Escape From Plan A

Jess, Mark, and Teen share their impressions of Wong Fu Production's new YouTube series "Yappie." The series explores the inner life of a well-to-do Asian American man in Southern California, and the cheery surface, there is an unmistakable undertone of the modern ennui and loneliness that pervades society. A somewhat more serious talk about depression and anxiety. Intro Voice Track: Edward Norton's monologue on materialism from "Fight Club" TWITTER: Jess (@cogitatotomato) Teen (@mont_jiang) Mark (@snbatman) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Johann Hari's TED talk on the root causes of depression: https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong

A vibrant film culture has existed in Asia for a long time, but only recently has it become so available to the rest of the world. For Asian Americans, Asian cinema offers an opportunity to learn about our ancestral homelands in a way that may have gotten lost in the immigration process. Joining Teen and Oxford are Anthony Kao and Richard Yu, the founders of Cinema Escapist. Theirs is a website dedicated to not only reviewing international cinema but placing it in the context of politics and culture. Together, they pick some of their favorite Asian movies and why people, especially Asian Americans, should watch them. Intro/Outro Music: Theme from Tokyo Story Intro Voice Track: Roger Ebert on Yasujiro Ozu's "Floating Weeds" TWITTER: Cinema Escapist (@cinemaescapist) Teen (@mont_jiang) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Richard's recs: Dying To Survive, Wolf Warrior 2, My Old Classmate Anthony's recs: A Taxi Driver, American Dreams In China, Ode To My Father Oxford's rec: Tokyo Story Teen's rec: Black Coal Thin Ice Other movies mentioned: Yiyi, May 18, Beijing Meets Seattle, Early Spring, Blind Shaft BBC Interview with Richard Yu on "Dying To Survive": https://www.facebook.com/cinemaescapist/videos/2075601962656795 Teen's reviews on Cinema Escapist: https://www.cinemaescapist.com/author/teensheng/ FilmStruck: https://www.filmstruck.com/us/

From Amy Tan to Michelle Kwan to Constance Wu, there are many Asian American women who have achieved great success and are upheld as leading figures of the community. But sometimes (and especially online), Asian male support is muted or reluctant. Is it resentment at seeing women in power at all? Or does it have anything to do with the feeling that only by closely allying with whiteness can Asian women succeed at the highest levels in America, thus leaving Asian men behind? Is that what’s behind some of the online harassment of Asian women by some Asian men? In this special-format podcast, Jess poses simple but direct questions for Teen, Oxford, and Jong to answer in hopes of further illuminating the Asian male perspective. Intro/Outro Song: "Fighters ft. Matthew Santos" by Lupe Fiasco Intro Voice Track: Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph's argument scene from "Bridesmaids" TWITTER: Jess (@cogitatotomato) Teen (@mont_jiang) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Jong (@coarsecourse) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Matthew De Starkey incident at UW-Whitewater: https://proasian888.wordpress.com/2018/07/13/matthew-de-starkey/ The Asian-American Gender Gap: http://benefsanem.blogspot.com/2010/11/asian-american-gender-gap.html "Straight White Men" play on Broadway: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/magazine/young-jean-lees-unsafe-spaces.html Chloe Kim and her Father are America’s Soft Power Nuke: https://planamag.com/chloe-kim-and-her-father-are-americas-soft-power-nuke-75df9fa2627a William and Mary Univ. study on black women and Asian men's representation: https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2015/study-finds-asian-men,-black-women-underrepresented-in-magazines123.php Mark Tseng-Putterman's tweet attacking NPR's Yowei Shaw: https://i.imgur.com/lhOkrMP.jpg The Slant newsletter criticizing Yowei Shaw: https://i.imgur.com/H7Hl0fW.jpg Black woman's Instagram post re Michael B. Jordan and the race of his girlfriends: https://i.imgur.com/QX5vDi1.png "Big Little Man" by Alex Tizon: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Little-Man-Search-Asian/dp/0547450486 "Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng: https://www.amazon.com/Everything-I-Never-Told-You/dp/0143127551

