Asian American Teenager Identity Through Cultural Identity Audio Biographies (CIAB)
The Cultural Identity Audio Biography (CIAB) project is dedicated to exploring and enhancing the identities of Asian American adolescents through the power of storytelling. Because sometimes words alone cannot capture someone’s story.
Founded by a passionate team of researchers and Asian American community members, our team recognizes that the teenage years are crucial for forming one’s identity.
We are a group committed to social justice, cultural humility, and anti-oppressive practices that support equity for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other historically marginalized communities. As researchers, we acknowledge that we hold power and privilege due to our identities.
Our Mission
We took great care to honor the voices of the participants by gathering feedback at each step through collaboration with the Asian American community.
Our mission is to share the unique experiences and perspectives of some of our Indiana Asian American young people to help foster a deeper understanding of Asian and Asian American cultural identity. Throughout our project, we explore the Asian American Teenager Identity and the unique cultural narratives that shape their experiences.
Understanding CIABs
A CIAB, or Cultural Identity Audio Biography, is a DJ set created by an individual to tell their life story through a curated selection of music and meaningful quotes. These audio biographies are profound explorations of identity encompassing a person’s past, present, and future selves. Each musical choice provides the listener with a journey into an individual’s life. By blending music and compelling narratives, CIABs showcase the strength and complexity of individual experiences, capturing the essence of what it means to be human.
The Power of Music In Identity Expression
CIABs provide a unique platform for Identity Expression, allowing Asian American teenagers to narrate their stories through music and art, reflecting the complexities of their cultural backgrounds. Identity expression through music and art serves as a vital outlet for Asian-American teenagers, enabling them to narrate their unique experiences and cultural narratives. By blending traditional elements from their heritage with contemporary styles and themes, these young artists can explore and articulate the complexities of their dual identities, addressing issues such as acculturation, belonging, and the pressure to conform. This creative expression not only fosters a sense of community and understanding among peers but also empowers them to challenge stereotypes and contribute authentically to the broader cultural landscape.
Connecting To The Community Through Art
Words alone often fall short of narrating the full depth of a life story, which is where art becomes invaluable. Art has a remarkable ability to illuminate personal experiences and enrich our understanding of one another. CIABs are one form of storytelling where individuals can create the soundtrack of their lives. CIABs allow us as a community to hear the voices of others and feel their lived experiences and narratives unfolding in the music. Yet, music is only one form of artistic dissemination.
Painting, dancing, sculpting, photography, and comic book illustrations are also critical media that help individuals and communities understand our teens’ journey. Writing – poems, essays, plays, comic books, and graphic novels – also provides ways to express a person’s narratives.
Art Beyond Music: A Call For Asian-American Artist
Join us in celebrating Asian American Teenager Identity!
We would love to share our CIABs with the larger artistic community to help inspire you. We make these CIABs public so you can see what our teens were telling us through music.
As with all art, anything created is your copyright. Our goal is not to co-op or take credit for your work. Our goal is to spark a creative process that can help further the conversation on understanding teens today.
Learn more here: Music Therapy and Music Analysis