Yellow Rage

[tkguy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi2LoWPImZE

I find the comments on this video very interesting. Can't believe how many people are upset because they are swearing. Fucken hilarious.

[nightshade]

I got uncomfortable about twenty seconds in and stopped the video. Too much shouting. Heh, too American.

I did read some of the comments. Something about YouTube brings out the illiterate retard in everyone.

[Makulita]

I remember finally finding one of their videos on YouTube, and in a bout of massive stupidity I scrolled down and read some of the comments.

Majority of them were butthurt Asiaphiles whining and crying and bitching about these girls who "don't act properly even though they're Asian". Goddamn, felt like I was about to have a fucking aneurysm. Jesus fucking Christ on a T-stick.

But I do like their poems, I don't think there's even that much swearing and its not like they just threw them in there for the sake of having them there. Especially in their "Listen Asshole" piece, the swearing was more like a one-two punch to the words they were saying. I still haven't found "I'm a Woman, Not a Flava" that one was pretty good too, not as swearific which... kinda depressed me.

[evil_FUX]

I still haven't found "I'm a Woman, Not a Flava" that one was pretty good too, not as swearific which... kinda depressed me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CUbPPegCU4

[kimtae]

Good stuff. They need to work on the delivery. They seemed really nervous and the girl on the right was a little shrill. On message though. It's about time some AF's got up and said that shit.

[kwak76]

I think the message was good but the delivery needs to be worked on. They could use less swearing but I think they do it to express their anger which I could understand.


Reading the comments I can't believe how so many Asiaphile are reacting. I realize an Asiaphile worst dream is an Asian women who stands up for herself.

[jaehwan]

I never understood slam poetry. People actually like listening to people stand up and curse like that? Someone recommended a book by an Asian American female spoken word poet last year, and I bought it. It read pretty terribly on paper. Almost read as if a second grader wrote it.

[ZhuBaJie]

hell i think they should use more curse words and get angrier. those commenters on the youtube page are just uncomfortable because here are two Asian women that don't fit preconceived notions and stereotypes. they don't like it when Asian women get uppity.

but anyway, that piece is actually fairly old. they've had it published for at least 5 or 6 years.

[Scowl]

I never understood slam poetry. People actually like listening to people stand up and curse like that? Someone recommended a book by an Asian American female spoken word poet last year, and I bought it. It read pretty terribly on paper. Almost read as if a second grader wrote it.

I used to have a pretty dim view of slam/spoken word, but I've started getting into it after checking out some AAs like Beau Sia and Suheir Hammad.

[RebelAzn]

That's awesome video. I love those girls. Glad to see some Asian women standing up and telling those with stereotypes to go f off. I wish they use more swear words. Frankly, the video reminds of me when I was young. We need more those kind of Asian American men and women out there preaching the message.

[JadeDragon]

I figure this is kind of old, but I like it.

Slip of the Tongue (from the Media That Matters Film Festival 6)
Low-quality DL link: http://www2.mediathatmattersfest.org/6/film/1_lo.mov (4.05MB)

High-quality DL link: http://www2.mediathatmattersfest.org/6/film/1_hi.mov (30MB)

http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/

[Makulita]

I remember they used to have the good recordings of Listen Asshole and I'm Woman not a Flava on their website but sometimes its there and sometimes its not, so its hard to hear the poems as they're meant to be performed.

D: @evil_FUX

Yeah, I saw that one dude but that was such a terrible performance of that piece that I don't really count it.

[tkguy]

I don't like this clip. It's almost like that bond feet piece. I only like the fact that the black ladies are laughing so hard and a lot of the men are just sitting there upset.

[krnbboyprd]

All I have to say is...WORD!!

[valleydude]

Just curious -- If it was two blonde WFs up there screaming at minority men to leave them alone, would their opinion still be as valid? It seems like that group gets exploited pretty well too as a "fetish" or "flavor."

