Good Days
by Derek Soong
Aloha, Im Derek Hardy Kamakanaaloha Soong! I was born and raised in the Hawaiʻi in Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi. I am a freshman in Performance Studies and considering a double major in Journalism. I am interested in furthering my studies in law or politics, as it relates to indigenous rights and social justice. I enjoy studying queer theory, politics, and indigenous cultures. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, exploring my surroundings, and keeping up with pop culture. I am curious as to how I can apply performance to my future and I look forward to discovering how it will be possible. I believe that this art piece serves as a testament to the power of art in expressing meaning through a form that speaks for itself.
"Good Days"
As a little island boy in the big city, all of this is new to me; the subways, the buildings, the people. I never in my life seen a park as crowded as Washington Square. I never knew a city could have so many lights. And I cannot forgot about the noise that erupts from the streets beneath me; I don't think I remember the last time I had a moment of pure silence. From my perspective, the city is alive. Yet, all I heard was that New York City is dead. Though the Covid-19 Pandemic has slowed down the city majorly, I never knew a New York before the pandemic. From the way I see it, the city is alive, and with performance. When I decided to make a video for my Performance Studies midterm I knew I wanted to show that New York City is most certainly not dead. I recorded the video from my perspective as a little Hawaiian boy who has never lived in a major city before, or even visited the East Coast. The video goes to documents a journey throughout the city and a good day in my life.