Subject: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 07:55:55 -0500 From: Peter Chen Organization: Ball State University Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures Hi! I was wondering if anyone out there specializes in collecting action figures from various ethnic groups. With the growing attention being made to collecting female action figures, I'm certain that there are people beginning to get into collecting African American action figures, or Asian Amerian action figures, or etc... Please let me know as I am an avid collector of Asian and Asian American Action Figures. Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 08:10:23 -0500 From: Peter Chen Organization: Ball State University Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures These responses are GREAT! And it was only my second post in this forum. Why don't we get an e-mail listserve together, or at least have a web page where we can communicate more efficiently. Let me know what you think, and thanks for all the responses! Peter Chen wrote: > Hi! I was wondering if anyone out there specializes in collecting action > figures from various ethnic groups. With the growing attention being > made to collecting female action figures, I'm certain that there are > people beginning to get into collecting African American action figures, > or Asian Amerian action figures, or etc... Please let me know as I am an > avid collector of Asian and Asian American Action Figures. Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 16:27:16 -0600 From: urovnd@vmmc.org Organization: Deja News - The Leader in Internet Discussion Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures In article <3522395A.5F7FCE84@cs.bsu.edu>, pchen@cs.bsu.edu wrote: > > Hi! I was wondering if anyone out there specializes in collecting action > figures from various ethnic groups. With the growing attention being > made to collecting female action figures, I'm certain that there are > people beginning to get into collecting African American action figures, > or Asian Amerian action figures, or etc... Please let me know as I am an > avid collector of Asian and Asian American Action Figures. > > That's an interesting way of collecting. Isn't it rather limiting though especially since most action figures (and superheroes) are non-minorities? But I guess that would be part of the fun in looking for them. What are all the Asian figures produced? Bruce Lee, Super Powers Samurai, Sunfire, Silver Samurai, Lady Deathstrike, a couple of GI Joes, maybe a guy from the WMAC (or whatever that lame Mortal Kombat karate TV show is called) line, maybe some from Godzilla. Of course, there are probably a ton of Japanese imports. Do you have a list of what you have so far? Viet-Nam -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 00:41:36 -0500 From: Peter Chen Organization: Ball State University Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures In fact, finding the pieces is the most fun and challenging part. Although I try to set guidlines and parameters before I go looking, I pretty much just make it up as I go. As an example, I have only certain figures from the first Mortal Kombat series (Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, and Shang Tsung). The reason I picked only these is because Johnny Cage is not Asian, nor is Sonya Blade, and Rayden has never been played by an Asian (for whatever reason?!). Plus, two of these have authentic Chinese names. The most important aspect I look at is how the facial characteristics are portrayed. In the case of the Hari Kari action figure, it is a complete disgrace! It is quite stereotypical (with a very flat face and all). But the Wai Lin figure (Michelle Yeoh) from James Bond 007 is an excellent rendition of the original actress (although the rest of the figure isn't all that great, she can't even stand on her own!). All of the GI-Joe-like action figures (Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter Chun Li) have the same head, with all the same facial structures! Of course my collection is full of Star Trek items (Sulu, Kim, Keiko O'Brien, etc...). But when you think about it, Star Trek series have always incorporated multiculturalism since the 60's! My Japanese imports are kept to a minimum, only the items that become somewhat popular here. The Dragonball Series for instance, although I don't plan on adding and Dragon Ball Z figures. I've recently added some super villains like The Mandarin (from Iron Man) and Ming the Merciless (1979). These figures really stereotype the facial characteristics! The Mandarin's skin is a greenish yellow for goodness sakes! Another aspect of my collecting is what the younger generation has offered to them. There's a Fisher Price line called Little People, and in their special Winter Nagano Olympics set there was an Asian American ice skater, and so I added this piece to my collection as well. I hope it's kind of making sense now. It is really fun, but as for a list of all my pieces, I don't have one made up yet. I have broken my collection into the following categories (subject to change): Sports (Hideo Nomo, Yakazuna (WWF wrestler), etc... Children (Fisher Price Little People, etc...) Stereotypes (Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, etc...) Women (Wai Lin, Keiko O'Brien, Mai Ling (from Creed), etc..) Villains (The Mandarin, etc...) Role Models (people whom I've met in person before like George Takei (Sulu) & Garret Wong (Ensign Kim) etc... LMK what you think, and if you have any suggestions. urovnd@vmmc.org wrote: > That's an interesting way of collecting. Isn't it rather limiting though > especially since most action figures (and superheroes) are non-minorities? > But I guess that would be part of the fun in looking for them. > > What are all the Asian figures produced? > > Bruce Lee, Super Powers Samurai, Sunfire, Silver Samurai, Lady Deathstrike, a > couple of GI Joes, maybe a guy from the WMAC (or whatever that lame Mortal > Kombat karate TV show is called) line, maybe some from Godzilla. Of course, > there are probably a ton of Japanese imports. > > Do you have a list of what you have so far? > > Viet-Nam > > -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- > http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: 3 Apr 1998 05:14:28 GMT From: perryder@aol.com (PERRYDER) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures somewhere, somewhen there has ta be a Golgo13 action figure!!! Help!!!!!! Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: 3 Apr 1998 06:18:07 GMT From: everheart@aol.com (Everheart) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures Viet-Nam said: >What are all the Asian figures produced? > >Bruce Lee, Super Powers Samurai, Sunfire, Silver Samurai, Lady Deathstrike, a >couple of GI Joes, maybe a guy from the WMAC (or whatever that lame Mortal >Kombat karate TV show is called) line, maybe some from Godzilla. Of course, >there are probably a ton of Japanese imports. Sailor Moon and friends, Barbie's pal Kira, various Psylockes (well...sorta), Power Rangers, Beetleborgs, and Kamen/Masked Rider, Ultraman, Jubilee, quite a few of the Turtles line (Usagi Yojimbo, Vam Mi, etc.), Wai Lin, Harry Kim, Keiko O'Brien, Warriors of Virtue, the upcoming Mulan line, Tenko, Mr. Sulu, the old Robotech figs... Lupe Velez -- Everheart@aol.diespammingbastards.com "You've foiled my plans JUST ONCE, Cat... But ONCE is all you GET!" Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 19:24:09 -0500 From: Charles Barnett Organization: Bell Solutions Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures The Voice wrote: > > Peter Chen wrote: > > >Hi! I was wondering if anyone out there specializes in collecting action > >figures from various ethnic groups. With the growing attention being > >made to collecting female action figures, I'm certain that there are > >people beginning to get into collecting African American action figures, > >or Asian Amerian action figures, or etc... Please let me know as I am an > >avid collector of Asian and Asian American Action Figures. > > I collect Asian figures. I wouldn't know if they are Asian American > though. Heh... > > T. Voice > > Make sure you check out the NEW and IMPROVED trade list!!! > > For information on Good/Bad Traders make sure you visit > http://www.mindspring.com/~t-voice/trade.htm > Please bookmark! Sure do, Except I will look for native american action figures, providing that the sculpts are cool or that they're not what I consider exploitative. You know, as long as its fairly dignified and not playing on the old "white man's" stereotypes. The G.I. Joe 3 3/4 "airborne" figure is a pretty good example. Chuck Barnett Kahnawake Mohawk Territory Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 08:08:25 -0500 From: Peter Chen Organization: Ball State University Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures That is really cool that you collect Native American action figures. I remember that GI-Joe Spirit figure. The Pochantas figures were rather nice I thought too. I just received a catalog that had a Native American Female comic figure for sale. I believe it might have been from the same people who made Hari Kari (on no!) or the like, but I will try to find the name. It looked decent, I mean she didn't have a feather in her hair which is at least a progressive step forward! 