'Oh the racism we white hapas endure ..British Chinese will never understand'
'Invisibility is the result of the Eurasian agenda stealthily pushed through using the Chinese platform squeezing out/rendering the ethnic Chinese Invisible'
In the U.K. however, due to the relative insignificance of British Chinese as a political voice, it does make one wonder how Hapas tend to get the voice in the media - and always half white Chinese as opposed to half black Chinese.
Traditionally, Hapas are quite defensive about racism towards Chinese, but being Hapas their stance is typically skewed and based in self-interest than actually promoting any genuinely researched British Chinese political concerns. Some notable examples of our current media representation:
Madam Miaow, actress/comedian, complains about various racist issues, but she is herself a Hapa, and despite expressing genuine concern about how Chinese are seen in media and politics,unfortunately plays up to the hypersexualised oriental female stereotype to boost her own career, to the point that any feedback or support she gets tends to be from her budding white male admirers than any member of the British Born Chinese population who can take her seriously.
Paul Courtenay Hyu - look at this video of the missing chink a 2003 made for tv segment commissioned for Channel 4.
http://youtu.be/203Jlst4gmw
In it's desperation to be part of the 90's hip, devil may care naivety there is a lack of specific racial understanding, that Channel 4 are all too willing to commission.
That a small scrawny Chinese guy is cast as playing the farcical clownish elements, whilst the tall Hapa gets all the thoughtful lines smacks of deliberate mis-casting. Of course, it's without question that the program probably wouldnt be made without his consent, but it's debatable with a title name like 'missing chink' and moments like the line, when the girl appears in the restaurant, at 2:34 he deliberately makes a point,'ill think you find she was looking at me'
Again this is subtle insinuation that his colleague, the small, Chinese guy is less fanciable then he, a hapa.
Gok Wan is another obvious example. Gay, campy, refers to us as Chinks, and refers to his childhood as miserable, often not stating his pride to be Chinese at all, when mentioning his half-Chinese ethnicity.
In British media, its amazing the privileges that Hapas get to play the race card, the minority card, AND the white establishment. Genetically in the western world hapas have the best of all worlds, and it is this line of thinking that one cannot blame Chinese women to take the easy way out for social acceptance.
Half white Chinese and the media role they play in dividing the British Chinese people against each other are the product of clever white imperialist social engineering.
Again this is not a personal attack against hapas but it is a direct attack on the way that the exceptional presence of white hapas have been used , wittingly and unwittingly for the following functions:
1. To represent Chinese or British Chinese in the media.
2 To render the ethnically Chinese invisible.
How do you render a Chinese invisible? By 'creating' their representation without actually giving them any real representation.
A sinister plan of ethnic cleansing big media-style on behalf of the white establishment because:
1. they can say that British Chinese are represented
2. having been represented, British Chinese have less need to complain, and so remain invisible.
The fact that white hapas are representing the voice in the uk along with FOBS ( who serve the white imperialist agenda of orientalism), this is double security for the white establishment in preventing the Chinese from actually having a media-voice. And the cycle perpetuates as we British Born Chinese are apathetic towards such a state of media knowing that they are outnumbered by both Hapas and Fobs that we just don't bother representing.
To the white establishment having HAPAS represent the chinese community is a triumph of social engineering, because in almost every situation, for a half-white Chinese, the white gene almost always be seen with higher regard than the Chinese one. That is until that person enters Chinese territory, and instantly , like a Chameleon, he becomes a Chinese.And an eagerly welcomed one, because after all, aren't half-white Chinese much better looking than Chinese men?
Clearly it's a mistake to allow HAPAS, despite their best intention to really represent the British Chinese community. Because when you look at their achievements...what has really been achieved for us? For all the shows, plays and musicals starring HAPAS and FOBS made since maybe the 1980s ..apart from all the money that has swapped hands in the process of creating a colorblind or murky social identity....has any of the artistic work created really benefited the British Born Chinese community in any way?
The exact problem of making too much peace with China's original western oppressors may be the price we have had to pay for enjoying the comfortable life of living on this little island.
Truthfully western assimilation has divided our own British Chinese community to the point that:
1. British Born Chinese are quizzed by FOBS for not speaking chinese well , or at all
2. Hapas who if they have a Chinese father, tend to know their homeland language, but don't take interest in British Born Chinese issues , and are quite happy to play up their role of being the white majority puppet.
3. FOBS don't speak English well enough, and if they do, are out of touch with the British Born Chinese lifestyle, and are too busy playing up the exotic 'Oriental' agenda that the western establishment love.
But the ultimate irony here is that for the original Chinese ethnics who should have a political voice and are born in the UK – the British Born Chinese – are in fact ranking at the bottom of the pecking order when it comes to British ethnic representation, and have had any representational power of being British Chinese snatched away from us by our own community!
What is the solution for the above? Again, this blog represents a practical opportunity. Sign up now with a google ID and let's start hearing your opinions.
