{"id":5241,"date":"2013-08-02T14:27:36","date_gmt":"2013-08-02T20:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nikkeiview.com\/blog\/?p=5241"},"modified":"2013-08-05T19:27:49","modified_gmt":"2013-08-06T01:27:49","slug":"offensive-asian-girlz-by-day-above-ground-angers-asians-with-sexual-racist-stereotypes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nikkeiview.com\/blog\/2013\/08\/offensive-asian-girlz-by-day-above-ground-angers-asians-with-sexual-racist-stereotypes\/","title":{"rendered":"Offensive “Asian Girlz” by Day Above Ground angers Asians with sexual & racist stereotypes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"asiangirlz\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Los Angeles-based rock band Day Above Ground<\/a> made a big deal of its July 27 debut video release of “Asian Girlz,” but it’s backfired and led to intense condemnation from Asian and Asian American groups and individuals. Add me to the list, please.<\/p>\n

This song and accompanying video is offensive on so many levels I’m practically speechless. It traffics in lowbrow racial stereotypes and low-bro sexual braggadocio about its subject line, Asian women. The combined IQ of the group must be abut 10, given their pre-teen horniness and neanderthal attitudes. It’s hard to imagine any other intent — social satire commentary, a criticism of sexual objectification of Asian women, clumsy attempt at post-racial parody — than a bunch of dudes who fantasize about Asian women and their “creamy yellow thighs… slanty eyes” and other body parts.<\/p>\n

I hate the ching-chong wonton font<\/a> that’s used for the title credits. I hate the ching-chongy intro melody that evokes Asia Hollywood-style which crops up at various points in the song. It’s an aural code as immediately identifiable as buck teeth and squinty eyes. I hate the smug white privilege that oozes from the singers’ faces as they croak “You’re my Asian girl.” <\/p>\n

And I hate the creepy strip tease participation of model Levy Tran as she goes from enjoying these pint-sized pinheads’ attention as they sing to her from a birdcage to letting them jump into the bathtub with her and swim between her legs. Yuck. I mean, really yuck.
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\nI actually don’t hate Tran, but I’m damned disappointed. I do wonder about her role in such a train wreck of offensiveness, though. I can only hope that, like the Asian American extras hired for the famous “Evil Chinese Professor<\/a>” political TV commercial a few years back, she only acted out her part without knowing how her role would be used in the finished video. I’d love to see an interview with her about it. Maybe she thinks it’s fine and funny. Maybe she’s dating one of the guys in the band and hears this stuff all the time in casual conversation or in the heat of passion (more yuck). But I’m hoping she didn’t know how the video would turn out.<\/p>\n

For their part, Day Above Ground has feigned shock and surprise (the “we’re not racists” defense that comes so easily to people caught in this situation) and posted this comment on the video to pacify haters:<\/p>\n

We appreciate all the criticism and support. Our song “Asian Girlz” was not written with any malicious, hateful, or hurtful intent. We know it is racy and does push the boundaries further than other songs out there. Understand that we do not promote or support racism or violence. We love everyone no matter what race, religion, or sexual orientation. Please respect our decision to delete any violent, insensitive, or hurtful comment and also one that supports racism. We hope that we can continue with our lives with much love and peace.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yeah. Right. Sure.<\/p>\n

Here’s the video… you decide whether it’s offensive or not (definitely NSFW, so keep the volume down). I’m putting it at the bottom of the post in the event that the band does the right thing and kills the video altogether:<\/p>\n