ALIST_Anniversary2017_Final (2)

E ENTERTAINMENT
THINGS ASIAN LIKE:
YOUTUBE COMEDIANS
THE FUNG BROTHERS
BY DANA TER
COURTESY OF THE FUNG BROTHERS
What do comedy, hip-hop and tasty Taiwanese
snacks have in common? According to
the Fung Brothers David and Andrew, the
answer is simple: everything. In 2011 the
brothers, who were raised in Seattle by Chinese
parents, moved to Los Angeles to produce
short, funny YouTube videos exploring
Asian American identity via food, music and
cultural stereotypes. Since then, they have
garnered quite a following, with their videos
generating millions of views.
“One of our goals is to keep Asian America
Asian,” they said. The brothers admitted
that although they are not Asian-American
studies experts, they enjoy “sparking discussion
and being thought-provoking.”
While they wished to educate Asian
Americans on their culture and heritage,
they wanted to do it in such a way that was
light-hearted and relatable. They naturally
turned to comedy since it was an integral part
of their growing up experience.
“We watched a lot of Simpsons, Conan
O’Brien, and David Letterman,” they said. “It
was important for us to consume a higher level
comedy from a young age.”
In addition, the brothers explained that
being involved in the Chinese church community
ensured that “every potluck was a
competition to see which parents made the
best food.”
The Fungs’ love for comedy, rap and food
is most evident in their music video “Asians
Eat Weird Things,” which has more than
one million views to date. Chowing down on
chicken feet, stinky tofu and pig intestines,
the brothers rap about “putting down that
bread” and boast that “I’ll probably win Fear
Factor.”
Despite being funny and light-hearted though, their rap is nevertheless a proclamation of
Asian-American pride and it is especially encouraging for those who were teased for
bringing kimchi or tofu to school for lunch.
28 | SUMMER 2014
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