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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2020)
OPINION Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER August 3, 2020 Volume 30 Number 9 August 3, 2020 ISSN: 1094-9453 The Asian Reporter is published on the first Monday each month. Please send all correspondence to: The Asian Reporter 922 N Killingsworth Street, Suite 2D, Portland, OR 97217 Phone: (503) 283-4440, Fax: (503) 283-4445 News Department e-mail: news@asianreporter.com Advertising Department e-mail: ads@asianreporter.com Website: www.asianreporter.com Please send reader feedback, Asian-related press releases, and community interest ideas/stories to the addresses listed above. Please include a contact phone number. Advertising information available upon request. Publisher Jaime Lim Contributing Editors Ronault L.S. Catalani (Polo), Jeff Wenger Correspondents Ian Blazina, Josephine Bridges, Pamela Ellgen, Maileen Hamto, Edward J. Han, A.P. Kryza, Marie Lo, Simeon Mamaril, Julie Stegeman, Toni Tabora-Roberts, Allison Voigts Illustrator Jonathan Hill News Service Associated Press/Newsfinder Copyright 2020. Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication. Member Associated Press/Newsfinder Asian American Journalists Association Better Business Bureau Pacific Northwest Minority Publishers (PNMP) Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon The Asian Reporter welcomes reader response and participation. 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Back issues of The Asian Reporter may be ordered by mail at the following rates: First copy: $1.50 Additional copies ordered at the same time: $1.00 each Send orders to: Asian Reporter Back Issues, 922 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217-2220 The Asian Reporter welcomes reader response and participation. If you have a comment on a story we have printed, or have an Asian-related personal or community focus idea, please contact us. Please include a contact name, address, and phone number on all correspondence. Thank you. F or the last several months during quaran- the LGBTQI+ community and people of color. Told tine, I’ve been binge-watching television in a light, upbeat tone, the show takes on shows and films. I tend to watch science hard-hitting issues such as discrimination, racist fiction and fantasy, but I also enjoy romantic stereotyping, harassment, and homophobia. The most compelling storyline in “Hollywood” comedies and some reality television. Always though, I’m in search of programs featuring people centers on Anna May Wong (Michelle Krusiec), the first Asian-American star at that of color. It can be especially difficult time. The oft-told story of Wong to locate content centered on Asian losing out on the role of the Chinese American/Pacific Islanders (AAPI) lead in Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth though. Since the finale of “Fresh gets a cathartic rewrite in the show. Off the Boat,” there really hasn’t Though Wong still loses out to a been anything on mainstream white actress (historically correct) networks to replace it. The CW’s in the series, she is chosen later to be “Katy Keene” and “Nancy Drew,” Pictured is Devi (played by Maitreyi in another film, Meg, about a Black and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (in its Ramakrishnan) in “Never Have I woman (Laura Harrier) named Meg, final season) on ABC, feature Ever.” (Photo courtesy of Netflix) Asian-American actresses prominently. But it is created by a Black writer (Jeremy Pope) with a streaming services like Netflix and Hulu that tend biracial Filipino-American writer (Darren Criss). “Hollywood” is a revisionist fantasy, but it gives to offer more AAPI stories and productions. On Netflix, the Half of It, a film written and viewers the stories we wish had happened earlier. On Hulu, I recommend Parasite, the hit 2019 directed by Alice Wu (best known for Saving Face), is a 2020 coming-of-age comedy/drama. The two South Korean film by Bong Joon-ho. If you haven’t best performances are small-town girl Ellie Chu seen it, now is the time. I don’t consider this a family (Leah Lewis), who lives with her widowed father film even though it’s about a family. Parents should (Collin Chou), a station master and signalman for a decide if their teen is able to handle the curse words, railway. Ellie takes a job as a letter-writer for sexual situations, and some violence. The film, someone who wants to woo a girl she secretly loves. which is centered on the Kim family and is largely a The film, which is definitely inspired by the story of parable on greed, class, and discrimination, won a Cyrano de Bergerac, also features an LGBTQI+ multitude of awards. Stuck in a small basement (lesbian, gay, bisexual, non-binary, transgender, apartment, the Kims soon con their way into the home of a wealthy family. The edgy comedy becomes queer, and intersex) twist. Along the same vein is “Never Have I Ever,” a a thriller midway through the film and transforms comedy-drama on Netflix created by Mindy Kaling into a tragic commentary on class division. Also on Hulu, foodies should explore “Taste the (“The Office” and “The Mindy Project”), who often received criticism from the Asian-American Nation with Padma Lakshmi.” The “Top Chef” host community because she didn’t feature enough takes on traditional food documentaries by mixing Asians on her show. But the new show, loosely commentary on race, history, and cultural based on Kaling’s life, is about how an appropriation with stories of chefs and their recipes Indian-American high school student, Devi that cut close to their hearts. There is something (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), deals with the death of subtly subversive about her visit to El Paso, Texas, her father and explores her crush on the and talking about border crossings and the handsomest and most popular boy in the class — demonization of undocumented workers while who also happens to be Asian American. Devi has musing on the origins of the burrito. Or, while two friends, one Black and one Asian American. visiting San Francisco’s Chinatown with comic, Drama student Eleanor is played by Ramona actress, and author Ali Wong, Padma muses on why Young, who is in another show I like — “Legends of Americans think Chop Suey is Chinese when it’s Tomorrow” — on the CW. Families with teens not. One episode examines Pad Thai in Las Vegas especially should know that the show has scenes and the struggle military wives went through to with alcohol and mild talk about sex, but it’s funny introduce Thai food on the Vegas Strip. (Las Vegas is home to one of the largest group of Thai and endearing. Adults might consider viewing “Hollywood,” a immigrants following the Vietnam War.) “Zen and drama on Netflix that reimagines the film industry the Art of Poke” looks at Japanese culture, history, during post-World War II America. It is definitely and Hawai‘i’s largest ethnic majority in Honolulu. Let me know your recommendations. Happy NOT a family show because of nudity and sexual content, but the retelling of history does justice to viewing! Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication.