Week 11 Class Reflection

Annika R. Uyenco
ASA 141
Week 11

I chose to take ASA 141 because of two reasons: 1.) major requirement and 2.) the opportunity to learn more about Asia. I am beyond happy that I chose to take ASA 141. As an Asian American, I wanted to take this class to learn more about my Asian heritage since I never really got the chance to in an educational setting. Taking ASA 141 introduced me to cultures and traditions I did not know much about. I developed a keen sense of awe to just how diverse Asia truly is and its nonstop continuity of cultural fusions and development.

I became more aware of my shopping habits due to the Be Green Challenge and also learning more about fast fashion. This class happened to be taught during the quarter where I held a textile sustainability panel with a few of my classmates in San Francisco in the beginning of April. Sustainability was a big theme this quarter, not just for this class but also for my major and the career path I am pursuing.

This quarter I also participated in a cultural dance with my fellow Filipino friends. We performed the "Alitaptap," a dance that originated from the Batangas region in the Philippines that mimics the movement of a firefly. With the time and resource constraints, we made similar outfits that resembled the dress for the dance. This class helped me develop a deeper appreciation for our costumes. The history of the "terno" and the "barong" and learning about the other cultural minorities in the Philippines were fascinating.

I also liked the fact that even though this class focused on fashion and textiles, the material taught was extended beyond that such as the creation of weaves and the intertwining of cultures like the Chicano subculture in Japan. Even though it was not part of the class, I appreciated learning about the Spratly Islands dispute and becoming more aware of the political issues happening in Asia. The work in this class really challenged me to think analytically and drove me to work really hard to truly understand the class material.

UCD students dancing the Alitaptap (5/25/19)