Asian/Asian American Representation in Film
Frances Granlund
Index
History of Representation
Sixteen Candles
Crazy Rich Asians
Conclusion
Sources
History of Representation
"Stereotypes utilize simple forms of thinking and save us from more complex thinking"
Chiung Hwang Chen
Index
History of Representation
Discrimination in the West
The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943) restricted Chinese immigration into the United States, fueling the fear and uncertainty surrounding Eastern cultures, and providing legal means in which to discriminate and exclude Asian (specifically the Chinese) immigrants based on their race, and where they came from. Exclusionary measures were expanded to impact those from Japan, Vietnam, India and Korea in the Immigration Act of 1924, which caused anti-Asian sentiments to spread even further. Throughout the 20th century, the occurrence of World War II (1939-1945) and Japanese Internment Camps in the United States and the Vietnam War (1955-1975) stoked racism and violence against Asian and Asian American communities through fear and resentment. During all this time in the western world, Asian stereotypes were spread through literature and film.
Index
History of Representation
Common Stereotypes in Film
Since the beginning of film, harmful Asian stereotypes have been used as a source of visual entertainment including:
- “yellow peril” is a violent and depraved depiction of Asian characters, fueled by the hatred and fear those in the United States held for Chinese immigrants, who were viewed as thieves and immoral people who took jobs and wages from white workers.
- The “dragon lady” is a sexualized, submissive and dangerous character with no morals, and a willingness to obey their authority figure
- The “model minority” is a stereotype depicting Asian characters as perfect citizens, almost to a fault. It shows characters of above average intelligence with a do-good attitude that usually places them in opposition to the main authority figure.
- The “scotch tape” stereotype (more common in current times) is an overly excessive depiction of Asians used for comedic relief. It exaggerates things such as accents and cultural aspects for entertainment value. Many of the roles are portrayed by non-Asian actors (yellow face).
Index
Sixteen Candles
The 1984 comedy Sixteen Candles is an example of how harmful Asian stereotypes have been used in film just for comedic relief. The character Long Duk Dong is portrayed as a dorky, nerdy, socially awkward Chinese exchange student. Although he is a supporting character, the role played by Gedde Watanabe still has a major impact on how Asian stereotypes were used in movies. His mannerisms, his way of speaking, dressing, his relationships and interactions with other characters and even his name are overly exaggerated to fit his role as a comic relief character. It is entertainment at the expense of the Asian community. It is a depiction that ultimately dehumanizes the character, who inevitably casts a shadow over the many minority communities he is meant to represent.
Picture Credit: https://whatculture.com/film/15-most-offensive-movie-characters?page=2
Index
Sixteen Candles
“Although his role is meant to be comedic, the audience is not laughing with him, but at him and his seemingly backward, socially inept ways” (Paner 19). The character, and ultimately the portrayal of Asian stereotypes are essentially the “butt of the joke”. He is an example of the most common modern portrayal of Asian male characters, and perpetuates ideas about Asian and Asian American communities that can still be found in more modern media. In the movie, Long Duk Dong’s personality and actions are a great example of the portrayal of “the sexless Asian male… If an Asian man is involved in a romantic relationship, it is frequently portrayed in a comedic fashion” (Luther 125). His relationship with the character Lumberjack is shown in an ingenuine way that diminishes the integrity of the character further. The reversed gender roles between Long Duk Dong and his love interest nicknamed Lumberjack is used to reinforce the “sexless Asian man” stereotype, which illustrates the Asian character as a "loser" with no ability to grow emotionally. The character Long Duk Dong is an example of how Asian communities have been historically diminished in films and presented as unaware, goofy and emotionally lacking.
Picture Credit: https://mattlynndigital.wordpress.com/2021/11/24/molly-ringwald-anthony-michael-hall-and-michael-schoeffling-in-the-john-hughes-movie-sixteen-candles/
Index
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians, which was released in 2018, has had a huge influence on how Asian communities are represented in the film industry. Not only did it feature a predominantly Asian cast, it helped to break down common stereotypes like those found in Sixteen Candles. Instead of showing the racist and one-dimensional portrayals the movie industry traditionally produced, it focused on the humanity of the characters, while incorporating their heritage into the story.
