Comments on: Haibao pushing stereotypes for World Expo 2010?

By: Kondom eller tandpasta: Den mærkelige maskot for verdens mest oversete fest / KINABLOG.dk

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:58:25 +0000

[...] har en god artikel om Haibao og stereotyper. Shanghaiist har bunker af artikler [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:57:16 +0000

And I don’t believe it is possible to appreciate that promotional video in a sober state of mind. I suspect that if one were to be totally sloshed, that would be three and a half minutes of indescribable audio-visual bliss.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:47:34 +0000

Haha right on dude I dig the turban-ified goose-stepping Haibao at the end. He’s totally tripping on opium. Clearly he’s a matter-of-fact representation of Afghanistan.

By: Chinamatt

Chinamatt — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:49:47 +0000

I can’t believe I almost watched the entire video. It looks like they went cheap on the animation budget with the recycling of scenes. Gumby was so much cooler than this knock-off.

For the record, I can’t help but laugh when I see the Mexican Haibao. And is it just me or does the turban-wearing Haibao look stoned?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:33:20 +0000

Indian is the best. Who is it representing? American Indians are most likey represented by the cowboy (so wrong) and India indians could be a close tie between turban or mystery Santa Claus with fireworks.

By: Klortho

Klortho — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:41:08 +0000

Some say he looks a lot like a big blue condom. Thanks a lot for the video; it helped me get rid of a lot of annoying brain cells.

By: john

john — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:40:39 +0000

@Ryan…cheers. I too have Chinese in-laws who affectionately refer to 你们老外 “you foreigners” as if myself , a nigerian, a czech, and peruvian can all be lumped into one homogeneous group of others… actual with that thought in mind its almost a blessing that they are stereotyping us, at least then they are differentiating us.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:32:57 +0000

@Kellen: Excellent Darlie burn. But you’re right Eric, they don’t look THAT bad.

@John: Absolutely no doubt the heat’s getting to me. Found myself in a field yesterday in my underpants turning in circles, repeating “Kafka, Kafka, Kafka” JK

I’ll restate again that these struck me more in the context of repeatedly having to remind Chinese family and friends that the world outside of China doesn’t always fit into the drilled-in stereotypes they’ve grown up with.

And before anyone jumps down my throat about it – I understand that all the nations of the world suffer from their own stereotyping. But for this Canadian lad, China is a stark contrast.

I really have no expectations about the Expo – as I don’t really know what the point is. I’m not being facetious or anything… I just really have no idea what it’s all about. In that regard, I’m looking forward to it.

Don’t get me started on “It’s a Small World” or Disney.

By: john

john — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:07:32 +0000

Ryan, its confirmed, the heat is getting to you….

C’mon this is a bit of a stretch, next thing you’ll be doing is calling for a boycott of Disney’s “Its a Small World” ride…;-)

Loved the video and being in Shanghai I am truly looking forward to Expo! Will be so much better than the virtual dick measuring contest that the Olympics were ….

Aint no party like a Shanghai party……

By: Eric D

Eric D — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:34:11 +0000

Fair enough, Kellen! You got me there!