Some great criticism and point
ReplyDeleteI know some well-brought-up Vietnamese friends who found Madam Miaow stand up routine (you Tube) which makes fun of Napalm injuries offensive, that victims of people of Vietnam are still suffering from. She gets away with a lot of stuff in the Dim Sum website because she part of that clique that supports their own brand of vaudeville entertainment. She also did a BBC4 (Hapas cronies galore) programme that about the Chinese (hapas) people that DID Not address the sort of real BBC issues debate here...
Anyway starting the ball rolling, comment later and give others a go... may the debate begin...oh yes I have plenty to say
hi anon4444, thanks for the comment. @ your napalm incident. Thats just fucking tasteless. And this is the point. Hapas /eurasians just dont have enough sensitivity ...even when they think they are. its just not in their interest, and even when they do, they still get it wrong:
ReplyDeletemy friend passed me this information about the uk film industry upcoming 'east asian talent' and lo and behold we have British hapa Daniel York directing a short film funded by the uk film council :
MERCUTIO’S DREAMING
Writer/Co-Director: Daniel York, Co-Director: Jennifer Lim, Producer: Emily Mayson
A tragi-comic satire telling the tale of Lawrence Yang, a British born Chinese would be Shakespearean actor, and his travails with an industry that sees him only as “Oriental”.
And was pointed out to me, he cast a british born mixed race japanese of south east asian descent in the lead bbc role - andrew koji. http://www.andrewkoji.co.uk/#/info/4540200308
What does this say about british born chinese? it shows, that we STILL dont have our own representation. i havent seen the film above, but it seems ironic that a shakespearean bbc actor who is only seen as oriental, pretty ironic casting that the director himself sees all orientals as the same.
put it this way: if there were no bbc actors available for the casting of this film, at least change replace the words 'bbc' with 'mixed east asian' and distinguish the two.
But on a sadder note, its bad enough that bbc's -the oldest east asian ethnic group in the uk who STILL dont have a voice, STILL cant find representation amongst ourselves.
anyway, lets hear your other stuff. this is the only place we can slate hapa representation of british chinese and get away with it because most of the british chinese community else just seems ignorant to it/ are a bunch of white worshippers
Just send them hate mail innit!
ReplyDeleteIts a problem of definition. Some define the term BBC as meaning...British Born of Chinese Descent - which includes Mixed Race Eurasian, whereas its colloquial meaning is usually only used by ethnic Chinese born in the UK whose parents are both ethnic Chinese (usually from Hong Kong). Its usually only this group that label themselves BBC.
ReplyDeleteI actually don't mind if Eurasians have representation as Chinese, but only when BBC's have representation first in significant numbers as prerequisite, but the problem is that we don't and we won't either as long as British Mixed race Eurasians define themselves as Chinese and use the same platform as Chinese.
Daniel York also believes in 'color-blind casting,' because it will personally benefit him and other mixed race ...i.e more work- be it at the expense of all other ethnicities including ethnic Chinese, thats irony. Its like the liberal democrats advocating PR because it will get them the most seats behind the facade of PR benefiting a modern democratic equal society.
Daniel York's hidden agenda is to pile british chinese media representation full of mixed race, to push through mixed race interests on an ethnic Chinese platform, in effect giving BBC's represenatation without giving any real BBC represenation at all in practice. It is no different to Peter Ustinov playing Chinese Charlie Chan or Christopher Lee playing Fu Manchu. Well, charlie chan is a chinese character isn't he? Theres your tokenistic chinese representation! it doesnt matter if hes actually being played by a non-ethnic Chinese actor because the character is Chinese! Its as ridiculous as african american morgan freeman playing Little John in Robin Hood.
Such bitterness at failing to live upto expectations as an actor - blaming racial discrimination, so color blind casting is the solution - no matter how ludicrous the outcome!
ReplyDeleteI have another example, mixed race Eurasian Veronica Needa looks 100% white, now why is this 100% white looking woman representing and heading up BEA British Chinese arts? Why is she even trudging on the ethnic band wagon at all if she looks 100% white? Because she is too talentless and unattractive to make it in the mainstream as a white writer/performer. These mixed race no matter if they look 100% white...can jump on ethnic bandwagon and receive free funding from the arts council etc by declaring themselves as 'ethnic' performers.
Ethnic BEA arts is just a safety net for third rate performers that have failed to make it in the mainstream, thus can only earn a living being subsidized by Arts Council money etc to produce shit material under the framework of BEA - that no one wants to watch.
I have no interest at all in watching BEA stuff, neither does any other BBC or normal FOB that I know.
great comments @^BBCZ and HaappyBC you stole my thunder a bit (no worries), I would of expressed similar sentiments but less eloquently. I don't your the balls to say that Hapas actors who can't act are really just talentless kelliefairs so desperate with their ambition they are willing to put BBCs identity and representation down by allowing US to be called “Chinks” etc and mocked by perpetrating stereotypes (suzy wong, copperbell AH-SO routines) for an ignorant non-chinese audience.
