E-mail from Women's Study prof on final paper topic.

[fickle]

I took a cursory look at the “suicide girls” website. It’s a fascinating on-line community. I could see immediately that there is a small subset of Asian/American women on the site. I’m supportive of your exploring this as an intriguing place to think critically and creatively about the construction, elf-representation of race in this place: the on-line representation of Goth, punk, radical Asian American “bad girls” in cyberspace. Key references come to mind: I love Asian American Studies scholar Lisa Nakamura’s work on “Race in Cyberspace” (check out her work: she has two books and many articles: Look her up on JStorrs---also check out personal webpage and resume of publications at Asian American Studies, Univ. of llinois, Champagn-Urbana. Begin with her, since you will need to anchor your own observations, notes of “suicide girls” with feminist scholarship on the larger topic of racial/gender construction of identity on-line and in cyber-communities. Get started! Let me know what you are finding.

So, if anyone knows any other websites like suicide girls (punk/Goth/emo/alternative) where you post semi-nude photos of yourself, drop me a comment? Or if you're really nice, help me search through the site for Asian-American chicks that you find particularly interesting/intriguing for whatever reason.

Comments

[ryuutchi.livejournal.com]

I have nothing to offer but that the "elf-representation" typo made me snicker.

[fickle-goddess.livejournal.com]

...Now it's made me snicker too, since I was such a hurry to get to class when I posted it that I didn't even notice this. XD

Imagine if I take that as an okay to talk about the lack of Asian elves!

[mlleelizabeth.livejournal.com]

Does Tila Tequila (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tila_tequila) fit in with your paper topic?

[fickle-goddess.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, no. She's too mainstream/not punk enough. But thank you for the try, though!

[lunarwhirl.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicidegirls#Controversies

Truth be told, they're not that great. And by that, I mean the company.

[horntotingmania.livejournal.com]

Yeah, seriously. I don't understand why people are so eager to believe that the site is feminist and progressive just because it appeals to a niche audience. I'm not saying it can't be done but it certainly didn't happen with SG.

[fickle-goddess.livejournal.com]

I'm not actually going to be talking about the site. I'm going to be pulling profiles of Asian-American women from the site, so that I can discuss how they choose to represent themselves. So, no worries. It won't be "OMG SUICIDEGIRLS IS SO EDGY AND FEMINIST!" and more "Midori, 21, plays up her Asian appeal by frequently appearing in stereotypically Asian wear, such as the [whatever whatever] but at the same time, appeals to the scene crowd by [whatever whatever] which is, as Nakamura's work states, [whatever whatever]". And a link to her profile in a footnote, probably.

[abrandnewboom.livejournal.com]

that didn't work out...

Burning Angel (www.burningangel.com) and God's Girls. (www.godsgirls.com).

There.

[fickle-goddess.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *bookmarks them for checking out*