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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, 06:00:15 PM)
->Duh!
Go way back and you'll see that I said the above picture looks white, but her other photos do not.
If you think that's what white people look like, then fine, it's your opinion.
If you read carefully, you'd see that I said she sounds like a white girl. If she sounds like one, then most likely she acts like one (something about being born and growing up in North America). Do you think someone born here is going to act Arabian?
If she were all Asian, then she would be considered an Asian celebrity (whether she liked it or not), but since she isn't, if she didn't want to, then she could disown one side, or more openly embrace the other. Then you would be considered one or the other.
Alicia Keyes doesn't look very black but her music is more geared towards black music, therefore blacks widely accept her as being black. I don't see white people claiming she's white.
Differentiate between reality and hollywood. Hollywood could have made her adopted if they wanted, who knows. In reality, since she looks Asian, she had to have atleast 1 asian parent.
->T.H.
You said "acceptable english". I said perfect english. Do you think any highschool kid coming over here is going to speak so perfectly they can pass for a white kid on the phone. None of the exchange students (Europe and Asia) in my old highschool even sounded close. You think the British sound like us?
If your parents understand you, then isn't that acceptable. Maybe acceptable
is just another word for perfect.
I'm sure Kristen had to get rid of her George Bush southern accent. BC speaks mainstream english.
Name a 1/2 who is bilingual. Hopefully one that we all know. Sean Lennon doesn't count since his father dies when he was young.
I do not discredit her abilities. I'm saying she doesn't really count as an "Asian" American celebrity.
If your that hard up and desperate to find asian representation than you're pathetic.
Dustin Nguyen from 21 Jump St is a true AA celebrity, same with Kwan, Yamaguchi and the rest.
->Both of you.
Do you guys consider TigerWoods asian too, eventhough he markets himself to blacks and not us? The day he defends asians is the day his girlfriends stop being white:o)
It betters your arguments by putting words in my mouth doesn't it. My memory needs refreshing, show me where I mentioned that I think she sucks and shouldn't be on TV.
Flimsy evidence? Show me your evidence.
Show me where I can find out whether or not she acknowledges her asian culture (other than mentioning her mother). Until you do, she's no more of an asian celebrity than Keanu.
Show me an ABA who can't speak native when both their parents can.
Now show me what a "man" you are Lien.
By the way, if you believe in the argument, then there wouldn't be an argument would there. If an opinion is forced onto you, it's not really your opinion since it wasn't of your free will.
huu76
Thursday, April 04, 2002 at 22:54:05 (PST)
to T.H. Lien
It's hard to cheer for someone who doesn't even remotely look Asian (I know, I know, you're probably thinking...what is "Asian" supposed to look like anyway?". Well...not like another white chick, that's for sure. Yeah, she's beautiful, but so are thousands and thousands of other WFs on and off the screen. It doesn't make her stand out in my mind, and it's even hard to identify or aspire to be like her because she's really very very white-looking. I'm not knocking WFs. I think they can be very beautiful, but I would refrain to add my vote for this lady, simply because she's just too white to be considered Asian. The day an Asian-looking woman (like that Lindsey Yamasaki girl) gets the glories, I will give my support, no questions asked.
MLK
Thursday, April 04, 2002 at 21:54:36 (PST)
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