Today I saw a pink poodle. No kidding, the wee thing was PINK, like it'd been soaked in neon highlighter. Some guy passing by whispered to his friend, "that's so cruel!"

The dog looked pretty happy though.

*and the crowd goes wild!* Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!! Yay! I've finished my analysis of Got Rice!

Song of the Moment: Island in the Sun - Weezer

*Hops around in delightedness and joy and much many happieness*

*distracted observation during essay writing*

I always miss out the "tit" in typing "identities".

*runs back to finish last section of essay* yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

You learn something new everyday

Indeed. Today I learnt, after two years of using his theories on structuralism and what-not, that Stuart Hall is black!

Yah yah, of course there were other things like Althusser and post-structuralism and Marxism and ideology... but the one thing that sticks is that I now know he was brought up in Jamaica. Heehee.

So much for the three, four hours of painstaking close-reading! *LOL* I now can't remember the significance of his theory of signification, representation and ideology.

Funny little brain. I am highly amused.


Yes, I am quite the phreak.

It's been a helluva week. Well, technically 3 days, but it sure felt like I'd been working for 7 days! Monday was a killer 12.5 hour day and Tues and Wed was fulla stressing out over essays and debates and readings and work and night driving.

Passed out last night in utter exhaustion. Took it easy today with just a bit of stress-free driving (i.e. not at night when it's dark as a nigger's ass), some readings and light gym work.

I should pace myself, but there's no break in my assignment schedule till early April. Am looking forward to the two-week break like crazy.

In other news, I bought 50 guo tie from a dim sum wholesaler in Chinatown today! WOAH! They are very yummy! They're pretty large dumplings, about 3 by 1.5 inches; filled with juicy prawn and chives and bamboo shoot! The pastry tastes like roti prata when its been fried. And I only paid $22 for them, that makes it 40c a piece.

Ate 5 for dinner with some fried vermicelli. I could do with a nap, am so stuffed! But no, I have to finish some (more)readings. Ah well. As you would say my dear, No Rest for the Wicked!

What's Up Y'all In Da Hous Y'all!

OMG. I am so fulla shit.

Extract:

Today Hip Hop is not only a genre of music but a lifestyle, a language and an attitude with immense crossover appeal. Asian-Americans are the newest non-black rappers emerging in the Hip-hop scene. As in most forms of pop culture, interstitial disjunctures occur, resulting in counter-culture appropriations and mutations.

The parody rap Got Rice lies at this disjuncture. It is an appropriation of a distinctly black culture – rap – to reflect the rise of Asians within the Hip-hop scene and in American society. It sets itself up as a defiant satire; a rallying cry to the imagined Asian nation. Paradoxically though, it uses a medium distinctly un-Asian. This essay will explore central themes of acculturation, hybridity and parody with reference to Got Rice.

Disjuncture, Interstitial, Acculturation, Hybridity! Can I get any more ANNOYING?!?!?!

*feeling paradoxically happy and disgusted with self* <<=== MORE DISJUNCTURE!

I have ditched Asian Representation in Hollywood Films.

I will do a textual analysis of Got Rice instead!

It's the A.Z.N nigga f*ck the rest.
Dallas to New York jigga, we're the best.
Vietnam, to Japan to Mongolia
Philippines, to Taiwan, To Cambodia, Korea ah... ah…
Home town China
Who you got huh?
U got shit nigga, feel the size, it's the A.Z.N better recognize
Got Rice bitch? Got Rice? Got food, got soup, got spice?
Got brains like us? Got skills like us? Got cars, got clothes, got girls like us?
Watz up? We the shit and we'll kill ya'll fools
We got money in the bank from our family jewels
Can we help it if we raid and corrupt the schools?
It don't matter, f*ck the law, shit we'll break the rules
We jack cars, Pop games, yo we got the tools
Hoop it up, break it down then we shoot some pool
F*ck with me, f*ck with all bitch
Don't think it’s cool
One on one f*ck THAT it's three on one
No duels!
Got Rice bitch? Got Rice? Anything you can show that is nice?
Got cash, got moves, got thoughts like us? F*ck no hell you white, you'll never
be like us.
Take off your shoes before you enter please or crawl around on the floor with your
f*cking knees
Don't mind the smell you'll get use to it. Moth balls, dried squid, and that Buddha shit
What the hell is that? You think I don't see?
No forks in the house, chopsticks only
Have a taste don't be scared try the lemon tea
You don't want? That’s alright, try the f*ck on me
Got rice bitch? Got rice? Got luck every time you roll the dice?
Your luck is bad unless you run and hide
Cuz we're thugz for life baby, Asian Pride!

This essay will discuss diasporic identity formation and the interplay of acculturation, hybridity and mimicry/the parody in pop culture by Asian youth.

