"F*** you, asiaphile"

**Hedgehogey** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 4:34am

While this touches on common themes of Asiaphilia and self image among the Asperger's soaked TMA population, and her politics are froody, there's just one problem: The author herself isn't japanese. So I get to still describe myself as an otaku. Neener neener.

Nevertheless, let's spring off this to a discussion on cultural appropriation and asiaphilia re: martial arts.

**meng_mao** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 4:41am

A fun example is a recent episode of Everybody Hates Chris, wherein Chris and his brother cross hands, literally. Chris learned at a karate dojo, while his bro got it from watching Kung Fu movies.

***JohnnyCache*** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 5:18am

The truth is people who appropriate things from other cultures do it because they are ill used by their own, not because of any real opinion held of the culture.

It's a desire to see the rejecting culture's rejection as a flaw with it, rather then the rejectee. These people exist in every culture.

Oh, and I eat food from everywhere - because it's good. Nothing -ist or -ism about that.

--my response to the blog entry.

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 5:23am

Does this mean I'm no longer allowed to watch the Ghost in the Shell TV series while eating sushi?

Becase that would really suck.

**meng_mao** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 5:27am

Originally Posted by JohnnyCache

The truth is people who appropriate things from other cultures do it because they are ill used by their own, not because of any real opinion held of the culture.

Oh, and I eat food from everywhere - because it's good. Nothing -ist or -ism about that.

ill used by? Are you sure you don't mean ill used to?
What things are ill used by their own culture?

As for food, if you can like all kinds of food, why can't you like all kinds of cultural artifacts? My sesame chicken could be your filet mignon -- the value of something in its original culture can be very different to its value transported to another culture.

**DAYoung** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 5:31am

Superficial appropriation of any culture is a plague. Nothing wrong with informed appreciation, but don't treat other cultures like a smorgabord to make up for your lack of imagination. For the best example of superficial appropriation of Asian words, along with those from quantum physics, see the New Age 'breatharian' phoney Jasmuheen.

**meng_mao** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 5:34am

Originally Posted by DAYoung

Superficial appropriation of any culture is a plague. Nothing wrong with informed appreciation, but don't treat other cultures like a smorgabord to make up for your lack of imagination.

I don't think it's a big deal. Asians who take huge offense to Asianphiles misusing the culture have too much time on their hands. If it's racist, that's a problem, but otherwise, whatever.

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 5:40am

Isn't a huge segment of modern Japanese popular culture made up of 'superficial appropriation' of Western styles?

What exactly is the problem with this? Other than that the blog author above feels evil round eyes are stealing the things that make her special?

**DAYoung** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 5:41am

Originally Posted by meng_mao

I don't think it's a big deal. Asians who take huge offense to Asianphiles misusing the culture have too much time on their hands. If it's racist, that's a problem, but otherwise, whatever.

I don't think it's necessarily bad for the Asians (though it is often insulting for dominated or oppressed cultures) - it's bad for us. Healthy people and peoples don't need to trade in the false coin of stolen culture. Superficiality is unhealthy for the appropriator, not always the appropriated. Shallow asiaphiles are sick.

**DAYoung** · Posted On: 5/04/2006 5:42am

Originally Posted by PointyShinyBurn

Isn't a huge segment of modern Japanese popular culture made up of 'superficial appropriation' of Western styles?

What exactly is the problem with this? Other than that the blog author above feels evil round eyes are stealing the things that make her special?

Superficiality in any form is not a good thing, wherever it occurs.