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Never put it past Hollywood to find new ways to deny Asian American males leading roles. Having a white guy star as a role in a predominantly Oriental setting? Yes David Carradine in Kung Fu is pretty ridiculous but things were different back then right? It was the 1970’s and we’ve moved back petty prejudice and racism. Oh wait, no, I’m talking about now. 2009 when a black man can be president but a Japanese character (the main character in The King of Fighters) is being played by Sean Faris. Pardon me if this somewhat riles me but this seems to be yellowface tactics all over again.
For those unfamiliar with the term, “yellowface” is the act where Asian roles are given to white actors often accompanied by heavy makeup or poor accent work to give him “Oriental” characteristics. People have remarked that while blackface is considered taboo, yellowface is, remarkably enough, considered acceptable in Hollywood. “Remarkably” isn’t the word I’d use for it. The word is “shameful”. In the course of one discussion, I’ve even had someone tell me that the reason Asian actors aren’t accepted is because they are poorer actors. He claimed that scientifically speaking, the smaller eyes expresses a lower empathetically ability and intellectual stimulus. Of course, these are probably the same sciences that declared Caucasians has a larger brain mass than other races (not true, Asians actually has the claim to that), blacks made better stock servant types and Germans were the Aryan race. But no worries, he stated himself, he wasn’t racist. After all, he has many Asian friends and even an Asian girlfriend!
Face it, there’s no excuse beyond prejudice that anyone can justify the way Hollywood treats Asian American actors (especially the males). The door might as well read, “no dogs, no Chinese”.
It’s 2009 when America is supposedly more open minded, more equal, and more accepting. However, it’s sadly obvious that society is pulling the “I’m not racist, I have a black friend” tactic. Attention Hollywood, Asian Americans are your smallest audience and will continue to be until you treat them like human beings.
Addendum: It seems several of the Caucasians seem offended by this post's attitude towards Hollywood. Can we not turn this thread into a clusterfuckflamefest? If you feel slighted, either pm me or post your reasons here, civilly, and you will be responded to in kind.
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Yea, you got pissed cuz they shat all over the DBZ movie too.
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I actually didn't bother posting in that thread.
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You forgot Avatar: the last airbender. I hate the little fat kid they cast.
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United States24745 Posts
When I was a little kid I named my fish yellowface because it had a yellow face. Was dissappointed when this blog wasn't about my childhood fish.
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haha
its probably because "sex sells" and americans arent so sexually interested in chinese males?
something like that
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What do you mean by Hollywood prejudice, I thought they just make what sells. It's no surprise the "typical audience" prefers white actors in the main roles. I was under the impression that crappy mainstream movies are only possible because there are enough people out there that will watch it to offset the cost.
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On November 05 2009 00:23 Nytefish wrote:
What do you mean by Hollywood prejudice, I thought they just make what sells. It's no surprise the "typical audience" prefers white actors in the main roles. I was under the impression that crappy mainstream movies are only possible because there are enough people out there that will watch it to offset the cost.
do you think it is alright if they put a white guy to roleplay Ryu in a Street Fighter movie?
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United States4126 Posts
On November 04 2009 23:50 ilovezil wrote:
Yea, you got pissed cuz they shat all over the DBZ movie too.
Oh god -_- Don't even bring that up. I rage at their choice in actors to this day.
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Haha I got excited because I thought that the blog was going to be about you but unfortunately I was mistaken. Your blogs are like Rebel Heart's whenever he makes a new account. Here is the criteria:
1. Single train of thought
Not only do your posts all come from the same topic, they also always point out the same concepts and in this case inequalities. If you are capable of continuously presenting the same argument despite the backlash, how in the world is anyone supposed to make a counter-argument? It's obvious that your preconceptions on the topic have retard-strength in comparison to any resistance that others might give to your words of wisdom. You will never waiver from the belligerent and accusatory stance you have on the issue, that much is clear. Speaking of which...
