Comments on: Day Above Ground Says Its Racist Video Is “Art,” Tells Offended Parties To “Step Back, Take A Breath And Relax” [UPDATE]

By: terroir

terroir — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 06:19:50 +0000

Is this a good time to point out that the band are pets kept by the beautiful, half-naked girl and not the other way around?

I don’t usually pay attention to lyrics myself usually…

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 00:01:47 +0000

You’re being intentionally obtuse, Jon. You didn’t notice that instead of being in a position of power over the woman in the video, the band members were instead tiny powerless captives who later accept their role as sex toys/hygiene accessories? If that’s a reward, your priorities may need re-evaluation.

By the by, it’s not anyone’s job not to offend you. The very notion that people should pussyfoot around your oh-so-tender emotions is absurd. Welcome to America, buddy. Respect the culture.

By: Jonathan Alpart

Jonathan Alpart — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 03:29:04 +0000

It’s not self-deprecating. It would be if the “hot Asian girl” rejected them for being losers, but she doesn’t. She’s sexy and welcoming to them during the entire video. Instead of exposing the stereotypes for what they are – harmful and ignorant – they celebrate their ignorance and are rewarded for it by quite literally swimming into her vagina and making her orgasm.

No understanding of Asian cultures of self-deprecation is happening here. The part you pointed out specifically – getting confused about Chinese New Year and eating shark soup – is completely the opposite. It is deprecating towards Asian culture. They are saying “wow, your culture is really weird and dumb, but I’ll put up with it because you are hot and I want to fuck you.” How you view this as “satire” is a mystery to me.

No, of course none of their lyrics are meant to be taken literally, but that doesn’t mean it is satire, and that doesn’t mean that it is not offensive.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 22:10:43 +0000

If it isn’t obvious, Jon, the “target” of the song is not Asian people but ideas about Asian people. Halfway through the song, you’ll notice the one guy getting confused about the Chinese New Year and soup. It’s self-deprecating. Aside from the bit about how Asian women don’t age well, which is a little harsh, virtually everything mentioned in the lyrics is either a ridiculous stereotype that they’re poking fun at or harmless. Tell me: do you actually think that the band literally intends to deport Asians if they won’t sit on their laps? Do you think they believe all Asians are ninjas? Are you shocked at the idea that people like food? What exactly IS the nature of your outrage?

By: Jonathan Alpart

Jonathan Alpart — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 07:54:47 +0000

Tom, what exactly is “satirical” about the song? Who or what is it satirizing? Can you explain?

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 05:04:51 +0000

It’s pretty disingenuous to claim that “absolutely no one gets that it’s satire”. A handful of loudmouths don’t get it. If you look at comment threads that aren’t just self-righteous goofballs patting each other on the back, you’ll see all sorts of people saying “What’s the big deal? It’s a joke. Get over it.”

By: MB

MB — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 14:55:41 +0000

Can’t reply to your comment below for some reason, so replying here:

“It was only after gossip rags and drama queens starting weeping and rending their clothes that they had to explain, in simple words, that it wasn’t meant literally.”

Once again, if absolutely no one gets that its satire and you have to “explain, in simple words,” YOU FAILED. If you have to explain your joke, your joke failed. And again, for a week after the controversy started there was no talk of satire, only “what’s the big deal? We love Asian women and wanted to make a tribute!” When that line of reasoning didn’t work, they tried a different angle with “calm down, its satire!” And even if this was meant as satire, it is by no means a “standout example.” If you believe that, I feel bad for all the great satirical books, songs, and movies you’ve been missing out on over the years.

It just makes me sad that there are thousands of legit awesome talented bands and artists out there who will never get a fraction of the publicity these guys got for simply making a racist song.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 04:09:39 +0000

“Wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly.” Such as stereotypes. The song is a standout example of satire. It was only after gossip rags and drama queens starting weeping and rending their clothes that they had to explain, in simple words, that it wasn’t meant literally. A normal person would have realized this. A normal person wouldn’t need to be told.

By: me

me — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 01:17:35 +0000

“Satire”…you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. If you have to explain to people its satire, guess what? You failed at satire. Yelling out every Asian stereotype you can think of is satire the way a 6 year old running around screaming “poopie poopie poopie!” is standup comedy.

Anyway, it actually isn’t satire. Their first response called it a “tribute” to Asian women. It was only after this blew up in their faces that they busted out the “its satire, relax!” trope. Because on the grand PR scale “failing at comedy” is more acceptable than “casually racist.”

By: Hu's On First

Hu's On First — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 17:01:01 +0000

Here’s a parody called “Klingon Girlz”. Enjoy!

http://www.amiright.com/parody/2010s/dayaboveground0.shtml

And, here’s a parody of Weird Al Yankovic’s “Skipper Dan”, describing what the guys from Day Above Ground are going to be doing in 5 years:

http://www.amiright.com/parody/2000s/weirdalyankovic94.shtml

By: Chinese Netizen

Chinese Netizen — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 07:22:08 +0000

Check that… wrong story, same topic.

By: Chinese Netizen

Chinese Netizen — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 07:17:18 +0000

Wow…quite a few comments got “harmonized”…

By: Luou

Luou — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 06:24:58 +0000

I’ll care about insensitive “racist” remarks towards Asians when they take responsibility and teach their own children bigotry is bad.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 05:07:49 +0000

If by “a lot of perspective”, you mean “exactly one predetermined perspective”, sure. It’s difficult to imagine how any listener could fail to notice that the song was satirizing Asian stereotypes. After talking with one or two other people, even the stragglers should have come around to reality. Pete really went the extra mile claiming “oh, it wasn’t REALLY satire; that was just a ploy the band came up with after the fact to throw people off their scent”. Honestly, that’s the best he can do? There are legitimate things in the world worth being outraged about. No need to fabricate more.

By: Jonathan Alpart

Jonathan Alpart — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 02:50:30 +0000

This was a great article that offered a lot of perspective and summed up quite well the reactions to this video. If you don’t like it, then go hide under a rock and shield yourself from all the bad things happening in the world?