Elizabeth S – Page 10

Performing at YKB’s Bravado

November 10, 2019January 21, 2020 Elizabeth S Leave a comment

“America: a melting pot where values are shared and cultures are blended. But not every town or city in the U.S. is inherently diverse, and I’m always going to look different than my friends back home.”

This is the start of a monologue titled: Half-Asian, All-American. The monologue was written and performed by yours truly as part of YKB’s fall showcase. Why this title? The monologue touched upon my identity as someone of mixed race. My mother is Chinese-Filipino, and my father is Caucasian. While I’ve learned to be proud of who I am, I wasn’t always.

I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood. The racial and ethnic representation at my small Catholic elementary school was equivalent to a white canvas with a few pinprick dots of color. The representation at the public school I went to for middle and high school wasn’t much better; the school was yet another small institution nestled in a small town, where kids rode their tractors to school during homecoming week and you had to drive far from town to find a mall or movie theater.

While I’m grateful for the memories and friendships I formed at these two schools, they lacked the diversity that I’ve been blessed with at U of M (which isn’t even very diverse!). This meant that I had to break down barriers, answering questions that often reflected stereotypes. No, I wasn’t adopted. Yes, I was actually born in Michigan. No, I don’t speak another language. Yes, I eat french fries and ice cream. No, I don’t eat cats.

The monologue I presented reflected these experiences and the growth I’ve undergone to feel more comfortable with my identities. Growing up, coming from mixed race ancestry resulted in having feelings that I didn’t belong anywhere. Small eyes branded me as an outsider from the only country I’ve ever called home, but cultural differences divided me from my family in the Philippines. I never really talked about this before because I felt that no one in my small communities would understand, but coming to college has encouraged me to confront my fears and reach out to others. I’m currently developing a piece on “being mixed” with a peer in my drama class on race, and the YKB performance was a big step towards discussing the topic.

The show, Bravado, was YKB’s second ever fall showcase. Yoni Ki Baat (YKB) was founded as a U of M organization in 2006 as a platform for women of color to challenge various forms of oppression and share their stories through self-expression. Unlike the annual spring monologue show, the fall showcase featured a capped audience and “intended to create a platform for self-identifying Women of Color to be able to share vulnerable narratives in a more intimate environment.” This allowed for the sharing of highly personal or culturally taboo topics without the pressure of a gigantic audience. Besides giving me the opportunity to share my own work, the event allowed me to hear emotional and powerful stories from a variety of wonderful actresses and writers.

https://www.facebook.com/events/450697128901573/

A Rainy Halloween

November 1, 2019November 1, 2019 Elizabeth S Leave a comment

For some students, Halloween presented a choice between responsibility and fun. With a test the next day, I had to prioritize academics. Not going to lie, it was rough having to study while hearing others chatting excitedly outside my dorm room. I did relish in the fact, however, that I wouldn’t have to venture out into the cold and rainy weather.

But what about everyone that did go outside? Were their costumes ruined, made soggy by the rain? Not everyone had a car or took an Uber. There were plenty of college-aged party goers holding onto their coats —if they wore them, that is—trying their best to ignore the brisk and biting winds. After all, it was so cold that the rain was followed by snow.

And what about the kids back home? I imagined make-up that was turned runny from raindrops and costumes that were shielded with rain jackets and winter coats. There were inevitably families that decided to stay in for the evening, choosing to stay warm and host a Halloween extravaganza within their own homes. With the weather hindering trick-or-treaters, they would have the candy they had bought anyways.

Other families most likely journeyed out into the cold for even just a little bit; this way, they wouldn’t have to feel so conflicted between the less-than-stellar weather and the temptation of sugary treaties. Trick-or-treating for a short time would mean gathering enough candy to feel weight in a pumpkin bucket without truly get soaked from the rain. Happy parents and happy kids⁠—well, as happy as possible with the weather conditions.

And then there were the candy victors that thrived on the rainy night. These little (or not so little⁠—I’m looking at you, high schoolers) monsters had worked hard on their costumes and wanted their candy. What difference did a little rain or wet hair make? These kids ambled up and down driveways with quick steps and pride. When it was time to head home, you bet there was rejoicing. Boots sloshed with each step and costumes were damp and cold, but it was all worth it to see the piles of sugar poured onto the ground. Stomach aches and sugar rushes were the culmination of a rainy, Halloween night.

Benefits to Sharing Your Writing

October 26, 2019October 26, 2019 Elizabeth S 1 Comment

Sometimes, sharing our own writing—especially with other authors—can make us feel vulnerable. The process of writing can sometimes feel like a laborious job and an emotional roller coaster, let alone sharing it with others. We don’t want others to judge us or our writing in a negative way; however, sharing our writing can actually be beneficial for the craft and its process.

