Racial Stereotypes in the Icelandic Opera Daniel Roh skrifar 9. mars 2023 07:31 The state-funded Icelandic Opera has staged a production of “Madama Butterfly” from March 4- March 26. Written and composed by Puccini in 1904, this work centers around the relationship between a white US Naval officer and a 15-year old Japanese girl that he impregnates. The production has been received with vocal criticism by many Asian people living in Iceland. Their claims are that yellowface (the act of making white actors appear asian by means of wigs, make-up and costume) are harmful and perpetuate dangerous stereotypes. A production funded by the state should have no part in retelling a racist narrative. The conductor and stage-director/set-designer have replied and dismissed the possibility of any changes to repair the situation. Many of those that originally raised the alarm feel that the conductor and stage-designer are the wrong individuals to spearhead this controversial production. They lack the understanding and lived experience to address such complicated topics of racism in this regard.It is worth noting that to the author’s knowledge, no individuals on the Creative Team on this production are people of Asian descent. While it may be an odd approach, the author of this article would like to address the Icelandic Opera as an organization. “Dear Icelandic Opera Company, Hi! My name is Dan Roh. I’m a Korean-American stand-up comedian and a teacher here in Iceland. As an Asian person living in Iceland I have to let you know that your production of Madama Butterfly in its current form is upholding dangerous racial stereotypes. But you have the power to change that. So, you screwed up. We all screw up. A whole lot of your white actors were dressed up in Yellowface. They had pulled-up eyebrows, thin mustaches, and jet-black wigs. In a picture circling social media, they are seen squinting their eyes pretty hard while holding Japanese beer. Their dedication to the craft of acting is unmatched. Your conductor also seemed to suggest that the yellowface is not offensive as the actor playing the main role is a Korean woman. Although it is delightful to see a woman of color highlighted, the conductor’s hope that her “Koreanness” would transform the Icelandic actors into people of Japanese descent, has not, in fact, been realized. I do not blame the actors, especially the Korean singer. Actors need to work and the decision making power lies with others. Your stage director has replied and offered only justifications and no commitments to change. In my opinion, there are generally two options when you make this kind of mistake. Option one, you own up to it and try to make it right. Two, you refuse to apologize, you double-down, and you try to down-play and discredit those that you have hurt.In my personal opinion, here are some things that would be helpful in solving the situation. Take off the racist wigs, the degrading make-up and the funny little mustaches. Maybe tell your actors they don’t have to squint so much. Change the background or provide context to the audience before the show. Publicly apologize and make an official statement. By the way, leave out the phrase “for those we may have offended,” in the statement, please. You already have offended many people. Meet with Asians in Iceland and see how your decisions have hurt us. Listen to how dehumanizing and making costumes out of real people and cultures lends itself to othering of Asian people around the world and here in Iceland. Hold a forum for White Icelanders and explain context and the dangers of yellowface. The Creative Team of the Icelandic Opera’s “Madama Butterfly” have until now chosen option two. While disappointing, it is not wholly surprising. Now, to be perfectly serious. Performing yellowface in such a big production funded by the state is dangerous. Racism is real and present in everyday Iceland. If the state-funded Icelandic Opera is proud to display yellowface, would parents not feel more assured in dressing their children up in yellowface costumes for Oskudagur, or for dress-up days in High School? Make no mistake, these are racist actions. What you perform and display matters. These choices say that seeing Asian people as costumes and props is acceptable. The new generation of Asians in Iceland should not have to grow up with squinty eye jokes. Those jokes can lead to real harm and alienation. You can send a message that your organization does not condone this treatment of Asian Icelanders. So we’ll be at Harpa on Saturday with a couple signs. I might have a couple friends with me. There are three performances left, more than enough time to take off some wigs. Sincerely, Daniel Roh” The author is a teacher living in Iceland. Viltu birta grein á Vísi? Sendu okkur póst. Senda grein Íslenska óperan Kynþáttafordómar Leikhús Mest lesið Opið bréf til Rósu Guðbjartsdóttur Margrét Kristín Blöndal Skoðun Við viljum styðja ungmenni í að velja rétt fyrir sig og sína framtíð Þórdís Jóna Sigurðardóttir Skoðun Verið brjáluð. Ég fer ekki neitt Ian McDonald Skoðun Vönduð