ReplyDeleteAnother gripe... if it is mixed race Fu Man Chu’s depiction hapas kick a big fuss because FMC is a mixed raced character, but not when Gok wan uses the word chinky friend. When they do kick up a fuss it is done with an over-the-top theatrical performance (tell-tale sign of a rubbish actor)which is really all about themselves NOT about any genuine Chinese representation concerns but a casting couch or PR calling for a Newsnight Chinese commentator/specialist vacancy. I don’t see them kicking a fuss when it comes to King and I castings or Plays and rubbish dramas that have a suspect orientalist undertone, because they are often the ones responsible in promoting and justifying this bile in the first place, that most if not all respectable Chinese people with a sense of pride and respect for their beautiful culture, finds grossly offensive. Don’t get me wrong my point isn’t to be “racist” towards others but stand up to those with suspect racist attitudes towards US and question them critically, when they are in the wrong, and to out them big time.
This Blog is effective in making some of these amends.
fellow BBC hing dai
the hapas that r part of the british east asian theatre acting scene are just too freaking ugly for mainstream. Can you imagine any of them taking a leading role on TVB? They're way too ugly for big leading roles.
ReplyDeletethe better looking ones like michael wong had no problems.
Read:
ReplyDeletehttp://nijimagazine.com/?page=artistDetail&artistId=122
A pair of mixed race Eurasians Liz Sutherland and Kumiko Mendl - part of the YET Yellow Earth Theatre (which should be renamed Yellow Eurasian Theatre).
Quote: Liz Sutherland says..."East Asians may be underrepresented in the arts, but the mixed race East Asians are pretty non existent."
HAHA, hilarious. This is a classic example of what happybritishchinese wrote about in the article of mixed race Eurasians playing the racism/discrimination card on the back of the Chinese platform. The fact is that mixed race don't encounter much discrimination at all, mixed race are mainstream. Eurasian's are everywhere, mixed race Eurasian's literally run YET and BEA arts - that's how dominant they are.
http://bbczeitgeist.blogspot.com/2011/04/famous-british-chinese.html
Read above...Out of the top 25 of UK's most famous British Chinese by popularity...13 are mixed race. Only 1 out of the 25 is a BBC(HK) male.
Read more...
http://bbczeitgeist.blogspot.com/2011/03/mixed-race-chinese-those-of-chinese.html
some thoughts...
ReplyDeleteit appears that some Chinese people have no reservations in using words like “yellow” or “oriental” to categorise BBCs or Chinese people, whilst others use it as a point of cultural difference and argument, there are some AmericanBCs academics who regard these terms as derogatory and racist. My view is that neither are flattering terms, when used its intentions, ethnology should be spelt out from the onset, and not used to excite racist undertones, such as “Missing Chi-k” puns, as it could be misconstrued as being offensive, which may of course be the actual intention, to debase. The continuance and unquestioning nature of these troubling assumptions of these terms used by specifically by people from the media or arts and of Chinese origin or even worst not of Chinese origin, tells me enough of their intellectual vision and artistic standing.
@anon4444
ReplyDeletethanks bro for the comments, yeah i agree, its dismal day when we realise that the british chinese identity is being upstaged by a bunch of selfish limelight-hogging failed actors lol
and yea youre right about being speaking, and no its not being racist. like the article states, when group A and C have been selected to represent a whole community at the exclusion of group B, its injust. when this representation becomes misrepresentation, then we bbcs need to be slapped in the face hard for being so apathetic, because thats why we end up with what we have today.
btw slightly off topic, if anyone is interested, theres a suggestion on the crystal chan article that is interested in arranging a meet up
http://bbczeitgeist.blogspot.com/2011/10/crystal-chan-model.html
if any of you are interested, times now to voice your opinion . i know its early days, but i dont know how long this blog will last in the face of apathy so...im up for it. anyone else?
@bbcz
ReplyDeletethanks for the niji magazine link. thanks...A LOT. YOU BASTARD.
i just about made it to the end without throwing up. actually i lie - i read the first few lines about ' universal values to be embraced and thats when i threw up
yes nothing more to be said. im just glad its on this article. hapas being discriminated against. oh woe is me. someone pass me a tissue, lifes just so unfair for us failed performers....now pass me the government grant, please.
pathetic.
all i can say is if i was FOB with an orientalist agenda id be pissed off too. the crapa actors are representing everyone now HAHAHAHA
http://www.neehao.co.uk/2011/11/do-not-disturb/
ReplyDeleteHeres yet another mixed race male actor playing the role of an ethnic Chinese male in the latest BEA promoted film called 'Do not Disturb.'
its funny how these hapa's complain and say its not ok for white people to take the roles of orientals in plays etc, yet its ok for hapas to take the roles of white and chinese people!
ReplyDeleteHow many more rants do you lot want to have on the same subject?
ReplyDeleteFact. The two most visible "East Asians" on TV are Benedict Wong (full blood Chinese) and Gemma Chan (full blood Chinese).
