신 선 영 Sun Yung Shin

So I lied, one more post...

If you must buy one book of poetry this year (and you must buy many more than one! but...) make it this devastating, searing, important book:

Taking a blog break, but in the meantime...

I am reading Proust...but not the version on the left, I just liked the cover. My translation is the Moncrieff and Kilmartin one, revised by Enright. I wish I had one of the revised French editions so I could read them side by side. Really, I'm sure I could accomplish that with a few clicks of the mouse and $15...so maybe I will.

Reading so far this week

My daughter and I are, separately, reading the Spiderwick series...it's really good! And the illustrations are really really delightful and wonderful. I find the interactions between the older sister and the problem-prone younger brother really accurate. Mallory is sarcastic and mean and superior to her little brother in the same way my daughter is to her little brother! I guess it's natural. She, my daughter, is actually a very nice person. I realize that her brother can be annoying to her. Anyway, I recommend them. The writing sparkles, with nothing wasted, which you cannot say about the HP books (not to keep ragging about the HP books, which are wonderful and entertaining).

Apparently there is a movie being made of it/them. Hollywood is just on a roll with the book adaptations. I guess that's nothing new, but I guess it's also the middle-class / white tweener audience explosion.

I'm finishing THE WHITE CASTLE by Orhan Pamuk, an author who restores my faith in humanity and in the novel. Thank you, Orhan Pamuk! If you hadn't already won the Nobel, I'd send you one. Made out of construction paper, or something.

I got the new Denis Johnson book from the library...TREE OF SMOKE.

I read THE BLACK NOTEBOOKS by Toi Derricotte today. I liked it. It made me want to be friends with her. She was very real. Smart. Honest. Agonized...

Oh, and I read FUN HOME yesterday, by Alison Bechdel...it was great!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go get this book immediately. Graphic novel...super smart...funny but not "lite"...quite serious actually...inventive without being gimmicky, coy, or pretentiously hip...

I also, from the library, got PLANET OF THE APES with Mark Wahlberg (why is he such a delight?)...a bad movie...saw it in the theater (oh why) when it came out...just...can't...look...away...monkey...bad...good...fake...fur...

Signing off!

Movies seen in movie theaters! OMG!

I don't get out to theaters all that often. But, this week I went to see THE MIST dir. by Frank Darabont and then yesterday I saw AMERICAN GANGSTER dir. Ridley Scott. They were both pretty good. Not great. Some great moments. (I'm very excited about AVPR!!!! That's Aliens vs. Predators...and who knows what the R stands for. My friend suggested "rocks"...as in AVP rocks!)

Highlights THE MIST:
Marcia Gay Harden (see her in MILLER'S CROSSING), Thomas Jane (see him in THE CAVE), Laurie Holden (see her in SILENT HILL!), Toby Jones (see him in INFAMOUS), Frances Sternhagen, Andre Braugher (tons of things--great actor!)... It's sad, Braugher has a (SPOILER...) role where he gets to chew some scenes but he leaves in act I...and the conflict between him and Thomas Jane's character (the white guy hero...yes, it's shocking but true!) seems contrived. It does get the ball rolling though. I applaud King / Darabont for their (sort of) subtlety in dramatizing the underlying racial tension...although I don't applaud them for making Braugher's character (a big shot city lawyer) seem paranoid, as though he is seeing racial motivations where there are none. Jane's character is just an innocent good guy. You know, which is sometimes the case. But...anyway, it's a good King flick. I think 1408 starring John Cusack (who is great in it!) is a tighter, more compelling movie with a more real, psychological conflict than (SPOILER...) a rift between universes (opened by the US military).

Highlights AMERICAN GANGSTER:
Chiwetel Ejiofor!!! Here's his filmography...go see DIRTY PRETTY THINGS asap! He was also great in SERENITY, CHILDREN OF MEN (small part, though)...the man has range. The music was great. The evil Chinese doctor from "Alias" has a small part as a wise heroin production lord. Um, yeah.

