Stereotypes in Gilmore Girls

[nicoteca]

I have recently watched several episodes of gilmore girls and I've gotta say the implicit, indirect degradement of the korean identity as a whole makes me sick.  It's shows like this that make me hate more and more the jews that run hollywood.

Is it from their own experience of anti-semitism that the jews feel an inherent need to degrade other, less established minorities in america?

If you don't understand where I'm coming from, pay careful attention next time an asian comes on screen.  Think about how an asian person might feel after watching shows like these.  Betrayal at the american institution?  Mistrust of the white man for not upholding to the responsibilities that come with power?  If you have any decency in your heart you should be able to sympthatize.

"To many, movies simply present avenues to escape reality, or conversely, exist as an artistic medium to reflect reality.  I believe there is some truth in both these views.  However, the idea that receives less attention is the notion that movies create our reality." S.M.

"Hollywood is run by Jews; it is owned by Jews--and they should have a greater sensitivity about the issue of people who are suffering. Because...we have seen...the greaseball, we've seen the Chink, we've seen the slit-eyed dangerous Jap, we have seen the wily Filipino, we've seen everything but we never saw the kike. Because they knew perfectly well, that that is where you draw the [line]."
--Marlon Brando on Larry King Live

Edited title on 11/28. This is a very controversial, potentially hurtful post, and may be edited more if it is deemed necessary. --Beth

[Janich O]

Hello, nicoteca.
Do you hate "Jews" in general or just "Hollywood Jews"?
If a "non Jew" degrade the korean identity is it less wrong then when a "Jew" do it?
How do you define a "Jew"? Is it the religion, the culture, or do you look at the "blood" aka. genes?
It would be nice to know before i respont to post more specificly.
An who is "S.M."? I'm not from USA so...

[Krisleigh]

I don't get how Girls is derogatory to less established minorities. I don't understand how you would think that, so please further explain.

[White Onyx]

Yeah, please explain what you mean, cause I'd love to discuss this with you, but I never noticed it.

[Dani257]

Shouldn't it be you hate how AS-P portrays Asians?  Not how the Jews portray Asians?  

And, lets look at how Asians are portrayed, shall we?  Mrs. Kim - a strict mother.  A mother who wants to keep her daughter safe. A health nut.  A Christian. A businesswoman.  Someone who would have chosen a different path for Lane, but who helped her with the band by providing them church groups to tour at.  At times she's exaggerated, but she's a tv character, and I find exaggerations in Emily, Paris, Sookie, etc.  

Lane -music nut, likes boys, loyal friend to Rory, is working on her dream.  Sure, Hep Alien will never win a Grammy, but I admire that she's out there doing what she loves.  Not seeing the incredible stereotype there.

[TheHumanCoffeePot]

That's the thing about Gilmore Girls.  They use certain stereotypes to play up characters.  Jess is your "bad boy".  Mrs. Kim is the overprotective religion-nut.  Lorelai is the "cool mom".  I didn't hear you remark that the "Jews who run Hollywood" have no respect for Northern people because Jess is from New York and they make him seem stereotypical, the way he hates small town life.

I really just don't understand why you think Asian people are the ones being persecuted.  Gilmore Girls pokes fun at all religions, races, and beliefs at some point, and while that may not be a good thing, that's the way it is.

[Krisleigh]

I agree. I don't think Asians are being singled out. GG is an equal-oppurtunity mocker.

[gilmore-girl]

It would be nice to see different cultures in GG. I mean they have some but touching on more would be cool.

[Krisleigh]

I don't doubt that at all, but saying that GG, or Hollywood Jews in general, have some sort of issue with Asians, i don't get. I don't see Hollywood Jews, as a whole, as having a problem with Asians or any other group. Obviously, some of them do, but not all.

[Dani257]

Also, it seems to be narrowing the Palladinos, especially AS-P (since this is her baby) to nothing but being Jewish.  As if any stereotypes being shown are shown because they're "Hollywood Jews"  and that's their whole identity.  If this is about seeing Asian stereotypes that bother you, why not start a thread titled "Disturbing Asian Depictions on Gilmore Girls"  Because this seems less about Asians than it is about Jewish people in Hollywood.

But, really, instead of just saying to pay attention to when an Asian comes on screen, how about some concrete examples?  What is so degrading about Lane Kim?  Or Mrs. Kim?  Or Henry?  Or the Korean exchange student? 

[Beth]

While this topic may generate some interesting debate... does GG only follow stereotypes when creating characters... the originally offensive title is going to be edited, based on my own shock when I saw it.

By saying what you did, nicoteca you make the same mistake you accuse Amy S-P of, and you do so offensively, with sweeping generalizations towards a type of people.

However, since Lane's character is based off of Amy's friend and show producer Helen Pai, I think you may need to take Amy's character Mrs. Kim as someone who was based on a real-life person who happened to embody many stereotypes.

We'll see how long this thread stays open...

[Left Field]

There are some stereotypes in Gilmore Girls that concern me, but the one regarding the Asian characters was not one of those.  I thought Amy and co were handling it with respect and compassion, while still poking fun at some of the more obscure (to Western Society) characteristics amongst the Asian population.
The one that interests me the most is to do with the Black population.  For a country with such a large Black population, there aren't too many Black Characters in the show.  Outside of Michel, I can't remember one that has been a semi-regular (remember in Australia we are still only halfway through season 4), and there don't seem to be too many living in Stars Hollow.  Is it a typical Stereotype to say that the Black communities of America tend to live in the larger cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia and stay away from the smaller towns, even in the North??

[Gilmore_Lover]

Ok. Talk about sterotypical. Since when do the Jews run Hollywood?? Your fighting fire with fire here. If you are going to say that it is stereotypical towards Asians, it is entirely not fair for you to turn around and be stereotypical about Jews!!!! Since when does race or religion of a shows producers and creators have anything to do with a show??
I'm sorry, but look around. What does Gilmore Girls NOT stereotype and overgeneralize. You've got your Koreans, your musicians, you small towners, and your society ladies. That's what makes this show great. If you can't handle it, and feel the need to turn around and blame it on us "Jews in Hollywood" then STOP WATCHING THE SHOW.
 
Well, I'd be very open to hearing about all of the Jews that run hollywood...just like these:

The famous "Jew" from Australia (Rupert Murdoch) who owns all the fox networks and studios

Viacom/Paramount CBS's cheif stockholder Sumner Redstone the Christian "Jew"

Universal picture's NBC TV owned by that famous "jewish" corporation General electric

Ted Turner who owns Turner Broadcasting a famous Southern "Jew" from Atlanta

and of course all the Japanese "Jews" over at Sony Pictures!

and BTW--
Marlon Brando apologized for his remark and was and had always been someone who would say things just to create controversy.

[Dani257]

There are some stereotypes in Gilmore Girls that concern me, but the one regarding the Asian characters was not one of those.  I thought Amy and co were handling it with respect and compassion, while still poking fun at some of the more obscure (to Western Society) characteristics amongst the Asian population.
The one that interests me the most is to do with the Black population.  For a country with such a large Black population, there aren't too many Black Characters in the show.  Outside of Michel, I can't remember one that has been a semi-regular (remember in Australia we are still only halfway through season 4), and there don't seem to be too many living in Stars Hollow.  Is it a typical Stereotype to say that the Black communities of America tend to live in the larger cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia and stay away from the smaller towns, even in the North??

Yes, whatever Asian stereotypes the characters on Gilmore Girls have are a complete mystery to me.  The only stereotype I'm aware of is "all Asians are smart and future doctors."

The lack of black characters doesn't strike me as too odd.  I'm black and my brother just moved to a small town in Pennsylvannia with his wife, and there is a small black population.  Plus, he's driven through towns where the official number of black people is as small as 9.  I'm sure it isn't true of all small towns, but it's not without some merit.  At least from my limited 3rd hand experience.

[Krisleigh]

Alice grew up in a town where the black population was 0. I live in a town (Of 10,000 or so) with a black population of about 20. Literally.