Oh man some of these comments are blunt, but I have to admit valid. Does anyone think the names like DJ Lazyellow (www.neehao.co.uk) to logo yourself yellow in colour and name troubling aswell?!! is he globally ignorant? can get away with that posturing in the USA from the "asian" people there?!!?
ReplyDeletenice blogs
Although the character logo is colored yellow, I don't know if yellow is meant to be synonymous with being Chinese in the instance of DJ lazyellow because his hoodie is yellow too? Maybe you should ask him or maybe thats the irony hes too lazy to care! hence lazyellow!
ReplyDeleteIn reply to the other question, Gemma Chan and benedict Wong are barely E-list actors, they are NOT the most famous East Asians, they're not even household names nor do they have a sizeable popular following, Benedict Wong in particular I don't think even made the top 50 let alone the current top 25 most Famous British Chinese list.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to expand the Chinese descent list to that of "East Asian" descent, Benedict Wong would be even lower down the list, probably not even breaking the top 100, the East Asian descent list would contain an EVEN HIGHER percentage of Mixed Race because the likes of Myleene Klass and Mutya etc etc would be thrown in rendering ethnic Chinese even more invisible.
Besides, Gemma Chan is prob not full blood. Her mother is 'Scottish-Chinese' as is Alexa Chung's father 'Anglo-Chinese' - such terms usually imply 'mixed race.'
@noone in particular
ReplyDeleteSorry just as a side note. Im aware that it may still feel like some of us feel we are being 'racist' or that that comments are a bit blunt as someone mentioned above, or even for some, taboo.. and seemingly anti-hapa, but thats not what this article is about. its about how mixed chinese are chosen and allowed to MISREPRESENT us.
I know that maybe because some of us dont even care/know about the EA arts organisation or whatever , but the fact is, this is government funding and government money.
yes it can be seen as a british crutch to have funds and grants and whatnot, that they may not have so freely in other western countries, and Chinese people by nature are mostly independent of such funds would not look to it as a matter of importance.
but given that system, ie this british council fund, uk fund, and that it DOES play such a large role in the UK media, we BBCS have to take it into consideration.
I mean , as i stated before youtube is free, but none of us do much about it, maybe because we arent outspoken enough and look to each other too much for approval on one hand, but maybe in our experience of not seeing ourselves on tv we are 'used to it' and hence dont bother to use media even when its free...maybe.
most bbc blogs are the closest you get to freedom of expression, it offers us bbcs, a relatively quiet bunch anonymous voices but even surprisingly then most bbc blogs are quite tame when it comes to contraversial or social issues regarding our own identity or nature.
so in terms of representation, its important to realise that, although as ethnic chinese we dont care much about british funds , this stuff ( ie abuse of funds) still plays a part in our lives because no matter how segregated we may feel from our 'community' or our relationship to being british, we are after all born here.
the solution i feel would be, that is if we cared enough about it, to take a more active stance on these funding issues. writing to these funding organisations, protesting, making a fuss.
at the very least look at it this way - the funding that is going towards these hapas is YOUR tax money. so YOU are paying for YOUR misrepresentation.
just had to throw that thought out there.
Daniel York writes-
ReplyDeleteI will have one last attempt at engaging with you lot to see if you want ANY kind of informed debate on the subject or just want to stoke up each others’ already calcified preconceptions that simply aren’t based on facts.
The original article by “happybritishchinese” is confused to the say the least. At one point he says this-
“Traditionally, Hapas are quite defensive about racism towards Chinese, but being Hapas their stance is typically skewed and based in self-interest than actually promoting any genuinely researched British Chinese political concerns.”
Then this-
“Gok Wan is another obvious example. Gay, campy, refers to us as Chinks, and refers to his childhood as miserable, often not stating his pride to be Chinese at all, when mentioning his half-Chinese ethnicity.”
What would you have us “Hapas” do? If we speak up as “Chinese” you’ll scream that we aren’t. If we don’t, you’ll say we have “no pride” in being “Chinese”.
“Genetically in the western world hapas have the best of all worlds, and it is this line of thinking that one cannot blame Chinese women to take the easy way out for social acceptance.”
This implies that ALL people of mixed race have a white father and a Chinese mother which plays up to a common gripe on this website – that Chinese women are desperate to hook up with white men. I believe a theory was once posited that Eurasians represent the “white man’s victory over Chinese women”. Well, my father is Chinese (he’s got an adopted surname). So is Anna Chen’s, so is Gok Wan’s (I’m guessing), Alexa Chung’s (I’m guessing), Stephen Hoo’s, Paul Courtenay Hyu’s.
“The fact that white hapas are representing the voice in the uk along with FOBS ( who serve the white imperialist agenda of orientalism), this is double security for the white establishment in preventing the Chinese from actually having a media-voice.”
I can only speak personally but I don’t feel like a “voice” for Chinese people or anyone else. When asked I would say East Asian people in general are not represented in the media. This is a fact but are you suggesting I desist from saying this because I’m mixed race? To actually say to people “I’m not qualified to comment on this issue because my mother’s white?”
