What did you guys think of the transition from the illustration style of King to Shortcomings? I was a bit thrown off; King had such a complicated, dark style while Shortcomings has a very typical, cartoony style.
Shortcomings deals with race in a very different way than basically any of the stories we have read so far. It is the first we have read set in more contemporary times, and the first to discuss Asian-American culture. After reading three books about African-American and black culture, how do you read this text differently? How does Tomine discuss issues of race differently than Johnson and Pleece, Cruse, or Anderson?
What do you think about the importance of or emphasis placed in stereotypes? This novel seems so rooted in it through Ben's character; discuss!
Is Ben trying to live out a fantasy of being with a white woman, is he just done with Miko, or does he hate himself so much that he wants nothing to do with even his heritage? There is a lot to say about a person's attractions.
And lastly, do you think the title just relates back to Ben and Miko's relationship, as far as we can tell now? Neither is reaching their full potential with the other person nor supporting the other in the proper way.
Discuss relationships, stereotypes, Asian-American culture, and self-loathing in response to this post, basically!
I was glad to transition from King to Shortcomings. I thought that the sharp contrast of black and white in King made the graphic novel as a whole rather difficult to read. I couldn't identify the characters in King, and I didn't understand a lot of the events unfolding in King. The panels were unclear. But Shortcomings slightly photo-realistic drawing style makes it much easier to identify the characters as well as understand what is going on in the panels. Though the transition was very stark, I was appreciative of it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the although Asian-American and African-American cultures differ greatly, both cultures have struggled greatly to establish an identity in America. Although African-Americans have struggled more perhaps with having a respectable identity in America, as well as equal rights, the Asian-American community has struggled to achieve normalcy among the white community. While the novels dealing with African-American characters have generally focused on achieving liberty from violence and oppression from racially prejudiced whites, Tomine focuses more on the internal battle Ben Tanaka has with himself, struggling to come to terms with his racial identity. It seems that Ben resents his Asian heritage, and Tomine makes the argument that this is a common struggle for Asian-Americans.
I do think that Ben is trying to live out a fantasy by being with a white woman. Ben wishes he was white, and he tries to achieve this through his romantic life. I think that the reason he rejected Miko was simply because he did not want to associate with people of similar race or appearance. Miko served as a reminder of his Asian heritage, and so Ben resented her for it. I think that this is Ben's greatest shortcoming; his inability to accept his racial identity and his refusal to accept those who share his heritage. So while the title does not refer to Ben and Miko's relationship, it does relate to the reasons why said relationship failed.
I definitely thought there was an interesting contrast to the other stuff we've read, in terms of the way the issue of racism is handled. In previous works we've read, it's focused on the issue from the perspective of something that sees it as a really big problem, from the eyes or people either being the subject of racist actions or viewing it head on.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that this one focuses on a character who was likely the subject of racism at some point in his life, but seems to be in complete denial that racism is an issue for him.
For example, the scene where he's talking about how he would get picked on when he was a kid he explicitly said it wasn't because of racism but for being nerdy/smart/etc. This was incredibly striking to me because that's such a stereotype for asian kids, and it's pretty much straight up racism. Yet he doesn't recognize that.
I can certainly say that the transition was easier for me as the art style of Shortcomings is similar to styles I’ve seen in many published comic books. Perhaps I have a much stronger taste for what would be considered low art.
ReplyDeleteI approached the text with curiosity as I don’t feel like Asian-American race issues are addressed as prominently or often as race issues with African-Americans. Reading Johnson and Pleece, Cruse and Anderson brought further understandings and context to topics that have been taught to me from a very young age and only emphasizes what a dark past the United States have in terms of racism towards blacks but I feel that any other injustices towards people of others races are often overlooked. I can name the only incident of Asian-American discrimination which is the internment of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War. Otherwise it would seem that Asian-Americans have an easy place in the United States which Shortcomings shows is not entirely true. While Asian-Americans are often said to have more respect than African-Americans that does not mean they do not face racial discrimination that heavily affects them.
Stereotypes permeate every culture and can’t be avoided but that does not make them harmless. Asian-Americans face a lot of stereotypes in terms of their accents, the belief that they all excel in math and science, and the idea that they all look the same. These kinds of stereotypes can be internalized an individual and perhaps this is what has caused Ben to have such an intense hate for himself and maybe his heritage. Perhaps he does think that by dating a white woman he can escape these generalizations as dating an Asian woman reminds him too much of what is expected of him from as an Asian man. But it could also be the fact that society often portray white women as the only women who are beautiful and desirable. Perhaps he believes if he dates white woman he would somehow meet a certain status with those around him.
Shortcomings certainly relates to their relationship but it could also refer to short comings of racial expectations, cultural expectations, and social expectations.
Shortcomings definitely has a different style of art from King. That novel focuses more on a more artistic style while shortcomings has a darker, more cartoonish style. I'm not saying that the style is bad, in fact it looks and feels more real.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first book we are reading that involves a discussion about Asian American culture. I find this to be a nice change of pace. We have been reading the African American culture for the past month or so, in fact most of the studies we've done in school revolve around mainly on that same culture. We hardly talk about other ethical groups and their struggles. I hope that as we read more of this we will see how the ethnicity plays out.
The title shortcomings does seem to relate to Ben and his actions throughout the book. It is rare to find a character like Ben being a womanizer and have him as the main protagonist. Most people find this type of person to be the bad guy and want him to suffer because of his bad decisions. Still, this makes for a great comic and the main character draws the interest of the reader very well.
Honestly, I like the art in Shortcomings quite a bit more than what was in King; I find the faces very expressive, and the artist uses his panel layouts in interesting ways (often placing scene transitions in the middle of a singular page). I appreciated King's experimental style, but feel that Shortcomings features more palatable art.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that we are getting a variety of viewpoints with this class, especially in regards to race. There actually aren't too many prominent works centered specifically around the lives of Asian-Americans out there, so I was happy to see that we were touching on that subject with Shortcomings. The previous stories we have read differ from Shortcomings in that the latter is specifically centered around the idea of assimilation (this is not to be confused with the element of "passing" that was present in Incognegro). In all of the other books, there have been strict racial and ethnic lines drawn, which in turn inform the characters and their personalities. Here, those lines are a little less defined. Shortcomings differs itself by looking into what kind of strain is put on one's identity in a post-assimiliation culture, where certain expectations are more-or-less broadly defined.
I think to that end, Ben is trying to break free of the stereotypes and expectations that he feels have been placed on him by the surrounding cultures. His desire to date white women stems from a deep-rooted need to break some sort of cultural taboo - even though in the modern world those taboos are so much less powerful (which is not to say that they do not still exist). Ben seems to pull stress onto himself; it's his MO for living. And he seems to devote a large amount of this stress to his racial identity, which is not that much of a surprise: it's the one thing he absolutely cannot change. Ergo, when it comes to finding a way to fuel his self-destructive tendencies, it's a never-ending font.
I think the title comes from a general truth of everyday life: we all fall short of some sort of expectation at some point in our lives, be it an expectation that is set by ourselves, or others. For Ben Tanaka, this concept goes further; he is somewhat defined by his shortcomings. Every facet of his life seems defined by the fact that he didn't try a little bit harder; from his job, to his academic life, to his relationship with Miko. Ben Tanaka is a man who is defined by his shortcomings as much as his racial heritage.
I, too, prefer the art in Shortcomings. King was driving me nuts. I felt like I couldn't see peoples' faces or tell who was talking half of the time. Anyway, the art in Shortcomings is way less distracting, and loud (that's the only way I can think to describe King?).
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting perspective. I think it differs from the other books on race we've read in that it handles it in a much more everyday style. There is no masked caper exposing racism, epic tragedies happening. It's just a guy going through a bad break up.
Also, I think it's different for just the plain fact that Asian men have their own unique perspective. Ben sort of addressed the issue of Asian women with white men being the norm, but Asian men with any other race of women not so much (excpet he said it in sort of a backward way). I read once that Asian men have the highest rate of being single of any other racial group in America. I thought it was interesting then, that Ben didn't see himself as discriminated against.
I thought the title had to do with Ben's "size" which I gathered from the conversation between Alice and Ben about stereotypes.
I found the transition to this art style to be strange, yet fairly easy. It took me a few pages to get used to it, but I have read enough books with a style like this that I was able to adapt to it fairly quickly. Besides, judging by the story thus far, this particular style actually works because it is so simplistic.
