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Anonymous.
AnonymousYes, I remember hearing that LAUSD is currently 75% Hispanic. I agree that it is important for teachers and administrators to understand the relationship between different cultures. We can't expect our students to be culturally aware if we ourselves are not. We as teachers have to teach our students tolerance and encourage them to look beyond the stereotypes to see individuals. We should model this behavior for our students by respecting their culture and trying to acknowledge aspects of their culture on a daily basis.
I’ve never thought about the Asian community having a “rift” with the Hispanic/Latino community. I didn’t grow up in Southern California and haven’t been in the community long enough to stand firm on this. However, it didn’t surprise me that Ryan was treated differently by Asians in places of business. My stepmom is Caucasian and is often treated differently when she is in Chinatown. There is no way to justify this treatment. I think there are three possible reasons for this. One, reverse discrimination. People feel alienated from society, so they in turn alienate society. Two, many immigrants may not feel comfortable communicating with people in English because their English isn’t “perfect”. Three, people have different customs.
I know that Ryan is talking about a deeper issue and is looking for the “source” of misunderstanding that leads to negative stereotypes and prejudice. I don’t know what that “source” is. It has always puzzled me when minority groups fight amongst each other. It seems that the simplest misunderstanding can lead to generalized misconceptions and stereotypes. When we don’t understand something or someone, it’s easier to make assumptions than to make the time and effort to understand.
I’m glad you brought this up Ryan. I’m curious to hear what others have to say about this.
AnonymousInterestingly, I get tired of eating potatoes (I am half Irish) -- it also makes me feel very full. I live with a Japanese American and we have rice a lot. I don't eat as much of that either but it takes me down another cultural path with my new family saying "Rice again!" or "Got rice." From their perspective, there is no shame associated with rice -- They are quite proud of their massive consumption of rice. Growing up, I had friends who felt the same way about potatoes because it was sometimes the only course for dinner at their tables. (By the way, I love noodles too.)
clay dubeTelevision and films rely on stereotypical images to quickly set scenes and convey a feel. How do such images get produced? Below is an email message I received yesterday from a local casting company. You'll note that the company seems fairly upright (not charging to look you over and not promising more than minimum wage -- well, for most assignments). At the same time, you'll see the most boiled down view of Asian Americans.
I've deleted the firm's email address. Everything else is exactly as it was sent to me.
***
From: --------
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 7:52 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Assistance needed - feature film seeking Asian extras
We're casting an independent feature film titled "BABY" to be shot in the Los Angeles area from 5/16/05 to 6/12/05. Any help you can provide in spreading the word to the local Asian community would be VERY helpful!
Extras need only be available for 1-2 days in this time frame.
We are holding an OPEN CALL for MOVIE EXTRAS and are seeking the following types ONLY:
NON-UNION EXTRAS: NON-UNION ONLY for this project. Pay rate $54 for 8 hours plus overtime (basically minimum wage plus time and 1/2 after 8 hours). Standard work day is approximately 8-12 hours. MUST be legal to work in US and have valid photo ID & social security number.
ASIAN - Chinese men 55-75
ASIAN - Upscale Korean, men & women, age range 30-50
ASIAN - All Asian types, neighbors, all ages
ASIAN - Hip & Trendy clubgoers, attractive, men & women, age range 18-35
ASIAN - Vietnamese gang types, thugs/punks, male, age range 18-25
ASIAN - Male bodyguards, heavy set with multiple tattoos
ASIAN - Korean gang types, thugs, male, age range 18-25
ASIAN - All Asian types, Male & Female, clubgoers age range 18-45
ASIAN - Nude, female, body doubles (higher rate $350-$400/8, MUST be willing to work completely nude in tasteful simulated sex scene)
ASIAN - Barely dressed Speakeasy customers, Female, all ages
ASIAN - Chinese gang types, male, age range 18-25
ASIAN - Hookers, Female, all ages (MUST be comfortable with skimpy attire)
ASIAN - Female, Beautiful/attractive women, age range 18-40
ASIAN - Juvenile detention kids, male, age range 18-22 to look younger (MUST have shaved head or be willing to have head shaved)
Basically, we need a Non-Union ALL ASIAN Extras cast. If you are not Asian, please DO NOT attend this Open Call. We have other projects that will be posted at a later date.
WHEN: Sunday - May 15th, 2005
3:00p to 5:00pm
WHERE: Crossroads of the World Plaza (outside in the courtyard)
6671 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood
(at Sunset & Las Palmas. On street parking in area)
HOW: Just show up ready to fill out paperwork. If you have a 3x5 photo or
a headshot please bring one with you. If not, we will take a polaroid of you. This is a FREE Open Call for our paper files on this project only.
(If you would like to register for our digital files for other OLC projects, you will be able to do that at the open call also. For digital registration there is a $15.00 cash only fee. Digital registration NOT required to work on "BABY")
If you have questions, please email me at: ---------, otherwise I will see you on Sunday 5/15/05!!
