Jason Chu: “Appropriation or Appreciation”

Advertisement of Jason Chu Lecture in PAAFF Guide 2019

On November 16, 2019, Chinese American rapper jason chu (a member of NITEMRKT) presented a lecture entitled "Appropriators or Originators: APIs, Hip-Hop and Authenticity" at the Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia. The lecture was co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and the Music of Asian America Research Center.

Part One: The Complicated Nature of Cultural Interchange and Appropriation

  • 0:05:  Introduction by Eric Hung, MAARC Exec. Dir.
  • 1:38:  Why are discussions of cultural interchange in Asian American communities so fraught?
  • 3:03:  The complicated relationship between Asian American and Hip-Hop communities
  • 3:27:  Benign fascination between the communities
  • 5:03:  Some have developed sense of belonging in each other’s communities
  • 7:32:  Rejection and exploitation between the two communities
  • 11:10:  Do Asian Americans belong in Hip-Hop?  What are the key ethical issues involved?
  • 12:42:  Who belongs in Asian America?
  • 13:56:  The need to continually remember the roots of Hip-Hop
  • 14:54:  Skill vs. authenticity
  • 15:53:  Defining what is and is not appropriation
  • 22:05:  The important legacy of Bruce Lee in Asian American cultural exhange

Part Two: The Four Steps Towards Belonging and Authenticity

  • 0:05:  Why appropriation is an ethical issue
  • 1:21:  Can we enter another culture without objectifying it?  Vijay Prashad’s concept of polyculturalism is helpful.
  • 7:05:  Cultural interchange must be based on human relationships.
  • 8:15:  Stage 1–Cultural appropriation (seeing from the outside)
  • 10:30:  Stage 2–Appreciation (genuine desire to be inside)
  • 12:24:  Stage 3–Apprenticeship (human relationships as a bridge)
  • 16:14:  Stage 4–Authenticity (existence on the inside, with willingness to carry the responsibility)
  • 20:33:  Closing remarks and applause

Part Three: Q&A

  • 0:15:  How does this apply to gentrification?
  • 1:15:  How do we call someone out?
  • 4:43:  DJ Roli Rho’s perspective
  • 6:37:  The importance of genealogies
  • 8:55:  Do you have to continually authenticate?
  • 13:25:  Can you discuss your personal journey towards authenticity?
  • 16:08:  What are some significant moments you can discuss that can help others work on their own journeys toward authenticity?
  • 21:00:  How do we deal with destructive external structural pressures that conflict with our beliefs?
  • 27:47:  How do we bring more awareness to Hip-Hop artists in China?
  • 30:30:  Can this model be applied internationally?
  • 33:29:  Thank you from Rob Buscher, PAAFF Festival Director