1. Toussaint (2009) (pre-production)   
2. Three Way Split (2008) (pre-production)   
3. Redbelt (2008) (completed)     .... Mike Terry
4. Tonight at Noon (2007) (completed)     .... Lee/Evans
5. American Gangster (2007)     .... Huey Lucas
6. Talk to Me (2007)     .... Dewey Hughes
7. Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006) (TV)     .... Ian Carter
8. Children of Men (2006)     .... Luke
9. Inside Man (2006)     .... Detective Bill Mitchell
10. Kinky Boots (2005)     .... Lola
11. Slow Burn (2005)     .... Ty Trippin
12. Serenity (2005)     .... The Operative
13. Four Brothers (2005)     .... Victor Sweet
14. Melinda and Melinda (2004)     .... Ellis Moonsong
15. Red Dust (2004)     .... Alex Mpondo
16. She Hate Me (2004)     .... Frank Wills
17. "The Canterbury Tales" .... Paul (1 episode, 2003)
        - The Knight's Tale (2003)  TV episode     .... Paul
18. Love Actually (2003)     .... Peter
19. 3 Blind Mice (2003)     .... Mark Hayward
    ... aka Three Blind Mice (UK: DVD box title)
    ... aka Une souris verte (France)
20. Twelfth Night, or What You Will (2003) (TV)     .... Orsino
21. "Trust" .... Ashley Carter (3 episodes, 2003)
        - Episode #1.3 (2003)  TV episode     .... Ashley Carter
        - Episode #1.2 (2003)  TV episode     .... Ashley Carter
        - Episode #1.1 (2003)  TV episode     .... Ashley Carter
22. Dirty Pretty Things (2002)     .... Okwe
23. "Murder in Mind" .... DS McCorkindale (1 episode, 2001)
        - Teacher (2001)  TV episode  (as Chiwetal Ejiofor)   .... DS McCorkindale
24. My Friend Soweto (2001)     .... Soweto
25. Mind Games (2001) (TV)     .... Tyler Arnold
26. It Was an Accident (2000)     .... Nicky Burkett
27. G:MT Greenwich Mean Time (1999)     .... Rix
    ... aka G:mt (Ireland: English title)
28. Amistad (1997)     .... Ens. Covey
29. Deadly Voyage (1996) (TV)     .... Ebow

Self:

1. Children of Men: Visions of the Future (2007) (TV)     .... Himself
2. "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)
       - Episode #3.56 (2006)  TV episode     .... Himself
3. "Breakfast" .... Himself (2 episodes, 2005-2006)
       - Episode dated 28 November 2006 (2006)  TV episode     .... Himself
       - Episode dated 3 October 2005 (2005)  TV episode     .... Himself
4. The Ultimate Heist: Making 'Inside Man' (2006) (TV)     .... Himself
5. "The Film Programme" .... Himself (1 episode, 2005)
   ... aka Film '72 (UK)
   ... aka Film '73 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '74 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '75 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '76 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '77 (UK: new title)
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   ... aka Film '82 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '83 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '84 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '85 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '86 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '87 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '88 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '89 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '90 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '91 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film '92 (UK: new title)
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   ... aka Film 2000 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film 2001 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film 2002 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film 2003 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film 2004 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film 2005 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film 2006 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film 2007 (UK: new title)
   ... aka Film of the Year (UK: teaser title)
       - Episode dated 3 October 2005 (2005)  TV episode     .... Himself
6. Why Shakespeare? (2005) (V)     .... Himself
7. Ceremonia de apertura del festival de cine de San Sebastián (2004) (TV)     .... Himself
8. The Orange British Academy Film Awards (2003) (TV)     .... Himself

Asians ACTING! Yahoo! Come see these shows.

       

                                               

		Nov. 29, 2007                                         Two new exciting works!                                                                         Mu Performing Arts is proud to be showing new works by Sun Mee Chomet and Paul Juhn for this year's New Directions Festival.  These two pieces were commissioned as part of  the Jerome Foundation's New Performance Project. Please come and support these talented Asian American Artists as they present their works in progress. Also note that ASIAMNESIA will be performed at the Center for Independant Artists in Bloomington next weekend, while WORKS OF ART will be at the Mu Studio the following weekend.
ASIAMNESIA and WORKS OF ART!
		ASIAMNESIA by Sun Mee Chomet Directed by Randy Reyes Performed by Katie Leo, Rose Tran, Katie Vang, Katie Bradley, Sun Mee Chomet This is an exploration of what it means to be Asian-American women.  What do five creative, restless Asian-American create in a room if given time, books, pens and paper.  Who are we today? Who have we been?  What influence do stereotypes have on Asian-American women¹s minds?   Do stereotypes entrap us?  Who would we be if we could escape the prison of categories in our minds?  It is a process using dance, movement, music and scene work.   It is a complete collaboration.  And the questions are still being asked .Dec. 8 @7pm, Dec. 9 @3pm and 7pm Tickets $7 at the Center for Independent Artists 4137 Bloomington Ave. S, Minneapolis 612-724-8392                     WORKS OF ART by Paul Juhn Directed by Victor Maog Performed by Paul Juhn Art is a Korean American actor in NYC.  His Korean American buddy needs him to go on a blind date in his place.  His friend beinga lawyer and Art being the typical out of work actor, Art accepts. With that ensures a very twisted romance that is the Works of Art. Dec. 15 and 16 @7pm Tickets by Donation at Mu Performing Arts Studio 2700 NE Winter St (see website for directions). 612.824.4808
Reverberations from on high
		words by Rick                                     What do five women and one man have in common?  Mucho Mu talent, as they say. The women, led by our ringleader Sun Mee Chomet take a rapid fire approach to what they have to deal with on a daily basis, from stereotypes to archetypes and delve into the history behind it all.  The man is Paul Juhn, one of our original performers from the early days.  He's now based in NYC and making waves with his recent work on Sides: The Fear Is Real which ran Off Broadway.  Paul is creating his first one person show about romance, and knowing Paul it's full of charm. Both of these presentations come through the Jerome New Performance Program so enjoy and let us know what you think!

