Adult film aims to dispell stereotype (Daily Titan)
Adult film aims to dispell stereotype
UC Davis professor makes movie to prove Asian sexuality strong
By Nichole Ng
For the Daily Titan
Tuesday, May 3, 2005
When pornography is mentioned, some might think of sexual connotations instantly. Not so for UC Davis Professor Darrell Hamamoto, the maker of “Skin on Skin,” an adult film featuring an all-Asian cast. The film was created with hopes to change the stereotypes of Asian male sexuality and masculinity.
Hamamoto wrote and published an essay titled “The Joy Fuck Club” in 1998, in which he related and discussed the stereotypical portrayal of Asian male sexuality being dominated by “white racial supremacist.”
In an article from the California Aggie, Hamamoto said he will interfere greatly in order to save Asian sexuality, and that by making a porno, he blew peoples’ minds.
In addition to “Skin on Skin,” Hamamoto produced “Yellocaust: A Patriot Act,” which relates political and historical events that dealt with Asian racism.
“Yellocaust” offers a provocative solution to the alienated sexuality of Asian Americans that draws from the rich tradition of erotic arts as found in most Asian cultures,” Hamamoto said in an e-mail.
In all its controversy, and in conjunction with Asian-American month, Hamamoto will be coming to Cal State Fullerton on Thursday to make his presentation. The event is part of the series, “Imaginasian,” which the Asian Pacific Student Association organized.
The process of getting Hamamoto to speak on campus was a tedious one. After a month-long process of discussing the controversy about the issue, the board of APSA had to get funding and permission from the funding committee, which voted 24 to 1 in favor of the event.
APSA President Dave Matias said he hoped that inviting Hamamoto to speak on campus would spark a controversy that would make people think and become more aware of the racism that exists in all areas of America’s institutions, and also hopefully that people can regard Asian males as equal to Caucasian males in all aspects.
In the multi-billion dollar industry of adult films, Asian males are rarely featured he said.
Matias said the majority of the industry is owned and dominated by Caucasian people, and naturally the majority of the actors are Caucasian, and that it resembles racism.
Treasurer of the APSA Dominador Pinera said that psychologically, because of all the stereotyping that has been going on, it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy for Asian males.
Another reason could be culture. Candice Heiden, the publicity director of APSA, said that culturally, Caucasian males are generally more outspoken and open than Asian males.
“It’s a culture thing, like being humble. Asian guys seem shy generally, and maybe sometimes that shyness is taken for inferiority,” she said.
Aware of a backlash that could happen because of this controversial event, Matias said some might think he’s doing this because adult films are entertaining, and it is for entertainment purposes only.
“Maybe my motives aren’t clearly expressed, and people may take it the wrong way. But that’s ok because we want people to see that a film of this nature with an all Asian cast can still do these type of things just as well as any other members of society, regardless of their ethnicity or background,” he said.
Hamamoto will be speaking at the Mackey Auditorium, located at the Ruby Gerontology Center at 1 p.m. His presentation will include screenings of “Yellocaust” and “Skin on Skin.” Banners and flyers of the event are posted around campus and more information can be obtained at the APSA’s Web site at http://csufapsa.tripod.com/id3.html.
UC Davis professor makes movie to prove Asian sexuality strong
By Nichole Ng
For the Daily Titan
Tuesday, May 3, 2005
When pornography is mentioned, some might think of sexual connotations instantly. Not so for UC Davis Professor Darrell Hamamoto, the maker of “Skin on Skin,” an adult film featuring an all-Asian cast. The film was created with hopes to change the stereotypes of Asian male sexuality and masculinity.
Hamamoto wrote and published an essay titled “The Joy Fuck Club” in 1998, in which he related and discussed the stereotypical portrayal of Asian male sexuality being dominated by “white racial supremacist.”
In an article from the California Aggie, Hamamoto said he will interfere greatly in order to save Asian sexuality, and that by making a porno, he blew peoples’ minds.
In addition to “Skin on Skin,” Hamamoto produced “Yellocaust: A Patriot Act,” which relates political and historical events that dealt with Asian racism.
“Yellocaust” offers a provocative solution to the alienated sexuality of Asian Americans that draws from the rich tradition of erotic arts as found in most Asian cultures,” Hamamoto said in an e-mail.
In all its controversy, and in conjunction with Asian-American month, Hamamoto will be coming to Cal State Fullerton on Thursday to make his presentation. The event is part of the series, “Imaginasian,” which the Asian Pacific Student Association organized.
The process of getting Hamamoto to speak on campus was a tedious one. After a month-long process of discussing the controversy about the issue, the board of APSA had to get funding and permission from the funding committee, which voted 24 to 1 in favor of the event.
APSA President Dave Matias said he hoped that inviting Hamamoto to speak on campus would spark a controversy that would make people think and become more aware of the racism that exists in all areas of America’s institutions, and also hopefully that people can regard Asian males as equal to Caucasian males in all aspects.
In the multi-billion dollar industry of adult films, Asian males are rarely featured he said.
Matias said the majority of the industry is owned and dominated by Caucasian people, and naturally the majority of the actors are Caucasian, and that it resembles racism.
Treasurer of the APSA Dominador Pinera said that psychologically, because of all the stereotyping that has been going on, it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy for Asian males.
Another reason could be culture. Candice Heiden, the publicity director of APSA, said that culturally, Caucasian males are generally more outspoken and open than Asian males.
“It’s a culture thing, like being humble. Asian guys seem shy generally, and maybe sometimes that shyness is taken for inferiority,” she said.
Aware of a backlash that could happen because of this controversial event, Matias said some might think he’s doing this because adult films are entertaining, and it is for entertainment purposes only.
“Maybe my motives aren’t clearly expressed, and people may take it the wrong way. But that’s ok because we want people to see that a film of this nature with an all Asian cast can still do these type of things just as well as any other members of society, regardless of their ethnicity or background,” he said.
Hamamoto will be speaking at the Mackey Auditorium, located at the Ruby Gerontology Center at 1 p.m. His presentation will include screenings of “Yellocaust” and “Skin on Skin.” Banners and flyers of the event are posted around campus and more information can be obtained at the APSA’s Web site at http://csufapsa.tripod.com/id3.html.
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