Diaspora Philes

‘What do you mean, “I don’t do Asians”?’ Hollywood has a pretty bleak record when it comes to Asian people. From the decision to cast Scarlett Johansson as the lead role in the American adaptation of Japanese anime and manga series 'A Ghost in the Shell', to Chris Rock’s lazy joke about Asian Americans at this year’s Oscars, 2016 is not looking any better. Born in South Korea, Max now lives in London and works in the film industry. In this episode, we discuss the years he spent growing up in conservative Alabama, as well as his family’s experience of South Korea’s rapid transformation – from one of the poorest to one of the richest nations in the world. Later, Max examines the social and sexual stereotypes of Asian characters in Western popular culture, questioning why we just can’t move beyond tired caricature or erasure.

What happens when your name and appearance don’t accurately reflect your ethnicity? 
Born to an Indian mother and an English father, Sam soon realised that the reality of his heritage was invisible at first glance. During his teenage years, he began to explore what he calls his ‘Indian-ness’ while simultaneously confronting those that tried to deny his difference. 
In this episode, we speak to Sam about his Indian heritage and the experience of ‘passing’. Beyond this, we also look at what it takes to build a home for ourselves, exploring ideas on gentrification as well as the social discontent underlying public fears of migration in Britain.

As an artist who works across genre and forms, Inua Ellams is fascinated by movement. A poet, playwright, performer and graphic artist, he is used to inhabiting different worlds. In this conversation Inua takes us on a tour of his imagination. Exploring his views on art and migration, tales of his travels through Africa’s barbershops, and his journey into the hidden corners of the city, we try to find the roots of his restless creativity.