Race vs. the arts
HGO’s ‘Nixon in China’ sparks talk on Asian representation in the arts
Tonight, Houston Grand Opera and the Asia Society will host a talk on Asian representation in the arts. The panel is, essentially, a response to my review of HGO’s production of “Nixon in China,” in which I criticized the opera for yellowface and stereotypical portrayals of Chinese people.
The review drew countless and varied reactions. Houstonbased music educator Sherry Cheng wrote a rebuttal. Dallas Morning News opera critic Scott Cantrell made a similar argument. And emotional comments regarding race and representation poured into Facebook, Twitter and my flooded inbox.
The HGO/Asia Society panel features, among others, Director for the Center for Arts and Social Engagement at the University of Houston Sixto Wagan, Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival Co-Director Steven Wu, and HGO music and artistic director Patrick Summers. It’s an excellent move by both organizations to keep the conversation about inclusion alive and public, but the jury’s still out on whether the city will have the proper reckoning on Asian representation — or lack thereof — that it deserves.
The panel might be productive and interesting. It might not. I will attend with high hopes and bated breath, because conversations are, by nature, improvisatory.
Still, we can expect certain things to be true.
1. The audience will be majority white.
2. On the topic of diversity, people will talk about how good their organizations are with diversity.
3. No one will criticize anyone.
4. People will be confused about the definition of yellowface.
5. Someone will ask, “If ‘Hamilton’ cast actors of color to play white people, why can’t white actors play people of color?”
6. In defense of casting, someone will make the “because opera” argument. In defense of stereotypes, someone will make the “because history” argument.
7. Someone will cite Sherry Cheng’s column. They will secretly think, “Look, an Asian isn’t offended so it must not be offensive,” but will not actually say it out loud.
8. The line “Houston is the most diverse city in America” will be used at least three times.
9. The line “more relevant now than ever before” will be used at least five times.
10. The panelists will hesitate to talk about someone who isn’t on the stage, and so instead of using my name will say “a reviewer,” “The Chronicle” or “a critic.”
11. Someone will inevitably reference Donald Trump.
12. The entire evening will essentially be a debate on the “point” of art, embodying two schools of thought: the Art of the Sublime and the Art of the Society. The Sublime folks, believing that art is universal and preferring “classic” works, will argue that art should transcend the politics of identity. The Society folks, believing that art is personal and preferring “relevant” works, will argue that art should speak to the politics of identity.
13. During the Q&A, someone will have a long, indulgent rant. No one will cut them off.
14. The first time people actually speak their minds will be after the event, with friends and family, on the drive home or over drinks.
15. Ultimately, no one will change their mind. But for a precious moment, they’ll be challenged to think outside their experience. And instead of shouting, they’ll listen.