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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, 05:55:59 PM)
Star Wars is one of the most incredible movie series in recent American fiction. The movie series reflects the long-standing and deep commitment that George Lucas has for story telling.
The fact that the Trade Federation has attributes similar to the Triad is probably not coincidental.
On the other hand, the only people who appear to reject Lucas' metaphor are the individuals who PROFIT from the existing deception. The fact that Lucas chooses a politically correct format for airing of some sociopolitical truths appears to disturb the author.
How typical of the press! They won't acknowledge when obvious organized elements conspire to undermine US national security. Yet, they will complain about a simple movie with characters that reflect nearly every major racial and ethnic group on Earth!
Get your priorities straight!
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones is a superb movie. Lucas' brush is digital but his themes are ancient.
Lucas doesn't need to hire asian actors. The reality is that he's telling his story by hiring the people who surround him. I doubt there are many asian male actors who fit the parts.
Yoda Fan
Tuesday, June 11, 2002 at 23:10:33 (PDT)
actually, there was one asian guy, fairly early in the movie, who was on screen for about 2 seconds. It is when Anakin and Obiwan are on street level on Coruscant, about to go into the bar (I think).
I cannot remember exact circumstances, but I can clearly see the image sequence play out. Nonetheless, he's just another passerby, and on for 2 seconds at the most. lol
Superman
Tuesday, June 11, 2002 at 10:57:59 (PDT)
You are right! Like in the first movie, those evil trade federation guys are speaking with such obviously "asian" accents. I didn't notice it at first, but my friend pointed it out. They are made to sound like FOBs.
r adams
Sunday, June 09, 2002 at 17:18:49 (PDT)
Shalashaska
WTF? Don't you remember the guy in Return of the Jedi who says "There's too many of them"
Good call !!!!!
Jing Cha
Sunday, June 09, 2002 at 10:23:25 (PDT)
- AXIS 187
Very interesting that you would choose to use Rush Hour 1& 2 as "support" for your claim that WHITE PEOPLE are portrayed wrongly in the media. It is almost Hilarious in fact.
Perhaps you actually researched Rush Hour's construction to learn that the DIRECTOR of the series is WHITE? Perhaps you actually researched into the Federal departments to see that the way the White Feds in Rush Hour harrassed the Chinese happens round the clock? Im glad to see Chris Tucker along side Jackie Chan. Almost always, I have seen far too many movies with LEAD white male and a Token Chinese/Japanese supporting actor that SUCKED. Rush Hour brought a Combination that actually works. A loud mouth Comedian and a Kung Fu Comedian. The movies did Extremly well in the box office.
I think in fact these movies to some extent show the truth about the White/ Eurpoean (British, Russian, etc) presense in the world. I never saw one thing in either movie that I could not believe on some level. PERHAPS, movies such as these that show Blacks and Asians in a good light are DAMAGE control to clean up the mess that the European colonists made in Asia.
If youve ever watched old Chinese movies, White people (who were merely technologicaly superior) were potrayed as all knowing demi-gods. They actually were able to convince people of STREETS PAVED with GOLD in America. Right before they kidnapped Chinese to build railroads.
These movies do a good job in my opinion.
Jing Cha
Sunday, June 09, 2002 at 10:22:31 (PDT)
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