2. Same teary-eyed story every time
Oh no, so you think that Asians don't get cast in enough roles? Have you checked, statistically, the percentage of actors that are Asian, and thus what the relationship should be to how many roles they get? Have you ever considered the fact that maybe just maybe the Asian actors you desire to see in cinema are not as good as you think they are? Even if they are, Hollywood is not a democracy where everyone can demand equal representation and rights such as being cast into an Asian role only as an Asian because it's somehow more fair. Hollywood doesn't give a fuck about a few Asian-American nerds who actually care enough about how many Asians are in a movie. Hollywood cares about making money, and the best way to do that is to market to the largest audience and profit. Butthurt Asian-Americans who think that there is a lack of Asians in cinema are not the target audience here, as you can imagine. The target audience is generally defined either by age group or region, and guess what, China is not in the US. In any state in the United States, there are more Caucasians than there are Asians. When you accept the fact that your desires will never be met by Hollywood because they want to make MONEY... Actually, you'll never accept that because you are stubborn and like to play the role of the offended and oppressed. Typical.
3. Using statistics to benefit only your side of the argument
"Attention Hollywood, Asian Americans are your smallest audience and will continue to be until you treat them like human beings."
Let me rephrase this notice to Hollywood, so that I can show you what they would hear if they bothered to read your whining letter:
"Asians don't like going to movies so put more Asians in your movies please thanx"
And this will be Hollywood's response:
"We don't know how to market to Asians because of the cultural differences. We don't need to market to Asians because they are a minority. We don't want to include Asian actors in lead roles especially because it estranges the majority, and the majority will always be weighed more heavily than the minority. Also, this is America, and although we are all equal and free, we are also a Caucasian nation and therefore if you want movies with Asian lead actors maybe you should go back to China. Enjoy your steam-fried rice and kung fu story books or whatever it is you Asians like, because we don't care enough to figure it out. PEACE."
In other words, your statistic is a double-edged sword. Why the FUCK should Hollywood risk their time-tested formula of marketing to the majority or to a LARGE minority + some of the majority by selecting white and black lead actors? Because you want them to risk a multi-million dollar venture that may or may not get more Asian-Americans out of their homes and into the movie theaters, while potentially alienating a larger population? Oh wait, it is going to be a gradual process as well, spanning over multiple movies with Asian actors getting lead roles? GOOD LUCK.
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cool post but you go over the top when you imply twice that asian actors are treated as sub-human.
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lol @ this thread
are yellowface protestors some mutant form created by feminists and vegans?
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If an asian was cast, you'd be bitching about typecasting.
Plus, just like DBZ and a ton of other anime and games, the character you're talking about is pretty clearly modeled after white dudes, even if he's supposed to be asian
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On November 04 2009 23:47 KissBlade wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Never put it past Hollywood to find new ways to deny Asian American males leading roles. Having a white guy star as a role in a predominantly Oriental setting? Yes David Carradine in Kung Fu is pretty ridiculous but things were different back then right? It was the 1970’s and we’ve moved back petty prejudice and racism. Oh wait, no, I’m talking about now. 2009 when a black man can be president but a Japanese character (the main character in The King of Fighters) is being played by Sean Faris. Pardon me if this somewhat riles me but this seems to be yellowface tactics all over again.
For those unfamiliar with the term, “yellowface” is the act where Asian roles are given to white actors often accompanied by heavy makeup or poor accent work to give him “Oriental” characteristics. People have remarked that while blackface is considered taboo, yellowface is, remarkably enough, considered acceptable in Hollywood. “Remarkably” isn’t the word I’d use for it. The word is “shameful”. In the course of one discussion, I’ve even had someone tell me that the reason Asian actors aren’t accepted is because they are poorer actors. He claimed that scientifically speaking, the smaller eyes expresses a lower empathetically ability and intellectual stimulus. Of course, these are probably the same sciences that declared Caucasians has a larger brain mass than other races (not true, Asians actually has the claim to that), blacks made better stock servant types and Germans were the Aryan race. But no worries, he stated himself, he wasn’t racist. After all, he has many Asian friends and even an Asian girlfriend!
Face it, there’s no excuse beyond prejudice that anyone can justify the way Hollywood treats Asian American actors (especially the males). The door might as well read, “no dogs, no Chinese”.
It’s 2009 when America is supposedly more open minded, more equal, and more accepting. However, it’s sadly obvious that society is pulling the “I’m not racist, I have a black friend” tactic. Attention Hollywood, Asian Americans are your smallest audience and will continue to be until you treat them like human beings.
Hey, what's up man?
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Hey fanatacist, your "if you don't like it here, go back to China" response is pretty good. I mean, I haven't heard that one before or anything. Especially not in so many words. By the way, if Asian flicks don't sell well, how'd you explain Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon? Or Enter the Dragon?
