I found this website on a whim after doing a google search on "That Asian Thing." Check it out: http://jizo-entertainment.com

TONIGHT'S MAIN EVENT:

The Public Square at the Illinois Humanities Council presents:

The Exotic and Mysterious Other:

Orientalism, the Legacy of Colonialism and the Complexities of Desire and Interracial Dating

September 13th, 5:30-7:30 PM, dinner in included.

72 East Randolph

Co-sponsored by Applied Research Center, the Asian American Leadership council of the Chicago Foundation for Women, the Asian American Artists Collective, and the Center for Asian Arts and Media at Columbia College.

Please join us or an in depth exploration of the complex, personal and political topic of interracial dating. The event promises to be an engaging evening of intellectual and visual stimulation mixed with delectable food, drink, and empowerment. Guest Speakers will include, Rinku Sen and Mae Ngai. THere will also be a short performance by Rupal Soni and friends, and a short film by Kip Fulbeck.

Love may be blind, but can it be color-blind? The romantic vision of the Middle East and Asia held by the West has been defined by the activist & intellectual Edward Said as a mixture of racist assumptions, intertwined with and underpinned by colonialist desire to conquer the so-called "Other." The exotification of the mysterious Asia was a preface to conquering and dominating Eastern civilizations by the West.


Today in the U.S., statistics show that the largest group of interracial couples consists of white men and Asian women. How do representations of the East in popular culture and in the contemporary consciousness shape western male desire and inform our ideas of romance?


How are the historical and political reconciled within intimate relationships? How do we resist exotification, ensure equity and simultaneously demand legitimacy for interracial relationships?


This event is part of The Public Square at the IHC's series called Artists, Activists and Authors After Hours (AAAH). These events are intimate, informal discussions and meals that allow for meaningful exchanges among people who are engaged in similar projects and struggles. Since coalition building is one of the cornerstones of social change, AAAH programs are structured to give individuals a chance to meet one other and create intellectual community.
Reservations are necessary and required and places are limited. Please email info@thepublicsquare.org or call 312-422-5580 to make a reservation.

happening around town

I've decided to also post things happening around town that have been emailed to me or pertain to artists involved with the documentary (...like what they're up to now). SO - try to check these things out if you can. Thanks!

The PACIFICS & ILLMIND present..."THE CASE".
MAKE SURE TO PICK IT UP! Brought to you by All Natural, Inc.




Check out The Pacifics's weekly adventures:

TUESDAYS @ SUBTERRANEAN
606 Hip Hop/Open Mic Nite
2011 W. North Avenue [Chicago, IL]
(on North, just west of Damen/Milwaukee)
Hosted by: strike3 & Undecided1
Resident DJ's: Norm Rockwell, artek, Verb & DDouble
10pm-2am / 21 & over
$5 cover / No dress code
For more info: www.606entertainment.com

WEDNESDAYS @ DARKROOM
Second 2 None
2210 W. Chicago Ave [Chicago, IL]
(on Chicago, east of Western Ave)
Resident DJ's: Alo // iRon // SP // Norm Rockwell // Artek
10pm-2am / 21 & over
No cover - No dress code


THE CASTE AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT – THE DETAILS

WHAT: "The Caste and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" is a new sketch comedy show written and performed by Stir-Friday Night!

WHEN: September 8, 2006 through October 6, 2006
Fridays @ 9:00 P.M.

WHERE: Second City’s Donny’s Skybox, 4th floor of Piper’s Alley
1608 N. Wells Street, Chicago.

WHO: Stir-Friday Night! Chicago's Premier Asian American Sketch Comedy & Improv Troupe

Cast: Carl Anderson, Melissa Canciller, Sun Hong, Sayjal Joshi, Andrew Lee, Jennifer Liu, Ron Mok, Harrison Pak, Ranjit Souri, and Steven Yeun.
Director: Lillian Frances
Tech: Michael Stevenson & Jason Flowers

TICKETS: $12 General, $10 Students, Seniors, & Groups
www.secondcity.com
312.337.3992

MEDIA: Jennifer Liu: 847.663.9257, stirfridaynight@hotmail.com
Brochures & Media Passes available upon request
Promo DVD available upon request.
www.stirfridaynight.org

ALSO:

Grand Projects
Laura Kina solo exhibition

"Loving"
September 24-November 9, 2006

Artist Reception:
Saturday, November 11, 7-9pm

Gallery Hours:
Open during New Haven City-wide Open Studios Sunday, October 22, 12-5pm
Open Sunday, Novemver 5, 12, and 19 from 1-5pm
and by appointment - info@grandprojects.com

Grand Projects
61 Lyon Street
New Haven, CT 06511
203-415-4605
www.grandprojects.com

GRAND PROJECTS presents LOVING, a series of life size charcoal portraits by LAURA KINA . Inspired by the landmark 1967 Supreme Court case Loving vs. Virginia that overturned this nations last anti-miscegenation law, Kina’s portraits of herself and other mixed race friends surround the viewer in a meditative half circle that simultaneously embraces and confronts the viewer.

Links to play with...

A couple of quick links to pass your time with and get you in the know:

--When BOLLYWOOD, HOLLYWOOD and local south-asian film industry expressed its interest to have one common platform for all SOUTH ASIAN artists - the idea for www.whackywednesday.com was conceived.

--Being Filipino myself, I found out about this flick that caught my interest: The Imelda Marcos documentary - http://www.imeldathemovie.com/

--While trying to hunt down Asian Americans through the infamous YouTube.com, I found this production company named Wong Fu Productions. Check'em out and try to watch their flick at a theater near you - http://www.wongfuproductions.com/indexhome.shtml

--Our buddies, Georgia, Mia, and Jane are getting Red Doors in the theaters. Be sure to catch this flick and relate yourself to the Wong family. You can also find Georgia's short film that made her an apprentice to Marty Scorsese. http://www.reddoorsthemovie.com/

--I got this link from my email bud, Czerina Salud (Hi Czerina!) about this comic: http://turtlecomics.com/soysauce01/index.htm - some really funny stuff here...

Alright, this should get you goin for the weekend. Please come out and support these artists and check up on their works through this gizmo called the Internet. Email them and tell them how much they rock! Thanks!