“Asian and Asian American representations have been quite narrow and have been extreme in nature”(Luther 119). Movies have depicted many Asian stereotypes that are dehumanizing and cast a shadow on Asian and Asian American communities. Hollywood has used the classic dorky Asian comic relief character for decades, which has caused the western world to view different Asian communities in a one-dimensional way. Crazy Rich Asians differs from Sixteen Candles in this way as it does not rely on the stereotype of the dorky, emotionally stagnant Asian comic relief character. Instead, it shows Asian characters in positions of power and respect, with the ability to influence their peers and develop through their experiences.
Picture Credit: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988/
Index
Crazy Rich Asians
The main character, Rachel Chu, portrayed by Constance Wu, is a Chinese American professor of Economics who was raised by a single immigrant mother. Her love interest Nick Young, played by Henry Golding, and his family are from Singapore, and are incredibly wealthy and high class. Through Rachel and Nick’s relationship and their interactions with Nick’s family and friends, Asian and Asian American communities are represented in the film through the portrayal of deep emotional connections and real-world problems that have not been traditionally portrayed through Asian characters in film. One noticable difference between the Asian representation in Sixteen Candles and Crazy Rich Asians is how Long Duk Dong and Nick Young differ. Nick's character and his romantic relationship with Rachel directly challenges the "sexless Asian male" stereotype Long Duk Dong embodies. Nick and Rachel's interraction throughout the movie break down the stereotype by portraying their romance in a serious light, with relatable struggles and character growth. Instead of using the relationship for comedic effect, it not only shows a very real version of love, but is also the center of the movie, which is much different from how Long Duk Dong and Lunberjack's relationship is shown.
Picture Credit: https://www.theringer.com/2018/8/17/17705508/how-crazy-rich-asians-director-jon-m-chu-earned-his-spot
Index
Crazy Rich Asians
“Beyond the actors in Crazy Rich Asians being diverse in more ways than one, they also portray a deep humanity of the characters through their individual hopes, dreams, relationship problems, and longing for love and acceptance, creating a more fleshed out and truer representation of Asians in the real world” (“Asian Representation in Film: The Impact of Crazy Rich Asians”). Although the movie deals with characters of both lower and higher social classes, it is a story that is relatable, which is what makes it so powerful. The emotions and situations within the film are complex and deep, which allows the audience to connect with the characters and see past the “normal” one-dimensional Asian character stereotypes. It pushes past films such as Sixteen Candles that demean and minimize those of Asian descent and allow for them to be viewed in a very human and visible way.
Picture Credit: https://www.wmagazine.com/story/crazy-rich-asians-cast-movie
Picture Credit: https://www.eater.com/2018/8/17/17724242/dumplings-crazy-rich-asians
Index
Conclusion
Although there has been a significant evolution in the way Asian and Asian American communities have been portrayed in film, there is still room for growth. “Crazy Rich Asians and even Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings… display the lack of growth in the movie industry. Instead of fighting racist tropes, they repackage them” (Hong 1). Even though many barriers were broken in Crazy Rich Asians, such as portraying Asian characters in an emotionally complex way, showcasing the humanity that is lacking in films such as Sixteen Candles, many harmful stereotypes are still reinforced. One of which is of the domineering Asian parent and submissive child. This reinforces the cliché still common in film that Asian children are dutiful and live to fulfil their parents wishes, which negatively impacts society’s view of the dynamic of Asian family life and presents Asian parents in a negative light. Crazy Rich Asians also reinforces the greedy high class Asian stereotype with selfish tendencies. This is harmful to Asian and Asian American communities because it depicts success within these groups as something that compromises morals and harms others. These images, as well as other stereotypes are still being used in the film industry, and audiences are being presented with Asian characters and stories that have a negative impact on the communities they are meant to represent. Racist images targeting Asian and Asian American communities within movies still need to be addressed. Misrepresentation in media has played a part in the growth of Anti-Asian violence, especially since the beginning of the pandemic, in which Asian groups were targeted due to the spread of COVID-19. One way to combat Anti-Asian sentiments and actions is through proper representation in movies and other media. Stories written and told by those who are a part of the Asian and Asian American communities will help to humanize those who have traditionally been affected by the caricature presented in the film industry, and will actively combat the use of stereotypes both in media and in social interractions.
Index
Sources
“Asian Representation in Film: The Impact of 'Crazy Rich Asians'.” Student Resources, 9 Nov. 2021, https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/asian-representation-crazy-rich-asians/.
Christie Hong Opinion October 13, 2021, et al. “Asian American Representation in Cinema More Harmful than Helpful.” The Campanile, 14 Oct. 2021, https://thecampanile.org/2021/10/13/asian-american-representation-in-cinema-more-harmful-than-helpful/.
