racist, or not politically correct?

I came across this ad at an interesting time, when the presidential campaigns in the US are showing Americans' true colors, or rather, the real depths of racism in America. Though there is much intolerance to  be sure, many Americans are in fact concerned about being politically correct, not only to prevent offending others but also to avoid being sued.

So when I flipped to this page in VEJA last week, I gasped, even though I was on the train. I couldn't help it. See for yourself:

 

The ad in question is for a new Brazilian soap opera called "Negocio da China" (China Business, more or less), which takes place in Brazil and China.

Let's take a closer look:

 

 

Had this ad come out in the US, that novela would be off the air faster than you could say "lawsuit."

What do you think? Is this racist, or not so politically correct?

Comments

[Marcelo]

I don't see what's the offensive thing. The way people see things varies from place to place. They are stretching their eyes just to mention the relation to China. Since this is a very well-known aspect of major oriental people, it was used to do the mention. It can be strenghening a stereotype, but I don't know what's wrong with "stretched" eyes. Since it isn't bad, I don't know why to be worried about.

[Silvia]

I don't see a problem with the allusion to oriental eyes. I don't really think it is either, at least not in Brazil.

[J.]

As a Brazilian, I don't take it as an offensive or racist thing in any way. I think the ad is just introducing the actors, and relating them to this specific soap opera title. But to be honest... I didn't like the ad in itself.
I'm just guessing here, but maybe in the North America culture it's not respectfull, acceptable or polite pointing out the differences. As for over here, it's ok. There's no much problem in wording or expressing that someone is white, black, yellow, tall, short, Chinese, Brazilian, or whatever (in fact, most of the nick names comes from those differences... as in "bola", "pretinha", "pequena", "japa", etc.). I'd say it becomes a problem depending on who is pointing it out, and how it is expressed.
As for the ad they are all smiles, and seem to be friendly and proud of being a part of that... there's nothing wrong then.

It's just a point of view... maybe an opinion from a chinese person would help us to understand it a little bit better.

Have a good one!

[Stephanie]

I actually think its pretty damn funny. But I suppose it is both, but I think it's just more politically incorrect. What do I know? I dont think its really appropriate, but having seen a few of the Brazilian soap operas...Im not terribly surprised. They are funny to watch, I dont understand much because they speak so quickly, but they are so dramatic.

[Lori]

Definitely politically incorrect.

You are right, an add like this would never fly in the US or many other countries. You are defining a population soley by how they look, like it is a joke. We've come across so many situations of political incorrect-ness in Brazil. To me, it is disturbing and shows a lack of respect for cultures, physical attributes and lifestyles other than their own. Ethnicity, culture, color, sexual orientation - Brazil is really behind the times when it comes to respecting others. That is just my experience and this ad reflects it.

[Carin]

This is clearly a major cultural difference, because in the U.S. this would be considered blatant racism. If a show featured black actors, would it be racist to push down noses and expand lips? Of course it would. And it would be just as offensive and wrong and objectionable as this ridiculous soap opera ad.

A no-brainer: unacceptable, mindless, and idiotic racism!

[polyana]

i know exactly how you feel rachel.

one thing i admire about brazilians is that we're not afraid to point out differences, as "J" just mentioned. obviously there are some words or conotations that are more offensive than others, but for the most part, if someone calls someone else a "japa," or "negão," or "gordinho," it's not considered offensive at all - and are actually endearing nicknames.

whereas in the U.S. if i were to call my friends these names, people would be apalled with my behavior. brazilians are by no means politically correct - since getting to SP, I have been made fun of for my accent from minas, been asked to break a plate bc i look greek to some people, and been called a "baiana" constantly by my cousin when i wear havaianas out to dinner and go out to dance forró. but i know none of this means any harm (i hope).

so to answer your question, just "not so politically correct." i have a feeling the soap opera is supposed to be a comedy anyway... então relaxa. ;-)

beijoss.

[Rita B.]

The Spanish national basketball team posed for a similar photo at the Olympic games in Bejing.

http://multimedia.heraldinteractive.com/images/2003cb6310_ltpSpanishBballteam081408.jpg

[elena]

"A expressão "negócio da China" foi criada durante o século XIX, época em que a Inglaterra dominou o comércio de ópio na China.
A concessão de Hong Kong à Inglaterra após a Guerra do Ópio deu uma conotação ainda mais clara à expressão. Afinal, além de se compensarem por uma guerra que injustamente provocaram os ingleses abocanharam parte do território chinês transformando-o numa ponta de lança permanente do Império Britânico na região.

Com a revolução chinesa o "negócio da China" passou a designar toda e qualquer relação comercial proveitosa apenas para uma das partes". (lí por aí)

Essa expressao faz parte do nosso folclore e nao quer dizer ofensa nenhuma. Já faz parte do nosso folclore e é a forma do brasileiro levar a vida brincando, sambando e sorrindo...
bjs,
me

[Ellie]

I also don't see any problem with the ad. It didn't strike me as offensive or incorrect. People in the US are very easily offended. I guess ignorance is bliss!

[Oliver]

I definitely think this is racist. Why does the ad need to latch onto only one physical characteristics of an asian person and then multiple it over and over again? There are other physical characteristics of an asian beyond just the eyes. Even then, do all asians, or more specifically all chinese have the same "pulled back" or "stretched" eyes?

There are many ways to allude to China without pointing towards a physical feature that seems different. The ad already alludes to China with its use of red and design motifs. Did they really need to fixate on the eyes? I don't think so.

And if the show has to do something with China? Where is an asian actor on the ad?

