It's frustrating and very ignorant.
2006-12-20 19:43:29 · 24 answers · asked by Rollercoaster 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Get this clear, only about as little as 0.1% in the entire Asian population knows kungfu.
2006-12-20 19:48:43 · update #1
You're right. The only contact many Americans have had with Asians is through movies and media; there are many popular movies featuring Asian martial artists or by Asian directors (_Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon_; Disney's _Mulan_; even the martial-arts expert in the second _Matrix_ film was - of course, predictably - Asian). But there are not so many movies featuring Asians as ... normal, everyday American people. Even Lucy Liu fights in her films.
It's not that the movies are inaccurate; it's simply that many white Americans don't have or care to have any _real_ contact with Asians' _real_ culture. They might have Asian friends, but this doesn't mean they try to actively dispel the stereotypes they've subconsciously learned from constant media influence.
P.S. The asker doesn't need to be more specific about what "kind" of Asian. Ninety-five percent of Americans wouldn't know how to distinguish a Chinese person from a Filipino, or Vietnamese from Korean, or Japanese from Chinese. Neither could they name any more Asian countries than China and Japan - or possibly Korea and Vietnam, if they're smart. People of "color" are always lumped together as members of their "color," not as members of their country. It's grossly ignorant.
2006-12-20 20:02:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blame the film makers. i cant think of a single asian film in which people did not fight. there are hardly any films which project real everyday life stories, because of which it seems as if all asians are born with fighting skills and they dont have anything else in their lives besides martial arts!! in ancient civilization communities, everybody was taught how to fight. back then, people had to keep fighting to protect their land and capture more land. so the film makers make only those kind of movies. plus a few gadgets here and there.
2006-12-20 19:57:00 · answer #2 · answered by nehajena 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you absolutely.I told some white schoolmate that i am an African and she asked the dumbest question,what food do Africans eat?Forgetting that Africa is a continent and not a single country.Don't mind these utterances because i believe some people have never stepped out of their states or country and so they tend to ask dumb questions.
2006-12-21 08:24:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same reason we think an Argentinean should dance tango and a black person can play basketball! It's flattering really, I mean it is a stereotype but not a negative one. Other people are stereotypically considered terrorists, dumb, criminals, and so on.
By the way, I am white and I had never thought the Asian people I have met know martial arts, so your assumption is not correct either.
2006-12-20 19:51:38 · answer #4 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because just as you have generalized about every caucasian person Asians are generalized. It's not ignorance either. It's what has been portrayed as a tradition and way of life. Believing in what you're seeing does not make a person ignorant.
2006-12-20 19:47:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because Of The Stereotyping In Movies, And The Popularity of Bruce Lee.
2006-12-20 19:46:20 · answer #6 · answered by George M 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Must be watching too many Jackie Chan and Jet Li movies.
Could not differentiate betweenfantasy and reality in planet of apes.
Just take for granted and kick the butts of the Asian living in misery in planet of apes.
2006-12-20 19:57:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the same way you lump all white people into thinking the same way. Frustrating, and ignorant? Look in the mirror Lee Chan.
2006-12-20 19:51:01 · answer #8 · answered by baloneycurtains 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
an you be more specific about the word "Asian"? Do you have any idea how many people fall into that category?
next time say "South east Asian", beause I'm an arab, and i don't know martial arts, but i do know how to blow you up in numerous and various ways ;]
2006-12-20 19:47:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm white, and I don't...
Sounds like you're making a racist, stereotypical judgment there buddy, maybe you should get your facts straight first, before slinging some mud...
What's frustrating and ignorant is people making racist stereotypical judgments...
2006-12-20 19:55:05 · answer #10 · answered by purplepartygirrl 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