The Chinese in American Feature Films

Tuesday January 28 at 7:00 pm

Crowell Public Library is happy to welcome back Arthur Dong, whose latest book, Hollywood Chinese: The Chinese in American Feature Films, provides a spectacular view of the Chinese American impact on the movies.  On Tuesday, January 28 at 7:00 pm, Arthur will discuss some of the earliest films set in America’s renowned Chinatowns as well as contemporary hits and artists that are remaking the face of Hollywood.  His lavish coffee-table book is not only an opulent and entertaining look at some of the movie world’s most fascinating characters, it also illustrates the myths, misconceptions, and memorable moments of the Chinese and Chinese Americans in films made in the United States.  It vividly captures the drama inherent in how Asian cultures have been portrayed by Hollywood studios.  Although Hollywood Chinese centers on the Chinese, its analysis will resonate with other ethnic and marginalized groups as well, challenging racist assumptions about minorities in America, biases that were especially pervasive in early Hollywood films.

Arthur Dong includes his personal interviews with Chinese and Chinese American artists who have produced, directed, written, and starred in Hollywood films.  Ang Lee, Nancy Kwan, Justin Lin, James Hong, Joan Chen, Wayne Wang, David Henry Hwang, and Amy Tan provide insights, while Dong’s impeccable research traces the uphill battle fought by pioneers such as Marion Wong who was the first Asian American to direct and produce a feature in California. Hollywood Chinese is the second book highlighting Chinese American culture by the Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Arthur Dong. His first book, Forbidden City, USA: Chinatown Nightclubs 1936–1970 received an American Book Award in 2015.

A San Francisco Chinatown native, Arthur Dong is an Oscar-nominee, a Peabody and Sundance

award-winning filmmaker, author, and curator whose work centers on Asian American, and LGBTQ stories.  Dong has curated exhibitions showcasing his extensive archive of cultural ephemera, including Chop Suey on Wax: The Flower Drum Song Album, Forbidden City, USA, and his most recent, Hollywood Chinese, on display at the iconic Formosa Café in West Hollywood.

Precision Healthcare and the Future of U.S. Healthcare

Two Tuesdays January 21 & 28, 12:30 pm

Hal Slavkin, Professor and Dean Emeritus from USC, returns to Crowell Library on two Tuesdays, January 21^st and January 28th, with two lectures on the advances in healthcare based on new understanding of the human genome.  The U.S. healthcare system as it exists essentially rations healthcare by income class or socioeconomic status.  According to Dr. Slavkin, the U.S. currently pays more for healthcare than any other industrial nation in the world in terms of percent gross domestic product at 18.9% with Switzerland 2nd at 12.3%. Current spending of $3.5 trillion for healthcare (for >70% of population) will become $5.6 trillion by 2027.

How can we increase access to the entire U.S. population, reduce costs to 10% GDP, and improve health outcomes?  Profoundly significant discoveries have and are being made that can provide innovation and transformation for US healthcare. This lecture series will highlight what is and what might be.

Hal Slavkin received undergraduate (English Literature) and dental degrees from USC. After postdoctoral studies at UCLA, he returned to USC as full-time faculty (1968-2014) and department chair of Biochemistry, and director of the research group in Craniofacial Molecular Biology. As dean of the dental school, he spent five years as director of NIDCR at the NIH during the Clinton Administration (1995-2000). He is Member of National Academy of Medicine. He published 570 scientific papers, edited 11 books, authored two texts, one novel, and wrote and produced the PBS program, A Lifetime of Change.  He serves on Boards of LA Trust for Children’s Health and Santa Fe Group, an advocacy group created to address underserved populations with respect to access, quality and cost of health care. The Group is presently working to add oral health benefits to Medicare. He supports wife’s gourmet cooking by chopping and washing dishes, pots and pans and also loving “Molly” a Cavalier King Charles puppy of four months.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.  No reservations are required.

Artisan Guitar Ensemble in Concert

Artisan Guitar Ensemble

Sunday, January 12, 3:00 pm

Come to Crowell Public Library on Sunday, January 12 at 3:00 p.m. for an enjoyable hour of music from around the globe featuring compositions from Japan, Russia, France, Brazil, Spain and Mexico.  The Artisan Guitar Ensemble is a Southern California-based guitar trio established in 2006 when its members were studying music at CSU Fullerton.  The group endeavors to cultivate community and culture through shared musical experiences with its audiences. Performing exemplary music characterized by an easy rapport and well-timed synchronicity among its members, the group has a unique expressive quality that is formal yet intimate and familiar.  The trio encourages bringing kids to the performance for early exposure to live music performance in a casual environment. 

The Ensemble has performed extensively across the state of California, and have taken part in master classes by some of the finest musicians in the classical guitar world including Roland Dyens, Martha Masters, Pavel Steidl, and David Leisner.  All of the members are soloists performing and teaching throughout the city.  Their goal is to reach as wide an audience as possible, making the music approachable and enjoyable for everyone from the diehard classical music aficionado, to the casual listener. 

Andre Giraldo has studied privately with John Dearman, and Richard Turner and David Grimes.  He received his B.M. in Classical Guitar Performance from CSUF.  Andre believes that the best classroom is the stage itself, and continually seeks the opportunity to perform in order to reach new levels as a musician.  Max Mendoza has studied music his whole life and earned a BFA in classical guitar from CSU Fullerton. Besides performing with the trio, Max performs solo, in “pop/rock” bands, and in Latin/jazz groups. Daniel Ramirez began playing the electric guitar at an early age.  His studies and field of interest expanded into jazz and eventually led to classical and finger style guitar playing.  Daniel also graduated from CSUF with a degree in classical guitar performance.  Daniel continues playing electric guitar in bands that range from reggae, jazz, progressive rock to worship music. 

Come learn about the composers and their music and stay after to chat with the performers or ask any questions you may have!