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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, 05:56:02 PM)
From what I understand, in episode I Anakin was 9 and Amidala was 14.
It was said in episode II that they hadn't seen eachother in 10 years, which would make Anakin 19 and Amidala 24. That's not that much difference--five years.
Star Wars Fan
Wednesday, May 29, 2002 at 06:17:05 (PDT)
Geoff,
I was watching this documenatary on Memorial Day, and it did give credit to Japanese Americans who served in the U.S. Army during the Pacific Campaign. They help decipher captured intelligence. Unfortunatly, probably only about 1% of North America saw it. I think it was on NBC or CBS.
Back to Star Wars,
I'm not so concerned about Asians being left out in Episodes 4, 5 and 6. Seriously, how many Asians were in the movies in the early 80's? It bothers me more that the Asian accented characters were portrayed as cowards and bumbling idiots.
Lucas probably just made the mistake of trying to include everyone in this trilogy, and ended up putting negative spin by relying on stereotypes. Georgie probably doesn't get out much.
I'm still trying to find a copy of Attack of the "CLOWNS". Man that's a bad title.
Actually, judging from the final battle scene, maybe he should've called it "USMC to the rescue".
huu76
Wednesday, May 29, 2002 at 04:07:47 (PDT)
Why is it so important to have an Asian male in a movie series anyways? By not including an AM does not make George Lucas a racist of any kind! It would be the same as asking why so many Asian movies don't have white or black people in them.
Lannie
Tuesday, May 28, 2002 at 21:25:36 (PDT)
At least "Clones" gave one male Pacific Islander a significant role: Temuera Morrison as Jango Fett, bounty hunter and genetic template for the Clone Army. He's a New Zealand Maori.
Still, you're right to complain about the "invisible Asian male" in Star Wars and other corporate media products. The fact that Hollywood panders primarily to the most profitable demographic -- white adolescent boys -- explains a lot.
Studio decisions are driven by fear and greed; no executive (white, black, or Asian) wants to risk his/her job on any story that might be less profitable than the competition. This bottom-line, lowest common denominator approach has resulted in our downward spiral into a degenerate, reactionary culture.
Nothing short of a revolution (Rebels vs the Empire!) will bring about a media culture that truly represents humanity in all its variety.
Wayne
Tuesday, May 28, 2002 at 19:40:39 (PDT)
"In my heart I know it's only right for Hollywood to paint more positive pictures of Asian-Americans. You cannot perennially disregard the positive contributions of an entire ethnic group."
you, sir, are a true american.
villageidiot
Tuesday, May 28, 2002 at 15:47:25 (PDT)
Jango Fett is technically an "asian".
'nuff said.
He took down a Jedi. By himself.
Anyway, one could argue the same kind of "racist" thoughts in a few HK movies, where there are no whites... even though the locale and setting should call for them.
Also, consider that the Asian males working in the movie are probably behind the scenes, producing the effects and animation - did you look at the credits? How many "asian names" do you see? They are also probably the people behind the motion capture for the animation data - they are also probably stuntmen as well.
What you might want to turn your target on is the MATRIX - Keanu Reeves being of asian descent doesn't count, apparently, according to this article... only "pure bloods" (whatever that is, these days) need apply to be considered, and I sure don't see any in the Matrix.
B.E.verins
beverins@aol.com
Tuesday, May 28, 2002 at 11:46:08 (PDT)
What's up everone,
I can definitely understand why members on this post board would feel the way that they do, demorgraphics does warrant that it would be obvious that more asian should be seen in American films especially those on a larger scale produced by Mr Lucus but that is not the case. I have also notice there is a significant absence of Blacks in Asian cinema however on the other hand Whites are very visible I always pondered that question; anyway it doesn't bother me that much personally enough to make me discontinue watching asian films I just tend to do what is normal and enjoy the flick for what it is.
Newcomer from Ontario
Newcomer from Ontario
Tuesday, May 28, 2002 at 11:29:17 (PDT)
Well, I guess Hispanics, Native Americans, Indians, Eskimos, and every other race not represented... oh, including every alien life form that wasn't included should also raise some hell too. Geez..... c'mon now.
This is RIDICULOUS
Tuesday, May 28, 2002 at 11:04:33 (PDT)
"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?"
immaculate conception please! they're humans, if you've been following star wars websites and the games, they're part of the human race.
villageidiot
Monday, May 27, 2002 at 15:46:06 (PDT)
To: huu76
I, too, have been way too guilty of knocking Asians and being outright jealous about white/Asians relations.
I'm still very cautious of Asians, in general, because there's a lot of racism both ways. It's not just about Asians not liking blacks. There was a time in my life when I thought of Civil Rights in terms and black/white ONLY. Even hispanics didn't fit into my arguments. It's not that I didn't like hispanics; it's just that I didn't regard them. When I had discussions about equal rights, employment, education and political issues it was in terms of white Americans and African-Americans.
Now, when I compare positive/negative images on TV and in the movies, I automatically look for diverse racial representation and ethnic role balance. There are upright, decent black actors/actresses who only except quality roles (Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, Cicely Tyson, Maya Angelou, etc.) Then you have those damn gansta rap sons of bitches. Needless to say, I know "Murder Inc.", "Death Row Records" and East Coast/West Coast rivalries don't construct any positive mindset for black youth. It only teach them to get mad, lash out at society and hate whites and Asians.
I'm a very patriotic American. I love my country. My heart still swells when I listen to our national anthem. I get teary eyed when reading the Gettysburg Address and civil rights speeches. In my heart I know it's only right for Hollywood to paint more positive pictures of Asian-Americans. You cannot perennially disregard the positive contributions of an entire ethnic group.
Every time I watch movies like Pearl Harbor, Tora Tora Tora, Rising Son, it does trouble me that Hollywood can't seem to project a fair ethnic role balance. Historically, we know that Japanese-Americans did a lot to show their patriotism before, during and after the December 7, 1941 strike. Yet, practically every war movie that Hollywood dishes out show Asians as the enemy and whites as the good guys. This is the same bullshit I watched as a kid in those John Wayne cowboy movies. I thought for sure that all Native-Americans were blood-thiry savages. I now understand why many Asians hate war movies. It's not that you're unpatriotic. It's because Hollywood can't tell the story straight.
As long as Hollywood encourages negative stereotypes of people of color, we'll never learn to grow as a country and put racism behind us. We need to tackle thorny race issues straight on with an open mind and sensitivity to all sides.
Geoff DB
GeoffDB02@aol.com
Monday, May 27, 2002 at 12:59:46 (PDT)
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