Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the famous martial artist Bruce Lee’s death in 1973, fans are holding martial arts exhibitions and seminars in Hong Kong this week.
The star was a pioneer for Asian men in Hollywood at a time when racist stereotypes were the norm. Lee pointed out that Asian men are not just servants or villains.
Born in San Francisco, Lee spent his childhood in Hong Kong before continuing his education in the United States. He taught martial arts and scored small roles in Hollywood before getting the role of Kato in the TV series “The Green Hornet”.
He had his breakthrough after returning to Hong Kong with the lead role in the martial arts film “Great Boss”, which made him a household name throughout Asia after its release in 1971.
The following year saw two more box office hits, “Fist of Fury” and “The Way of the Dragon,” cementing Lee’s image as a relentless, lightning-fast fighter.
His death at the age of 32 in 1973 was due to brain swelling, believed to be an adverse reaction to pain medication. He’s just finished his fourth big movie, “Enter the Dragon,” and is halfway through his fifth film.
Film scholar Aaron Han Joon Magnan-Park, who taught Lee’s films at the University of Hong Kong, said Lee has shown a kind of Chinese identity that transcends national borders. “ Bruce Lee is a model of success in soft speaking – Chinese power with Hong Kong characteristics,” he said.
The scenes where he goes barefoot and flexes his muscles are important as they show how the ripped body can also belong to Asian heroes.
“He makes Asian men sexy, and that’s something that I think hasn’t been talked about enough,” Magnan-Park said.