“A sinister plan of ethnic cleansing big media-style on behalf of the white establishment”
Oh please. To the “white establishment” I’m just a dirty little mongrel (and to you lot too it would seem). I just had a big row with the people at the BBC who commissioned my film on this very subject.
“For all the shows, plays and musicals starring HAPAS and FOBS made since maybe the 1980s ..apart from all the money that has swapped hands in the process of creating a colorblind or murky social identity....has any of the artistic work created really benefited the British Born Chinese community in any way?”
We need an environment where people of East Asian descent are visible in the media. If you can’t see how that’s beneficial to being a part of the social fabric in this country and not being seen as “exotic foreigners” then I’d be interested to hear why.
“2. Hapas who if they have a Chinese father, tend to know their homeland language, but don't take interest in British Born Chinese issues , and are quite happy to play up their role of being the white majority puppet.”
Yet if we take an interest in “British Born Chinese issues” you say we’re playing the “race card” opportunistically. You can ask the BBC and several high profile UK theatre directors who have found me EXTREMELY difficult to deal with for verification that I am certainly no “white majority puppet”.
Cont'd-
Daniel York continues-
ReplyDeleteNow we get to the “meaty” stuff about ME (what fun!)-
“my friend passed me this information about the uk film industry upcoming 'east asian talent' and lo and behold we have British hapa Daniel York directing a short film funded by the uk film council :”
Yes, Happy, “EAST ASIAN talent”. “East Asian” WOULD include people of mixed race. But it wasn’t funded by the UK Film Council it was funded (desultorily) by the BBC (oh the irony!) writersoom. Who’s your “friend” by the way? I love the way you guys all whisper in corners and hide behind online identities then complain about lack of “visibility!”
“MERCUTIO’S DREAMING
Writer/Co-Director: Daniel York, Co-Director: Jennifer Lim, Producer: Emily Mayson
A tragi-comic satire telling the tale of Lawrence Yang, a British born Chinese would be Shakespearean actor, and his travails with an industry that sees him only as “Oriental”.
And was pointed out to me, he cast a british born mixed race japanese of south east asian descent in the lead bbc role - andrew koji. http://www.andrewkoji.co.uk/#/info/4540200308”
I did indeed cast Andrew Koji in this role. The film’s not about being “BBC” per se. It’s about being a “Chinese actor”. Which is what he is and I am (whether you like it or not) in the eyes of the white establishment. Andrew is British born and East Asian and a very fine actor.
“What does this say about british born chinese? it shows, that we STILL dont have our own representation.”
As I already pointed out, the “Cineast” slate (of which my film was one of four) was aimed at providing a platform for “emerging EAST ASIAN film makers” NOT specifically British Born Chinese. Of the other three films commissioned, two were written by what you would regard as British Born Chinese writers and one was by a British Born Korean.
Cont'd
Daniel York continues-
ReplyDelete“i havent seen the film above, but it seems ironic that a shakespearean bbc actor who is only seen as oriental, pretty ironic casting that the director himself sees all orientals as the same.”
I certainly don’t see all “orientals” as the same but the actors’ “ethnicity”, whilst it was something I was aware, didn’t govern my decision in casting him. I wanted the best suited actor for the role and that was that. The character of Lawrence is typecast as an “oriental” something that has certainly happened to both myself and Andrew.
“put it this way: if there were no bbc actors available for the casting of this film, at least change replace the words 'bbc' with 'mixed east asian' and distinguish the two.”
Funnily enough I did consider that but it’s just too much of a mouthful, frankly. “Chinese actor” is a shorthand expression used by the industry this film is satirising.
I don’t like holding auditions. It’s contrived and misleading. I only saw around five actors for the part. I have to say virtually ALL of them were mixed race. There IS a dirth of what you would term as British Born Chinese actors. I’m not sure why this is. Perhaps one of you chaps fancies having a go?
There is a Scottish born Chinese actor called Siu Hun Li who went to RADA. If I ever get any more money to make films I’d certainly like to work with him but his energy and dynamic weren’t quite right for this film. There’s another guy who’s recently left drama school but his agent wouldn’t let him come and audition for this as he thought it too “controversial”.
I DID consider Chris Li who posts on this website sometimes but he’s just a tad too old. Incidentally, on Chris’s website he states he is able to play “Chinese, Korean and Japanese”. In fact he has a far more “Japanese” look than Andrew Koji!
“Kai Wu” then charmingly suggests that you “send them hate mail innit”.
And this is a site that bans “trolls”!
Continued-
Daniel York continues-
ReplyDeleteBBCZ then pitches in-
“I actually don't mind if Eurasians have representation as Chinese, but only when BBC's have representation first in significant numbers as prerequisite, but the problem is that we don't and we won't either as long as British Mixed race Eurasians define themselves as Chinese and use the same platform as Chinese.”
So we have to wait in line until you’re satisfied that it’s ethnically “pure” enough?
The industry defines us as “Chinese”. That’s a fact.
