Comments on: Yellowface: Different Levels of Offensiveness http://thesocietypages.org/colorline/2009/12/02/yellowface-different-levels-of-offensiveness/ Applying sociological concepts, trends, and data to more fully understand the real-world issues related to race, ethnicity, and immigration in 21st century American society. Fri, 18 May 2012 12:48:42 +0000 hourly 1 By: C.N. http://thesocietypages.org/colorline/2009/12/02/yellowface-different-levels-of-offensiveness/comment-page-1/#comment-20 C.N. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:23:40 +0000 http://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/?p=1547#comment-20 @John: You are correct, I don't really discuss Arminsen's portrayal of Obama. My initial thought is that it's much like Forte's portrayal of Hu -- in an ideal situation, an appropriate Black (or mixed-race Black) actor would play Obama on SNL, but given that Armisen's portrayal does not play off any offensive stereotypes of Blacks, I find it more "benign" than say, the Australian game show example. A quick search around the internet seems to show others have similar judgments: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lynda-obst/on-armisens-obama-impress_b_347764.html" rel="nofollow">Reader comments to Obst in Huff Post</a> <a href="http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/02/29/snls-michaels-defends-choice-of-armisen-as-obama/" rel="nofollow">Joel Keller on TV Squad</a> <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/123276" rel="nofollow">Joshua Alston at Newsweek</a> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/28/AR2008022803988.html?nav=hcmodule" rel="nofollow">Paul Farhi at Wash Post</a> @John: You are correct, I don’t really discuss Arminsen’s portrayal of Obama. My initial thought is that it’s much like Forte’s portrayal of Hu — in an ideal situation, an appropriate Black (or mixed-race Black) actor would play Obama on SNL, but given that Armisen’s portrayal does not play off any offensive stereotypes of Blacks, I find it more “benign” than say, the Australian game show example. A quick search around the internet seems to show others have similar judgments:

Reader comments to Obst in Huff Post
Joel Keller on TV Squad
Joshua Alston at Newsweek
Paul Farhi at Wash Post

]]> By: John http://thesocietypages.org/colorline/2009/12/02/yellowface-different-levels-of-offensiveness/comment-page-1/#comment-19 John Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:32:59 +0000 http://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/?p=1547#comment-19 It is interesting that you mention blackface in the introduction but do not discuss Fred Armisen's portrayal of Obama. Interestingly, Armisen's wikipedia page says that he is Asian American. It is interesting that you mention blackface in the introduction but do not discuss Fred Armisen’s portrayal of Obama. Interestingly, Armisen’s wikipedia page says that he is Asian American.

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