The Writers Round-Up

This past week, I've had the pleasure of meeting 2 young female artists.

Robbi: Chicago's answer to South Asian American female hip hop. A student of old school rap (early Nas, KRS-One, etc.), Robbi mixes her personal experiences, afterthoughts, and brand of humor to deliver a chill flowing rhyme session. Her interview consisted of how she brings her art to the table, especially in an arena that's heavily dominated by males. Robbi's always ready to battle and even during her performance, she will dish it for the audience to become witnesses. Her fast pace delivery and clever humor makes it exciting to see where she takes her freestyle. However, when you take a step back and look at it from Robbi's p.o.v. - it's all business. She constantly goes out to promote her shows and one of the difficulties that she pointed out was people taking her seriously. Here you have not only an Indian female, but also someone who's shorter than 5 feet, and to add on - she's a rapper? But don't knock her till you check her out! Speaking of which - print this ticket for her next show to get $5 off:



Check her out on Friday Night, September 1st at Spot 6 (3343 N. Clark, Chicago).

Thanks Robbi for being completely down to earth, honest, and showin' "That Asian Thing" support during your show!

Continuing on....

Rupal Soni: a writer, teacher, and hopefully employed art director. Soni has worked closely with the Asian American community in Chicago. She just recently finished summer programming with Y.A.W.P.! (Young Asians With Power) as an instructor, which helps motivate her as an artists. One thing that Rupal emphasized on during our interview was the ground-breaking foundation that Asian American artists today (and before us, and before them, etc., etc.) are helping make the road easier for young Asian Americans in the future. Working off the "model minority" myth, parents always push for what is better for their child. This has led to a good majority of Asians partaking a role in the medical/science, accounting, engineering, and computer fields. But by more Asian American artists becoming apparent in the mediated eye, in can only help Asian parents realize that there can be a future for their child in that field.

Rupal also touched upon other topics that we fell unto through tangency. Such as the art of writing and expressing yourself. The need for support from the Asian American community as a whole - thereby all ethnicities working hand in hand to help move forward. And the pushing of the envelope in terms of comedy and performing stage sketches. AND AGAIN - speaking of which...please check out Rupal's upcoming show:


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.


Thank you so much for your time and energy Rupal! I appreciate talking to you about all aspects of both of our projects. Hopefully it was as much of a learning experience for you as it was for me.

WRITING:

It was wonderful to hear how strong these two artists were in terms of writing. They talked about how it was a form of expression and getting your thoughts out. Right now, I'm working on the voice-over narrative for the film. This will take its toll on me as I've worked on screenplays before. However, this is different - I'm taking a more general issue that hits home for so many people already. This isn't a story where I can make up situations for a main character. The main character is a race and how it's "been invisible for so long" (pls. see Laura Kina in our teaser). Therefore, interviews may be on the low, but work on the film will still be at a high. Take care people!