NPR: The Slants: Trading in Stereotypes

By John | Thursday, June 12, 2008 | View Comments

On National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, April Baer profiles the Asian American band, The Slants in “The Slants: Trading in Stereotypes” (Listen here: [4 min 46 sec]):

“In the 20th century, younger members of many minority groups repurposed offensive words that had been used as slurs and insults. African Americans and gays, in particular, transformed hateful brands into badges of pride or belonging. Now, in the 21st century, a few Asian-American musicians are trying to do the same, particularly in the name they chose for their band: The Slants…The Slants’ songs about Asian-American alienation don’t seem to have hurt their appeal to white teenagers. If anything, they resonate with kids whose geeky adoration for anime makes them outsiders in their own way.”

The Slants got their big “break” at a anime convention (ComicCon?), where they started to grow their fan base. I took a look at their official website, and describe their sounds as a”cross between The Faint, Joy Division, Gang of Four, Depeche Mode, and the Kill Bill soundtrack.” You can listen for yourself on their MySpace page, and see their summer tour schedule. Personally, I’ve never heard of The Slants until tonight, and thought it odd that NPR did profile them, considering I don’t think that they are that great. Let me know if you think the same…

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Jen W

I love The Slants! They actually started out at Kumoricon, a convention in the Northwest. They have a very unique sound and blend in some of my favorite bands.

The best part about them though is that they are very down to earth. They’re always involved with the Asian American community here in Portland, volunteering and reaching out to youth. Even though they play for thousands of fans, they’re willing to spend time with each one. They put on the best, craziest, energetic shows ever!
Jen W

I love The Slants! They actually started out at Kumoricon, a convention in the Northwest. They have a very unique sound and blend in some of my favorite bands.

The best part about them though is that they are very down to earth. They’re always involved with the Asian American community here in Portland, volunteering and reaching out to youth. Even though they play for thousands of fans, they’re willing to spend time with each one. They put on the best, craziest, energetic shows ever!
risako

I love The Slants too! Why don’t you like them? They’re music is really good electronic, and live show is so energetic rock! <3
risako

I love The Slants too! Why don’t you like them? They’re music is really good electronic, and live show is so energetic rock! <3
Josh

Interesting, I never heard of you or your organization until, just now. I wouldn’t expect you to know good music if it jumped in your lap and called you a racial slur.
Josh

Interesting, I never heard of you or your organization until, just now. I wouldn’t expect you to know good music if it jumped in your lap and called you a racial slur.
http://excited-kender.deviantart.com/ Kay

I love them as well, wasn’t a fan of track 8 (I Want Everything) from their CD, but then my friend and I discovered its a LOT of fun to sing along to on long, 3,000 mile road trips. Not so fun to listen to, too much fun to butcher with your own voice.

Other than that, I love their music, though. But their cd is nothing compared to live performances.
http://excited-kender.deviantart.com/ Kay

I love them as well, wasn’t a fan of track 8 (I Want Everything) from their CD, but then my friend and I discovered its a LOT of fun to sing along to on long, 3,000 mile road trips. Not so fun to listen to, too much fun to butcher with your own voice.

Other than that, I love their music, though. But their cd is nothing compared to live performances.
Yuri

I’m a huge fan of the Slants.
you probably never heard of them becuase you’re so clustered in your own world.
i think it’s odd that you’d put up a blog like this.
8asian? who are you guys?
Yuri

I’m a huge fan of the Slants.
you probably never heard of them becuase you’re so clustered in your own world.
i think it’s odd that you’d put up a blog like this.
8asian? who are you guys?
http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com Ernie

Ironically, I would have glanced over this post if it weren’t for the sudden angry barrage of comments on this post.

I’m listening to their stuff on YouTube now. I’m kinda digging this, actually. Kinda like LCD Soundsystem or Reverend And The Makers. That said, AnimeCon fans scare me o_O
http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com Ernie

Ironically, I would have glanced over this post if it weren’t for the sudden angry barrage of comments on this post.

