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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
A New Image for Asian Men?
he original flavor stereotype of Asian men may have its inspiration in Hollywood mockery of the first wave of Chinese immigrants in the Old West. Bonanza's gimpy Hop Sing was the only recurring image of Asian men for most of TV's formative decades. For variety's sake, Hollywood racked its brain and added the coolie, the waiter and the bucktoothed enemy soldier.
Corean soccer star Ahn Jung-hwan
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Fortunately, Hollywood is no longer a one-stop outlet for depictions of Asian men.
Pro sports's $30 billion estimated annual U.S. rake rivals the $35 billion pocketed by Hollywood. Driven by athletic excellence, pro sports allow no room for image jiggering to satisfy racial biases. The exploits of dashing Ahn Jung-hwan in the World Cup wasn't scripted for white American mass audiences. The straight-sets drubbing that a tall young Thai named Paradorn Srichaphan gave Andre Agassi at Wimbledon can't be left on the cutting-room floor. Ichiro's leadoff-hitting and base-stealing can't be imitated with wires and special effects.
Hi-tech and bio-tech -- whose estimated $400 billion annual revenues dwarf the media -- have spawned another set of images that clash with Hollywood's. How do Americans reconcile premiere AIDS researcher David Ho or Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang with Hollywood's Hop Sings and Long Duck Dongs?
Questions arise. Doubts are engendered.
Even modern culture -- commonly tarred by association -- isn't entirely subject to Hollywood's reflexive Asian-male undercutting. Classical music lovers are nourished by Yo-Yo Ma's gourmet cello notes and thrill to the daring rifts of Japan's iron chefs. Younger Americans surrender racial identities to a no-holds-barred universe created by manga artists. Linguists and speed readers frequently abandon Hollywood's relentless quest for the lowest common denominator in favor of films made for Asian sensibilities.
To the extent sports, culture and business enjoy a tighter relationship with reality than does Hollywood, they offer Asian men a fairer, more compelling stage. And these spheres too pack big audiences that take note of the yawning abyss that separates Hollywood's "original flavor" Asian men from the crispier, spicier variety in the real world.
Is America seeing the emergence of a new, improved Asian male image? If so, is it making life easier for Asian American men? Or just stimulating a more determined effort at undercutting?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:58:15 PM)
American Born Taiwanese College Guy:
One of the reasons why I get annoyed when people laugh at positive images of Asians, guys in particular, is because there's nothing to laugh at. We all do and say funny things, but Hollywood forms it into rare art for Asian guys.
There are holes in my arguments because I'm not a perfect person, obviously. However, I tend to believe - and tell me if you disagree - that American society, in particular, with its intrinsic capitalistic nature and competitiveness forces Asians to behave differently in order to fit in. American society marginalizes Asian men in a way that's comical. The comedy displaces serious debate and causes people to laugh and disregard Asian sensibilities. Quite frankly, to the point where even a reasonable person might not want to engage the discussion seriously.
"...next generation of Asian Americans grow up very confident, secure, and stable in their selves...let's have some good guys, Asian American Guys out there in the media representing for once instead of all those long duck dongs and kung-fu gangbangers"
Yes, that image is currently lacking in Asian male characters because society at large DOES NOT want to see it. If it's shown and celebrated, then it becomes threatening. If it's threatening, then people will react. When people react they do so in personal and professional settings and with their pocket books.
I still say it's absolutely crucial to bring about, because the less Asians are margalized the more they will stop doing things to "look and be more American".
The new image for Asian men is gaining ground in America. Let's hope that people's conscience, sensitivity and intellect can parallel the expanding role of Asian guys in our country.
Geoff DB
GeoffDB02@aol.com
Tuesday, September 03, 2002 at 15:40:30 (PDT)
[172.193.80.163]
B. Lee,
Dat Nguyen's wife is white? What a disappointment.
AA female
Tuesday, September 03, 2002 at 13:38:19 (PDT)
[209.245.206.186]
Lee,
Did I pry in on their lives? I was making an observation.
If you get all sensitive because someone criticizes you, you have issues.
Why are you stuck on thinking I insult/don't like Dat? Before this post, I've never even heard of him. I have yet to insult him. What gives?
I am better than AF by the way. I don't need to date white to make myself feel better.
I'd like to meet anyone who's better than me. The only category I'm not perfect in is the ass-kicking department.
If you feel the need to argue, I'm for it. The divide board is getting boring.
huu76
Monday, September 02, 2002 at 14:39:50 (PDT)
[64.231.102.78]
huu76,
"Incase you never picked up, I can't stand it when Afs do that, and I think an AM with self-respect (and respect for the wife) doesn't need to do that either."
I did pick up that part, but you seem to take it one step further.
For example in the gender divide forum, you were criticizing a WM/AF couple for going out on a dinner date, because the AF paid for it. In this case, the AF couple wasn't parading her white trophy in front of you. I believe it was you who was prying into someone else's private business (when they were minding their own business), then you made a case to the whole world on the internet that all AFs are sellouts.
B. Lee
Monday, September 02, 2002 at 09:33:18 (PDT)
[207.172.11.148]
Yes I do believe that a new image for Asian men is being formulated. Here in the bay area of San Francisco where the constant barrage of AF/WM is staggering, there's also the converse:AM/WF
Of course it pales in comparison to the overall totals of AF/WM but whenever it's spotted it is considered a head turner. Those new Blind Date, Shipmates Elimidate shows are beginning to show AM/WF dates. This of course presents a favorable view of Asian guys with all kinds of attractive females. The Asian guys are all attractive outgoing guys who just happen to snag the dates at the end of the show. In no way do these shows even begin to tip the scales against all the negativity we are assaulted with. For the time being, these little morsels will have to hold us but we need more, much much more.
True Brother
Monday, September 02, 2002 at 09:06:36 (PDT)
[152.163.189.232]
Lee,
Anyway, I think we pretty much agree on this topic, so there's not point in getting all riled up over some nitpicking. You do what you like, I'll do what I like. In the end, it's all good.
huu76
Sunday, September 01, 2002 at 23:22:41 (PDT)
[207.164.88.163]
huu76,
This is how I took your comments, on this forum and elsewhere.
On this forum, you said, "guys like Yo-yo and Ming Tsai kind of take the AM image a few steps back. They're the epitome of the AM artsy wuss image."
Yo-yo and Ming Tsai are two popular AM/WF couples, but you mentioned they are too wussy. I included Dat Nguyen, because he is part of a new AM/WF couple
who is in the "manly" sport in the NFL.
About Dat's wife being white, you said, "but what's the deal that she happend to be blonde and/or white. So what?". Well, excuse me, but in the gender devide forum, it's the biggest deal in the world to you when an AF dates/marries a WM. I was trying to appease the likes of you, by showing that AM/WF couples really are increasing.
Finally, about your anti-AF agenda. I mentioned that Dat doesn't have an anti-AF agenda for marrying a WF, because I was hoping you could learn from this. If your preference is non-AF, then that's your personal preference. But you claim to represent an entire city like Toronto, and start a crusade against every AF in the world. That is blatantly racist, and you're really no better than the sellout AFs you despise.
B. Lee
Sunday, September 01, 2002 at 23:08:59 (PDT)
[207.172.11.148]
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