Non-asians performing at Asian events

[Eros]

I went to a Japanese Latern Festival thing today and two things really struck me. First, that so many Japanese were in attendance since I hardly ever see them around (being from Minnesota and all). The second thing is how many non-asians, mainly caucasians, were performing things at the festival. Almost all the martial arts performers were caucasian guys. All the people at the Zen center booth were caucasian (though, that really didn't surprise me). Even in the dance, musical , and theatre performaces many of the actors were not asian. This felt weird to me. I can understand if some of it was because kids in a school volunteered to learn some folk dances to perform at the event but many of the adult actors were nonasian also. I guess I should not be too surprised since this is Minnesota and much of the things seemed to be connected to a sister city program with Japanese cities (that is the origin of the Japanese garden that the festival was held at).

Anyway, how do you all feel about nonasians being such a large part of an asian event? Is it nice to see people taking an interest in the culture (to the point of learning Kabuki, musical instruments, and the like, not that "I like anime and pocky!" type)? Or do you think they should have tried to get more Japanese or at least Asians to take part? Is this opinion influenced by that area, meaning that you would find it offensive in Cali with it's high asian population but not so much in the midwest were the asian population is smaller?

[SunWuKong]

it's flattering to me when i see non-Chinese people performing at Chinese cultural events. they have an interest in the culture and they've devoted themselves to learning about it. at the same time, i find it kind of funny because some of these people are even more devoted to it than a lot of the Chinese participants. i think it's because most Chinese people grew up knowing that they're inheriting the culture, and it's part of their environment, so they just take it easier with it, while for non-Chinese people, it's like an external thing that they acquired.

i think the same thing happens with some American-born Asians and mixed people. they put a lot of efforts into acquainting themselves with their ethnic culture because they feel that they're somewhat dissociated from it.

[krome]

Why do all these WMs join these events?
Why do pedophiles become Catholic priests?
Why do gay guys become Scoutmasters?
Life is full of questions.

[SunWuKong]

<!--QuoteBegin-krome+Aug 17 2003, 11:45 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (krome @ Aug 17 2003, 11:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Why do all these WMs join these events?
Why do pedophiles become Catholic priests?
Why do gay guys become Scoutmasters?
Life is full of questions. [/b][/quote]
Why do all these Asian guys who can't get a chick whine about Asian women?

Life is full of questions.

[AliBabaIncorporated]

Nah, it's good that they're putting in the effort to learn traditional arts and transmit them to others through performance, there's a real shortage of people (not just Asian-Americans, but people all over the world) who want to study such things, since they're really not that relevent to how modern Asians live their lives.

The white guy who join the "Asian-American Culture Night" at university and read off spoken word about how whites are evil and hegemonic, or participate in cheesy skits vaguely based on traditional stories, those are probably the ones who are just there to pick up girls. Then again, most of the male performers are only doing their thing (karaoke performance, skit, game show, MC) to get exposure and pick up girls, so whatevah ...

[SunWuKong]

you know, it would be really weird if i see white people performing Cantonese opera...

[AngryABCGirl]

<!--QuoteBegin-SunWuKung+Aug 17 2003, 08:06 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (SunWuKung @ Aug 17 2003, 08:06 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> you know, it would be really weird if i see white people performing Cantonese opera... [/b][/quote]
Isn't already frightening enough with Cantonese people?

[SunWuKong]

<!--QuoteBegin-AzNBuffGrL+Aug 18 2003, 12:22 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (AzNBuffGrL @ Aug 18 2003, 12:22 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Isn't already frightening enough with Cantonese people? [/b][/quote]
hey! :lol: :P
kasie's gonna kick your ass. she sings Cantonese opera.

