Jason Petrulis

@petrulis

History prof in Hong Kong. My award-winning articles: “A Country of Hair”: ROK Wigs, Kor Am Entrepreneurs, Af Am Hairstyles, & Cold War Industrialization The jawbone/quijada as global Black musical instrument

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Jason Petrulis@petrulis· 28d

Thank you! Looking forward to listening. More fun with history: If anyone wants my article on the JAWBONE's history as a global Black musical instrument, just DM... www.jstor.org/stable/48807...

19th century jawbone, a musical instrument, at the Met Museum.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/501917

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Feb 17

🗃️ 🐴 Happy New Year! In 1854, the US Navy's "Perry Expedition" to Japan and the Ryukyus was anchored at the main island of Okinawa (which they called "Lew Chew," for Ryukyu) for the New Year; and saw and translated the New Year wishes posted around them. From the Expedition's official Narrative:

A snippet of text from the Official Narrative describing New Year poetry from Okinawa in 1854:

"On each successive visit to the island the gentlemen of the expedition gathered additional scraps of information as to customs, one of which is so similar, in the feeling which prompts it, to our own new year's congratulations, that it is worthy of a passing notice. In the spring, when the new year opens in Lew Chew, and perhaps in Japan also, (though of the latter we cannot speak certainly,) the usage of the islanders is to offer the expression of their good wishes and friendly feelings in the form of inscriptions attached to the houses of each other, or sent to the inmates. Mr. Williams translated several of these, a few of which we subjoin as specimens:
'Gay clouds meet the rising, glorious sun; ten thousand joys greet the opening spring.'
'Let all sing these days of general peace, and rejoice together in the opening spring.'
'May all joys clamber about your happy abode; may a thousand lucks collect at this gate.'
'May every door have luck and joy, and every land be blessed with peace.'
'May your felicity be as broad as the eastern sea; your age enduring as the southern hills.'
'The peach tree in fairy land ripens in thirty centuries; may the seaside house be blessed with ninety more autumns.'
'We joyfully hope the brightening year will meet a flourishing time, as the bloom of spring begins to shine upon this humble door.'
'May the three stars, peace, office, age, enter your door; and sons, riches, honors, bless your gate.'
'Happiness descends from heaven.'
'As the wind and light go their circuits through the world, so does the gladsome spring from heaven to us come down.' "

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Oct 20

Per this govt poster, you still should be able to pay for it yourself (at a private clinic): www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/po...

除了政府疫苗接種計劃提供的疫苗外，市民可諮詢家庭醫生現時私營市場供應的已註冊新冠疫苗，以考慮是否自.

Apart from vaccine provided under the Government Vaccination programme, citizens may consult a family doctor on registered COVID-19 vaccine available in private market and consider receiving the vaccination for personal protection at their own expense.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Jun 4

And the answer is yes!

Examples of AAA Triptiks, which American Automobile Association staffers would put together for members. A Triptik was a set of map detail pages that could be assembled by a AAA staffer for any trip you could plan. The AAA staffer would use a highlighter to mark your optimal route across the maps, taking into consideration your midpoint and final destinations for each day or segment of the trip. It even included restaurants, motels, and points of interest...

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Feb 6

Note also difference in Bloomberg headline:

Screenshot of Bloomberg headline reading "Harvard Sued Over Trans Woman Competing in Female Swim Race"

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Feb 6

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Partial screenshot of Bloomberg news story, with photo of Lia Thomas and caption reading: "Penn University swimmer Lia Thomas swims in the 500 yard freestyle race in 2022." This is different from the caption referenced upthread, from the Boston Globe.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Jan 7

Thank you for sharing the work of Zao Wou-Ki! A wonderful (and stylish!) Chinese-French artist: www.zaowouki.org/en/the-artis... A few years ago Prof. Ankeney Weitz organized an amazing retrospective of his work: asiasociety.org/new-york/exh...

Painting with China ink in his Paris studio, 1981. Photo Serge Lansac.