Good writing requires honesty even if the truth is not always what we want to hear. Even writing a blog post can be intimidating. I know not many people tend to comment on or read my posts, but the idea of others critiquing my thoughts and amplifying every small mistake I make is terrifying. Crafting an arts, ink. blog post is often a simple process of taking my thoughts on artsy things and expressing them in text. While it seems like a trivial matter, I’m still making myself vulnerable to judgment, criticism, and misinterpretation. With my creative writing such as short stories (or the poetry I occasionally dabble in, though I know nothing about poetry), the feeling of vulnerability is amplified.

With our own writing, it’s easy to become attached. While it’s great to be passionate about our work, it’s another thing to be so defensive we reject any possible critiques. On the flip side, perhaps a writer isn’t confident with their writing, and refuses to share in fear of rejection. Either way, sharing writing with others can be beneficial in gaining an outside view on the clarity and meaning of our words. It can be both a humbling and helpful experience when we are open to suggestions made by others. Maybe certain content makes sense to the writer but not to the readers; yet, there is no way of knowing this until getting feedback from others. Why does the character do this, or what did you mean when you said that? A fresh pair of eyes will be able to pick out flaws that the writer overlooked and note if the writing is convoluted or otherwise confusing. Overall, feedback can be extremely valuable in revealing what was good about the piece and what could be worked on.

I strive to grow in my writing skills and become competent at crafting creative works. It’s something I’m passionate about and would like to continue improving on after school. Why, then, would I readily subject the product of my blood, sweat, and tears to criticism? Well, writing is a balance between being critical in a constructive manner and submitting yourself to self-criticism. By sharing my writing, I’m letting others know what’s on my mind and in my heart, even if it’s through other characters or other worlds. The sharing process ultimately helps me with the examination and reexamination of my story ideas. Receiving feedback helps me discover the strengths and weaknesses of a piece in addition to the strengths and weaknesses I have as a writer overall.

Discussing Race in Drama

October 18, 2019October 18, 2019 Elizabeth S Leave a comment

When someone thinks about a drama class, their mind might go to thoughts of wacky warm-ups, diction exercises, or quoting Shakespeare. Regardless of whether or not these things are true, the realm of drama surpasses superficial presentations, often associated with real-world issues and events. One such topic I’ve had the opportunity to explore this year is the importance of race in dramatic works.

First off, what is race? The word “race” is usually associated with physical characteristics, such as skin color or hair texture. It is often regarded as biological, even though it is actually not detectable in the human genome. The concept of race strongly ties in with how we as humans categorize ourselves and view others. Thus, race as a social construct strongly affects the social, economic, and political status of people around the world — but why does it matter in drama?

Exploring plays that directly pertain race and its impact on a character’s experiences can result in examining material that reflects a diversity of characters and stories. In a class setting, it’s interesting to hear what other students think of certain material and what specific topics impact them. As such, discussion is beneficial in understanding how others might interpret the same material differently. It is also important in gaining insight on how others’ identities contemporary subject matter — such as their race — can affect their views and experiences.

As students, reading plays featuring different identities can be beneficial not only for understanding others, but understanding themselves. The way people with similar identities are portrayed can impact how people view themselves and people with identities. If there is unequal on-stage action or prejudiced casting, then the resulting lack of representation can be damaging. How can an artist imagine being the lead or the hero if their identity is never represented? What does that mean for a person of color? This issue transcends personal feelings and looks at systematic issues. In English classes, drama classes, and drama productions, it’s common to work with material that leans towards predominantly white characters. There is progress, however, as over time artists have written and worked towards making plays more relatable or attainable to people of all identities (popular example: Hamilton). By creating or morphing material to feature characters with various identities (especially in more contemporary subject matter), many artists aim to have a diverse range of stories represented.

Potential issues revolving casting in the theatre world contribute to the importance of acknowledging plays that feature people of color. In drama, it seems as though there is always the risk of whitewashing or race-bending. While this seems innocent, it contributes to racial exclusion. One way this can be addressed for students is by discussing it in rehearsal or class. A safe environment can lead to important discussions on why or why not certain things are effective or okay. Lack of judgment (though not necessarily opposition) allows for a beneficial experience for students in a way that allows for learning without fear of retribution.

Declaring a Creative Writing Major

October 11, 2019October 11, 2019 Elizabeth S 5 Comments

“Would you like to declare today?”

While I’ve always wanted to either major or minor in creative writing, I didn’t expect to make it official when I walked in to my advising appointment today. Planning ahead, I had made the appointment to go over some questions I had regarding the major. My advisor and I went over distribution requirements, course options, and my track to graduation. At the end, since it was pretty evident that I was going to major in creative writing, my advisor asked if I was interested in declaring. A signature later, I was officially a creative writing major. I even received my major shirt, a purple spectacle that would let everyone know I’m majoring in creative writing through the Residential College.

