This is ridiculous. As a 75 year old American who was born in China and came here 73 years ago, I really do feel sorry for Thessaly La Force.
Yes, there was a time when the only Asians in the media were Charlie Chan and the lady who said "ancient Chinese secret" in an ad for laundry detergent.
But no more. Asians are everywhere. Commercials, cable TV anchors and reporters, music, art, fashion, business, Silicon Valley, science, academia, finance, venture capitalism, and yes, even government.
When I saw Shirley Temple dancing in a movie in 1948, I imagined myself dancing. I didn't see a cute little white girl - I saw a cute little girl!
Stop making something out of nothing. It's all in your head.
54
Pretty easy to answer. When you are a minority, you accept any recognition even when the people of no color appropriate your ethnicity. So it's Shirley Maclaine doing 'My Favorite Geisha' or Jonathan Pryce doing 'Miss Saigon'. Or all the Westerns where the 'Squaw' was a woman of no color darkened.
Going forward, it is important to understand that people of no color MTV failed to make it big in India—neither the music nor the VJs could connect.
Asian Americans are now a valuable demographic for advertisers. We are not trying to be people of no color anymore. We are comfortable in our own skins. We don't settle for content that is a peek into the 1950s.
This realization will be slow in coming in Hollywood. But it will come. 'Raymond Burr' will be the sidekick in the next gen Godzilla movies. Jackie Chan won't need a person of no color.
It will be a melting pot in which everyone melts.
12
Because unlike other ethnic groups, Asians don't encourage each other, especially their children, into going into the performing arts. Instead, there is a huge push and pressure on them to get STEM and technical related degrees and careers in order to make money, build stable lives, and impress their families. Going into acting and the arts as a whole is largely discouraged. Rather than risk being ostracized at best or outright disowned at worst by their families, young Asians stay away from following their true dreams, interests, and passions and "play it safe," and as a result, there is a lack of Asian-American acting and musical talent which is really one of the main reasons why there is a lack of Asian-American presence in the media. The few Asians that do exists get typecast to stereotypes, done knowing that Asians don't and won't loudly protest about it compared to other ethnic groups.
I don't deny that there is racism and stereotyping going on, but on the other hand, there needs to be an introspection within the Asian American community that if they wish to see more of themselves, positive representation, in the media, there needs to be more positive encouragement of getting more Asians into the arts and acting and supporting their efforts, and that its not the end of the world if your child decides to go to acting school to major in Drama and not MIT for that engineering degree. And send a louder message that you're more than just the "model minority."
32
Consider the critically acclaimed and financially successful movie, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," which is set in San Francisco. San Francisco is about 40% Asian. Count the number of Asians you see in the entire movie, even in the crowd scenes. I think I saw 1 or 2 in the whole movie for less than a few seconds.
13
Probably because, as they put it in Africa, “when you’re eating you don’t talk.” They’re quietly doing well, financially or in education etc. it’s usually Hispanics or blacks that beat the brunt of prejudice and intolerance, especially blacks. Other minorities, including African immigrants quietly harness the benefits of past civil rights struggles or current civil rights struggles etc and quietly make progress. Appearing prominently in the cultural expressions of the country also comes with a willingness to stand up to the cultural or social injustices of the setting, which some of these groups have done to a lesser extent especially when they don’t need to. You see a lot of African Americans or blacks, but they have also born the brunt of the backlash against their progress. It’s easier to eat quietly and not complain, I think!
5
Hollywood producers could best answer the question. My assumption is that they select actors and actresses for their films based on who they think will draw the largest audience at our shrinking moving picture theaters and growing on-demand TV. That IS the point of the exercise.
As others have suggested, I think it is about money, and that Asians are still a small percentage of the population and in certain regions of the US, there are almost none, so film and TV producers are cautious. As for the idea that "there is something about the very physiognomy of the Asian face that American audiences still cannot or will not accept," I don't know that's entirely true, and if so I think can easily change. Look at the success of BTS. I realize their fans are also a kind of sub-culture, but umm, try being the mom assigned the hopeless task of getting BTS tickets for a bunch of teenagers (in a rather homogenous caucasian school district I might add) and then having to explain that the tickets sold out in less than ten minutes. As a consolation I did manage to get them tickets to 21 pilots -- much easier to get, but oh the sighs and disappointment. 21 Pilots is okay, but it's not BTS. Perhaps Hollywood will take notice -- Asian faces do appeal to non-Asians, but I agree, they need to be cast in "cool" roles (BTS is cool), not the stereotypical ones. I asked this same set of teenagers who is a 'cool' Asian-American on screen. The universal answer was Ryan Higa, but he's a vlogger. But my point is, I think there are potential stars and a potential audience, and nothing wrong with the Asian face. It's just producers/filmmakers who need to take more risks with casting.