8-) Charles Barnett wrote: > The Voice wrote: > > > > Peter Chen wrote: > > > > >Hi! I was wondering if anyone out there specializes in collecting action > > >figures from various ethnic groups. With the growing attention being > > >made to collecting female action figures, I'm certain that there are > > >people beginning to get into collecting African American action figures, > > >or Asian Amerian action figures, or etc... Please let me know as I am an > > >avid collector of Asian and Asian American Action Figures. > > > > I collect Asian figures. I wouldn't know if they are Asian American > > though. Heh... > > > > T. Voice > > > > Make sure you check out the NEW and IMPROVED trade list!!! > > > > For information on Good/Bad Traders make sure you visit > > http://www.mindspring.com/~t-voice/trade.htm > > Please bookmark! > Sure do, > Except I will look for native american action figures, providing that > the sculpts are cool or that they're not what I consider exploitative. > You know, as long as its fairly dignified and not playing on the old > "white man's" stereotypes. The G.I. Joe 3 3/4 "airborne" figure is a > pretty good example. > > Chuck Barnett > Kahnawake Mohawk Territory Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: 3 Apr 1998 06:06:16 GMT From: everheart@aol.com (Everheart) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures A friend of mine is stashing Asian figures away for her niece and nephew, so that they'll have plenty of toys that look like them when they're big enough for action figures. (I think she remembers what it was like growing up with only the occasional Wonder Woman for company.) I find that, when customizing 12" dolls, I tend to go for grrrlz of color whenever possible, since Kira, Imani, Teresa, Jasmine, Poca, et al don't have that I've-just- been-hit-in-the-back-of-the-head-with-a-softball-bat expression that poor Barbie so often has. Lupe Velez -- Everheart@aol.diespammingbastards.com "You've foiled my plans JUST ONCE, Cat... But ONCE is all you GET!" Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 08:13:43 -0500 From: Peter Chen Organization: Ball State University Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures I think that's a terrific idea! Of course my children will have the full benefit of playing with my collection (when they're old enough!), but I hope that this particular hobby won't be so rare by then, meaning there should be more Action Figures of Color so no one would have to make a big deal about it. I'm also happy that we've been able to speak about this openly in a huge public forum with relatively no negative postings. 8-) That's always a positive! As I mentioned in an earlier post, I do have a couple children's toys that are becoming popular. One line , from an eduational PBS show, has a whole group of diverse kids who do non-stereotypical things. I can't remember the name off hand however. Everheart wrote: > A friend of mine is stashing Asian figures away for her niece and nephew, so > that they'll have plenty of toys that look like them when they're big enough > for action figures. (I think she remembers what it was like growing up with > only the occasional Wonder Woman for company.) > > I find that, when customizing 12" dolls, I tend to go for grrrlz of color > whenever possible, since Kira, Imani, Teresa, Jasmine, Poca, et al don't have > that I've-just- been-hit-in-the-back-of-the-head-with-a-softball-bat expression > that poor Barbie so often has. > > Lupe Velez -- Everheart@aol.diespammingbastards.com > "You've foiled my plans JUST ONCE, Cat... > But ONCE is all you GET!" Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 09:40:00 -0800 From: Kevin Lentz Organization: University of Houston Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures I have a question, and of course I don't mean any offense, but I was wondering, if the politically correct were to try and talk about Sulu or Lando, how would they refer to their ethnicity? You could hardly call Lando an African American. First of all, he is not American. Secondly, he is not of African heritage. This question is only partially rhetorical - I'd be interested in any ideas. -- Kevin Lentz Please take the time to visit Obi-Juan's Hut, the 3¾ Action Figure page: http://www.tisd.net/~obijuan Featuring Black Hole, Clash of the Titans, Flash Gordon, Indiana Jones, Battlestar Gallactica, Tron, Dukes of Hazzard and much more! Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 03:07:07 -0500 From: Peter Chen Organization: Ball State University Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures When it comes to figures of people who are played by real actors, I look at how those actors identifiy themselves. Both George Takei (Sulu) and Garret Wong (Ensign Kim) have identifired themselves as Asian American (or Asian/Pacific American), and have spoken at Regional and National Asian American conferences I've attended. They are two very positive role models for many people. But you do raise a very good point. I try to be as non-specific and general whenever I refer to people of different ethnicities, not because I feel I have to to be "Politically Correct," but because I want to be as sensitive to how other people identify themselves as I can. It's the only way we all will every hope to get over the barriers that exists among people, that is to be sensitive. But anyway, I have heard African American people want to be referred to as Black because they may have never had the chance to go to Africa, but on the other hand, why should anyone be labled by their skin color, so I've heard many people wish to be called African American because in some way they did originate from Africa. Of course it is believed that the first human beings were created in Afirca anyway, so there is some validity to this. But getting back on track, although I identify myself as Asian American, I wasn't completely comfortable in doing so until I actually went to an Asian country recently. Of course we all must remember that there are differences between ethnicity (or race), nationality, and identity. Getting back to my Asian/Asian American Action Figure Collection, I have a figure of Nien Numb from The Return of the Jedi. The main reason I do have this piece added is because I spent the majority of my life (since first watchin ROTJ in the theatres) thinking that he was from some "Asian Planet!" Isn't that funny?! His language was certainly different, but since then I have realized that his language is a modified Kenyan dialect, and though I may never find out what Mr. Lucas had in mind when creating him, I still think he has some Asiastic features! 8-) Thanks for the thoughtful question. Kevin Lentz wrote: > I have a question, and of course I don't mean any offense, but I was > wondering, if the politically correct were to try and talk about Sulu or > Lando, how would they refer to their ethnicity? > > You could hardly call Lando an African American. First of all, he is not > American. Secondly, he is not of African heritage. > > This question is only partially rhetorical - I'd be interested in any > ideas. > -- > Kevin Lentz > > Please take the time to visit Obi-Juan's Hut, the 3¾ Action Figure page: > http://www.tisd.net/~obijuan > > Featuring Black Hole, Clash of the Titans, Flash Gordon, Indiana Jones, > Battlestar Gallactica, Tron, Dukes of Hazzard and much more! Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: 6 Apr 1998 04:35:14 GMT From: everheart@aol.com (Everheart) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures This is wandering a bit off-topic, but I remember when photos from ST:TNG began appearing, and several people I knew expressed...surprise, I guess would be a polite word, at seeing "A Black Klingon?!?" (I live in a really, really Caucasian part of the country.) And I occasionally hear the same now about Tuvok on Voyager. He'll be referred to as "the black Vulcan" rather than just Vulcan. It seems that some fans have, when it comes down to it, missed the point of Star Trek entirely. ;) I also overheard the following exchange in a local Kay-Bee recently: "somethingsomethingmuttermutter a Black Barbie? I don't see one here." "I thought they got in trouble if they didn't carry black ones." Humans are very, very strange. Lupe Velez -- Everheart@aol.diespammingbastards.com "You've foiled my plans JUST ONCE, Cat... But ONCE is all you GET!" Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Sat, 04 Apr 1998 04:40:40 -0500 From: Peter Chen Organization: Ball State University Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures You mention a good point, the part about "missing the point of Star Trek entirely." I know that Gene Roddenberry had very specific guidlines as to how the crew of the Enterprise was to look like, and why it was to be that way. But it was way ahead of its time when it first aired, but it was still a very important first step. Now there were some episodes that dealt with the whole "race" issue rather strangely. Like the episode that had the aliens who had half of their face painted black, half of it painted white. Bear in mind I am not really a "trekkie," and I do not know much about the specifics of the various series, but I do know how important this show was to many people of color, like myself and my older brother. Although I don't make a "big deal" about things like not seeing a full representation of all ethnic groups in the Barbie aisle, I do make it known to certain people (ie: the store managers, the manufacturers and marketers of the firm, etc...) if there is something blatantly obvious about why there may be no Black Barbies, or no mint Harry Kims at Target. I heard from a friend through the grapevine that in a Target she went to, she noticed that every Harry Kim had a very obvious slash in front of it (5 in all), but the 6 or so The Doctors looked mint. Now it's not important mantioned where this Target was, and I am certainly not jumping to conclusions as to why this happened, but it does make me think about where we may be in society today, and how far off we truly are to where we should be in order to really co-exist in an increasingly