback for the podcast: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Other resources
- This link includes institutions that need donations, petitions, protest info, and more.https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
- https://chorus.fm/blog/ten-steps-of-non-optical-allyship/
- https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/articles/anti-racist-books-and-resources From Eric:
- shorturl.at/svHMXf
- shorturl.at/GHIY7r
You can't talk about Asian American identity in media without talking Crazy Rich Asians. Shannon Fong, a close family friend and a Taiwanese American who moved back to Taipei helps us wrap up Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month by talking about her personal experiences with family, money, and dating in an Asian city where everyone knows everyone else. Shannon first gives us a glimpse of how Asians in Taiwan and Singapore reacted to the movie (17:15) before we start giving our opinions on the star-studded asian american cast (26:25). (I'm Selling Constance stock, Buying Awkwafina) Later, we discuss if the film accurately portrays the different values Chinese-Americans have vs. Chinese diaspora in Asia (40:50) and share our own crazy rich asian stories (45:30). Finally, we finish with a Nick Young basketball scouting report (1:03:00) and Shannon gives a detailed gambler's breakdown on why the Mahjong scene was so touching. (1:14:53)
Note: We recorded this before the protests over the murder of George Floyd escalated. We touch briefly upon representation in this movie (21:52) but we dive deeper in Ep. 10. I will be donating $1 for every listener of this episode, and Ep.10 (Enter the Dragon) and $5 for every feedback form filled out. The donations will be evenly split between the ACLU and Black Lives Matter I measure streams by unique downloads measured by my RSS provider Zencast and listeners measured by Spotify.
Updated thoughts from Shannon: https://www.shannily.com/post/after-thoughts-in-the-aftermath Questions? Comments? E-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or follow us on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0o4Mdbk5nCRjga-uvoBS5BFNRgT8fXqQk5Dhe2IYHMziVoQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
In Episode #8, Akshay Singh makes his return to talk about Kumail Nanjiani's The Big Sick with more of his awkward anecdotes and convincing theories on marrying modern love with traditional, asian parents. As two single guys with our parents breathing down our backs, we put on our introspection aprons and serve up our feelings on the constant underlying pressure on marriage (28:30), why we've waylayed ourselves by looking for the wrong attributes in our partners (29:00) and why the Bag of Devotion is never, ever, ever, a good idea. (51:10) Of course, we can't talk about Kumail without mentioning his fearsome new physique (14:00) and Akshay shares his own Kumail-like story about coming to America. (6:40)
Questions? Comments? Requests? Please e-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or give us a follow on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Sean's website: https://sean-niu.squarespace.com/ Feedback for the podcast: Feedback Form
In this episode, we are joined by Trung Phan and his colorful Vietnamese background. We can't hold back the NBA analogies and at (13:30) throw out our desire for a Coppola-style Last Dance. At (17:00) Trung shares some of his experiences from his expat years, backstory on his great-grandfather Phan Bội Châu, a pioneer of Vietnamese nationalism, and why Vietnamese representation in this movie might not be that important. Later, (33:30) we boldly theorize that Apocalypse Now is Coppola's 1993 Finals. With nothing left to prove, he loses motivation to continue to be the best. We tie things up with the most obvious Linsanity award winner ever...Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore. (45:00)
Links mentioned in this episode: A couple books on Vietnam Trung mentions in the episode: A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam The Best and the Brightest The Sympathizer
Questions? Comments? Requests? Please e-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or give us a follow on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express Sean's website: https://sean-niu.squarespace.com/ Feedback for the podcast: Feedback Form
For our third movie in Asian Pacific American Heritage Month we fast forward to 2019 and revisit The Farewell: one of the standout films of our current "golden age" of Asian-American content. Eric joins us again and takes over hosting duties. We start off with a hilarious story where Eric convinces a woman on his flight he hates his job (6:30), before getting into a lively debate on our big question: What is an Asian-American film? (17:45). Later we relive some of our foundational childhood memories that helped us understand the differences between our upbringing and our family in Asia (29:30), figure out if we would tell our loved ones bad news (46:30) and give a shout out to some of the bad ass women in our life (54:30). We end the podcast with categories by recognizing the "real" China of Changchun (58:40), Tzi Ma, and Diana Lin. (1:05:00)
Sean's website: https://sean-niu.squarespace.com/ Feedback for the podcast: Feedback Form
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
We continue celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with Better Luck Tomorrow: the movie that has had the most impact on my life and a landmark in Asian American cinema. My former roommate, the less abusive Han to my Virgil, Eric Lee, makes his podcast debut to contrast his East Coast public school Asian upbringing with my West Coast private school background. We talk about how this movie altered the course of my life (5:57), the differences growing up on different coasts (20:00), and with different parental oversight (42:00). We also look at how this movie addresses themes of representation, masculinity, and authenticity (33:00) and where Justin Lin's career has taken him post BLT. (23:10)
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Roger Ebert at Sundance: https://youtu.be/LSzP9YV3jbc
Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month everyone! We kick off the month with Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, an all time Asian-American comedy directed by Danny Leiner. Obviously we had to bring on a co-host for this journey, so my good friend Akshay joins as the first guest not related to Sean!
We get stoned and guess which Kumar line sounds most like Akshay, dive deep into White Castle Fish Nibblers, and praise the universal heroism of the supporting-head-nodding-guy.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Please e-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or give us a follow on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
This week we talk about Hero, a beautiful but controversial movie directed by Zhang Yimou. We discuss Zhang's up and down relationship with the Chinese Communist Party, how he uses scale and color to emphasize emotions, and compare Jet Li to Elton Brand. At (42:30) Sean's Mom joins to give some backgroud on ancient chinese culture and customs that we see in the movie.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Please e-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or give us a follow on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
This week we use Hard Boiled to contrast the hard, masculine action heros portrayed by Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung with the limited roles given to Asian-American actors and how it affects our identity. We also introduce a new segment: "Sean's Sports Analogy Corner" where we compare Tequila and Tony to Shaq and Kobe. Finally, Sean's Dad joins us to talk about his favorite actors growing up and his experiences as an Asian man in the States.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Please e-mail us at electricimageexpress@gmail.com or give us a follow on IG/Twitter @electricimageexpress/@the_electric_image_express
LINKS: As mentioned, here are some great links to explore more of John Woo's filmmaking
Welcome to the inaugral podcast! We kick things off with Ang Lee's classic: Eat Drink Man Woman. I explore Ang's return to Taipei, how this movie is a hall of fame foodie movie, and launch the inaugral Jeremy Lin "Linsanity" award. Special guest appearance by my Mom, Jia-pyng Niu, who talks about her life as a Taiwanese-American immigrant and growing up in a family of 3 sisters!
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Ang Lee Interview on the Movie: https://youtu.be/v1CAUKYhfRQ
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm