Time, Technology, and the Mediated Body:Temporal Logics in the Rhetorics of East Asian Blepharoplasty in Online Video

Jennifer Sano-Franchini | sanojenn@msu.edu | @jsanofranchini | MLA 2013

racialization

emotionalization

pragmatization

nature/technology

agency

racialization

marks the decision to get double eyelid surgery as a kind of internalized racism and self-hate on part of Asians and Asian Americans. For example, this is when people--oftentimes people who have not undergone the surgery themselves--interpret the decision to do double eyelid surgery--as well as other common procedures like nose bridge raising and chin defining--as a means to “erase the race”; in other words, any person of Asian ancestry who would change his/her appearance in order to get larger eyes and a higher nose bridge, simply wants to look more white. Perhaps the most common trope that can be seen across media excerpts, as well as in online commentary.

“I want to try to be included. So I want to try to be similar, I guess like Australian? It’s good if you look similar like them.” Sam Jae Wook Kim, 14 years old (“Surgery to Alter Your Ethnicity” by Hungry Beast)

“They probably think Caucasian eyes are better looking because it’s what they don’t have and because it’s what they see on screen. The celebrities that they idolize, or the models, what is portrayed--all that’s represented is Caucasians so they would obviously want to emulate what they see.” Joy Ng, 31 years old (Hungry Beast)

“teenagers going under the knife, trying to change their ethnicity”

emotionalization

refers to how how the body is composed as emotions are attached to race and beauty. For example, many who get the surgery, as well as surgeons, talk about how the surgery makes them appear more lively, less sleepy, more expressive, and thus prettier.

“Fans of the surgery say it makes them look prettier, less angry and more awake” (Hungry Beast).

“And also, teachers, friends, co-workers, supervisors always asked and comment: Are you high? Are you tired? Slept late didn't you? You must be stoned. Are you drunk? You don't look so good. You've been blazing it haven't you? In my head I imagine myself screaming at them: No, mother eff'er. My eyes are like that!” YoWhatUpMike

“Also, monolids can make a person look tired or angry (I have a problem with the latter). It's unfair that people accuse Asians who get this procedure of wanting to be caucasian. Does she look caucasian to you? Not at all. So how is this different from any other cosmetic surgery?” loonettez in reply to tuffyordanos (Show the comment)

pragmatization

refers to how surgeons and people who get double eyelid surgery give practical reasons for getting the surgery.

“many Asian women overseas have cosmetic surgery to attain a more western look. But that’s not the case for Jennifer; her reason was much more practical. ‘it was always kind of hard being a little teenage girl wanting to go and try on make up and stuff like that, it was always difficult to find somebody who can actually apply it correctly and make it look nice.’”

nature/technology

refers to how how the body is composed as emotions are attached to race and beauty. For example, many who get the surgery, as well as surgeons, talk about how the surgery makes them appear more lively, less sleepy, more expressive, and thus prettier.

“Also the advantage of a non-incision suture technique double eyelid surgery is that it follows the natural curvature of the orbicularis muscle in that it follows the path where the fold naturally wants to go; therefore, the fold creation is a natural fold and it’s a fold that one would’ve had if they were born with a double eyelid fold”

“Annie’s says she’s still the same person she was before the surgery.”

“As for Jennifer, she’s still the same person before and after.”

“ACCEPT YOUR ASIAN FEATURES,,GOD MAKES US ALL DIFFERENT,BE PROUD OF YOUR ASIAN FEATURES AND ORIENTAL EYES,,,,,” Houdaloth Ali

“God made everyone how HE wanted to be. So you shouldn't change that.” hobooncouch567

agency

“most often times when children are moving onto adulthood or going into college, when they’re transitioning to a different life, it’s a time where they are changing their career paths, I find that to be the most common impetus to do this procedure”

“I can't hate, at lease she got the money to get this surgery. If it'll make her feel better about herself why not. Hell if I've got the money I would fix my right eye and lift that baby up to look like my left eye [...] Rather than beating her down for this I applause her. Too many idiots on the net saying shit like "Looks don't matter" can kiss my ass, because it does. Looks for the most part will give you the job/man you want.” JuciShockwave

“Plastic surgery is an individual choice, and it is whether you’re Asian or not.” (CNN)

refers to how people often talk about how cosmetic surgery is a form of individual agency and a means for social mobility and status, via career, marriage, based on the idea that more attractive people have more opportunities.