[JC]

Who taught you that the definition of racism is the act of making funny faces? I thought this constituted "acting," or "improv"? Should the study of anthropology be outlawed, because it catalogs, compares, and analyzes, cultural differences? And do you plan on visiting the States west of the Hudson River some day, so you actually become acquainted with your American fellows? You don't even know what racism is, except for the Manhattan version! Cheers

[Alexandra]

Who designed this ad?? Haven't they learned from what happened in Spain with the basketball team??

As a Brazilian who has lived abroad for a number of years, I have to admit that we are not taught to respect differences or to refrain from judging people based on racial/gender/age characteristics. I can think of many other more positive and even humourous ways in which this particular soap opera could have thought of stressing the connection with China without playing to stereotypes. You cannot use stereotypes without understanding the history behind them. Would it be ok for a soap opera set partly in Africa to show an all-white cast with their skins died black or like someone mentioned above, with big lips?

Just because something is in a comedy doesn't mean it is ok. Jokes can be used as very loaded vehicles to spread racial tropes, prejudice, and racism.

That kind of thing would NEVER fly here in Canada and it isn't only because of fear of law suits. It would basically have no appeal as most people would find it of bad taste.

[Alexandra]

PS: can I put one of your pictures in my blog? I'd like to post about this too...

[Raquel Keshi]

Ah Rachel, eu acho difícil qualquer brasileiro achar que isso é racismo ou politicamente incorreto. =) É uma brincadeira divertida, assim como no carnaval as crianças se vestem de Nêga Maluca, como nas festas juninas se vestem de caipira...Não acho que a Globo teve a intenção de ofender a comunidade oriental, pelo contrário.

Alguém aí citou a foto que a seleção espanhola tirou antes de ir para as Olimpíadas de Pequim; a situação é a mesma, creio. Uma tentativa de homenagem que logo foi subvertida.

É uma questão cultural muito delicada.

Mas eu não consigo ver ofensa nisso. E eu convivo quase que diariamente com a comunidade oriental, acho difícil que alguém se ofendesse com isso também. Pelo menos aqui no Brasil =)

Um beijo =*

[Priyanka]

Well, it's hard to say because anyone who's spent a decent amount of time in Brazil knows that hand sign is just how Brazilians recognize the difference in facial features of Asians. It's not really intended to be rude or racist. There are so many Brazilians of Japanese, Chinese and Korean descent in Brazil who are really assimilated into Brazilian culture and there are definite infusions of their culture into Brazilian life.

On the other hand, as an American I totally cringe...

[Mid]

Lori,

Well, for me, who is Brazilian and oriental, there is no way to think that something like this is racist. If some of you have ever seen this soap opera, you would know how harmless it is.
I think that if someone wants to say anything about another country, this someone should at least to know the cultural differences between your own country and others. If you are an adult here, you now that there isn’t any kind of racism or prejudice in this kind of joke. We are in Brazil. There isn’t another place with so many different kinds of people living together like here.

So in my opinion, if you are the one who felt so offended for this joke… You are the one who are so behind of our age.

Ps: I wrote this message in English for you to understand, because if you think you are the only Blondie in Brazil, I’m sure you didn’t learn anything about our country and especially about our culture.

Patricia Yui

[matheus]

and that`s another stupid and dumb american....

[Bárbara]

It's racist. Brazilians can be so full of shit when it comes to self criticism.

[james]

The Brasilians who don't see the offense and just think others are being sensitive... total crap. Remember the furor that the movie TURISTAS caused. US movie producers played on all the Brasilian stereotypes.

Brasilains are SUPER sensitive when people point out their stereotypes...

How about a movie poster "BRASIL BUSINESS" for Chinese TV with ten Brasilian women lined up pointing their bum bums at the camera?

[james]

Hey 50 years ago in the US it was OK to call a Black man 'boy' and segregate water fountains. People thought that was OK too.

I don't think that just because you can't see it.. doesn't mean this isn't racist or offensive.

[Dr. E]

I don't see any racism as well, but Rachel just wanted to show the difference of culture.

[Pasqualon]

Ok, now it's a matter of point fingers? We, Brazilians, don't have afro-this, nippo-that, indo-something. We learn almost every language in the world to better communicate and welcome foreigns. If you was born in Brazil and speaks Portuguese YOU ARE A BRAZILIAN, despites you color skin or your stretched eyes. We love so much the differences that we celebrate it, and this is the subject of this soap opera. Yes, we have an uncommon humor. We laugh at ours own problems, we make jokes about ours characteristics. You guys talk about stereotypes, we are the only people in the world impossible to identify by physical characteristics due to our ethnic mixtures. Do we make mistakes? Yes. Do we have racisms? Yes, we have, I can't deny it. Are we perfect people? No, we are not, but we are proud of what we are, and if you don't like the way we are, if you live here and still don't learned about our ways, leave, I mean it, please do this favor to us and to yourself, we don't need this kind of ideas poisoning our culture. Our differences are the reason for the way we are, our differences are the reason for us to point the differences without fear. We don't have fear to mix because, bottom line, we are the same.

[Pasqualon]

PS: You should read some quotations from Charles Caleb Colton:

* Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
o Lacon, vol. I (1820), # 217

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Caleb_Colton

[Tim Stackhouse]

I can't really decide personally what I think, but something similar to this happened during the Olympics where the Spanish men's basketball team was photographed doing that for an ad. People in the US were screaming bloody murder but in China people were okay with it and I believe the ad may have even been used in China. I don't know if that means it is or isn't racist, but the Chinese had the most right to be offended by it, and yet it was white people in the US who actually were.