In a black-and-white photo, artist Zao Wou-Ki crouches over a painting-in-progress with a brush in hand. He is quite stylish in a crisp white button-down shirt and what seem to be gray slacks.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Dec 20

🗃️ "It strips off the garments of civilization and arrays him in the t-shirt and the Topher moccasin slippers." Frederick Jackson Target, 2024

Tan t-shirt found at Target, with text over the left breast that reads: "Manifest your Destiny."

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Dec 2

From 1953's _When We Get Back Home from Japan,_ poking fun at how US military retained local habits when returning home after occupying Japan. This one's on wearing a medical mask when you have a cold... Thanks to @kml.muninn.net for sharing on Internet Archive: archive.org/details/when...

Text and cartoon from 1953 book, "When We Get Back Home," lampooning local habits retained by US military returning from occupied Japan. Cartoon depicts a sailor wearing a medical mask, confronted by his son, who carries a six shooter. Caption reads: "No -- I'm not going to be a bandit -- I've just got a cold." Text next to cartoon reads:

A TOUCH OF PANIC nudges the newcomer to Japan as he observes some of the Japanese, men and women, strolling the streets wearing a mask over their mouths, Are they bandits? Social outcasts? Refugees from a hospital’s operating room?

No, he discovers, they are none of these. They merely have a cold. The mask prevents the spread of germs and keeps out the cool, blowing wind. Some of the Japanese, when going to a crowded place or riding a crowded train, wear a mask even though they haven’t a cold. But wearing the mask prevents them from catching a cold from someone who has a cold but wears no covering. Wakaru desuka? (Do you understand?)

IF an American youngster sees his dad outfitted with the thieving trademark, he immediately thinks of the old “cops and robbers” game. And before he can explain, Pop finds a toy pistol staring him in the Face.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Nov 7

While ~this~ happened, my new article came out: “From Jonkonnu and Son de los diablos to Congo Square and Son Jarocho: Global Histories of the Jawbone/Quijada as a Black Musical Instrument.” muse.jhu.edu/pub/34/artic... Ping me for a copy! 🗃️

Photo of a 19th-century jawbone above, and "bones" castanets below, taken in black and white, with heavy contrast.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Nov 5

Selected back issues of Vibe Magazine, founded by Quincy Jones, are on Internet Archive: archive.org/search?query... 🗃️

Vibe Magazine cover from November 1999. Cover image is comedian Chris Rock in a suit at a presidential podium, pumping his fist, behind a cover slug "Chris Rock for President."

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Oct 29

You can also come to Hong Kong and pick up our anti-mosquito diary (or other literature) to share around your neighborhood!

Anti-mosquito diary cover, warning about standing water collecting in stagnant pools, planter bases, and other places.

Page from a Hong Kong anti-mosquito booklet for children, which includes pictures of standing water collecting in planter bases, air conditioners, washing machines, and more

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Aug 16

Indeed! Though the flight suit seemed to generate some, um, intense feelings among the commentariat. The war used lots of fascinating props that go more toward your anti-prop theory.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Aug 16

(Some props were less successful over time, though they generated positive media coverage in the moment.)

George W. Bush gives a speech in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner. Not successful in the long term, but shaped coverage in the moment.

Richard Nixon holding his dog "Checkers." The accompanying speech helped Nixon navigate an early political challenge.

Nixon at a banquet with Zhou Enlai, using chopsticks to bridge differences.

Adlai Stevenson's worn-out shoe became a symbol of his work ethic.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Aug 16

Harry Truman with his desk plaque, "The Buck Stops Here!"

FDR pointing at a map during World War II. He gave a "map speech" where he asked Americans to listen to him explain the war situation while following along with a map on their table.

George W. Bush clearing brush at his Crawford Texas ranch.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Aug 16

(Some props were less successful over time, though they generated positive media coverage in the moment.)

