Final Project [Tristen Chau]

Summary:

Within the past five years, Chinese representation has increased in the entertainment industry, with shows like Fresh Off the Boat and movies like Crazy Rich Asians. However, my point is that more representation doesn’t mean good representation. For example, Fresh Off the Boat claimed that the show would be authentic, but then they hired Nahnatchka Khan, a Persian writer. Also, the directors of “Crazy Rich Asians” made Singapore seem like such a luxurious country. However, the film failed to capture the fact that 80% of Singapore’s residents live in public housing and most of the workforce is made up of migrant laborers. The film also doesn’t show diverse representation in Singapore, even though the country is made up of Malaysians and Indians. In the wake of increased Chinese representation, recent movies and television shows such as “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Fresh Off the Boat” continue to avoid dealing with a history of bigotry and prejudice, and appropriate stereotypes for entertainment and profits.

Response:

I did not like this project at first, but after doing more research on my topic, I genuinely wanted to learn more about Chinese stereotypes in entertainment. I wanted to provide a different perspective about all of the new Asian movies and television shows that are coming out, like “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Crazy Rich Asians.” I felt proud about my findings and my family was excited to

Day 26: Style Imitation [Tristen Chau]

“The adoption happened when I was so young…I feel so alone…”, I nodded mindlessly in sympathy as his words weaved in and out of my head, like someone was cupping my ears and then releasing them. I was in disbelief. His tousled hair and nearly sunk-in eye sockets contrasted with his attempt to mask his sleeplessness with a smile. I looked away, out of guilt, when the boy asked me what I would do if I had lost 2 of my fake parents to a car accident and I was the only one who had survived. It was wintertime and I could not bare to see the already bony-looking child leave without a coat, since he was dressed in only a long-sleeve shirt and oversized jeans. However, when I searched the back closet, I could only scrape up a few raw carrots and a scarf. There were a million questions attacking my mind, like where was Social Services? Or how come no one was helping this poor child? Or where did he come from? Right then, uncontrollable tears formed and I settled on the floor and I realized with how grateful I was to even have a family. I collected my emotions and walked back to the boy, who was happily slurping Campbell’s chicken noodle soup, and whispered, “I’ll come back tomorrow, don’t worry”.

Agatha Christie

Her icy blue eyes pierced through the small group of people, her voice, exquisitely toned, demanded, “Who killed my husband?” A 6 foot man with a distraught expression murmurs, “I have to go to the bathroom.” and noticeably slips from the huddle. “Well, someone look after him! HE seems suspicious.” Thoughts were all over the place, people were all over the place, as they were trying to figure who in the group was the murderer. “This is my family. How could one of them murder my husband? …It must be Wyatt, my older brother and war veteran suffering from PTSD who coincidentally left for the bathroom. My husband and Wyatt have never liked each other. This family gathering turned into a horror film in less than 3 hours,” She thought frantically to herself. Suddenly, the family’s waiter shuffled out of the huddle. “Put your hands up, otherwise the kid won’t make it until the end of the night.”

Day 21: Using Sources / Writing Style [Tristen Chau]

“Using Sources” Summary and Response

The second step after finding a source is to separate the important and unimportant facts in the article. Sometimes it is difficult to determine what is considered important, which Howard Rheingold has coined, “infotention”. You also have to find enough evidence to back your claim and it cannot all be circumstantial evidence, which is “indirect evidence that suggests that something occurred but doesn’t prove it directly”. Then you have to figure out how each of your sources supports your specific claims. Understanding how to use your sources is called synthesis. After you’ve begun writing, you must paraphrase what your sources say. In a paraphrase, you state the significance of the sources in your own words. You must then reiterate the key ideas about the source and how the source relates to your thesis. You can also quote from the source directly if you can’t paraphrase the thought in any other way, when the author has a lot of credibility on the subject, or when the author strongly disagrees with others in the field. Before talking about a source, you must introduce it to transition from thought to thought in your paper. You can do this establishing context of the source. It is essential for you to use transition words so that the sources are do not seem randomly placed in the paragraph, otherwise known as “patchwriting”. Reading this article has really helped me in my research paper. I am trying to decide which sources would support my claims and which are a bunch of trivial details. I also understood the circumstances for when to paraphrase and when to quote a source. I originally had many quotes, but after reading this article, I realized that it is better to paraphrase when I can to include my own analysis and thinking into my paper.

“Intro to Refining Your Writing Style” Summary and Response

Discovering and understanding what kind of writer you are may make writing a lot easier for you. Everyone has a different writing style, but depending on the rhetorical situation, there are certain requirements for the type of writing you provide. Scholars usually write in “academic style”, but people in different professions can interpret “academic style” vaguely. In college, it is important to learn how to write in various academic styles in various discourse communities. Knowing which style to write in based on the purpose and audience of the paper and being able to fit into that style is called cultural capital. I think it is incredibly significant to be able to change your writing style based on who you are writing for and the goals of the paper in order to get your point across most effectively.

