"I’m tired of hearing from white men in Hollywood that he was arrogant and an asshole when they have no idea and cannot fathom what it might have taken to get work in 1960s and ’70s Hollywood as a Chinese man with (God forbid) an accent, or to try to express an opinion on a set as a perceived foreigner and person of color. I’m tired of white men in Hollywood mistaking his confidence, passion and skill for hubris and therefore finding it necessary to marginalize him and his contributions. I’m tired of white men in Hollywood finding it too challenging to believe that Bruce Lee might have really been good at what he did and maybe even knew how to do it better than them.
I’m tired of hearing from white men in Hollywood that he wasn’t really a martial artist and just did it for the movies. My father lived and breathed martial arts. He taught martial arts, wrote about martial arts, created his own martial art, innovated martial arts training, and refused to compete in martial arts tournaments because he believed combat should be “real.” He had no parallel as a martial artist. And I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he had no parallel as a martial artist on film, either.
I’m tired of white men in Hollywood barely footnoting the impact he had on the action film genre and fight choreography, or the proliferation of and interest in martial arts he sparked globally, or the number of people and communities he continues to inspire and touch with his performances, philosophies, teachings and practices while casually downplaying how his accomplishments have lifted spirits and become a source of pride for Asian Americans, communities of color and people around the world, and how he accomplished all of this by the age of 32."
- SHANNON LEE
This was a response to Quentin Tarantino on Joe Rogan's podcast, in regards to her father not being/or deserving the accolades he achieved.
Look, Bruce is a deeply flawed person. And I have to preface this by saying...I hated Bruce Lee. He was the bane of my existence. He didn't bring the unity people are saying. In fact, he made my life difficult in that I had to constantly fend off people who wanted to fight me. I am scrappy to this day for that reason. And don't back down from a fist fight. IF fist fighting is all it is. You actually make friends this way. HOWEVER, most often than not he perpetuated much more stereotypes than anyone. The cinema didn't bring a love of Asian culture. It brought on a greater sense of paranoia that every "Chinaman" knew how to kick ass.
I do find Tarantino's comments on the podcast funny. I mean, he's really shitting on Linda Lee Caldwell, who may or may not have know who Bruce was really about. Note to Quentin..IF you recall..she admits that in the movie.
What Shannon may be saying is that...here we are again with a White filmmaker who takes potshots to chip away at Bruce's legacy. It may be truth, but how often does HE build things on the mythical. Try...all the fucking time. He lives in the mythical. And makes movies based on that.
His movies are a mix tape of other movies, so I find it appropriate he would defend stealing. Especially when it comes to the story of the making of "Kung-Fu" t.v. series.
Would love to hear how a Jewish man in 70's Hollywood came up with that. Nevermind casting the Whitest dude in Hollywood.
Will Tarantino dodge someone else in the universe who chips away at his legacy?
Well, he's alive to defend it.
In Tarantino's case, it probably would've been smarter to say that he understands the legacy of Bruce and respects it (which he probably did but has been buried in his other rants and cheap digs). Especially since he stole the costume from "Game Of Death" for "Kill Bill" The reverence for Bruce can sustain regardless of his criticism of the truth.
"Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.." I feel, is Tarantino finest film. Because it's not entirely a mixed tape. It's a fable of this town in that time. He finally grew up.
But the controversy over Bruce's life won't ever seem to end.
All fine, if the conversations sparks debate on race relations in Hollywood.
No comments:
Post a Comment