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Look, I understand Western Jewish authors and fans of MDZS. There is no harm in wanting accurate representation. As an English Literature Major (oh wow look, a Chinese who studies and understands Western culture/context) I only understand too well that Western Jews have been +
horrifically villified in media and historically abused by their Western counterparts.
An easy example would be Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare himself, whereby Shylock, specifically labelled as a Jew, is an antagonist/delivers a riveting monologue on being isolated and +
An easy example would be Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare himself, whereby Shylock, specifically labelled as a Jew, is an antagonist/delivers a riveting monologue on being isolated and +
deliberately hurt for his religion.
So Western Jewish authors wanting accurate non-villified representation written by themselves because they don't trust anyone else to do it?
100% relatable/acceptable
As a Chinese person whose history, culture and religion has been +
So Western Jewish authors wanting accurate non-villified representation written by themselves because they don't trust anyone else to do it?
100% relatable/acceptableAs a Chinese person whose history, culture and religion has been +
used consistently as fodder for Western consumption - for the back end of jokes, for the villification against whatever White superhero/saviour media the industry produces, I get it.
In fact, I would go as far as to say all Asian people get it. For example, did you know that +
In fact, I would go as far as to say all Asian people get it. For example, did you know that +
Japan's iconic movie made in 1954, Godzilla, was made in response to the constant testing of nuclear weapons by America in Japanese waters? In fact aspects of the movie were made to reflect the Lucky Dragon Boat incident - whereby 23 Japanese men were contaminated by America's +
US Castle Bravo thermonuclear test. And did you know what America did when they imported that movie?
They added a Western reporter to be the narrative and changed the closing line from being a warning against nuclear weapons to lauding it. They clipped up aspects of the movie +
They added a Western reporter to be the narrative and changed the closing line from being a warning against nuclear weapons to lauding it. They clipped up aspects of the movie +
in order to not villify America and its use of nuclear weapons and to adjust it to fit a Western narrative before releasing it to the public. And do you know what the Westerners and Reviewers called it? A cheap knock off of King Kong. A sham. Nevermind the fact it was butchered +
BY THEM and had such a strong poignant message against the destructive powers of nuclear weapons that was being tested in JAPAN by a foreign nation, THEIR own nation.
So yes, accurate representation? Oh I /completely/ understand. I really do.
And you know what?
I got that.
+
So yes, accurate representation? Oh I /completely/ understand. I really do.
And you know what?
I got that.
+
MDZS: for the first time we are receiving GOOD international attention. An accumulation of all the things I love about my culture/religion, from the food - lotus pork rib soup a childhood favourite, to the family dynamics - inheritance and estate of the son, to the practices +
- betrothal, music, values, education - it is all FINALLY out there.
It's LGBTQ representation, takes out all that is both wrong and right and displays it for the world to see. Toxic parental relationships, loyal everlasting love, homophobia, acceptance, it's a right mess in +
It's LGBTQ representation, takes out all that is both wrong and right and displays it for the world to see. Toxic parental relationships, loyal everlasting love, homophobia, acceptance, it's a right mess in +
MDZS but it is MY mess. It is a mess that was created from the long history that has shaped China, taken from MY religion, two decades of visiting temples every year and holding incense sticks in prayer to my ancestors, two decades of praying and listening to explanations of +
traditional chinese medicine and FINALLY it is here.
And I love to share it.
In fact I /adore/ sharing it. I love how people are learning about it, I love how they fall in love with the culture and what it means and the beauty of piers and quiet lakes. I love how people gain +
And I love to share it.
In fact I /adore/ sharing it. I love how people are learning about it, I love how they fall in love with the culture and what it means and the beauty of piers and quiet lakes. I love how people gain +
new appreciation for the architecture, find new meaning in what it means to be a family in Chinese context and how tea is made and enjoyed before Westerners knew what tea was and took it to their country.
I love it all because it is a celebration, it is a joy to not be +
I love it all because it is a celebration, it is a joy to not be +
villified, to have an accurate representation to call my own, to see my pain, my understanding, my beliefs, the suffering of my ancestors, my HISTORY, be lauded in full glory and not in shame. To think that my race and my religion, is capable of something so beautiful, so life +
changing even after all the bull shit we have faced, suffered and endured.
