Custom Search
|
|
Asians In The Library #uclagirl Video Redo By @spanaway March 12 2011
* Digg * StumbleUpon Send Article Print Article Read More: * Commentary * Asians * Library * racism * UBC * UCLA Here on the west coast, our university populations are racialized as Asian, similar to those at the University of Los Angeles. It's no wonder that the now-viral video, posted last week, of an UCLA student on an anti-Asian racist tirade, complete with glib comments about the tsunami in Japan, is making the rounds at UBC. You might think that Tetsuro Shigematsu, the Vancouver-based creator of ShiggyTV, would be pissed off. * del.icio.us * Buzz Up! The video is well crafted and precise, disarming (with humour) the attempts to distract from issue by focusing on alleged "death threats." Unlike many other response videos made since last week, this one doesn't resort to gendered insults -- except that we'll never eat egg rolls again. ShiggyTV's response is sophisticated because it tackles racism without resorting to other forms of oppression, like sexism and classism. While others are making dubsteps of the so-unbelievable-as-to-be- catchy lines from the original video, "Barbie girl barbie girl barbie girl" is just as catchy as "Oooohh, ching chong ling long ting tong." Which sounds like "white supremacy in the library" rather than "Asians in the library." Let's call it what it is. There's been a rash of controversial Twitter messages and YouTube videos in the news the past few days. But these ill-timed, misguided or just plain stupid social-media posts provide a valuable lesson for both companies and consumers: Stop and think before you post that tweet, video or Facebook update, says Ken Goldstein of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. That seems like a simple matter of common sense. But the rules are easily forgotten because of the breezy, informal nature of social media, which "has effectively turned everyone into a publisher," said Goldstein, a Chubb vice president and worldwide media liability manager. "Just because it's informal and quick doesn't mean you can't get yourself into significant trouble," he said. Chubb's tips: -- No. 1: We can't wait to talk really loud in the cubicle next to you. Just sayin'. Your's Truly, Asian Hordes -- No. 2: Eventually after you graduate you will work with at least one of us and we will say "Hey aren't you the 'Ching Chong' co-ed?".. (You could substitute meeting with "at the dinner table.") -- No. 3: Don't relax writing rules. "Just because a tweet isn't an official memo or e-mail, your company can still get sued. Is the tweet or post insulting, offensive or defamatory? Err on the side of caution." Hey Alexandra, How are you doing? Its us, the Asian Hordes. We watched the video and agreed with you on part of it, but the imitation of us on the cell phones was terrible. Yes we agree with you that we talk really loud, but with over 800 million cell phones in China*, we have to do a near scream just to hear each other; like, when was the last time you watched Jackie Chan whisper in a movie? Right? No offense but we were really put out by your impersonation of us Asians; if you are going to make fun of us, at least do it right; at least go full Yellow. A half hearted try is just that, half hearted. You wouldn't hand in half a paper on the Economics of Recession Friendly Fashion, would you? No, not you Alexandra Wallace. You would add the full sparkle to the cover and the tear pages from Lucky and Allure. Even Miley Cyrus went full Yellow and she was only 16! Here's how you do it: 1. Tape the eyes back. Since you are using your right hand to pretend "Cell phone," you can't do it full justice with just your left hand. 2. When you say "Ching chong ling long ting tong", practice a few times in the mirror. Feel the Asianess, feel the full "Ching Chong", This month, Chubb issued a list of suggestions for how businesses could use social media while protecting themselves from defamation lawsuits and injury to their reputations. Some people have already learned the hard way, like singer-actress Courtney Love, who reportedly had to pay $430,000 to settle a libel case stemming from a tweet about her Los Angeles designer. Tips 3. Buck your teeth out. Its required. Think "Charlie Chan". 4. Since we all look alike, no need to differentiate your impersonation by geographic location or ethnicity. 5. Wear the "Wong Brothers Laundry Service -- Two Wongs Can Make It White" tshirt from Abercrombie and Fitch, it might be more coverage than you are used to, but it makes more of an impact. 6. To get you in the right state of mind, use this as your mantra: "Why are there so dang many of them?" And yes we do out number you at UCLA, according to UCLA admissions there are 5,039 freshman Asian Americans (42.9 percent) and 3,702 whites/Caucasians (31.5 percent) for the 2010 Fall admissions. We owe it all to our "Tiger Mothers" and she made sure we aced our SATs. She's the one taking up all the dryers right now in the apartment (sorry). Eventually all this attention will die down and the internet will move onto the next video of someone saying or doing something that will be offensive and/or racist; but don't you worry Alexandra you will always be available through Google search for time infinitum. We won't let you fade away like a pair of denim jeggings. P.S. BTW next time you are on campus, go over and check out the Terasaki Life Sciences Building, it was built in part of a donation of $50 Million by Paul Terasaki, a professor emeritus of surgery and pioneer in organ transplant medicine. He's Japanese. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com The www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABzkre6KOfQ">UCLA GIRL video from march 11 is about www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABzkre6KOfQ"> Asians in the Library |
|