11
I think an important part of this article to note is perhaps the lack of Asian-American actors to begin with. If "several prominent American theater schools" haven't had "a male Asian graduate in years," then there might be other factors involved.
Is there under-representation? Sure thing. There are so many Asian-American stories that could be told that demonstrate a clearer picture of the American life. My grandparents (one from Okinawa and the other from Guam), spent their days watching Walker Texas Ranger, McGyver, and the like. But they have never entertained the idea of being represented in the media they consume. I have to wonder if it is because of that generation's desire to become "fully American." The framed John Wayne picture that my grandfather keeps in the kitchen would perhaps suggest that. But consider how many Asian-Americans the average person knows. Then ask that person how many of those Asian-Americans have dreams of becoming an actor/actress.
The careers in arts that La Force lists are, on average, a little less risky and perhaps more acceptable to Asian-American family standards. The points are very well-stated, however, are the stereotypes that plague Hollywood when Asian/Asian-American actors are involved.
What is the solution to this? Absolutely more movies displaying true-to-life Asian-American stories. But a point that many of those who have commented have made: the term Asian-American is broad and Asian-Americans make up less than 10% of U.S..
1
I think that Asians in America need to look at themselves, and be honest with how they perceive themselves, and others who look like themselves. Only in being honest with themselves, and having some hard conversations, can they come together as a group and demand that they be 'seen' as individuals (just like people of other races) and not just a monolithic group.
What I found interesting is that yet again, the pink elephant in the room was barely touched upon here. It seems the author's mother was from Taiwan, and that it's her father who is not asian (hence the author's being 'half-asian'). And really, is anyone that surprised that it's the mother who's asian, and the dad who's not?
Asian women are far more likely to be seen in American commercials, ads, TV and film, and typically paired with a non-asian partner. Asian men are far less likely to be seen in the American market, and when they are, their chances of having a love interest, much less a female of another race, are rare indeed.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Who/what is influencing/imitating whom/what? Asian actresses seem to have an easier time, vs their male counterparts, in getting roles in the US. So why aren't more of them standing up for their counterparts, and demanding they be matched up with an asian love interest? Much has to do with how Asians view themselves. I know many Asian women who don't consider Asian-American men to be 'American' enough, ergo not a good enough 'trophy'.
20
Asian Americans are directors, Justin Lin and Cary Joji Fukunaga, producers, even showrunners, Angela Kang on The Walking Dead, but we still can’t get our faces in front of the camera or our most profound stories told. I hope Crazy Rich Asians leads to funding for many independent movies that show the rich diversity and depth of our story-writing and acting, like Lion and Double Happiness, Sandra Oh’s first film. Aside from capitalist Hollywood ignoring our 6%, and their racial stereotyping, cultural appropriation, and white-washing, there is a real difference between Asian-American and mainstream American culture. We were taught our extended families come first, work hard and stay quiet so you can slip under the discrimination radar unnoticed. Individualism is betrayal. It takes half a lifetime or even generations for each of us to find that balance between family, society, and self-realization. Our stories can resonate with non-Asians because everyone struggles with finding oneself while barraged by the definitions others force on you.
8
It has been said about a million time before - Hollywood only sees one color and it is not white - it is green.
If you can't open a large week-end then you don't get the chance to try because of quotas.
3
Because film and television are profit-driven mediums, the desires of the target audience (more than 50% of which is white, according to the MPAA) that pays for the end product will always override other concerns. Until that changes, I can simply suggest not watching the movies and shows that offend you.
4
Thank you to the writer for this brave and moving piece! Many unkind responses here that don't seem to be listening to your heartfelt account of feeling erased and unseen, and worse, deliberately misconstrued and stereotyped. Americans have missed out on so many stories by systematically excluding Asian and Asian-American voices and faces. This article isn't suggesting that the exclusion of other marginalized groups is acceptable; she's just writing about her own lived experience.
28
I hope that one day the American people will stand up to notice the very simple truth - that good work is a good work - no matter what color, instead of just thinking about money.
4
Did anyone bother to see Maniac, directed by American of Japanese decent, featuring many Asian cast members? And what about Margaret Choy? Steven Yeun as Glenn in The Walking Dead? Glenn was arguably the most popular character in the most popular program in television history. And he wasn’t a stereotype. A more original article would be a survey and celebration of the diversity of “Asian” characters on television today. But that would require research.