I’m listening to their stuff on YouTube now. I’m kinda digging this, actually. Kinda like LCD Soundsystem or Reverend And The Makers. That said, AnimeCon fans scare me o_O
Rosanne

I am a HUGE fan along with a bunch of people I have introduced their music to. I am sorry you don’t like the music and can’t appreciate why others would. I personally have seen the aww effect their music has given people. Even my 72 year old traditional Okinawan grandmother loves their music.

Just because you have never heard of them doesn’t mean they aren’t popular. I’ve personally never heard of you? Does that automatically mean you aren’t popular?

Maybe if you see them live you will fully understand the talent and charisma of the band. Regardless just because you aren’t a fan doesn’t mean there aren’t a bunch of fans out there. I am not a fan of a lot of “popular” bands… that doesn’t mean they aren’t good in their own right. It just means it’s not my style of music.
Rosanne

I am a HUGE fan along with a bunch of people I have introduced their music to. I am sorry you don’t like the music and can’t appreciate why others would. I personally have seen the aww effect their music has given people. Even my 72 year old traditional Okinawan grandmother loves their music.

Just because you have never heard of them doesn’t mean they aren’t popular. I’ve personally never heard of you? Does that automatically mean you aren’t popular?

Maybe if you see them live you will fully understand the talent and charisma of the band. Regardless just because you aren’t a fan doesn’t mean there aren’t a bunch of fans out there. I am not a fan of a lot of “popular” bands… that doesn’t mean they aren’t good in their own right. It just means it’s not my style of music.
Cassandra

I heard about the Slants back at the end of January when our local OPB ran another version of this story – I was stoked! Being Asian American, their music resonates with me – and even if I wasn’t Asian, I would still think it was kick ass. Their music is great and they are so much fun live. It’s an added bonus that their sound, lyrics and name speak to Asian American identity. That’s not something that I’ve found a lot of in the world I live in. You may find their name offensive – I don’t. I think the point is to reclaim a word that’s hurled as an insult and make it something positive. The Slants are taking something that was meant to tear us down and using it to put themselves in the spotlight. I just can’t think that this is a negative thing – they’re making great music, paying the bills and getting Asians recognized.

I don’t know if what the earlier commenter said about their involvement in the Asian American community is true, but I do know that I saw them play a free show at one of our local library branches in the middle of the day and the crowd was pretty heavily young and Asian. I think this speaks to the fact that they are a positive force. It may seem like a small thing, but kids who see adults that look like them center stage, rocking out are influenced by that in an amazing way. Maybe it inspires them to make their own music or just gives them their first exposure to positive Asian role models in the arts. Either way, it’s a good thing.
Cassandra

I heard about the Slants back at the end of January when our local OPB ran another version of this story – I was stoked! Being Asian American, their music resonates with me – and even if I wasn’t Asian, I would still think it was kick ass. Their music is great and they are so much fun live. It’s an added bonus that their sound, lyrics and name speak to Asian American identity. That’s not something that I’ve found a lot of in the world I live in. You may find their name offensive – I don’t. I think the point is to reclaim a word that’s hurled as an insult and make it something positive. The Slants are taking something that was meant to tear us down and using it to put themselves in the spotlight. I just can’t think that this is a negative thing – they’re making great music, paying the bills and getting Asians recognized.

I don’t know if what the earlier commenter said about their involvement in the Asian American community is true, but I do know that I saw them play a free show at one of our local library branches in the middle of the day and the crowd was pretty heavily young and Asian. I think this speaks to the fact that they are a positive force. It may seem like a small thing, but kids who see adults that look like them center stage, rocking out are influenced by that in an amazing way. Maybe it inspires them to make their own music or just gives them their first exposure to positive Asian role models in the arts. Either way, it’s a good thing.
Eonyoo

No offense but I think you’re trying to mooch off of the Slants at the moment hahaha.
Looking around at your blogs, this is the only blog that surpassed five comments. how said. Happy that the Slants are giving you some publicity?

