There are very few positive representations of Asian Americans in Hollywood films. Chan is Missing calls for more genuine representations of Asian American identities through its cast of complex characters and defiance of Asian stereotypes. The film also urges viewers to critically think about their own notions of identity through the use of several recurring themes and filmmaking techniques. Asians aren’t represented often in Hollywood films, but when they are, they’re usually confined to stereotypes or one dimensional character traits. In Chan is Missing however, though the characters may at first seem as black and white as the film itself, by the end, many of the characters are well developed and seem like real people. This is conveyed …show more content…
The title references the main conflict of the film, Chan Hung 's disappearance, as well as, Charlie Chan, an Asian character used in many classical Hollywood films. While Charlie Chan is usually portrayed as a skilled detective, he simultaneously embodies the yellow uncle tom stereotype; which is shown through his obedience and inability to speak proper English. The main character of the film Jo, serves as a subversion of the Charlie Chan character. He] works as a detective as he attempts to find Chan, but instead of taking orders from a superior, he works for himself. Also, he, along with almost all of the other characters, speak English fluently. In several instances, characters in the film mention Charlie Chan, even noting how Jo doesn’t fit the role. Charlie Chan is also known for his occasional pseudo-philosophical ramblings or “fortune cookie logic”. At one point in the film, a character gives an anecdote about a musician who looked into a puddle to find himself and the other characters seem to laugh it off as …show more content…
In a scene in a Chinese restaurant, we see the cook, Henry. In one of very few first person perspective shots, we see a waiter give Henry an order. Henry says, “Tell those Americans we don’t have wonton soup, we only have it backward; not now.”. Though it’s meant to be an off hand joke, it also subverts the Asexual Servant stereotype by showing that his character is more than a cook who serves white Americans. Also, since it’s a POV shot, it’s as if Henry is speaking directly to the audience. By defying traditional Asian stereotypes, the film calls for more complex Asian representations in
Chang-Rae Lee’s Native Speaker expresses prominent themes of language and racial identity. Chang-Rae Lee focuses on the struggles that Asian Americans have to face and endure in American society. He illustrates and shows readers throughout the novel of what it really means to be native of America; that true nativity of a person does not simply entail the fact that they are from a certain place, but rather, the fluency of a language verifies one’s defense of where they are native. What is meant by possessing nativity of America would be one’s citizenship and legality of the country. Native Speaker suggests that if one looks different or has the slightest indication that one should have an accent, they will be viewed not as a native of America, but instead as an alien, outsider, and the like. Therefore, Asian Americans and other immigrants feel the need to mask their true identity and imitate the native language as an attempt to fit into the mold that makes up what people would define how a native of America is like. Throughout the novel, Henry Park attempts to mask his Korean accent in hopes to blend in as an American native. Chang-Rae Lee suggests that a person who appears to have an accent is automatically marked as someone who is not native to America. Language directly reveals where a person is native of and people can immediately identify one as an alien, immigrant, or simply, one who is not American. Asian Americans as well as other immigrants feel the need to try and hide their cultural identity in order to be deemed as a native of America in the eyes of others. Since one’s language gives away the place where one is native to, immigrants feel the need to attempt to mask their accents in hopes that they sound fluent ...
The majority of today’s films starring Asian actors and actresses often contain numerous stereotypes. They cater to the biased views that most non-Asians have of Asian ethnicity and culture. What they do not know they make up for in ignorance and ridicule in one of today’s top forms of mass media. By using a widespread style of media in today’s pop culture, more and more people are being displayed the fabricated stereotypes of Asians.
In America is a movie about an Irish family that immigrates to New York in order to find better work and improve their lives, but end up finding that it is very difficult to live in the U.S. This is due to the problems they face involving health, money, and the overall environment of the place they live. There are many aspects of cultural geography that are brought up throughout the movie. Some examples include the neighborhood they live in, class of people, and the health factors that impact the people that live there.
... co-operated with English- language magazines that showed them how to act, look and what to buy. In his other book, The Jade Penoy, Choy tried to recreate his past, to explain the struggle which he faced between being Chinese and being North American. He also said that, the people who came to North America who don’t belong here faced this struggle; which is universal.
Traditionally, Twinkies are usually thought of as cream-filled yellow sponge cakes. To Chinese Americans, a different image is conjured. When Chinese Americans integrate with the American culture so much that their Chinese culture is much less apparent, they are known as “Twinkies”: yellow on the outside and white on the inside. In Amy Tan’s essay “Mother Tongue” and Elizabeth Wong’s essay “The Struggle to be an All-American Girl”, both girls are Chinese American trying to fit in with the American society while their Chinese mother’s are very traditional at home. Tan and Wong are trying to please their image in America and their mothers at the same time. While these essays are similar because they focus on the native languages used in America and the struggles of being a Chinese American in America, they differ in both their attitudes toward their mothers and personal reflections of being Chinese American.
