Comments on: flower drum song, the musical http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/09/flower-drum-song-the-musical/ Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:25:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: jeela http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/09/flower-drum-song-the-musical/#comment-439 jeela Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:44:30 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=85#comment-439 I didnt see the 1961 movie or any earlier productions, so I can't substantively compare the two... or three... Given that the revival version was redone by a Chinese-American writer and featured (like the movie) a mostly Asian American cast, I would like to think that improvements have been made over the years? At least one person in our class vigorously hated the whole production as a performance of Orientalism under appropriation by white people. Another <a href="http://parfournir.tumblr.com/post/31329639" target="_blank" title="Sean Trundle" rel="nofollow">exposed the sexist slant really well</a>. Then there's a blogger named "Angry Asian Man" who <a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2007/03/sfiaaff-castro-theatre-coupon.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">recommends the '61 film</a> without any need for commentary. I mean if he's angry, and he's blogging, he'll say something! Meh... I'm still not a musicals person, but Flower Drum Song is a milestone or moment worth appreciating... especially live :~j I didnt see the 1961 movie or any earlier productions, so I can’t substantively compare the two… or three… Given that the revival version was redone by a Chinese-American writer and featured (like the movie) a mostly Asian American cast, I would like to think that improvements have been made over the years?

At least one person in our class vigorously hated the whole production as a performance of Orientalism under appropriation by white people. Another exposed the sexist slant really well. Then there’s a blogger named “Angry Asian Man” who recommends the ‘61 film without any need for commentary. I mean if he’s angry, and he’s blogging, he’ll say something!

Meh… I’m still not a musicals person, but Flower Drum Song is a milestone or moment worth appreciating… especially live :~j

]]> By: Jill-O http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/09/flower-drum-song-the-musical/#comment-438 Jill-O Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:38:59 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=85#comment-438 Okay, I love musicals but I've never seen Flower Drum Song, either the original or the revival. It's probably the only Rogers and Hammerstein production I have not seen. In this day and age, it could never be performed here in Kazoo. Because our asian population is so small, trying to do this play using a white cast would be wrong on so many levels. Even with the updated version, do you think the musical, as a whole, still portrays the characters by 1950's attitudes and stereotypes? Okay, I love musicals but I’ve never seen Flower Drum Song, either the original or the revival. It’s probably the only Rogers and Hammerstein production I have not seen. In this day and age, it could never be performed here in Kazoo. Because our asian population is so small, trying to do this play using a white cast would be wrong on so many levels.
Even with the updated version, do you think the musical, as a whole, still portrays the characters by 1950’s attitudes and stereotypes?

]]> By: jeela http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/09/flower-drum-song-the-musical/#comment-437 jeela Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:23:24 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=85#comment-437 ur feedback made it better! much obliged :~j ur feedback made it better! much obliged :~j

]]> By: JG http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/09/flower-drum-song-the-musical/#comment-434 JG Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:44:42 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=85#comment-434 No problem... I've always appreciated your ability to dig really deep into an issue/topic, and you do a good job of explaining your reasoning. You make some good points in this entry. Like I said, though, it was that one line that turned me off to the rest of what you had to share. Nothin' but love for ya, homie! =) No problem… I’ve always appreciated your ability to dig really deep into an issue/topic, and you do a good job of explaining your reasoning.

You make some good points in this entry. Like I said, though, it was that one line that turned me off to the rest of what you had to share.

Nothin’ but love for ya, homie! =)

]]> By: jeela http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/09/flower-drum-song-the-musical/#comment-433 jeela Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:54:58 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=85#comment-433 thank you for calling me on that Jason. you're right, it was a gross generalization. Pls dont get defensive... it is not my intent to call out your collegue personally but I can see how it seems like I did. I removed the links so as to distance the byline. That comment stems from my personal feeling that local media and entertainment coverage in general--reviews, profiles, features, blogs, tv, radio--is more PR than critical insight. That's just how it works; I've played my role, too. As to whether or not you should take my remarks seriously.... er, if I were you I wouldnt :~j This post was an attempt to combine local entertainment writing with academic criticism in a blog format and I think fell short on all counts. Some parts are not well-researched, some meant to bait, and the lede is just terrrible, ugh. That said, I welcome correction and discussion! Love that you spoke your mind, seriously. That's exactly what I'm talking about! thanks for reading thank you for calling me on that Jason. you’re right, it was a gross generalization. Pls dont get defensive… it is not my intent to call out your collegue personally but I can see how it seems like I did. I removed the links so as to distance the byline.

That comment stems from my personal feeling that local media and entertainment coverage in general–reviews, profiles, features, blogs, tv, radio–is more PR than critical insight. That’s just how it works; I’ve played my role, too.

As to whether or not you should take my remarks seriously…. er, if I were you I wouldnt :~j This post was an attempt to combine local entertainment writing with academic criticism in a blog format and I think fell short on all counts. Some parts are not well-researched, some meant to bait, and the lede is just terrrible, ugh.

That said, I welcome correction and discussion! Love that you spoke your mind, seriously. That’s exactly what I’m talking about! thanks for reading

]]> By: JG http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/09/flower-drum-song-the-musical/#comment-432 JG Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:08:44 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=85#comment-432 "The dailies of course loved the show. They love everything that’s locally produced; it’s the CODB in Hawaii." I wanted to take your remarks seriously, but after you wrote the line above I'm having trouble doing so. Berger is the theater critic at the Star-Bulletin, and he doesn't "love everything that's locally produced." That statement couldn't be further from the truth. To be honest, it's a little insulting. “The dailies of course loved the show. They love everything that’s locally produced; it’s the CODB in Hawaii.”

I wanted to take your remarks seriously, but after you wrote the line above I’m having trouble doing so.

Berger is the theater critic at the Star-Bulletin, and he doesn’t “love everything that’s locally produced.”

That statement couldn’t be further from the truth. To be honest, it’s a little insulting.

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