Everyday Activist - Who is Arthur Chu? (CUFF.Docs 2017)

Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 12:00 PM

Who is Arthur Chu? (CUFF.Docs 2017)

Movie Review by Everyday Activist X CalgaryMovies.com

Despite thinking that the documentary, Who is Arthur Chu?, was about 45 minutes too long, I have to applaud Arthur for using his fame from eleven Jeopardy wins to help others, especially women gamers. Gamergate was one of the most overtly nasty and abusive displays of abuse against women on the Internet. For more information please look it up on an empty stomach. Panels at various conferences were canceled because organizers were scared for their panelists’ safety. Jackson Katz will be in town November 16th. In his TED presentation, he talks about the importance of men standing up for women as a way to reduce gender violence, but when they do they also become viciously attacked as was Arthur’s experience.

The rest of the film focused on Arthur growing up as an Asian in America, which is difficult because western and eastern cultures have different values. In watching Bee Nation this weekend, note the nationality of the winners. Even Arthur has the excellence programming inherent in his upbringing as he won Jeopardy not once, but eleven times. Family comes first; a value his parents deeply espoused. While on camera they gave Arthur advice about his marriage in relation to his schedule. Both parents told him to spend more time with his wife.

Asian culture can feel oppressive at times, because parents are doing the best they can to protect their kids from the hardships they faced as new immigrants, which Arthur eventually acknowledges. Now if can only he come to a place where he can embrace his identity and understand how much stronger he is because of cultural upbringing. His dad was an interesting character. As a chemist, I immediately noted his safety glasses, which he never seemed to remove. Lacking periphery in life is something that hurt Arthur, but at the same time he has to accept that was his dad’s choice.

While life in the public sphere to raise awareness about social justice issues is a far cry from natural and computer sciences that Asian parents typically gravitate to, Arthur’s parents love him no matter what he chooses to do and will always worry if his choices make him happy. At least this has been my experience. I left a chemistry career to pursue holistic healing and now into social work. It induces incredulity in everyone I speak to not just my parents.

Who is Arthur Chu? will play on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 6:30 PM at the Globe Cinema as part of the CUFF.Docs 2017 documentary film festival in Calgary.