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"People in Japan worship white people." Fascinating GitS Roundtable

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Damn. What is this word and what does it translate to?

It's actually a bit of a play on words. "Chongbai" where the bai has a downward inflection (not real sure how to explain it in English) means "worship". The word for "white" is also "bai" but with a upward inflection/tone/accent.

When I first immigrated here I'd get accused of that by my family all the time because I'd do almost anything I could to act and look more white hoping I'd get accepted by the white people instead of being beat up by them.
 
"It's a worldwide problem and it's fucking disgusting. From India to Jamaica to several parts of the middle east, people revere darker complexions to the point that you have products that help people achieve just that or, in USAs case, people using tanning beds on their skin with devistating consequences.

Personally I love having lighter skin."

Just to highlight the double standards and hypocrisy I've been reading here.

And before anyone assumes anything, I'm brown.

What hypocrisy? I'm saying I embrace my natural complexion. I'm not saying that light skin is worse. What's the issue?

Edit: Christ, hadn't even clocked the full extent of how you tried to spin my post lol How can you be be this fucking ignorant?
 
I have some advice for you too. Make your point without the condescension. People may just listen to you then.

The fuck are you talking about. You dropped in with condescension and the idea that you saying you're brown somehow justifies your read of the thread as hypocritical.

Did you even read the article?
 
It's actually a bit of a play on words. "Chongbai" where the bai has a downward inflection (not real sure how to explain it in English) means "worship". The word for "white" is also "bai" but with a upward inflection/tone/accent.

When I first immigrated here I'd get accused of that by my family all the time because I'd do almost anything I could to act and look more white hoping I'd get accepted by the white people instead of being beat up by them.
I've never heard of this phrase, personally, but it seems like a portmanteau that's actually an insult, if it's being used in an accusatory way, no? That, and it's actually pretty hard to say (or at least sounds really weird), as I'm running it through in my head, because of its two consecutive upward inflections.
 
I've never heard of this phrase, personally, but it seems like a portmanteau that's actually an insult, if it's being used in an accusatory way, no? That, and it's actually pretty hard to say (or at least sounds really weird), as I'm running it through in my head, because of its two consecutive upward inflections.

I mean it is used in a negative way but that's because it's so prevalent among Asians that other Asians mock them for it.

There's also something called CCR in Taiwan which is written as ㄈㄈ尺, meaning cross cultural romance is also used with a negative connotation for people who only exclusively date white people. But this is more specific to dating. Although I've also seen it used just to refer to someone who worships white people and white/American culture.

And no it's not difficult to say at all.
 
It's actually a bit of a play on words. "Chongbai" where the bai has a downward inflection (not real sure how to explain it in English) means "worship". The word for "white" is also "bai" but with a upward inflection/tone/accent.

When I first immigrated here I'd get accused of that by my family all the time because I'd do almost anything I could to act and look more white hoping I'd get accepted by the white people instead of being beat up by them.

The original word is 崇拜, but they're probably using '崇白'.

The fact that it's used as an insult should show that it's not accepted 'behavior'. And that makes more sense to me in that context because we over here have a few mocking terms for Chinese trying to be western and zero terms used in admiration or anything.
 
I do find it weird that white Australians are obsessed with being tanned but those same people turn their noses up at Aboriginals for the colour of their skin. Racism is weird.

Most Aussies don't give a shit about being tanned. Of course, being overly pale can be the butt of a few jokes but that doesn't equal loving a tan.
 
I do find it weird that white Australians are obsessed with being tanned but those same people turn their noses up at Aboriginals for the colour of their skin. Racism is weird.
I always thought tanning was super popular with White people because tans aren't permanent. Tanning is a status symbol I guess for White people because it implies that you can afford the time to take extended vacations at or near the coastline. Even then you can't be "too tan" either, because then it implies field work and accusations of being White trash. There's a certain sunkissed hue that White people seek
 
From the Oshii GitS thread:

Isn't Japan a place where white Western ideals of beauty are held in high esteem (like many other parts of Asia)? His comments aren't surprising.
Yes. Personally I believe that it can happen due to decades of hollywood/media "ideal" of white beauty combined with any culture where colourism is a thing.