globalizing world. I fully realize the "slashed Harry Kims" could have been careless unpacking mistakes, and it certainly looked like it was innocent enough. But with the history of prejudisim and racism in the world, and what I and my family have experienced growing up in small towns in Indiana, I take nothing too lightly, and if it is worth making a "big deal" out of, then I will, but every situation should be EXAMINED CLOSELY, and be treated individually. The biggest travesty that tends to occur is when one or a few people perform in a certain way, and then other people from different backgrounds attibute those one or a few people to the entire group of people they may share a common identity or ethnicity with. This is evident when you hear people say "those people," or "why do (insert ethnicity here) always do (insert stereotype here) all the time?" But anyway, these are just my opinions. Thank you for the statement. Everheart wrote: > This is wandering a bit off-topic, but I remember when photos from ST:TNG began > appearing, and several people I knew expressed...surprise, I guess would be a > polite word, at seeing "A Black Klingon?!?" (I live in a really, really > Caucasian part of the country.) And I occasionally hear the same now about > Tuvok on Voyager. He'll be referred to as "the black Vulcan" rather than just > Vulcan. > > It seems that some fans have, when it comes down to it, missed the point of > Star Trek entirely. ;) > > I also overheard the following exchange in a local Kay-Bee recently: > "somethingsomethingmuttermutter a Black Barbie? I don't see one here." "I > thought they got in trouble if they didn't carry black ones." > > Humans are very, very strange. > > Lupe Velez -- Everheart@aol.diespammingbastards.com > "You've foiled my plans JUST ONCE, Cat... > But ONCE is all you GET!" Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: 7 Apr 1998 12:35:04 GMT From: everheart@aol.com (Everheart) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures >I heard from a friend through the grapevine that in a Target >she went to, she noticed that every Harry Kim had a very obvious slash in >front of >it (5 in all), but the 6 or so The Doctors looked mint. Now it's not >important >mantioned where this Target was, and I am certainly not jumping to >conclusions as >to why this happened, but it does make me think about where we may be in >society >today, and how far off we truly are to where we should be in order to really >co-exist in an increasingly globalizing world. I fully realize the "slashed >Harry >Kims" could have been careless unpacking mistakes, and it certainly looked >like it >was innocent enough. Harry! Noooooooooooo! Will write more later (it's thunderstorming here and I haven't been able to get online...), but this particular incident sounds like all the Harrys were on the top of the carton and the Doctors on the bottom. Anybody out there know how the 9" figures are boxed? Lupe Velez -- Everheart@aol.diespammingbastards.com "You've foiled my plans JUST ONCE, Cat... But ONCE is all you GET!" Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: 3 Apr 1998 16:06:42 GMT From: perryder@aol.com (PERRYDER) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures flame me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this settled in the abe lincoln episode of classic star trek? Uhuru referred to herself simply as Black. Hope my neurons were firing properly. Perry >I have a question, and of course I don't mean any offense, but I was >wondering, if the politically correct were to try and talk about Sulu or >Lando, how would they refer to their ethnicity? > >You could hardly call Lando an African American. First of all, he is not >American. Secondly, he is not of African heritage. > >This question is only partially rhetorical - I'd be interested in any >ideas. >-- >Kevin Lentz Subject: Re: Ethnic Collecting anyone? Date: Sat, 04 Apr 1998 04:44:05 -0500 From: Peter Chen Organization: Ball State University Newsgroups: rec.toys.action-figures Hi everyone! Due to my ignorance in using USENET News (I'm using Netscape Communicator to access this by the way) I would like to know a good way to keep this conversation going, and possibly set up a resource forum of sorts so that we can trade collecting ideas. Bascially, I don't want this original message to expire and then lose all of the messages underneath. Please let me know any suggestions you might have. Thanks, Peter Chen wrote: > Hi! I was wondering if anyone out there specializes in collecting action > figures from various ethnic groups. With the growing attention being > made to collecting female action figures, I'm certain that there are > people beginning to get into collecting African American action figures, > or Asian Amerian action figures, or etc... Please let me know as I am an > avid collector of Asian and Asian American Action Figures.