Prior to writing the lyrics to this piece, we reflected upon our own experiences and how others have perceived (or failed to perceive) our multiracial heritage. We found common themes in proving ourselves to others in our communities or our families of our belonging. Our verses give insight into different aspects of our individual speakers as displayed by the change in vocalist.
Through discussion in a mixed race class at UC Davis in March 2016, we discussed Jonathan Okamura's paper, Barack Obama as the Postracial candidate for post racial America, which gave terms and vocabulary to match and explain our mixed race experiences. In Okamura's paper, he complicated the identification of Obama as as the "first African American president." he addressed the cultural aspects of race as well as bloodline aspects in the definition of race. In the class itself, we discussed "boxes", the categorization of mixed race individuals; we discussed the one drop rule, how if there's a single traceable ancestors of specific heritage an individual is no longer "pure"; we discussed badges, which serve as proof of belonging to a specific community. We touch and hint to these aspects within our lyrics.
Finally, we reboot the lyrics to "AZN Pride" while keeping the same rhythm and instrumental. AZN pride addresses the Asian American experience, but we how to show different angles to the Asian American experience by adding the dimension of mixed race--the mixed Asian American experience.
This music video does reflect the theme and teachings of this week as it discusses the need to fit into racial categories. I really enjoyed how one of the lines says "I'm proud of my ambiguity." Furthermore, I think the song does reflect the artist statement as the lyrics explain the kind of comments and expectations of a mixed race person as given by one side of their family. I think the artist statement could further go into the creation and creative process of the video but otherwise it is very great!
ReplyDeleteKudos to the group for picking such a hard beat to sing to. I have to say that this group has done a great job putting it together along with the rap. Applaud to the group for using curse words! As for the lyrics, I think it did a great job in covering the topics that we talked about in class like the one drop blood. The artist statement is, for the most part, very intellectual and professional as well. I would have loved to have this a little longer though.
ReplyDeleteI liked the rhythm and instrumental you chose to base your art project off of! Your music video does reflect on the themes that were mentioned in class last week, such as the racial identity and what it is like to be mixed race. Your art statement was well-thought out and it was great that you talked about the readings as well. Similar to others, your song could have been longer, but overall great job.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the whole song video and the song choice. The song does reflect on what we talked about in class about mixed race. The project does match the artist statement about the race and culture conflicts of being a mixed race. I don't think there are any improvements to be made.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf your purpose was to tell listeners that mixed race individuals are their own group then you have succeeded. Well done on incorporating the discussion we had in class into your statement because it did set up the premise of your song, "AZN Pride." The beat of the song is not as aggressive, while the lyrics are much more so. Next time, in you artist statement state what it means to be an artist, and what is means to create art as this was one of the questions asked in the syllabus.
ReplyDeleteI like that you encompassed several different aspects of the mixed experience such as racial ambiguity and the blending of cultures and languages. The song does reflect the readings and theme of the last week as it focuses on the idea of being categorized by race. The song does match the artist statement of being about the variety of the mixed experience as each vocalist has an amount of time to tell their story. Overall I don't think there is any improvement to be made about the song but the Artist Statement could include the process by which you made the song.
ReplyDeleteReally like the song choice! It holds a bit of nostalgia for me since it was one of the first Asian pride songs I heard as a little kid. The lyrics are really well written and it gets the point across: as a mixed race individual you are still a person and it's not fair to be treated as a commodity. It's good that the class material was incorporated as well. Good job; the artist statement is well written and explains the premise of the song.
ReplyDeleteI liked the beat and the lyrics to your song. All you verses did a good job talking about the different things we discussed in class. I loved how personal you all made the song, it made it a lot more fun to listen too. I thought your artist statement did a good job talking about the process of your song as well as where you all were coming from. I thought the artist statement was well written and it was great you specifically incorporated one of the readings.
ReplyDeleteThe artists' examination of defining one's ethnic identity for oneself with convoluted multicultural, intraethnic heritages is reflected in their work. The song matches the artists' statement well, because the statement challenges the need for racial categories on the US census through the power of art production. I appreciated how the artists created a more inclusive version of AZN pride to invite non-Asian people to celebrate their cultural connection to Asian heritages -- like President Obama. However, the song still needs to connect to the theory and theme of the week, because it does not discuss about the idea or history of mixed race people as race traitors explicitly and beyond the surface level analysis of race and identity politics. The song lacks the explicit mentioning of Dr. Valverde's theory of race traitors (which comes with a very specific definition and criteria) and analytical, more complex, and more thorough synthesis of week one's readings.
ReplyDeleteYou all found that common ground and connected it within the main topic of mixed race and it indeed reflects in your lyrics which in turn connects to the theme of the week! Your song was great, made me wish the song was longer!!
ReplyDeleteY’all did a great job on the art project! The project reflected the theme and readings of the week from last week as it focuses on categorization of race. The song match with the artists’ statements of including key terms that we learned in class, such as the “one drop rule” and many other hinted aspects of mixed race, boxes, badges, etc. I don’t think there is no need for any improvements. Awesome work and the choice of music were good!
ReplyDeleteGood job on picking out a song that didn't overwhelm your group voices and the music video is beautifully crafted. The song reflects the readings of the week which covers the "one drop rule." The lyrics match well with the artists' statement. However, I wish the statement would include some history contexts of the one drop rule.
ReplyDeleteI really like the song choice because the music wasn’t aggressive and you were still able to embrace different aspects of the mixed-race experience. I like how you had different vocalists - perhaps, to once again reinforce the many aspects of the Asia-American experience? Overall, apart from improving the artist statement with what it means to be an artist, you did a great job!
ReplyDeleteThe project reflects the discussion about ambiguity in mixed race community. Mentioning one drop rule was very impressive as well. The art project match with the artists statement, addressing how it is something to be proud of to be a mixed race. I enjoyed how it is crafted from a somg that oroginally existed, but putting in lyrics that is more relevant to our class. Overall it is a great project.
ReplyDeleteThis project successfully reflects the themes and reading of this week with direct explanations of doing so in the artist statement. It's also coherent with the artist statement and alludes to Obama as well as personal instances of mixed race issues. The statement can be improved upon by including a description of who you guys are as artists and your beliefs in creating art.
ReplyDeleteInteresting of sample music and catchy lyrics that was pretty well rapped. The statement attempts to complicate issues of identity which the song touches upon without browbeating us with it. I still would have like deeper analysis is structural issues instead of making it a personal issue only in the statement.
ReplyDeleteI love this! Being mixed race struggles a lot with identity, and this song shows that being mixed race is something to be proud of, and that even though others try to label a mixed race person as only one of their races, they are still proud of who they are. The only improvement I make is adding on to your statement about the meaning of being an artist.
ReplyDeleteChloe
Wow I love this, good song too! The lyrics are very powerful and delineates some of the artists' personal experiences in being secluded because of mixed race. The song begins in a very soft tone and voice, and becomes progressively stronger. I love the emphasis on the ambiguity and uniqueness of having mixed race. The song was composed very well, i love this! :D good job guys! This is one of my faves :)
ReplyDeleteYour statement definitely provides us clear analysis of mixed race concepts and is reflected in the song lyrics. and props to using the song. The play with the original lyrics is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThis song successfully represents the themes discussed in class. The choice of song is great! Even the slight rapping in the beginning adds the perfect touch to deliver the message of being prideful for being mix raced. Loved it!
ReplyDelete