Playing "What Are You Anyways?"

Dossier

All Mixed Up Subscribe

“Mixed up” refers to the notions of blending identities and transgressing cultural norms...

We are pleased to present this dossier on the subject of mixed-race identity, originally curated by filmmaker Anne Marie Nakagawa.

“Mixed up” refers to the notions of blending identities and transgressing cultural norms, shifting the trajectory of where individuals without the traditional Canadian (or American) plus-one-ethnic-identity choose to locate themselves in a sea of social and political contradictions.

For a country that prides itself in being “multicultural,” there still appears to be difficulty in understanding and accepting a person of mixed racial and cultural decent as “Canadian,” especially if one of their heritages falls into the category of “visible minority.”

What is your opinion on this issue? Contribute comments and/or media on this topic now!

Film

"What Are You Anyways?"

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Contributed by Jeff Chiba Stearns

Length: 10 min 42 sec

License: National Film Board license (non-exclusive, in perpetuity)

Year of Production: 2005

Director:

Jeff Chiba Stearns

Producer:

Ruth Vincent

Follow the adventures of the Super Nip as filmmaker Jeff Chiba Stearns explores his cultural backgrounds growing up a mix of Japanese and Caucasian in a small white-bread Canadian city. This short classically animated film looks at particular periods in Jeff’s life where he battled with finding an identity being a half minority - from his childhood origins to the epic showdown against the monster truck drivin’ redneck crew. “What Are You Anyways?” is a humorous yet serious story of struggle and love and finding one’s identity through the trials and tribulations of growing up.

Comments

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Effecting real change is

by Nancy Alcorn

Thu, 12/08/2011 - 11:26

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I could really identify with

by Carol

Sun, 06/12/2011 - 23:10

I could really identify with a lot of the things you felt growing up. I am full jamaican but was raisesd in a mainly caucaisin/ native canadian city( really a town of 40,000). I would occaisionally be treated different but I always said I was Canadian, not wanting to recognize my Jamaican side because of what I was always taught .

I too have never wanted to date within my race and I never understood why. I tried to explain to friends that it was lkie kissing my Dad or brothers... no one ever got it! I always hated answerring the stupid questions about "body types" and appendiges as well!!! lol

It was very refreshing to see that you were able to embrace those aspects of who you REALLY are and found peace and love!!

Good luck in all your endeavors! I will be a fan for life!

Awesome

by David Schmelzinger

Thu, 04/07/2011 - 04:08

Great film! Really enjoyed it! Being hapa (Half Korean and Half Caucasian) I really identified with a lot of the experiences you had. Looking forward to more of your films!

Excellent

by Robert Carter

Wed, 09/08/2010 - 21:57

Being a Hapa myself, there was so much I identified with in this film. I had the same experience when I dated an Asian girl--I felt like I was kissing my mother. And in my black and white high school yearbook photo, I definitely look Latino.