Maddie James
Long Duk Dong is a fictional character in the 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles. Played by Japanese-American actor Gedde Watanabe, the character is a Chinese foreign exchange student and has been called an offensive stereotype of Asian people. Long Duk Dong has been described as pure comedy, with a gong sound accompanying his entrances and exits. His attempts at American catchphrases, such as Whass happenin', haaht stuff? and No more yankie my wankie. The Donger need food!, have been deemed both hilarious and offensive. The character's portrayal has been criticised for perpetuating stereotypes of Asian men as socially awkward, sexually inept, and perpetually foreign. Despite the controversy, Watanabe expressed that he had a great experience making the film but later recognised his naivety about the impact of his role.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the film | Sixteen Candles |
| Year of release | 1984 |
| Genre | Coming-of-age comedy |
| Long Duk Dong's character | Male foreign exchange student from China |
| Actor | Gedde Watanabe |
| Actor's ethnicity | Japanese-American |
| Gong | A gong sounds every time Dong enters a scene |
| Accent | Thick accent |
| American catchphrases | "Whass happenin', haaht stuff?" |
| Stereotype | Racist, socially awkward, sexually inept, and perpetually foreign |
| Dong's love interest | Marlene, an athletic and tall woman |
| Dong's famous lines | "No more yankie my wankie. The Donger need food!" |
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What You'll Learn
Long Duk Dong's character is a racist stereotype
Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, is a fictional character who appears in the 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles. The character has been called an offensive stereotype of Asian people. In the film, Long Duk Dong is a Chinese foreign exchange student who stays with the grandparents of the film's protagonist, Samantha. He appears accompanied by a gong sound and practices his conversational English with others. He has his hair parted down the middle, considered an "uncool" style, and is mystified by American food.
Long Duk Dong's character has been criticised as a racist caricature and a stereotype of Asian people. Asian-American groups have labelled the character as stereotypical and racist, perpetuating Hollywood's offensive depictions of Asian men. The character has been described as a stain on Hollywood's history of representing Asian characters.
The character's portrayal by Gedde Watanabe has been described as cringeworthy, with critics pointing out that the character reinforces negative tropes of Asian men as socially awkward, sexually inept, and perpetually foreign. Martin Wong and Eric Nakamura, co-founders of Giant Robot magazine, highlighted how "The Donger" became a common source of ridicule for Asian-American students during the 1980s. They also emphasised that the character embodies numerous negative stereotypes, portraying Asian men as "a guy who just came off a boat and who's out of control".
In defence of his portrayal, Watanabe acknowledged the criticism but also recognised the popularity of his character. He reflected on his experience, stating that he was “a bit naive” about his role and did not anticipate the impact it would have on people. Watanabe also shared that he received backlash for his role, with some Asian women expressing their anger and disappointment.
In conclusion, Long Duk Dong's character in Sixteen Candles has been widely criticised as a racist stereotype that perpetuates offensive depictions of Asian men. The character's portrayal has been deemed problematic, reinforcing negative tropes and providing a source of ridicule for Asian-American students. While Watanabe acknowledged the criticism, the impact of such portrayals underscores the need for more sensitive and nuanced representations of racial minorities in media and popular culture.
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Gedde Watanabe's portrayal and accent
Gedde Watanabe's portrayal of Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles has been described as cringeworthy and a racist stereotype. Watanabe, a Japanese-American actor, played a Chinese foreign exchange student with a heavy foreign accent and a penchant for mangling American catchphrases ("Whass happenin', haaht stuff?"). The character has been criticised for perpetuating offensive Asian stereotypes, such as the socially awkward, sexually inept, and perpetually foreign Asian man.
Watanabe has since acknowledged that some of the lines were problematic, but he maintains that he did not realise the character was an offensive stereotype at the time. He has stated that he was just acting in a comedic role and that there were limited opportunities for Asian actors in the 1980s. In an interview, he recalled:
> "I wasn't even sure I could even pull it off," [...] "But I had a friend who sort of sounded like him, and he helped me and let me listen to him and would talk with me, and then I went in and auditioned and got it."
Watanabe's portrayal of Long Duk Dong has had a lasting impact, with people still quoting the character's memorable lines to him decades later. While the character has been criticised for its negative portrayal of Asian men, others have defended Watanabe's performance, arguing that it was a spoof and no more offensive than other stereotypical characters of the time.
Watanabe's performance in Sixteen Candles led to a successful acting career, with roles in films like Volunteers and Gung Ho, and television shows like ER and The Simpsons. However, he has mostly stopped using exaggerated Asian accents for his roles, and he has expressed interest in exploring the history of the Japanese internment camps, which his mother experienced.
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Cringeworthy and offensive lines
Long Duk Dong, a fictional character in the 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles, has been widely criticised as a grotesque stereotype and a racist caricature of Asian people. Portrayed by Japanese-American actor Gedde Watanabe, the character is a Chinese foreign exchange student with a thick accent, who exists solely to deliver racist and offensive jokes. Here are some of his lines from the film that are considered cringeworthy and offensive:
"Whass happenin', haaht stuff?"
This is one of Long Duk Dong's first lines in the film, delivered while hanging upside down from a bunk bed to Molly Ringwald's Samantha. The line, with its exaggerated accent and suggestive tone, sets the tone for the character's portrayal as a comedic and exotic foreigner.
"No more yankie my wankie. The Donger need food!"
This line, delivered by a drunken Long Duk Dong, plays into the stereotype of Asians being unable to pronounce English words correctly. The use of "yankie my wankie" instead of "yank my crank" is meant to be humorous but comes across as cringeworthy and offensive.
"Ohhh, sexy girlfriend!... Bonzai!"
Here, Long Duk Dong objectifies his love interest, Marlene, referring to her as "sexy girlfriend" and exclaiming "Bonzai!" in a stereotypical and inappropriate manner. The line reduces Marlene to a sexual object and contributes to the character's portrayal as a lecherous foreigner.
"I call F.I.B.! I call police!"
In this scene, Long Duk Dong is confused and disoriented, struggling to communicate effectively. The line "I call F.I.B.!" is meant to be funny because of his mispronunciation of "FBI," but it also reinforces the stereotype of Asians as linguistically challenged and perpetually foreign.
"She got married... Married! Jeez!"
When Long Duk Dong learns that Samantha, the film's protagonist, has gotten married, his response is one of surprise and dismay. The exclamation "Married! Jeez!" implies a sense of cultural confusion, as if the concept of marriage is unfamiliar to him. This plays into the stereotype of Asians as socially awkward and unable to understand American social norms.
Long Duk Dong's character and these lines have been criticised for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and contributing to the marginalisation of Asian Americans in media. While the film may have been intended as a comedy, the character's portrayal has been deemed offensive and insensitive, reflecting the lack of cultural sensitivity prevalent in the entertainment industry during the 1980s.
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The Donger's love interest, Marlene
Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, is a Chinese foreign exchange student and a supporting character in the 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles. The character has been called an offensive stereotype of Asian people, embodying several negative stereotypes, including his exaggerated accent, comedic incompetence, and gong-accompanied entrances.
Dong's love interest in the film is Marlene, played by Debbie Pollack. Marlene is described as an athletic and "chesty" young woman who is physically larger than him. She is referred to as the ""new-style sexy American girlfriend" and "Lumberjack". Pollack's scenes with Watanabe often add comic relief to the film, such as the look of pride on her face when she heads into a party with Dong on her arm.
Marlene does not have a lot of screen time, but she still plays a memorable role in the film. In one scene, Dong and Marlene are in bed smoking, but this scene was cut from the final version of the movie. In another scene, Dong hooks up with Marlene, who is either a giant student or a gym teacher.
The character of Long Duk Dong has been criticised for perpetuating racist and offensive stereotypes of Asian people, particularly men. The character has been described as a grotesque stereotype and a stain on Hollywood's history of representing Asian characters. The filmmakers' portrayal of the relationship between Dong and Marlene has also been criticised for presenting Dong's femininity as a source of weakness and laughter.
Despite the controversy surrounding the character, Watanabe has expressed that he had a great experience making Sixteen Candles and that he recognises the popularity of his character.
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The character's legacy and impact
Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, is a Chinese foreign exchange student in the 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles. The character has been criticised for perpetuating offensive stereotypes of Asian people, particularly Asian men.
Watanabe, a Japanese-American actor, has since acknowledged the problematic nature of the character, saying that he was “a bit naive” about his role at the time. He recalled that he “didn't realise how it was going to affect people” and that he only wanted “to make people laugh”. Watanabe also noted the scarcity of roles for Asian actors at the time, which influenced his perspective on the role.
The character's exaggerated accent, bumbled attempts at American catchphrases, and comedic incompetence contributed to a lasting cultural legacy of mockery for Asian-American men. "The Donger" became a common source of ridicule for Asian-American students during the 1980s, reinforcing tropes of Asian men as socially awkward, sexually inept, and perpetually foreign.
Despite the criticism, some viewers found the character entertaining, and Watanabe's performance has been described as “pure comedy”. Additionally, the character's impact sparked conversations about Asian representation in media and the evolving opportunities for minority actors.
In conclusion, Long Duk Dong's legacy is complex, leaving a mark on both the entertainment industry and Asian-American communities. While some found the character humorous, others experienced its portrayal and the subsequent mockery in their daily lives as harmful. The character's impact highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and the power of media in shaping societal perceptions.
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Frequently asked questions
Long Duk Dong says things like, "No more yankie my wankie. The Donger need food!", "Ohhh, sexy girlfriend!... Bonzai!", "What's happenin', hot stuff?", "Very clever dinner. Appetizing food fit neatly into interesting round pie", and "Hello? Jeez, this place is so confusing".
Long Duk Dong is a fictional character who is a Chinese foreign exchange student staying with the grandparents of the film's protagonist, Samantha.
The gong sound is used to accompany Long Duk Dong's entrances and emphasise his comedic role in the film.
The actor Gedde Watanabe played Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles. Watanabe is Japanese-American and based his portrayal of Long Duk Dong on a friend with a thick Korean accent.
The portrayal of Long Duk Dong has been criticised as a racist and offensive stereotype of Asian people. The character has been described as cringeworthy and reinforcing negative tropes of Asian men as socially awkward and sexually inept. However, the character has also been defended as providing comedic value.
