LogFAQs > #927654730

nicklebro posted...

You're literally calling authentic Chinese culture sourced from authentic Chinese literature "preexisting notions" and "stereotypes". It's no different than saying that the only reason the Chinese people spoke Chinese is because it was meant to "reinforce common Western perceptions"

Culture isn't a stereotypes or a perception, so you're wrong there.

And you're also ignoring the fact that the details you've cherry picked are just that, cherry picked details. Kung Fu isnt the core theme of CTHD, being poor isn't the core theme of slumdog millionaire. Sure they're aspects of those movies, but they aren't the core themes. It's be impossible to make a movie that didn't include a single thing that you couldn't twist into a stereotype.

I'm sure there's a booming film industry in Asia and other parts of the world as well, but only the absolute best movies from those places are going to have a chance of making it in Hollywood, which is the cinema mecca of the world. Again Hollywood is purely about the bottom line,they don't put nearly as much thought into perceived racism as you do.

Finally, you're also dead wrong about the last things you've said about these movies. They arent the only ones to hit Western screens, and both crouching tiger hidden Dragon and slumdog millionaire had paltry budgets of $15m.

Again I think you've misread or misinterpreted what I've described - the movies which actually make it to the West and get to be distributed broadly are largely plays on existing genres which are associated with those cultures whether it be kung fu, poverty, etc... Sure they may also be the 'very best' which the market has to offer and qualify for importing, but it doesn't change that if you ask the average Joe (not necessarily averagejoel lol) what they think of when you ask them about a Chinese movie, certain cultural associations get brought up.

Anyway, it looks like you have an agenda to try and convince everyone there isn't racism or whatever.. good luck with that. As an Asian brought up in the West, my values and beliefs are largely shaped by Western influences anyway so I'm probably not the best to describe what is or isn't racism beyond my own beliefs or where I have been treated differently as a result of my race... and unfortunately whether it is Hollywood, professional world, etc.. I see it and unconscious bias takes many forms.

Your point about Hollywood focus on the bottom line, I don't disagree - they'll do what it takes to make a buck and if that involves playing on those associations or stereotypes, then so be it. I don't think they go out of their way to be deliberately racist but rather, it's the unconscious bias or the indirect result of following their objectives which leads to outcomes which are not necessarily fair to all races/backgrounds.

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