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Asian Men Within the Fashion Venn
So over the past week, there's been a lot of talk about this infographic in Details magazine, titled "Gay or Asian?"* That it renders straight Asian men incapable of ever equaling our non-Asian counterparts in the satisfaction of women, Asian or otherwise, because our lifestyle so closely follows gay stereotypes. What's it leading to? Petitions? Demonstrations? Yahoo! Groups?!
Well, perhaps a simple Venn diagram will help quell the flames, and maybe offer a different perspective on why this article isn't worth all the spite and hatred:
Perhaps because Details found that many Asian males embrace the "metrosexual" lifestyle (to borrow an overloaded yet positive term from 2003), they - in a somewhat well-intentioned attempt at humor - try to paint parallels between Asian males and gay stereotypes. But that does not preclude a portion of Asian men from being gay, were we to follow trends of the general populace. And of course, the persistent, misogynist objectification of Asian women in America will continue to perpetuate the effeminizing/desexualizing of Asian men within the same construct, etc. etc. etc.
As you can see in my infographic, I'd like to think of myself to be at least somewhere in the metrosexual Asian field, given that I like Macintoshes and bathe at least once daily. And ladies are pretty. Mailboxes, too.
* Did anyone think this article was initially about Keanu Reeves?
12:47 AM
06 Apr 2004
Comments
George Takei is metrosexual? I'm pretty sure he bathes, but I'm not quite so sure about his snazziness levels.
It's the voice, man. The voice.
what's up with that hung guy? first he sings terribly on a terrible show, and now he's got a terrible album out?!? is there something i don't understand? it's probably all those Asians banding together to make him popular. Compared to Hung, all Asians seem cool!
the william hung thing? yes, puzzling.
but i am guessing fans fit into one (or a combination) of these areas:
1) People who empathize w/ geekiness and want to see a geek triumph for once (other than bill gates)
2) People who love the underdog
3) People who empathize w/ being an earnest but awkward immigrant
4) People who love campy karaoke
5) People who like to make fun of geeks and think he's just funny
6) People who like a nice guy who can embrace his geekiness, sing if people don't like it, and not care.
LOL... I like your smaller typeface treatment on the Asian Female stereotype... I can almost hear it in my head of you talking about that, which, I think is your intension....
i think there is a fundamental error in your diagram. you are essentially saying that no metrosexuals are homosexuals. when in reality not all metrosexuals are straight, just as not all homosexuals are metrosexuals. there should be an overlap in those two groups.
Actually, yi, it seems to really depend on your interpretation of the term. While the earliest definitions of the metrosexual eschew issues of sexual orientation altogether - the man is so narcissistic that it's actually irrelevant - most people today (i.e. marketers) refer to metrosexuals as being specifically straight men. So here in the diagram, I represented them as being mutually exclusive forces.
I heard George Takai was gay. Not to mention that handsome B.D.Wong.
I second Yerpelo's motion to add BD Wong to the Venn diagram! He's a definite gay cutie (from one gay Asian guy supporting another). LOL!
Yep, BD is gay. So is George. We've hung out and they are both great guys.
Takei is gay? Man, now I'll have to rethink my whole diagram. Who else found it ironic that he was incorrectly placed? Meanwhile, I'm considering replacing the picture of Ernie with B.D. Wong, if only so Ernie can pin this thing up on his cube wall with impunity.
Just by surfing around in net I definitely found a very informal place with a lot of good stuff for everybody. I will certainly visit your site again sometime. Really good work.
Great comments guys. Peter FDA
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