Rodriguez and Gonzalez’s analysis on the impact of import culture in the United States highlights the struggle that young Asian American men have within the traditional American car culture. The marginalization that young Asian American men face simply because of the origin of their car is enough to diminish the credibility that the Asian American men so desperately want to establish within the American muscle car scene. As a result of this marginalization, the young Asian American men created a subculture for themselves in order to establish their own identity apart from the “stereotype of Asians as the model minority, ” (Rodriguez and Gonzalez 256). By challenging the model minority myth that Vergara previously defined as minorities, usually Asian American, being perceived to be of high socioeconomic status and being immune to challenges in society. However, the subculture shows that Asian Americans do experience discrimination within certain dominant cultures and that the socioeconomic status doesn’t matter in the face of adversity. R.J. de Vera’s own experience showed that the, “improvised know-how, produced by Asian and Asian American men, often beats mainstream hot-rodders at their own game, destabilizing the dominant narrative of masculinity and cars,” (R. and G. 256). With the destabilization of the dominant narrative of masculinity and cars, import cars and young Asian American men now have the ability to rise up to the level that traditional American muscle cars and enthusiast has. In addition to breaking the model minority myth, the subculture also stands as an attempt for young Asian American men to fix and recreate their social identities in the American media. In traditional media, Asian men generally take up roles as either the nerd, the funny friend, or the sidekick to the main character - all with qualities of not being a romantic interest and not being as masculine as the other characters in the show. However, with the subculture empowering young Asian American men to appear as masculine as their non-Asian counterparts, the marginalization that young Asian American men face may soon be over. In my recollection of watching traditional media in the United States, I seldom saw Asian American actors with roles as the lead, or if they were the lead, the movie was about martial arts. Seeing the direction that the new media is taking today gives me hope to see more Asian/Americans with main roles in story lines.
In the second half of Kelly Loves Tony, I saw that Kelly is pregnant again, though she ideally didn't want to be pregnant, she decided to keep the baby because Tony wants another baby. Because of Kelly's ambition to want to complete higher education and Tony's desire to have a family life, an argument between the two lovers began. Kelly really wants to finish her higher education despite her being a young mom, but with the unexpected pregnancy this time around, it's difficult for her to go to school and take care of herself and her new baby at the same time, so she had to quit school for the mean time and carry the baby for nine months. Tony has no intention of pursuing higher education and wants to get the family settled down, much opposite to what Kelly's goals are. With the two of them having such different outlooks on life, the life at home becomes difficult as it is ridden with disagreement and fighting. It is clear to say that Kelly is not particularly happen about the situation while Tony seems to have no idea how much this situation impacts Kelly's future. I think that it is great that Kelly wants to pursue higher education because it shows that she wants to defy the odds of being a young teenage mom and being a successful woman. Tony seems to be selfish because he has no ambition to become a greater member of society.
No comments:
Post a Comment