“Daniel York also believes in 'color-blind casting,' because it will personally benefit him and other mixed race ...i.e more work- be it at the expense of all other ethnicities including ethnic Chinese, thats irony. Its like the liberal democrats advocating PR because it will get them the most seats behind the facade of PR benefiting a modern democratic equal society.”
I absolutely believe in “colour blind casting” and make no apologies about it. When I decided to be an actor all I wanted to do was play good parts. It should be about “talent”. People should never be judged solely on “ethnicity”. We’re all a part of this country. We’ve all grown up here. If an actor who’s been to drama school and done Shakespeare finds himself in a position where all he’s able to audition for is poorly written stereotypical roles then that’s a very sad indictment.
“Daniel York's hidden agenda is to pile british chinese media representation full of mixed race, to push through mixed race interests on an ethnic Chinese platform, in effect giving BBC's represenatation without giving any real BBC represenation at all in practice.”
This is simply ludicrous. I have no agenda apart from to do good work.
Continued-
Daniel York continues-
ReplyDelete“These mixed race no matter if they look 100% white...can jump on ethnic bandwagon and receive free funding from the arts council etc by declaring themselves as 'ethnic'performers.”
Unfortunately there will always be an element of that. It’s up to you to judge who the “talentless” ones are and who are the ones who have genuinely hit a massive glass ceiling because of ethnic stereotyping. Personally I’ve performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre and Royal Court. Make your own minds up.
“Ethnic BEA arts is just a safety net for third rate performers that have failed to make it in the mainstream, thus can only earn a living being subsidized by Arts Council money etc to produce shit material under the framework of BEA - that no one wants to watch.”
Again, this definitely happens. Interestingly when I wrote about this on the Dim Sum website BBCZ accused me of having a “personal gripe” against the people I was complaining about!
“HAHA, hilarious. This is a classic example of what happybritishchinese wrote about in the article of mixed race Eurasians playing the racism/discrimination card on the back of the Chinese platform. The fact is that mixed race don't encounter much discrimination at all, mixed race are mainstream. Eurasian's are everywhere, mixed race Eurasian's literally run YET and BEA arts - that's how dominant they are.”
In terms of being models and TV presenters this is probably true but in terms of being actors Eurasians certainly do encounter enormous prejudice. I’ve literally lost count of the times I’ve been told I wasn’t “Chinese enough”.
It’s also doubly ironic you saying that “mixed race” don’t encounter “discrimination” when your website is a veritable hot bed of Hapa hate!
“yes nothing more to be said. im just glad its on this article. hapas being discriminated against. oh woe is me. someone pass me a tissue, lifes just so unfair for us failed performers....now pass me the government grant, please.”
Yes, indeed there is something rather nauseous about Yellow Earth expressing their seemingly divine right to government funding on the back of their ethnicity but that shouldn’t be allowed to cloud the very real issue that ALL East Asian people are completely sidelined when it comes to the performing arts in this country.
“so in terms of representation, its important to realise that, although as ethnic chinese we dont care much about british funds , this stuff ( ie abuse of funds) still plays a part in our lives because no matter how segregated we may feel from our 'community' or our relationship to being british, we are after all born here.”
What “abuse of funds”, Happy? If it’s to create work from an “EAST ASIAN” perspective then I can’t see how any funds have been “abused”.
“We are all born here”. Yes. Me too.
“at the very least look at it this way - the funding that is going towards these hapas is YOUR tax money. so YOU are paying for YOUR misrepresentation.”
So what are you suggesting exactly? That “Hapas” aren’t given any money? The only funding I’VE ever received (£3000) wasn’t to do anything that “represented” anyone. I wrote and made a film based on MY experiences. NOT yours.
@Hugh - Thanks for the solidarity. Didn't really want to respond to Daniel York's answers because from reading the above, there's only so much he can understand of the way that BBCs have been made to be 'invisible', because at some point, as you say, he gets narcissistic about it, tending to ignore the point of the article.
ReplyDeleteIs narcissism a trait emphasised amongst hapa actors especially those self designated 'spokespeople'?
Anyway aside from other sub groups of the BC community played like tools to 'represent' and chase the funding carrot on a stick its exhausting trying to promote our own BBC cause honestly, there's still not enough solidarity, or numbers amongst us except on Crystal Chan articles and suchlike.
Would like to see more of you on here, and anyone else too who can come up with suggestions ideas etc for our own BBC media representation... before this blog's demise.
haha, I have what you call 'hapa overdose' so I'll say my final piece on this particular article.
ReplyDeleteOf course Daniel is entitled to post his rhetorical 'life story' of which those who are interested can read, but predictably being mixed race he can only understand and promote such issues from his mixed race/ general BEA perspective.
Since mixed race are already very well represented in both the mainstream and also ethnically i using both the BEA and British Chinese platform to promote their own mixed race interests, they really don't need any more platforms to present their opinions or their irrelevant exaggerated race card stories of discrimination, rather step aside and allow the real suppressed and under represented BBC's to do so.
