The most unexpected photo finish from Beijing last week came from the Olympics Opening Ceremonies. When two pictures of two girls unveiled that the adorable Lin Miaoke was actually lip-syncing to the voice of “less adorable” Yang Peiyi, the world’s reaction went up a whole octave.
I overheard the following responses:
1. WHO DO THE CHINESE THINK THEY ARE!?
2. HOW COULD CHINA DO SUCH A THING TO CHILDREN?
3. THE CHINESE ARE SO DISHONEST!
4. WHO CARES ABOUT LOOKS!?
Personally, I find Yang’s round face and wide eyes much cuter than the Lin’s Mouseketeer-like poses but let’s look past their looks for a broader discussion and answer the above questions.
1. Who do the Chinese think they are……… AMERICA?! Lip-syncing was our idea and we can prove it. Roll back that footage of Ashlee Simpson and Britney Spears. Hit the archives for Milli Vanilli.
2. When the games end, challenge yourself. Go through The Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, etc. and try to find one child that could be deemed flat out ugly (chubby doesn’t qualify). The only face time America invests into an “ugly child” is for a reality TV makeover.
3. Yes, China could fill a sky full of lies – and they did with fake fireworks – but I’m pretty sure the American airbrush was going to touch up each star before it hit our newsstands regardless.
4. After Julia Roberts broke up with Lyle Lovett, did we ever see his face in the mainstream? How long was it before Clay Aiken was transformed by stylists? Other than a few stars who defy beauty for their rebel image (i.e. Amy Winehouse), who doesn’t care about looks?
Remember, the world is round. If we point the finger of blame far enough East, it’ll end up coming right back on us.
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Inspired by “1 Song, but 2 Girls.” By Sky Canaves and Geoffrey A. Fowler. The Wall Street Journal. Wednesday, August 13, 2008.
I completely agree that America is one of the leaders with setting superficial standards. I am in love with guacamole! Sound weird, right? What is weird to me is how many of my friends will not even consider trying this delicious concoction based on looks and texture. I do not know if I am off topic here but my point is that we take looks into consideration a little more than we probably should. Maybe some of the most talented people in the world will never get a shot to shine because they have a “guacamole face” or “guacamole characteristics”
Truby-
I thought the same thing when I heard all the outrage, how ridiculous?
America is King of Superficiality.
Speaking of which, I need to run, I’ve got a botox appointment followed by a collagen treatment today…
Ok so how many millions of people live in China? Don’t you think they could have found one cute girl that could sing? Maybe if they searched the ever-growing population of young children in China they would have found at least one “TV friendly” girl who could sing and then this wouldn’t even be an issue (not that it should be an issue at all).