Upcoming: May 10-19, 2013 Pittsburgh's Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival!

May 10-19 Pittsburgh's Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival!

I am so excited that I finally get to attend! Two years ago I'd only heard of what is now called the Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization, and for the past year I served as a  kind of part-time office volunteer. I have thoroughly admired the mission of this organization and all it has done for Pittsburgh and beyond.

This year's film festival features screenings of 30 foreign films over these 10 days, including an Opening Night Gala and Closing Ceremony. This year there are films from: Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

I'm especially excited to see some of these movies with international friends, and to learn and enjoy more about their countries and cultures though cinema.

I encourage everyone to attend: http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/202/festival-guide-2013

The following is something I'd written when I was supposed to write about Silk Screen for Wikipedia. Unfortunately, I didn't know if my draft was ever sufficient. So, I still haven't gone through the process of trying to publish it, or whether I had permission. However, this is my best attempt to write about the organization I respect and admire so much. And I wish to give this event and organization more publicity in the best way that I can.

About the Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization

Silk Screen was founded as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit media arts organization in 2005 by Harish Saluja, an artist, filmmaker, and entrepreneur, who recognized a need to promote cross-cultural understanding among Asians and non-Asians in the United States. This led to his idea of a cultural arts organization representing the various Asian communities in Pittsburgh and the tri-state area through cultural events. A filmmaker himself, Saluja first created the annual Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival in May 2006. Silk Screen has since evolved to centrally coordinate other Asian cultural events within Pittsburgh including festival screenings of international films, academic screenings of documentaries, events featuring ethnic music and dance performances, and events celebrating of Asian holidays and traditions ("The Heinz Endowments"). And, just this year, an Asian American Jazz Fusion orchestra organized by Saluja and other musicians will be performing.

Mission

 "Silk Screen's goals include educating communities about Asian and Asian American history, culture, experiences and issues; fostering understanding across lines of race, ethnicity, religion, age, and region; and sustaining growth and encouraging excellence in Asian American culture and cinema ("Our Story"). 

These aims are achieved through year-round programming of film festivals, outreach performances of music, dance, and theater, educational presentations of Asian traditions for primary and secondary schools as well as colleges and universities, and other innovative events. Silk Screen events continue to grow in reputation and attendance among all age groups. People have even come from surrounding states and foreign countries to attend Silk Screen events and film festivals.

Silk Screen’s long-term goals are to foster cross-cultural understanding, to encourage filmmaking in Pittsburgh, and ultimately to establish Pittsburgh as a center of cultural exchange that welcomes Asian immigrants and Asian Americans and celebrates their diverse cultures – thus inspiring a dynamic multicultural community and vibrant economy (McElhinney). Ultimately, year-round programming is projected to lead into weeks or months of events celebrating diversity in Asian and Asian American heritage across the Commonwealth, and fostering American appreciation of global community (FilmFestivals.com). 

I have been especially drawn to the vision of Harish Saluja in his creation of the organization:

"We believe that if you want to grow as a city, you need to welcome people of different colors, races, countries, and languages; and you need to be proactive about it. In this region, the new immigrants aren't coming from Italy or Ireland anymore. They're coming from Asia, and one of the things that we need to do as a city - and I feel strongly about this - is to be culturally welcoming.. I decided that we would form this organization and have Asian cultural events where people of different colors could come together under one tent. And it turns out that only 20 percent of people who attend our events are Asian. 80 percent are non-Asians, which is how I want it to be because Asians don't need me to tell them about Asian culture. It's non-Asians who can feel safe and comfortable coming to these events and learning about other countries. 

We also firmly believe that there are problems in this world. There is hatred, prejudice, ignorance and sadness; there are tears in this world. Now we can't solve all the problems, but we think we should do something, however small it is, to ameliorate these difficulties. And we feel that a performance by a musician, a show by an artist, a dance performance, a movie being seen and bread being broken together are positive things that compensate to some extent for all the negativity that goes on. If everybody felt that way, you would see a change in the world, and that's what we're trying to do."

("The Heinz Endowments") 

Activities

Film Festivals and Film Series

Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival

Silk Screen’s premier event is an annual 10-day film festival that takes place every May (recognized as Asian American Heritage Month) featuring screenings of over 20 contemporary films representing ethnic origins of Central, South, and East Asian countries and their people’s histories, cultures, experiences, and issues. The festival is preceded by an Opening Night Gala event featuring ethnic Asian music and dance performances, catering by ethnic restaurants, and its attendants are invited to dress in cultural attire. Over the following days and nights, the films are screened in three-to-five different locations. Whenever possible, each film is concluded with Question & Answer sessions with its international filmmakers and/or performers, even people from as far as Indonesia. (Baron). Featured films include those by award-winning directors, and winners of national and international film festivals such as Sundance, Toronto, Cannes, and the New York Asian Film Festival, among others.("Our Story") Films have represented origins from countries including Burma (through a 2012 showing of The Lady (2011), Afghanistan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, The Philippines, Turkey, Thailand,Vietnam, and Uzbekistan (Baron).