vinnubrögð? Heiðrún Lind Marteinsdóttir Skoðun Hvernig eiga umsækjendur í opinbera sjóði að fylgja forsendum sem eru þversagnakenndar? Bogi Ragnarsson Skoðun Mikil réttarbót fyrir fatlað fólk mætir hindrunum Kolbrún Áslaugar Baldursdóttir Skoðun Pólítískt hugrekki Unnur Hrefna Jóhannsdóttir Skoðun Frábær fundur, frábært framtak, vanvirk stjórnsýsla, meðvirk stjórnvöld Ögmundur Jónasson Skoðun Veitingastaðir eru ekki kjarnorkuver Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson Skoðun Vísir að lægri orkureikningi Einar Vilmarsson Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Það verða aðrir þjóðhátíðardagar fyrir okkur en dagar Palestínumanna eru taldir Davíð Aron Routley skrifar Skoðun Pólítískt hugrekki Unnur Hrefna Jóhannsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Vísir að lægri orkureikningi Einar Vilmarsson skrifar Skoðun Frábær fundur, frábært framtak, vanvirk stjórnsýsla, meðvirk stjórnvöld Ögmundur Jónasson skrifar Skoðun Opið bréf til Rósu Guðbjartsdóttur Margrét Kristín Blöndal skrifar Skoðun Mikil réttarbót fyrir fatlað fólk mætir hindrunum Kolbrún Áslaugar Baldursdóttir skrifar Skoðun Verið brjáluð. Ég fer ekki neitt Ian McDonald skrifar Skoðun Hvernig eiga umsækjendur í opinbera sjóði að fylgja forsendum sem eru þversagnakenndar? Bogi Ragnarsson skrifar Skoðun Vönduð vinnubrögð? Heiðrún Lind Marteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Við viljum styðja ungmenni í að velja rétt fyrir sig og sína framtíð Þórdís Jóna Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Veitingastaðir eru ekki kjarnorkuver Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson skrifar Skoðun Nýr vegvísir Evrópusambandsins um jafnrétti kynjanna Clara Ganslandt skrifar Skoðun Frá stjórnun til tengsla – Endurmat á atferlismeðferð í ljósi tilfinningagreindar Kristín Magdalena Ágústsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Blaður 35 Gunnar Hólmsteinn Ársælsson skrifar Skoðun Kaldar kveðjur frá forsætisráðherrra til ferðaþjónustunnar Pétur Óskarsson skrifar Skoðun Nú hefst samræmt próf í stærðfræði Sigrún Ólöf Ingólfsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Rangfærslur Viðskiptaráðs Finnbjörn A. Hermannsson skrifar Skoðun Sanngirni í Kópavogsmódelinu Eydís Inga Valsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Ríkisstjórnarflokkarnir fylgja Landsvirkjun – gegn Þjórsárverum Svandís Svavarsdóttir,Álfheiður Ingadóttir skrifar Skoðun Skapandi framtíð – forvarnir og félagsstarf í Hafnarfirði Kristín Thoroddsen skrifar Skoðun Upplýsingar um mataræði barna og unglinga á landsvísu eru of gamlar – það er óásættanlegt Birna Þórisdóttir,Sigurbjörg Bjarnadóttir,Inga Þórsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvaða orka? Birgir Sverrisson skrifar Skoðun Það skiptir máli hvernig gervigreind er notuð í kennslu Hjörvar Ingi Haraldsson skrifar Skoðun Friðum Eyjafjörð Jana Salóme Ingibjargar Jósepsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Sóknaráætlanir landshlutanna – lykillinn að sterkara Íslandi Páll Snævar Brynjarsson,Sigríður Ó. Kristjánsdóttir,Sveinbjörg Rut Pétursdóttir,Albertína Friðbjörg Elíasdóttir,Bryndís Fiona Ford,Ingunn Jónsdóttir,Berglind Kristinsdóttir,Páll Björgvin Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Eflum samstöðuna á kvennaári – Stöndum vörð um mannréttindi Kristín Ástgeirsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Langar þig að vera sjóklár? Steinunn Ása Þorvaldsdóttir,Jakob Frímann Þorsteinsson skrifar Skoðun Við fögnum en gleymum ekki Sandra B. Franks skrifar Skoðun Mun gervigreind skapa stafræna stéttaskiptingu á Íslandi? Björgmundur Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Hvorki „allt lokað“ né „allt opið“ Birgir Orri Ásgrímsson skrifar Sjá meira
The state-funded Icelandic Opera has staged a production of “Madama Butterfly” from March 4- March 26. Written and composed by Puccini in 1904, this work centers around the relationship between a white US Naval officer and a 15-year old Japanese girl that he impregnates. The production has been received with vocal criticism by many Asian people living in Iceland. Their claims are that yellowface (the act of making white actors appear asian by means of wigs, make-up and costume) are harmful and perpetuate dangerous stereotypes. A production funded by the state should have no part in retelling a racist narrative. The conductor and stage-director/set-designer have replied and dismissed the possibility of any changes to repair the situation. Many of those that originally raised the alarm feel that the conductor and stage-designer are the wrong individuals to spearhead this controversial production. They lack the understanding and lived experience to address such complicated topics of racism in this regard.It is worth noting that to the author’s knowledge, no individuals on the Creative Team on this production are people of Asian descent. While it may be an odd approach, the author of this article would like to address the Icelandic Opera as an organization. “Dear Icelandic Opera Company, Hi! My name is Dan Roh. I’m a Korean-American stand-up comedian and a teacher here in