Saturday, August 28, 2010

Chester


As requested, this is my fur-child, Chester Bailey. He's wonderful:)

Friday, August 27, 2010

Week 1

My exposure to Asian American culture is limited I must say. I didn’t realize just how much before reading the Takaki piece. In all my experience with American history/lit classes, I can count on one hand the number of times I have encountered their distinct culture. I found the Yang piece very interesting. I don’t have a lot of experience with graphic novels but I really think it is amazing how deep a “comic book” can be. Chin-kee’s character holds a lot of significance in the story. While his character magnifies the negative stereotypes that white Americans have about Asian Americans, I think Yang did this to show the ridiculousness of the stereotypes. Danny, who somehow morphs into Jin Wang (still lost on that one), was not receptive of his cousin or his cousin’s culture. The way that Danny treated Chin-kee highlighted the bad behavior toward Asian Americans. Had Chin-kee’s behavior not been exaggerated, the reader may not have felt quite as sympathetic toward Chin-kee. In my reading, I felt embarrassed along with Danny at the “abnormal” and often inappropriate behavior of Chin-kee, but when the fight breaks out on pg 206, my sympathy went completely to Chin-kee. I smiled a little when Chin-kee kicked his butt! Regardless of his behavior, he was family and Danny turned on his family.
I think another reason Chin-kee’s behavior was so exaggerated was because Yang planned on him transforming into the Monkey King. I’m still not sure what that was about, and other insight is appreciated, but it makes sense that of all the characters he could become, Chin-kee would be a monkey. I don’t know a whole lot about monkeys, but from what I’ve heard about the monkeys in Cincinnati, they aren’t the best behaved of species. I’m sure that the monkey holds some sort of significance in Asian culture because animals usually are when used in literature, but the behavior issue is the only idea that came to my mind. I am very open to other ideas about this though. Chin-kee’s behavior in several of the scenes was loud, inappropriate and just plain wrong. For example, when Chin-kee first enters Danny’s life, he makes very… I’ll say instinctual, statements about Danny’s girlfriend. There was nothing subtle about his comments or intentions. His behavior here gives a whole new meaning to “he’s a dog.” A few frames later, Chin-kee again behaves wildly as he sings and dances on a table in what looks like a library. This behavior is again, animalistic. I could be totally off base here. I’d like to know what everyone else thinks.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Random things about me

Can't really think of a lot that people would really care to know so here's some things you don't care about!
1. I absolutely HATE dieting but for some reason started a biggest loser contest at work... smart I know.
2. I am an active advocate for the American Diabetes Association.
3. I am a senior and super excited to be graduating this year.
4. I have a very unhealthy obsession with Facebook and check it a least 10 times a day.
5. I am married (2 years this month yea!) but don't have children. I do, however, have a fur-child named Chester. He's four and my baby:)