I'm also amused that you seem to imply there are no good Asian actors and I'm sorry that you feel offended as an open minded Caucasian by my contentions with Hollywood.
On November 05 2009 00:42 BlackJack wrote:
cool post but you go over the top when you imply twice that asian actors are treated as sub-human.
Yah, to be honest, I do have to admit, I think some of the parts are perhaps a bit too much of an inciter.
On November 05 2009 00:55 Hawk wrote:
If an asian was cast, you'd be bitching about typecasting.
Plus, just like DBZ and a ton of other anime and games, the character you're talking about is pretty clearly modeled after white dudes, even if he's supposed to be asian
Come now Hawk, you've accused people of strawman arguments before. Surely you recognize yours.
And you'd have to really stretch things to think Kyo Kusanangi looks more white than Caucasian.
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On November 05 2009 01:06 Neverborn wrote:Show nested quote +On November 04 2009 23:47 KissBlade wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Never put it past Hollywood to find new ways to deny Asian American males leading roles. Having a white guy star as a role in a predominantly Oriental setting? Yes David Carradine in Kung Fu is pretty ridiculous but things were different back then right? It was the 1970’s and we’ve moved back petty prejudice and racism. Oh wait, no, I’m talking about now. 2009 when a black man can be president but a Japanese character (the main character in The King of Fighters) is being played by Sean Faris. Pardon me if this somewhat riles me but this seems to be yellowface tactics all over again.
For those unfamiliar with the term, “yellowface” is the act where Asian roles are given to white actors often accompanied by heavy makeup or poor accent work to give him “Oriental” characteristics. People have remarked that while blackface is considered taboo, yellowface is, remarkably enough, considered acceptable in Hollywood. “Remarkably” isn’t the word I’d use for it. The word is “shameful”. In the course of one discussion, I’ve even had someone tell me that the reason Asian actors aren’t accepted is because they are poorer actors. He claimed that scientifically speaking, the smaller eyes expresses a lower empathetically ability and intellectual stimulus. Of course, these are probably the same sciences that declared Caucasians has a larger brain mass than other races (not true, Asians actually has the claim to that), blacks made better stock servant types and Germans were the Aryan race. But no worries, he stated himself, he wasn’t racist. After all, he has many Asian friends and even an Asian girlfriend!
Face it, there’s no excuse beyond prejudice that anyone can justify the way Hollywood treats Asian American actors (especially the males). The door might as well read, “no dogs, no Chinese”.
It’s 2009 when America is supposedly more open minded, more equal, and more accepting. However, it’s sadly obvious that society is pulling the “I’m not racist, I have a black friend” tactic. Attention Hollywood, Asian Americans are your smallest audience and will continue to be until you treat them like human beings. Hey, what's up man?
Hey =D Long time no see. What's up?
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On March 22 2006 00:02 KissBlade wrote:
Girls from Russia > Asians. Sorry. It is true. =P Speaking as an Asian, all the Asian women, ESPECIALLY white washed ones all look pretty boring for me. (And the Fresh off the boat ones that're actually decent looking all think I'm white washed. T_T Oh the irony ...) I think aside from my current British fiancee, every other ex of mine has been Russian and they are by far the hottest women I've seen compared to any other race. Plus they're always so polite and civilized. =) (except the Russian Jews that's been in the US for like four generations)
OMG my post sounds so racist but whatever ... this thread begs for it anyway ...
Lol I guess you get to be subjective but hollywood doesn't
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On November 05 2009 01:12 BlackJack wrote:Show nested quote +On March 22 2006 00:02 KissBlade wrote:
Girls from Russia > Asians. Sorry. It is true. =P Speaking as an Asian, all the Asian women, ESPECIALLY white washed ones all look pretty boring for me. (And the Fresh off the boat ones that're actually decent looking all think I'm white washed. T_T Oh the irony ...) I think aside from my current British fiancee, every other ex of mine has been Russian and they are by far the hottest women I've seen compared to any other race. Plus they're always so polite and civilized. =) (except the Russian Jews that's been in the US for like four generations)
OMG my post sounds so racist but whatever ... this thread begs for it anyway ...
Lol I guess you get to be subjective but hollywood doesn't
2006 is a long time ago sir ... I am, however, touched that your memories of my posts arcs that far back!
I do however admit, those comments were wrong of me and in hindsight now, I do not agree with them in spirit.
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EPT
