Asian-American films can be summarized like this: a fun, creative journey until you realize everything is a metaphor for existential, cultural, or mental health crisis.
Been seeing some takes and I feel like this is something people from Western cultures/grew up exclusively in Western cultures don’t fundamentally understand. Most of the time, crisises like these, especially mental health, aren’t overt in Asian media and culture. You are told to hide for the greater good and for your family and to save face. (All in different flavors of course and it depends on the family and maybe where your family is from.) Things like doing things for the family, looking strong on the outside, putting on a mask so that you can be respected or fit in with a new place. There is no talking to a therapist like in American culture, and emotions are rarely said out loud, only shown. I think this is why many Asian-American movies don’t resonate with the West. They are often a commentary on a blend of cultures, the frustration that the community might have with needing to be perfect for at least 2 different cultures, and not knowing what to do with that.
CRYING, SCREAMING, THROWING UP!!!!
MAYDAY OUT HERE DOING THE LORD’S WORK AND GIVING FANS WHAT THEY WANT!! First Energy (who have now made an official comeback) and now F4?!?! (I’m not sure I count the 5566 “reunion”, since not all 5 members were present…but 王少偉 is known for not wanting to associate with the other 3, so… *shrugs*)
This was not on my bingo card for 2025 (but then again, there’s definitely been some things that I wasn’t expecting), but this prob. just made my entire year, lol.
Thank you Ashin!!!
No…. 威廉, why???? 😭😭
Have not been able to think of anything else since the news broke out and now all I can hope for is that he (and the others) are okay.
everyone says you can always restart. that your future isn’t forgotten, just sort of misplaced. they name actors and singers and authors who started at 46, 59. they cite chappell roan’s 10 years. they tell you to push and push, that some day you’ll open a door and the truth will be behind it.
but what if you aren’t a celebrity in sheep’s clothing. what if you’re just a normal person. most people aren’t exceptionally talented or else talent wouldn’t be exceptional - right? what if you’re just another median person; not ever startlingly bad nor terrifyingly good.
you put the shopping carts back and you walk your dog and you write poems on the internet. you have grown a plant or two; killed a few others. you did okay, overall, and you’ve been okay most of your life. not valedictorian, but you were a smart kid. you had some hard knocks, but you got up again. your life is just - average. you probably will never sing onstage at coachella. most of the time you are at peace with that - someone needs to drive the speed limit. life isn’t about extraordinary circumstances, it’s just about building a life you love and figuring out how to live in it.
but you would like to feel as if you’d found “the answer.” everyone else seems to have some kind of talent they are born nesting in - and meanwhile you just exist. is that why you cycle through crafts and hobbies and activities like a roulette wheel? are you waiting for the moment where it turns out - all this time, you’ve been a visionary. a genius. all this time, you were special. even you: someone who has-never-been.
crawling up your throat: something bitter and savage. not quite a feeling of wasted potential. after all, you need to first have potential in order to waste it.
ZHUANG AO QUAN, WHO ALLOWED YOU TO DO THIS?!?!
Brb, crying over this video. Esp. at the end with each of the members expressing their gratitude (and promoting their respective things, lol).
