Link to MAD TV spoof - Gwen Stefani "Arent Asians Great"

[Anonymous]

wow - lots of information, but I do have some comments.

First of all, the MAD TV spoof - well, you just have to consider the source. Inasmuch as they were making fun - it is a spoof - I would say the people they are making fun of are those who know little/nothing about Asian cultures and draw conclusions anyway. In that light, yes, it has some humor. My concern is, that those who view MAD (i.e. high schoolers) may not be able to make that distinction, and so just laugh and repeat. In my classroom, it always seems the rude things that students say to each other sometimes, which are ridiculously irresponsible at best, are blamed on MAD TV when I take them to task on it. And I do take them to task, believe it.

Second, about the controversy with the Viet Namese student who spoke no Viet Namese with parents who speak no English. That happens more than you think. I have friends who speak English only, whose parents speak Spanish only. However, 37% or more of the Spanish language is non-verbal gestures. I can have a conversation with someone using just gestures, sometimes. Point is, you can't really make a judgment about the situation because there are so many other factors involved, not the least of which is the conversations they have in private. In this particular case, it sounds as though the student has some issues with her culture that she dislikes, and is trying very hard to fit into mainstream American culture, whatever that is. So, even though she SAYS she speaks no Vietnamese, if she is standing there, fed, dressed, and cared for, obviously she doesn't do that all herself. There has to be some interaction with her parents, however adolescent, petulant, denial-oriented, etc. it is.

Third, as to race issues. As I'm sure most are aware, there is no scientific, specific definition or evidence of the concept of race. It is a way for humans, usually those of the dominant culture, to differentiate between themselves and others who are different for whatever reason. Race does not fit into any other context but categorizing. I make certain to teach that to my students every year, and reteach them to use the word 'culture' as much as possible, instead. Right now, the word 'mixed' keeps showing up in the classroom, because the 'mixed race' students are sought after and considered desirable. No idea how that developed, as I was discussing with another teacher recently who is only 40, and said that since he was mixed race, he was always on the outside. He has no idea how it happened either, but there it is. Point is, once the 'mixing' of 'races' happens to the point where we cannot recognize obvious differences, I'm sure humans will come up with another way to categorize. (it's on a sperm level, remember?)
I have to say that one thing I am sorry to see diminish is the cultural differences - ways of looking at the world, music, dance...shoot, even food is now called 'fusion' cuisine. That saddens me because of all the really beautiful things there are that different cultures have, and I haven't even gotten to see them all yet!

Fourth, we go round and round on this beauty thing. I think Joseph Campbell wrote something on it once, because I remember reading about it YEARS ago in an Anthro 101 class. In any case, he said that even in the most untraveled areas of Africa, the albino babies were considered to be spiritually above all the rest because they were light. This in a place which doesn't have much to do with blondes. I think perhaps humans are just fascinated with the fair, blue eyed, light hair thing. They are recessive genes, even in Sweden, so maybe it is unique, etc. when one makes it through. I was reading in National Geographic 2 months ago that redheads are considered an endangered species because the last stronghold for redheads, Scotland, has pretty much started producing children with blonde or brown hair. Apparently the red gene has to be somewhere in both parents' lineup, so the chances of to brownhairs having a red are slim.
When I went to Japan in 2001, I went with some of the other teachers to this area that was frequented by youth. We wanted to get an idea of what Japanese youth were into. I didn't really have any expectations, but we had hamburgers and lemonade at a VERY busy restaurant there, and most of the kids were wearing jeans, boots or running shoes, t-shirts, and their hair was cropped and varying shades of light brown. It was the exact same uniform I'd seen in England, Mexico, and downtown LA. I don't think it's a specific look that is considered beautiful, I think that everyone wants to identify with everyone else. It's like the newspaper article I read about Avril Lavigne having her OWN style. Oh, please. Her and several million other girls. I don't know what to make of it yet, but it is kind of scary when you think about all the 1984 type novels - why DO they want to be all the same?

[Anonymous]

The Mad TV spoof is certainly one-dimensional in its satirical look at Asian culture. But it also satirical in its interpretation of music videos in general and Gwen Stefani in particular. As a Persian, I am capable of laughing at satirical portrayals of Iranian culture. But of course, this is partly because I have been an American citizen so long I am probably pretty well “Americanized.” The reaction of Asian observers is indicative of the fact that the use of satire is often cutting and unrestrained. It can certainly be hurtful to those who see only meanness rather than humor. I think the use of this video to spark discussion among adults could be most useful and beneficial in the area of race relations. But I would never show it to my middle school age students, they are just too young and immature to understand it. Nevertheless, it is interesting to see such humor and even more illuminating to read of the different reactions it inspires.

[Anonymous]

Gwen Stefani set herself up for this spoof. She once called her Japanese dancers her accessories. It just goes to who that many Americans are still stuck on orientalist conceptions of the East. We've been exoticizing the Orient since before Marco Polo and we continue to do so. I think the spoof is funny and tend to find ethnic humor funny because it is honest in its offensiveness and makes us face our own prejudices up front instead of lying to ourselves that they do not exist.

[Anonymous]

I saw the clip, and I too was somewhat offended. Bobbie Lee has made is living playing numerous Asian characters, men and women. My most favored is also from Mad TV, where he portrays a worker in a nail salon, trying to describe a certain man "He look like......a MAN !) It is so embarrassing to laugh at what we all know to be a sterotypical character, but perhaps allowing Bobbie Lee to act as the character, allows us to laugh with him as against him?

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