The general BEA perspective is very PC 'were all in the same boat" "we're all the same race - the human race" - how quaint. Its these types of comments that form part of the problem, they ignore the specific BBC perspective entirely as insignificant to the whole.
It is of no surprise that this is the only British Chinese website on the internet that dares to question or raise the issues about Eurasian's and the effects of race mixing on the British Chinese community, in particular the BBC community and the connected reasons why BBC's don't have direct representation.
The UK's multicultural agenda presents mixed race as the apotheosis of multiculturalism, they are the bi-product of political and social engineering between different ethnicities, as such they hold special privilege, they are untouchable, unquestionable, multiculturalism is mainstream, therefore mixed race are mainstream......anyone wants to dare question multiculturalism? Didn't think so! Don't want to be labelled extremist like how the west pigeonholes China as rogue - it doesn't quite conform to the west's agenda, right?
Fortunately, the blog remains independent.
Multiculturalism - a HAPA artists' greatest self promotion tool and political weapon.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time we were 'Oriental', now we are 'East Asian' . Names have changed, agenda remains the same...grab the grants to pay for your shit art and render the rightful Ethnic Chinese group of the UK invisible.
Until there is an open invitation set aside for British Born Chinese to make stuff about our own lives, how we see things, our own experiences, our awkwardness, without FOBS orientalism or HAPA selfish grant grabbing,so that we are seen as NORMAL in UK media and not INVISIBLE or DEMONISED, or SELLOUTS .BBCS , at least those who care, will have make our own media representation a genuine political and cultural reality on our own terms.
@BBCZ/HappyBC I think it would be well funny if you edit or remove Yorkie's blogs (gick 4 LOL), but good dos for not doing so, because it exposes his narcissism and lack of understanding of BBCs, which frankly was expected. Sorry for sounding smug, because I am LOL
ReplyDelete^ Thanks for the support bro, yep Daniel York's comments are there for all to see clear as day.
ReplyDeleteAdd up all the years of orientalism and hapa-idolisation to feed the agenda like the BS 'Takeaway the musical'and you should get an idea of genuinely how pissed off the British Born Chinese OUGHT to be.
Course the minority of us on here get labelled as 'angry' or some other misnomer but like i said before, the passive 'it doesnt bother me' approach will only get you so far
If things ever got ugly against the already geographically dispersed British Born Chinese for whatever reason, either through excessive China demonisation from western media and/or lack of a real British Chinese political voice due to perceived ethnic insignificance, you can thank years of orientalist misrepresentation and selfish hapa self promotion for it.
Daniel York writes-
ReplyDelete"^ Thanks for the support bro, yep Daniel York's comments are there for all to see clear as day."
Yep they sure are and none of you can actually answer them.
"Narcissistic self justification"? You were all bitching away about me without the slightest grasp of the facts so I came and explained them to you.
Here's a question for you all-
How many of the "grant grabbing hapas" you've laid into above actually RECEIVE any grants?
@HapBC^^
ReplyDelete...exactly funny how slating hapas, they are reacting with a charm offensive and would of continued putting barriers in BBC representation on the sly, if it hadn't be some well-meaning critcal BBCs voices distrupting their cunning plan to limit a few select few Hapas in the media representation.
Anyway if I was judging their work objectively it is still really bad because I can the acting in the acting or rather the overacting, in particular the stand-up stuff by a certain hapas female with excessive heavy eye lining as if to straighten her eyes for a particular audience. i haven't even commented on the offensive Naplam jokes so don't get me started.
chris li writes
ReplyDeletejay oliver yip does look like a chinese sales rep!
in the trailer at least!
@chris - wheres the link?
ReplyDeletei have a new article in the works:
'how british eurasian actors have graduated from chinese elvis to chinese sales reps'
stay tuned
Daniel York writes-
ReplyDeleteYou really are a man on a mission, aren't you, Hap?
BYW what is it with you lot and your obsession with Eurasians doing Elvis impressions? ONE person does this-Paul Courtenay Hyu-yet you carry on like it's a genetic compulsion.
You wouldn't be too impressed if white people type cast you because four men in Beijing happen to eat donkey cock for breakfast, would you?
there are some very VALID points by all parties here, one must admit.
ReplyDeletethe real beef, suffice to say, is that there are no real 100% BBC role model that other BBC can look upto or be inspired by.
Mr York never claimed he was a spokes person for BBC, he just does what he does and more often than not, market forces determines which way he needs to go.
Benedict Wong is doing pretty well, ok he is ugly, so most of BBC men dont see themselves in him. but support him anyway
We need writers to write BBC roles BBC can relate to and these roles be PLAYED by real BBC so that BBCs can route for him.
all this conflict leads nowhere... really, it doesnt.
Most east asian works of drama marginalises itself, rendering it non-interesting to the major public as well as other east asians.
do what marketing does best, aim for the younger generation.
something like another Goonies movie, or Attack the Block.
someoen write a radion play?
maybe translate something from TVB?
air the radio play on the BBC chinese channel?
i think this is a viable project... what say you all?