3
While I lament the rise of identity politics in the US, it does it have its benefits. Asian-Americans are constantly overlooked - casually by some and intentionally by others. The allegedly "woke" crowd only pays attention to Asians when they see them as useful in playing a supporting role in the broader struggle on behalf of people of color, but can't be counted on to help them with issues that effect Asians more specifically.
Qualities that are stressed in traditional Asian culture - strong work ethic, family-based identities, a certain expectation of conformity - don't translate well in a more extroverted, individual-based American society. I agree that it is unfair and wrong. On the one hand, you see Asian-Americans dominating in terms of degrees and incomes, and on the other you don't see Asians being CEO's or celebrities. I think for some, that means that Asians shouldn't complain about double-standards since they're not being denied a certain kind of success. But I totally understand why it must feel frustrating to never see yourself portrayed as being charismatic, having leadership qualities, sexy, etc.
American pop culture needs to make room for a broader picture of what is acceptable - something that goes beyond typical black-white expectations. To do that, though, Asian-Americans may have to step out of their comfort zones in order to be recognized. I don't think it's fair, but that's often the only way to see attitudes change.
6
harold and kumar escape from guantanamo bay
except maybe--were they stereotypes? Anyway--very funny!
4
You can travel from Massachusetts through the mid-atlantic, through the midwest and the western states, almost all the way to the west coast without ever seeing anyone of Asian descent.
So it hardly seems surprising that that you wouldn't see many people of Asian heritage on television either.
1
Asian Americans are considered financially and educationally successful from political pundits and therefore do not fall into the category of “oppressed people.” As such , “helping” (an insulting concept) them does not fit the far left, self righteous agenda. Same for successful Nigerian-Americans. Gotta call them “African-American” and strip them of their ethnic identity because diversity is carefully constructed to only benefit a select view. Respectfully, My opinion as a moderate, registered and voting Democrat in the far left bastion that is Philadelphia
3
Here we go again...and again. How many times do we have to hear the same battle cry of Asian American underrepresentation, while articles like these continue to perpetuate stereotypes within its own writing - e.g. - bamboo ceiling, almond eyes, inscrutable. I am a 60 year old, third generation Chinese American. I took Asian American studies classes in college and thought I was "woke" to the pigeonholed definitions assigned to us. But 40 years later, it saddens and frustrates me when millennials regurgitate the same cliches in an effort to define their identity - then have it published in the NY Times. The headline, and opening paragraph about a movie from 60 years ago, does nothing but remind people about Asian stereotypes. Truth is, Asians are multi-faceted. My experience as a third generation AA is so vastly different than someone who immigrated from Taiwan, or someone who is bi-racial. Instead of lamenting about what you don’t see on TV or film, BE the change. Advance the agenda by setting an example. Use your platform to bring light to accomplishments rather than photoshop Asian faces on old movies. This is 2018 after all.
26
This is the kind of pretend victimhood that keeps discrediting liberalism. There are a ton of famous Asian American Actors, comedians, etc. in the public eye-mostly Indian Americans but also East Asians. Yes the is a relatively recent development but this is also because people like Mindy Kaling and Aziz Ansari are basically from the first generation of Asians to be born in America from the wave that came after 1965. Their parents didn't immigrate to America to be in show business, so the process takes a generation. Being a white passing half Asian person in America in 2018 or looking ethnically ambiguous is not a life of hardship. Every group of immigrant who came to America in 19th century, most of them white, faced hardship and racism, so trying to derive a lineage of victimhood from the Chinese exclusion act as a 21st century half Chinese person is like a contemporary Irish American trying to derive victimhood from "No Irish need apply" signs.
If you look ethnically ambiguous people will try to guess your ethnicity. Big deal. If you're ethnically or racially mixed some people from both of your ethnic groups will tell you that don't look quite right or you're removed from your original culture. In a country like America where most people can count multiple ethnicities in their heritage, this is really not an exceptional situation.
Also I've never met an Asian American who's parents would have let them study theater, so maybe that factors in?
11
Asians are considered docile in this country, lacking imagination and leadership and unlikely to rock the boat.
That stereotype is deadly when combined with gender, for it leads to Asian women being treated as particularly submissive and Asian men as simply unattractive. The data on online dating preferences bear that out.
I find that a certain kind of white person hates it when I tell them they are wrong to their face. I guess directness is another quality that slipped by our continent. Or perhaps we are supposed to be deferential when we disagree. Not going to happen.
PS: I disagree with the author's assessment of Asian success in a broad range of artistic endeavor. Jhumpa Lahiri is mentioned as an example, but her books are centered around the immigrant experience. A stylish informer is still an informer stuck in an ethnic slot.
