I [20F] am pissed off at my friend's [19F] ignorant view of Asian culture. How do I get her to stop?

my late response: It sounds like appropriated Asian culture is her happy place, and she doesn't like anything that attempts to shatter that image. Maybe protecting an identity she's made for herself, and her opinions may be hard to change unless she herself--shifts to another identity and looks back to realize how naive she was. Avoiding overt drama and shaming her in front of others (which would probably make her resist more), you could invite her to immersion in a truly cultural event and hope she takes a hint. Bring some of your other friends too, they'll probably be happy to have some new experiences. Or watch a movie that contains personal/sad narratives from recent histories of Asian cultures (my strategy for getting people's full attention a) crying, b) making them cry):

  • Grave of the Fireflies if she's into the Japanese/ghibli aesthetic
  • Perfect Blue - also kinda old, but it's good for a really uncomfortable trip with behind-the-scenes of japanese idolism.
  • Back to 1942 for the chinese famine - It's on my list and I haven't seen it yet, but it's a big picture movie that depicts Chinese and Japanese in distinct roles.
  • The Red Violin - a fave of mine, following the history of violin, with one heartbreaking section set in the confusion of communist China.
  • Forever Enthralled - a film/biopic on one of the greatest chinese opera singers. may suit someone who likes glitter glam and drama.
  • Summer Palace - a college student aged perspective leading up to Tiananmen Square.
  • Electric Shadows - a narrator's recollections about her young single mother during the cultural revolution (later remarried, marginalized by a younger brother), a brief history of China and cinematography (reminds me of cinema paradiso in some ways)
  • as far as Asian films go, I'd stay away from anything that further romanticizes the Asian aesthetic (martial arts and middle ages historical). (Here's someone's list of Chinese specific ones)[http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/genres-movies/chinese/10-best-chinese-history-movies/] lols sorry I've been in a development-of-modern-china mood lately. End tangent.

Anyhow, you could stop contacting her and let someone else stand up to the nonsense. But the best thing to do I think, is show your culture, no matter what any haters and appropriators might do; keep strong and correct people when needed!

/r/relationships Thread