And then you took that AWAY FROM ME.
I SHARED, I TRUSTED you, I handed you something infinitely precious to hold, to admire, believing you would understand and celebrate with me - and then do you know +
And then you took that AWAY FROM ME.
I SHARED, I TRUSTED you, I handed you something infinitely precious to hold, to admire, believing you would understand and celebrate with me - and then do you know +
what you did? You took my GIFT and PAINTED ALL OVER IT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE COLOURS. You did not look at it, and go "oh this is neat, can I try making my own?" to which I would reply "Yes! Show me how it has changed you, how this has inspired you! It is a celebration!"
+
+
Instead, YOU PAINTED ALL OVER IT.
You painted, all over, my two decades worth of kneeling in a temple praying for guidance and bowing before my ancestors. You PAINTED, all over, years of making tangyuan during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and doing shaomu for my ancestors. +
You painted, all over, my two decades worth of kneeling in a temple praying for guidance and bowing before my ancestors. You PAINTED, all over, years of making tangyuan during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and doing shaomu for my ancestors. +
You /painted/ all over it, calling it canon as if this was not MINE, as if I have not been WAITING for as long as YOU have for something to call my own. And at the first sight of its appearance, at the first sight of it being out for sharing, the choice you made was to take it +
from me and to PAINT ALL OVER IT???
You want to know what you have done, I will let you know what you have done. You didn't just make me angry, oh no, you have broken my HEART. You have no idea, you cannot possibly FATHOM exactly what MDZS means to me, to a CHINESE TAOIST +
You want to know what you have done, I will let you know what you have done. You didn't just make me angry, oh no, you have broken my HEART. You have no idea, you cannot possibly FATHOM exactly what MDZS means to me, to a CHINESE TAOIST +
person, to what it possibly fucking means to my culture, my history, my religion. You did not just insult it, oh no, you took it from me and my fellow Chinese Taoists and remodelled it even after we told you not to. And when we called you out on it, for it was done in SPITE of +
us, your response is to defend yourself and to quietly delete/get rid of it AS IF THAT WOULD CHANGE THE FACT YOU PAINTED ALL OVER IT?
I have been calm in the influx of people coming into my culture and admiring MDZS. I have been calm even in the face of antis attacking Jiang +
I have been calm in the influx of people coming into my culture and admiring MDZS. I have been calm even in the face of antis attacking Jiang +
Wanyin whose existence is such a perfect construction/display of coming out good and strong after all that could go wrong in my culture/religion. I have been calm even as Westerners with ZERO understanding of mandarin/the Chinese language believe Shixiong/Shidi is the same as +
being actual blood brothers. In fact I have even stayed calm as people HOUNDED us for liking INCEST - nevermind the fact one, it is not incest and two, it is a fucking fictional ship.
But this?
/This/?
Running away? Painting all over it, not even with the fucking context of +
But this?
/This/?
Running away? Painting all over it, not even with the fucking context of +
Chinese Jews but WESTERN? Deleting the comments deliberately expressing hurt and pain over you PAINTING ALL OVER WHAT IS OURS? Silently deleting the story and putting up a cheap shoddy misdirection of-
You know what, I don't even want to continue.
You know what you did.
+
You know what, I don't even want to continue.
You know what you did.
+
And the next time YOU get something you call your own? When a Western Jewish media that is yours, imperfect but yours is finally yours?
I hope you don't experience what I did.
I hope you don't have someone taking what is yours, erasing all Western Jewish aspects of it, and +
I hope you don't experience what I did.
I hope you don't have someone taking what is yours, erasing all Western Jewish aspects of it, and +
then showing it off, swanning around and smirking whilst hiding behind other defenders of this fucking steal.
I hope you /never/ experience the pain and heartbreak I feel.
Because unlike you, I have class.
And that's the fucking tea I'm having for breakfast
I hope you /never/ experience the pain and heartbreak I feel.
Because unlike you, I have class.
And that's the fucking tea I'm having for breakfast