From Natalie Tran's "White Male Asian Female" documentary to NYT's article "The Alt-Right's Asian Fetish" to the backlash against Chloe Bennet (born Chloe Wang) for dating Logan Paul, the topic of WMAF has been unavoidable as of late. It's often said that the issues of internalized racism involved in this topic are best addressed by and for Asian women. But what happens when Asian women run into brick walls when trying to talk to other Asian women about this, resulting in strained friendships or ostracization from activist circles? To shed more light on this are Jess, Christina, and special guest Sammi Lee, a student and Asian/LGBTQ activist in NYC (with Oxford in a producer role). Intro/Outro Song: "Shut Up" by Stormzy Intro Voice Track: Interview between Natalie Tran and Sar Satria from Natalie Tran's "White Male Asian Female" Youtube documentary TWITTER: Jess (@cogitatotomato) REFERENCED RESOURCES: "The Asian Mystique" by Sheridan Prasso: https://www.amazon.com/Asian-Mystique-Dragon-Ladies-Fantasies/dp/1586483943 "The Art of Cruelty" by Maggie Nelson: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Cruelty-Reckoning-Maggie-Nelson/dp/0393343146

The trailer for the Netflix adaptation of Jenny Han's YA novel, "To All The Boys I've Loved Before," has fans excited, especially because an Asian woman is in a lead rom-com role. But within Asian American spaces, there has been a lot of discussion over how progressive this movie actually is when it's yet another story about an Asian girl obsessing over mainly white boys. Is media rep for POC always to be unquestioningly celebrated? Can we freely talk about the problems of idealizing white love interests? Joining Jess and Oxford, male model Kevin Kreider offers his insider knowledge of the racist hierarchy in the modeling/entertainment world to highlight why this is an important issue that is much more than about movies and TV. Intro: "To All The Boys I've Loved Before" Trailer Outro Song: "I Like Me Better" (Instrumental) by Lauv TWITTER: Jess (@cogitatotomato) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Kevin Kreider (@kevkreider) KEVIN KREIDER LINKS: "The Ugly Model" documentary: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/uglymodeldoc/the-ugly-model-a-documentary Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAJJBY9sSThM02XLsfb3U3A Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevin.kreider/?hl=en The Disappointing Reality of Dating as an Asian-American Man: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/youre-really-good-looking-for-an-asian-guy_us_5b33ccdee4b03b6966b99426 REFERENCED RESOURCES: Some People Are Upset There’s No Asian Male in Netflix’s New Film With Lana Condor: https://nextshark.com/people-upset-theres-no-asian-male-netflixs-new-film-lana-condor/ Hapa actor Charles Melton cast as full-Korean male lead in "The Sun Is Also A Star": https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sun-is-a-star-riverdale-star-charles-melton-joins-yara-shahidi-1116216 Jesse Wiliams and Light-Skinned Privilege: http://blackyouthproject.com/why-we-need-to-talk-about-light-skinned-privelege/ Amandla Stenberg turned down "Black Panther" role because she felt she was too light-skinned: https://rollingout.com/2018/03/01/amandla-stenberg-rejected-black-panther-role-light-skin/ Alicia Vikander and Riley Keogh to star with Naoki Kobayashi in Netflix's "The Earthquake Bird": https://www.empireonline.com/people/alicia-vikander/alicia-vikander-riley-keough-starring-earthquake-bird/ Justin Chon and Ellie Bamber to star in "Taipei": https://variety.com/2016/film/news/justin-chon-ellie-bamber-romance-movie-taipei-1201931718/ The pursuit of white women: Brown actors like Aziz Ansari have reduced brown women to a punchline: https://qz.com/1016554/aziz-ansari-hasan-minhaj-kumail-nanjiani-brown-actors-have-reduced-brown-women-to-a-punchline/ I’m Tired of Watching Brown Men Fall in Love With White Women Onscreen: https://themuse.jezebel.com/i-m-tired-of-watching-brown-men-fall-in-love-with-white-1796522590 The Problem With How Some Brown Male Comics Portray Brown Women In Films And TV: https://mic.com/videos/7577/pr-0037-brownwomeninmedia#.EtZwAvyr9 Does Anyone Have The Right To Sex by Amia Srinivasan: https://www.lrb.co.uk/v40/n06/amia-srinivasan/does-anyone-have-the-right-to-sex You Need 20,000 Followers to Even Look at This Instagrammable Mural in L.A.: https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/instagram-famous-art-mural-los-angeles "To All The Boys I've Loved Before" Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTLc_RzqaJc&t=2s

