Similar to The Black Eyed Peas band, Cibo Matto also uses music to “reclaim subjectivity on their own terms” (Dave, p. 299).

“Through its musical and visual style, hip hop gives these Japanese youth a tool with which to critique the dominant culture and to construct a future wherein they might reclaim subjectivity on their own terms” (Dave, p. 299).

For instance Cibbo Matto “attempts to negotiate the double legacy of racism and sexism in the American popular music industry” (Dave, p. 293). They combat the racism and challenge stereotypes through self-identifying as Asian American.

“By doing so, they challenge the traditional idea of Asian Americans as individuals born in the United States who have assimilated culturally and can speak English fluently. They point instead to a new kind of “Asian American” represented by the growing number of transnational immigrants from East Asia who seem to be able to negotiate and bridge more easily the “Asian” and “American” elements of their identity’s.” (Dave, p. 298)

Cibbo Matto also combats the sexist American popular music industry by identifying as feminists, never categorizing themselves as a female band, and verbally pointing out in interviews the sexism in which they face.

And as for the Black Eyed Peas, they fight against racism through their lyrics, music videos, and priding themselves on being a multi-ethnic band. For example, in ”The APL Song” music video, an older Filipino man is in an American nursing home grieving over the loss of his family and culture. In the Filipino culture putting a family member in a nursing home is considered un-loyal and should never even be thought of. However, in western culture it is seen as normal. Therefore, this man clearly lost a huge part of his culture and family.

Chapter15 -Cibo Matto’s Stereotype A

This chapter is so attractive for me that I enjoyed reading it. CM’s songs contains mixing different culture genre unlike SK in order to be unique and create new image toward Asian American female musician.

“CM members, on the other hand, are quick to identify as feminists and to recognize the sexist and racist stereotypes the press sometimes has conferred on them.”(Dave, p.295)

They dissented from image toward Asian American female such as  the expressions of female sexuality, power, and vulnerability. They wanted to be valued on the same level with male musicians or Americans.

In addition, Chibo Matto self-identified as Asian American even though they were not born in the USA.

“He defines hip hop as a social movement in that it ‘enable its participants to imagine themselves as part of a larger community’…..”(Dave, p.298)

By using hip hop that has diversity in the lyrics and styles and identifying as Asian American,  Chibo Matto tried to create different style outside the box unlike stereotyped Asian American female musicians’ image.

Chapter2 -Making Transnational Vietnamese Music

Click here to view the embedded video.

I found this music on You-Tube, which describes about Viet Kieu.

The story of Kiet Kieu music reminds me of the story of other Asian Americans because they sing about nostalgia. Vietnamese immigrants came to the US because the unstable society in Vietnam after the war like Chinese, Japanese and so on. It is interesting that Viet Kieu music is not only popular among both in Viet Nam and abroad but also be composed of historical and political messages. As Vietnamese government is afraid of  import of Kiet Kieu music, Kiet Kieu music has very important role to understand Vietnamese political and social situations.

“Considering the circumstances of the Viet Kieu departure from Viet Nam and their desire to hold onto their history and sense of nationhood, it was no wonder that music from the years continued to have a popular following long after the war had ended.”(Dave, p.36)

 According to this quotation,I understand that music is suitable tool to convey to next generations and easy to become widely used among all ages.

Chapter1 -Trance-Formations

 ”Asian icons are often used by white (or other) American youth to signal their ‘alternative’ approach to mainstream popular culture, as with neohippie subcultures that have reinvented the sixties’ fascination with India.”(Dave, p.13)

 Although Asian people are seen as strangers or “otherness” in America, Asian icons are thought as cool by white people. I’ve thought about this topic before. I wondered why there was Buddha at club even in America… The point of view toward Asian iconography as cool, cute, and psychedelic, and spiritual etc.. is different from previous image among the youth.

Chapter5 -’PAPPY’S HOUSE’

This chapter is really confusing to me… Anyway, I did not know there are some ways to call mother and father, which mean different from each other despite these sound similar for me….

Chapter4 -Model Minorities Can Cook

 ” ‘Chef Floyd Cardoz’s menu is a perfect example of what is so great about New York dining- its ethnicity, its diversity.’ ……the notion that it is truly ‘American’ because it melds the immigrant plate to mainstream tastes.”(Dave, p72)

 I agree with that because I have felt familiar to many variety of cuisine since I came to the USA. People mostly say that it is not truly original cuisine but Americanized cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese,Mexican and so on and sometimes these are mixed up. By touching cuisine culture, I also feel like knowing these countries. Food may be a chance for me to start to understand its country and culture.

“Rather, text produces a flexible, transnational narrative marking Padma Lakshmi’s emergence as a cosmopolitan and mobile South Asian American subject who travels easily between culture and nations.”(Dave, p.79)

Although Padma Lakshmi is seen as the main ingredients of the show and exotically sexualized objects, she seems to break down national boundaries. Her appearances lead consumers to think about other ethnic groups and feel familiar to them throughout fusion cuisine.

Chapter13 -”Alllooksame”? Mediating Asian American Visual Cultures of Race on the Web

I am often mistaken as Chinese and Korean though I am Japanese. It is sometimes very difficult to distinguish among Asians as Alllooksame.com researched. Thus, it was very interesting to read how much people can distinguish Asians’ races.

“What is my point you ask? Well… None of these groups are ‘pure’, nor are they homogeneous.”(Dave, p.266) 

 I like this part because not only this is true but also this explains why Asian countries such as Japan, Korea,and China are called ‘Asia’ and put together.

“…..race is detached from biological bodies and reassigned to realm of the cultural, political, and geographical.”(Dave, p.267) 

Chapter17 -Secret Asian Man

 ”Expression of anger in popular texts are interesting not only because of their narrative weight and cinematic value but also because the right to express one’s grievances explicitly is a privilege.”(Dave, p.340)

 It reminds me of differences between the films “Gran Torino” and “Come See the Paradise”.  In ”Come See the Paradise”, the story is described as sorrow through Japanese war experience. On the other hand, in ”Gran Torino”, Thao who is Walt’s Hmong neighbor expresses his anger when his sister is used violence by gang members. Also, the gang group consists of Asian Americans and they express their thereat against Thao, his family, Walt and so on.