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catman
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
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 Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject: Asian stereotypes in Hollywood |
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Recent letter to the editor that appeared in one of Canada's national newspapers:
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I recently watched the film The Hangover with friends. It was one of the best comedies I had seen in a long time. However, there is one character that bothered me, more than I thought it would.
Mr. Chow, played by actor Ken Jeong, spoke his lines in the worst Asian accent I have ever heard. Listening to him, I felt like Hollywood had set Asians back a century-- all Mr. Chow needed were some railroad pieces to complete the track.
What made me more annoyed was how the audience around me was eating it up. A part of me was hoping this was simply a satirical attempt at what Hollywood thought of Asians -- a hope that was destroyed when Mr. Chow is seen naked in one scene.
Yes (here's a bit of a spoiler), we see his small *beep*. I'm sure many people have heard the stereotype that Asian males have small penises, which made me disappointed in how this film was reinforcing this stereotype. I'm not saying I wanted Mr. Chow to turn around and reveal a massive endowment, but come on Hollywood, give us some credit.
Asians really don't have many significant roles in Hollywood, other than being someone's friend, the Kung Fu guy, the random extra or, in this case, the "typical" China-man. Hollywood needs to wake up, and Asians have to play catch-up. It will be a long time before a leading Asian male actor wins an Oscar in a leading role. I say male, because I don't think Asian women have to overcome the same stigma men do in Hollywood, as Asian actresses are looked upon as mysterious, exotic and sexy (which is still a stereotype that prevents them from landing significant roles in romantic comedies.) Thank you, Ken Jeong, for accepting another paycheque at the expense of the Asian community. Way to rise up and join 'em.
Jonathan Lam, Toronto.
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http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=1699351 |
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emilylovesyou
Joined: 14 Oct 2008
Location: here
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| Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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Do you know about the American anime/cartoon, "Avatar: The Last Airbender"? It's a show based around Asian culture that also employs Asian music, Asian martial arts, and Asian clothing to create the setting. They are making a live-action movie, and the main cast is White, with the 'villain' Indian. This has caused quite a controversy: a completely Asian-influenced cartoon has become 'white' heroes against 'colored' villains. Many Asian people and fans of the series feel the same way about this film and other anime adaptations with White leads (Dragonball, Cowboy Bebop, Akira), similar to Mr. Lam with The Hangover.
I for one wish there were more Asian actors. |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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I think Hollywood should grow a pare quickly. While I am very happy about the huge changes since the days when Bruce Lee was the Green Hornet's sidekick...even though he was one of the greatest martial arts / actions stars of the day (or at least soon to be) I think the vast majority of people in the world are under represented in Western movies.
People of colour other than caucasian are finding more roles these days in parts that are not as likely to be racially typed.
But in the grand scheme of things they are likely under represented.
I for one had many friends from many different nationalities yet when you go to the movies most of the main stars are white actors. I don't think this accurately refelcts the average daily lives of North Americans. Which is a shame. So many parts are type cast as "white" when any person would do. I don't see why Spiderman couldn't have been an Asian kid. So what if the original story was about a white kid.
But the fact is things are changing and despite some setbacks I think things are moving along pretty well (albeit a little slowly).
Lucy Lui gets parts where her ethnicity is not even mentioned, as does Will Smith, Samuel Jackson, Lawrence Fishburn, Chow Yun-fat (somewhat, but you have to admit he doesn't get the Kung-fu Asian parts often). Other actors like Rain or Jeon Ji-hyun are starting to crack the western market and Asian film is gaining popularity. Yes, Rain will play a ninja in his next film...but I think these sorts of roles go along way towards making Asians more visible and possibly able to switch to other genre of film. Arnold managed to break his dumb strong Austrian stereotype. Will Smith started out as a rapper and wise guy on an all black sitcom.
One day it will be cool to see a Hollywood remake that doesn't feel the need to place a blond girl in the lead of a film set in Japan (Grudge).
I think it is only a matter of time. Even Keanu Reeves true background is no longer a secret.
People are not caring as much anymore.
Too bad shows like Gossip Girl and Gilmour Gilrs keep the annoying nerd Asian girl stereotype. |
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digsydinner
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:53 am Post subject: |
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unfortunately, the entertainment industry is run by a certain group of people (you all know which one)...which doesn't place much emphasis on racial equality when it comes to generating revenue.
they're also a group that doesn't even mind hurting themselves if it meant making more money....
for example, before the band, " The Black Crowes", had a name...their label producer (who is part of the certain group of people) pushed for the name, "Kobb Kounty Krows"...KKK...
go figure...that's what you have to deal with... |
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Morning_Star
Joined: 21 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:43 pm Post subject: ... |
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| I've already stopped watching Hollywood movies. Bad plots, typical ditzy white girl meets class clown white guy "romantic comedy". Hollywood movies are at a dead end and it can only get better once the oldies start dying off and get replaced with new people. |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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| digsydinner wrote: |
unfortunately, the entertainment industry is run by a certain group of people (you all know which one)...which doesn't place much emphasis on racial equality when it comes to generating revenue.
they're also a group that doesn't even mind hurting themselves if it meant making more money....
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Scientologists? |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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| How about the Sun- Jin relationship in Lost |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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| digsydinner wrote: |
unfortunately, the entertainment industry is run by a certain group of people (you all know which one)...which doesn't place much emphasis on racial equality when it comes to generating revenue.
they're also a group that doesn't even mind hurting themselves if it meant making more money.... |
What a shock that you, of all posters, should think that way? Am I calling you a bigot? I think I am.