In life, there are certain certainties. The universe is immense. Your kids will disappoint you. And Germany will make it to the knockout round of the World Cup. Wait what?! Korea had something to say about that last one? Teen, Oxford, and Mark relive a glorious game and revel in the even more glorious outbursts of shared celebrations between Korea, Mexico, and the rest of the world in Germany's embarrassment. Intro/Outro Song: "For Victory" by TransFixion Intro Voice Track: Korea vs. Germany World Cup 2018 Match from FIFA TV TWITTER: Teen (@mont_jiang) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Mark (@snbatman) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Korean and Mexican fans celebrate together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fbt1vxhCs Chinese Fans of Germany: http://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2122433/why-chinese-football-fans-will-cheer-die-mannschaft-2018-world-cup Tavern of the Taeguk Warriors: https://www.taegukwarriors.com/ BigSoccer Korea forums: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forums/korea.252/

With Trump's abominable immigration policies creating child prisons and extreme deportations, the question must be asked: what is truly fueling all this? It's not job loss. It's not crime. It's fear of demographic change. Teen, Oxford, and Mark trace the rather easily discoverable trail of this "America as white nation" ideology and give their takes on the American moral obligation to allow immigration. Intro/Outro Music: Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23 by Frederic Chopin Intro/Outro Voice Track: Rep. Steve King explains defense of "our civilization" tweet on Tucker Carlson Tonight TWITTER: Teen (@mont_jiang) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Mark (@snbatman) HOW TO HELP: How to call Congress: https://www.ucsusa.org/action/phone-calls.html Immigration Law/Lawyer: https://www.nilc.org/get-involved/links/aro/natres/ Direct Protests: To fight back, a number of organizations including the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the ACLU, the Women’s March, and MoveOn, among others — have organized a nationwide protest on Saturday, June 30. The main demonstration is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. These have worked - https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ice-portland-protests-family-separation_us_5b2b645ae4b0321a01cde0d9 Where the children are being held: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/21/us/where-are-the-border-children.html REFERENCED RESOURCES: Chris Hayes's tweetstorm re demographic change: https://twitter.com/chrislhayes/status/1010275131632115714 Michele Bachmann on 1965 immigration reforms: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/michele-bachmanns-misplaced-immigration-nostalgia/2011/09/14/gIQABmMnVK_story.html?utm_term=.963207eeb558 Bad guy on TV is always the white guy: https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-do-white-people-feel-discriminated-against-i-asked-them The Flight 93 Election: https://www.claremont.org/crb/basicpage/the-flight-93-election/ Richard Spencer says immigration is the only important issue: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/31/american-renaissance-conference-white-identity Arizona lawmaker wants more white babies: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/06/14/arizona-rep-criticized-immigration/701678002/ Waking Life coffeehouse pick-up artist on Mexican immigration: https://www.thecut.com/2016/01/jared-rutledge-pickup-artist-c-v-r.html Viktor Orban on anti-LGBTQ and anti-reproductive rights: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/hungary-president-viktor-orban-anti-lgbt-hate-group-iof-homophobia-gay-europe-a7758166.html Anti-Semitism in Lithuania: https://www.vox.com/2016/9/19/12933072/far-right-white-riot-trump-brexit Asian immigration resentment in Vancouver: http://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/douglas-todd-most-dont-consider-immigration-cuts-to-be-racist-global-survey-finds