Chu, Jon M, director. Crazy Rich Asians.
Hughes, John, director. Sixteen Candles.
Luther, Catherine A., et al. Diversity in US Mass Media. Wiley Blackwell, 2018.
Paner, Isabel. “Dominican Scholar: Dominican University of California.” Site, https://scholar.dominican.edu/.
Index
Asian/Asian American Representation in Film
Frances Granlund
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Transcript
Asian/Asian American Representation in Film
Frances Granlund
Index
History of Representation
Sixteen Candles
Crazy Rich Asians
Conclusion
Sources
History of Representation
"Stereotypes utilize simple forms of thinking and save us from more complex thinking"
Chiung Hwang Chen
Index
History of Representation
Discrimination in the West
The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943) restricted Chinese immigration into the United States, fueling the fear and uncertainty surrounding Eastern cultures, and providing legal means in which to discriminate and exclude Asian (specifically the Chinese) immigrants based on their race, and where they came from. Exclusionary measures were expanded to impact those from Japan, Vietnam, India and Korea in the Immigration Act of 1924, which caused anti-Asian sentiments to spread even further. Throughout the 20th century, the occurrence of World War II (1939-1945) and Japanese Internment Camps in the United States and the Vietnam War (1955-1975) stoked racism and violence against Asian and Asian American communities through fear and resentment. During all this time in the western world, Asian stereotypes were spread through literature and film.
Index
History of Representation
Common Stereotypes in Film
Since the beginning of film, harmful Asian stereotypes have been used as a source of visual entertainment including:
Index
Sixteen Candles
The 1984 comedy Sixteen Candles is an example of how harmful Asian stereotypes have been used in film just for comedic relief. The character Long Duk Dong is portrayed as a dorky, nerdy, socially awkward Chinese exchange student. Although he is a supporting character, the role played by Gedde Watanabe still has a major impact on how Asian stereotypes were used in movies. His mannerisms, his way of speaking, dressing, his relationships and interactions with other characters and even his name are overly exaggerated to fit his role as a comic relief character. It is entertainment at the expense of the Asian community. It is a depiction that ultimately dehumanizes the character, who inevitably casts a shadow over the many minority communities he is meant to represent.
Picture Credit: https://whatculture.com/film/15-most-offensive-movie-characters?page=2
Index
Sixteen Candles
“Although his role is meant to be comedic, the audience is not laughing with him, but at him and his seemingly backward, socially inept ways” (Paner 19). The character, and ultimately the portrayal of Asian stereotypes are essentially the “butt of the joke”. He is an example of the most common modern portrayal of Asian male characters, and perpetuates ideas about Asian and Asian American communities that can still be found in more modern media. In the movie, Long Duk Dong’s personality and actions are a great example of the portrayal of “the sexless Asian male… If an Asian man is involved in a romantic relationship, it is frequently portrayed in a comedic fashion” (Luther 125). His relationship with the character Lumberjack is shown in an ingenuine way that diminishes the integrity of the character further. The reversed gender roles between Long Duk Dong and his love interest nicknamed Lumberjack is used to reinforce the “sexless Asian man” stereotype, which illustrates the Asian character as a "loser" with no ability to grow emotionally. The character Long Duk Dong is an example of how Asian communities have been historically diminished in films and presented as unaware, goofy and emotionally lacking.
Picture Credit: https://mattlynndigital.wordpress.com/2021/11/24/molly-ringwald-anthony-michael-hall-and-michael-schoeffling-in-the-john-hughes-movie-sixteen-candles/
Index
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians, which was released in 2018, has had a huge influence on how Asian communities are represented in the film industry. Not only did it feature a predominantly Asian cast, it helped to break down common stereotypes like those found in Sixteen Candles. Instead of showing the racist and one-dimensional portrayals the movie industry traditionally produced, it focused on the humanity of the characters, while incorporating their heritage into the story. “Asian and Asian American representations have been quite narrow and have been extreme in nature”(Luther 119). Movies have depicted many Asian stereotypes that are dehumanizing and cast a shadow on Asian and Asian American communities. Hollywood has used the classic dorky Asian comic relief character for decades, which has caused the western world to view different Asian communities in a one-dimensional way. Crazy Rich Asians differs from Sixteen Candles in this way as it does not rely on the stereotype of the dorky, emotionally stagnant Asian comic relief character. Instead, it shows Asian characters in positions of power and respect, with the ability to influence their peers and develop through their experiences.