I do agree that it is pathetic of Asianphiles who are posting there to expect them to be submissive or "in their place," (which is a dumb stereotype anyways, all the ABC/J/K women I've ever met have been anything but quiet or submissive) but don't women in general of all races have to put up with a lot of misplaced male attention and fixations? I mean, welcome to the world, my YT sisters have put up with this their whole lives, as has every woman since men could talk. If anything, this just seems like more of "look at me and how great I am." And now 10,000 more Asianphiles are cranking it to their video, despite their message. Some guys like spunky women.

[Makulita]

It'd still be valid, but if they performed a spoken word piece with their vehemence and same general message the audience reaction wouldn't be "Oh shit, these are some fierce-ass Asian women, wait, what? Aren't Asian chicks s'posed to be all quiet'n submissive'n shit?"

For them it'd be reactions that contrasted their stereotypes, "Dayum! These are some angry-ass smart blonde chicks!" The place they're performing at (Def Poetry Jam) has had alot of similar spoken word artists and yes, even some white chicks have performed pieces in the same vein.

[valleydude]

Yep, actually, back in the early 90s when I was in HS, the prettiest girl in the school, blonde, rich, head cheerleader, and a national speech and debate contender that year gave a similar speech to us in cultural awareness, though without all the shouting and venom.

I see your point that this was a forum especially for this kind of in-your-face and performance art pieces -- I guess it just seemed passe at this point, isn't one way to get past the stereotype to just not bring it up all the time? I guess it's a sign we're not past it. What would have been funnier to me would have been to do a subtle play on the concept like in a skit (ever see "Tokyo Breakfast"?), where you make fun of the conventions by showing how absurd they are. This just seems like shouting. Lots of people shout, especially 2 year olds. I don't really respect them for it.

I guess in general I tend to think of people who like to do this as attention whores. Maybe Daddy didn't love them enough, maybe they were an only child, whatever. It just seems disengenuous to be up there shouting "Don't look at me!" I've noticed that people who feel unattractive or like they have something to prove often feel the most driven to do this. (I speak from personal experience)

What were the other performances themed on? Were they angry like this?

[Makulita]

There's a chick on YouTube who's archived alot of the episodes from Def Poetry Jam, lemme go find her link:

http://www.youtube.com/user/katejb

Not all of the performers had the same kind of venom to their pieces. There's a divide amongst other spoken word artists over how "valid" these sorts of performances are. The detractors are all (to use your phrase for a bit) "Shouting and swearing is for two year olds! It just hides the fact they ain't got nothin' to say!" etc. etc. which all sum up the saying that Swearing is a weak mind trying to express itself and other bullshit like that.

And y'know, sure why not that's legitimate. But personally the distinction between using swearing just to swear and using it to punctuate particular things is so fine as its nearly invisible. I don't think they swore too much at all. I appreciate the rage in their piece because for Asian women, that time to be civil and use polite-talk is over. For right now, words like that are needed.

Honestly, I've never been a fan of speaking softly, and carrying a big stick all day everyday. On some days, particularly mondays, you just need to bear off your blunted canines and tell some motherfuckers to piss off.

EDIT: I wouldn't really simplify one of their messages as "Don't look at me". Shit is too short, the longer specific version would be "Don't fuckin' look at me like I'm your Chinadoll/Mail order Bride/Geisha girl; I'm a human first and your fetish never so you best know that difference before I cut that tongue out your mouth."

[valleydude]

I guess I'm ok with the swearing, as mainstream US culture is pretty much so permeated with it to the point that it no longer has any meaning. My wife and I are pretty bad at home about that (blush).

I guess it was more the shouting and the message, and more jarring because since they were both going at once, it was really hard to concentrate on the message at all.

I look at it this way -- If someone's up there (BM, AF, whoever) shouting "I'm not your ____", doesn't that in a way infer everyone else is a "_____"? Or at least the majority?

Anyways, free country, and I'm glad they felt better if they got that off their chests.

[Ike]

I look at it this way -- If someone's up there (BM, AF, whoever) shouting "I'm not your ____", doesn't that in a way infer everyone else is a "_____"? Or at least the majority?

That's only if you exceptionalize the speaker. It could also be inferred that all people of that minority group are not your ____.