Jess, Mark, and Teen tackle falling marriage rates and why men and women seem to be seeing past each other. Also, Asian beer supremacy and the frothy spectacle of the frozen Sapporo. Intro/Outro Song: "Luv (sic)" by Nujabes TWITTER: Teen (@mont_jiang) Jess (@cogitatotomato) Mark (@snbatman) REFERENCED RESOURCES: America, Home of the Transaction Marriage by Victor Tan Chen: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/08/marriage-rates-education/536913/

In this special midweek episode, Plan A reflects on what made Anthony Bourdain such a beloved figure, especially among people of color. Asian Americans had a particular respect for the way he was able to appreciate Asian food and culture in a way that was free of condescension or white-saviorism. Teen, Oxford, and guest podcaster Kasie pay their respects by talking about their favorite Bourdain moments and what his legacy is for American culture. Intro/Outro Song: Rising Sun Blues (King Kong Remix) by Michael Ruffino for "Parts Unknown" TWITTER: Teen (@mont_jiang) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) Kasie (@kasefiles) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Lowdown on Chinatown: https://www.lowdownonchinatown.com/ Anthony Bourdain Really Hated 'Midnight In Paris' by Kyle Buchanan: http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/anthony-bourdain-really-hated-midnight-in-paris.html Anthony Bourdain cooks Korean food for Anderson Cooper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1IIUZIjoNk

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio has been advocating for the scrapping of the SHSAT, which determines admission to the city's top public schools like Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science. How much of this is fear and resentment of an Asian takeover? Can the rise of Asian politicians, such as in California, strengthen our community? Teen, Oxford, and Mark discuss this contentious topic, along with the trailer for the new Wong Fu series “Yappie” and bad Asian baby names. Intro/Outro Song: “One Winged Angel” from Final Fantasy VII by Nobuo Uematsu (remade by Enrico Deiana) Intro Voice Track: Alexandra Wallace’s “Asians in the Library” Rant TWITTER: Teen: @mont_jiang Oxford: @oxford_kondo Mark: @snbatman REFERENCED RESOURCES: Was Kevin Cooper Framed For Murder? by Nicholas Kristof: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/17/opinion/sunday/kevin-cooper-california-death-row.html Could A Legal Love Triangle Scuttle SCOTUS Hopes For This Leading Jurist? by David Lat: https://abovethelaw.com/2016/09/could-a-legal-love-triangle-scuttle-scotus-hopes-for-this-leading-jurist/ A Guide To The Controversy Around NYC’s Specialized High Schools by Grace Segers: https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/policy/education/new-york-city-specialized-high-schools-admissions-guide.html Chancellor Carranza to desegregation plan foes: "You don't own these classrooms" by By Ben Chapman, Erin Durkin and Jillian Jorgensen: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/ny-school-desegregation-plan-20180605-story.html Asian-Americans Have Highest Poverty Rate In NYC, But Stereotypes Make The Issue Invisible by Kimberly Yam: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/asian-american-poverty-nyc_us_58ff7f40e4b0c46f0782a5b6 Rep. Grace Meng's tweet opposing elimination of SHSAT: https://twitter.com/RepGraceMeng/status/1004516875328479233 The Korean’s tweetstorm on the SHSAT: https://twitter.com/AskAKorean/status/1004774256033529867 Phil Wang of Wong Fu's angry tweetstorm: https://twitter.com/philipwang/status/993588831482859520 In Fighting Homeless Camp, Irvine's Asians Win, But At A Cost by Anh Do: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-homeless-asians-20180401-story.html Mark Tseng-Putterman's tweet on how there's "no AsAm experience beyond the black-white binary": https://twitter.com/tsengputterman/status/1001892650889416704 "Yappie" by Wong Fu Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rYYuHfGgtU "Yellow Fever" by Wong Fu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2ojpefxk6o "Yellow Fever 2" by Wong Fu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O84QhVqsIs Phil Wang's segment in Natalie Tran's "White Male Asian Female" Documentary: https://youtu.be/chFKDaZns6w?t=29m "Prelude to Act I" from Lohengrin by Richard Wagner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqk4bcnBqls "Girl in Translation" by Jean Kwok: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Translation-Jean-Kwok/dp/1594485151