Cultural advantages

[chrispac]

Hey, this is a question that has been brought up several times, but .. umm. this is kind of a variation to it. haha.

What do you think about "cultural advantages"? IN DI, HI, OR Duo.

Such as chinese people if they can do chinese accents well, they can make it funny in an HI or whatver, should that be considered more skillful? is it legit?

I've seen indian people do indian accents really well, and it fits them too. I guess it's good for them because it doesn't seem too racist or anything. In my opinion, its cool if its your own race, but don't use it TOO much to an advantage.

In DIs, however, cultural advantaghes (such as black people doing black peices) I think it shouldn't be .. ummm.... based off culture. its mostly skill. i saw a white girl doing a black piece and she did the accent good and whatever. she finaled at some tournament and i was impressed.

What do you guys think? what about white poeple doing chinese accents or somewhat offensive indian accents or whatever.? (by the way, if you don't know already, i'm asian, and I can do a chinese accent pretty well)

I think any advantage preformance wise that you can add to you piece you should take it...however I do feel its cheap when piece selection centers totally around someone's race.

[Monkey1988Monkey]

I think its okay to use ur own culture's accent. However it is in no way nearly as impressive as using another culture's accent. Everyone can tell its your own culture so actually, in essence, no one is imprressed. Now, it is noticable if you can pull off a chinese, german, irish, and british accent all in the same piece. "Exploiting" your native accent doesn't help.

[lilmcd86]

ditto

[Flowers]

I think any advantage preformance wise that you can add to you piece you should take it...however I do feel its cheap when piece selection centers totally around someone's race.

Not cheap at all. After all those years of opression, why, it's only fair!!

On a side note, I believe that because a piece of literature is written in a specific accent it doesn't necessarily have to be interped that way. Nothing HAS to be implied. Maybe it's a bit confusing, but it makes sense in my head...oh bother.

[Jesus]

first of all, i hope you're kidding.

2nd...

At the last tourniment i saw a girl who was an amazing actress really good-- iM sure chrispac remembers--in the piece "voice of the prarie" and she was really good--dont get me wrong, but it was just wierd to see an asian girl with a southern accent in a dramatic piece. Still got to finals at a semi national tourniment and finished, what, 5th?

[Flowers]

One of my best friends in high school, in Cabot, Arkansas was an asian girl, her boyfriend was an asian boy...they both had southern accents, natural southern accents. Do you see my point? There's no sense in not being totally open-minded concerning piece interp. to me, it's one of the most exciting aspects of forensics. It's possible it happens and by God that's the truth.

-- After rereading your post,Well, I'm not so sure who you were talking about Jesus

[HSTDeb8erGrl]

I think any advantage preformance wise that you can add to you piece you should take it...however I do feel its cheap when piece selection centers totally around someone's race.

I disagree...I think it's awesome when a piece is centered around your race, this one Italian kid in my league did a mobster type piece and it was hilarious.

[myoreo]

what's wrong with racial pieces?
Being the best means using all your strengths. Using your racial values is one smart way to go. Why not do it.

i just don't like the idea of it...i'm black myself and i don't do racial pieces year in and year out...now its ok i suppose to do them every once in a while but don't become known as the kid who does the racial piece every year.

[HSTDeb8erGrl]

Last year my oratory was on reverse racism and I was known as the black girl who hated other black people, which didn't help b/c I'm one of 2 black people in my league. The white folk loved it though.

[dmcordon9]

I think that those who can effectively portray another race/culture etc. that is not their own are very impressive. In 1999 a girl from our school did the grandmother monologue from "Family Secrets" and took 9th at NFL nationals. She was a part Cherokee girl portraying a Jewish grandmother. People were very impressed and some of the Jewish judges were amazed at her ability to capture the essence of their culture so well. In my opinion, kudos to anyone who can effectively and accurately portray a world that is not their own.

[MRdbtr]

As far as the racial pieces are concerned, one of my teammates, a close black friend of mine, did "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison his sophmore year, 5th at districts, and "Blues for Mr. Charlie", another black piece, and finished 2nd at districts senior year. Junior Year, however, he did a Shakespearean piece, Henry V, and won our district and did extremely well at nationals...i think anyone should pull off an accent they can, regardless of their own race (play to your strengths, if you don't you are an idiot)...It's just like straight guys playing stereotypical gay guys in humor, however in our district we have a gay guy who does a DI in which he is a womanizing jock...Whatever works, i guess..

Adam

[Jesus]

Last year my oratory was on reverse racism and I was known as the black girl who hated other black people, which didn't help b/c I'm one of 2 black people in my league. The white folk loved it though.

whoa!? ur black? iM so sorry....iLL never make fun again....





The reason why thats funny is cuz u just said something about reverse racism

The reason thats funny is cuz i just explained my own joke, hence killing it...which is so much fun

[HSTDeb8erGrl]

yes I'm black...LOL, boy you're nuts. :lol: