Do you think it's racist to draw Asians like this?

[Anonymous]

The woman who posted this says that the drawing on the right is racist. Because of the slanted eyes. I mean, I've met lots of Koreans, Chinese, etc. with eyes like that, so why is it racist? Of course, not all Asians look like that, but if you're drawing a Chinese or Korean character, how is that racist?

[NamerOfStars]

Often, racist (well, bigoted of any kind, really, but we'll stick with racism for now) drawing caricature particular features, taking the elements that set the group apart from others and grossly exaggerating them. Nowadays, most people aren't racist, but they *really* don't want to be considered racist, so they avoid any trace of anything that could be seen that way. This often goes to stupid extremes. Somewhere, right now, an artist and editor are having some version of the following conversation:
E: "I'm a bit concerned about the way you've depicted this character; there's a bit of a racist vibe in having him speaking Japanese."
A: "But... he is Japanese. He's a government official in Osaka."
E: "Yes, but some people might think that's all he knows how to speak."
A: "That's all some people do know; Japanese is the main language used in Japan."
E: "Yeah, but it's a little on the nose, don't you think? Japan is a cosmopolitan country; why couldn't he be speaking English here?"
A: "Because he's communing with the spirit of an ancestor who died in 14-"
E: "Communing with an ancestor? That's very racist!"
A: "But he's a devout Shinto practitioner, and comes from a long line of priests-"
E: "This is just not in line with the cultural values our company espouses. Modern Japan is different"
A: "The conflict between tradition and modernity is the central theme of the story! He turned his back on the family profession and went into-"
E: "It's too racist. You'll have to chang- gaaah [wheeze][gasp]"
A: "Heh. An editor who breathes oxygen. How 'racist'."

[abc3643]

If it's racist to draw Asians like that then all of anime is racist to draw people with round eyes.

[Flower7]

No, I don't feel that it's racist. The character on the left doesn't even look Asian at all. If I hadn't been told she was supposed to be Asian, I would have thought she was of European descent.

The pic on the right looks a lot more realistic and shows distinctive features of the race that help the character to be recognized as Asian. I actually think it's more racist to draw the person to look white when they are really Asian. That would be like not properly representing different races and having no variety.

[pfeffkln]

Definitely think there's a problem with European descent being the default. Personally, I see the character on the left as Asian perfectly fine- she even has monolids and inner corners curving down. If the one on the right with literal piss yellow skin is more realistic of Asians to you then that's really sad.

[BeMuse]

There are Asian People with squinted slant eyes… Thus a character being an individual could represent someone like that never every Asian that has ever existed… But guess what it doesn’t fucking matter one bit, because cartoon art is all about exaggerated features. The person person that posted is a moron. Treat them like a moron until they realize they are a moron.

[BeMuse]

*not

[TadCurious]

What you have to understand is that today EVERYTHING is racist to a Social Justice Warrior. Of course they're insane and should be ignored as much as possible.

[HalfACharlie123]

In my opinion, it's not racist at all, it's just physically accurate, like drawing a darker person with brown skin. Not racist, just how they may look.

[pfeffkln]

in my opinion the yellow skin is way too much. No Asian person is actually the same color as a lemon

[Anonymous]

I’m Asian and I don’t think that’s racist that’s a very typical East Asian look. It’s not exaggeration or anything like that.

[Asker]

I know. People are just too sensitive and find everything offensive.

[Opinion Owner]

Well I mean not all our eyes are that narrow but on average maybe they’re more narrow. But whatever it’s just a stupid cartoon.

[crmoore]

I think they look a little TOO thin and come across as more of a caricature, but had they not been so thin, I wouldn't consider it offensive.

[crmoore]

I hadn't noticed the yellow skin, that part was also a bit much.

[EyesOfGod]

Well its like asking should i draw a black people with big lips or a white American male with a confederate flag

[NewZion]

I'm Asian and I don't give a shit.

[OddBeMe]

It’s stereotypical but I’m not totally against it.