Day 19: Research Process [Tristen Chau]

“Finding Evidence” Summary and Response

When writers make claims, the credibility and quality of the source can be considered part of the argument itself. A source that may have been credible a few years ago might not be as accurate today, which is defined as the writer’s “rhetorical situation”. Quantitative data may be the best kind of evidence because it provides precise results to back up your claim. There are many ways to find research sources, like exploring library databases and looking on the internet. Writer’s can also create their own data by performing experiments and observing the results, conducting interviews, and drawing from previous personal experiences. I found this article very helpful in starting my research paper. I learned that research has to all come from the internet; I can utilize the Baruch databases and library books to learn more about my topic. I will also try to use quantitative data in my essay to bring more credibility to my writing.

“Under My Thumb” Summary and Response

Chelsea Booth begins her essay with an anecdote about being acknowledged as an equal to a boy. She would rather lie about her favorite song than to tell the truth so the boy would think that she has good musical taste. Booth then questioned why male musicians are covered more than female musicians in class. She rejects the common excuses for the lack of female representation, like the argument that women were not allowed to become musicians in the past, so that is why there are less female musicians. Booth also mentions the #MeToo Movement by telling the story of being sexually assaulted at a music festival. She rightfully complains that companies who host the music festivals are not raising awareness about sexual assault, and are more concerned about the “numbers” (being the most popular event, having the best musical artists perform). However, Booth also blames herself for being part of the problem that the #MeToo Movement is protesting. She judges female music artists and doesn’t listen/support enough of them. I think that this essay is very powerful and relatable. I too prefer male artists over female artists because over time, men have just been more popular in society. To be honest, sometimes I lie about my favorite song in a popular male music album because I want to fit in with everyone else. Booth is extremely vulnerable in this piece and I could relate to her frustrations about the music industry.

Day 18: Manifesto [Tristen Chau]

George Saunders is trying to make the point that people of a certain ethnicity are being categorized as terrorists when in reality they are just ordinary citizens. He successfully uses sarcasm throughout his piece to talk about the destruction that certain people have caused. For example, Saunders says, “At precisely 9 in the morning, working with focus and stealth, our entire membership succeeded in beheading no one…In the late afternoon (Phase V), our membership focused on using zero (0) trained dogs to bite/terrorize naked prisoners. In addition, no stun guns, rubber batons, rubber bullets, tear gas, or bullets were used, by our membership, on any individual, anywhere in the world.” Here, Saunders challenges the stereotype of Muslim people being barbaric and violent. Even the name of the organization, People Reluctant to Kill for an Abstraction, pokes fun at the negative stereotypes that media have often portrayed them as. Saunders is urging readers not to generalize a specific ethnicity. He states, “We rise in the morning with no plans to convert anyone via beating, humiliation, or invasion.”

Day 17: Researching Stereotypes and “Fake News” [Tristen Chau]

“Introduction to Researching and Making Claims” Summary and Response

Research is important to help establish credibility for the writer. It also makes writers learn more in-depth about the topic they are analyzing. People cannot just state their own opinions without providing some sort of reasoning and explanation to back up their claims, otherwise, readers would not have any reason to trust the writer. The ethos in a person is critical in today’s society where any piece of writing can be considered “fake news” without any evidence. One sentence in this piece that I find interesting is, “In fact, all writing is research, and every “paper” is a research paper.” I had never thought about writing this way. Even if you were writing a literacy narrative (like the one we are currently writing), you are still drawing from your own experiences, thus giving an explanation for your claims. For every paper, you must do some kind of research to make sure what you are claiming is accurate.

“The Researching Process” Summary and Response

Research does not just pertain to academic papers. We actually do research in our everyday lives, whether it is looking on Yelp to see if a restaurant is as good as others say it is, or looking up different Rotten Tomatoes scores in deciding which movie to watch in the theater. This is based on the natural curiosity of all humans. Unfortunately, many people do not act on the daily questions that pop through their mind such as, “Why are there so many subway delays, and what can we do about it?” Researching these questions can give you clarity and a different perspective on trains themselves. One sentence that I found interesting is, “Research, in this sense, isn’t so much a collection of facts that prove your case but rather a type of exploration.” This goes back to my first sentence in that research is not just for school; it can provide answers to your daily wonderings too.