Richard Nixon holding his dog "Checkers." The speech he gave helped him navigate an early political challenge.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Aug 16

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Jul 5

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1972 ad for Labatt's Blue with tagline "Coming Soon: The Weekend," which promotes weekends as 1) free and 2) associated with Labatt's Blue and its "Smiles" ad campaign. Features 1970s realistic but stylized cartoon art of happy young people gathering, with a highly stylized background of shining rays emanating from a sun.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Jun 1

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Apr 14

Faith Ringgold's 1996 mosaics for the 125th St (2/3) station in Harlem, "Flying Home" new.mta.info/agency/arts-...

Faith Ringgold's mosaics of of Heroines and Heroes of Harlem, flying over famous NYC buildings, on the wall of the 125th street subway station (2/3 line)

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Feb 26

The short string also appears in early gourd banjos. It’s one of the things that makes a banjo a banjo, and makes the banjo a Black instrument of the Americas. (See Pete Ross’s cool replica here:) www.banjopete.com/old-plantati...

A painting of enslaved musicians, dancers, and revelers in late 18th century Carolina

Detail of the painting of enslaved musicians, dancers, and revelers, focused on the banjoist. Note the peg halfway up the neck -- the short string.

Pete Ross's detailed replica of the banjo from the painting

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Feb 26

Joe & his cousin Odell played “Georgia Buck” on fiddle and banjo on an album that reinvigorated the Black traditional music scene in the 1990s-2000s (see below). Giddens and the Carolina Chocolate Drops went to JT’s house to learn from him. Giddens’s recent tribute to Joe on IG:

An image of a post on Giddens's IG account, describing the story of her mentor, fiddler Joe Thompson.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Feb 26

Giddens is playing a replica 1858 Levi Brown banjo. That’s why it sounds so different from a bright plunky banjo—bigger wooden head, “gut” strings, long neck, fretless. This deeper tone is what banjos used to sound like. www.minstrelbanjo.com/LBrownbasici...

Giddens at the Met Museum, playing her 1858 replica banjo.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Jan 17

Tseng Kwong Chi, "Disneyland, California," 1979. Included in the @SmithsonianAPA book _History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects_ www.si.edu/object/disne...

Hong Kong-born artist Tseng Kwong Chi poses with Mickey Mouse at LA Disneyland. Tseng seems to be dressed in a Mao-style gray suit, which the museum label describes as "a tongue-in-cheek performance of 'Chineseness' that both played to and subverted assumptions about race, culture, and nationality."

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Dec 31

"Red Sun" movie poster with gun-slinging and sword-wielding.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Dec 31

Yes, that's Charles Bronson, Alain Delon, Ursula Andress, and Toshiro Mifune in "Red Sun," a 1971 Western set in 1860, which I now want to see.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Dec 5

It may just be my computer, but when I open an essay in Turnitin/Moodle, the up/down arrows don't work for scrolling -- frustrating! A fix: In the right-hand navigation, click on the navy blue "stack" to expand and then close the nav. Voila! The up/down arrows now work.

A closeup of the right navigation bar in Turnitin/Moodle, including the navy blue "stack" of three papers. Click to open and close it to "activate" the nav arrows.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Oct 5

Prof. Vicente L. Rafael is giving a talk via Zoom at EdU! “The Authoritarian Imaginary: Intimacy and the Autoimmune Community in the Contemporary Philippines” Tue 17 Oct at 10 AM Register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Poster for talk by Prof. Vicente L. Rafael, Univ. of Washington, titled “The Authoritarian Imaginary: Intimacy and the Autoimmune Community in the Contemporary Philippines,” to be held Tue 17 Oct at 10 AM. Registration link in Skeet.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Oct 3

Queen's Road West, Hong Kong, 1857

Sketched street scene on Queen's Road West, Hong Kong, in 1857. Store fronts and workers and shoppers are all visible; first-floor shops are topped by two residential levels.

Jason Petrulis@petrulis· Sep 28

Theatricals in Hong Kong, 1845 --