Fandom (4)--An Idiosyncratic view from the inside

YouTube in the Night After seeing Leslie's performance in , I wanted to know more about this amazing actor, so, I googled him.  What I discovered broke my heart.  In the fall of 2007, I learned that Leslie had committed suicide April 1, 2003 at the age of 46, leaping to his death off the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong.   Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLnlw2XvYP0&feature=relatedWhen I...Read more

Fandom (3)--An idiosyncratic view from the inside

I often wonder when, exactly, I fell under the spell of Leslie Cheung.  It wasn't love at first sight, a coup de foudre moment.  The first encounter I had with Leslie I didn't even like him.  He did such a good job playing a manipulative, whining, ass-hole in Happy Together that I positively disliked him.   But, since I was watching the film for Tony Leung's pe...Read more

Fandom--Continued (2)

Now that I've decided to use this blog to explore my relationship with fandom, and specifically fandom of Leslie Cheung, many thoughts come to mind.  For starters, perhaps it is worth laying out for readers of this tale the outlines of my encounters with fandom. Except for a brief pre-teen infatuation with Tiger Beat idols like David Cassidy and Bobby Sherman, I never considered myself a fan of an idol before.  There have been individuals I have felt a profound admiration for, but it was very much on the level of admiring an artist ...Read more

Fandom, an idiosyncratic view from the inside

It has been months since I've blogged.  I've been contemplating what I could use this blog for now that I'm in a phase where I'm researching and writing, and that just doesn't lend it self to blogging.  I'm sure no one wants to read a blog about the academic books on Chinese cinema and art I've been reading lately.  In all of this reading I have, however, stumbled across a field of enquiry that I never knew existed.  There are actually schola...Read more

Working, working: but nothing to show for it

I guess the act of creation comes down to this:  10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.  Working hard on a project might feel gratifying, but while you're doing it, if it is writing, you don't have much to show for it.  I could show you my notes from the Chicago Manual of Style or my nifty edits (in red pen) on 55 pages of typescript, but I'm pretty sure no one want...Read more

Short Blog

So, did that subject line get your attention?  Let's just say, I'm not know for writing short blogs.  I'm more of a marathon runner than a sprinter.It has been a while, so here is my update.The first draft of the Johnnie To article is written.  Now I'm editing/rewriting.  The article clocks in around 45-50 pages in double-spaced manuscript (not counting introduction, conclusion and bibliography--which will be the last things I write).  I haven't written anything this long in about 18 years, not since I handed in my dissertation...Read more

The Ultimate Creation

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If someone asked me to describe myself, what would I say?

What am I?

What are the essential characteristics that I identify as “me”?

Even if I can generate a list of said characteristics, that is not who “I“ am, that is simply a list of attributes that I associate with myself.

What am “I”?

There was a time in my life when I was absolutely certain who “I” was.

Then life intervened and showed me, over...Read more

Too busy to write a blog?

I know many of you will find this hard to believe, but the reason I haven't been blogging much of late is because I'm too damned busy writing.  This writing is for some projects I have in the works and it cannot be shared until it has been handed over to the folks I'm writing for.  The "big" article should be done in 3-4 more weeks (at least on my end).  Its about HK director Johnnie To.  When I started that project, I never anticipated that it would take me the entire summer and now half of the fall to do it, ...Read more

To be a Fan: Bewitched by the Beauty and Talent of Leslie Cheung

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The ultimate purpose of my trip to Hong Kong was to participate in the commemoration activities for Leslie Cheung on April first, the seventh anniversary of his death.  On the surface this seems innocent enough, but upon even cursory reflection the question must be raised, why Leslie Cheung, and why now at this time in my life?Read more

Mud Love

Collections are very personal things.  Some people collect items that have a utilitarian purpose such as dishes, shoes or guitars.  Other people collect things whose primary function is to evoke nostalgia:  antiques, old photographs, items purchased on trips, etc.  Some people collect art or all of the recordings of Leslie Cheung (which for the serious completist includes every single, compilation and bootleg in addition to all of the LPs, cassettes and DVDs released under Leslie's name).  But I'm not one of those people.  While I freely ack...Read more