Crazy and Asian, Still Not Rich: 2018 Sights

For the first time in many years, I don’t spend the majority of my day in front of a screen, so my visuals time has dipped. It’s for the best.

One weekend this summer when free time and availability converged and I saw Eighth Grade, Sorry to Bother You and Blindspotting. Boots’ film bore the worst of this marathon, because it’s the film that deserves to be watched more than once. He needs to make more films, if only to streamline his ideas. Sorry is bursting at the seams with them.

Caught up on more anime, the best of which being 5 Centimeters Per Second (秒速5センチメートル) and Children Who Chase Lost Voices (星を追う子ども). Couldn’t read the manga quick enough, so I opted to watch One-Punch Man and Attack on Titan. Funny then to watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse receive all the acclaim about its animation. So many bells and whistles, comparatively speaking.

Atlanta is the only television show worth thinking about. This is what I'll forever remember Childish Gambino for.

Silly, but fun kudos to Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Death of Stalin, Train to Busan and Terrace House. Because, everyone needs kiwi bildungsroman tales, dark political satire, zombie thrillers, and gentle slices of life in their lives.

I’m obligated to mention Crazy Rich Asians. I love Constance Wu and wish her all the best. But this is a year that started w/ Isle of Dogs. So, I’ll pay attention when there is genuine structural change made to encourage diversity of thought, storytelling, casting, etc.

...until then, my 2018 APA vote goes to Ali Wong’s Hard Knock Wife. Because I relate more to a pregnant Californian APA who walks out to Wu-Tang.

Kid Flicks
しろくまカフェ
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Mary Poppins Returns

Shame, Shame, Shame

Shame on the fools

Wu-Tang Clan - "Shame on a [BANNED IN NEW YORK]" (mp3)
(Purchase here)



Syl Johnson - "Different Strokes" (mp3)
(Purchase here)



Thelonious Monk - "Black & Tan Fantasy" (mp3)
(Purchase here)



Apparently, somebody felt the spirit of Black History Month 2007 and went Mr. Smith. Now, the NYC streets need to watch its mouth ~ lest the speech police wash it out?

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, a "God" (or, a 22-year old with "high-functioning autism") scrawls a hate-filled screed and the world (well, the Asian one) delivers a prompt, "Ho, Sit Down!"

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to social discourse in the 21st century.

Most of my grief and disgust with the latter topic has already been expressed, principally in Oliver's terrific posts and Jeff's will-someone-hurry-up-and-please-can-this-entire-rag? observation. To wit, the kid is: a) a kid; b) a kid who can't write; c) a kid who evidently ignored his momma's lesson that first doesn't mean best, especially in the field of sci-fi writing; d) a kid with painfully obvious issues; and e) a kid being taken advantage of by the true culprits, the editors at Asian Week. I would try to use Eng's jibberjabber as a jump-off for a discussion on Afro-Asian relations, but a) Eng is talkin' jibberjabber; and b) Oli, again, already pointed the way to better ones.

As for the first topic, I suppose I feel grief and disgust, but in a different sense. The response is more out of frustration that this is how "the ball gets rolling" -- duct-taping a person into compliance, or sweeping a matter under the rug. "You can't propagate it because it's in the books!" But, as Chris Rock said to a Reuters reporter in response to the news, "Do judges say, '10 years, nigger!'" In both instances, I am saddened that racial discourse has been reduced to unstable outbursts and jerrymandered debates.

Which leads me to ask, what is wrong with disagreement or dischord in life? Family is the first group identity we form and we all know the fallouts and shitfits that can ensue therein. So, what the fuss when it happens outside of the family, as well? Different strokes, indeed. Takes a conquerer mentality to control every situation and bend others' will to your... oh, I see the parallel.

***

Once upon a time, a Duke and his royal party came upon an intersection of two roads, each signified by a different color. The party became confused, as no one knew which path would take them safely on their journey and which would lead them astray. The Duke, astute as he was, noticed the similar colors of each path: one dark, and the other a few drops lighter. Halting his party's chatter, he calmly shared his discovery. His party nodded their heads in understanding and approval and followed the mighty duke, as they carved a new path.