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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
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:56:03 PM)
"Last time I checked, he was like 8 and she was like 16..."
They are in a galaxy far far away. Are they even human? Maybe he is of a species that sexually matures faster. Isn't he of virginal birth?
AC Dropout
Monday, May 27, 2002 at 06:12:20 (PDT)
Geoff,
You make a fair argument that whites do make African-American look bad in white movies.
What I was referring to is how blacks portray themselves in a negative light in rap videos. Whether or not it's just to make a quick buck, they still do it willingly to themselves. Don't even get me started on the NBA.
For every Denzel Washington or Grant Hill, there's 10 times as many who'd rather reinforce the gangster bad boy image.
Anyway, I admit I am guilty of knocking AfricanAmericans too much.
huu76
Monday, May 27, 2002 at 02:17:56 (PDT)
There you go. an Asian assigned for a big project! by the way, many Asians can be more open racist than Whites. be fair to judge our conscience. Thats how we as Asians can improve ourselves. Develop a righteous character and decent personality. thats how we can win respect.
Haha....don't let the darkside (anger) consume the Asian mind. Is that what you are you trying to say?
I recalled a few years ago where an Asian American in the Xerox corporation went into a shooting spree in the company because he was so angry...angry at White people for not promoting him in the company.
Actually all of the minorities can be more openly racist than Whites.
I have experienced more racism from Asians, Blacks and Hispanics than from Whites.
My nosy @ss just wants to know if the writers did a time warp thing on Annikan in order to hook him up w/queen. Last time I checked, he was like 8 and she was like 16...
likes the swash-buckling Star Wars of Old
Honestly, I believe the new Star Wars Trilogy will not be as good as the originals. There is too much emphasis on special effects, and cultural borrowing whether they are ideas or portrayals of peoples. I actually find it difficult to connect Episodes IV, V, and VI with Episodes I and II because there are too many inconsistencies between the 2 trilogies.
The originals were very WASPY and that is the problem for making the prequels in a different time period which is very multicultural.
Anger leads to hate
Sunday, May 26, 2002 at 18:34:05 (PDT)
let's be fair fellow asians?
Where did you find the name Doug Chiang? In the frequent news reports about the film? At the movies website? On the advertisements? Was there even a description of this Asian guy and his work on the film found anywhere conspicuous?
I bet if you mention that name to any "real" American, you get a big "HUH???" Mention this Star Wars flim together with that name, and they'll think you are some quack. You see, the problem is not that there aren't Asians contributing to every field, because there ARE! But in American society today, Asian contributions will certainly be used but not appreciated, and much less recognized. This is true on the individual level (as with Luca's and his film) as well as on grander institutional levels (such as the national labs where wen ho lee and others were targets of racism). You can contribute twice as much as the next white guy, but your name and acknowledgement will only appear half as much as his. Unless you are absolutely and indisputably the best in a particular area, your contributions don't matter in the eyes of the majority. At best, your name will appear secondary to some white guy who comes out of nowhere to claim part of your credit.
Much of this trend is just a continuation of history. Throughout most of history, up to the 15-16th century, the constant transfer of technology and ideas from China to Europe revolutionized the way people lived and fought time and again. Yet, nowadays, the typical ignorant mind has conveniently shrunk these down to the so-called "Four Great Inventions"--paper, wood-block printing, gunpowder, and magnetic compass. I once even heard someone trying to ridicule Chinese contributions using these as examples...But the fact is that the crossbow, metallurgy, firearms and cannons (brought to Europe by the Mongols), the first mechanical clock (9th century), the first movable-type printing (a century and a half before Gutenberg's "invention"), mathematical and astronomical knowledge (plus contributions from the Islamic world) all were just some of the most important influences that changed the "West" through constant trade and allowed the Renaissance to fluorish in Europe. But China fell into a state of decline starting from the later part of the 15th century, just before the surge of the "West". As a result of this long decline, many people today who write or talk about history from a privileged perch like to reduce the "West's" interest in the "East" to a caricature of sorts---"silk and spices." I'm surprised that the typical ethno-centric "historian" didn't add "Asian women" to the mix right away. Of course, the prevalent attitude in the present time has also allowed people like Marco Polo to gain far more importance than they ever had.
The present-day marginalization of Asian contributions to American society is but a chapter in the apparent continuation of this "modern culture." It's not just the latest omission of Asians in Luca's film, which he has yet to admit to being inspired by Asian film styles. It brings to mind the way Dean Kamen touted his Segway "invention." Despite being forced to admit that the idea was borrowed from a Japanese robotics scientist, he not only had the galls to still claim it as his own "invention," but also later received a $500,000 prize for it from an American inventors association. What a joke! But sadly, there are a lot more similar examples that have not been so well publicized.
It appears that when it comes to blowing one's own horns, even if stolen, Caucasians are very adept. On the other hand, the Asians that are slaving away in America's technology and defense industries today will be lucky if they are even "granted" a place in the footnotes of American history.
positron
Sunday, May 26, 2002 at 16:45:59 (PDT)
If you look very closely, the Jedi are based upon the Samauri, the Republic/Empire/Fall of the Empire is based upon the history/fall of the Roman Empire, Han Solo and Chewbacca are like Space Cowboys, Leia is a touch bitch of a woman who doesn't take crap from men, and Yoda is a mixture of a kung-fu teacher and Albert Einstein.
Star Wars has A LOT of Influences
Sunday, May 26, 2002 at 15:11:43 (PDT)
In a sense, it doesn't matter if he's a closet racist or not. Not exactly sure how many people share a decent amount of power and control over the Star Wars films, but some of them are bound not to be Asian and minority friendly. Remember that the production happens within the already set Hollywood structure...and we know what Hollywood is like. (I'm not talking about physical location.)
If a lot of Asians think Lucas is Asian-unfriendly, whether he is or not, then that can be a good thing. It'll lead to activism and AA awareness. If a lot of people complain about not having enough Asian presence in films--even if those in power aren't actually racist and we rationalize that they are just naturally making decisions based on their own race--then those complaining will get what they want, at least if they have enough voice and power. What's important is that AA's voice themselves and empower themselves. Even if it's a little misguided at times, it definitely helps the larger goal of strengthening the AA community and presence in the U.S. and gaining more respect.
AM: The True Jedi
Sunday, May 26, 2002 at 11:34:09 (PDT)
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