Saaataaaay.... saaataaaay. OMG I have this craving for pork satay with the crisp bit o fat in the middle and hot creamy peanut sauce and grated pineapple.

I have two lots of satay (pork and chicken) slowy marinating in the fridge in anticipation for tomorrow's lil potluck dinner at Olyve's flat. Saaattaaaay!!!!

Later...

I couldn't wait and speared some to grill and it's yummy and satay-ish, so I'm very happy with myself and my random satay recipe.

Random Satay Recipe:
Cumin, ground coriander, curry powder, tumeric, brown sugar, salt, shallots, onion, ginger, lemon grass, sesame seeds - BLEND.

There are no measurements because I cannot remember how much I used.

*Task List*

#1. Communication and Information Hons Seminar Online Debate Draft 1

#2. Transnational Cultures Readings on Travel, Trade & Tourism: Kincaid, Philips, Clifford

#3. Transnational Cultures Presentation Readings on The Cultural Politics of Veiling: Mojab, Read & Bartowski, Franks

#4. Transnational Cultures Essay Preparatory Readings on Asian Representation in Hollywood: ARGHHHHHHHHHHH, Said, Bernstein, Lewis, Feng, ARGHHHHHH, Denzin

#5. Communication and Information Hons Seminar Essay Proposal on ________________

*wheezes*

I just had a 12 hour day. OMG.

Was up at 8am, worked from 10-2, had class from 2-5, Gym from 515-6, Driving from 7-930. OMG.

Class today was the longest 3 hours of my life. It's bad enough that I am not predisposed to Cultural Studies. Having a large class with one Opinionated Person who likes to take over the seminar with endless personal anecdotes and theory makes me want to dig my eyes out with a dull spoon.

Give me ole Marxist Harvey any day! Bah.

Driving was hella scary cos it was pitch black in a quiet suburb with no lane markers and street lamps. Half the time I couldn't see the corners till it was too late. Ended up looking like a newb. I figure if I manage Sydney roads, I'd be set for life driving anywhere. The weird turns and kinks in the roads here (not to mention the endless potholes) make each driving lesson an advenjah!

More driving tomorrow and Friday. More FUNK ON FRIDAY (yay). And I have one debate due, one essay to research and one presentation to plan.

I shall proceed to crawl to bed now...

110 Quirkyalone

haha! Whot a nice euphemism for "Learnt to enjoy being alone and having no friends"! *LOL*

I reign supreme!

(Of course! In my world, I am the only being... apart from Rufus my invisible green dragon)

>>>>>>NEWSFLASH!!!

OMG! I cut my hair even shorter and streaked it FIRE ENGINE RED. YAY! I'm very happy. It makes me look like a happening nerd. Paid $65 in total, which is surprisingly cheap for Sydney. So I'll have to eat bread and water for the next fortnight or so... bah! I likes my hair.

Now when I'm lost amid my piles of papers and notes, Kelvin will know I'm still alive, signalled by the vibrant flash of my head.

I have a HUGE crush on my Funk dancing instructress. She is a tall and tan and young and lovely Swedish girl with a body I'd give my left tit for. Hmmm... maybe not. But you get the idea.

She's a less-svelte version of Charlize Theron, complete with an amazing smile and personality. I spend weekends in the exquisite company of muscle-pains after each Friday session. My calves hate me and have informed me of their intention to go on strike. Yet I shall return each week.

Perhaps one day I shall be able to dance with choreography and not look so much like the malnutritioned epileptic monkey puppet that I am.

Sigh. Swoon.

Research on Asian stereotypes in Hollywood for Transfuckingnational $%^&*@ Cultures led to this Gem.

Karmic Retailation in A Brief History of the Yellowface is inspired!

Hurrah!

I forsee a lot of blogging in the near future...

Dear Constant Reader, I promise to fulfil my inescapable duty to the online blogging community by being as dedicated as I can to this wee virtual diary. I know I have shamefully shirked my commitments to updating. Forgive thy humble servant!

Sincerely,
Sheralyn-cultural-studies-theorists-can-all-eat-shite-and-go-and-die

**Work Avoidance**

My Thesis Preparation workshop discussed our work habits and study habitus.

Work Avoidance is the sudden desire to spring clean the house just as you settle in front of your computer with a pile of notes. Laundry has no better allure and (case-in-point) my blog needs urgent updating.

I am mired in the bogs of a debate (That the terrain of communication conflict is structured in dominance, first affirmative). This cunningly complex little statement needs to be vehemently supported in no less than 2000 words. After which the class will try to proceed to tear apart my painstaking arguments.

The lil'injun says: I think I can I think I canI've done this before I can do this again X however long it takes me to do it