6
Here's a thought experiment for people who make the "statistical" argument as to why Asians not only aren't represented in media, but in fact shouldn't. (notwithstanding that whatever representations do exist are largely negative or at best, flaccid and weak).
Jews comprise an even smaller percentage of the US than Asians. Yet you can credibly claim that they are much more highly represented (i.e., identified as Jewish) in popular media. Why do you think that is, if stats are supposedly destiny?
13
I watch movies, but not anything current. I wait years to see things. I do not watch any TV shows. If asians are unseen by me it is because most popular culture is garbage. By the way, I just DVRed all of the Bruce Lee movies that were run on Elray recently. I have seen them numerous times before and will thoroughly enjoy watching them again. I also have seen every Godzilla movie ever made. I also enjoy science fiction, both movies and books.
I enjoy being disconnected from popular culture. It seems vacuous and trite. In some ways it seems like brainwash. I suppose that is why I find entertainment in what is clearly fantasy, because it can never be confused with reality, not that TV can be confused with reality for a rational mind, but so many don't know the difference. For instance, what happened to the history channel and the science channel and others. They have reality TV show on them. That is insane. Ghosts, magic, miracles, these are not reality. Reality is what you live, not the fascist brainwash garbage put on reality TV.
1
Oddly enough, Westerners have the same problem in Bollywood.
2
As the white wife of an American man of Chinese ancestry, this article rings very true to me. Years ago, after my husband had graduated from an Ivy League MBA program he was told he was not management material after a personality test. Turns out, he was too polite in dealing with conflict. Politeness is a valued cultural asset among the Chinese but my husband then showed the company the fuller range of his conflict management style by saying he would sue if they interpreted politeness as dysfunctional. They backed down. We have a son and a daughter and I believe that Asian males, like Black males, have a harder time fitting into the white dominated culture.
16
"The New York Times recently reported that in the search for the male lead in 'Crazy Rich Asians,' one of the movie’s producers was told by several prominent American theater schools that they hadn’t had a male Asian graduate in years."
Interesting finding. And who is at fault for the lack of Asian-American males in theater schools? The white majority population of the United States? No. Blame the parents of these Asian-American males for pushing many or most of them into the "Holy Trinity" of business, medicine, and law.
"Tiger Mother" Amy Chua has two daughters and no sons, but probably over her dead body will either of them ever attend theater school. Amy Chua is not oppressed. She grew up the daughter of a tenured university professor at Purdue and UC-Berkeley. She herself is a tenured faculty member at Yale Law School. She chose to impart a developing country-like "siege mentality" to her children. I don't blame anybody but her for doing that.
12
@AR Nice vilifying of Asian parents. While other parents get criticized for being absent or ineffective, Asian parents who promote their children being productive and successful are somehow sinister and aggressive.
13
a silly question. It's about money. Along with Blacks, Latinos, Asians on the big or small screen don't bring in the big bucks in America. Overseas, in Asia, black actors are particularly frowned upon. A fews years ago when Denzel Washington was given the lead role in one particular movie, financed mostly by Chinese investors, they criticized the decision saying black actors aren't "sellable" in China. Here in the U.S. Asians fill that role sorry to say. What happened to Bruce Lee back in 1969 when he was supposed to star in T.V.'s "Kung Fu" and instead the role went to David Carradine, because of racism and marketablility.. Things haven't changed much after 50 years.
13
The elites appear to be afraid of the Asian community?
6
Can't the same be said for Italian Americans? They're either cast as mobsters or suave women obsessed dolts.
5
@Jgno no it can not. Far from it. What about some of the greatest, most diverse and most hired actors ever? Robert de Niro, Al Pacino, John Travolta, Jennifer Aniston, Nicolas Cage, Sylvester Stallone, Steve Buscemi, Susan Sarandon... I mean the list goes on and on.
5
Thanks so much for your comment. Growing up, we ran to the television when someone Italian was on. Many Italian woman have a dark cast to their skin, and the only actress who looked like us was Natalie Wood (who played Italian in Love with the Proper Stranger). Ironically, Mrs Robinson herself, Anne Bancroft, had to change her name to get work. So tired of the blonds! So tired of the Sopranos, Jersey Shore, The Godfather.
2
Don’t you know that Asians are the next best thing to robots? Just kidding. I’m Asian-American, so I can relate to much of what you’ve written here; however, I do feel you’re being a little melodramatic.
In terms of movies featuring Asian leads, one of my favorites is Mississippi Masala. It was directed by the very talented Mira Nair in the early 1990s and stars Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington (one of greatest actors of all time). It’s very engaging as it focuses on their interracial romance. And it doesn’t hurt that both Sarita and Denzel are smoking hot in the film. Anyway, check it out if you haven’t already.
