Teaching Good Things In A Bad Way - South Park

Races such as the Chinese and Japanese people have often been commonly stereotyped by the rest of society. Due to their asian appearances and cultral lifestyle, different types of beliefs can often arrive from a variety of ideas created both based of true and false factors. Some of them include that all Chinese people hate Japanese people because of their past rivalry, Japanese people commit suicide just to get out of a terrible situation and one that is pobbaly the most common which is the idea that Chinese's and Japanese people are all the same beacuse they happen to be "asian". In an episode called "City Sushi” from the hit comedy television series "South Park” by Matt Stone and Trey Park, The creators have decided to tease the ideology by re- presenting these ideas in a humours manner, while using their own asian characters. Interestingly enough, although it contians a variety of racial humour and asian jokes to re-establish all the common stereotypes Chinese and Japanese people are know for, Since the episode is presented in a very exaggerated and over the top ridicules manner, It actually enables the viewers to stop and be challenged into thinking in terms of reality each time a exaggerated stereotype has been given to them. In other words the episode enables to disguise itself as being seen as reaffirming however secretly is trying to challenge its viewers.

1# All Chinese Hate Japanese.

One aspect of the episode that clearly demonstrates a common idea, in which the creators have used to sneer, is that all Chinese people hate Japanese people because of their past rivarly. In the begging of the episode, when postman Butters arrives to Mr Lu Kim’s city wok restaurant to tell him that “a new brand new asian restaurant” has opened up in their town (South Park), Mr Lu Kim becomes furious. He realises that he must prevent his new rival Mr Takiyama from ever running an asian restaurant that sells non Chinese related food. Mr Lu Kim reasons, for his racial hatred towards Mr Takiyama is beacuse he finds Japanese people invading his life. After receiving a coupon from Butters Mr Lu Kim angrily claims “How come every time a hard working Chinese man open a business, a smelly Japanese dog have to come and try to invade him?”.

(Video Of Mr Lu Kim becoming furious with the new "City Sushi" resteruant located next to his "City Wok")

Although the dialogue can be seen as a just a way for the creators of the episode to engage their viewers (using in the racial humour), this on the other hand is actually a clear reference to the rivalry held between China and Japan when the “nanking massacre” occurred. Back when Japan had Invaded China’s capital Nanking in 1937, The Japanese committed many war crimes against such as the sexual violence to the women. During this time it was reported that their were over a 40,000 killings. After the nanking massacre had ended, Japanese officials and schools have often downplayed the incident making those who live in a new generation to see it has not much of a

n atrocity than it actually was. Despite the China’s unforgiving attuide towards the events, In nowadays both China and Japan are trade partners and ensure to keep a peace between the two nations. This however can explain why the creators of South park have intended to often portrayed Mr Lu Kim as a Japanese racist who feels invaded and desires to do everything in his power to get rid of Mr Takiyama.

But if a viewer takes a look at Mr Lu Kim’s appearance, he is created in a very stereotypical manner. His eye’s are squinty and his hair is somewhat bald on top, His eyebrows are thick and point upwards, while his mouth seems to bigger than most of his facial features. Mr Lu Kim is created in away that depicts how the Chinese are often viewed by western culture, eg. the big eye brows

and open mouth tell us that Chinese people yell a lot and are very aggressive. Beacuse of this Mr Lu Kim becomes hard to take serously for the viewers has he comes out more as a laughable figure. Mr Lu Kim’s appearance is presented very stereotypically, this was something the creators intedned on bringing out in order to exaggerate and to cause their viewers to think in terms of reality when comparing Mr Lu Kim to a an average everyday normal Chinese person. So each time Mr Lu Kim has been given offensive dialogue to say when he crosses paths with Mr Takiyama, such as “You Japanese Dog” and "Oooooo, I hate Japanese people! They try [to} shut down my Shitty Wok, but they never wiiiiill” Mr Lu Kim becomes a trigger to distant the viewers to think further away from the idea that Chinese people have a serious hatered towards the Japanese people.

2# All Japanese People Commit Suside For Unnescary Reasons.

By ensuring to make the viewers think in terms of reality when viewing Mr Lu Kim, the creators enable to tease another belief held by non asian people. Since Japanese people have often been believed by non asians to commit suicide for the most ridiculous/ unesacary reasons, the creators ensure to present this belief in their episode but once again have played it out in a humorous manner to let their viewers minds be challenged to think differently.

Although Japans is known to have one of the highest suicide rate compered to many other countrys, Wataru Nishida (a psychologist at Tokyo's Temple University) explains "Isolation is the number one precursor for depression and suicide”. Japanese people who kill themselves are usually the ones suffering from pressure either mentally or finically. They are often seeking a way out of their pain and some of the reasons to thier suicide can include Historical practices,Financial pressure, Isolating technology. However due to the misunderstandings on why Japanese people suicide by non asians, In two parts of the episode, the western understanding of Japanese suicide has been presented and sneered.