I’m a Slants fan. They give off music to encourage those who weren’t the typical boy or girl that fit in. And yet you’re ridiculing that by saying they’re not “that great”. And who do you think you are? man… show some pride in being Asian. I’m sorry if YOU never got made fun of for your chinky eyes and yellow skin but there are several of us that did. So show some respect. and how old are you? you look pretty darn old enough.
Eonyoo

No offense but I think you’re trying to mooch off of the Slants at the moment hahaha.
Looking around at your blogs, this is the only blog that surpassed five comments. how said. Happy that the Slants are giving you some publicity?

I’m a Slants fan. They give off music to encourage those who weren’t the typical boy or girl that fit in. And yet you’re ridiculing that by saying they’re not “that great”. And who do you think you are? man… show some pride in being Asian. I’m sorry if YOU never got made fun of for your chinky eyes and yellow skin but there are several of us that did. So show some respect. and how old are you? you look pretty darn old enough.
http://www.thefighting44s.com jaehwan

Eonyoo,

Um…so John said that he thought their music wasn’t so great, and you chastise him to “show some pride in being Asian?” What does his musical tastes have to do with his Asian pride? Maybe he just doesn’t like them. Isn’t a guy entitled to judge whether something is good or bad without having his ethnic identity called into question?

By the way, I heard them too, and I agree with John.
http://www.thefighting44s.com jaehwan

Eonyoo,

Um…so John said that he thought their music wasn’t so great, and you chastise him to “show some pride in being Asian?” What does his musical tastes have to do with his Asian pride? Maybe he just doesn’t like them. Isn’t a guy entitled to judge whether something is good or bad without having his ethnic identity called into question?

By the way, I heard them too, and I agree with John.
Another Gaijin

In all fairness to John, his only original contribution was that “Personally, I’ve never heard of The Slants until tonight, and thought it odd that NPR did profile them, considering I don’t think that they are that great. Let me know if you think the same…”

I think you guys are being a little rough on him.
Ok, so…
1. Now he’s heard of them. Not many non-AmerOtaku have, let’s face it!
2. He thought it was “odd that NPR profiled them” since *he* didn’t “think they [were] that great.”
Well, I didn’t realize NPR used John’s musical tastes as their criteria for selecting bands to profile… I thought it was more that they were *news-worthy* in that they were (mostly) AA’s re-purposing their derogatory label and rendering it powerless through their music and popularity.
3. He then asked if we “felt the same.”
Hmmm… well, I guess not!

PS: I whole-heartedly have to agree with Ernie on one thing…
*** AnimeCon fans scare me too!!! ***
And I’m an old-skool otaku! (and we’re talking “Macross”, “Bubble Gum Crisis” and “Fist of the North Star” old skool here. I was anime when anime wasn;t cool!)
Another Gaijin

In all fairness to John, his only original contribution was that “Personally, I’ve never heard of The Slants until tonight, and thought it odd that NPR did profile them, considering I don’t think that they are that great. Let me know if you think the same…”

I think you guys are being a little rough on him.
Ok, so…
1. Now he’s heard of them. Not many non-AmerOtaku have, let’s face it!
2. He thought it was “odd that NPR profiled them” since *he* didn’t “think they [were] that great.”
Well, I didn’t realize NPR used John’s musical tastes as their criteria for selecting bands to profile… I thought it was more that they were *news-worthy* in that they were (mostly) AA’s re-purposing their derogatory label and rendering it powerless through their music and popularity.
3. He then asked if we “felt the same.”
Hmmm… well, I guess not!

PS: I whole-heartedly have to agree with Ernie on one thing…
*** AnimeCon fans scare me too!!! ***
And I’m an old-skool otaku! (and we’re talking “Macross”, “Bubble Gum Crisis” and “Fist of the North Star” old skool here. I was anime when anime wasn;t cool!)
http://www.8asians.com John

I played a few songs on The Slants’ MySpace and I just didn’t think they weer all that great. Music is subjective. Plus, I didn’t quite hear any of the lyrics in the songs that were supposed to be about Asian-American alienation. I posted about The Slants because I thought people would be interested.
http://www.8asians.com John

I played a few songs on The Slants’ MySpace and I just didn’t think they weer all that great. Music is subjective. Plus, I didn’t quite hear any of the lyrics in the songs that were supposed to be about Asian-American alienation. I posted about The Slants because I thought people would be interested.

8 Asians