Asian jokes

[ellsworth81]

Ok, I have problems with comedy acts that entail making jokes based on the Asian race. For example, I saw one random Asian guy on BET comic view and every joke he made was somehow self-deprecating in terms of his race... i.e mimicking accents, talkin' bout being good at math .. etc

Now I know jokes aren't meant to be taken seriously ... but not all audience members are that bright. In fact, I sometimes wonder if these jokes perpetuate stereotypes.

I get the feeling these guys are self-loathing, and their whining borders on irritating. I can't articulate it, but it's just annoying.

I only raise this question because I know blacks make fun of their fellow brothers and sisters in their comedy acts as well. I can't help but laugh, but is this appropriate?

But if we were to do away with racial/stereotypical jokes, the world would be a not fun place ... because jokes are basically at someone else's expense. But hey, that's just the way it is I guess.

Comments anyone?

[achtungbaby]

I think Asian comedians can have a tough job. It seemed like back in the 80s the only way you could be Asian and funny was if you made a mockery of Asians and did your best to distance yourself from them (albeit sometimes in a self-deprecating way).

I was kind of surprised (and a little relieved) that a large part of the audience at one of Amy Anderson's "Asian Invasian" comedy nights in Hollywood mildly rejected this sort of humor -- or maybe they just didn't laugh because some of the jokes just weren't that funny.

[Korean Hunk]

Being the comedian that I am I can rightly say that it is so easy to make Asian jokes but I try and be wittier about it and not so stereotypical.

I don't like comics as I have stated in the past such as Kate Rigg, Steve Bryne, etc because they use Asian stereotypes which are over the top to get cheap laughs.

That is why I play up the fact that I am sexy and cool as opposed to the stereotypes that we all are good in math and ping pong.

Case in point, some of my white comedian friends told me that I should do an impression of Long Duck Dong from 16 Candles but I said no way even though it would get cheap laughs it would be insulting to Asians.

As John Cho said, he grew up with Long Dong Duck jokes and he said he would never take an acting job that made fun of us and I feel the same way, I will never tell a joke like that

[Rogmok]

i feel like margaret Cho's entire act is like that.... which is why id on't like... plus its not even that funny.. just annoying.


if you look at black comedians.. lots of time their jokes are centered around cultural black issues, or an exageration of. but for some reason... it doesn't seem that those jokes perpetuate stereotypes like asian jokes would?? actually.. maybe they do...

[Napoleon Chynamite]

Originally posted by Korean Hunk@Feb 28 2003, 08:45 AM
Being the comedian that I am I can rightly say that it is so easy to make Asian jokes but I try and be wittier about it and not so stereotypical.

Well no offense and not that I really care or am offended by most Asian jokes, but it just seems to me as if most of your attempted humor here so far in fact simply does revolve around Asian issues or your Asian heritage. I can't remember you joking about anything else. Even your sample spiel contained comments and remarks solely with Asianness as the base. I'm not saying that your jokes are good or bad in this sense, I'm saying that so far it seems as if most of your humor arises out of this so-called stereotypical Asian territory.

[angel nympho]

Comedians are notorious for pissing off family members and people close to them because their way of making jokes usually entails picking on SOMEBODY. That's just the way it works. I'm fine with it.... as long as it's funny. Most comedians know where to draw the line.

[Korean Hunk]

Originally posted by FrozenPizza@Feb 28 2003, 09:25 AM
Originally posted by Korean Hunk@Feb 28 2003, 08:45 AM
Being the comedian that I am I can rightly say that it is so easy to make Asian jokes but I try and be wittier about it and not so stereotypical.

Well no offense and not that I really care or am offended by most Asian jokes, but it just seems to me as if most of your attempted humor here so far in fact simply does revolve around Asian issues or your Asian heritage. I can't remember you joking about anything else. Even your sample spiel contained comments and remarks solely with Asianness as the base. I'm not saying that your jokes are good or bad in this sense, I'm saying that so far it seems as if most of your humor arises out of this so-called stereotypical Asian territory.
I guess you didn't get my take on Boy Bands did ya. Nothing to do with Asians. You have to see my act to get the gist of what I am trying to convey.

BTW, your name Frozen Pizza is creepy.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

Originally posted by Korean Hunk@Feb 28 2003, 09:30 AM
BTW, your name Frozen Pizza is creepy.
Hehe thanx. It was random too! :D

[Korean Hunk]

Originally posted by FrozenPizza@Feb 28 2003, 09:31 AM
Hehe thanx. It was random too! :D
What's the meaning behind that?

