So it looks like there's a little controversy going on in geekdom and it has to do with some issues regarding the new Atom, who is Chinese. I caught wind of the whole big discussion through a post on Blog@Newsarama which led me to the post on Reappropriate, which then led me to the post on One Diverse Comic Book Nation and wow, I'm exhausted.I did in fact read through all the comments on Reappropriate, but only read a few at One Diverse because my eyes just couldn't take the strain anymore. Most of the uproar is concerning a phrase that writer Gail Simone uses in issue #2 of the new series. It's a quote that the writer believes to be a very common saying within the Cantonese speaking public in China, but the blogger over at Reappropriate took it as something that was perpetuating negative stereotypes about Asian Americans (namely the eating of dogs).
The whole debate is a entertaining read, though it dips into some ugly levels at certain points, but it really got me thinking about my own stance on issues regarding Asians. I stated in my last post that I can get pretty militant about stuff, but I hope I never get to a place where I'm just searching for fault in things when no fault really exists. I admit that I criticized the All New Atom before I had even read an issue based on the cover art that I have up above. I found the image to be a stereotypical caricature of what Asians look like and it offended me. The way I see it, that image is just two shakes away from having coke-bottle glasses and buck teeth in it.
Unfortunately, I let my offense at the image dictate my feelings about all the creators involved. That was a big mistake on my part. So I tracked down issues #1-7 and read them all today to be better informed about the comic. To be honest, the argument that the phrase used in issue #2 perpetuates a negative stereotype is a weak one to me. Why? Well, Chinese people do eat dogs. As do people of other cultures. Do I eat dog? No, I don't. Would I try dog? Sure, I love eating meat.
I've been in situations where people who are not Asian have made negative comments to me because of what I was eating, but I didn't back pedal and say, "What? No, it just says fresh water eel roll on the box, this isn't eel!"
Instead I said, "Yeah, what's your point? Eel tastes good, you want to try some you ignorant cow?" Actually, I left out the cow part, but you get the picture. There are certain things about Eastern culture that may or may not be acceptable in the West, but so what? I'm not embarrassed by the fact that people who look like me eat "strange" things. I eat all sorts of things that many Americans might turn their nose at. I grew up on this stuff. The food is as much a part of my culture as red envelopes are during Lunar New Year or lion dancers and firecrackers are at grand openings.
I suppose I don't see any flaw in fighting the good fight against ignorance, but personal embarrassment and/or shame shouldn't ever be a reason to put up that fight. I still think the cover to issue #1 is ridiculous and I also think it's alright to eat a dog or two if you feel so inclined (as long as it's not someones pet, that's just mean). I don't think Gail Simone is a racist, but I do find Ariel Olivetti's cover to issue #1 offensive. Ah well, anyone got any monkey brains? I'm hungry.
8 comments:
Thank you, John. Your words mean a lot to me!
And I hope you like the current covers better, I think they're really gorgeous lately!
Best,
Gail
Mike:
Thanks for the comments and the links. Just to clarify from your statement
"personal embarrassment and/or shame shouldn't ever be a reason to put up that fight."
Personal embarassment and shame are not my motivations. As I write and later clarify, my issues with the quote are the mis-translation into Engrish and the perpetuation of bizarre eating habits in an American setting, perpetuating stereotypes of Asians as animalistic that date back to the nineteenth century. I'm proud of Asian cuisine and appreciate the rich cultural history that leads to our traditional foods, but that doesn't mean that I feel it's appropriate for an Asian character to convey to an American audience a self-depracating joke about Asian eating habits that strongly reinforce stereotypes that have been used to characterize Asians as feral, animalistic or barbaric.
(ooops hit the button too soon)
In other words, my issue is not with the practice of eating dog or anything else, per se. It is rather that Asians should be careful to present those practices in a way that acknowledges but does not encourages those early offensive stereotypes.
Jon,
Thanks for the link. This is a great entry and I think we share similar viewpoints in terms of what we can find offensive and not offensive. I remember being disappointed by the cover of the first issue of The All-New Atom, but I ended up picking up the issues and have been enjoying the series. Anyway, I like the way that you've shown the many shades there are at looking at Asian American images in the media.
I give you guys the first couple covers. The artist is a wonderful talent, but...well...you've said it all already.
As for the other comments, I'm always going to be more of a kick-the-door-in type of person when confronted with this sort of thing (which I feel has some direct connection to being a woman in a very male-dominated field. Different, but connected).
Again, Jon, I commend you for saying 'screw you' to intolerant idiots.I think just by living your life without worry of what bigots think and say, you might likely do more to create understanding than all of us.
I think of the story of Sushi in America, as an example. At one time, it was mostly joke fodder, hahaha look at the Asians eating raw fish, hahaha.
But the Japanese showed no shame, instead, the fierce pride in properly made sushi seeped in, and caught on with young American professionals and now, it's part of the national fabric. Sure, there are still ignorant people and louts and morons, but it's just as likely that THEY'll be mocked for what they're missing out on.
At one time, it was hard to find a Chinese restaurant in most of America that sold anything but the diner-style American Cantonese food that Ryan bitches about in Atom #2, but attitudes do change, people do wise up a little, and now I can get dim sum ALMOST as good as I got at the Jumbo Floating restaurant, but right here in my backwards little home state.
Anyway, good on ya, Jon. If you're coming to New York, I hope I get to meet you.
Best wishes,
Gail
Gail,
I'm actually loving Ladronn's covers! I generally like Ariel Olivetti's work, but, yeah...I have to agree with Jon that his rendition of Ryan, particularly the first one, seemed a little strange. But, Ladronn=awesome!
Loren
i really doubt olivetti had much to do about it besides being told to draw it. if you're going to need to point a finger, i'd say take it up with editorial. they screen and generate the bigger materials and titles.
but then this whole situation is sort of over analyzed anyway.
Hello there Anonymous poster. Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on the subject, though I do disagree with your stance of this situation being "over analyzed".
I agree that editorial should take some of the blame for that image, but then again shouldn't the artist who drew said image?
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
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