Stereotypes In Madame Butterfly

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Many scenarios have shown racialized groups in different ways including the Asian/ Asian Americans. The Chinese Exclusion Act started a racialized group where the Chinese could not come to the United States. The Quota System significantly reduced European immigration, and all immigration for East Asia was banned by the National Origins Act. These Asians were being judged on their nationality onscreen through stereotypes. From white wages and standards of living being threatened, the Asians began being racialized through stereotypes on screen and off screen.
Madame Butterfly shows cultural differences and certain characteristics the Americans had towards Japan and the Asians. The theme in these early films is a Japanese female or male always undergoes the betrayal, and it is always the woman, either Japanese or American, which dies. Many of the films featuring the Japanese ended in violence or suicides, including Madame Butterfly. The Japanese woman ended up committing suicide because of a social issue between her and Pinkerton. This could have been because of certain religio...

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