recommendations
These recommendations cover a range of topics focusing on Asian American voices, from connecting to one's identity to recognizing the talent of Asian Americans across many disciplines, that we hope can serve as inspiration for and recognization of the endless capabilities held by Asian Americans. Read below to explore the cultural experiences and media, such as shows, movies, music, programs, and activities mentioned and recommended by our interviewees.
media
"Debt to a cruel system is inescapable and dehumanizing, the show constantly reminds us. But beneath the hyper-violence, it also suggests that our obligations to other people can be a source of meaning, compassion, and --just maybe -- salvation." – Morgan Ome, The Atlantic
"A funny, sad, at times pathetic but also kick-ass tale of how a half-Filipino, half-white kid whose mom thought (and still thinks) his career goal was to a become clown became a success...an All-American success who could give my immigrant mom the kind of life she hoped for when she came to this country, and my son the kind of life I wished I’d had as a kid. With all the details of what it felt like to get the doors closed in my face, to grind it out on the road with my arsenal of dick jokes, and how my career finally took off once I embraced the craziness of my family, which I always thought was uniquely Filipino but turns out is as universal as it gets...From growing up with a mom who made me dance like Michael Jackson at the Knights of Columbus, to some real dark stuff, the stuff we don’t talk about often enough as immigrants. Mental health, poverty, drinking. And show you the path to my American Dream." – Jo Koy
Beatrice Laus is a Filipino-English singer whose music seems to meld contemporary sounds with the "bubblegum-pop and garage-band sounds" of the '90s. With the release of her first album, Fake It Flowers, in 2020 and a few of her singles becoming viral hits on Tiktok, she has quickly risen into the spotlight (Vogue).
BTS is a South Korean K-pop group consisting of seven members: Jungkook, RM, Jin, Suga, V, Jimin, and J-Hope. Like most K-pop groups, they were chosen for their singing, rapping, and dancing abilities. The group quickly rose to fame around the world, embarking on world tours and topping international music charts. BTS's members have also been able to use their fame to support their philanthropic work and activism. Currently, BTS has embarked on a hiatus, with plans to reconvene in 2025 (Britannica).
K-pop group BLACKPINK debuted in 2016 and is made up of four members: Jennie, Lisa, Rosé, and Jisoo. Like most K-pop idols, BLACKPINK's members started as K-pop idol trainees, however, not all of them trained and resided in South Korea. BLACKPINK also quickly gained traction worldwide, with their songs continuously reaching the tops of various Billboard charts. Their "song, 'Ddu-du Ddu-du' is currently the most-watched music video by a K-pop group on Youtube" (TIME).
SOUR, Olivia Rodrigo
Filipino-American singer-songwriter and actress Olivia Rodrigo has been involved in the entertainment industry for most of her life, from starring in American Girl movies and Disney Channel shows, to releasing her full-length album, SOUR. Her debut single off SOUR, "drivers license", quickly went viral on Tiktok, becoming so popular that it was topping charts and breaking records mere days after its release (Britannica).
Lea Salonga is a Filipina singer and actress who has accomplished a lot in her 45-year career. Though she is best known for providing singing voices for Disney's Fa Mulan and Princess Jasmine, she has starred in numerous Broadway shows and TV shows, toured in concert halls all over the world, performed for political leaders and royalty, and received plenty of awards (Lea Salonga).
Bruno Mars, or Peter Gene Hernandez, is an American singer-songwriter. Born to a Puerto-Rican percussionist father and a Filipina vocalist mother, Mars has always had music in his blood. Although he started with Elvis Presley impersonations in his hometown of Honolulu, after moving to Los Angeles, he quickly rose to fame with his vintage-style genre-defying music. His very first album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, won him his first Grammy, and his two following albums have proved to be just as popular (Britannica).
Singer-songwriter, musician, and actress Gabriella Wilson hails from the Bay Area of California where she developed her musical talents. She started performing on various talk shows from the age of ten, and eventually signed a record deal with RCA Records at fourteen. Wilson has since become an extremely popular and successful R&B artist, performing under the stage name, H.E.R. (Having Everything Revealed) (Britannica).
Bretman Rock is a Filipino-American social media personality and makeup influencer who has gained large followings on platforms like Vine, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. He has also received various awards for his role as a social media personality, from MTV Movie and TV Awards to People's Choice Awards. Rock has been very vocal about embracing one's identity and is part of the LGBTQ+ community's boundary breaking; in 2021, he became the first openly gay man to be featured on the cover of Playboy magazine.
programs
Loveboat, formally known as the Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan Study Tour, is a three-week program for Chinese and Taiwanese Americans and Canadians aged 15 to 25 in good academic standing and health. The objective of the program is to help overseas Chinese and Taiwanese young adults gain exposure to and foster a connection with their culture and other young adults in Taiwan. This study tour also promotes relations between Taiwan and Canada/the United States and helps participants learn about their relations.