Asian comic tells of career mishaps

Sporting a T-shirt with "ASIAN SOUL" printed across the front and armed with a barrage of witty jokes and delightfully crazy facial expressions, Eliot Chang supplied over an hour of laughter to Tech students February 27, 2007, as a featured part of Asian Awareness Week.

"How many people have seen a male Asian comic who did not make fun of Asians, was assertive and kinda cute?" Chang said.

Indeed, Chang's humor was smart, raunchy, risky and fearless, eliciting roaring laughter from attendees.

"You know, my philosophy on life is that I just don't give a [expletive]! I say and do what I want, what feels right. My advice to you guys-let loose, don't be a [expletive] giver," Chang said.

And Chang has clearly lived his life by this motto. Like many other students, he attended college with the goal of becoming a doctor. He graduated from S.U.N.Y. Binghampton with a bachelor's degree in biology before subsequently enrolling in a seven-year medical program.

But four years into the program, despite his parents best wishes, he dropped out and became a Wall Street broker for two years.

It was only after his time as a broker that Chang finally took the plunge and decided to pursue comedy full-time.

He expressed the difficulty of breaking the news to his parents, who wanted him to pursue his medical career.

"My parents were extremely pissed...telling them that I was giving up my education and a job was like telling them I was coming out of the closet or something," Chang said.

Chang stressed the importance of passion and interest in one's profession, citing it as the key to satisfaction and his reason for pursuing comedy.

"I dropped by an open mic night and had an epiphany, a moment of clarity. I saw the microphone and crowd and thought, 'This is it. This is what I'm supposed to do.' You don't choose your calling-it chooses you. I mean, no one becomes a taxidermist by chance," Chang said.

Chang is a boundary breaker. He is a Chinese-American professional comedian based out of New York.

Chang is also the official spokesperson for his A-Nation clothing line, which produces funky T-shirts and apparel.

He has appeared on numerous television shows, most notably as a featured comic on Comedy Central's Premium Blend.

Since 1998, Chang has made annual, nationwide tours across college campuses, entertaining student groups and presenting his post-show workshop, "Asians in the Media."

The workshop is designed as an interactive question and answer session that discusses the portrayal of Asians in the mass media and the necessity to break stereotypes and promote cultural awareness.

"In the media, Asians are only cool or accepted when they have assimilated into another culture...and have fallen victim to the 'wannabe syndrome,' which stems from a lack of cultural self-awareness," Chang said.

It was indeed notable that the topic of Chang's comedy did not reinforce any typical Asian stereotypes; rather, it was backed up by quick wit and lots of energy.

"I'm not here to use stereotypes to make fun of my own culture-anyone can do that. I'm here to have a good time and promote awareness," Chang said.