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GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Asian Men Deliberately Excluded from Star Wars?
ow that the fifth installment of the Star Wars saga has hit theatres, it's official: Asian men have no place in George Lucas's vision of the future. An Asian female Jedi was glimpsed in the most recent installment, but not one single Asian male has been spotted in any of the five movies.
The absence is all the more remarkable given that Star Wars borrows its themes and fight scenes so obviously from samurai and kung-fu flicks. On a purely demographic level, it's difficult to imagine a distant future in which Asians will not be the preponderance of humanity. Even on a mundane economic level, Asians account for at least a third of today's global box office and video revenues.
The utter absence of Asian men in the latest installment is even more glaring in light of the promises Lucas made in response to Asian protests over the omission of Asian actors coupled with suspicious attachment of Asian cultural traits to unsavory alien grotesqueries in The Phantom Menace. Lucas had even hinted that images of Bruce Lee would be used in the installment now known as The Clone Wars.
In The Phantom Menace Lucas used Asian martial artists both to choreograph and perform the kendo-inspired light-saber sequences. But as if wishing to take back the decision, in The Clone Wars Lucas's PR machine made a point of showing that the fight sequences were choreographed by a white man and performed by the actors themselves. That explains why they were so leaden and lackluster, but raises the question why?
Could it be that George Lucas wants to avoid calling attention to his large debt to Asian action films?
Is Lucas afraid that including an Asian man will invite critical focus on the new movie's sub-par swordfight sequences?
Is Lucus slyly inviting viewers to see wizened little Master Yoda as a winking representation of Asian men?
Despite his avowed interest in Chinese and Japanese martial arts, culture, literature and films, is Lucas a closet racist after all?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 06:38:56 AM)
Whatever:
Watto wasn't based upon the Jews--he was based upon Italian Mafiosa stereotypes. Italian Americans weren't at all happy about his character either.
Get it Right
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 06:03:46 (PDT)
If anyone has seen the 25th Anniversary release of Enter the Dragon (Lee's unedited version), you will notice the dialogue between Bruce and his Teacher. Uncanny similarities to the student that used his skills for evil. His name is Han. Also in another scene, Bruce jumps up into a tree, Luke jumps up in a similar fashion from the pit. Borrowed? Maybe not from this version, but from earlier maritial arts footages.
melloyello
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 22:09:34 (PDT)
Lucas attributes his orignal Star Wars movie much to Akira Kurosowa, a legendary Japanese director. Such movies as Kurosowa's Hidden Fortress have an uncanny semblance to Star Wars. Lucas is even on one of Kurosowa's dvds stating how influential Kurosowa's movies are. I don't think Lucas is a racist, he is a visionary and very conscious of his creation and thus is not easily influenced by the opinions of others. He fashions the Star Wars universe as he sees it, and if he sees it without a leading Asian, so be it. It does not necessarily mean that he is a racist.
knamja
knamja@hotmail.com
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 21:33:32 (PDT)
Not mention the concept of The Force is borrowed from Asian culture (it bears an uncanny resemblence to Chi/Ki)
May the Force be "borrowed" from another culture
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 17:55:15 (PDT)
Is Lucas a closet racist after all? No he is just typical of Hollywood. And Hollywood won't include people of color, because they just don't think to. Often it doesn't seem to be malicious, just ignorant and absentminded.
Since I suspect many of you are a bit young, you might remember that the there were no black actors (not even extras) in the original (not accounting for the voice, of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones).
The only reason there were any other black actors/characters was loud criticism. If there is a big enough issue made of the "lack of Asians" rather than attacking Lucas as a 'racist', I suspect you will seen alot more Asians in the next film, with very little fanfare.
Phil
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 17:05:36 (PDT)
Isn't Ray Park (Darth Maul) part Asian?
TSJ
Eric@KristinKreuk.net
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 16:27:43 (PDT)
Much shouldn't be expected out of Lucas anymore. The best movies of the Star Wars series were Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, none of which were directed by Lucas. Yeah, AOTC had cool special effects and was better than Phantom, but the acting was poor and the story was weak. The movie shouldn't represent everything that goes on in the entertainment world.
hollywood aint fair
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 13:47:58 (PDT)
oh yeah, and the token AF thrown in won't be so bad...good for dealing with racist accusations, good for the WM Asiaphiles, good for the WF's with AF friends, good for the AF's, good for the Asian audience.
You seem to show a deep resentment for Lucas and his "alleged" motives.
I think the only way for Asian Men to seek salvation is to produce their own movies. Hey, African Americans are doing it, why can't we Asians?
Are we being too conservative again (and u know what I mean)? Are all Asian dudes in this country g-damn cowards who can't do anything great and influential but could only act as low profile professionals in the sciences, medicine and technology? Since ur so upset, you should ask these questions and they might be the solution to ur complaint.
Ever seen the white guys interested in martial arts and Asian women, but are not really interested in being friends with Asian men? The same happens in other areas (e.g., literature, film, history, language, economics); it's just more intellectual, so there's a veneer of open-mindedness. That's not to say there aren't those who are truly fair to Asians of both genders.
What you said seems to hold some truth. This actually holds true of all men. I have a AM friend who likes European Culture and I asked him what was his main motive for his interest, and he replied "well, some White girl inspired me". Or some of my Chinese buddies' reasons for learning Japanese "I wanted to speak Japanese so I can date a Japanese chic". Men do certain things to attract women or because of women.
Less inhibited
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 13:26:30 (PDT)
"So if he portrays Asian Men in Star Wars, it's probably negative too."
dude, where you've been? in phantom lots of critics even before anything was said on goldsea that the trade federation fish-heads were knock-offs of stereotyped WWII movies about japanese naval officers. episode I was hugely debated for all the racial stereotypes from that hated jarjar to the trade federation.
villageidiot
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 10:52:23 (PDT)
i think it's widely rumored in the "film" (not "movie") society that lucas mostly borrowed the first star wars from kurosawa's hidden fortres.
villageidiot
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 10:48:12 (PDT)
"It's just a movie."
you're obviously from a galaxy far, far away. with the economic power the franchise got in terms of games, action figures, lunch boxes, etc. totaling over several billion dollars, it ceases to be "just a movie." ask any plastic saber toting jedi on the street, it's not simply a cultural icon either but a religion to some people.
villageidiot
Monday, May 20, 2002 at 10:46:30 (PDT)
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