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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, 06:00:12 PM)
Kristin is not AMERICAN! She is 100% pure Canadian. Fresh from Vancouver. I am of Korean Descent, and I consider my self as a Canadian, not an asian-canadian, or asian-american. Why the Hoopla of whether she is caucasian, african-american, or asian? Who really cares what colour a person is. She is a very gifted and beatuiful Canadian! That's That!
Vancouverite
icu143@hotmail.com
Monday, April 22, 2002 at 17:55:53 (PDT)
Re: Kristin
i did'nt have access to internet until today.
i'm holding her response to this question from canadian daily The globe and mail(mar 7,2002). Says she's in ad campaign lauching her as the new face face of Neutrogena soap will be plastered all across glossy pages of fashion magazines. she also has her very own DC Comics figure coming soon.
Here's her response:
Kreuk isn't so attached to her Chinese heritage that she resents having to resume it. "It's kind of hard for me when people say I'm representing the Asian population. It's great to see a half-Chinese girl on TV. But the fact is , I'm not representing anybody.I'm reading a book now about a Chinese woman," glancing down at her copy of Anchee Min's Becoming Madame Mao. But i haven't looked into my past very much. my mom was born in indonesia. she doesn't speak a word of chinese. i see myself as Canadian."
Anyone want a copy?
Dharma
Dharma
Monday, April 22, 2002 at 14:23:44 (PDT)
Hmm...Asian American? Last time I checked she was Canadian. So wouldn't that make her an Asian Canadian?
She doesn't even live in the States. She lives in Vancouver BC.
Either way, she's so beautiful.
DuskyYouth
Sunday, April 21, 2002 at 20:33:15 (PDT)
to the entertainment underworld:
you are apparently angry for what YOU perceive as the jewish media perpetuating asian stereotypes right? "Stereotypes of the shrewd Jew has dissipated through the years, while stereotypes of Asians and other minorities persist." blah blah blah. well since u so obviously hate stereotypes, i would LOVE to kno why you are making more stereotypes (of jews) and pasting it over the internet. "And the fact that Jews are an historically persecuted group just makes it that much more of a hypocrisy!"
if you want the world to be racism-free, start with yourself. YOU are much more of a hypocrite than anyone else. you're the one going on and on about stereotypes, and then you just conjure up another one. and for all the "facts" you stated, where is your PROOF? your accusations would not hold up in a court of law, would they now?
lilywater47
Sunday, April 21, 2002 at 18:06:32 (PDT)
To L:
Regarding : "By the way, since I don't watch the show...is her character presented as simply Caucasian, or Hapa?"
Technically, Smallville presents Kristin as Caucasian since her mom + dad (whacked by meteor in ep.01) are also Caucasian. Plus, her adoptive aunt in the show is also Caucasian.
However, her past doesn't seem to be a central part of the show. (Besides the stock staements of: I love my parents...etc)
So, if you neglect ep01 and her aunt... she could be presented as Hapa.
Anyway, Kristin is HOT, and that's why I keep watching...Just wondering when she's going to get her own show....
fuzilogic
Sunday, April 21, 2002 at 13:54:29 (PDT)
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