Iceland. As an Asian person living in Iceland I have to let you know that your production of Madama Butterfly in its current form is upholding dangerous racial stereotypes. But you have the power to change that. So, you screwed up. We all screw up. A whole lot of your white actors were dressed up in Yellowface. They had pulled-up eyebrows, thin mustaches, and jet-black wigs. In a picture circling social media, they are seen squinting their eyes pretty hard while holding Japanese beer. Their dedication to the craft of acting is unmatched. Your conductor also seemed to suggest that the yellowface is not offensive as the actor playing the main role is a Korean woman. Although it is delightful to see a woman of color highlighted, the conductor’s hope that her “Koreanness” would transform the Icelandic actors into people of Japanese descent, has not, in fact, been realized. I do not blame the actors, especially the Korean singer. Actors need to work and the decision making power lies with others. Your stage director has replied and offered only justifications and no commitments to change. In my opinion, there are generally two options when you make this kind of mistake. Option one, you own up to it and try to make it right. Two, you refuse to apologize, you double-down, and you try to down-play and discredit those that you have hurt.In my personal opinion, here are some things that would be helpful in solving the situation. Take off the racist wigs, the degrading make-up and the funny little mustaches. Maybe tell your actors they don’t have to squint so much. Change the background or provide context to the audience before the show. Publicly apologize and make an official statement. By the way, leave out the phrase “for those we may have offended,” in the statement, please. You already have offended many people. Meet with Asians in Iceland and see how your decisions have hurt us. Listen to how dehumanizing and making costumes out of real people and cultures lends itself to othering of Asian people around the world and here in Iceland. Hold a forum for White Icelanders and explain context and the dangers of yellowface. The Creative Team of the Icelandic Opera’s “Madama Butterfly” have until now chosen option two. While disappointing, it is not wholly surprising. Now, to be perfectly serious. Performing yellowface in such a big production funded by the state is dangerous. Racism is real and present in everyday Iceland. If the state-funded Icelandic Opera is proud to display yellowface, would parents not feel more assured in dressing their children up in yellowface costumes for Oskudagur, or for dress-up days in High School? Make no mistake, these are racist actions. What you perform and display matters. These choices say that seeing Asian people as costumes and props is acceptable. The new generation of Asians in Iceland should not have to grow up with squinty eye jokes. Those jokes can lead to real harm and alienation. You can send a message that your organization does not condone this treatment of Asian Icelanders. So we’ll be at Harpa on Saturday with a couple signs. I might have a couple friends with me. There are three performances left, more than enough time to take off some wigs. Sincerely, Daniel Roh” The author is a teacher living in Iceland.
Við viljum styðja ungmenni í að velja rétt fyrir sig og sína framtíð Þórdís Jóna Sigurðardóttir Skoðun
Hvernig eiga umsækjendur í opinbera sjóði að fylgja forsendum sem eru þversagnakenndar? Bogi Ragnarsson Skoðun
Frábær fundur, frábært framtak, vanvirk stjórnsýsla, meðvirk stjórnvöld Ögmundur Jónasson Skoðun
Skoðun Það verða aðrir þjóðhátíðardagar fyrir okkur en dagar Palestínumanna eru taldir Davíð Aron Routley skrifar
Skoðun Frábær fundur, frábært framtak, vanvirk stjórnsýsla, meðvirk stjórnvöld Ögmundur Jónasson skrifar
Skoðun Hvernig eiga umsækjendur í opinbera sjóði að fylgja forsendum sem eru þversagnakenndar? Bogi Ragnarsson skrifar
Skoðun Við viljum styðja ungmenni í að velja rétt fyrir sig og sína framtíð Þórdís Jóna Sigurðardóttir skrifar
Skoðun Frá stjórnun til tengsla – Endurmat á atferlismeðferð í ljósi tilfinningagreindar Kristín Magdalena Ágústsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Ríkisstjórnarflokkarnir fylgja Landsvirkjun – gegn Þjórsárverum Svandís Svavarsdóttir,Álfheiður Ingadóttir skrifar
Skoðun Upplýsingar um mataræði barna og unglinga á landsvísu eru of gamlar – það er óásættanlegt Birna Þórisdóttir,Sigurbjörg Bjarnadóttir,Inga Þórsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Sóknaráætlanir landshlutanna – lykillinn að sterkara Íslandi Páll Snævar Brynjarsson,Sigríður Ó. Kristjánsdóttir,Sveinbjörg Rut Pétursdóttir,Albertína Friðbjörg Elíasdóttir,Bryndís Fiona Ford,Ingunn Jónsdóttir,Berglind Kristinsdóttir,Páll Björgvin Guðmundsson skrifar
Við viljum styðja ungmenni í að velja rétt fyrir sig og sína framtíð Þórdís Jóna Sigurðardóttir Skoðun
Hvernig eiga umsækjendur í opinbera sjóði að fylgja forsendum sem eru þversagnakenndar? Bogi Ragnarsson Skoðun
Frábær fundur, frábært framtak, vanvirk stjórnsýsla, meðvirk stjórnvöld Ögmundur Jónasson Skoðun