Louder and Faster: Pain, Joy, and the Body Politic in Asian American Taiko (Volume 55) (American Crossroads)

A free open access ebook is available upon publication. Learn more at[www.luminosoa.org](http://www.luminosoa.org).__Lo____ud____er____and____Fa____ste____r__is a cultural study of the phenomenon of Asian American taiko, the thundering, athletic drumming tradition that originated in Japan. Immersed in the taiko scene for twenty years, Deborah Wong has witnessed cultural and demographic changes and the exponential growth and expansion of taiko particularly in Southern California. Through her participatory ethnographic work, she reveals a complicated story embedded in memories of Japanese American internment and legacies of imperialism, Asian American identity and politics, a desire to be seen and heard, and the intersection of culture and global capitalism. Exploring the materialities of the drums, costumes, and bodies that make sound, analyzing the relationship of these to capitalist multiculturalism, and investigating the gender politics of taiko,__Louder and Faster__considers both the promises and pitfalls of music and performance as an antiracist practice. The result is a vivid glimpse of an Asian American presence that is both loud and fragile. Louder And Faster Is A Cultural Study Of The Phenomenon Of Asian American Taiko, The Thundering, Athletic Drumming Tradition That Originated In Japan. Immersed In The Taiko Scene For Twenty Years, Deborah Wong Has Witnessed Cultural And Demographic Changes And The Exponential Growth And Expansion Of Taiko Particularly In Southern California. Through Her Participatory Ethnographic Work, She Reveals A Complicated Story Embedded In Memories Of Japanese American Internment And Legacies Of Imperialism, Asian American Identity And Politics, A Desire To Be Seen And Heard, And The Intersection Of Culture And Global Capitalism. Exploring The Materialities Of The Drums, Costumes, And Bodies That Make Sound, Analyzing The Relationship Of These To Capitalist Multiculturalism, And Investigating The Gender Politics Of Taiko, Louder And Faster Considers Both The Promises And Pitfalls Of Music And Performance As An Antiracist Practice. The Result Is A Vivid Glimpse Of An Asian American Presence That Is Both Loud And Fragile--provided By Publisher. Introduction -- Looking, Listening, And Moving -- Inventories: The Material Culture Of Taiko -- Dancing The Body Politic -- Good Gigs, Bad Gigs: Drumming Between Hope And Anger -- Taiko, Erotics, And Anger -- Pain And The Body Politic: Taiko Players Talk About Blisters And More -- Cruising The Pac Rim: Driven To Thrill -- Conclusion: Core Values. Deborah Wong. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 243-258) And Index. 2020 Alan Merriam Prize for Best Book Published in Ethnomusicology, Society for Ethnomusicology A free open access ebook is available upon publication. Learn more at www.luminosoa.org.Louder and Faster is a cultural study of the phenomenon of Asian American taiko, the thundering, athletic drumming tradition that originated in Japan. Immersed in the taiko scene for twenty years, Deborah Wong has witnessed cultural and demographic changes and the exponential growth and expansion of taiko particularly in Southern California. Through her participatory ethnographic work, she reveals a complicated story embedded in memories of Japanese American internment and legacies of imperialism, Asian American identity and politics, a desire to be seen and heard, and the intersection of culture and global capitalism. Exploring the materialities of the drums, costumes, and bodies that make sound, analyzing the relationship of these to capitalist multiculturalism, and investigating the gender politics of taiko, Louder and Faster considers both the promises and pitfalls of music and performance as an antiracist practice. The result is a vivid glimpse of an Asian American presence that is both loud and fragile. 2020Alan Merriam Prize for Best Book Published in Ethnomusicology,Society for Ethnomusicology A free open access ebook is available upon publication. Learn more at . Lo ud er and Fa ste r is a cultural study of the phenomenon of Asian American taiko, the thundering, athletic drumming tradition that originated in Japan. Immersed in the taiko scene for twenty years, Deborah Wong has witnessed cultural and demographic changes and the exponential growth and expansion of taiko particularly in Southern California. Through her participatory ethnographic work, she reveals a complicated story embedded in memories of Japanese American internment and legacies of imperialism, Asian American identity and politics, a desire to be seen and heard, and the intersection of culture and global capitalism. Exploring the materialities of the drums, costumes, and bodies that make sound, analyzing the relationship of these to capitalist multiculturalism, and investigating the gender politics of taiko, Louder and Faster considers both the promises and pitfalls of music and performance as an antiracist practice. The result is a vivid glimpse of an Asian American presence that is both loud and fragile. A free open access ebook is available upon publication. Learn more at(http://www.luminosoa.org) www.luminosoa.org . Lo ud er and Fa ste r is a cultural study of the phenomenon of Asian American taiko, the thundering, athletic drumming tradition that originated in Japan. Immersed in the taiko scene for twenty years, Deborah Wong has witnessed cultural and demographic changes and the exponential growth and expansion of taiko particularly in Southern California. Through her participatory ethnographic work, she reveals a complicated story embedded in memories of Japanese American internment and legacies of imperialism, Asian American identity and politics, a desire to be seen and heard, and the intersection of culture and global capitalism. Exploring the materialities of the drums, costumes, and bodies that make sound, analyzing the relationship of these to capitalist multiculturalism, and investigating the gender politics of taiko, Louder and Faster considers both the promises and pitfalls of music and performance as an antiracist practice. The result is a vivid glimpse of an Asian American presence that is both loud and fragile. Louder and Faster is a study of taiko in California, focused on the play of sound, performance, identity, ethnicity, race, gender, and politics. Wong explores taiko as a music/dance art form that creates spaces in which memories of the WW2 Japanese American incarceration, Asian American identity, and a desire to be seen/heard intersect with global capitalism, the complications of mediation, and legacies of imperialism. Based on two decades of participatory ethnographic work, the book offers a vivid glimpse of an Asian American presence both loud and fragile.