Dubious Gastronomy: The Cultural Politics of Eating Asian in the USA (Food in Asia and the Pacific)

California roll, Chinese take-out, American-made kimchi, dogmeat, monosodium glutamate, SPAM--all are examples of what Robert Ji-Song Ku calls dubious foods. Strongly associated with Asian and Asian American gastronomy, they are commonly understood as ersatz, depraved, or simply bad. In Ku contends that these foods share a spiritual fellowship with Asians in the United States in that the Asian presence, be it culinary or corporeal, is often considered watered-down, counterfeit, or debased manifestations of the real thing. The American expression of Asianness is defined as doubly inauthentic--as insufficiently Asian and unreliably American when measured against a largely ideological if not entirely political standard of authentic Asia and America. By exploring the other side of what is prescriptively understood as proper Asian gastronomy, Ku suggests that Asian cultural expressions occurring in places such as Los Angeles, Honolulu, New York City, and even Baton Rouge are no less critical to understanding the meaning of Asian food--and, by extension, Asian people--than culinary expressions that took place in Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai centuries ago. In critically considering the impure and hybridized with serious and often whimsical intent, argues that while the notion of cultural authenticity is troubled, troubling, and troublesome, the apocryphal is not necessarily a bad thing: The dubious can be and is often quite delicious.__Dubious Gastronomy__ overlaps a number of disciplines, including American and Asian American studies, Asian diasporic studies, literary and cultural studies, and the burgeoning field of food studies. More importantly, however, the book fulfills the critical task of amalgamating these areas and putting them in conversation with one another. Written in an engaging and fluid style, it promises to appeal a wide audience of readers who seriously enjoys eating--and reading and thinking about--food. 18 illus. The first title in the Food in Asia and the Pacific series. California Roll, Chinese Take-out, American-made Kimchi, Dogmeat, Monosodium Glutamate, Spam--all Are Examples Of What Robert Ji-song Ku Calls Dubious Foods. Strongly Associated With Asian And Asian American Gastronomy, They Are Commonly Understood As Ersatz, Depraved, Or Simply Bad. In Dubious Gastronomy, Ku Contends That These Foods Share A Spiritual Fellowship With Asians In The United States In That The Asian Presence, Be It Culinary Or Corporeal, Is Often Considered Watered-down, Counterfeit, Or Debased Manifestations Of The Real Thing. The American Expression Of Asianness Is Defined As Doubly Inauthentic--as Insufficiently Asian And Unreliably American When Measured Against A Largely Ideological If Not Entirely Political Standard Of Authentic Asia And America.^ By Exploring The Other Side Of What Is Prescriptively Understood As Proper Asian Gastronomy, Ku Suggests That Asian Cultural Expressions Occurring In Places Such As Los Angeles, Honolulu, New York City, And Even Baton Rouge Are No Less Critical To Understanding The Meaning Of Asian Food--and, By Extension, Asian People--than Culinary Expressions That Took Place In Tokyo, Seoul, And Shanghai Centuries Ago. In Critically Considering The Impure And Hybridized With Serious And Often Whimsical Intent, Dubious Gastronomy Argues That While The Notion Of Cultural Authenticity Is Troubled, Troubling, And Troublesome, The Apocryphal Is Not Necessarily A Bad Thing: The Dubious Can Be And Is Often Quite Delicious. Dubious Gastronomy Overlaps A Number Of Disciplines, Including American And Asian American Studies, Asian Diasporic Studies, Literary And Cultural Studies, And The Burgeoning Field Of Food Studies.^ More Importantly, However, The Book Fulfills The Critical Task Of Amalgamating These Areas And Putting Them In Conversation With One Another. Written In An Engaging And Fluid Style, It Promises To Appeal A Wide Audience Of Readers Who Seriously Enjoys Eating--and Reading And Thinking About--food. --amazon.com. Inauthentic Gasronomy. California Roll -- Chinese Take-out -- Disreputable Gastronomy. Kimchi -- Dogmeat -- Artificial Gastronomy. Monosodium Glutamate -- Spam. Robert Ji-song Ku. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 267-279) And Index.

Radicals and Realists discusses Japan's avant-garde artists, their work, and the historical environment in which they produced it during the two most creative decades of the twentieth century, the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the artists were radicals, rebelling against existing canons and established authority. Yet at the same time they were realists in choosing concrete materials, sounds, and themes from everyday life for their art and in gradually adopting tactics of protest or resistance through accommodation rather than confrontation. Whatever the means of expression, the production of art was never devoid of historical context or political implication. Focusing on the nonverbal genres of painting, sculpture, dance choreography, and music composition, this work shows that generational and political differences, not artistic doctrines, largely account for the divergent stances artists took vis-a-vis modernism, the international arts community, Japan's ties to the United States, and the alliance of corporate and bureaucratic interests that solidified in Japan during the 1960s.

The book is based on extensive archival research; numerous concerts, performances, and exhibits; and exclusive interviews with more than fifty leading choreographers, composers, painters, sculptors, and critics active during those two innovative decades. Its accessible prose and lucid analysis recommend it to a wide readership, including those interested in modern Japanese art and culture as well as the history of the postwar years.

Contents Acknowledgments Introduction PART I. INAUTHENTIC GASTRONOMY 1. California Roll 2. Chinese Take- Out PART II. DISREPUTABLE GASTRONOMY 3. Kimchi 4. Dogmeat PART III. ARTIFICIAL GASTRONOMY 5. Monosodium Glutamate 6. SPAM Conclusion Notes Glossary Bibliography Index About the Author