ReplyDeleteThe way in which this novel deals with race is quite interesting because Tomine plays with the stereotypes, particularly with Ben and Miko. Ben is attracted to white women that adhere to the Western stereotype of beauty, and Miko detests him for that. Yet the fact that Ben is attracted only to stereotypical beauty suggests that he is so consumed by his insecurities that he has no clue what he wants.
As for the title, I think it can refer to every character in the story. Every character has deep flaws that are revealed almost immediately, and as such, these shortcomings are what other characters latch onto, for better or for worse.
I have really loved the contrast between the last two books and their different takes on racism and how they are portrayed. King was so dark and laden with heavy black and white line work and the child like style of Shortcomings is such a relief from that. Even the perspective of each group is different. In King there is a definitive dialogue and recognition of Racism. The time frame of the book pegs Racism and MLK's rise as one of the most significant events at the time. In Shortcomings we are in the shoes of these kids who are likely to experience racism. However most of the characters in the book seem to be oblivious of the problem or decide to ignore it all together. I think this is rooted in the fact that in this day and age American can look like anything, and only because of what MLK did was that possible. I think most of the characters in the book are afraid to admit they could even possibly be targeted by racism, because admitting they are a target is almost like saying they don't belong. To someone coming to the United States as a child from the surface it would seem very easy to assimilate. We are such a melting pot society but we are so quick to point out how we got here hours before the next immigrant getting off the boat.
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ReplyDeleteI actually found the artwork in Shortcomings to be more realistic compared to most of the stories we read so far. At the same time, the artwork is simplistic, but precise; if that makes any since.
ReplyDeleteBen maybe trying to fulfill a desire for white women, but he also could just be an opportunist. Taking what he can get. It’s not like he comes into contact with many female characters, but he only responds to girls that show a mild interest in him.
This text handles issues with race in a more modern way because it takes place in a more modern time. Whereas the racism in the last three text is extremely overt with lynching in all of them, the racism in Shortcomings is covert. For instance, the scene where Ben explains white girl envy, and how there is a secret high five Asian men give to one another on page 68. This is a far cry from killing some because of prejudice, and could be hard to actually identify.
I found "King" to be a bit "heavy" in the art department. The style was well suited for the subject matter and I rather enjoyed it. That said, I find the art of "Shortcomings" refreshing. The style is much easier to digest and the is well suited for the type of story "Shortcomings" is shaping up to be.
ReplyDeleteI think the graphic novel is doing a good job of exposing stereotypes. I don't mean so much that the characters themselves are stereotypical, but rather live in a society that recognizes, categorizes, has preconceived expectations of stereotypes (in this case, predominately Asian-Americans). Perhaps this is the biggest shortcoming the novel is addressing.
I find the art style in Shortcomings to be neutral and totally devoid of any point of view about the scenes it is portraying. As others have already mentioned however, I think that’s totally appropriate for the type of story Shortcomings is. The story is so flat and mundane, I don’t see how you could do it in any other visual style.
ReplyDeleteAs far as depictions of racial identity, I find Shortcomings to be one of the most up-to-date texts we’ve read on the subject. It begins to articulate (albeit very quietly) that race is just a small part of person’s identity. Ben is Japanese. But he also like cinema. And porn. And white girls. And he’s kind of a jerk. The story can engage issues of race without exaggerating it to a ludicrous extreme (Incognegro) where that’s all the story can ever be about. It’s a refreshingly contemporary approach.
I found Tomine's work to visit a concept unexpected when Asian-American identity is the topic of the group of readings. Asian-American identity is definitely relevant, yet I found that it was more of a catalyst for the more specific look on viewing any stereotypes. Commenting on how people associate with other based not solely on their own background and heritage, but the society that surrounds them. Plus I felt Tomine takes it a step further into the specific idea of sexual relationships and attractions. Which surpassed just merely asian-american, but the "ideal" woman created from the american society's standard.
ReplyDeleteI think the title defnitely relates to Ben's relationships, primarily with Miko but with himself and his heritage as well. I really enjoy the quiet art style. I think it lends nicely to quiet panels of repeating imagery showing the sadness and loneliness of Ben and Miko's failing relationship. I'm thinking of the moment when Miko invites Ben to bed and he refuses, as she quietly slips off into darkness feeling alone and rejected.
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