The truth is, I am currently taking my first creative writing class this semester. So far, I’ve absolutely loved it, enough to declare my major on the topic; however, my love of reading and writing started long before my adventures here. Since I was young, I’ve loved to write stories. In middle school, I made it to 70+ pages in two or three novels each before abandoning them. Yet, as time went by, it became harder and harder to write for non-academic purposes. By my sophomore and junior years of high school, my creative writing practice stood at a halt.

Last year, becoming a blogger for arts, ink. was a great opportunity to start writing again. The work I feature here isn’t so much my normal writing as it is a stream of current thoughts, but it has still been a great creative outlet. This year, Narration (RCHUMS 220) has acted as a revival of sorts for my love of creative writing. While I’m pretty rusty, it feels good to write again. Whether reading other students’ work or creating short stories of my own, this class has been a nice balance to my other ones. Whenever I am feeling particularly stressed, working on homework for this class — of which typically entails crafting short stories, responding to other students’ work, or analyzing famous pieces — is something I look forward to. I’m very excited to take future courses surrounding literature and creative writing.

In majoring in creative writing, I’m pursuing a passion more than money. Believe me, I’ve heard plenty of comments regarding a creative writing major and the decision to pursue a “useless” or “unrealistic” degree. Sometimes, the same is also said about my other intended major, Sociology, though not quite to the same degree (people typically just don’t fully understand what it is or what students can do with it). I accept this as reality, but while I understand and appreciate where people are coming from, I also believe certain areas — such as creative expression and the humanities — might hold more merit than they are given credit for.

Even if not directly translated into a job, the skills I will develop though a creative writing major will be beneficial wherever I end up. I see the major as a unique opportunity to build skills not just for writing as a hobby, but for clear and efficient writing overall. Storytelling, critical analysis, and effective communication are just several skills gained through the major, not to mention persistence, initiative, and humility as individual traits. Throughout the years, creative writing has been a huge part of making the world a better place, and even if I don’t change the world with my writing, it will have impacted me for the better. Overall, I’m glad I declared my major today, and I’m ecstatic for what the major has to offer.

Disney Remakes and Representation

October 4, 2019October 4, 2019 Elizabeth S Leave a comment

At the beginning of July, Disney revealed that the character of “Ariel” in the live action adaptation of The Little Mermaid would be played by Halle Bailey, half of the sister R&B duo Chloe x Halle. The casting of Bailey, an African-American actress, was met with a strong response. Fans were quick to take to Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms to vehemently express either criticism or praise for the casting. While many were pleased with the announcement, others argued Ariel should keep her distinctive look, which included wide blue eyes, bright red hair, and a pale skin tone. The hashtag #NotMyAriel generated response from both ends of the spectrum, with proponents of the casting suggesting that Ariel’s character is first and foremost a mermaid, therefore not exclusionary to any race or ethnicity.

Just a few days after the casting announcement, the teaser trailer for Disney’s upcoming live action of Mulan was released. While people were genuinely pleased by the Asian cast, comments continued to stream in. Why would it be wrong to cast someone of a different identity for Mulan, but okay to cast someone that doesn’t look like the classic cartoon version of Ariel? Freeform, an American cable television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company, addressed this issue with an Instagram post. While discussing the Danish background of Hans Christian Andersen, the author of the original fairy tale version of “The Little Mermaid”, Freeform noted that “Danish mermaids can be black because Danish *people* can be black.” As such, Halle Barry’s talent, youth, and personality made her the exceptional choice for the part of Ariel, regardless of appearance.

The controversy over The Little Mermaid casting is an example of how attempts to diversify classic characters can be momentous. Ariel’s case is arguably different than that of characters such as Mulan, Tiana, or Moana, whose ethnicities and racial identities are integral to their characters and storylines. Along those lines, there is something to be said on the topic of representation.

In my childhood, Mulan was my favorite Disney princess. She was a strong, smart, beautiful female character that got the guy but also knew how to take care of herself (and save all of China). Growing up as a Disney and Mulan lover, I cherished the 1999 VHS of Mulan, dressed up as the title character for Halloween, and constantly sang “Reflection” in a squeaky, childlike high-pitched voice. There’s another reason I took a liking to Mulan, however. As someone who identities as an Asian-American, Mulan was the Disney princess that looked like me. The only Disney princess that looked like me.

For those that grew up watching Disney movies, it’s notable that diversity hasn’t always been a strong suit (as much as we adore all the princesses and other characters). Having a character you can identify with is important; the way that characters who resemble us are portrayed can affect how we think about ourselves. For a child watching a Disney movie, representation can enable them to see themselves in their heroes, which can be incredibly empowering. To some degree, I understand those who long for the cartoon version of Ariel – perhaps they have bright red hair just like their favorite princess. But it’s also worth noting that casting Halle Bailey as Ariel could be incredibly empowering, especially since it wasn’t until 2009 that the first Black Disney princess, Tiana, debuted in The Princess and the Frog.

What is your take on this topic? Comment below!

Link to more information on Freeform’s response