Schema Magazine

K-Town Producer Talks Asian Stereotypes

Mike Le pulls a Mae West (think: \"When I'm good, I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad...I'm better\") on behalf of Asian Americans in an article on his production K-town. \n\nLe got his say on the debate surrounding the upcoming reality show when he wrote \"No Time For Love, Dr. Jones! (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Produced a Reality Show)\". Reacting to various criticisms from the media and the Korean-American community of the impression the show is expected to leave on the masses (that of a hard-drinking, hard-partying, hot young badass Asian crowd in LA), Le points out that what we consider good stereotypes (like the hard-working Asian, the smart Asian, with solid discipline and math grades off the charts) are only 'good' in a relative sense. What if being bad is better? \n\nMaybe it's time to claim a little of the naughty, and say to hell with the consequences, even if they include uppity backlash and a new kind of pigeonholing. Time to claim a wider range of human behaviours for Koreans, and Asians in general, than media has traditionally accorded them. Critics duly note that the show depicts another extreme of lifestyles on the opposite end of the spectrum from the studious Asian, but would it be going too far to say that's the perfect antidote, in all of its 'train-wreck' glory?\n\nLet the cast-members be themselves, sans, or in spite of, traditional 'Asian' ambitions. Let them rebel, act out, throw their weight around, party like it's going out of style, and most importantly ooze sex appeal. Let them use their sexuality to get ahead. Let them...Who am I kidding? No one 'lets' the Jersey Shore peeps, or anyone else on a reality show do anything. Ours is not to question why, ours is to stand aside and gape while they do what they want, and kick the crap out of a few moulds in the process. Here's to the unimpeded K-town libido. Word on the street is that the show is getting picked up in the new year. Go get 'em.