It's all in the eyes
I
have often wondered why, in the common parlance, East Asians are said
to have a "yellow" skin, since at least the ones that I have ever met
have had just as "white" skin tone as Europeans. Especially people from
Korea have been even "whiter" than Europeans, in the literal sense of
this word. Similarly, I have occasionally wondered why the shape of
their eyes is said to be "slanted", since technically this is obviously
incorrect. Their eyes are clearly different in some way, that's true,
but not in the sense that it is depicted in cartoons, for example. Some
time ago I came upon a comic book in which one character was meant to
be Asian, which I noticed from her eyes. The artist had, perhaps
accidentally but perhaps through superior skill, captured the way
Asians look in a much more natural way than the typical cartooning
conventions. It is astonishing how small differences in lines and
angles can make a huge difference.
Now that I think of it, I can remember a few years ago when I noticed the real difference for myself for the first time. A young female student from East Asia came to me and asked me something about the topic of the day, can't remember what, but I remember vividly that while she was asking the question I happened to notice her eyes, don't know why. Outside all calm and collected, I answered her question in a rational manner, while inside I was pretty much going "OH MY GOD SOMEBODY SLICED HER EYELIDS JESUS CHRIST DOESN'T THAT HURT?!?!?!"
Now that I think of it, I can remember a few years ago when I noticed the real difference for myself for the first time. A young female student from East Asia came to me and asked me something about the topic of the day, can't remember what, but I remember vividly that while she was asking the question I happened to notice her eyes, don't know why. Outside all calm and collected, I answered her question in a rational manner, while inside I was pretty much going "OH MY GOD SOMEBODY SLICED HER EYELIDS JESUS CHRIST DOESN'T THAT HURT?!?!?!"
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