| The Transcender |

Dove’s Campaign For Real Beauty [Watch]

No Wonder our perception of beauty is distorted

Killing us all so softly…

I’m not a fan of Dove and I find this campaign really ironic, for the company to come out and proclaim themselves as the good guy…even though they still continue to contribute to the images of what beauty is like by telling consumers to buy more their products…

But if you overlook Dove as the hypocritical company that they proclaim themselves for a minute, and just watch this beautiful piece of art, I think we can all learn to be appreciative of the small things that the corporate world try to do as they do their part in attempting to repent themselves. 

Hollywood: An Empire of Their Own | How the Jews Invented Hollywood

The American Dream is actually constructed by “shadowed Americans” who came to the Land of the Free creating a Hollywood of their own…where ironically it became the norm for all Americans to follow. 

During this time of year last year, I started watching old Hollywood films that were produced in the “Golden Age” during the 20’s to early 60’s. As a film major, and gender analyst, I couldn’t help but realize how much all these films influenced in all how we think of the world. Disturbingly, these film helped constructed the ideals of heterosexism and that it is the most natural and only way to live your life. Any other deviations is dangerous. After reading, Dude, You’re A Fag, where I just recently finished it, it only made more sense how hetersexism can only exist through rough policing of how standards are to be made…especially through film and media, such as how Prom King and Queen can only insist of a boy and a girl, and even Senior Superlatives are between a female and male…Any other gender variations won’t hold any valid. 

It comes back to this point, in how the Jews created a dream, where “real” or “original” America had not thought of yet but ultimately…after becoming so dessimated, their ideals and values, morals and such, such a heterosexism and courageous heart (bad and good) became the norm and everyone adopt it and accept it as it is without questioning. 

This is why…ladies and gentlemen…why films are heavily and carefully constructed the way that they are…All the mainstream is so focused on the heterosexual relationship and nothing less. Sometimes, I feel it so forced upon me…that I start to question, is a heterosexual coupling that natural? 

And how modern films…set up standards that are ridiculous and are so fictional…yet people try to live up to it…For example, Gossip Girl…I think it’s a very entertaining show, no lie about it. But the message that it tries to get across is disturbingly dangerous. I can’t help but think of all the young girls and guys out there who watch this show and start to feel more insecure about themselves than they already are. “How come I’m not rich like that” “How come I don’t have clothes like that” “How come my face doesn’t look like that” “How come my girl/boyfriend isn’t hot like that” “How come my life is so boring compared to them” 

Honestly, I’m not a hater of shows like Gossip Girl, but I think it’s important that audience know how to deconstruct the images that they see on the screen that make them feel as if these “fictionals” were actually bigger than their lives. I think it’s important that we implant all the tools and resources that we get to the audiences, that there is NO one way to live life and not to follow the limiting and suffocating binary in this society, especially the young and insecure one, as soon as we can. Media Education…I’m looking at you. 

And if you want something textual that makes you rethink about your live, I definitely recommend reading X: A fabulous Child’s Story by Lois Gould. 

I definitely want to make this story into a film… Watch out for it in the near future—Empire Production ;)

Stuffs The Transcender Likes

These conglomerates help me make my own culture and who I am today. MAD props if you know some of the things on this list (not including the mainstream one though). And if you’re looking for a wishlist, you can’t go wrong with any of these.

James Bond

On Her Majesty Secret Service was my favorite Bond movie because it showed Bond as the romantic and sensitive lover he is when he’s not a cold and heartless assassin. Also, I must admit George Lazenby is the most fashionable Bond yet to date. Bond is so debonair and is the type of man I would like to be, but so not ruthless or misogynist.

Bruce Lee

This man has done so much for the martial art world, that it’s often unappreciated. He was such a powerful figure and force to be reckon with…and still remains today as a strong role model for Asian American boys and men to look up to. Not to mention his physique…Mmmm…We can only try.

Michael Jackson

This man has done so much for the pop culture, that it’s ridiculous. He took up the dance floor and made dancing the iconic symbolism of expression that it is today. This man was versatile…singing about Billie Jean, smooth criminal, to not being a lone, to world poverty, to the man in the mirror. It’s unfortunate to see such a talented performer missed out on childhood because of the life that he had to lead…and for people for judge him for something they don’t even know for certain about…And like all great artists, he was unappreciated until he passed away… The world that we live in…

Fred Astaire

This man can DANCE. Finding out about Fred in the summer of 09 is one of the best discovery I have ever done. So smooth…so elegant…so classic. If you can make another human being move that Fred does and croon the way he croons…oh boy. You’ll get all the people swooning after you.

Sam Sparro

Black and Gold will forever be one of my favorite song of all time. I give props to Sparro for being outed as a proud gay man and still be as successful as he is. I love his style, voice, and song lyrics.

Big Bang

I love how this Korean pop/hip hop/trance/infinity group is so versatile. The got mad style and mad skills. I love how each of the group has an important role that helps the group as Big and their Bang is. For example, it’s not just a group of pretty boys, but a group of boys that have individual skills…and a group that can appeal to many audiences…You got the rapper, the leader, the crooner, the pretty face that can smooth talk, and the R&B persona, the instrument player, whatever. They can change their style as quickly as you change underwears—and still be successful at it, like a boss. One minute, they’re a bunch of club bangers, then a group of backstreetboys, then a sad group of love song, then a japanese emo group. Whoever their stylist, I gotta give it to them because they always bring it fresh…it’s impeccable. Their video quality never cease to amaze me.

Royksopp

Only This Moment hold a special place in my memory because it got me through the hard year of 2007…and helped my girlfriend and I get together.

WHAM!

George Michael and the other’s guy name. It’s really just George Michael though. Anyways, they have a lot of songs that I grew up with while I was growing up in Cambodia. Careless Whisper is a song about cheating and breaking up, but ironically, it has helped people make more babies than anything else. I think “Careless Whisper” is one of the sexiest song of all time.

Gankutsou: The Count of Monte Cristo

I have not read The Count of Monte Cristo but because this anime is based on this book, I can only contemplate that it’s an amazing story. All I know is that Gankutsou has some big twists where it’s put in the future, etc. I can’t emphasizes enough how the graphic in this anime is absolutely breathtaking. Maybe it’s because the art design is by Anna Sui. I don’t watch a lot of anime…but I am so glad I saw this one, and I’ve tried to watch for any other anime that is state-of-the-art like this one…but none else compares.

Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time

This video game was so amazing. The setting of Persia makes me wish I was born way long ago when there were things left undiscovered yet. It’s really interesting the way it plays game with your mind—how you can control your life if you can control time—that is rewind when you die, forward so that you can speed past time, pause time, etc. Very interesting concept. I haven’t had the chance to play video games since middle school…and when I do again, I hope to find more video games that invokes my mind the way that this game does. I’m really not looking forward to seeing the movie because it does not compare to anything that this game has to offer. I really love the plot romance between the Prince and Farah. This sad romance story has stuck to me for years now…

Daft Punk/Interstella 5555

Daft Punk make genius beats and lyrics. End of story. On top of that…Interstella 5555 makes me nostalgia for vintage anime. Something about us is my favorite track in this anime.

Shenmue

This game is the most unique game that I have ever played. Role-playing as Ryo in the 80’s of China…going from industrial and then to the beautiful backdrop of China’s hidden mountain valley. The graphic is amazing and the slow-paced story plot really intrigued me. I’m just hoping that there will be a Shenmue III one day…

JetSet Radio Future

This game is so badass, I can’t even lie. Future, Radio, Rollerblades, Shibuya, and Graffiti…punks…mad fun. Perfect childhood memory.

The Snow Queen

Asian dramas are cheesy and it’s easily predictable. But the Snow Queen made me cry like no other. This sad tragedy is one of the most beautiful drama that I have ever seen. On top of that, the script is so intricate…the work of genius…to incorporate Han Christian Andersen’s Snow Queen into a modern day Korean culture. Mad props to the screenwriter. This tragedy romance still ring to my ears.

Nonstop 4 (Korean)

This Korean sitcom really helped me through my senior year of high school where I really looked forward to all the fun that I will have in college.

Lychee

So fucking delicious. If I can only have one food in the world to survive, I pick lychee. The only thing is, their season is so short…

Coconut

I grew up drinking coconut…it’s the taste of my childhood.

Rambutan

Rambutan + Lychee are the most delicious fruits in the world. All you kids that have never tried any of this, are seriously missing out on heaven.

Men’s Health

Because I really don’t have a men figure in my life, I look to these men’s magazine for some advices. Of course, I won’t allow to get myself brainwash to thinking that being a man is only about sex, penis enlarger, viagra, women, money, power, etc, because that’s what is often are advertised in men’s magazine. I just read it for the practical workout guides that are very useful for me in the gym.

Gentleman Quarterly

GQ style is nice, I won’t lie. But I feel that you make up your own style. I truly believe that style is whatever you put on your body that makes you feel comfortable and sexy…if that’s a t-shirt and jean…and if you’re truly happy with that, then that’s style right there!

Dan Brown’s all 5 books (Solomon’s Key is missing in picture)

Dan Brown’s books always make me think and his mysterious always surprise me and I love it. I don’t like predictable mysterious and Brown is good at what he does.

Harry Potter Series

I read Harry Potter, when I first came to the US, before everyone else start reading it. I really grew up with Harry and whether I like it or not, it’s a big part of my childhood. JK Rowling has an amazing skill of story writing…and I think she is brilliant. I love all the books in the serious, the only thing I wish she didn’t do was the epilogue…for such a gifted writer…it really killed it.