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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)
"Snow White has already played in Australia. They used it as a test market."
Hi Eric,
Thanks for informing me, i never heard of it being played, maybe it was played in other states/cities and not Sydney.
But Goddam i would have loved to tune in.
By the way, thumbs up to your website, i've downloaded plenty of pics. I think Kristin Kreuk is awesome, i can't wait for the other series to hit our tele.
Cheers,
AM(24) from DownUnder
AM(24) from DownUnder
Friday, March 08, 2002 at 04:41:49 (PST)
Another AAM:
Being white only has its advantages if you're actually assimilated to those social norms of white society.
"This young woman probably has no clue or connection to her mom's Asian American roots, so why attempt to force her to embrace them."
You don't know until you ask ... some people aren't gonna bring this subject up in an interview by themselves. Until it's known otherwise, might as well at least give her the benefit of the doubt.
Mr. Richmond:
Read the following text carefully:
"I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag
Of the United States of America
And the Republic for which it Stands
One Nation, under God, Indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for All."
I chose America. I didn't see anything in there about chosing the white-dominated mainstream or buying into assimilationist ideology.
T.H. Lien
Thursday, March 07, 2002 at 21:45:08 (PST)
Hapas. So what Asian nationality and Caucasian Mix (Irish, Italian, German, etc.) produces certain hapas that look like something else?
For example, they mention that Kristin Kreuk's father is Duth and mother is Chinese. She doesn't really look "super-Chinese". So maybe Dutch and an Asian nationality makes them look more white?
Another example is Apolo Anton Ohno. Don't get me wrong, he's *extremely* cute (at least to me he's cute) but you can tell that he has Asian blood in him (and I'm not referring to the last name Ohno)
So what mixes do you think makes a person look more white or more Asian hapa?
Curious
Thursday, March 07, 2002 at 13:45:03 (PST)
Everyone..... Canada is technically considered a part of the North America. So Kristin can be considered Asian American.
hapagirl
Thursday, March 07, 2002 at 11:44:56 (PST)
INCREDIBLE!
I'm a half breed (Korean-mother, Caucasian-father). More importantly I'm an AMERICAN, not someone desperately clinging on to some heritage, culture, and people I don't know. My ancestry is completely unknown to me on my mother's side (save my grandmother). I cannot afford to be one way or another. I am not Asian and I am not Caucasian. I am both and neither. I live not as a symbol for the arrogant few or the unwashed masses to claim. I am an AMERICAN, that means more than nationalities of the past.
One more thing, I understand many have duel citizenships. I as an American demand you choose- America or where ever you or your parents, grandparents came from. Such a disgrace should not be placed upon America as this, it compromises national security and loyalties to this nation, unless you seek to destroy what this nation stands for, then you'll end up with what your ancestors ran away from and worse.
Eric J. Richmond
EcJay@elvis.com
Thursday, March 07, 2002 at 07:07:16 (PST)
Mr. Asian American Male. Who are you calling an idiot? Ok. So Kristin is Canadian. That really isn't the point. Read the last paragraph of the article. I don't see one posting here claiming that they think American means White. What the article is getting at.....should hapas who don't look asian or play clearly asian roles be embraced by the asian community as an asian celebrity.... You seem to be the only idiot here.
hapagirl
Wednesday, March 06, 2002 at 20:05:58 (PST)
"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)."
Yes
Asian American Male
Wednesday, March 06, 2002 at 12:21:47 (PST)
Merrylin:
Tiger refers to himself as Caublanasian. I guess that's his personal way of hitting all of the racial bases without forgetting anyone, offending anyone, or making one part of his background feel less important! I find it insulting & cool at the same time because he's mostly Blasian, but on the other hand, he can't leave out the other parts of his being. D'ya get my pretzel logic, here?
AsioPhile 81
Wednesday, March 06, 2002 at 11:58:06 (PST)
We need to stop projecting our own
needs, desires and identity issues
onto hollywood stars and celebrities
in general.
This young woman probably has no
clue or connection to her mom's
Asian American roots, so why attempt
to force her to embrace them.
Most HAPAS will normally choose to
identify with the most beneficial
side of their dual ethnicity. And,
last time I checked being White still
has its advantages.
Another AAM
Wednesday, March 06, 2002 at 09:35:31 (PST)
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