Posted by argh on December 05, 2001 at 02:56:54:
ALEX BORSTEIN is seen on about every episode of MAD TV playing 'Ms. Swan' (formerly 'Ms. Kwan' on first two appearances) speaking with a mock Japanese accent, wearing a bowl-cut wig, a wearing makeup to make her eyes appear smaller and more slanted. Yet the hateful-yet-cowardly Ms. Borstein denies that she is playing an Asian charicature, saying that the Asian American writer who wrote a critical article on the Ms. Swan charicature must be insecure about himself since he said the Borstein was in 'Asian face'. Yes, 'insecure' even though 'Ms. Swan' used to be called 'Ms. Kwan' (a CHINESE name, by the way), had a pretty realistic JAPANESE accent (I learned this when I heard a woman on a Japanese TV program speak English with an almost identical accent), and even though Ms. Swan owns a nail shop (a well-known Asian stereotype based on the appearance of many Southeast Asian immigrants in the business).
Yes, the lowlife cowards at MAD TV knew that they had to change the obvious Chinese name of 'Kwan' to 'Swan', so that they can insult the intelligence of Asian Americans who protest by telling them that the character/charicature is not intended to be 'Asian'. And to add insult to injury, they blame Asian Americans by telling them THEY'RE insecure and should get over it. MAD TV claims to be an 'equal opportunity offender', but I don't see whites in 'brown face' or 'black face'. Even if I did, it wouldn't make them an 'equal opportunity OFFENDER', but an 'equal opportunity BULLY'. You never see nonwhites in 'whiteface', or, non-Jews in 'Jew face' (complete with stereotypical offensive accent, big nose, and big-deal entertainment or finance industry job). Oh wait...but such charicatures would be too hurtful and harmful to the poor oppressed things!