In American Born Chinese, Yang creates three, interconnected stories in order to convey his message on being Asian-American in an America that does not fully accept other cultures or diversity. While the story that follows Jin Wang describes this message through Yang’s eyes and with a sense of normalcy as far as comic book storytelling goes, Chin-Kee’s segments utilize characteristics from American sitcoms to communicate to the reader about the purpose of Chin-Kee, as well as to send a message about these stereotypes.
Throughout Chin-Kee’s stories in American Born Chinese, Yang utilizes bottom text in order to create panels that make it feel like the reader is watching a sitcom. On the first panel, the word “clap” runs below the title, “Everyone Ruvs Chin-Kee” (43). Then, when Danny is studying with Melanie, the term “ha” runs along the panels during portions of conversation where laughter would be appropriate if this were a sitcom, like when he is drooling while staring at her (45). When Chin-Kee first appears in a panel, there is both laughter and clapping, as indicated along the bottom of the panel.
Yang does an excellent job of making Chin-Kee’s story feel like watching a sitcom, adding laughter and clapping often. However, when the book comes back around to Chin-Kee for the second time, the laughter feels overdone and is even added where some may deem it inappropriate or unfunny. I think that this is done to send a message to readers. While initially, the laughter tells readers what is supposed to be funny, instead of making them decide that for themselves, it soon morphs into an uncomfortable feature. When Chin-Kee brings crispy fried cat gizzards with noodles in for lunch, the “ha” runs along the bottom of the panel (114). While Chin-Kee’s character is supposed to embody racist stereotypes, it feels wrong for readers to laugh because we know that this stereotype is not actually funny.
Pulling from American sitcoms also reminds the reader that these are stereotypes created by white America. This is a bit chilling, as each time Chin-Kee does something more over-the-top and the laugh track appears, it is hard not to feel unsettled. The tie-in to sitcoms serves as a reminder of other characters founded on racist stereotypes that appear in the media. One character that comes to mind is Long Dong Duk from Sixteen Candles. He is a foreign exchange student, one who speaks with a racist accent and is unaware of American customs, like Chin-Kee. His name, on its own, is racist.
This draw from American media serves as a powerful tool that causes readers to think about the insinuation of Chin-Kee, and how the media we consume empowers these harmful stereotypes. While Chin-Kee starts out as a funny character, the farther along the novel readers get, he serves as an uncomfortable reminder about these lasting stereotypes, which makes him suddenly feel less humorous.
In American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang takes an interesting take on the representation of the Chinese in American media. The story of "Everyone Ruvs Chin-Kee", is a satirical exaggeration of Chinese stereotypes in American culture. The story presents itself as a taping of a sitcom, the opening credits shows a title slide, a depiction of racist caricature of Chin-Kee. Instead of an L in love, it is replaced with an R to spell ruvs, mocking the Chinese accent with a laugh track in the background (Yang 43). Yang goes on to present racist stereotypes such as Chin-Kee being good at school and bringing "crispy fried cat gizzards with noodles" for lunch (114). You present a great comparison of Long Duck Dong in Sixteen Candles. His exaggerated accent and mannerisms make fun of the Chinese culture similarly to Yang's take in American Born Chinese. In contrast, Yang creates the racist depiction as a joke making a commentary of the racist stereotypes presented in American media. This differs from many other sources of media containing Chinese stereotypes. The media is a powerful tool that can sway public opinion. Through Yang's satirical representation, one is able to see a change is needed in order to stop. Through humor Yang is able to present the idea to the public that said racist stereotypes should make people uncomfortable and not serves as a vessel of humor.
ReplyDeleteChin-Kee is arguably the most influential character in Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese. As you mention, his story is composed much like a sit-com. I specifically saw this comparison on the title page of his story “Everyone Ruvs Chin-Kee” (Yang 43). Additionally, the clapping and laughter along the bottom felt like cue cards that are presented at live tapings. I believe you are right in that at first glance, Yang wants the audience to see Chin-Kee as a funny character. However, as the book progresses, the audience is encouraged to laugh at inherently racist things creating a feeling of uncomfortableness. One specific example of this is when Chin-Kee brings “clispy flied cat gizzards wiff noodle” (114). Other students at the school react with disgust, but there is the running “ha” along the bottom of the panel. This creates confusion for the audience on whether to laugh or be uncomfortable. This feeling is exactly what Yang intends with his sit-com style of writing. However, some people tend to miss this over exaggeration. Yang mentions the missed point in the interview we watched in class. He says people will ask if there is a plush Chin-Kee, as if he was just a funny side character rather than a mixture of typical stereotypes endured by Asian Americans.
ReplyDeleteI like how you highlight the juxtaposition of the sitcom “ha” and “clap” effects at the bottom of the panels and Chin-Kee’s character during the segments that revolve around him. The sitcom effects make it seem like the audience is supposed to laugh at him, but he actually embodies every negative Chinese stereotype possible. In my opinion he is quite repulsive. There is one scene when he is first introduced in which he sees Danny’s crush and says, “Such pretty Amellican girl wife bountiful Amellican bosom! Must bind feet and bear Chin-Kee’s children!” (50). Not only does this highlight the negative stereotype of the Chinese binding women’s feet, but to me this just screams predatory behavior. The way Chin-Kee says this makes me think he might assault her. I know it is the point for him to be repulsive, but this makes me uncomfortable. There is another scene when Chin-Kee is at school with Danny, and the older basketball player comes to talk to Danny. Chin-Kee disappears for a bit with the basketball player’s coke, comes back, and then whispers to Danny, “Me Chinese, me play joke! Me go pee-pee in his coke!” (118). I’m not even sure if peeing in a drink as a prank is a Chinese stereotype, or even just pulling pranks in general. To me, this just make Chin-Kee seem cruel and disgusting as a human being. This also makes me feel very uncomfortable.
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