Comments on: Sorry Miss Saigon, You Suck. Actually I’m not sorry.

By: Stacie

Stacie — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:48:48 +0000

I think it’s silly to put so much effort into hating Miss Saigon. There are plenty of shows out there that I have to role my eyes over and shake my head, wondering how the heck people enjoy “that crap”. But it only goes as far as rolling my eyes and shaking my head. First of all…Art being a profession is nothing new (Eric). Art has been a profession since the 18th century at the very very very very earliest.
I don’t believe Miss Saigon is an amazing musical. But I don’t think it’s as terrible as you’re claiming…though whether or not it’s good at all is one person’s opinion. I do not like the fact that it basically threw out the story of Madam Butterfly, yet stuck to the very basic plot line of it (barely). However, the story is focusing on two people and their story. The story can be fit into any time period and any war. So of course, the war IS a minor detail to Miss Saigon, as it should be. In fact, the Vietnam war was probably the best setting to place this story in because Saigon was FILLED with these types of situations…
So no. The story is not as great as it should be. But it doesn’t deserve a huge bashing against it. I just think it’s funny that people waist their time complaining and working against a beautiful love story, when there’s sooo much more out there that we should be fighting against. Why can’t we except the fact that sometimes, a story is meant for entertainment, and not all facts have to line up with every little detail?

And as for what passes for art these days, I WISH Miss Saigon was what was passing as such. Instead we have rap music and profain crap on tv that is passing for art.

By: Dung

Dung — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:33:30 +0000

What kills me is that so many Asian Americans (women especially) love this show. They don’t seem to care about the context, as long as the love story somehow involves a cute Asian girl and cute white guy. I’ve even seen Vietnamese restaurants named “Miss Saigon.” *puke*

Hey Giles, I saw the great slideshow you had about this a while back. Do you still have it online somewhere?

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:05:39 +0000

(This is Eric C. from Emerson/now NYU):
The Miss Saigon phenomenon might make at least an iota of sense if the issue that’s played up in the end of the musical (abandoned hapa children throughout Vietnam, to say nothing of East Asia writ large) for emotional weight/gravitas was actually something the producers cared about. But no – musical theater is such a huge (and relevant…?) investment altogether, they can’t possible devote any profits to, oh, I don’t know. Pearl S. Buck International, or some other fairly well-known charity.
I watched a Korean production of it back home and it was pretty disheartening, to say the least. Not to mention confusing as hell (couldn’t tell who was supposed to be white at some points).
Anyway. I totally agree. Personally, if Miss Saigon is what passes for “art” nowadays, I think my plans to immigrate to Denmark are going to have to be sped up a bit.

…And since when has art become a profession?

By: Bao

Bao — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:40:48 +0000

professionals = wealthy well-connected amateurs with agendas.

By: giles

giles — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:21:49 +0000

When we did our response show, we got an email or a message board comment saying “art should be made by professionals, not amateurs with agendas!”

HAHAHAHA!

oh this racism is killing me inside.

By: Bao

Bao — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:48:13 +0000

Yeah, a lot of people will disagree with you re: Miss Saigon sucking. That’s because a lot of people are stupid.

The two most popular Vietnamese people in America are probably Tila Tequila and the dude who wrote the Patriot Act. And whatever actress happens to be playing Miss Saigon at the moment, Viet or otherwise. Ain’t that a shame.

Some of the stupidest, ugliest stuff i’ve ever encountered was during the times I’ve protested this bullshit ass play. If this is the greatest love story of our time, please somebody get me a time machine so I can travel back in time and kill it and do everybody a favor.

Plays like this make me hate people.