Post by eldertree on Mar 26, 2017 17:01:52 GMT
Sydney Bar "Suey Sins" Sparks Public Outrage For Cultural Appropriation And Promoting Colonial Ideologies
The owner of a controversial venue, "Suey Sins", is 25-year-old entrepreneur Eli West. West has said that she was aiming for an "old world charm" theme, but members of the public have struck out on social media, saying that the apparent "sexy, pre-war Shanghai" theme is nothing more than wanton cultural appropriation, and nothing less than subtle racism that ignores the dark reality of Chinese culture during the British colonial era.
While West initially stated in one of the bar's press releases that she wanted to open a bar that "doesn't take it-self [sic] too seriously," public reaction has suggested that perhaps it would have been more prudent to take cultural appropriation at least a little bit seriously.
While the Chinese mainland was never colonised by the British, the effects of imperialism shaped China's culture, especially in the wake of the Opium Wars, and the Boxer Rebellion. With particular reference to the bar's staff uniform (traditional qipaos), activity on social media, and the thematic styling of the venue, Suey Sins has been accused of "continuing negative colonial ideologies", and "racist fetishisation of a marginalised women [sic] for a dollar" on their Facebook page.
The waitresses dress in gimicky / costumey Qipao:
Mantou with fillings which they probably charge a premium for:
The owner said:
“I have spent most of my life travelling in Indonesia, and have some Chinese heritage and I like to think I may be related to a character very similar to Suey Sin,” explained West in the same press release. “I love the idea of this seductive, alluring woman who had old world charm and poise but also knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. I see a bit of that in myself and the young women who will drink here.”
> Uh excuse me but you are completely White passing and do not look Chinese or East Asian one bit. You are completely socialised and treated as White and would never face any sort of racist discrimination, prejudicial treatment, harmful stereotyping, or being "othered" as foreign, a tourist, an international student or something like that.
Some sort of White version of jiaozi which they probably charge a premium for:
Chinese bakery style bread with mustard or something, which they probably charge a premium for:
Compounding the backlash the venue has faced, management has taken to deleting negative comments and reviews from their Facebook page (a significantly problematic no-no), and offering a pallid ghost of an apology that focuses on their mission to "create a venue that focuses on delicious Asian fusion inspired street style food and creative beverages for all to enjoy". The apology doesn't touch on the issues with the thematics and styling of the venue from whence the backlash originated.
From the mural (and bar logo) featuring a naked woman, to the implication that rampant prostitution that catered for increased global trade (and traders) in China at the time was "seductive" and "alluring", public opinion has been that the bar ignores the fact that portraying Chinese women as nothing more than sex objects is damaging to both Chinese culture, and to the cultural status of women.
"Mee-please, Mee-so hungry, Mee-goreng spring rolls" What in the actual fugg. Mi goreng isn't even Chinese:
Source: concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/drink/sydneys-sexy-pre-war-shanghai-bar-suey-sins-publicly-slammed-for-cultural-appropriation/?rand=293
The owner of a controversial venue, "Suey Sins", is 25-year-old entrepreneur Eli West. West has said that she was aiming for an "old world charm" theme, but members of the public have struck out on social media, saying that the apparent "sexy, pre-war Shanghai" theme is nothing more than wanton cultural appropriation, and nothing less than subtle racism that ignores the dark reality of Chinese culture during the British colonial era.
While West initially stated in one of the bar's press releases that she wanted to open a bar that "doesn't take it-self [sic] too seriously," public reaction has suggested that perhaps it would have been more prudent to take cultural appropriation at least a little bit seriously.
While the Chinese mainland was never colonised by the British, the effects of imperialism shaped China's culture, especially in the wake of the Opium Wars, and the Boxer Rebellion. With particular reference to the bar's staff uniform (traditional qipaos), activity on social media, and the thematic styling of the venue, Suey Sins has been accused of "continuing negative colonial ideologies", and "racist fetishisation of a marginalised women [sic] for a dollar" on their Facebook page.
The waitresses dress in gimicky / costumey Qipao:
Mantou with fillings which they probably charge a premium for:
The owner said:
“I have spent most of my life travelling in Indonesia, and have some Chinese heritage and I like to think I may be related to a character very similar to Suey Sin,” explained West in the same press release. “I love the idea of this seductive, alluring woman who had old world charm and poise but also knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. I see a bit of that in myself and the young women who will drink here.”
> Uh excuse me but you are completely White passing and do not look Chinese or East Asian one bit. You are completely socialised and treated as White and would never face any sort of racist discrimination, prejudicial treatment, harmful stereotyping, or being "othered" as foreign, a tourist, an international student or something like that.
Some sort of White version of jiaozi which they probably charge a premium for:
Chinese bakery style bread with mustard or something, which they probably charge a premium for:
Compounding the backlash the venue has faced, management has taken to deleting negative comments and reviews from their Facebook page (a significantly problematic no-no), and offering a pallid ghost of an apology that focuses on their mission to "create a venue that focuses on delicious Asian fusion inspired street style food and creative beverages for all to enjoy". The apology doesn't touch on the issues with the thematics and styling of the venue from whence the backlash originated.
From the mural (and bar logo) featuring a naked woman, to the implication that rampant prostitution that catered for increased global trade (and traders) in China at the time was "seductive" and "alluring", public opinion has been that the bar ignores the fact that portraying Chinese women as nothing more than sex objects is damaging to both Chinese culture, and to the cultural status of women.
"Mee-please, Mee-so hungry, Mee-goreng spring rolls" What in the actual fugg. Mi goreng isn't even Chinese:
Source: concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/drink/sydneys-sexy-pre-war-shanghai-bar-suey-sins-publicly-slammed-for-cultural-appropriation/?rand=293
