Spicy, savory, has a kick and – most importantly – is Kosher. Tastes best with plain pasta and little bit of ketchup. Find endless cans of El Pato tomato sauces at Food 4 Less on 1st and Mott (Boyle Heights location) approximately one mile east of the El Pato factory on Mission Road before the bridge into downtown (Los Angeles).

Listens to bands that you have never heard of. Has hairstyle that can only be described as “complicated.” (Most likely achieved by a minimum of one week not washing it.) Probably tattooed. Maybe gay. Definitely cooler than you. Reads Black Book, Nylon, and the Styles section of the New York Times. Drinks Pabst Blue Ribbon. Often. Complains. Always denies being a hipster. Hates the word. Probably living off parents money – and spends a great deal of it to look like they don’t have any. Has friends and/or self cut hair. Dyes it frequently (black, white-blonde, etc. and until scalp bleeds). Has a closet full of clothing but usually wears same three things OVER AND OVER (most likely very tight black pants, scarf, and ironic tee-shirt). Chips off nail polish artfully after $50 manicure. Sleeps with everyone and talks about it at great volume in crowded coffee shops. Addicted to coffee, cigarettes (Parliaments, Kamel Reds, Lucky Strikes, etc.), and possibly cocaine. Claims to be in a band. Rehearsals consist of choosing outfits for next show and drinking PBR. Always on the list. Majors or majored in art, writing, or queer studies. Name-drops. May go by “Penny Lane,” “Eleanor Rigby,” etc. when drunk. On PBR. Which is usually.

Synonyms: indie emo scenester hip scene hipsters poser trendy punk cool pretentious music williamsburg gay hippie goth yuppie fashion bohemian coffee starbucks poseur wannabe fake nerd urban outfitters irony rock deck myspace loser lame fag prep urban ironic douchebag elitist scene kids hippy scene kid hardcore ipod stupid art fag fixie sex pbr geek liberal

Thank you to those who sent in submissions! and before the original deadline! The pieces submitted so far are excellent.

The idea is that something will be put together by December. It’s possible. Anything is possible with optimism. Clean, half-glass full.

Serenity now!

Thank you.
Victoria E.M.K.

Dear Mr. Arellano,

1. Why do little Mexican kids have silver teeth when they’re three years old?
2. Why are there Christian Mexicans, Catholic Mexicans, Mexican Jehovah Witnesses, and Mormons? and why do they hate each other if they all believe in God?
3. Who is God and where in the hell is He?

Victoria Kraus, a half Japanese half Jewish gabacha who grew up in Baldwin Park, Montebello and Boyle Heights where she was called guera for her fair skin and passed as Mexican.

http://bridgesandfreeways.wordpress.com/about/

–
Victoria Kraus
_________________________________________________________

from Gustavo Arellano
to Victoria Kraus
date Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 8:35 AM
subject RE: a mexican question – del barrio real… Boyle Heights

The answer to your first question is in my book! Short response: rotten teeth and the cheapness of silver. As for the other ones–ask G-d!

The Mexican

Congratulations on having your collection of photographs published. I’ve looked through the book and am happy to know that the “hapa voice” is beginning to create its niche in American society through efforts like yours. However, I still feel unsettled – not just about your book but what it brought out for me.

What was your intention of the depth of the message through your photo collection? It seems like the “hapa community” is being clumped together as one “genre” of people, disregarding the particular identities of people and their cultural experiences. It’s not enough for the half Japanese half white person to state he/she is so to another half Japanese half white person because their experiences can be drastically different. One’s ethnic/biological makeup doesn’t mean that they necessarily represent that/those particular culture/s.

I am half Japanese and half white/Jewish and quite honestly, it pisses me off when biologically similar people pride themselves in being what they are biologically and have no clue what it means to be culturally so.

Thanks for reading and for the opportunity to rant. Hope it stimulated some thoughts on your end. Looking forward to hearing your response.

I may join the event at the JANM on Saturday.

Sincerely,

Victoria Kraus