Obvioulsy Korean Hunk makes sense. Korean and hot.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

Originally posted by Korean Hunk@Feb 28 2003, 09:34 AM
What's the meaning behind that?

Hence random :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Korean Hunk]

Originally posted by FrozenPizza@Feb 28 2003, 10:14 AM
Originally posted by Korean Hunk@Feb 28 2003, 09:34 AM
What's the meaning behind that?

Hence random :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
What's random mean? :D

[blkazngirl]

If you can't laugh at your culture, family and life, what is there to laugh at.

some comedians get carried away. Sometimes for instance, if a Black comic is using the "N" word or calling women out of their name really turns me off. Also, if every other word is a swear. It clearly shows a limited vocabulary.

[kitty]

Yeah... that's why I don't like Jackie Chan much... him as a martial artist I can deal with, but I think he tries the comedy thing and ends up putting a bad spin on Asian-ness...

[Napoleon Chynamite]

Originally posted by kittygirl@Feb 28 2003, 12:46 PM
Yeah... that's why I don't like Jackie Chan much... him as a martial artist I can deal with, but I think he tries the comedy thing and ends up putting a bad spin on Asian-ness...
It all comes down to this...Jackie, in the olden days when his movies were actually good, although he promoted humor and creativity in his movies via innovation and stunts, when it was time to get the job done he was badass and he pretty much just fucked up the bad guy whenever it was necessary. Nowadays he defeats the mean people by making them laugh and then like smashing a pot over the guy's dome and then spinning around and sticking out his tongue (physically tough perhaps, but it's just not what I like to see when watching a good beatdown). You can't attribute this to old age. Perhaps it's just how he and others feel the American audience will appreciate more as opposed to 10-minute long fight scenes. What can I say, if that's the case then the taste of the American audience sucks IMHO.

[yoMAMA]

Originally posted by kittygirl@Feb 28 2003, 12:46 PM
Yeah... that's why I don't like Jackie Chan much... him as a martial artist I can deal with, but I think he tries the comedy thing and ends up putting a bad spin on Asian-ness...
Have you ever watched his HK movies?

He is a stuntman that happens to be very funny :lol:

[mr. x]

hmm, in a way i guess its cuz asian comedians are seen as simply asian, and thats what they "do"

therefore they have no right to comment on black life or white life for that matter (not my perspective, but mainstream)

[Chinkaholic]

Ergh, I guess i'm OK with it..but i just really disliked that one half Irish half Korean dude that competed on Star Search..i was kinda confused about his entire show.

[AngryABCGirl]

Originally posted by Rogmok@Feb 28 2003, 09:03 AM
i feel like margaret Cho's entire act is like that.... which is why id on't like... plus its not even that funny.. just annoying.


if you look at black comedians.. lots of time their jokes are centered around cultural black issues, or an exageration of. but for some reason... it doesn't seem that those jokes perpetuate stereotypes like asian jokes would?? actually.. maybe they do...
The cool thing about Margaret Cho is that even though she makes Asian jokes, she eventually turns it around and turns it into a sense of empowerment. I don't think many comedians do that when they make fun of their ethnicity.

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by FrozenPizza@Feb 28 2003, 04:12 PM
It all comes down to this...Jackie, in the olden days when his movies were actually good, although he promoted humor and creativity in his movies via innovation and stunts, when it was time to get the job done he was badass and he pretty much just fucked up the bad guy whenever it was necessary. Nowadays he defeats the mean people by making them laugh and then like smashing a pot over the guy's dome and then spinning around and sticking out his tongue (physically tough perhaps, but it's just not what I like to see when watching a good beatdown). You can't attribute this to old age. Perhaps it's just how he and others feel the American audience will appreciate more as opposed to 10-minute long fight scenes. What can I say, if that's the case then the taste of the American audience sucks IMHO.
actually his career in HK only took off in the early 80s when he started doing action humour. before that, people were trying to prop him up as the next bruce lee, which just wasn't working. although i have noticed that he's been putting more emphasis on the humour nowadays.

i don't know. i grew up watching him. he did a lot to promote HK's movie industry throughout asia, and now america. but i do wish he'd retire soon. he's gonna kill himself one day.

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by kittygirl@Feb 28 2003, 03:46 PM
Yeah... that's why I don't like Jackie Chan much... him as a martial artist I can deal with, but I think he tries the comedy thing and ends up putting a bad spin on Asian-ness...
but you know, there really isn't a sense of "asian-ness" to him. he didn't grow up in the states, he probably has not much of an idea of racial politics. he's just doing his own thing.