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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Asian Men Deliberately Excluded from Star Wars?
ow that the fifth installment of the Star Wars saga has hit theatres, it's official: Asian men have no place in George Lucas's vision of the future. An Asian female Jedi was glimpsed in the most recent installment, but not one single Asian male has been spotted in any of the five movies.
The absence is all the more remarkable given that Star Wars borrows its themes and fight scenes so obviously from samurai and kung-fu flicks. On a purely demographic level, it's difficult to imagine a distant future in which Asians will not be the preponderance of humanity. Even on a mundane economic level, Asians account for at least a third of today's global box office and video revenues.
The utter absence of Asian men in the latest installment is even more glaring in light of the promises Lucas made in response to Asian protests over the omission of Asian actors coupled with suspicious attachment of Asian cultural traits to unsavory alien grotesqueries in The Phantom Menace. Lucas had even hinted that images of Bruce Lee would be used in the installment now known as The Clone Wars.
In The Phantom Menace Lucas used Asian martial artists both to choreograph and perform the kendo-inspired light-saber sequences. But as if wishing to take back the decision, in The Clone Wars Lucas's PR machine made a point of showing that the fight sequences were choreographed by a white man and performed by the actors themselves. That explains why they were so leaden and lackluster, but raises the question why?
Could it be that George Lucas wants to avoid calling attention to his large debt to Asian action films?
Is Lucas afraid that including an Asian man will invite critical focus on the new movie's sub-par swordfight sequences?
Is Lucus slyly inviting viewers to see wizened little Master Yoda as a winking representation of Asian men?
Despite his avowed interest in Chinese and Japanese martial arts, culture, literature and films, is Lucas a closet racist after all?
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Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 06:38:56 AM)
Phil.
There was an asian female who plays a jedi in this 2nd episode. Although, she was just in one scene for a quick second in this movie. As far as blacks, Billy Dee williams had a pretty substantial role in the Empire Strikes Back. In the 2nd Episode and the 1st Samuel L Jackson happened to be represented. Also, Jimmy Smits and what seems to be a hell of alot of Pacific Islanders (as the clones) were in this film. How racist can he be?
On the flip side of this, maybe there just were not that many asians who were interested in playing any significant parts in this film. Don't just assume it was George Lucas's fault or racial preference that was a hindrance to the amount of asians in this film and the prior.
But you guys have to understand that everything in America is basically geared towards Caucasian americans. They can be pretty indifferent to other races. But it doesn't stop some People of color, having this deep admiration for them.
Third Eye
Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 04:54:54 (PDT)
By the way...check out the MAKING OF THE PHANTOM MENACE on DVD.
One of Lucas's collaborators is...surprise!...a Korean guy.
This subject is ridiculous anyhow. The people who are getting all worked up over it are just as reactionary as the STAR WARS geeks who feel compelled to defend every aspect of this silly film.
Enuff Zenuff
Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 01:06:55 (PDT)
Less Inhibited:
Asians do make movies, but they tend to stay in their largest market (Asia).
Blacks make movies here because there isn't much of a market (not to mention anything else) in Africa.
Question:
Interesting that Watto might be negative stereotype Jew. I always thought George Lucas was Jewish. Can anyone clarify that?
I doubt Watto is supposed to be Italian mafia. He wasn't violent enough, his character tended to rely more on economic power than violence.
huu76
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 18:31:12 (PDT)
I'm pretty certain there was a negative allusion to Asians in Episode I. I remember that there were these, well i don't remember their names, but their faces were a cross between reptilian and flies, and they wore those black hats worn in Korea and China by government officials in the OLD days. They spoke with Chinese accents if you listen carefully, just like a restaurant owner or something. Don't they remind you alot of those Confucian officials type of characters?
Thomas
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 18:17:21 (PDT)
Despite his avowed interest in Chinese and Japanese martial arts, culture, literature and films, is Lucas a closet racist after all?
Perhaps. But, for that matter so is Ralph Lauren. There are no Asians in his world of Ralph Lauren, and yet Asians buy his stuff.
"Even on a mundane economic level, Asians account for at least a third of today's global box office and video revenues"
I have one idea. Why dont the Asians stop going to the movies? I do not watch any movies any more.
Asian
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 17:06:41 (PDT)
Druid,
George Lucas said himself that the idea of the Force is borrowed from Chi/Ki. So this has nothing to do with the Celtic religious beliefs. We're not trying to "grasp" at supposed Asian concepts in the movie. He did say most of the ideas are from the Japanese movie Seven Samurai. If you cannot notice that the themes present in Star Wars are all very Asian, you're the one being ignorant. I mean, how much more obvious does it need to be? Look at the Jedi's outfits...they are very Japanese. But you would like to believe that the idea of the Force is Celtic-based? Give me a break!! Just accept the fact that Star Wars was based heavily on Asian concepts and not on your Celtic crap.
LA yonsei
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 16:41:28 (PDT)
"showing the Enterprise vaporising Luke Skywalker and his mob into space dust"
LOL i think this was already shown in monty python or mel brookes (can't remember which, sorry) that they have a bad franchise cross-over of characters and ruins the universes of either franchise.
villageidiot
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 13:10:08 (PDT)
"Let say if George decides to put an AM in episode 3, expect him to be bad guy and not a Jedi."
and if it were up to me, i'd take the role in a heartbeat. the dark side is much more sexier.
villageidiot
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 13:07:49 (PDT)
"I think the only way for Asian Men to seek salvation is to produce their own movies. Hey, African Americans are doing it, why can't we Asians?"
and even if we did, loosers like you won't support it. if you know anything about how things are run in this country then you ought to shut your pie-hole because as an asian-actor myself i can say that it's with attitude like yours that we "serious" asian-actors don't get anywhere because of ingrates like you.
villageidiot
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 13:01:49 (PDT)
UCI guy,
I'm pretty sure that the article meant to say that there was no AM as a lead or close supporting role. Try not to find holes in the argument and build on it as a legit point because the article didn't directly state that.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm almost positive that there's actually an AM in one of the original Star wars (I think it's episode 6, Return of the Jedi). It's during the space battle--the dude with the pink eye shield flying one of the other strange looking fighter jets, not an X-wing. He screams something like "I'm hit!!!" and his plane crashes into one of the Star Destroyers. I'm pretty damn positive he's Asian."
Yea, he was an Asian guy for 6 seconds. That qualifies as a "role." /sarcasm off
Slab
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 11:22:54 (PDT)
Whatever:
Va fancuolo! Tue uno stronzo molto!
His hooked nose was based upon the long, large ROMAN nose and his accent is based upon the stereotype of an Italian organ grinder or Mafiosa with Anakin the kid as his money-making MONKEY!
Italians have also been accused of slave trading back in the day as well, not just Jews.
You are full of shit, pendejo. Lucas was making fun of Italians, not Jews!
Get it Right
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 11:01:53 (PDT)
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