Category: ASIX 300A

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Defining the Hong Kong Canadian

In our present time, we now see the birth of a new “Hong Kong Canadian” identity from the ashes of a now-dead Cantonese-dominated “Chinese Canadian” identity.

Creator:
Aidan Lai 黎至正 (he/him)

One of the most elusive acts we can do as diaspora is defining our cultural identity – we have to look backwards into history and around us in the present to figure out the numerous alternatives from which we can choose. And when many alternatives are inherently political and controversial, deciding on alternatives becomes extremely problematic and difficult. In the case of Aidan’s work, he takes this problem to another level by proposing a future-oriented perspective of cultural identity. In thinking about what is a “Hong Kong Canadian,” we can look to the migration history of people from Hong Kong to Canada. We can also see how the current group of Hong Kong migrants have shaped the existing definition of Hong Kong Canadians. How can we think about a new and future definition of Hong Kong Canadians by thinking about who future generations of Hong Kong migrants will be, and what the future generations of Hong Kong migrants will be like?

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“Tell me about yourself”

“It felt unjust, as if my prior efforts and achievements were being dismissed or wasted.”

Creator:
Rowan (she/her)

When people migrate to a new place, the first things that they want to do usually include finding a home and getting a job – all in an effort to find stability and restart their lives in a foreign land. In this comic created by Rowan, it’s clear that a whole host of obstacles prevent newcomers from getting settled and stabilized. For example, what happens when an employer only wants/values local experiences, eschewing whatever relevant work and education experiences the applicant had back home? This effectively forces newcomers to start their careers from scratch, ignoring the expertise that they may have already gained and demonstrated previously. Not only does this have implications for financial outcomes, but also for one’s self-worth. Have you experienced something similar? How do you think this system more appropriately assess an applicant’s international qualifications and experiences?

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Recon”Net”ting

These forms…not only bridge geographical distance…but [act] as archival sites for deeper historical education.

Creator:
Tiffany Yau 丘苑婷 (she/her)

When considering diasporic studies, it isn’t enough that we consider first generation diaspora – second generation+ diaspora are a significant and oft-overlooked part of the population (both in terms of media representation consideration, and in academic interest). While cultural identity formation and maintenance is (relatively more) straightforward for first generation diaspora, second generation+ diaspora tend to have more trouble and confusion in this arena. By having their existence and experiences ignored by mainstream media, they feel that the mainstream culture has invisibilized them, affecting their self-regard and feelings of belonging. At the same time, they might also have trouble connecting with their heritage culture due to lack of access to heritage cultural products (e.g. pop culture, heritage media). Tiffany breaks down how improving cultural representation and diversity in mainstream media has helped bridge some gaps between multigenerational diaspora and the mainstream culture, and how the internet (replete with its convenient access of heritage cultural media from “back home”) has been a boon for these same diaspora trying to connect with their heritage culture. What avenues do you go through to connect with your culture?

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Reimagined: Chinese Weekend School

How can we restructure weekend Chinese school so that it will allow the students to develop, gain, and maintain Cantonese proficiency?

Creator:
Emily Huynh 黄愛怡 (she/her)

For those who had to give up 3 hours of their Saturdays as children so they can be sent over to school and learn a Sinitic language (likely Cantonese, Mandarin, or both), the vast majority will report how much they hated it because they were stuck in a classroom while their friends were sleeping, playing, watching movies, hanging out, doing anything other than being in school after already having spent 5 days at school earlier in the week. It also doesn’t help that these schools follow a highly rigid educational format based heavily on memorization and dictation, with little concern for learners’ experience and whether or not those traditional educational styles are suitable for diasporic children. At the same time, many diasporic adults also report that they either are thankful for having retained their heritage language, or wish that they had been better able to retain their heritage language. This highlights the importance of heritage language proficiency retention among diasporic speakers, and the need to reconcile this need with the pragmatic challenges of diasporic childhood language education. Emily presents a series of learning plans, supported by academic sources, to try to make the Cantonese-learning experience much more enjoyable than the current traditional approach. If you were a child learning Cantonese, would you have found this helpful?

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(Food + Cultural) Insecurity

DLLM! You can’t even make simple hot white rice?!

Creator:
Amber Leung 梁逸然 (she/her)

When someone lives in a foreign place for a long period of time, one of the most pressing needs for any diasporic individual is to find a taste of home. It transports them back to a particular time, being around particular people, experiencing particular emotions. Food is such an important vehicle for the conveyance of culture that the lack of appropriate food options leaves diasporic individuals feeling distressingly isolated from their cultural roots. In this panel full of angst and comedy, Amber shows the thoughts and emotions going through one’s mind as they struggle to find appropriate food options to allow them to remain connected to their heritage culture. It may sound simple; but as a student, it quickly becomes apparent the structures in place that deprive them of such cultural connections. So where do you get food that reminds you of home?

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Hybridity

AM I, THOUGH?!

Creator:
Ashley Card 黄福劍 (she/her)

Cultural identity can be a confusing concept for any individual at the best of times; but it becomes even more complex for someone who has relocated between cultural environments. Now imagine someone who went through international adoption into an environment with an already complicated identity that is fraught with political implications and history – and then throw in even more complications. Enter Ashley’s internal turmoil and identity tailspin that I (accidentally and inadvertently) sent her into with a deceptively simple question. Through a compelling and moving series of comic panels, Ashley presents to the viewer her complex migration history, how it coincides with her complicated process of coming to grips with her identity, and all the emotions that come along with it. Join Ashley as she takes you on a journey where she explores her own identity and I encourage you to place yourself into her shoes – how would you reconcile all the different cultural forces impacting identity formation that Ashley experiences?

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