Soup and Substance speaker reflects on past, artistic present
When Magdalen Hsu-Li was 16, she knew about self-control.
She would sit rigid for hours at a time to block out the twitching, coughing, and erratic movements sometimes caused by Tourette’s syndrome.
Since then, the singer-songwriter, painter, and cultural activist reflects on painful memories to teach others about appreciating their identity.
The Soup and Substance series presented, “Re-Definition of Identity” Tuesday afternoon at the Bovee University Center. Hsu-Li spoke about her life as a musician, growing up Chinese American, and having Tourette’s syndrome.
“This presentation talks about the many different levels of identity,” Hsu-Li said. “I am an artist, woman, and openly bisexual. This is redefintion of identity. When I write songs I really want to help people raise awareness or break a barrier and that is what I began to do.”
Hsu-Li grew up in the rural south in Martinsville, Va., and she considers herself a Southerner.
“We were one of two or three Asian families up in this area, and for the first 10 years of my life I never knew fully that I was different.”
At the age of 12, everything changed when the Tourette’s syndrome surfaced, puberty began, and the labeling in high school.
“There are some obstacles that we may not be able to overcome, but when the mind is set to a purpose we can accomplish amazing things,” she said.
Hsu-Li became an artist because she loved to paint and perform, but this wasn’t what her parents wanted. She said with so many oppositions, the only thing people can do is gauge what feels right to them inside.
Hsu-Li later asked everyone to talk to their friends and family and ask what would they miss about them if they were not here tomorrow, and how they changed their world and perception.
“I guarantee that you will start hearing the same thing,” she said.
Director of Multicultural Education Center Ulana Klymyshyn said the event went really well.
“I think she had a very interesting way of combining information about her different identities, it gave students a need for insight on issues of being an immigrant in our society and living with disability issues,” she said.
Harbor Springs freshman Hailee Ortiz said the event really touched her.
“If she can overcome Tourette’s syndrome, I can surely overcome these little things, obstacles are just everyday life, look them in the face ad get over them,” Ortiz said.
