“Dear Non-Asian Writer”
Stacey Lee is a young adult fiction writer and blogger for Hyphen Magazine. More importantly, she is an Asian American blogger. Lee writes about the small nuances of Asian representation in the media, especially, in books that are either dismissed or forgotten when written about by the “non-Asian writer.” As an Asian writer herself, she writes from the experience as a producer and a consumer of literature and shows special sensitivity to the portrayal of Asians. Lee, clearly passionate about the art of writing and the importance of ethnic portrayal for the preservance of cultural accuracy, takes a very sarcastic and extroverted approach in addressing all the non-Asian writers that attempt to portray the Asian character.
As a guest blogger for Hyphen Magazine, a magazine about “Asian America unabridged,” Lee approaches the arts & culture and the Asian role within this space with commitment. Lee is unapologetically sarcastic and bitingly witty to those she sees to be “ridiculing” or “badmouthing” Asian races. At times, she’s passive-aggressive, but she uses this as a tool to drive across a point: non-Asian writers have to be aware of the experiences and the fine nuances of being Asian, in order for their Asian characters to accurately portray and understand the sentiments of being Asian.
We don’t find her blogging often, with posts as more of a yearly occurrence than anything. However, the few posts she has is very telling about who Stacy Lee is and what she is passionate about. A bulleted list of “things that push Stacey’s buttons” convey the sassy persona that envelops her blog and her writing style. The preceding blog, or review, portrays her inherent passion for writing and the meaning of characterization to her as an Asian American writer.
Her blogging style is detailed and meticulous, but not in a way that neglects to address the opportunities for humor and light-hearted aspects of blogging. She mentions the prevalence of “magic vaginas” and “gold diggers” found in the presentation of Asian American females, and though this is humorous, holds a deeper meaning in the issue of representation. Lee finely weaves two narratives of seriousness and playfulness to convey a concept that strikes both cultural and social significance.
Naturally, Lee’s blog is sometimes met with contention, perhaps lending to the blogging style loaded with sarcasm. With commenters both supporting and arguing the points Lee makes, it is clear that Lee straddles a divisive line that can potentially polarize her readership. Her outspokenness offends others as speaking on behalf of a race. Her lack of censorship shocks as unrefined and uneloquent writing. At the end of they day, Stacy Lee is an advocate for fair representation in media. Whether it may be Asians in literature or African Americans in film, the issue of representation is a singular conversation. Stacy Lee presents herself as one part of an organization that strives for the same goals.
Through her writing style and her point to convey the importance of this issue to her, it is made obvious that she doesn’t write to please an audience but to educate them. Her blog serves as her platform.
