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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Kristin Kreuk: Next Asian American Beauty?
t isn't a question of droolworthiness. Her looks are dazzling enough to have locked up a lead role in each of her first three auditions, including the title role in an upcoming TV movie. It's more a question of whether most of us would identify hazel-eyed Smallville heartthrob Lana Lang as a fellow Asian.
Kristin Laura Kreuk was born to a Chinese mother and a Dutch father on December 30, 1982. She grew up in Vancouver, Canada. Kreuk, 5-4, had decided to go to college to study forensic pathology until, in her senior year, her drama teacher suggested she go to an audition for a new Fox Family series called Edgement. She was promptly plucked out of the open audition to play a Chinese Canadian high scool student named Laurel Yeung. Even as she won fans in the role, she landed the Lana Lang role for WB's dramatization of Superboy's life as Clark Kent, then the role of Snow White in the ABC TV movie set for release in 2002. Kreuk's star-quality was obvious to all who tuned in for Smallville's premiere last October. Some even proclaimed her the show's main attraction.
But many Asian American viewers didn't even suspect Kreuk's Asian ancestry. Even those who learned of her mother's nationality questioned whether she can be claimed by Asian Americans. Without an Asian surname or obvious Asian facial features, they argue, Kreuk's success would do nothing for the image of Asians in the American media. Others might argue that most African American stars are, in fact, only fractionally of African descent.
Should we claim Kristin Kreuk and other hapas like her as Asian American celebrities? Or should that designation be reserved for those with a more obviously Asian identity?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:00:18 PM)
Asian American Male,
I think I missed your point. Are you saying Asians are more united in the U.S.? If you are, than I agree with you completely (my brother is dating a Corean girl, we're Chinese).
Anyhow, if you're getting at something else, can you please elaborate.
Thanks
huu76
Tuesday, March 05, 2002 at 22:33:56 (PST)
I remember a situation a few years ago--Johnny Bosch was playing Adam, the Black Power Ranger. Johnny Bosch is Hapa with a Korean American mom and a Caucasian dad. He was credited as Johnny Bosch, but then a ton of AA people piled on him because of his "looking Asian" and as a result, he started crediting himself as "Johnny Yong Bosch" because he was accused of "hating his Asian side" and being "Whitewashed."
The guy's last name is Bosch, okay. What the HELL is wrong with that? It's his family name, from his dad and he should have the right to use it WITHOUT BEING HASSLED by the AA Community. Kristin Kreuk is no different.
Let the Hapas be Hapa and Happy
Tuesday, March 05, 2002 at 11:50:34 (PST)
First of all,
Kristin Kreuk is Canadian, not American.
Second of all,
As everyone said, no one cares about her Asian heritage, including herself (she might be conscious of it, but she never openly talks about her Asian heritage).
So why FORCE others into thinking she's some "Asian-American" celebrity when she really isn't?
jjk
Monday, March 04, 2002 at 13:51:50 (PST)
"I don't live in the States, and Kristin's Dramas hasn't yet hit our television."
Snow White has already played in Australia. They used it as a test market.
TSJ
Eric@KristinKreuk.net
Monday, March 04, 2002 at 13:25:21 (PST)
Never fooled,
[I remember years ago, I was talking to several white guys on the job, and they started talking about girl preferences. One of them states that he likes amerasian women, hapas. Ha ha.]
You should take that as a complement, i.e. Asian genes are also beautifying the White race.
Why do you think I much prefer Hapa females over White chicks, w/ my reputation of being a superficial individual?
Jay... the hapa
Monday, March 04, 2002 at 13:00:42 (PST)
I don't feel the Asian-American community Asian-Canandian community has a right to "claim" Kreuk as anything. She is a person not some kind of cultural symbol. People think about it ....She is JUST another actress with a pretty face. So what if she's half Chinese??
If Kristen does want to use her celebrity status for the benefit of the Asian community than I'm all for it. But I guess my point is that it's really up to the celebrity whether or not they are willing to embrace the Asian part of their identity. For instance Tatiyana Ali (sorry if I spelled her name wrong) She is at least part Asian and is willing to be active in the Asian Community therefore we as Asians have the benefit of considering her to be a representative of the community. Unlike other celebrities, such as Tiger Woods, I know he's like half Vietnamese or something, but correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't ever see him representing his Asian half.
Merrylin
Monday, March 04, 2002 at 12:22:51 (PST)
"I don't mind seeing the occasional couple, but when they start outnumbering "AF/AM" couples, that starts to bug me."
Is it because white women would not date Asian men, or because of other reasons? A person of Chinese ancestry living in China would not care if a Japanese woman dated a white male. Here in the US he would...because we are all "Asians".
Asian American Male
Monday, March 04, 2002 at 11:28:35 (PST)
"all of you people are idiots, i hope you don't mean that by saying asian american. you're referring to her as being half asian and half white because the american part of that title points to her being white. i consider myself american even though i may not be white. funny how she's asian "american" even though she's a freaking Canadian."
Read my writing, American does not equal white. White is white...American is a nationality. Just like Chinese is Chinese, but Singaporean is a nationality.
Asian American Male
Monday, March 04, 2002 at 11:24:51 (PST)
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