I mentioned it in passing and it was kind of glossed over, so in a way I'm glad that there's a bit of exploration on this now. How minorities in the west view the representation situation, and how ones in other territories do can be very different and this is absolutely one of the reasons for it.

It's incredible (and incredibly depressing) to see how far reaching the effects of colonialism, ancient cultural perceptions on labour, media representation, general racism — have allowed colour castes, self loathing and other white supremacist-like viewpoints to continue to flourish globally for centuries.
 

Hallowed

Member
The fuck are you talking about. You dropped in with condescension and the idea that you saying you're brown somehow justifies your read of the thread as hypocritical.

Did you even read the article?

I said I'm brown because sometimes people assume I'm white from the views I have. I don't victimise myself or blame others for having likes I don't like (like in this case, wanting fairer skin).

My message still stands. Racism is wrong, people's individual choices are still fine. You can talk about racism without volatile language that puts a certain colour or race down.
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
You can talk about racism without volatile language that puts a certain colour or race down.

No, you really can't. Because "down" is relative.
LBJ said:
If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
It only seems like we are putting "down" white people because white people have been putting themselves "above" non-whites for the longest time. When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression. This is how a vast swathe of America feels about themselves, and this is their justification for their racism and political goals that seek to oppress and defranchise minorities. And you might ask "well why can't you talk up minorities instead"? The thing is, we're trying, and there are structures in place that are keeping us from talking up minorities, namely, Asian Americans not getting cast in film, and we're rightly trying to tear those structures apart and the process of doing that involves telling people how boneheaded they are being.
 

Sunster

Member
I always thought tanning was super popular with White people because tans aren't permanent. Tanning is a status symbol I guess for White people because it implies that you can afford the time to take extended vacations at or near the coastline. Even then you can't be "too tan" either, because then it implies field work and accusations of being White trash. There's a certain sunkissed hue that White people seek

maybe at a time it was, but my experience as a white millennial is a tad different, but not really. It is a status symbol but not necessarily one of wealth. It's like, "Wow you go out to the beach and stuff with friends, you are active!" When we see a pale person it's, "You're an introvert who spends time inside." Not, "You're poor."

Tanning isn't a big deal really, not at all necessary.
 

Hallowed

Member
No, you really can't. Because "down" is relative.

I really hope this is just one GAFers opinion and I'm the minority. Using volatile and degrading language about any particular colour or race is shitty, and not relative at all.

I'm telling you man, if you think it's fine to be that way when dealing with these sorts of tough subjects, the change that needs to happen never will.
 

maomaoIYP

Member
The original word is 崇拜, but they're probably using '崇白'.
I've never heard of 崇白, and a quick search on Google turns up nothing.
A much more common phrase is 崇洋, but that's a neutral term and not used in a derogatory way either.
If it was me I'd just use 假洋鬼子 and call it a day.
 
I find it funny how people justify whitewashing in the movie by posting stuff about how the director and other Japanese people seem to be ok with it without knowing the context.
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
I'm telling you man, if you think it's fine to be that way when dealing with these sorts of tough subjects, the change that needs to happen never will.
Yeah, because the tone deaf Nivea and Pepsi ads were pulled after people, very respectfully and demurely, went up to Pepsi/Nivea and said "this is not okay".

Because the history of minority rights in the Americas or in Europe, in India or, hell, even in China wasn't at all characterized by violence and tension.

Totally.

I guess I forgot my history and we arrived at the world of today through peaceable discourse, instead of, as I was led to believe, radical rhetoric and bloody revolutions.
 
I said I'm brown because sometimes people assume I'm white from the views I have. I don't victimise myself or blame others for having likes I don't like (like in this case, wanting fairer skin).

My message still stands. Racism is wrong, people's individual choices are still fine. You can talk about racism without volatile language that puts a certain colour or race down.

So you didn't read the article and are just reacting to the title and a few low-hanging fruits in the thread
 

Hallowed

Member
We're talking about minority representation in entertainment media, not freaking civil rights in which people's lives are on the line.

If you think it's fine to be as vulgar as those you say are oppressing and stifling you, you're just as bad as them in my opinion. I'm saying "you" in the general sense.
 
I've never heard of 崇白, and a quick search on Google turns up nothing.
A much more common phrase is 崇洋, but that's a neutral term and not used in a derogatory way either.
If it was me I'd just use 假洋鬼子 and call it a day.

Yeah I never heard it used before either. And I know a few >_>

Point is, people really don't like it when you try to be a westerner. That's why this whole worshiping white and white beauty is bullshit to me.
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
We're talking about minority representation in entertainment media, not freaking civil rights in which people's lives are on the line.

If you think it's fine to be as vulgar as those you say are oppressing and stifling you, you're just as bad as them in my opinion. I'm saying "you" in the general sense.
Same thing, different scale of conflict. We're not killing anyone, as you can see. Instead of fighting with sword and gun we're fighting with words and wallets.

Also. There it is. If you are intolerant of their intolerance you're just as bad.

Your personal priorities says it all.
 

Hallowed

Member
Same thing, different scale of conflict. We're not killing anyone, as you can see. Instead of fighting with sword and gun we're fighting with words and wallets.

Also. There it is. If you are intolerant of their intolerance you're just as bad.

Your personal priorities says it all.

How am I just as bad for being intolerant of their intolerance, please explain because this is just ridiculous lol. Actually don't explain. I'd rather not continue any further dialogue with someone that thinks it's okay to be vulgar and racist under the guise of equal rights and fair representation
 

krazen

Member
We're talking about minority representation in entertainment media, not freaking civil rights in which people's lives are on the line.

If you think it's fine to be as vulgar as those you say are oppressing and stifling you, you're just as bad as them in my opinion. I'm saying "you" in the general sense.

There's a direct link between minority representation and civil rights though; its why even though African-American's are the most visible minority they have many issues with their portrayals in movies (the magical negro) or the love/hate stereotype of the big black mandingo like in this Nytimes article.

And we aren't going to get into how brown people are portrayed in modern scripts a la Kal Penn explains here.. There's a correlation there between the emasculated version of asians/east asians there and how quickly their representation drops in corporate America once you move into managerial/executive positions where alpha males/females are preferred.

And lets not bring up African American representation during US's Jim Crow era or how badly Asians were portrayed going from WWII into the Korean war on US television...

Flintstones.png


You gotta feel like they are subhuman to be racist towards them first; there is no easier way then to portray them as such in popular media. It just seems odd you take umbrage at someone showing pride in being a minority, or questioning a preference that might be steeped in racial issues as being as bad as the above cartoon, lol
 

Aki-at

Member
Being in a family that was split between dark skin (Myself included) and light skin children, I always used to get bullied by my extended family about my skintone, so yeah everyone seems to worship fairer complexions.

"It's a worldwide problem and it's fucking disgusting. From India to Jamaica to several parts of the middle east, people revere darker complexions to the point that you have products that help people achieve just that or, in USAs case, people using tanning beds on their skin with devistating consequences.

Personally I love having lighter skin."

Just to highlight the double standards and hypocrisy I've been reading here.

And before anyone assumes anything, I'm brown.

How the hell did you manage to take that message away from his comment.

Like I am astounded.

They didn't even put any skin tones or races down there but made a fairly apt point which you seem to have decided to twist into something completely different that has no relevance in the real world either.
 

Hallowed

Member
It just seems odd you take umbrage at someone showing pride in being a minority, or questioning a preference that might be steeped in racial issues as being as bad as the above cartoon, lol

I feel like I should thank you krazen for replying in the manner you do, I appreciate it.

I should say that I agree with your post, there are clearly issues with representation, but not just that, but good representation that isn't just eye-rolling racist stereotypes.

All I was disputing was the way some people are "discussing" this topic. It's bordering on racist which I find crazy, seeing as it is people like us that are being discriminated against. I never had a problem with anyone being proud of who they are or where they are from, minority or not.
 

ReiGun

Member
I wonder how much focus there is for models to not get any sun light at all.

I'm surprised Den Fujita wasn't brought up yet in this thread. He was the founder of McDonald's Japan. You might have seen his notorious quote before.

"The reason Japanese people are so short and have yellow skins is because they have eaten nothing but fish and rice for two thousand years... If we eat McDonald's hamburgers and potatoes for a thousand years we will become taller, our skin become white, and our hair blonde."
Holy shit lmaoooooooo
 

Hallowed

Member
when Asian(?) Goku levels up to

super aryan

Lpo1ul.gif

lol I don't know why this didn't occur to me earlier. DBZ is one of my favourites, and yeah I hope the choice for blonde hair and blue eyes for their super Saiyan form wasn't because of some sort of white worship. Funny tho, as it still looks badass to me. I just can't get into the blue or pink hair thing with the new forms.
 
Here's some PC Magazine covers back in the day and an ad. Sorry for the bad quality.

TQQtxcp.jpg


wyNNbZ7.jpg


Sometimes in modern times if the girl isn't "light enough" heavy use of photoshop is used. Hell, photoshop is used like crazy anyways since it can create a mask. You'll notice this in any semi professional cosplay images. I feel bad for the poor bastards buying porn over there. It's like Russian roulette with whether the girl will look the same as she does on the cover.

All I know is that I'd fuck the shit out of that Model M.
 

Kilrogg

paid requisite penance
lol I don't know why this didn't occur to me earlier. DBZ is one of my favourites, and yeah I hope the choice for blonde hair and blue eyes for their super Saiyan form wasn't because of some sort of white worship. Funny tho, as it still looks badass to me. I just can't get into the blue or pink hair thing with the new forms.

Toriyama is a notoriously lazy artist. For instance, he didn't want to go through the pain of drawing the black spots on Cell's body all the time, but his editor had to force him to do it.

He once explained how the Super Saiyan hair came about: drawing white hair (since manga is black and white) is simply easier because, well, it's white.

So, on a conscious level at least, it's got nothing to do with white worship, not from Toriyama anyway.
 

Principate

Saint Titanfall
Toriyama is a notoriously lazy artist. For instance, he didn't want to go through the pain of drawing the black spots on Cell's body all the time, but his editor had to force him to do it.

He once explained how the Super Saiyan hair came about: drawing white hair (since manga is black and white) is simply easier because, well, it's white.

So, on a conscious level at least, it's got nothing to do with white worship, not from Toriyama anyway.

Reminds me of bleach's backgrounds (though normally assistants do that so I'm not sure what was up with that) and HxH non existent chapters
 

NastyBook

Member
lol I don't know why this didn't occur to me earlier. DBZ is one of my favourites, and yeah I hope the choice for blonde hair and blue eyes for their super Saiyan form wasn't because of some sort of white worship. Funny tho, as it still looks badass to me. I just can't get into the blue or pink hair thing with the new forms.
Blue eyes?
 

Hallowed

Member
Toriyama is a notoriously lazy artist. For instance, he didn't want to go through the pain of drawing the black spots on Cell's body all the time, but his editor had to force him to do it.

He once explained how the Super Saiyan hair came about: drawing white hair (since manga is black and white) is simply easier because, well, it's white.

So, on a conscious level at least, it's got nothing to do with white worship, not from Toriyama anyway.

I'll need to look up on this, interesting how these decisions come about.

Blue eyes?

Sorry, green!
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
People in Japan worship white people? Sure whiter skin and certain features traditionally associated with caucasians (small mouth shape, narrow or "tall" nasal structure, larger and rounder eye shape with double-fold eyelids, etc.) are often considered more beautiful, but I'm not sure that means that white people are worshipped.
 
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