According to Frieda Wong and Richard Halgin Asian Americans have been aggressively represented as the "model minority" since the nineteen sixties. Asian Americans have been portrayed as smart, wealthy, and high achievers. However, many of us are aware that these may not true in all cases and they might just be a stereotype or under representation of Asian Americans in media.
Since the 1960's Asian Americans are shown to be successful, hard workers, and have dedication. For example, in many films young Asian Americans are usually shown studying for an exam or to ensure that they get an A in the class or on an assignment. From my own experience this is not always true because on many occasions when I went to a math or science lab (where Asians are supposed to be smart) there has been multiple Asian Americans who are also there for help. I was also surprised because usually in most films the Asian kids or even parents are playing a very strict and studious character. Based on the messages that these films are sending, someone who is not educated or believes anything they are told, they will unknowingly accept the "all Asians are smart" stereotype that is shown in films. Wong and Halgin explain that in a lot of films Asians are shown to rise and have lower crime rates, while in reality they are much lower than blacks and Hispanics, but they do exist. You may ask yourself, "Why are Asian Americans characterized as smart, wealthy, hard workers, and determined in films?"
Along with the mis characterization and under representation in these kind of films, it is depicting the real lives of Asian Americans. For example, one of my friends is a first generation student in a four-year university while her parents are at home working minimum wage jobs or physical labor with very low pay. This relates to Asian Americans because it is clear that not all Asian Americans are wealthy and educated, like they are shown in films. In an upcoming film based on the novel "All you Need is Kill," the main character is an Asian and Hollywood actor Tom Cruise is going to be the main character. Along with Asians in films and being under represented this is only adding more to the issue because now Asian roles are being replaced with a non-Asian actor. Instead of honoring that the movie being created is based on a Japan novel, the auditions for the role was accepting all races. This not only offends Asians, but it continues to show under representation of Asians in films. For example, when I was a child I believed that all of the Asians I seen in films were actually treated the same in real life. Now I know that in a lot of cases it may or may not be true, which is ad because I've witnessed Asians being victims of a few stereotypes about Asians. For example, in one of my classes last semester there was an Asian girl who sat behind me who was constantly late and asking for notes and one day another student commented "isn't she supposed to be the one giving you (Hispanic) notes? This would not relate to Asians in films, but Asians in real life who do struggle and are not all wealthy and educated. It is clear "Asians" in films are a role based on stereotypes, not facts.
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AuthorLinda Reynoso Archives
December 2016
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