Friday, April 15, 2005

Angry Asian Man joins the cause

The Gwenihana Four make the pages of Angry Asian Man's blog. As it was AAM who first brought the G4's plight to our attention, we're happy to have his support.

11 comments:

Tanya said...

I think that this is awesome, I plan on buying a shirt!
Exotification of Asian culture needs to be stopped right now, because people are just feeding off of it and thinking it's cool and socially accepted.
I've always found this whole thing to be really ridiculous. Contractually barred from speaking English is what put it over the top for me.
I was just wondering though if they actually want to be freed from the handsome paycheck they must be receiving?

Anonymous said...

Someone referred me to your blog. =) Just wanted to say that it's disgusting these girls are being used as accessories. Supposedly, a couple of them aren't even Japanese. I heard a few can't even really speak Japanese, but somewhere in their contract it states that they must speak Japanese in public or else be terminated. Not sure how true that is, but it wouldn't surprise me. The whole thing simply disgusts me.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Someone else finally noticed. I hadn't been aware of this until I saw this VH1 thing where she was on the red carpet, and they were trailing her like dogs! No one spoke to them, it's like they were expected to just stand there, posing. And they look so angry all the time - frankly, I don't blame them. She claims that she likes the Harajuku style, but doesn't she say "I'd dress them up wicked," in her "Rich Girl" song? It's an absolute disgrace, and the ultimate in America's Japan obsession. Thank you so much for starting this blog, I will definitely try to stick a poster on my webpage!

Anonymous said...

I see the four Asian girls as a learning tool for the uninformed, ignorant majority who know nothing about Asian or Japanese culture... Wow, maybe more people will learn about Harajuku.

But then again, they are objectified and forever foreigners, which are stereotypes!!

Anonymous said...

I thought the whole "LAMB" thing was idiotic also. The girls are treated like living puppets! Like Moogle, I dress in the Gothic Lolita, and I am not Japanese (of course, it is a western inspired fashion, but that's another story). It just seems to protray sterotypes (demure, quiet Japanese girl) that should be stopped. It doesn't bother me that they are not all Japanese, many other people of Asian descent (and western descent to a lesser percent) live in Japan. But stereotypes are the evils that we must fight in today's society. If you go to Japan, you can dress in the gangauro style, literally meaning "black face", by tanning at palors like "Blacky's". This is just an example, but Gwen is not the only one guilty of backwards sterotypes in the name of fashion! Sad but true.

Anonymous said...

I love your blogname and T-shirt design, however i disagree with the whole premise.

If anyone is objectifying the Gwenihana girls it's the people who talk as thought they are slaves who need to be freed.

What's with the assumption that these girls aren't intelligent and can't make their own career decisions and need to be 'rescued?' The very idea just propogates the stereotype that asian women are passive and need to be rescued and taken care of. Ick.

Gwen's first solo album was an homage, if you will, to Japanese style. Nothing more, nothing less.

Anonymous said...

I love the last post...excellent points!!!

Anonymous said...

I think LAMB is a stupid name too. I think she needs to stop carrying around those girls like purses. They follow her everywhere! She needs to stop obsessing about it. Japan is an awsome country, but to make your whole album and everything about it, and carry around four asian girls? That stupid. She needs to find herself. Quick.

Anonymous said...

shut up u lot gwen is awesome

Anonymous said...

i like how everyone talks about this just being a homage to japanese style, but really, could you get away with this set-up with any other ethnic group in america? could you see gwen stefani dancing in front of a backdrop of four giggling african american girls who follow her around like a harem? could she do this with mexican girls? could gwen get away with that? i doubt it. everyone would be outraged at how queer of a concept it is.

Anonymous said...

It's nice to find a blog that promotes awareness of true Asian Culture.