Thanks!
~Tina Kerr
Extras Casting Director - "BABY"
ON LOCATION CASTING
AnonymousIt is interesting that (according to the survey) some questions cannot be asked in China. I use to speak with Chinese students at UCLA family housing, they seem to favor many Western ways. However, from viewing pictures in Prof. Dube's class, they certainly have adopted Western cloths.
Frank
AnonymousWow- the casting business has evolved a bit. Now they actually require Asian heritage to be considered for an Asian role.
I just spoke with my Panamanian mother-in-law who confessed to playing an Asian in a film in the 60's- and she doesn't look anything but Latina! Who could forget the years of actors painted, dressed and wigged to appear "Asian."
For example, Check out Tony Randall in the Seven Faces or Dr. Lao at
http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_product.asp?master_movie_id=1719&movie_nss=19640074
It's an intriguing film for the youngsters who may be blissfully ignorant about typecasting. I'll never forget when he stratched his hand out for 100's of yards- freaky!
Furthermore, It would be interesting to explore how the Chinese (or other East Asian countries) film industry fills non-Chinese roles. I've seen plenty of bad caucasian actors (no doubt unable to find work here) type cast as white stereotypes in many Asian films- but always as whites.
Lastly, middle-aged Chinese actors often don white wigs, affect a hunched back and slow gait to appear old. So, China does have an ageism problem for older actors- unless it's the tight budgets.
Classroom uses: mythology, sterotypes, fantasy[Edit by="kdietrick on Jul 27, 1:49:48 PM"][/Edit]
AnonymousWow- Unfortunately China is catching up to us in the shallow department but they are more honest about it than we tend to be!
There is an interesting poem "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy (in our grade 12 curriculum) which deals with a girl who kills herself because she isn't pretty enough to others. It would be interesting to investigate how many Chinese feel this same way and are willing to undergo the knife and/or commit suicide as a solution.
Also, what % of the population suffers from poor body image and associated disorders?
Check out the following links about China's first Miss Plastic Surgery Pageant.
http://www.cosmeticsurgery.com/articles/archive/an~67/
http://www.china.org.cn/english/NM-e/115378.htm
http://www.theasf.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5624
Class applications: Stereotypes, beauty/pageants, optional surgery[Edit by="kdietrick on Jul 27, 1:42:55 PM"][/Edit]
AnonymousI just read the posting on the casting call, WOW!!!!
It looks really stereotypical. I guess tehy are doing another Asian gangster in teh downtown area film. I will give the casting firm some of teh benefit of doubt as teh request they sent out was out of context as to what they are doing with the rest of the film, but...
That list is still pretty scary.
Ignorance leads to stereotypes. Ugh!!!
David Dandridge
AnonymousPerceptions, a great topic.
Three years ago I went to China with my wiife for two monthes. We were on a grant to deal with just this topic. It was funded by the Avery Foundation (now, sadly defunct). The program called for non-academic research on/in a topic that required direct contact with the Chinese people. In our case we played Mah Jiang. We visited 6 major cities in Eastern and CEntral China to play Mah Jiang. During this stime we had a great deal of contact with the Chinese. This included in large cities, small towns, a couple of farms and even a tavern type establishment that looked straight out of Indiana Jones, where I played Qiang Qi (Chinese Chess) with Buddhist Monks. The CHess was a add on after we arrived and found how popular and pervasive of a game it was.
many CHinese did not know what to make of us at first, but after a bit of observation they warmed up and the it was as if we were their neighbors.
The main purpose of the program was for Americans to get to know the Chinese and for the Chinese to get to know Americans. There is so much ignorance on both side that it can onlyy help if we get to know each other better. It was an amazing trip.
Perhaps the greatest realization for me was that the Chinese are not what most Americans envision. We have an image of the Chinese as being quite dowr (sp?), stern and almost grumpy. These things they are not. They may be hesitant at first, but remember their has been 60 years of not exactly flattering propoganda about America fed to them (as well as quite a bit of anti-Chinese propoganda in the US), but they warm up and are an exceedingly friendly and generous people.
David Dandridge
AnonymousWhat an informative story, the rest of the world is going crazy with plastic surgery, why shouldn't China? I was aware that plastic surgery was huge in South America and to a large degree in South Korea (I read an article in Newsweek years ago). Apparently the plastic surgery there is to give Korean women a bit more of a Caucasian look on Asian features.
"WWMT" (What would Mao think- I got this from a piece I read), I think officially he would think it is another shining display of bourgeois excess. Unofficially I think he would think it was just fine. I doubt he ever engaged in different "activities" with ugly women.
AnonymousClayton,
I started reading the two pieces you suggested and found myself facing a Questia subscription page. Are there any special prices for educators? I would love to read the entire publication and would be very much interested in seeing what else is offered through this service.