[Ogumo]

<!--QuoteBegin-Eros+Aug 17 2003, 07:25 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Eros @ Aug 17 2003, 07:25 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I went to a Japanese Latern Festival thing today and two things really struck me. First, that so many Japanese were in attendance since I hardly ever see them around (being from Minnesota and all). The second thing is how many non-asians, mainly caucasians, were performing things at the festival. Almost all the martial arts performers were caucasian guys. All the people at the Zen center booth were caucasian (though, that really didn't surprise me). Even in the dance, musical , and theatre performaces many of the actors were not asian. This felt weird to me. I can understand if some of it was because kids in a school volunteered to learn some folk dances to perform at the event but many of the adult actors were nonasian also. I guess I should not be too surprised since this is Minnesota and much of the things seemed to be connected to a sister city program with Japanese cities (that is the origin of the Japanese garden that the festival was held at).

Anyway, how do you all feel about nonasians being such a large part of an asian event? Is it nice to see people taking an interest in the culture (to the point of learning Kabuki, musical instruments, and the like, not that "I like anime and pocky!" type)? Or do you think they should have tried to get more Japanese or at least Asians to take part? Is this opinion influenced by that area, meaning that you would find it offensive in Cali with it's high asian population but not so much in the midwest were the asian population is smaller? [/b][/quote]
No I would not find this "offensive". But if these americans were saying things like "damn jap" or "filthy nip". Or something like that yes I would be offended. But these americans were getting along and trying to help with this event. You made it seem like there were few japanese people living in your region if that was true. Than it makes sense. But you said you were surprised to see that many japanese. It does not matter as long as there were many japanese there and the non japanese were not causing problems. There would be no reason for concern.

[teaz0r]

one eyed one horned flying purple
people eaters can do the traditional
thai dance for all i care.

i just don't like sexpats.

[DragonKnight]

<!--QuoteBegin-SunWuKung+Aug 17 2003, 09:53 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (SunWuKung @ Aug 17 2003, 09:53 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> hey! :lol: :P
kasie's gonna kick your ass. she sings Cantonese opera. [/b][/quote]
Whoa... :blink:

[sunyang]

<!--QuoteBegin-teaz0r+Aug 18 2003, 01:53 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (teaz0r @ Aug 18 2003, 01:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> i just don't like sexpats. [/b][/quote]
Sexpats!!! What a great play on words - first time I've ever heard it. Did you make it up or is that word in existence already?

[AliBabaIncorporated]

<!--QuoteBegin-sunyang+Aug 18 2003, 03:43 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (sunyang @ Aug 18 2003, 03:43 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Sexpats!!! What a great play on words - first time I've ever heard it. Did you make it up or is that word in existence already? [/b][/quote]
only 18 hits (http://www.google.com/search?q=sexpats&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=zh-TW&lr=) on google ... doesn't sound like it should be original, but it might be.

[nonamerasian]

I wouldn't be offended by people not of my ethnic group involving themselves in "my" ethnic activities.

I love learning about things related to different cultures and stuff, so I really have little problem as a non-whatever getting involved in whatever-specific activities.

I don't see why someone should be offended that I would choose to do such a thing.

If it is the proportion of non-whatevers getting involved in whatever-specific activities that is the problem, I think I'd be more irritated by the whatever's lack of involvement rather than that of the non-whatevers.

<!--QuoteBegin-SunWuKung+Aug 18 2003, 12:06 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (SunWuKung @ Aug 18 2003, 12:06 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->you know, it would be really weird if i see white people performing Cantonese opera...[/b][/quote]
I think there is at least one.

I think some English guy I saw on TV was into Cantonese opera. He fell in love with the artform, emerged himself in training for years, and is now performing somewhere in China.

[Fireblade]

<!--QuoteBegin-SunWuKung+Aug 17 2003, 08:52 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (SunWuKung @ Aug 17 2003, 08:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-krome+Aug 17 2003, 11:45 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (krome @ Aug 17 2003, 11:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Why do all these WMs join these events?
Why do pedophiles become Catholic priests?
Why do gay guys become Scoutmasters?
Life is full of questions. [/b][/quote]
Why do all these Asian guys who can't get a chick whine about Asian women?

