Blog #1
The three characters from Yang’s American Born Chinese were all interconnected and each represented a different aspect of what one might consider it to be like to be Asian American. The Monkey King was a reminder of where the Asian American came from; his/her roots so to speak, Danny was the face of an Asian American teenager that is trying to fit into a culture and country that does not readily accept him, and Chin-Kee is the embodiment of all the stereotypes that Americans think of when they think of the Chinese or other Asians. Of all of these characters, the one who stands out the most is Chin-Kee. By American standards, he dresses weird; he talks funny, and is an overall embarrassment to his cousin Danny.
One might question why Yang created a character that personifies such blatant stereotypes. I think it was a way to demonstrate that things are not always as they seem. There is “more than meets the eye” with Chin-Kee. In this particular instance, this character is not bad and should not be viewed in a negative way. He is there to remind Danny of who he is. Since Chin-Kee is the Monkey King in a different form, he is there to bring Danny back to the root of who he is. Initially I was unable to make this connection. When Danny was first introduced into the story, he looked like a typical white, American teenage boy and I didn’t understand how he could possibly have a cousin that was so clearly Asian. I did not realize that Danny was really Jin Wang. Due to the prejudices that Jin faced as a young boy, over time, he transformed from someone who was the punch line behind jokes and was ostracized for being “different”, to a westernized teenager who did not resemble someone of Asian descent. He tried to separate himself from what he was. Initially, he might not have even realized he was different until it was pointed out to him in school. Much like the Monkey King, who was rejected by the other deities for being a monkey, he too tried to alter who he was. Yang wrote “when he entered his royal chamber, the thick smell of monkey fur greeted him. He’d never noticed it before. He stayed awake for the rest of the night thinking of ways to get rid of it” (Yang, 20). Try as one might, there are certain aspects about oneself that they cannot change such as one’s race, sex, etc. You cannot change who you are especially to please others in order to gain their acceptance.
The stereotypical portrayal of Chin-Kee was meant to reaffirm Chinese stereotypes that Americans have. It was a way to demonstrate that we should not be so quick to pass judgment and there is more to a person than the color of their skin or the way they dress. More importantly though, he was meant to be a cultural representation and reminder for Danny to not forget who he is. There is nothing wrong with embracing the culture of where one lives however Danny appeared to completely reject his Asian heritage. The Monkey King said, “I would have saved myself from five hundred years’ imprisonment beneath a mountain of rock had I only realized how good it is to be a monkey” (Yang, 223). Chin-Kee was able to set Danny free.
I find it very interesting how we chose the same story and yet wrote about entirely different things. I didn’t read the story and consider the different types of Chinese standpoints that could be being represented, so kudos to you for pointing it out. I read the story and kind of got the message that no matter what we look like on the outside we are still the same person on the inside, as opposed to the idea we change who we are on the outside in order to hide who we are on the inside as well. I kind of see the whole kid being ashamed of his Asian culture by not attempting to be associated with other Asians, but that isn’t what I actually got on first read.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading your ideas, along with someone else’s, I saw the child not wanting to be associated with the Asian girl because that is just how kids are. When you are a kid and your classmates are teasing or accusing you about liking another kid in the class or being in love with another kid your gut instinct is to stay as far away from that person as possible regardless of that person’s culture or race. I do see how the idea of how it could have been because the boy felt he was being stereotyped, I just never saw it that way before. Which is cool, because now after reading your blog along with someone else’s the story seems more complicated and meaningful. In fact, I wonder what else I could be missing or didn’t catch onto at first read.
Hi Carla,
ReplyDeleteI believe that Yang placed Chin-Kee into the Graphic Novel as a physical manifestation of every negative stereotype that drove Jin to create his alter ego Danny. Chin-Kee serves as a reminder to Jin (Danny) of who he really is. Chin-Kee almost acts as a conscience for Jin, causing him to realize that he cannot simply cut his cultural ties, and put on a new persona. The Asian Culture will always be apart of Jin’s life, and attempting to escape that can have many negative effects as the old woman from the beginning stated when Jin said he wanted to be a transformer when he grew older “It’s easy to become anything you wish…so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul” (p. 29). There are consequences for every action, and Chin-Kee serves as a reminder to Jin of that. Cutting off one’s culture can have it’s own harsh consequences, even if it is to fit in. I agree with you that “Chin-Kee was able to set Danny free”. He was able to open Jin’s eyes to the abandonment of his culture, and identity as a whole.
If it were not for Chin-Kee, do you believe that Jin would have forever stayed in the persona of Danny, and completely abandon all traces of his culture? What do you think Jin’s parents though of his transformation (this wasn’t really touched on in the reading. We never really see his parents at all)? If Wei-Chen and Jin had never had their falling out, do you think that Jin would have become Danny still?
Hi Carla! It is interesting that we have two citations the same from the very last part of the Monkey King’s story. “When he entered his royal chamber, the thick smell of monkey fur greeted him. He’d never noticed it before. He stayed awake for the rest of the night thinking of ways to get rid of it” (Yang, 20). I think this is very crucial information to tell readers that the Monkey King was ashamed of what he was. He stayed in the chamber and puzzled about his identity. This is more of an identity crisis for the Monkey King.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, as well as the discussion in class that whom we are and what race we came from is a fact and cannot ever be changed. I personally think that what we can do is to show people what we are capable of doing and show to the public the beauty of a new culture. If you happen to carry more than one culture, then it is important that you share this new culture to other people. We are the carrier of a culture, and someone will appreciate it. So, be proud of who you are and where you came from. Also, it does not mean that two people from the same ethnicity will become friend and get along and vice versa. I think it is more of how you present yourself and how much you value to become friend of someone. There is plenty more fish in the sea, I am sure we can eventually find somewhere that we can fit in to. (Maybe it is not the appropriate way to use this phrase)
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ReplyDeleteFirst, I want to agree with you about Chin-Kee being the character that stands out the most. I think he stood out the most because he represented the sterotypical view of the Chinese in the graphic novel. I also believe that Yang created this character to show an example of how people assume people are something based on stereotypes but they may be something totally different from what one person percieves. For example, Chin-Kee turning out to be The Monkey King or to give a more modern example, someone with pale skin and black hair being considered a goth, emo or punk when they aren't.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you used photographic examples from the graphic novel proving your point of Chin-Kee being viewed in a sterotypical way. I definitely think you picked some good examples by using the funniest parts. I do agree Chin-Kee was not a bad person and should not be viewed negatively as he was by other characters surrounding him in the story being as he does play a very vital moral to the story that you should never forget where you came from and that you should not try to change to make others happy but just be yourself cause that is what will make you happiest. I also did not understand at first how Danny could have an Asian cousin and the only clear explanation I could think of for that while reading it was that someone in his family possibly married an Asian, explaining why he would have Asian relatives when he looked so American. My theory for this changed though when I realized all of the character's stories intertwine with another and that Danny was actually Jin Wang who had just Americanized himself to try to fit in, thus creating Danny.
I assume by reading the entire graphic novel as opposed to only small passages, I would have understood that concept of the novel more clearly and quickly. I agree that by trying to change who you are to gain acceptance from others, you are not being true to yourself and in a way, you are living in a lie to yourself becuase you are pretending to like something you really don't like or pretending to be like someone that you aren't just for acceptance and popularity. When it comes down to it, that won't make you happy.
What will make you happy is enjoying things you truly like and being yourself. Stereotypes are common everywhere, whether it is the sterotypical view that if someone wears pink a lot, they must be a prep or if someone has blonde hair, they must be ditzy. None of these stereotypes can really ever be proven true and as the old saying goes, "You can't judge a book by it's cover."