Silk Scream: Asian Horror Film Festival

Silk Screen annually presents a pair of internationally recognized and limited release Asian horror films in the final week of October, during the Halloween holiday season in an event called Silk Scream. Pittsburgh has been historically significant location in the horror film industry (recall the film "The Silence of the Lambs"), and Silk Screen became the first to bring a festival screening of Asian horror films.  

Film Series

Silk Screen also annually presents three academic film series for local college and university instruction, and to foster discourse on difficult social issues, controversies, and stereotypes within Asian countries and the United States, including women’s rights, gender issues, historical struggles, and prejudices. Film screenings and subsequent discussion are intended to increase awareness and to dispel cross-cultural ignorance and prejudices among academic audiences. Currently, Silk Screen organizes three distinct film series for three different academic institutions:

Asia Unreeled is presented annually at Winchester Thurston School through spring months, with four thought-provoking films (dramas and/or documentaries) which are meant to show diverse cultures, histories of Asian countries as they relate to present realities. These films are open to the public and are each followed with time for reflection and discussion, and occasionally by cultural activities. Asia Unreeled is presented also in partnership with Confucius Institute, the University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center and Winchester Thurston School.

Japanese Film Series is presented annually in partnership primarily with the University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center, among other nonprofit and academic organizations. This series features modern or classical Japanese films of any genre to give the public an opportunity to experience Japanese cinema.

Sewickley Film Series is an annual set of three films shown in January that is presented in partnership with the Sewickley Academy. Each series has an overarching theme (previous themes include “challenging stereotypes” and “women in Asian cultures”) and each film is followed with moderated discussion.

Other Programs

Silk Screen collaboratively develops year-round programming of media arts performances and other cultural events such as outreach concerts of Asian and Asian American music, dance and theater; and school presentations and parades celebrating Asian traditions and holidays such as Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, India Independence Day. These events are often in collaboration with schools, colleges, museums, and directly with musicians, artists, and performers ("Education Outreach Programs").

Radio Program

Silk Screen also produces the weekly broadcast “Music from India" through Pittsburgh’s Essential Public Radio at 90.5 FM. It is the longest running radio program of Indian music in the United States, beginning 1972 by Harish Saluja and Dr. Vijay Bahl, its current hosts. It broadcasts on Sundays from 8pm-10pm. 

Sponsors

Silk Screen has partnered with foundations, schools, universities, museums, over 30 arts and culture organizations, and several local Asian family-owned businesses.
http://silkscreenfestival.org/45/sponsors

References

http://www.silkscreenfestival.org

Baron, Jennifer. "Get reel at the Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival." Pop City. 09 May 2012: n. page. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/sscreenasia050912.aspx>

"East Meets Pittsburgh." Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/63/east-meets-pgh>

Educational Outreach Programs." Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/86/education-outreach-programs>

"Film Series." Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/34/film-series>

McElhinney, Kelli. "Cultural Awareness: An Important Story." Pop City. 10 May 2006: n. page. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/saluja.aspx>

Interview by Carmen J. Lee. "Q&A with Harish Saluja." The Heinz Endowments. The Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh. 05 April 2012. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.heinz.org/grants_spotlight_entry.aspx?entry=912>

"Our Story." Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/2/our-story>

"Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival" FilmFestivals.com. FilmFestivals.com, n.d. Web. 30 April 2013. <http://www.filmfestivals.com/en/festival/silk_screen_asian_american_film_festival_0>

Social Media Links
http://www.facebook.com/SilkScreen

http://www.facebook.com/SilkScreenPittsburgh?ref=ts

http://twitter.com/SilkScreenPgh 

Happy Easter - Reflecting on Christianity and Eastern Religions

Happy Easter to all my Christian friends!

To me this is another holiday among other Asian festivals announced by spring:

I missed Nowruz, the Persian New Year, where people jump over fire,
I missed Holi, the Indian festival, where people throw powdered color at each other,
and now I feel like I’m missing Easter, where people are playing games of finding eggs and candy.

So I can’t say anymore that Easter is the most important spring holiday I know of, but I know that it is still the most important Christian holiday. According to Christians, today is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead after dying so that everyone could be redeemed from sin. It’s a time to renew one’s faith, and to revel in the Christian spirit, and to relate with family and church.

It’s hard for me to admit this to my Christian friends, but I really can’t identify as Christian anymore. Still, I think there is a Christian part of me that doesn’t die, a part that does continue to be renewed in me. The spirit of Christianity in me is this: That I accept others unconditionally for who they are, and to love them more than myself. That I try to keep an attitude of self-sacrifice, humility, and love.

However, what distanced me from Christianity was that I drew near to other religions and other peoples. Unfortunately, I was raised to think that Christianity was an exclusive religion, and that non-Christians were people who simply failed to know and accept Christ. That Buddhism was just a philosophy, that Hindus worshipped idols, that Muslims hated Christians. This kind of thinking is so narrow, so offensive once you actually meet people from their respective cultures!

