Disqus - Latest Comments for Jha

Re: 5 Speculative Works Inspired by Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East

Jha — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 16:43:36 -0000

While Alyssa Wong is Filipina-American, none of your 5 featured speculative works is inspired by Southeast Asia. India is, in the current political climate, considered South Asia.

"Asia" is a big place and not a stand-in for "China."

Re: I Challenge You To Stop Reading White, Straight, Cis Male Authors For One Year - by K. T. Bradford

Jha — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 19:44:07 -0000

There is nothing equal about refusing to let go the centricity of the dominant, default group. Stop acting like this is some sort of zero sum game that dents the rights of the hyper-privileged. No one said you "ought to" or "should" stop reading books written by men; the challenge was to not read them FOR ONE YEAR. These fine men with the accolades are not going to be hurt by this challenge.

Your comment and others like it gestures to a lack of good faith in true equality, because if you did care about it, you would recognize that turning the focus to the margins for a while is exactly an act of equality, not inequality. Protecting the centricity of straight white cis men is not.

Re: Racialicious Is Looking For POC Creators At San Diego Comic-Con

Jha — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 14:16:18 -0000

Ay-Leen the Peacemaker will be on The Witty Women of Steampunk this year! And League of Extraordinary Black Steampunks! I'm going as an attendee for immoral support ^^ We should have a POC creators meetup or something!

Re: Discrimination when hiring is rife, say job seekers

Jha — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 01:08:54 -0000

Tashny, your comment makes me go HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM because you have a point about the power dynamics of Muslim dominance. However, it's a bit more nuanced, intersectionally, in terms of class & gender--the Muslim moderate who chooses not to wear the hijab assimilates more easily into pandering to Western notions of how businesses should be run and represented.

So given that it's _women_ who would take up the tudung, "Islamophobia" isn't exactly *accurate* because it's less about _Muslims_ being discriminated against, but a _gendered marker of Islamic adherence_ being rejected as suitable work wear in a Westernized capitalist environment, as overt adherence is a signifier of somehow not being progressive enough. I find this to be a view held not just by non-Muslims, but even Malays who make the claim to liberal progressiveness. Often indistinguishable from neoliberal capitalism :P

Re: Race + Feminism + Science: #Rose4Space Nears Milestone Victory

Jha — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 03:56:16 -0000

I would like to specify that the person quoted in the blockquote is not me, but Tumblr user hosannas who is not only also an ethnic minority in Malaysia (like me and Roshini), but specifically Malaysian-Indian (unlike me, like Roshini).

Re: Racist Things Steampunks Are Not Immune To: Looking For Other People’s Hurt To Be Offended By

Jha — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:33:26 -0000

You need to read more: http://silver-goggles.blogs...

Re: Racist Things Steampunks Are Not Immune To: Looking For Other People’s Hurt To Be Offended By

Jha — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:33:01 -0000

I have a series of interviews with steampunks of color at my blog. I try to feature one every month.
I've of course given up on featuring white people being sensitive to other cultures; it's not worth my time anymore and it just makes the white liberals feel better when they have no reason to congratulate themselves.

Re: Racist Things Steampunks Are Not Immune To: Looking For Other People’s Hurt To Be Offended By

Jha — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:32:07 -0000

No "Native warriors"? I've seen some pretty shit Orientalism in the last couple of years, and steamfashion is full of racist shit.

Re: Discussion Thread: Segregated Train Cars

Jha — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:12:58 -0000

There're pink taxis in India, from what I heard, and in Malaysia, we also have women-only coaches.

Yes, it is a band-aid solution to a widespread problem. So what? No one's forcing women to use these women-only coaches. Women are still using the other coaches. Men try to sneak into our coach under the impression that it's less crowded (but it's not).

I've seen good behaviour from men and women as a result of these coaches - women stepping up to tell men "did you see this is a women-only coach?" and men telling other men, "hey, get out of there, it's for women only, show some respect." Just ask them to go and they'll go. These coaches aren't as crowded as others, so wheelchair users get more moving room too (exceptions are made for male wheelchair users, since, obviously, there isn't a lot of room in the other coaches). Children are also welcome in these spaces, and since it's not so crowded there's less chance of losing them or hurting them. Of course, during rush hour, it's still incredibly packed, but it's really a relief to have this option.

My main problems are: a) that there occasionally is a male security guard in the women-only coach to make sure the rule is adhere to. It's not consistent, although so far, male security guards I've seen have been very good, standing at the doors staring out and making themselves as unobtrusive as possible. b) I don't know how transgendered people are treated (trans people are sort of part of the social fabric here but with the grip of fundamentalists it's not secure). c) THE FUCKING PINK UGH. It's not even like it makes men stand up and take notice of the fact that it's women-only (I've had to tell guys to leave because they just don't fucking notice the pink).

Unaccompanied I've taken both co-ed and women-only coaches, and I feel safer knowing there's an option. I do like the concept of men-only coaches though.

