Eurasian Mélange
Member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2005
- Messages
- 812
- Reaction score
- 0
I have observed that the media only contains stereotypes of Asian people and not real, average people who are just like everybody else. In North America, few Asians get 'normal' roles where they play an average person (unless, of course, it is an all-Asian cast such as in Memoirs of a Geisha, so I am not counting those films). The women are usually your stereotypical 'dragon lady', either a seductress who poisons/stabs her prey or a secret martial arts expert. Men are either triads/yakuza, or martial arts masters. Both genders can be geeks/workoholics.
I can only think of one western film where I have seen an Asian man play the role of an average person, which is Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. It isn't even that great of a film, but at least it is a step towards portraying East Asians as normal people. There is one other film called Saving Face, but that was written and directed by an Asian, so it seems natural they portray Asians as average people. There is only one Asian actress I know of who has played several average roles and that is Lucy Liu. However, she is not exactly the same as most Asian actresses because she was born an American and raised in the US. I suppose her being Asian-American allows westerners to view her as more 'normal'. There is another single Asian actress who has played a semi-normal role and that is Sandra Oh in Grey's Anatomy, but she is still a bit of a stereotypical geek/workoholic... once again she was born and raised in Canada, so is pretty North American.
There are great actors and actresses who are incredibly popular in Asia. Some of those have attempted to go to Hollywood, but apparently have only been offered these stereotypical roles. Tony Leung says he would love to do a Hollywood film. There is definitely no problem with his English as he is fluent. I don't know if it is because of being offered stereotypical roles that it has not happened, but I know it must be a great offence if that is indeed the case. It would be similar to a Black actor such as Samuel L. Jackson or Laurence Fishburne only being offered roles to play rappers when clearly they have the talent and skill to go far beyond such a stereotypical, one-dimensional role.
I have even discovered that a recent film (I can't remember what it was called or what it was exactly about) based on a true story replaced the lead character with a White man when, in real life, it was actually an Asian man. He was either leading a team of hackers or a team of thieves, I don't recall. Is it because the media's stereotypes of Asian males are already too ingrained for people to be able to believe an Asian could be such a person?
I haven't included those who are part Asian, part something else because their being half non-Asian seems to get them more normal roles. E.g. Kristin Kreuk, Michaela Conlin, Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Tilly, Rob Schneider...
I also won't include films with an all-Asian cast as (unless it is a martial arts film) it is impossible and ridiculous to portray every single character as a stereotype, so it most likely wouldn't happen.
If anyone knows more western films or TV shows where East Asians are portrayed as normal people I would be more than happy to find out about them!
What is your opinion on East Asians being misrepresented in western media? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
I can only think of one western film where I have seen an Asian man play the role of an average person, which is Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. It isn't even that great of a film, but at least it is a step towards portraying East Asians as normal people. There is one other film called Saving Face, but that was written and directed by an Asian, so it seems natural they portray Asians as average people. There is only one Asian actress I know of who has played several average roles and that is Lucy Liu. However, she is not exactly the same as most Asian actresses because she was born an American and raised in the US. I suppose her being Asian-American allows westerners to view her as more 'normal'. There is another single Asian actress who has played a semi-normal role and that is Sandra Oh in Grey's Anatomy, but she is still a bit of a stereotypical geek/workoholic... once again she was born and raised in Canada, so is pretty North American.
There are great actors and actresses who are incredibly popular in Asia. Some of those have attempted to go to Hollywood, but apparently have only been offered these stereotypical roles. Tony Leung says he would love to do a Hollywood film. There is definitely no problem with his English as he is fluent. I don't know if it is because of being offered stereotypical roles that it has not happened, but I know it must be a great offence if that is indeed the case. It would be similar to a Black actor such as Samuel L. Jackson or Laurence Fishburne only being offered roles to play rappers when clearly they have the talent and skill to go far beyond such a stereotypical, one-dimensional role.
I have even discovered that a recent film (I can't remember what it was called or what it was exactly about) based on a true story replaced the lead character with a White man when, in real life, it was actually an Asian man. He was either leading a team of hackers or a team of thieves, I don't recall. Is it because the media's stereotypes of Asian males are already too ingrained for people to be able to believe an Asian could be such a person?
I haven't included those who are part Asian, part something else because their being half non-Asian seems to get them more normal roles. E.g. Kristin Kreuk, Michaela Conlin, Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Tilly, Rob Schneider...
I also won't include films with an all-Asian cast as (unless it is a martial arts film) it is impossible and ridiculous to portray every single character as a stereotype, so it most likely wouldn't happen.
If anyone knows more western films or TV shows where East Asians are portrayed as normal people I would be more than happy to find out about them!
What is your opinion on East Asians being misrepresented in western media? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Last edited by a moderator: