Asian Sensations

Photo by Junzo Chino

I always thought we should have a column in Hyphen about the ways in which Asian culture gets misappropriated. In the cheesy tradition of Asian American student conferences, we could even use "asian" in the name of the column, as in "MisappropriAsian."

However, we already have a column called InterrogAsian. (See the home page for an example.) And upon further reflection, it seems a column on such a topic might just get too repetitive. No matter how many times you say "Yo, stop misappropriating my shit," Gwen Stefani probably isn't going to hear you.

Still, it could be amusing. Especially as a collection of photos. So here's one to start out with. If readers like it, we can make it a recurring blog item.

By the way, my friend who found this said that when he opened the package, a gong sounded.

Melissa Hung

Founding Editor

Melissa Hung is the founding editor of Hyphen. She was the editor in chief for the magazine's first five years and went on to serve in many other leadership roles on the staff and board for more than a decade. She is a writer and freelance journalist. Her essays and reported stories have appeared in NPR, Vogue, Pacific Standard, Longreads, and Catapult, among others. She grew up in Texas, the eldest child of immigrants. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Comments

jimpanzee wrote on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 4:51pm

LOL! I love it!

kalavinka wrote on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 5:18pm

since america tries to be so pc, i tend to cringe more at its appropriations of various ingredients of its melting pot than say our kin back home of western things. but what really irks me is 'chinky' font. where the roman alphabet is trying to look like chinese characters. oh and in recent years you probably really would find cream cheese wontons in japan. some odd appropriations are going on there ^_^

melissa wrote on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 12:23pm

oh, i hate the chinky font too! but i like "everyday asian for any occasion." maybe it should be hyphen's new tagline.

claire wrote on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 5:46pm

dude:sensasians.everyday asian for any occasian.be consistent!

seng wrote on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 1:54pm

Everyday Asian for Any Occasion?! That was supposed to be my tagline!