Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Starbucks in China is becoming huge. 500 shops in China, and they’re doing better than shops in the US in terms of profit. Yes, labor and material has to be much cheaper for this to be so, if it’s also written that its sales are considerably lower! They can also charge more in China. According to USA Today, “Carrying a Starbucks cup is seen as a status symbol, a way to demonstrate sophistication and the capability to afford a personal luxury for the up-and-coming middle class in China.” (USA Today – Starbucks) No matter how it’s working, it’s actually becoming a bigger success as compared to many fast food outlets who focused on speed and efficiency over comfort and luxury – which is what some of China wants.
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The Chinky Eyes are fine sometimes, when done by an Asian or Asian American, but not okay when it happens at Starbucks. It happened in Georgia to two Korean customers as reported in Angryasianman. This becomes part of the “N-Word” issue. Who says it? When is it okay? The N Word – the variety with the “a” at the end has crossed borders and it says behind closed doors with some racist overtones. Perhaps from it being used by Denzel Washington to hip hoppers everywhere. The chinky eyed character. Is it now ok? Is it not? Is it ok if it’s done behind closed doors? Does anyone want to draw this anyway? Or is it only in malice or racism? It’s a topic that’s not up for debate, but in a short amount of time, it’s appeared in two different contexts. One, okay as it appeared in media everywhere and another Starbucks that’s not ok. It’s all about the intention and it’s important to know that humor might not transcend the lines of perceived racism.
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