anonymous

But shouldn’t the person of that ethnicity playing that character have the right to chose who they want because they are that ethnicity? I ask this because I went through the process of trying to figure out what’s right and wrong in playing a trans character and a trans rph told me that if you’re not trans, you use a trans fc. But if you are trans you don’t have to — so does that not logic apply to this as well?

| blueshelp

I see what you’re saying, but no. Because using cis fcs for trans characters is a way for them to create diversity for themselves, it’s not taking away anyone else’s representation. But using a Korean fc for a Chinese character, while it’s creating more Chinese diversity, is erasing the ethnicity and identity of the Korean person in question. Koreans also do not already have representation and you’re taking away from them by doing so. Plus, please read up on Japanese, Korean and Chinese history.

ok, playing devils advocate, too. I know it’s not okay but I get how that anon decided it could be okay. If them, being chinese, don’t think it’s offensive to cast a Korean actor as chinese, why should the white girls in tumblr? They are not the ones that are discriminated and why should the other asians care? They should understand, too, what it’s like. They are not interchangeable but if they don’t find a chinese actor that they like, then thay can use a koran one.

| blueshelp

This message is literally such nonsense, you’re not “playing devil’s advocate”, you just have a crappy opinion. The other anon had genuine valid points.

It’s not the Chinese ethnicity that is being erased here, it’s the Korean’s ethnicity. If they wanted to cast a Chinese fc as Korean, and I don’t know why they would, then by all means go ahead. They’d be erasing their own peers’ ethnicity in the process, which is what the issue is here. But because they’re erasing the Korean person’s ethnicity by just ~making them Chinese~ then it’s an issue.

lol. I said before. And I’ll say it again. Not everyone over here getting pissy is white, LOTS of Asian-American celebrities have spoke out against this sort of casting. Not all Asian people have to agree on Asian matters, just like not all white people agree on all white people matters. Just because one person thinks it’s okay doesn’t mean it’s okay. And what do you even mean why should other Asian people care??? Switching over Chinese, Japanese and Korean people is an issue for all of us and it’s not down for just one person to decide “it’s okay” like, what the fuck…. this is the exact same argument ugly racists are giving about cultural appropriation, you do realise.

“they used a Korean fc for their [Chinese/Japanese/Thai] character because that’s how they wanted the character to look” if you wanted your character to look Korean and you envisioned them having those features, how about just making them Korean…?? it’s like someone without colour blindness envisioning something to be painted red but they use purple instead because red isn’t pretty enough like what kind of logic??

| blueshelp

It’s usually an excuse for basically “I like this Korean fc but I want my character to be Japanese/Chinese/Thai”. But like, imo, they could make their character born and raised in those countries if they want to but just keep their ethnicity?? Or, yeah, just make them Korean lol. It usually applies to canon characters, I mean. Like… using Korean fcs for Japanese cartoon/comic characters etc.

& I wouldn’t say that certain “features” are specific to different Asian ethnicities… without fashion, makeup and other beauty trends, it’s not easy to tell people’s ethnicities apart. At least, from my experience. Although people pretend to know, lol. My brother’s girlfriend always gets asked if she’s Filipino. But that’s usually just some colourism for you.

just to play devil’s advocate and I don’t agree with that anon but I’m an Asian mun and I can see the reason for it being of less ‘importance’ is if you are an Asian born and raised in Asia (I’m from Singapore). we face less racism against us because we’re the majority where we are, and we don’t see as much racebending as in the West – we get to see actors/actresses like us on screen. because we don’t have that history and it doesn’t happen often, maybe they felt once in a while isn’t bad…?

| blueshelp

No, I  do agree there. I was born Asian born too. I understand that we are used to seeing people on television, movies, adverts etc. But you need to understand that there is discrimination between Asian countries throughout media and throughout society. It’s not like the history just disappeared, there are still wounds that need to be healed and there is still lingering prejudices against other ethnic groups. We also need to understand China, Japan and Korea’s history together and why casting between those groups especially is an issue. I said before that I understand it does happen in Asian television (actors playing different ethnic groups), and if you see an Asian actor in Hollywood it’s still better than nothing. But we can’t accept that, especially not in RP where it is our choice and duty to be able to represent people correctly. While we don’t experience racism in our own countries, it will happen between Asian countries if you do not live in your home country. A Korean person, like the anon suggested, is likely to face discrimination in China and Japan.

After replying to the ask, I was thinking about a lot especially regarding nationality and ethnicity – should I be okay with someone born and raised in Japan who is not ethnically Japanese, to play a Japanese character? I wouldn’t mind it as much, if the show/movie was written by a Japanese person, because the actor is culturally Japanese to a large extent. But even though I don’t personally mind it, their ethnicity and heritage is likely important to them and therefore we should not erase it. 

Then we also need to think about people who were not Asian born. It’s incredibly unfair to them to do this in Hollywood and in RP, where most rpers in general are from America and therefore are exposed to the lack of representation or miscasting. We need to provide accurate casting and respect for them, because they are here for a form of escapism and not to have to see someone using Oh S*hun as a Chinese person because “there aren’t enough Chinese fcs” when there are plenty of good alternatives. Not to mention I have seen people literally say that Chinese and Japanese actors are not as good looking as Korean actors, so they used a Korean fc for their [Chinese/Japanese/Thai] character because that’s how they wanted the character to look. 

oh my gods I am a fucking idiot and did not see your GIANT requests are closed notice at the top of this page I am sooooo sorry! please ignore that message about icons! except for the part where I thanked you for making wonderful resources, that part you don’t have to ignore. ;) SORRY!

| blueshelp

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your resources are wonderful thank you for them! have a great day!]

Hello!! It’s okay, I’ll do them for you anyway because I only have a few things to do but thank you for your compliment and for trying to correct yourself. The writing is definitely hard to miss, but several people seem to ignore it anyway lol. Thank you, though!! Do you have a preference for what media I use??