Life is full of questions. [/b][/quote]
funny stuff. :lol:

[nonamerasian]

<!--QuoteBegin-SunWuKung+Aug 17 2003, 11:52 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (SunWuKung @ Aug 17 2003, 11:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Why do all these Asian guys who can't get a chick whine about Asian women?

Life is full of questions. [/b][/quote]
That was a great one! :lol:

[BeTheReds]

I personally don't care if people do these kinds of things. Usually tho it is really misleading. It's like going to Japan and looking at shrines and temples and thinking you have learned something about Japanese culture.

[BigLew]

<!--QuoteBegin-BeTheReds+Aug 18 2003, 12:24 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BeTheReds @ Aug 18 2003, 12:24 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I personally don't care if people do these kinds of things.&nbsp; Usually tho it is really misleading. It's like going to Japan and looking at shrines and temples and thinking you have learned something about Japanese culture. [/b][/quote]
Yeah I agree. It's like guys take a couple of Karate classes and think they know everything about Japanese culture, it's annoying but what the hell, it's their life.

[Ogumo]

Who gives a damn? Just as long as they do not start talking to you about how they know "so much" about your culture when they know nothing. That is when it is a ridiculous problem.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

I don't really care. I don't even attend Asian events if they don't offer any free shit (hopefully consumable).

[nonamerasian]

This year's West Indian Carnival in Brooklyn was commenced by a group of East Asians (hyphen Americans, I'm assuming, but I'm not sure) wearing mostly red, dancing, carrying a dragon, and hitting tambourines/drums or something along those lines.

I have heard only one person complain about this.

Everyone else I've heard talk about the carnival didn't care or supported it. When a couple were confronted by the guy complaining, they ripped him apart while citing things like the East Asians of the West Indies and saying that even if they weren't representing those West Indians, there have been people who aren't of West Indian descent who have been involved in the carnival through the years, amongst other points that the guy took to heart.

It seemed as if the guy was about to say touche when he bursted out, "What if Black West Indians were to go to Chinatown and start off the Chinese New Year festivities by dressing up (in West Indian costumes. . .imagine carnival in Brazil type of gear), blasting and dancing to soca, calypso, and steel drums. Would we have so many Asians defending us? Would most people not wonder what we are doing there?"

He said that is his only problem with what happened. While he doesn't care if this is the only year this will happen or if it becomes tradition for East Asians to take a part in the West Indian carnival every year, he wants people to look at what he perceives as a double standard between the communities.

All defenders were now silent, some later saying that they agree that they probably wouldn't recieve as much apathy or welcome.

This debate was going on in front of Asians and they didn't beg a differ (although, I'm not 100% sure they were listening to the discourse with enough interest to form an opinion).

Do you guys think the guy may have been right?

Would there likely be a double standard if non-Asians were involved in a major Asian festivity in a similar manner?

If West Indians were to take part in the next Chinese New Year, will there be posts made about the Asianphile Blacks who were in Chinatown or mocking their behavior?*

*Neither of which I witnessed West Indians do during or after the carnival.

[kimpossible]

I admire anyone that has taken the time and dedication to build up a skill. I saw this one guy go monkey crazy with a staff at one festival. White boy got native... that had to be tough because I don't think it was possible to look whiter than this guy and he was performing for a mainly Chinese audience. Have to give him his props, he knew what he was doing.

Then again I've met some white weirdos that dress up in yukata, constantly fan themselves and go around bowing and butchering konnichiwa to everyone.

I think the biggest US Asian fest I've gone to is Seattle Obon. It's a pretty decent representation of Japanese in Seattle... lots of mixed kids and you have your tourists. But no one minds the tourist types. Just start dancing. It's not going to detract from our celebration.

[kasia]

a bunch of the guys who do lion dances in s.f. chinatown are black or white. it's cause they're part of the kungfu group. i don't see what the big deal is.