Chang portrays the complexity of Henry’s character by showing the conflict that he faces both in his personal and professional life. His confusion towards his own Cultural identity is noticed in his relationships with his co-workers as well as with his family. His personal relationship with his family, especially with his father and his wife exemplifies the clash between the two cultures which seems to tear Henry apart. Leila, Henry’s wife, seems to epitomize the traditional American Culture which Henry tries very hard to be a part of. Her forthright nature along with the independence and individuality contradicts the stereotypical qualities of an Asian wife. However, Henry’s desperation is seen in his forgiving attitude towards Leila’s action and behavior. His deter...
Lucy Liu has become an important figure in the Asian American community. In a quote by AskMen.com, “Lucy Liu has broken the mold that Asian actors are prone to passivity, and made herself a veritable star.” She is seen as a serious actress because her popularity is soaring in Hollywood. Hollywood has a very minimal Asian influence, but Lucy Liu has made it as a sought-after star. One of her most memorable characters is her being one of the three agents in Charlie’s Angels. Typically, most of the Asian women in the past have been created to have stereotypes such as the “dragon lady”, who is a beautiful evil villain, and other characters that are passive and submissive to their men. Lucy Liu’s character in Charlie’s Angels is a strong, powerful woman. Although this is just a fictional character, the way her character is perceived is that she is in control of her situations and she is able to “kick butt.”
I gave several examples where Asian Americans were used to play very simple characters. These roles were defined by stereotypes that exist in America. I also researched instances on counter actions taken by Asian Americans to protest against these negative images. My research also has examples of Asians that have succeeded in breaking through the racial barriers in the media.
During his childhood, Eric Liu had difficulty coping with the fact that he was an Asian-American living in a predominantly white community. His appearance and his home life, among other things, made him feel out of place. Living in a middle-class suburb that was dominated by “whiteness,” Liu was disoriented by his role in school and society.
The “lotus blossom” stereotype is an Asian American female stereotype that portrays them as feminine, submissive, and desirable romantic interests for the white male protagonist (Tajima 309). Although the stereotype is the production of films fetishizing the “traditional Orient” culture, the stere...
The characters in the film have almost similar stereotypical appearances like yellow skin, thin lips, small slit like eyes and narrow pointy beards even though real Asian people all have different characteristics and almost certainly none have yellow skin. This is a prime reason why westerners perceive people from the Far East to be Asian people are believed to be yellow skinned with narrow eyes and funny
At the end of the NPR article they discuss the problem between keeping television shows diverse, “without amplifying the problems of stereotyping and prejudice” (Feld). Television shows feel that in order to a successful show with diversity, the people need to be cast-typed or take on every stereotype that is associated with that particular race or gender. The Erigha article discusses how, “many of actors were type-casted, or put in racialized roles, that fit their ethnicity” and some of these people do not necessarily fit that type, “they used Asian Actors as an example, many of the actors that were born in America, were asked to speak in a Chinese accent.”
For those Asian Americans who make known their discontent with the injustice and discrimination that they feel, in the white culture, this translates to attacking American superiority and initiating insecurities. For Mura, a writer who dared to question why an Asian American was not allowed to audition for an Asian American role, his punishment was “the ostracism and demonization that ensued. In essence, he was shunned” (Hongo 4) by the white people who could not believe that he would attack their superior American ways. According to writers such as Frank Chin and the rest of the “Aiiieeeee!” group, the Americans have dictated Asian culture and created a perception as “nice and quiet” (Chin 1972, 18), “mama’s boys and crybabies” without “a man in all [the] males.” (Chin 1972, 24). This has become the belief of the proceeding generations of Asian Americans and therefore manifested these stereotypes.
The film “Coming to America” by filmmaker John Landis, presents a dilemma faced by an African prince regarding his country’s culture and traditions. Although the film is not based on any real country, persons, or events it may affect certain individuals as they may relate to some of the issues presented within. Coming to America takes place in two different countries. One of them being Zamunda Africa a fictitious place and the other Queens New York in the United States. The main characters I will focus on primarily are Prince Akeem and his father King Jaffore of Zamunda Africa and Cleo McDowell along with his daughter Lisa McDowell of the Queens New York. Prince Akeem has approached his twenty-first birthday and now is troubled by a prearranged
The creative dialogues and actions in Asian dramas form an effective and entertaining composition that allows viewers to see different aspects of culture and life. There is so much more one can learn from watching these Asian dramas. I know people who were able to pick up a few phrases from watching the dramas all the time. Furthermore, it exposes people to a lot of different aspects about Asian culture and lifestyle that we cannot see every day. These dramas are not confined to only Asians as there are many viewers who are of all race that enjoy the dramas and can relate greatly with the characters and lessons in the story. Maybe one day, you should try and watch a drama either Korean, Japanese or Chinese and maybe you may enjoy it as well.