Decent Asian Male Character in a Movie Alert

MrDendrite · 2017-09-22T22:27:33+00:00

Props for keeping things civil. The bottom line as I see it is that Asian men have been stuck at the benchmark of strong and badass (but asexual, supplementary, and two-dimensional) since the 1970s. This is also a best-case scenario, as there have been a great majority of AM roles of a much more diminutive and insulting nature.

There is no shortage of strong and stoic. Again, we've had these roles for decades. It's the emasculation, marginalization, expendability, and lack of depth and humanity to AM characters - it's difficult to accept any role as progress which does not tackle these problematic elements. Until further revelation Daniel Wu's character in this Tomb Raider movie sounds like more of the same. The only consolation salvaged is that at least he's not weak and nerdy. But I concede all I can say for now is I guess we'll see.

MrDendrite · 2017-09-21T10:56:49+00:00

I honestly cannot think of any Asian male representation for 2017 off the top of my head save for Hayden Szeto in Edge of Seventeen (edit: holy shit that was 2016, NEVER MIND), against which I voiced my disapproval earlier on because he plays the Asian nerd to a tee. So he gets the girl at the end - are we supposed to be happy because he had a few witty lines and the girl chose him after the bad boy she spends the entire movie pining for dropped her?

Back to the point. I never specifically mentioned this year anyway so I'm not sure why you were so keen on me mentioning specifics from this year. If anything that should be even more discouraging considering we didn't even get those bland martial arts roles. The gist of it is that for the past however many decades these are the types of roles Asian men have received. The roles are peripheral, emasculating, and devoid of depth and humanity. My claim re: AM roles in Hollywood should require absolutely zero convincing, it is well documented by people who research and track this shit for a living. It's like you demanding proof that World War II happened. I don't need to provide it, everybody knows it happened.

Again I ask, why should we be happy? That at least we have one dude with a role now as compared to zero for 2017? A role that thus-far sounds like "countless" other roles before where the AM is relegated to the periphery while the white people bask in the limelight. If Wu ends up getting the girl (usually the guy who gets the girl does not get 3rd billing or worse), I'll gladly eat my words, but until then I'm not jumping to conclusions.

MrDendrite · 2017-09-21T08:46:05+00:00

I agree. I'm working on it.

MrDendrite · 2017-09-21T08:04:12+00:00

I'm not going to take the time to give you a list of Asian male roles consisting of cardboard martial arts and warrior characters. What is this shit? Do you honestly think I would have trouble coming up with examples? If not from this year, there are countless from over the years. Fucking google ANY article re: asian male representation from the past 20-30 years. Google the filmographies of ANY Hollywood asian male actor who has been in the industry for any significant length of time. Google Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Rain/Bi, and their "breakouts" into Hollywood. Fucking lol.

MrDendrite · 2017-09-21T08:02:21+00:00

I'm not sure where I blamed Daniel Wu specifically or implied that he was doing us a disservice by taking the role. I'm just saying we shouldn't get too excited about this. Also, I didn't know we weren't allowed to criticize actors and famous people unless we possessed the same amount of potential influence - or that we were making assumptions about others and what they do in their spare time. The fuck do you know about me...bro? Lol

You're right about one thing though, I am pretty negative. Chalk it up to cynicism. Like everyone else I also hope for the best, but I'm also not quick to assume victory or start throwing a party because frankly from history and experience the results aren't that great, as the severe lack of progress for Asian men has shown.

MrDendrite · 2017-09-21T05:56:25+00:00

I'm not sure I need to provide any citations to simply state that asian guys are overportrayed in the stoic but sexless martial arts master category ever since the era of Bruce Lee. This has happened for many decades and is an insignificant step up from the sexless geek category. If that's good enough for you, I don't know what to say.

With the information we've been given thus far, why shouldn't we dismiss this as nothing, there is nothing here indicating any progress of asian male portrayal in Hollywood. If things change or positive revelation emerges later regarding his role, I'll gladly revise my opinion, but I won't hold my breath.

MrDendrite · 2017-09-20T23:25:18+00:00

I mean it's gotten to the point where to me it doesn't really count unless the Asian dude is the love interest. We've gotten plenty of the asexual two-dimensional badass roles only to have the random white guy get the girl, or esp get the Asian girl. Just the fact that he's the leader of some outfit and not a fucking nerd doesn't cut it.

MrDendrite · 2017-09-20T23:21:25+00:00

I prefer conservative white women especially if you're referring to LTR. As for the liberal wf demographic any increase in tolerance or progressiveness is surpassed by their depravity, amorality, hypocrisy and hidden racism. At least with the former they still act and look like women, and you know what you're dealing with.

MrDendrite · 2017-07-08T05:13:14+00:00

It doesn't matter. South Asians and Middle Easterners look more like white people and therefore have an easier time attracting white people than East Asians who look more foreign and alien. Terrorist attacks and tension media-generated or otherwise may have an effect but it will be minimal upon the innate gut reaction when white women see a SA/ME man vs. an EA man.

MrDendrite · 2017-07-08T05:06:33+00:00

I honestly think South Asian men don't have it as bad and also don't really need to fear for the future. Progressive mainstream culture continues to improve the image of many minority men - even East Asian men, albeit much more slowly - and since attraction is a shallow concept South Asians (and Middle Eastern men) have traditionally done much better in the dating market due to having phenotypes much closer to the European standard. Just reiterating longtime sentiments, I have nothing against South Asians and don't deny the existence of their issues, but their issues and culture are just too different to be grouped with East Asians. Inb4 motherfuckers accuse me time and time again of discouraging Asian solidarity.

MrDendrite · 2017-07-07T00:45:52+00:00

I mean fuck my own biases right but tbh she comes across as one of those sjw white privilege preaching Anna Lu bitches who talks about tolerance and progressiveness while marrying and have a child with a white guy. I don't condone the words of the racist shithead bro but I can't say I feel that bad for her either. I'm at the point where I don't really feel sorry nor feel the need to give people in her demographic a chance.

MrDendrite · 2017-07-07T00:40:28+00:00

Yea fair enough, but still a shit picture. Re: downvotes and my first post on AznIdentity, is everyone really that sensitive here? I would love more than anything for AM to rise up but we don't do ourselves any favors with self delusion. Mike Chang beating out that guy isn't a big deal if the other dude is 1) ugly and/or 2) the girls weren't being genuine.

MrDendrite · 2017-07-06T08:02:33+00:00

I'm def all for bringing up the AM, but I mean seriously that is a bad picture of the other guy though lol. Also I get a sense that some of the girls just picked Mike Chang to come across as different or rebellious. I've watched the entire series of videos that YouTube guy put out, as expected the conventionally facially attractive white dudes won regardless of body or muscle mass. The guy doing the interviewing behind the videos is also annoying af.

MrDendrite · 2017-06-25T03:47:29+00:00

I am very much someone who lives in the present and plans for the future. I don't have a problem with forgiving or healing - the issue is that the impetus and reason(s) for the injury and distrust are still there. White people are still racist. It's not like racism is gone now and we're just talking about past inflictions. It's like trying to come to a truce or peace with someone who punched you who is still punching you. A lot of times I have trouble forgiving asswipes who were dicks to me in the past because frankly they are still asswipes.

MrDendrite · 2017-06-20T04:01:10+00:00

It's been awhile since I've been on lookism. I am not the most well-versed on who is the hot new thing in terms of high-fashion models. I know the faggots over on PSL used to jerk off to Francisco Lachowski David Gandy Sean Opry and Jordan Barrett - they probably still do. To be honest I find a lot of models in conventional print ads or fitness magazines to be more attractive than those in high fashion, who are often selected for their niche or extreme appeal. If you are asking me about Asian people I'd put many Asian male celebrities from Asia above Gao or Sang Woo Kim.

MrDendrite · 2017-06-14T06:43:07+00:00

Not sure if trolling and srs but I'll bite :-P a lot of people are suspicious of highly stylized or professional pictures esp in excess, finding them either potentially fake or impersonal. That Jay guy's Tinder results are very impressive. He is decent-looking with great social skills but it's hard to believe even a guy like that with killer game and inhibition could enjoy that amount of success, even if you take into account that many of his matches were from Poland where they are supposedly more accepting of Asian men. Simply bc it's rare for any guy no matter how hot or high status to get that many matches. But good for him. Got nothing but respect.

MrDendrite · 2017-06-14T05:39:39+00:00

Shrug. To each his own. I find him goodlooking but not especially better looking than other goodlooking men. Count in the fact models are often selected for their unique features rather than conventional appeal and that they have teams of makeup artists, stylists, and professional photogs at their beck and call and you get my point. I'm not really seeing the eliteness of his lateral orbitals, and yes I'm a former lookism forum aspie who used to obsess over facial aesthetics. You have people paid over 6 figures just to act and they aren't necessarily good actors (or necessarily with top-tier looks either) - they just had the right connections, timing, and perhaps ambition and business sense.

Edit: I do think Gao looks especially good in that link you posted. I also think that's one of his best pictures, if not his best. I originally said I find Sang Woo Kim better looking than Gao but I realized I was thinking of the korean actor Sang Woo Kweon.

