University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students are exploring Asian American pop culture with an ethnic studies framework through an innovative course in the Department of Ethnic Studies in the College of Social Sciences. As part of that class, students will hear from Fresh Off the Boat actor Randall Park and music producer Dan “the Automator” Nakamura.
The students from ES 213: Race and Pop Culture have already engaged with industry leaders Phil Yu, known for his Angry Asian Man blog, and Jeff Yang, co-author of “Rise: Asian American Pop Culture.”
Now, on Wednesday, October 16 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Center for Korean Studies Auditorium, the students will have the opportunity to meet Park and Nakamura, and hear about their experiences in their respective industries. The presentation will also be open to the broader UH Mānoa community. Register at this link. A limited number of seats are available.
ES 213 is being co-taught by Julia Huang, CEO of InterTrend Communications, and Center for Oral History Director and Ethnic Studies Professor Mary Kunmi Yu Danico. The course is centered on Asian American pop culture, offering students the chance to apply ethnic studies frameworks in real time.
“The opportunity for our students to learn from and engage with industry leaders is truly a gift and I am very thankful to Julia for sharing her expertise, networks and time with our students,” Danico said.
Huang added, “Collaborating with Dr. Danico to share industry insights into the classroom has been incredibly rewarding. While our goal is to enrich students’ understanding of Asian American pop culture, their fresh perspectives continually challenge and inspire me. It’s exciting to see students engage with these ideas and consider how they might apply them beyond the classroom.”
The course exemplifies UH Mānoa’s commitment to providing students with practical, real-world applications of their studies. By bridging academic theories with industry insights, this course prepares students to engage critically with pop culture and consider its broader implications in society. Danico hopes to continue offering this course in the upcoming semesters.
