If you're American and you recognize names like "Bad Boys Blue," "C.C. Catch," "Sandra," or "Modern Talking," there's a good chance that you, or someone close to you, is Vietnamese. For the uninitiated non-Viet Americans, those are the names of three German (and one German-Dutch) pop bands whose songs have been compiled, covered, and claimed … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — Q&A with filmmaker Elizabeth Ai about her latest project, NEW WAVE
The Triffids
NOTE: Around 2009, I wrote a bunch of music biographies for Amoeba Music, which was then planning an ambitious project which ultimately never came to fruition. Some of the biographies I wrote about my favorite musical acts did eventually make their way onto Amoeba’s current, scaled back website — although they’re somewhat buried and often … Continue reading The Triffids
Mantronix
NOTE: Around 2009, I wrote a bunch of music biographies for Amoeba Music, which was then planning an ambitious project which ultimately never came to fruition. Some of the biographies I wrote did make their way onto Amoeba’s current, scaled back website — although they’re somewhat buried and often don’t credit the authors. A lot … Continue reading Mantronix
Man Parrish
NOTE: Around 2009, I wrote a bunch of music biographies for Amoeba Music, which was then planning an ambitious project which ultimately never came to fruition. Some of the biographies I wrote did make their way onto Amoeba's current, scaled back website -- although they're somewhat buried and often don't credit the authors. A lot … Continue reading Man Parrish
Pan-Asian Metropolis — Korean Los Angeles
INTRODUCTION Los Angeles is home to the largest Korean community anywhere outside of Korea -- a distinction it has held since at least since 1979. Metro Los Angeles is home to the enclaves of Koreatown (the world's first) and Little Seoul -- as well as the communities with large Korean populations like Windsor Square, Miracle … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — Korean Los Angeles
No Enclave — Hongkonger Los Angeles
INTRODUCTION Hong Kong has long been one of those globally prominent places up there with London, Paris, Rome, and Tokyo -- and yet surprisingly little has been written about the Hongkonger diaspora. There's next-to-nothing specifically about Hong Kong emigration to Los Angeles -- despite the fact that nearly as many Hongkongers live in the US … Continue reading No Enclave — Hongkonger Los Angeles
Pan-Asian Metropolis — Thai Los Angeles
Los Angeles is widely recognized for its ethnic diversity. There are several communities -- including those of Armenians, Guatemalans, Mexicans, and Salvadorans -- which are larger in Los Angeles than in anywhere else outside of their respective homelands. The same is true of numerous Asian peoples, including Cambodians, Filipinos, Koreans, Persians, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese which … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — Thai Los Angeles
Pan-Asian Metropolis — Teresa Teng (鄧麗君)
Teresa Teng (鄧麗君) was a Taiwanese singer and Asian superstar who officially sold 22 million albums -- and an estimated 50-75 million bootlegs) during her tragically short life. Despite her death at the age of 42, her career traversed four decades. With her covers of Japanese songs in Chinese (including Cantonese, Hokkein, and Mandarin), she … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — Teresa Teng (鄧麗君)
Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography — Coronavirus Pandemic Art Exchange
Who wants to participate in an art exchange? Perhaps you're quarantined or self-isolating and would like to channel your descent into madness toward something creative. Or maybe, like me, your work is deemed essential but without opportunity to let off steam at a bar or gym, you might benefit from a bit of a creative … Continue reading Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography — Coronavirus Pandemic Art Exchange
No Enclave – Tajik Los Angeles
INTRODUCTION There are not, I don't think, many Tajiks or Tajikistanis in Los Angeles. I only know one, personally, and when we first met at a birthday party a few years ago, I got the impression from him that I was the amongst a very small numbers of Angelenos that he'd met who'd ever even … Continue reading No Enclave – Tajik Los Angeles
