So I introduced the Muppets to my second graders (so second grade middle school, the equivalent of a 13-year-old) this week (b/c none of them know who Kermit the Frog is). After we played a Muppet Speed Quiz activity, I asked them to write down who their favorite Muppet is and why. So this is the response from one boy:
"Miss Piggy. Because she is very sexy girl and superstar. Big nose is good!"
Another was:
"Miss Piggy. Because she is very sexy. and superstar, big nose and white hair, she's wearing sexy clothe."
Actually in this class, I think every boy said Miss Piggy. I don't know if this says anything about the fetishism of the Western face or not, but at the very least, it's pretty funny.
But, on a more serious note, to me it is very strange how all white people are indiscriminately considered beautiful here. A white girl that would be considered a Plain Jane in the USA is considered gorgeous in Korea. Western features are held in high regard, even on a Korean face. For example, Koreans all want a high bridged nose, big eyes, a double eye lid, and a small face. I always joked around about having a big asian head, and yeah like for real, if a Korean says you have a small face or head, it is a BIG compliment. I understand that being caucasian is exotic in Korea, but it goes beyond simple exoticism. Being white means being from the West, which is associated with wealth, power, and many other complicated feelings that are related to Korea's modern history with the USA. And for a population that is extremely nationalistic, it is very strange (and sad to a certain degree) to see them idolize a form of beauty that is foreign and basically unattainable for them (unless they get plastic surgery, which is a whole other topic for another day).
Sometimes I feel a certain degree of jealousy for the attention that my white counterparts get. As I have said before, I look super Korean, so even though I am a foreigner I am definitely treated differently from white people. Though after a lot of thought and consideration, I don't mind so much, b/c at least when I go back to the States I will still be considered as attractive as I am considered here. hehe. I don't know if I'd want to go from a year of Goddess status back to being just a normal American. But then again, if I did receive such attention, I would certainly enjoy it while it lasts!!!^^
it's exactly the same in Japan. the romanticism of westerners in Japan is vomitous. you'll see it when we go. my friend in high school had a japanese exchange student once summer and i got to tag along to all the site seeing locations to be a translator. this one time we saw a BUTT UGLY white baby, big nasty googly blue alien(isn't that ironic? but more like green space alien-like) eyes and blonde hair. they all melted screaming 'choooooo kawaiiiiiii!!'
ReplyDeletethat was disappointing. my standards of beauty are high as you know, and that baby was fugly. grrrr. i wanted to smack them all in the face.
So, in Korea W.C. Fields is a dreamboat? Hmm, in that case, I should visit Korea! heh. I guess having westernized ideals for beauty is as ridiculous as the reverse.
ReplyDeleteOh, my vote for my favorite Muppet is animal. The most attractive has to be Janice, the lead guitarist of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. She seems much more interesting than a self absorbed megalomaniac pig.