Response to Lecture 1

The first time I heard Kip Fulbeck speak was in an ARTST1c lecture during Spring 2010 quarter.  He talked about his book and work, "Part Asian, 100% Hapa".  Growing up Japanese American, I am quite familiar with the term "hapa"; my family uses it to describe individuals who are a mixed race, usually of Asian decent.  When Kip talked about his work I felt as if it was quite relavent to me personally and my life.

Lecture on Monday also had the same feel.  When I walked out I actually overheard someone saying how Kip's lectures are more like 2 hours of entertainment.  I enjoyed how his lectures utilize video, audio, and pictures rather than text.  Even with unconventional methods, I as a student, still retain the information and actually learn in a non painful or boring fashion.

My favorite part about lecture was when Kip describe body tattoo as art; especially, when he gave an example of Japanese tattoos.  In my family tattoos are seen as an act of rebellion or body defilement rather than a work of art.  I have always wanted a tattoo on my back, along my spine, of a Buddhist mantra in Japanese Kanji with a lotus underneath (Buddha was born on a Lotus flower).  Or Sanskrit (the original language of Buddhism) on my wrist.  I felt that Kip's explanation of a tattoo as permanent art and the body being a canvas is what I want my parents to see or accept.