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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, 06:00:14 PM)
lilywater47:
I guess the question is how the present stereotyping of Asians in the media was reached - is it related to something about the Jewish worldview and culture which, through some blindspot, let these inaccurate portrayals to be promoted, is it the influence of the larger society, or is it completely incidental to either of these factors and would happen the same way in any multi-ethnic democracy in which a minority group has a lot of control over the mass media?
Also I never said someone is "less" or "more" Asian on the basis of race. Someone is considered Asian or not based on cultural proficiency and language ability, and their application of such ability to family life (parents and children). I think this is the only definition which is really compatible with the ideals of a non-racist society. A definition based on ancestry, whether 100% ancestry, one drop, recognize your whole heritage, or whatnot, inevitably forces people into cultural roles for which they are not well-suited.
Jen:
I guess the trouble is that we demand our media stars to be our role models and to possess the qualities we'd hope to see more of around us. She may be an excellent representative and role model overall. However, since it seems she is not Chinese but simply of Chinese ancestry, she'll create difficulty for herself by publicly identifying as Asian and trying to represent all of us.
T.H. Lien
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 09:50:24 (PDT)
definately
i read in an article that she is proud of her chinese side and would like to represent all asians in the hollywood industry:)
and you DO still see the asain in her
jen
Monday, April 15, 2002 at 23:23:29 (PDT)
She's half-chinese? hot damn, I'll take it!
ChineseGuyNutsForKristin
Monday, April 15, 2002 at 22:20:11 (PDT)
yeah i think she looks alot asian too. she looks diff in diff pics. sometimes she looks asian n sometimes white. She basically looks half of both (which is what she is). Her eyes throw you off sometimes because they're greenish hazel. But then she has that oriental eye shape. she's really pretty because BOTH of her sides blended beautifully. it's not like one side won. i think we can claim Kristin n other hapas as asain celebrities IF we claim ALL asian celebrities as such. Half doesn't have to mean less asian. she is chinese (in blood) after all.
half-chynadoll
Monday, April 15, 2002 at 19:17:07 (PDT)
to TH Lien: Your point is well taken. i did not mean to suggest that they are not entirely responsible for their shows. However, it is bigoted and racist to suggest that Jewish showbiz owners are responsible for the media's shortcomings. If you refer back to the original message i criticised, it doesn't make sense in any way to blame a race. Dan's accusations don't have any justification. he is only being unfair and biased. it is unfair to target an ethnic group, unless you think that ONLY jewish media are at wrong (which is untrue). It would be the same as blaming all black writers for some problem or saying asian actors are bad. You can't just block off an ethnic group that way. That would be called stereotyping. I hope you agree with my non-racist sentiment. i am only trying to promote equality between the races.
Your comment concerning un-chinese kids culturally is also well taken. it depends if you are talking about being chinese genetically or chinese at heart (which is debatable and undefined). So do you mean that an entirely hispanic person born and raised in china by chinese parents, speaks chinese, and embraces the culture can also be considered chinese? If so, then you are correct in presuming that krisitn isnt chinese in that sense. however, the point i want to make is that you can't judge people solely on appearance and last name. You must judge them on action and words. Just because someone is "only" half asian does not mean they're not less asian than full-blooded asians. it depends on the person, you see. alas, kristin is one of those people less concerned with her heritage although it isn't her fault.
to huu76: she doesn't hide the fact that she is chinese. she's open about it and isn't ashamed or anything. here's the url to that interview where she talks about her mother.
http://www.jackcurst.uklinux.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=73
lilywater47
Monday, April 15, 2002 at 19:09:58 (PDT)
first of all, KIRISTIN IS CANADIAN!!!!
if she is to be categorized by her ehtnic group, she would be CHINESE CANADIAN!
sha
Monday, April 15, 2002 at 15:46:19 (PDT)
"ka" is saying the most sensible s*** i've read. who the hell are u ppl to determine whether or not she is asian? if she is confortable in saying she is asian so be it. she doesnt need shit from u ppl. until she says she is white, stfu
chinese guy
Monday, April 15, 2002 at 13:17:58 (PDT)
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