Re: http://tiaramerchgirl.tumblr.com/post/555531223

Jha — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:01:34 -0000

LOL I actually posted this video a while back. It is one of my favourite songs, although I don't think much of most of Grace Jones' older stuff. I was surprised you didn't notice when I posted it, because I thought it would be totally up your alley! Grace Jones is a perfect example of a WoC transgressing conventional artistic norms, which she's been doing since the 80's. (If you look at the comments for Corporate Cannibal here and there, you'll find Gaga vs Jones arguments. Not sure why.)

And yeah, the lyrics.... they do not fuck around! "Please to meet you. Pleased to have you on my plate. Your meat is sweet." Coupled with how Jones is directly staring at the camera while her face is distorted, it gets my skin crawling, but I love it omg.

Re: I'm sure that attitude will get you everywhere

Jha — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:18:03 -0000

Word.

Re: difficult but necessary - a direct example of “insulting and derogatory” burlesque

Jha — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:41:39 -0000

Not only that, but this is the sort of shit that justifies the internalized, unconscious racism that is currently being faced by so many South Asians in Australia. Feeding the idea that anything Indian-related is savage, it's no surprise that South Asians are being viciously attacked, and this is often passed off as "random". There's a pattern going on here - this is just its manifestation in the burlesque scene.

I know your falling out with your mentor, both initial and more recent, was really painful for you. It's perfectly understandable; what this is is basically a betrayal of the person who's supposed to be looking out for you, helping you ease into the scene, not alienating you from it. I'm surprised you stuck to the scene for so long, with this garbage that gets thrown around., especially done by someone whose supposed to be looking out for you.

Seriously, representing the complex gods of others as savage? That's cultural barbarism.

Re: LOL WHUT

Jha — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:24:39 -0000

LOL WHINE WHINE WHIiiiiiiiiiNE!

Re: Question of the Day

Jha — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:42:55 -0000

At the moment, "Oriental" or "exotic" are the words which chap my ass the most. But that could be because I just came out of a debate against "Victorientalism" in the steampunk scene.

Also, "china doll".

Re: Discussion Thread: Sci-Fi Heroines

Jha — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:29:38 -0000

My first heroines were from a Hong Kong movie internationally referred to as The Heroic Trio. In English, they're referred to as Wonder Woman, Thief Catcher and Invisible Woman (don't ask me why), played by Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung and Michelle Yeoh, respectively. Ya'll are just gonna have to check it out. You can find it on Youtube, too.

Re: Why fashion is worth blogging about.

Jha — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:15:43 -0000

I deeply appreciated this post. I appreciated that it asks for more conversation, rather than less. I appreciate that it asks the reader to engage with all the brilliant spectrums of society, rather than shut down thoughts to merely form.

Rockin' post.

Re: would any of you want to contribute to a zine i'm thinking of making, about queerness in speculative fiction/science fiction/fantasy?

Jha — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:55:59 -0000

who me?

Re: Question of the Day

Jha — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:50:09 -0000

I saw a copy of Auguste Rodin's Call to Arms once, and it was the first time a sculpture had made me cry looking at it.

Re: Today in Rape Culture

Jha — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:18:37 -0000

Well, caesnia, I have a hard time with people who don't understand the concept of triggers which is how something simple and everyday can cause unexpected pain for certain individuals who may not be representative of entire groups, but are still valid humans in their own right and deserve the same amount of dignity as everyone else.

Intent doesn't matter. Results do.

....

I'm derailing, aren't I? Let's keep talking about Neil Gaiman. I just had a chat with him on Twitter, and he seems overwhelmed at the sudden outcry (Go Shakers!). He doesn't even remember saying that above quote.

Maybe this is another Emma Thompson D: moment.

Re: Today in Rape Culture

Jha — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:05:30 -0000

I can't imagine how you manage to get out of bed in the morning, for fear of offending your sensibilities.

Of course you can't.

We criticize his comment because we expect more. Especially from someone of his caliber. He has done so much excellent work, which indicates he's capable of learning from the present for the future. He even said, as posted further upthread, he wouldn't do it again and would be more careful of his own words.

Says a lot more for him than for you, O "supposed fan".

Re: Today in Rape Culture

Jha — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:25:34 -0000

*sigh*

Definitely unthinking privilege here. He's usually been more thoughtful in interviews. His flippant response ("grumpy" et al) doesn't surprise me either, and I see it a lot from all sorts of people. On the one hand, yay you for not hinging your self-worth on others; on the other, boo you for not understanding how much power you have over them.

Little things matter just as much =(

Re: Film Corner!

Jha — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:38:48 -0000

What the poop was that about?!

Re: Christmas Terror Attempt: Open Thread

Jha — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:04:58 -0000

I'm hearing that no carry-on luggage will be allowed for the next while. I can't seem to find what new restrictions on carryons there are right now though.

Re: Mulan is Back in China

Jha — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:22:19 -0000

I read a newsbit, and apparently Jingle Ma is undergoing negotiations for an international distribution of Mulan. Which, of course, will be fantabulous. I hope they don't dub the movie first (unlikely, though... Kung Fu Hustle wasn't dubbed when it first hit North America).

You're right, the release in Asian countries is probably to fend off piracy. Disney's Princess & The Frog got the same treatment, too, from what I hear.

Re: Question of the Day

Jha — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:50:33 -0000

Actually, I have my browsers set to open whatever tabs were open when I last closed the window.