Picture Credit: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988/
Index
Crazy Rich Asians
The main character, Rachel Chu, portrayed by Constance Wu, is a Chinese American professor of Economics who was raised by a single immigrant mother. Her love interest Nick Young, played by Henry Golding, and his family are from Singapore, and are incredibly wealthy and high class. Through Rachel and Nick’s relationship and their interactions with Nick’s family and friends, Asian and Asian American communities are represented in the film through the portrayal of deep emotional connections and real-world problems that have not been traditionally portrayed through Asian characters in film. One noticable difference between the Asian representation in Sixteen Candles and Crazy Rich Asians is how Long Duk Dong and Nick Young differ. Nick's character and his romantic relationship with Rachel directly challenges the "sexless Asian male" stereotype Long Duk Dong embodies. Nick and Rachel's interraction throughout the movie break down the stereotype by portraying their romance in a serious light, with relatable struggles and character growth. Instead of using the relationship for comedic effect, it not only shows a very real version of love, but is also the center of the movie, which is much different from how Long Duk Dong and Lunberjack's relationship is shown.
Picture Credit: https://www.theringer.com/2018/8/17/17705508/how-crazy-rich-asians-director-jon-m-chu-earned-his-spot
Index
Crazy Rich Asians
“Beyond the actors in Crazy Rich Asians being diverse in more ways than one, they also portray a deep humanity of the characters through their individual hopes, dreams, relationship problems, and longing for love and acceptance, creating a more fleshed out and truer representation of Asians in the real world” (“Asian Representation in Film: The Impact of Crazy Rich Asians”). Although the movie deals with characters of both lower and higher social classes, it is a story that is relatable, which is what makes it so powerful. The emotions and situations within the film are complex and deep, which allows the audience to connect with the characters and see past the “normal” one-dimensional Asian character stereotypes. It pushes past films such as Sixteen Candles that demean and minimize those of Asian descent and allow for them to be viewed in a very human and visible way.
Picture Credit: https://www.wmagazine.com/story/crazy-rich-asians-cast-movie
Picture Credit: https://www.eater.com/2018/8/17/17724242/dumplings-crazy-rich-asians
Index
Conclusion
Although there has been a significant evolution in the way Asian and Asian American communities have been portrayed in film, there is still room for growth. “Crazy Rich Asians and even Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings… display the lack of growth in the movie industry. Instead of fighting racist tropes, they repackage them” (Hong 1). Even though many barriers were broken in Crazy Rich Asians, such as portraying Asian characters in an emotionally complex way, showcasing the humanity that is lacking in films such as Sixteen Candles, many harmful stereotypes are still reinforced. One of which is of the domineering Asian parent and submissive child. This reinforces the cliché still common in film that Asian children are dutiful and live to fulfil their parents wishes, which negatively impacts society’s view of the dynamic of Asian family life and presents Asian parents in a negative light. Crazy Rich Asians also reinforces the greedy high class Asian stereotype with selfish tendencies. This is harmful to Asian and Asian American communities because it depicts success within these groups as something that compromises morals and harms others. These images, as well as other stereotypes are still being used in the film industry, and audiences are being presented with Asian characters and stories that have a negative impact on the communities they are meant to represent. Racist images targeting Asian and Asian American communities within movies still need to be addressed. Misrepresentation in media has played a part in the growth of Anti-Asian violence, especially since the beginning of the pandemic, in which Asian groups were targeted due to the spread of COVID-19. One way to combat Anti-Asian sentiments and actions is through proper representation in movies and other media. Stories written and told by those who are a part of the Asian and Asian American communities will help to humanize those who have traditionally been affected by the caricature presented in the film industry, and will actively combat the use of stereotypes both in media and in social interractions.
Index
Sources
“Asian Representation in Film: The Impact of 'Crazy Rich Asians'.” Student Resources, 9 Nov. 2021, https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/asian-representation-crazy-rich-asians/. Christie Hong Opinion October 13, 2021, et al. “Asian American Representation in Cinema More Harmful than Helpful.” The Campanile, 14 Oct. 2021, https://thecampanile.org/2021/10/13/asian-american-representation-in-cinema-more-harmful-than-helpful/. Chu, Jon M, director. Crazy Rich Asians. Hughes, John, director. Sixteen Candles. Luther, Catherine A., et al. Diversity in US Mass Media. Wiley Blackwell, 2018. Paner, Isabel. “Dominican Scholar: Dominican University of California.” Site, https://scholar.dominican.edu/.
Index