On the second study, it's been 5 years since its publication, and I would like to know if there are any updated figures or any new surveys. Any ideas or suggestions?
Fascinating!
A.H. Armas
AnonymousMy friend and I had a blast touring the local 99 Ranch market this week. It's a wonderful and educationally affordable way to peek into the Asian culture. If you can't get students to go you could take some photos and share them with the class. However, they'll not be able to enjoy the aroma of the gigantic seafood section with live catfish, tilapia, crustaceans, etc. While we were able to spot some familiar things much was alien to us. There is much to compare with other cultures, as I saw Pacific Island and Latin- American food stuffs in addition to Asian. Hopefully someone in your group can read Chinese/Japanese- as for me I have to depend on the pictures. Or, sometimes an illustration is provided. You could buy a few affordable items to share in the class or even have students guess what things are used for (like fabric & elastic cuff guards for the ladies- kinda looks like a plastic bag keeper). Also provides a glimpse into the spirituality department. As non- Asian markets feature religious candles, 99 Ranch features incense, offering money, cool lotus lamps and other icons. Furthermore, it is rich with many languages.
We found ourselves grossed out by some of the food items- pork bellies, deer meat, rabbit meat, and crammed live catfish- and found the general aroma unpleasant. Then we supposed how ignorant many are about all this and how set in our ways many people are. While we go about our doings other cultures go about theirs as well- probably just as oblivious. It is worth investigating in the classroom and should provide an enlightening experience.
The funniest part of the trip was us in the checkout line. We are restoring a wooden dining set and were told that mayonnaise would lift white rings in the wood. So here stood 2 silly white girls holding a single jar of Best Foods mayonnaise sandwiched between two local shoppers unloading carts piled high with pork bellies, mackerel and a myriad of other delicacies. We couldn't stop laughing at how we were/appeared as the clueless stereotypes!
Visit 99 Ranch market locations at Gardena or Van Nuys or check out their store locator at
http://www.99ranch.com/StoreLocator.asp
For Japanese Markets go to Mitsuwa or Marukai
AnonymousHmmm...wonder if they would pay the same for other races, and also, can anyone think of a film where they would ONLY cast WHITE people?
AnonymousWow, I am really shocked that although a large percentage of the people in these different asian nations say that they can't afford food they are still happy with their jobs and income.
AnonymousLessons involving stereotypes have always been fruitful. Students always get really into it, and often discussions must be facilitated with a short leash so as to avoid hysteric stereotype spinout. I can't think of any short piece that directly addresses asian stereotypes, but I remember using a short story from the book Multicultural Voices edited by Rita Dove about an African American that developed into an amzing activity and discussion debunking popular stereotypes. I remember using a chart that divided what students had heard/stereotypes and reality/what they actually knew. This proved a great tool to anchor the more extreme comments and allowed students to consider their own assumptions, opinions and beliefs. I would like someone out there to recommend a good short story that could be used for this sort of thing.
AnonymousIgnorance leads to stereotyping, and stereotyping will result in even uglier deeds. I have lived in Southern California for the last 27 years, and it kills me to see that not much has changed in this perception of cultures by other cultures, and it is all because of the lack of programs that allows us to interact and know more about each other. We can see it in local fare shown on Television. It is always about food, sex, or violence. Those are aspects of human life but not the only ones. Caucasians might be perceived as people who have the advantage of being in a priviledged position, but one can't judge only one is in that position and experiences what they experience. I can tell you that it is very frustrating to be called a "Mexican" by 90% of the population just because that is all those people managed to learn in school, or worse, were taught in school. A few years ago, in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" a contestant was asked to name the location of a river with a Spanish name, and the only answer he could come up was Mexico, even though there were four other choices on the screen? It was pitiful and hysterical.
Regarding our perceptions of Asians in this area, I can only say that it is very difficult to interact or experience another culture by visiting some neighborhoods that are predominantly Chinese and the only thing we can encounter are signs in those languages. I think Chinese food and art are some of the most interesting, intriguing, and marvelous in this planet, but I felt very frustrated when I couldn't even order a dish in a restaurant because the menu was not translated and the waiters couldn't or wouldn't speak English. To be fair, I talked to a waitress once, and she confided that there are different levels of comfort in China, making it very difficult to approach others immediately with the same of level of trust and confidence we do in American culture. My best friend is of Chinese parents, but he grew up in Colombia. He still values his heritage but his attitude and behavior are most a result of interaction with other civilizations and culture. He speaks better Spanish than me, and spending time with him will seriously debunk any perceptions we have of others. We learn to act and behave. If we want to cross bridges, we have to build them, and the execution of that idea should be mutual. It is time to stop pointing fingers, sneering, snickering, and blaming. It is time to take the opportunity to explore the world in this city. Sometimes I feel like I don't have to get on a plane to see the world. I get on an MTA bus and travel a few miles and get a preview of another world.