Before takeing a look at two examples, lets take a closer look at Mr Takiyama. Although he is asian, he is presented quite differently compared to Mr Lu Kim. Mr Takiyama’s eyes are open slightly and appears to be wearing clothing that look somewhat martial art related. His eyes brows appear big but not large and less pointy compared to Mr Lu Kim. Mr Takiyama depicts the common aspects on how non asian’s see Japanese people. His facial expressions give us the impression that he is clam but inside feeling disturbed eg. a sign of no

t being happy with his current lifestyle. The clothing gives the understanding that he may have used weaponry like objects (in which he does in the episode such us the sushi cutting knife). While the unopened mouth shows that he is more clam and doesn’t yell, these aspects of the character have been presented very accurately through how a non asian would assume a Japanese person would look and act like. Beacuse Mr Takiyama contians aspects on how a non Japanese person may view a Japanese, The creators are enbled to use the character to help viewers see what is being exgarated and to think in terms of reaily as they view the situations. Firstly when Mr Lu Kim and Mr Takiyama try to teach kids of south park elementary the diversity of asian people by trying to discuss the differences between China and Japan , The creators have intended Mr Lu Kim to state a lot of suciudal comments agiasnt Mr Takiyama’s race. By stating ” the only thing Japanese's people love more than killing people is killing themselves”. and “Oh no, I'm a Japanese and I had a bad day! I think I'm gonna kill myself!”. This enables a way that can be seen as an attempt to show how non Japanese races often presume why Japanese people are so suicidal.

However in order to add more weight to further exaggerate the idea, in the tower of peace scene after finding out that Mr Lu Kim is actually a white American who is suffering from a multiple personality disorder, to take matters more ridiculously exaggerated, Mr Takiyama says to himself “How could I ret myself berieve what man was a Chinese?! I have brought shame upon myself!” and then jumps of the balcony in which he kills himself. While falling Mr Takiyama yells “No! this is racial stereotype” in which once again ensures to cause viewers to see the situation as rather more laughable than serious. Although suicide is a common for people in Japan, By mentioning Mr Takiyama stereotype’s in a sneering way, the aspects of how people view Japanese suicide, this once again conveys the viewers of the episode to realises often assume the ideas towards people who are non asian. This enable the creators to emphasis their point of view in terms of how people shouldn’t presume if someone comes from a country like Japan that they will suicide for no real reason.

3# Common Asian Sterotypes That Asians Are Known For And Where They Come From.

Firstly before we dive in to some of the stereotypes that the creators have exaggerated, lets take a look idea of what is considered “Asian” and how people may apply it to the Chinese and Japanese. Historically the Greek’s have used the term as a way to describe those who aren’t european while in nowadays “asian” refers people by their country’s national census. Since the creators intend on making the viewers think differently with all the racial stereotypes that have been given to them. Throughout the entire episode their have also been minor hints and signs made to make fun of the non asian understanings on asians. These have been presented both ridiculously and humorously in order for the viewers to think about the exaggerated stereotypes been given to them.

1. One of the stereotypes that can be seen is firstly being made fun of is the idea on how all non asians assume that all asian races are the same despite living in different countries . In this clip, we can seen that despite both asian restaurants coming from different contrys, the fellow non asian people of south park decide to call the street "little Tokyo" as a way to celebrate the new asian district. This was to intended to be used as a way to poke at the idea of how people presume all asians are the same.

2. But what typically non asians usually get mistaken from the most is, trying to understand where do different types of asians food come from. In this clip, Mr lu Kim sates to Mr Takiyama “All these racist people thinka that a Chinese and a Japanese are the same, right? So you and me, we put on a big assembry for all the kids are school, and then everyone understand curtural difference. You know, so they know fried rice isn't from Japan and teriyaki isn't from China”. However in the process, in order to poke fun at non asian, a white person next Mr Lu Kim replays with “Teriyaki isn't from China?”.

3. Often, none asians assume that all asians sound the same. But throughout the episode, Both Mr Lu Kim and Mr have had different accesnts that relate somehwhat accuate the asian people who migrated from an asian country. By hearing Mr Takiyama's accent and comparing him to Mr Lu Kim, Its obivious for the viewers to gian an understanding in terms of which asian accent belongs to which country.

(here is a video sample of how the creators have made Mr Takiyama vocie to turn out to be like) Be aware how Mr Takiyama's vocie often has the word "R" stretched.

What South Park seem to generally do is use signs in an exaggerated way in order to highlight how absurd the concepts created by none asian trulty are. A key aspect in showing that can be seen with Mr lu Kim's actual indenty. After its revealed Mr Lu Kim was actually a white American man suffering from a multiple personality disorder the whole time, (Dr Jahans) although this doesn’t really mean much to the story as the creators have used it as a way to shock the audience, in one way this can actually symbolise something in terms of how Americans view asians. Throughout the entire episode Dr Jahans has often used racial stereotypes to humiliate Mr Takiyama

while at the same time re and act some of the common stereotypes that white people often believe who Chinese people often act like eg. having slanted eyes and a speaking loud mouth. Using Dr Jahans to play out a Chinese can be a depiction of how the Americans believe asians are like. According the yellowface.com asian stereotypes have been track back since the 1850s. It all started when asians immigrants have arrived to the US for cheap labour and had been given a negative reputation in order for them to feel humiliated for taking over jobs.

This therefor shows a possible connection throguh how one of Dr Jahans personalitys gain ideas from to act. The episode may been seen being rude and racist towards the Chinese and Japanese as it reaffirm the common stereotypesheld by non asians, howvever through the exaggerated use of these signs, the creators of South Park are enble to draw out the viewr's attention to see their wider prevalence in representation throughout Western TV and film culture and also the inherent absurdity they have been faced with.

By presenting these ideas through humours methods, the creators enable to convey their viewers to realise how unusual some asian stereotypes can be. Bringing up common stereotypes that originated from non Asians who brought up ideas such as the Chinese people containing a serious hatred towards Japan or that Japanese commit suicide for traditional reasons and as well as the typical ones asians deal with, emphasis viewers to think twice in terms with reality.

Weather an asian stereotype is true or false, the factors of these ideas/beliefs often leave those who are one asian to be mislead in knowing the corrects signs of what makes an asian person, asian. arrive from a variety of ideas and beliefs held by non asians.

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