But let's move on from the issue of Hollywood representation of minorities. Let's talk about the Korean movie industry's representation of minorities! I can't help noticing that the overwhelming majority of roles in Korean films go only to Korean actors. We're all affected by this. |
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E_athlete
Joined: 09 Jun 2009
Location: Korea sparkling
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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Ken Jeong is an M.D.
what an idiot. This guy has money, status (he's a doctor) yet he chooses to play the asian stereotype for no other reason than to further his stupid acting career. This is like being a professor at a university but *choosing* to be a Walmart greeter. What a moron. |
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digsydinner
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:57 am Post subject: |
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| Privateer wrote: |
| digsydinner wrote: |
unfortunately, the entertainment industry is run by a certain group of people (you all know which one)...which doesn't place much emphasis on racial equality when it comes to generating revenue.
they're also a group that doesn't even mind hurting themselves if it meant making more money.... |
What a shock that you, of all posters, should think that way? Am I calling you a bigot? I think I am.
But let's move on from the issue of Hollywood representation of minorities. Let's talk about the Korean movie industry's representation of minorities! I can't help noticing that the overwhelming majority of roles in Korean films go only to Korean actors. We're all affected by this. |
the entertainment industry is all about making a buck...stepping over as many people as they can in order to get more zombies into the theaters or buying the music. you are blind to think hollywood has any moral obligations...and no one will argue that the majority of producers and execs are of a particular group.
were you like born yesterday or something? |
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digsydinner
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:59 am Post subject: |
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| E_athlete wrote: |
Ken Jeong is an M.D.
what an idiot. This guy has money, status (he's a doctor) yet he chooses to play the asian stereotype for no other reason than to further his stupid acting career. This is like being a professor at a university but *choosing* to be a Walmart greeter. What a moron. |
you have to admit, the guy's pretty funny though... should watch his stand up routine regarding vietnamese and koreans... |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:14 am Post subject: |
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| digsydinner wrote: |
the entertainment industry is all about making a buck...stepping over as many people as they can in order to get more zombies into the theaters or buying the music. you are blind to think hollywood has any moral obligations...and no one will argue that the majority of producers and execs are of a particular group.
were you like born yesterday or something? |
Actually, you make a good point. With the way you have pointed it out, I have come to some findings:
The way the certain people run the movie and music industries is basically analogous to how they run everything else. I mean, we can logically deduce that if they have the power to control one major industry that encompasses a large stake of modern society, they probably run many or most others too. That would mean that perhaps they are pandering other lousy products en masse to sheepish hordes and step on toes to do so. Given all the industries out there, it would mean that just a few of the certain people have stake in a lot of the world and step on the toes of world citizenry to maintain the status quo and distribute mostly garbage and drivel. Right? So in essence we would then say they are leading to a moral and intellectual decline in the world and people are buying it up. So, what we would need is a person with a solution, right? A final solution to end this treachery, right? What else can be done? These people, as you infer, are wielding influence to destroy society and see the average person as a zombie. Therefore, the only sane thing to do is retaliate, right? It would probably be best to set up a campaign of propaganda so that people will be preoccupied or even supportive when we round these certain people up and send them away in packed trains. We'll need prison factories and a lot of guns to effectively and efficiently rid ourselves of these certain people who have been stepping on toes for oh so long. |
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Bronski
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:43 am Post subject: |
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| digsydinner wrote: |
unfortunately, the entertainment industry is run by a certain group of people (you all know which one)...which doesn't place much emphasis on racial equality when it comes to generating revenue.
they're also a group that doesn't even mind hurting themselves if it meant making more money....
for example, before the band, " The Black Crowes", had a name...their label producer (who is part of the certain group of people) pushed for the name, "Kobb Kounty Krows"...KKK...
go figure...that's what you have to deal with... |
Are you saying that your example of the allegedly racist band producer can be applied to other people (Jews, I'll say it for you) in the same group?
Are you saying Jews don't place much emphasis on racial equality when it comes to making money? Care to elaborate your position on Jews? |
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travel zen
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Location: Good old Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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Hollywood thrives on Stereotypes. They've made a market on painting people with a certain brush. Has it improved in say, 50 years? Not really.
The only improvement I've seen is that they actually use minority actors to play roles, instead of doing 'blackface' or putting on make-up to look "indian' or "chinese" or whatever else.
Hollywood has done some serious harm and has been criminally negligent when it comes to fostering hate, prejudice and stirring up violence.
I remember seeing some unedited Walt Disney cartoons that was shown up until the 1980's....serious racism ! |
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bcbenjammin
Joined: 07 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:36 am Post subject: |
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| emilylovesyou wrote: |
Do you know about the American anime/cartoon, "Avatar: The Last Airbender"? It's a show based around Asian culture that also employs Asian music, Asian martial arts, and Asian clothing to create the setting. They are making a live-action movie, and the main cast is White, with the 'villain' Indian. This has caused quite a controversy: a completely Asian-influenced cartoon has become 'white' heroes against 'colored' villains. Many Asian people and fans of the series feel the same way about this film and other anime adaptations with White leads (Dragonball, Cowboy Bebop, Akira), similar to Mr. Lam with The Hangover.
I for one wish there were more Asian actors. |
this movie originally had an all white cast, not even the "villain" was asian orginally, but one of the characters had to drop out and they cast an Indian man in that role, and his father is the villain of the film. i've heard a lot of asian american artists and industry people are planning to boycott this film upon its release, and it seemed like the movement had quite a bit of growing power and included many, many non asian american backers. i just hope the movement lasts long enough to make a difference.
on a separate note, if you want to see a movie with asian americans being portrayed as relatively normal, check out The Motel by Michael Kang |
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