I'm going to start off with Star Trek because the comment that got my thoughts rolling around to kind of coalesce is this one.
John Cho on Star Trek made me happy because OMG AN ASIAN GUY IS ON TV! But his extremely awesome swordfight action scene was tempered a little by 'Fencing? What?'. Because when I think of fencing, I think of a rapier. Wikipedia tells me that there are three types of weapon associated with fencing, and a cursory glance at helpful Wiki pictures assures me that they are all extremely thin blades for lightness and rapidity of movement. When Sulu's weapon unfolded, it was light, but it had a flat, broad blade. Given that his name is Hikaru Sulu (and because I love Rurouni Kenshin like burning), I associated it immediately with the katana. Possibly fencing as a sport has evolved in the future to the point where blades such as Sulu's weapon are considered legal, but to a current audience, fencing is a Western sport, white in particular due to its European roots.
( My song choice is ironic, but mostly I chose it because it's surprisingly energising )
John Cho on Star Trek made me happy because OMG AN ASIAN GUY IS ON TV! But his extremely awesome swordfight action scene was tempered a little by 'Fencing? What?'. Because when I think of fencing, I think of a rapier. Wikipedia tells me that there are three types of weapon associated with fencing, and a cursory glance at helpful Wiki pictures assures me that they are all extremely thin blades for lightness and rapidity of movement. When Sulu's weapon unfolded, it was light, but it had a flat, broad blade. Given that his name is Hikaru Sulu (and because I love Rurouni Kenshin like burning), I associated it immediately with the katana. Possibly fencing as a sport has evolved in the future to the point where blades such as Sulu's weapon are considered legal, but to a current audience, fencing is a Western sport, white in particular due to its European roots.
( My song choice is ironic, but mostly I chose it because it's surprisingly energising )
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