Association of Hmong Students’ last culture night was four years ago because they chose to devote their time and energy on high school outreaches. This year, AHS decided to do both a high school outreach program and a culture night. Each member of the Culture Night (CN) invested hours of practicing dances, creating props, and rehearsing lines to make this happen.
On May 27th, UCLA’s Feast dining hall held its second annual Anime Dinner Night, hosted by UCLA’s own Japanese Animation Club (JAC). This event celebrated Japanese animation and anime culture through displaying themed decorations and dishes as well as featuring activities throughout the night. Similar to a miniature convention, many students cosplayed as various characters from a variety of anime shows. Tokyo Otaku Mode, an international business with locations in LA, also contributed to the decorations and manned a booth outside.
On May 21, the Pacific Islands Student Association at UCLA (PISA) hosted the inaugural “Polynesian Arts and Cultural Night” at the UCLA Tennis Courts from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. During this student-run event, PISA at UCLA collaborated with peers from PISA at UC Riverside, PIA at California State University, Long Beach, PIO at Azusa Pacific University, the PI Club at Long Beach Community College, and Polynesian dance group Tupulaga.
Advertised as “shock therapy entertainment” in the trailer, “The World of Kanako” is certainly not a film for the faint of heart (or stomach for the matter). This film can best be described as a darker version of the “Taken” storyline with Tarantino’s over-the-top violence. Yet, if one can look past the spurting fountains of blood and disturbing use of household appliances, the story itself takes viewers on an intriguing exploration of the human psyche.
On May 9, the Association of Chinese Americans (ACA) hosted its 26th annual Chinese American Culture Night called A Skill Called Chance, which took place at Royce Hall. Each year, an issue experienced by the Chinese American community is addressed through the form of a theatrical performance by UCLA students.