“There’s also an issue of cultural appropriation, there’s the issue of taking something that’s distinctly Asian in its identity and quote, unquote, making it better, which I have an issue with.”
  • wildcardology@lemmy.worldEnglish
    61·
    2 months ago

    So Asians specifically taiwanese in western countries are the only ones allowed to sell bubble tea products?

    I’m south east Asian myself, Filipino to be specific, and I see a lot of bubble tea products and stores here. While I don’t know the ethnicity of the owners of these stores but I would guess 90% are Filipinos. Are we culturally appropriating the product?

  • pandapoo@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    4·
    2 months ago

    This is like when Disney promoted the director of the Eternals, Chloé Zhao, as a woman of color.

    Which, technically might be true, in the American context. Except that she’s Han Chinese, from China, and the daughter of a Chinese steel magnet and private equity investor.

    I don’t think billionaire heiress was the image that came to mind when people heard the Disney PR machine pat themselves on the back for hiring a woman of color director.

    Just like I don’t think this is what the concept of cultural appropriation was meant to address.

    Should a bunch of Hanks and Jimmy-Rays start yelling about how Chinese restaurants, in China, have changed American cuisine to better suit the local market? Is that appropriating American culture?

    Personally, I think that’s just as dumb as what Mr. Liu is claiming.