So my student forwarded this video to me recently, and apparently it’s blowing up on the web. It’s a Chinese boy doing several different English accents (Japanese, Korean, Indian, British, American French and so on) and has almost 3 million views on just one chinese video website and more than 30,000 comments on said website (in less than 2 weeks).
Now, if I listened to this video blindfolded, I wouldn’t be too impressed. Some of the accents are way hard to understand and not so accurate. But, when you add in the fact that he’s Chinese and English is not his native language it gets much more impressive. (Imagine you trying to speak Chinese with different accents and you get the drift.) In fact, most of the comments on the internet are people supporting him and lauding him for his accuracy. (Translated comments taken from China Smack.)
“So talented, so accurate!! I was in a bad mood but felt so much happier after watching this~ what a cute/adorable guy.”
“This young brother is so incredible, the Indian impersonation was so good!”
“Talented, so talented, not just his accents, but also his lines were well written, with just a few words capturing the characteristics of the various nationalities.”
I think this last comment is most telling because as I, a PC-loving American, watched the video I was a little shocked at the racial insensitivity. Sure a “few words” captured various nationalities, but only because he plays to the stereotype. But what’s kind of more interesting is that he plays to Chinese stereotypes of each culture. For instance I did not get the South Korean one at all (where he is saying Opa and sorry, sorry a lot) because we don’t really have a stereotype of South Koreans in America (aside from them being obsessed with playing video games) and I have no idea what a South Korean English accent sounds like.
But French, Italy, American and Russian plays from the “racial stereotype” playbook. (I was half expecting/hoping for a “now dat’s a spic-ee meata-balla!” in his Italian part.)
I’m not saying I’m outraged or incensed, but I am curious. What if an American made this video? Would people be outraged? Is the fact that he is Chinese, a place not known for it’s cultural sensitivity to others, make this video okay? I mean, he’s also stereotyping Chinese people, and Chinese people find it hilarious, so should I bother even being mildly offended by it?
That brings up another interesting thing I’ve notice here about Chinese stereotypes. What we think of as offensive and rude, Chinese people think of as hilarious. Things like “Ching-chong wing-wang,” and doing the slanty eye thing. I’ve done both for many, many students and they just laugh and laugh. But in the US you have to issue an apology if you even think of doing any of those things. Also, in one class, some boys were welcoming their classmates and bowing fast and low as each one came in, saying “welcome, welcome, welcome.” To me it came across as a clear (and offensive) stereotype of the subservient “chinaman,” but to everyone else in the room it was just funny and cute.
And check out this package for a famous brand of cookies. Can you imagine if a western country tried to get away with this mascot? It looks like it belongs more on a Simpsons episode then a bag of cookies in the store.
But here in China their triggers are different. They don’t get upset by our stereotypes, they have whole other things to be offended about, things I don’t know or realize. And I think they have un-PC language for foreigners (and especially Americans) but I’m not quite sure what it is, so I haven’t been offended. (Foreign devil maybe? But I’m not sure how to say that in Chinese so if I’ve been called it, then I have missed it.)
Changing cultures means changing the norms of your society. Some things that are expected back in the US are just plain confusing here in China (for instance I’ve given up saying “god bless you” after someone sneezes. I don’t want them to take it the wrong way). Trying to figure out what is offensive to people in other cultures is tricky, but something that needs to be done. And as an american I can’t hold onto my cultural norms, or be offended the same way I would be back in America about something. When in Rome…
Viral Video and Racism in China
Hi Becky,
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and I’ve finally got around to leaving a comment ^^
I have to say that this is a really good post, and a very interesting topic. I’ve come across Chinese-English translated jokes told by Chinese colleagues about black peoples’ passports not photocopying well, and whereas they have laughed their heads off, I’ve been standing there appauled. Sometimes I think, though, that ancestors of white people such as myself (and I guess, you?), have offended and racially abused others so much in the past that we are far too sensitive to these types of jips and jibes now.
It just goes to show that what we think might offend a particular group, that group actually finds pant-wettingly funny. Maybe this has something to do with stereotypes having a basis in certain truths, and stereotyping in some cultures is not as offensive as in others.
Wonderful blog, keep it up!
Claire
(Guangzhou)
Thanks Claire!
yeah, I know what you mean about being shocked. My first year here there were some American students from South Carolina who did a 2-week exchange program. I invited 2 of them (both african american) to my oral class, to expose my students to more westerners. One of the first things out of my students mouth was telling the guy he looked just like so-and-so from the NBA. His reply? “In America I don’t, but apparently in China I do because other people have told me that.” ha ha ha. Luckily he took it all in stride and didn’t get offended. But god, can you imagine comparing one black guy to another just because they are both black?! You would get creamed in America if you did that!
China is such a unique place. They are modern enough where almost every young person knows jack and Rose from Titanic and watches every episode of “The Big Bang Theory,” and walk around wearing Calvin Kleins, yet at the same time have never actually seen a foreigner. So it is theoretically “diverse” yet totally cut off from the rest of the world. As an American, coming from the “melting pot” nation it is a bit strange to deal with.
Hey Becky, did you hear about the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor “Taste the Lin-sanity”? Actually, have you been hearing about Jeremy Lin? They had to apologize for putting fortune cookies in the ice cream. 🙂 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/post/jeremy-lin-a-ben-and-jerrys-controversy-an-offer-from-a-rod/2012/02/26/gIQAWy88bR_blog.html
I thought the video was kind of funny, and very interesting. I got made fun of a bit for being half-asian (“Chinese, Japanese” chant doing the slanty eye thing, got called gook, etc. Sometimes in an attempt to hurt my feelings, sometimes in a friendly enough tease. It never bothered me in the slightest. It mystified me as to why people would think these things were insulting or “bad”. At a Dunkin Donuts drive through in Keene someone said, “Hey, are you so and so?” and I said no, and she said, “Oh, well, all you people look alike.” The funny thing is, full Asians usually can’t even tell I’m not all caucasian.
Anyway, I really don’t think stereotypes are bad or hurtful by their nature, but there are definitely some bad ones out there. Well-meaning people might make a social gaffe now and again but I don’t find much about most stereotypes to be truly insulting.
http://www.thepostgame.com/commentary/201202/jeremy-lin-asian-american-male-sports-pop-culture-nba-hollywood-bruce-lee
Lin, stereotypes, and changing perceptions.
Hey Cat,
Yeah, I definitely didn’t miss the Lin “controversy” even from way over here, both the ESPN thing and the Ben & Jerrys’ I’ve been talking about it this week in my class. (Wish I had some ben and jerry’s ice cream to go along with the lesson plan, ha ha!)
I’ve also been interested in the reaction of chinese people to Jeremy Lin. You know how nationalistic China is, so I thought they would quickly adopt him as “one of their own,” because he is so popular now. But out of the many people I’ve asked, every single one of them has said, “he’s not a chinese.” (Even if they totally admire him, which most do.)
And I think feeling insulted is totally a personal thing, and you’re so laid back. 🙂 I got called “damn yankee,” once in South Carolina by an older man. The young guy he was with was totally appalled and tried to apologize but I didn’t really care. But, I know that some people DO care much more than me, so that’s why I try to be careful with my language (in America).
Funny, most of my students DID claim him as Chinese, and I was the one saying claiming him back as an American!
I may not be Chinese, but I still can’t see how anyone could be seriously offended by this. The man is very talented and I wasn’t offended by his American impression. I would agree with you when you say that it’s more of a social gaffe, great post!