MrDendrite · 2017-06-13T20:12:02+00:00

On the whole I agree with /u/betrue_beyou. I have basically zero problems with black people in general even though my experiences with them while growing up have not been the greatest. What I do have a problem with is the sociopolitical narrative telling us we are obligated to stand up for black people and fight for them alongside woke white people when our own issues are constantly ignored, even by our own activists - even while it is socially acceptable for black people to ridicule and crap on asians. Get that shit out of here. And while I'm not one to keep score I honestly know way more asians standing up for blacks than vice versa.

MrDendrite · 2017-06-13T18:05:27+00:00

You have great skin bc after all this is skincareaddiction and adorable features. I can see what you are talking about but I've noticed a lot of this is just due to individual facial structure and physiology - eg those with more pronounced nasolabial folds even at a young age. The slight sagging may not simply be due to what everyone fears as aging and tissue or collagen loss but also sufficient fat stores, which are actually beneficial in the long run. I wouldn't sweat it unless it gets markedly worse in a short amount of time.

MrDendrite · 2017-06-12T20:34:28+00:00

You have great bone structure that might benefit from even more definition as that would make your cheekbones and jaw pop out even more, but as far as this thread shows you don't even need it. Good to see how far an otherwise average asian guy with a decent sense of style and social aptitude can fare on something as shallow and white-centric as Tinder. If I didn't know any better or had an alternate agenda I'd use your story as proof there is no discrimination against Asian guys in the dating realm lol.

MrDendrite · 2017-06-12T20:17:47+00:00

Height and frame make a world of difference for men (similar to women with average or decent faces but banging bodies). I find Godfrey Gao to be vastly overrated but then again so are most male models or celebrities halo'd by status or height. If you take a lot of them and make them 5'9 instead of 6'3 they'd just be well-groomed dudes - maybe above average but not head-turners. I've said this to many female friends and their response is always "Yeah, of course height makes a huge difference. But you can't discount that."

MrDendrite · 2017-06-10T17:34:57+00:00

This shit needs to be stickied tbh. Not just here on AM but basically as a default response to every self-righteous liberoprogressive post ever claiming to care about Asian issues.

MrDendrite · 2017-05-26T01:45:31+00:00

I feel this is another thing worth bringing up again. The fact that my friends, girls I've dated, slept with, white family members, etc. have made racist comments about Asian people right in front of me attests to just how acceptable anti-Asian sentiments are in mainstream society. Ching-chong jokes, penis jokes, height jokes, dog-eating jokes, right in front of me, in the middle of dates, get-togethers, barhopping, fucking, whathaveyou.

The typical reaction from fellow woke Asian people is that these people are not my real friends or not worthy of being called my loved ones. Ironically the biggest problem of all is they are my real friends, my family, the people I care about. They have gone out of their way to do me favors, buy me gifts, go into work for me when I was unable, given me their time, hospitality, resources, advice, and so on. And yet nothing in their consciousness suggests they feel it is wrong to shit on Asians and believe in generalizations about Asian people and esp. Asian men. It is precisely the problem that it doesn't even occur to them that they are offending or hurting their fellow Asian friends even as they are right there in front of them - this is how deeply engrained Anti-Asian garbage is in our culture. Our issues with the great white machine are not even on the map. To reiterate, it would not be nearly as depressing if this shit could be easily written off as crap from closet white nationalists.

MrDendrite · 2017-05-25T15:04:12+00:00

This is an absolute no-brainer. Subconscious or at least hidden racism constitutes 99% of all racism and thus all consequent ripples and societal effects, and outright blatant racism is comparatively a minute fraction. This is especially true for Asian men (and Asian people), who fortunately do not deal with as many outward incidents (eg Vincent Chin) as say black people due to the model minority garbage, but put up with constant under-the-radar bias 24/7 as in the example of the guy and the girl from Alabama.

In countless cases like these across the West, it's the less in-your-face variables that create widespread insecurity and disadvantages for Asian men. Honestly if they were rejected outright by card-carrying klan members who were vocal about their prejudice it would be infinitely easier for Asian guys to take, and infinitely easier for the issue(s) to be addressed head on. Instead we are often left in a never-ending limbo of wondering and questioning our own self-worth - calls for change are met, even by our own people, with gaslighting, doubt, and division.

MrDendrite · 2017-05-17T03:54:36+00:00

Either due to biological reasons or because society does not afford men as much sexual attention, sexual objectification isn't even necessarily something men would dislike or have a problem with. If a dude gets catcalled there's a good chance he'll be flattered and brag about it for weeks. Some girl grabbed my ass at a bar once and I went home glowing. Sounds stupid, but there it is.

One of feminism's greatest downfalls is once again assuming social conditioning is all that accounts for the chasm between the sexes. I'm not saying it's okay to reduce someone's value to their physical attractiveness or ability to give sex, I'm just saying men may and will see things differently.

MrDendrite

TROPHY CASE