TWCL

Motown · Joined: 17 Feb 2013 Posts: 3

This is part of a comic strip from 2001, after the Hainan Island incident (when a U.S. spyplane collided with a Chinese fighter jet). It was drawn before China returned the damaged plane to the U.S.

Here, a smiling face accompanies a message on a Chinese fortune cookie. The gag (not seen) is that small bits of metal from the damaged spyplane are also in the cookie.

This is a construction that I would like to use fairly regularly -- since our country's relationship with China is an important one -- but is it racist? Thanks for your opinion.

Casual Notice · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 4:20 pm Post subject:

Is a doodle of a Chinese man with giant teeh, slits for eyes and a Coolie hat racist? yes, very.
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Casual Notice--commentary, comics and an appreciation for snappy hats.
S*P*Q*R

vaslittlecrow · Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Posts: 744

The caricature is most certainly racist. So you have two choices:

1- Acknowledge that the image is racist, explain the rationale for it and that you take responsibility for it. For example, in one of my webcomics some of the Romani characters describe themselves as "gypsies" (which is the equivalent to the N word.) Many non-Romani characters use this term as well in a derisive way since they are actually supposed to be bigots. Since word term is severely racist, but in context of the story is appropriate, especially since the comic is co-written by someone who is Romani, then I place a disclaimer explaining my rationale. Here's the example: http://barxotka.com/faq/#offended

2- Don't use that image if you aren't prepared to deal with the fallout it will inevitably bring on.
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iaviv · Joined: 03 Sep 2011 Posts: 279

Uh... yeah. By definition, this is racist. Maybe you should have asked if it's offending, instead.
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Motown · Joined: 17 Feb 2013 Posts: 3

Quote:

Maybe you should have asked if it's offending, instead

@iaviv: Good point. So, how offensive is it? Just curious.

mcmasters · Joined: 28 Jun 2012 Posts: 432

Any chance you could elaborate on what your project is or how the little image will fit in? And why it is so vital? Just curious.

Faultytwin · Joined: 15 Nov 2010 Posts: 3

Everything like this is about context and perspective. Without seeing the whole thing its difficult to judge, but it seems like the Chinese are getting one over on the Americans and the little caricuture is a up yours to the reader(an American military officer)