Once I was able to let go of the conservative Western religious thinking, Eastern religions felt so freeing to me. I remember a moment in Eastern religion class where I distinctly realized that I must accept Buddhism as equally valid to Christianity if I were really to give my life to studying Japanese. I remember embracing a spirit of Buddhism (though I don’t think a true Buddhist would let me word it this way!), and that adjusting perspective and perception truly led to inner peace. I remember visiting a Hindu temple with my close Indian friends. I remember one Turkish Muslim woman explaining why it was important for her to wear a headscarf, even if her mother fought with her against it, while another Turkish Muslim woman explained why she didn’t wear a headscarf though Islam is so important to her too - and her husband teaching me the first two names of Allah - Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim... 

And so I can't think of Christianity the same way. I can't think of this Easter the same way either. International people have shown and shared too much with me. I feel that my life would have been so much emptier if I never met them.

But I still wear a cross necklace, though not openly when it might offend someone. Whether I believe in Jesus or not, the idea of a cross necklace is to remind myself that someone representing God was willing to suffer agony and death for the sake of love for others. That loving and respecting someone sometimes means understanding and enduring their hell.

Actually, this particular necklace was given to a friend, who later gave me a similar one as if to restore my identity. 

And now it’s Easter, where people celebrate that Jesus rose again in triumph over death. In any case, it is a good reason to reflect on ideas of rebirth and renewal.

It seems that many of my friends have all been very stressed lately with exams, applications, and the resulting feelings of stress, inadequacy, and loneliness. I hope that Easter, or at least the spring sunshine here, is a time to reflect that life doesn't always end with suffering, and that even after death - or just a nervous breakdown - life blooms again.

My best friend, a Hindu, joked that Easter must be Jesus’ second birthday. I guess he meant it with regards to the idea of reincarnation. And that suddenly makes the meaning of the holiday even richer.

What really makes me feel born again is having been introduced to the myriad of other cultures and holidays, and the idea that all religions have things to teach people about people. But today I do want to reflect on Easter, and in the light of Eastern influences, and in the new light of spring which shines over all the world.


Notes:

I am sorry that all my links are of Wikipedia. I am relieved at least at finally having written here again even though I wrote this in one night (throughout the night!) rather than going through the research I could have done for such an essay as this. I realized that it's because of all these thoughts running in my head that I feel that I really should keep writing.. 

Beginning Again

Henceforth this blog is going to be my personal project to build sources of writing, and to try to make myself into more of a writer.

I've been a fairly decent failure of the English Writing major at the University of Pittsburgh (professors seemed to like my writings..), a fairly decent failure of a student of foreign language (Japanese and Hindi, neither of which I can speak fluently), a fairly decent failure of a volunteer English as a Second Language tutor, a fairly decent failure of an intern at www.sampsoniaway.org, an online magazine that promotes freedom of speech and press around the world. Through all of this, I've been interested in telling about other cultures, languages, and experiences, and I have been trying to confess things very carefully.

Maybe I could make a fairly decent failure of a writer, but one can't really know unless one really tries, and keeps trying.

Obviously, I can't really esteem myself, but I feel better by articulating myself in writing.

So, to make this regular, I'm going to try to push myself to write for this blog. I don't really have a forgiving schedule, I screw around too much, but I need to figure out how to write without feeling so intimidated by the act. As of now I'm writing after class at 3pm, and stopping at 4pm so that I can catch the bus to my part-time job at Lin's Asian Fusion, a Chinese Restaurant.

My blog was originally titled "alien nation". I chose this because it's my personal creed that we are all alone together in this alien nation. Everyone on this planet is an alien to each other, but we're all connected in this fractured collective of humanity around the world. Everyone has felt isolated and estranged, and we all reach out to each other tentatively, and touch each other powerfully, no matter where we're from. These words might seem melodramatic, but it's an idea I live with. I realized though, that this idea was more personally relevant to me because of my Asian co-workers, students, and friends, who inspired me to study foreign languages, and to understand their cultures.

As for feeling alien myself, I never really grew out that concentrated sense of being 'out-of-place' and estranged. In junior high school and high school I disliked physical and eye-to-eye contact. That, and my childhood interest in geography inspired by my father may have incited my interests and concerns for those who are aliens, and those who feel alienated.

I want to write about other people around the world, or maybe just as I'd imagine it, if I can. I'm acutely interested in foreign cultures, I've had some friends from different places, and my studies gravitated toward an interest in parts of Asia. Initially, I was a Japanese student, but now I'm a Hindi student, my best friends in Pittsburgh are Syrian, Indian, and Kazakh. I used to work with a lot of Russians and Uzbeks also. For the past year I've tutored English to women from Japan, Korea, and Turkey. Currently, I work at a Chinese restaurant. All their stories fascinate me, and I'm trying to learn more about the world.

If all else fails and I'm not much of a writer after all, I started an application for the Peace Corps today while typing this.

I have to run now.