Lost In Translation And The Double Standard

I grew a late problem with the term "racist". The other way round I would tell "try to laugh about yourself".

Sorry if I don't see it in lost in translation, but for me theres no racism in it. If I would be japanese and would watch the movie I for myself would not be offended.

Why are you looking for the racism in this movie when theres so much beauty?

I can understand it when some people find this movie boring, especially when their favourites included "gems" like Rush Hour, bla bla, etc.

 

Nomar,

Are the voices in your head telling you that black people are taking over because you can't make fun of them in a movie.

BTW, I've seen several movies that make fun of Africans. What was the Kevin Bacon when he goes to recruit a Basketball player in Africa. No stereotypes there.

 

You should stick to stuff like "2Fast 2 Furious" since "Lost In Translation" seems to have gone right over your head.

 

Isnt there a reckless Asian driver in that movie? Racist.

 

I found a article that addresses this issue

http://modelminority.com/article597.html

 

does anyone think american history X was realistic? (except for norton dunking)

 

The story "American History X" ...it was a visceral film "in your face; shock effect." So, not all of it is realistic, but shock neo-Naziism. But the way that hate is created/recruited. Yes, that part is real. But over all, it was just a story about two brothers and how they got intagled in the neo-Nazi web.

"Belief" is another story film about hate of the Jews, but it was more cereberal. Not much violence. But heavy thoughts. Both films above are just stories...don't put too much into the "realism" in terms of history...

Now, if you want a film that is based on history...then get..."Amen."
This is one of the better small films about WWII holocaust victims. That one was better than both of the above film because it's based on a true story.

 

I was just thinking, if we, as Americans, would want a film like american history X played in other countries and have the chance of it being representative of our culture? because while searching through dvds in China, it seems to be a pretty popular movie there. Im tutoring a high school student from China and its already apparent that movies have molded his views on blacks and whites in this country as well as how he thinks people percieve him. I find this very troubling that he makes these conclusions based on movies instead of actual experience.

I havent seen lost in translation, but if it does treat the japanese as "the other" and puts them in an "orientalist" viewpoint, while strengthening stereotypes, then the film is racist. if you walk out of the movie and catch yourself thinking you are a better, more evolved person than the japanese, then there is reason to think that people will be offended by the movie. Since i havent seen it, ill hold my tongue on all the race studies about to come out, and check it out sometime.

 

nyquil82, I have a question...is the title "American History X" in English or in Chinese?

Because the title "American History" alone could give the student the wrong impression.

He's just looking/reading the first two words, "American History" but omitting the "X."

The "X" represents the neo-movment or underground youth-hate. Not the representation of the whole American culture. I think he's been fooled by the title. And if the title is in Chinese the true meaning of the title might be even more obscure.

 

for clarification, the title is in chinese followed by an 'X'. however, regardless of what the X represents, it doesnt change how the audience reacts to it. The title is not important as the elements that are actually in the movie. one doesnt see the movie as american history, per se, but as a representation of race relations in america. I can tell you that a lot of Americans who saw it did not pay as much attention to the title and did see it as a representation of white suburbia; thats what i and my classmates thought it was when we saw it in high school years ago. I dont know if my student saw this particular movie, but its obvious that his perceptions have been skewed by hollywood in general.

likewise, if one doesnt understand how the elements are used in 'lost in translation', they may actually percieve the japanese culture to be weird, quirky, and inferior to the western race.

 

Really? Do your classmates think that race relations here are that bad? Do they think that most people feel the way the actors in the movie? Because i think I would be a bad idea if you let them leave with that impression.

The movie only represents a microcosm of a small extreme fringe group. Not the American people as a whole. You do know that, right?

Yep. That tends to happen a lot. Sensationalism.

That's the problem with using Hollywood films as history material in a classroom setting. Not aways a good idea.

 

i think youve got my context wrong, the movie wasnt watched in class and i doubt it is used anywhere as history material, and im not showing it to anyone either as education. i watched it years ago with friends, some of whom were from other countries (korea, jamaica) and in our own (california, new york) who did take belief that parts of america were like that. of course i know now that it does not represent america, but back then many of us thought that those beliefs were not uncommon in certain southern neighborhoods, afterall we saw skinheads in public all the time and read of hate crimes in the south.

You are confusing me with someone who doesnt live in this country, and you have to accept that a lot of people who don't know america as well as we do will miscontrue the movie and believe that it does represent parts of america. and when this movie, and countless others, are shown in other countries where there is even less knowledge of the US, it will be a standard used to represent us. a movie like American History X, in its seeming realism, will have a much stronger affect than a movie like, 2fast 2 furious, a lot of people outside the US, including our fellows in europe and the UK, believe that blacks and whites in the US hate each other, thats what they see in movies and the media.

my point with bringing this all up, and im afraid it has gone astray, is that if you are offended of these misconstrued elements being representative of america outside of our country, then you should be able to undestand how certain elements in 'lost in translation', can be equally misinterpreted and seen as fact towards someone who is not familiar with japan.

 

This is true. Some will believe Hollywood.

 

Interesting article on Lost in Translation. For comparison, here is a similar "American Imperialism" one about The Last Samurai:

link

 

So, we've learned at least one thing from this thread: Don't let crazy British people direct movies about race relations in the United States lest someone from another country thing it's an accurate portrayal.

Of course, Tony's being crazy has pretty well kept him off of any movie since "American History X" anyway.

 

nomar...are you korean?

 

You sure like to throw that word around a lot. Are you a victim of society?

 

I think it is you who got the completely wrong message from it. Did you forget the white tiger vision?

Algren was there to save the samurai. It was "fate."

 

2Fast 2Furious was all about racists.

And I'm really pissed about the Eskimoploitation films that are starting to surface in mainsteam Hollywood.

Nomar's points are valid, why is he not allowed to bring up an issue about a movie? Is there something wrong with questioning the motives of a hollywood director?

Why does everything have to be so ****ing politically correct when it comes to hispanics/african americans and then not hardly noticeable when it comes to asian americans?

I think the real double standard here is Nomar being discriminated against because of his often controversial views.