@daniel york.
ReplyDeleteIm on a mission to express my own opinions. This blog enables me to do that. Once the blogs dead then you will go back to your shakespeare and I will toast to Chinese culture. Or the death of it.
Re: Chinese elvis, I think ive mentioned him once or twice - its the other threads and anonymous commentors doing it, take your misguided angst out on them. But its fair to say his impersonations havent exactly advanced British Chinese culture , or have they?
Re: Your trolling. Its getting really boring and your arguments are getting weak beyond a childish tomato fight. Its a desperate man who has to introduce anonymous commenters to defend his vapid argument.
Ive said my piece. This article is my viewpoint. You want your viewpoint heard? Submit an article to bbczeitgeist@hotmail.com
Once the blog is dead from apathy from lack of BBC participation and the way everything else goes that contains the 3 words 'british chinese and culture' and the blog owner gets bored from dealing with trolls, maybe with his permission you can use it as a platform for your acting abilities and convert its dead carcass into another dimsum site haha
@anonymous 15:29
ReplyDeleteIf you are a BBC if you would email any ideas to bbczeitgeist@hotmail.co.uk ( not .com , thats for Daniel York, with intention to get his own email returned to him)
Translated TVB
Radio play
All these are possible ideas
I also think you should contact Chris Li who is the only BBC actor as far as I can recall who regularly posts on here, he could be interested too.
And if you want to help develop BBC culture on this blog by discussing and debating and maybe contributing articles, please get a google ID.
Despite what naysayers say about us hiding behind our google IDs, the real point of having one is to show a bit of respect to the people on here who work hard to craft articles and try help define an already over- murkily defined BBC identity. Solidarity, if you will.
Anyway I think you know all this, but Im wondering whether YOU are going to take my offer up or whether you will remain anonymous?
chris li....
ReplyDeletei forgot to add my name to the previous post!
anyway... check this out guys..
the slanted screen from america
http://digital.films.com/play/UWWD6T#
chris
Daniel York writes-
ReplyDelete'how british eurasian actors have graduated from chinese elvis to chinese sales reps'
People of mixed race are just a sub species to you, aren't they, Happy? One does Chinese Elvis, another one (completely unrelated) does a "sales rep" and "they" are "graduating". You see people of mixed race as one homogenous mass with no individual characteristics beyond what you see as an agenda to self promote.
It's a typical idealogues' viewpoint that lumps people into anonymous groups as easy targets for misdirected hate.
@Chris, Thanks for link, Ive seen it - good documentary
ReplyDeleteAnyone interested in how Chinese / other ethnic East Asians are presented in Hollywood cinema should watch it . Politics, political soft power( film), the west are jealous of the east and treating us as irrelevant , you can see it here in the UK and abroad. Its why im trying to tell BBCS why we need to create our own media and not give a shit about what is spoonfed to us
chris li write...
ReplyDeletei encourage you to throw away your TV. especially if you have children.
chris li writes....
ReplyDeleteif talent is not recognised, then how is the talent supposed to showcase her work?
dimsum night is great in theory, providing those that pick the talent, can spot it. and also have the courage to go with gut feeling as opposed to what serves their own agenda.
Daniel York writes-
ReplyDeleteThanks for that link, Chris. A great documentary.
Interesing that it was a narrated by a Korean American and featured a proliferation of Japanese, Eurasians and Filipina interviewees. In America they're much more about being "Asian". Here, people like to seperate themselves off.
Dim Sum Nights was fine to an extent but the restaraunt stage setting meant that only cabaret style or overtly physical work was ever going to go down well in there.
I'd also add that Yellow Earth are making a big play of the fact they're doing this and creating "characters" for museums. Personally I'd like to see East Asians in theatres as opposed to performing in restaraunts and museums.
@Chris - try Dimsum and experience it for yourself. Let us know how it goes. Maybe we will be surprised...
ReplyDelete@Yorkie - 'It's a typical idealogues' viewpoint that lumps people into anonymous groups as easy targets for misdirected hate.'
if you want to whinge about not being accepted for being a hapa actor on this blog go elsewhere. Read the blog title: BBC Zeitgeist. For British Born Chinese viewpoints.
Trying to convince British Born Chinese on a BBC site that hates hapa actors for making us invisible by abusing British Chinese identity is weak.
And if you look at Slanted Screen, none of the actors excluded were hapas. its always full 100%ethnic Chinese or East Asians
The fact that HAPAS use the 'East Asian' category to slyly cover their whiteness is a joke. You should rename it the Half-Asian theatre group. Or as BBCz said earlier start up your own mixed race theater.
If you want to carry this conversation with Chris I suggest you email him. Just make sure you dont 'accidentally' cast another mixed race actor if its for BBCS.
This blog I repeat is for 100% ethnic Chinese born in Britain. And the reason for that is our opinions will not be whitewashed.
You wont persuade any BBCS to ally with you on this blog with your half-whitewashed comments. At least not whilst the two current contributors on this blog are still actively monitoring it.So dont even try.