(no subject)
I had some more thoughts about my friend, Victoria (sulis_athena)'s lj. She talked about when people glorify a culture that is not their own, it cheapens it, by making it some exotic thing, so I put them, my thoughts, up here.
She said that by glorifying Asian culture, it's as offensive as what happens to black culture. I think though that for most people showing an interest in another culture is good. But it can go too far. Because stereotypes do hurt.
On pjammer)'s journal he wrote about how for a new reality show on NBC, applicants for their "ultimate man" show could only be Caucasian but the women could be any race.
You might think it's a stupid TV show. I do too, but that's not the point. The point however is that TV and movies DO affect the way we see ourselves and view others.
As for the "exoticizing" of the races. It's damaging because it promotes the belief that the women are only there to serve and please. And Asian males are promoted by Hollywood as being "asexual." Today even stars of martial arts movies almost always don't have romantic interests.
There's two sides to every coin. I mentioned to Rob a long time ago that there is no such thing as race in Japan (or so they say) because everyone there is either a native or a foreigner. However I did find out there are segregated bathhouses there for "foreigners" because customers demanded foreigner-free tubs. And the police have been known to advise the public to notify police if foreigners are seen in groups speaking a foreign language. (I was going to talk about how Japanese media views Americans to even it out, but I don't know enough about that)
I think though in the end if the person is serious and takes the time and does things respectively, it's okay. If they're doing it for the wrong reasons, they're going to look like an idiot and that's going to show.
She said that by glorifying Asian culture, it's as offensive as what happens to black culture. I think though that for most people showing an interest in another culture is good. But it can go too far. Because stereotypes do hurt.
On pjammer)'s journal he wrote about how for a new reality show on NBC, applicants for their "ultimate man" show could only be Caucasian but the women could be any race.
You might think it's a stupid TV show. I do too, but that's not the point. The point however is that TV and movies DO affect the way we see ourselves and view others.
As for the "exoticizing" of the races. It's damaging because it promotes the belief that the women are only there to serve and please. And Asian males are promoted by Hollywood as being "asexual." Today even stars of martial arts movies almost always don't have romantic interests.
There's two sides to every coin. I mentioned to Rob a long time ago that there is no such thing as race in Japan (or so they say) because everyone there is either a native or a foreigner. However I did find out there are segregated bathhouses there for "foreigners" because customers demanded foreigner-free tubs. And the police have been known to advise the public to notify police if foreigners are seen in groups speaking a foreign language. (I was going to talk about how Japanese media views Americans to even it out, but I don't know enough about that)
I think though in the end if the person is serious and takes the time and does things respectively, it's okay. If they're doing it for the wrong reasons, they're going to look like an idiot and that's going to show.