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View Full Version : Oh my Gosh! It's an asian person - Or: New shoes


Anarky
04-10-2006, 04:01 AM
And today, I offer you a tidbit of pure human stupidity. As in really, really dumb.

This is the design on the tongue of the adidas Y1 HUF (Fong) (http://www.press.adidas.com/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-218/) sports shoe, which is one of the company’s new “Yellow Series” (http://www.press.adidas.com/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-202/). The designer is Barry McGee, and the image is derived - apparently - from the cover of one of his books (http://youworkforthem.com/product.php?sku=P0332). The design is starting to attract attention in the region, not (http://www.tian.cc/2006/03/adidas-yellow-series.html) all (http://www.adjab.com/2006/03/16/mcgees-adidas-shoe-racist/) of (http://www.adrants.com/2006/03/adidas-yellow-series-not-so-nice-to-asian.php) it (http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2006/03/adidas_yellow_s.html) complimentary (http://japundit.com/archives/2006/03/17/2123/). Much of the discussion revolves around whether the stylised face is a racist depiction (slant eyes, buck teeth, etc). McGee’s work - it should be said - is usually interpreted as a response to racism.
Source (http://poplicks.com/2006/04/kicks-controversy.html)

Don't those people have anything better to do? I mean, I might be bored these days, infact, I've gone beyond boredom and I'm currently exploring the vastness of idealessness and lack of motivation, but I'd never ever come across the idea to complain about a shoe. I mean, how bloody dumb do you have to be when you're upset about a stupid drawing on a stupid shoe? Aren't there any real problems people have to worry about? Have we become decadent like that?

... my guess is: Yes.

iris
04-10-2006, 09:50 AM
Aren't there any real problems people have to worry about?
Yes, but in my experience people would rather not think about those. Let's forget that the popular sports shoes are made for pennies in Asian sweatshops. The cartoon is much easier to think about. And even though people do care about the sweatshops... kinda... that won't get press like this does.

http://www.villagesavant.com/mt/archives/images/barrybk-vs.gif
Artwork in question.

Because, you know, it's much less racist to depict far east asian people as tall with curly hair and round blue eyes. :roll:

http://www.citybeat.com/2004-03-10/cover-6.jpg
Another picture by Barry McGee.

Maybe they should have gone with a less stereotypical cartoon.

http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/gba/01/JackieChan-02.png