Book of the weekend: The Golden Compass

So, I've been sick for a few days, and not having the brains to continue with the  KOREAN SECURITY POLICY book on my desk, I ordered some lighter stuff (or just more fun). I have been wanting to read HIS DARK MATERIALS for a while. WARNING: thematic SPOILERS

I got the first book from the library and read it in two sittings. It was quite a page turner, and, though there's not a big reason to compare it to Harry Potter, it was much smarter, more complex, and more imaginative than HP. And better written, on the sentence level. Less interior drag. Less psychological, I suppose, as Lyra, the main character, is not a tortured orphan, subject to the vicissitudes of peer pressure and the mass media.

Lyra is a scrappy girl who eschews the frippery of conventional girlhood (at first). She is the hero of the novel. I was wondering about the "she's a strong female character" idea...why does a female character (written by a man) have to make fun of "girly" female stuff (dresses, clean hair) in order to be adventurous, lion-hearted, etc.? I wonder if, instead of being pro-girl if it's actually very anti-girl. That is to say, the only kind of girl hero worth following is one who takes on conventionally male characteristics. Lyra is kind of androgynous and then she is seduced by the softness and cleanness and glamour of living with Mrs. Coulter...who then turns out to be evil. The "good" woman in the book (well, there's a gyptian woman who is good, but doesn't play a large role) is an ageless, beautiful witch. Of course there's tons of men of all kinds.

Despite seeming like a book that champions girls, I find that it really doesn't. Not that Pullman makes that claim, but I can see book reviewers doing so.

It's like that cliche male fantasy moment when the bad-ass motorcyclist whips off the helmet to reveal a long, lush, slow-motion mane of (usually blonde, and Lyra is blonde) hair.

Lyra is the virgin/maiden archetype in every way and Mrs. Coulter is the witch archetype.

The better thing about HP is that Hermione, to me, seems fully realized, and not a male fantasy (truly!). Of course Hermione is not the main character, but she still plays a very important role. Of course she's an older character, and I've read her throughout 7 (?) books and not just one. And am, I'm sure, influenced by the films. But she does seems like a character written by a woman, and Lyra seems to me to be quite standard, and written by a man. I do like that Lyra is sort of anti-education and is a bit wild, and a good liar. The most salient comparison is surely not Lyra and Hermione, but it springs to mind because I haven't read much fantasy. I'm maybe interested in trying to write for a YA audience and will have to think hard about the nature of characterization. I'm probably too weighted down by ideology--fiction to me seems more vulnerable to reductivism because you're dealing with a character whose purpose, to some degree, is to provide some verisimilitude with a real humans. If I were a composer (of music) perhaps I could be more free! Poetry, while also full of ideas and ideology, need not deal with character or plot so much.

Thinking about Lyra Belacqua ("musical beautiful water"--her name counteracts her punkish, hoodlumish ways) reminds me of the totally-male-made film HARD CANDY, in which the avenging teen girl really has a baby-dyke appearance/persona, as if the only kind of female capable of the imagination and moral outrage shown by the girl is one who transgresses conventional gender boundaries.

To bolster my argument, the evil female character is a beautiful woman (as she often is, or is often a disgusting old hag who can change herself into an beautiful female).

I am going to try to go see the film (The Golden Compass) asap. It looks lush and exciting, as the book was (although it left me feeling slightly hollow...perhaps it's because I never really cared about the metaphysical cosmology being played out...and because the only character really explored is Lyra, and perhaps Iorek the armored bear. I also thought that her love for him was just the tiniest bit eroticized, which made me "feel funny inside, and not in a good way," as one of my friends like to say. It reminded me of the overly erotic nature of the bond between the protagonist and his dragon in the ERAGON books, which by the way, I liked much much less than TGC or HP or any other fantasy/SF YA literature, not that I've read a lot of it.)

This is not to put too much on the shoulders of one book. I did enjoy it. I am thinking of reading it to my daughter, although she could read it herself, but not sure if she would stick with it. It is more challenging than the HP books in vocabulary and in other ways. I like how Pullman doesn't overexplain anything (e.g. he does not explain that "gyptian" is the origin of the word "gypsy." Maybe English children already know that.)