Day 15: Revision [Tristen Chau]

Brock Dethier wrote, “…For most of us revision is the only road to success.” Dethier means that a first draft is never the final draft. If you try to make your draft perfect on the first try, your thoughts will flow less smoothly. The piece, “Shitty First Drafts” talks about how having a messy first draft is perfectly okay. The revision process goes a long way in improvement. People can always improve and once you accept constructive criticism, it will help your writing be successful.
Dethier uses the metaphor of fixing a car to think about revision. I think of revision similar to playing tennis. You begin with your shots all over the place and there is room for improvement. With the help and constructive criticism of your tennis peers and instructors, your form will become better. With more and more practice, you will begin to see huge improvements in your form and playing abilities. Once you win your first match, you feel content knowing that all the practice that you have done has paid off. This is similar to writing because after lots of revision, you will finally feel content with the end result of your writing.
Donald Murray stated in “Revising Your Own Manuscripts”, “A piece of writing is never finished.” I agree with Murray’s statement because after experiencing success, you can still improve. If you leave your computer for a little while and then come back, you may see something in your writing that you have not seen before. No matter how much revision you do, it is always helpful to look at other perspectives to improve. This is similar to the tennis metaphor I mentioned earlier. Even after you win your first match, another coach may spot something wrong with the way you are playing. The coach may suggest a different way of holding the racket or hitting the ball at a different point of contact than you are used to, but it may help you even more in the long run.

Day 13: Anzaldúa and Naylor [Tristen Chau]

How to Tame a Wild Tongue Summary and Response

Author Gloria Anzaldúa begins with an anecdote that implies she is unwilling to comply with standards in America. As a person who relies strongly on her Spanish culture, she explains her frustration with the demands of “speaking only English because she is in America.” On the other hand, traditional Spanish people are angry with her and others for changing the native tongue to Chicano-Spanish. This adaptation of language is natural, if we refer back to Seth Grave’s Language, Discourse, and Literacy. Chicano Spanish was created so the generations of people with Spanish backgrounds could have a voice and belong to their own discourse community. I think that the ability to go against common standards, regardless of judgment from other people, is a strong element in today’s society

The Meanings of a Word Summary and Response

Gloria Naylor talks about how critical the way one interprets language in the spoken word is. Naylor gives the example of the word “nigger”. She tells the story of how “nigger” was used in a negative connotation in the classroom by her classmate. She then tells a different story of how her family uses the word as a sign of strength and intelligence. Whether the word is referring to worthlessness or strength, I find it interesting that one word can mean drastically different things in different contexts.

Day 12: Alexie and Tan [Tristen Chau]

Superman and Me Summary and Response

Superman and Me is a story about an Indian boy, Sherman Alexie, learning to read by looking through Superman comic books. I think it is important to note that Alexie learned how to read just by acting out the scenes in the comic books. This experience is similar to the story of Frankenstein’s monster, where the monster learned how to read and communicate by looking at others. Language is incredibly important in shaping a young, undeveloped mind. Alexie loved books from a young age because of his father’s love of books. Alexie has learned to appreciate the things that he is given and tried to exceed everyone’s expectations of him. Indians and non-Indians taunted Alexie because he was an avid learner in class. Alexie ended up becoming a writer and has inspired other students to try their best.

Mother Tongue Summary and Response

Mother Tongue is written about the author’s mother and talks about the different type of language or tone that is spoken to others. The author, Amy Tan, realized that she speaks differently in a more professional setting than with her family. Her mother speaks in broken English (Chinglish if you will) and only a certain number of people are actually able to understand her. However, the way her mom speaks makes her unique and her own person. Tan then emphasizes that the language spoken in the family heavily impacts the language of the child. I thought that this was interesting because it coincides with Alexie’s story of how his father’s interest in books has ultimately made him become a writer.

Day 11: Literary Narrative [Tristen Chau]

Introduction to (re)Making Language Summary

Language is an incredibly important tool to learn and communicate with other people. Graves uses the story of Frankenstein as an example of how language can be misinterpreted. Frankenstein came into the world with no knowledge of any language and only wanted to be accepted by society. However, the first stories that Frankenstein heard were mean and made him feel disgusted at himself. It was after he heard the stories he called himself a monster compared to other people. Since Frankenstein only heard the words of hatred and did not have anyone to communicate his feelings with, it influenced him to eventually kill his creator’s family. This shows that the words used to communicate with others are a major part of affecting how someone is feeling.

Language, Discourse, and Literacy Summary

According to linguist James Paul Gee, “Language is a misleading term; it too often suggests ‘grammar.'” Language is so much more than the technical meaning; it is the way people speak and learn from each other. Language is always evolving; teenagers in today’s society don’t talk like teenagers in the 1950s. However, a discourse community uses the same type of language to communicate with each other because everyone has a common interest, whether it is the health industry or users on Reddit. Literacy is also adaptable. In the 1970s, literacy referenced the ability to read or write. In modern times, literacy is divided into different sections, such as digital literacy, rhetorical literacy, and cultural literacy where people can participate in the literary practices of a discourse community. Literacy can also influence ideology because people who want to become American citizens have to first take an exam about American history to show their understanding.

Response

After reading these two texts, I’ve realized that the ability to communicate effectively with other people is extremely critical in today’s society. Otherwise, the person on the receiving end might get the wrong idea. I am guilty of thinking that language is often just grammar because that was the way I was taught in grade school. I also never really thought about how language has changed over the decades.