19
@Zareen I love this film! A total gem. I also like the filmmaker Mira Nair.
5
It's really becoming clearer every day that nobody really wants "diversity" in casting - they want to see their demographic represented. Homogeneous casts on any non-white group are ironically described as "diverse," and celebrated.
5
Why aren't there more movies with guys wearing red hats? I'm not going to make a movie with a guy wearing a red hat. I'm just going to complain that other people aren't making movies about guys wearing red hats.
8
Follow the money
Hollywood makes MORE money abroad than in the US
China’s Box Office Is Now Bigger Than North America:
"American studios have looked to the Far East as a major guarantor of future growth and profits. So maybe this is good news? Not really. "
Asian audiences are not interested in seeing Asian actors from the US. They have their own stars
https://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/chinas-box-office-is-now-bigger-than-north-america-its-time-to-start-worrying-1201949453/
9
Very interesting article- while I agree there are some stereotypes and prejudice against Asian Americans, definition of Asian Americans is so broad you cannot actually categorize them in one bucket. That categorization in itself is bias against so called "American Asians" or "Asians" as a whole. Asia is so diverse. Each country has its long history and rich culture. India, Pakistan, China, Thailand, Japan etc, etc. Each of them are so distinct and has been center of human civilization for many centuries. Don't be short sighted that, just because the young American culture has not yet fully embraced such, it is inferior or not worthy of being appreciated. We Asians and American Asians should be proud of our heritage and culture and should not let the ignorance of others diminishes the true value of your wonderful mixed race heritage.
7
@Satoshi Thessaly LaForce also makes the foolish assumption that racially mixed people of European phenotype should be classified as "Asian American" along with those of nearly full Asian parentage. Meg Tilly and Keanu Reeves, for example, should be called whites with partial Asian ancestry, NOT "Asian Americans."
Just curious: I've read the statement of 'Crazy Rich Asians as the first studio film with all Asian cast since Joy Luck Club' here and other places. What about 'Memoirs of a Geisha'? (I know there was some resentment of a Chinese playing a Japanese which some people objected to). It was a Dreamworks release which sounds like a major studio to me.
Maybe not an exclusively Asian cast, but, then again, neither was Joy Luck Club.
2
Asian Americans make up 6% of the population and most are ,outside California, even a smaller percentage of the local population. Are they really under counted on national TV? Citing examples from the 60' doesn't enhance your position. I would be far more concerned about pay disparity seen on sets like "Hawaii 50".
8
If a racial minority has 7% of the population, should that percentage be surpassed in the percentage that race is in the total group of actors?
No.
12
@Claudia Watch any movie set in San Francisco, a city 40% Asian. Count the Asians in the movie even on street scenes. Hardly any.
2
@Claudia
Sorry but this is really false. If you treat this as a pure math/stat problem, then yes, everything should follow the population %. But in the real world, there is just so much other factors. You failed to consider, education, merit, background, skillsets, etc. Life isn't as simple as you imagined.
2
There are two very original, very funny Asian characters on Netflix's 'Insatiable'. Check it out.
1
My kids played youth soccer, T-ball and basketball at the local YMCA. The coaches had to keep track of how long each team member played so the children could be sure to have the same amount of game time.
Are we that immature now?
11
This article is right on and apt for contemporary times. As a Chinese American who immigrated to the US from Taiwan in early 1970's, I've endured the endless negative depictions of Asian roles in Hollywood films in past decades. We can debate till the cows come home on the reasons for such negative depictions, but I do sense in recent years, a change is at hand, where Asian roles are becoming increasingly prominent and are cast in more positive light. In the end, money talks. With the Chinese money pouring into Hollywood together with the 1.3 billion potential customers in China, Hollywood has seemingly decided casting Asian females as dragon ladies or submissive sex objects and Asian males as sexless, meek, subservient, tech geeks isn't good for business.
32
Asian Americans make up less than 6% of the US population. The real question, the one I’ve been asking for the last 50 years, since my childhood is: where are the depictions of Mexican Americans, who make up over 17% of US citizens and yet are virtually invisible on America TV.
34
Well sure, but what about that even more under-represented and grossly stereotyped person, the Native American?
22
Filipino-American actor Darren Criss won an Emmy this year for "The Assassination of Gianni Versace." And had a major heart-throb role in several seasons of "Glee."
5
As the United States grows increasingly diverse, I wonder if future generations will read articles like this with a sense of incredulity. Given that Asia is an incredibly diverse and geographically enormous place, the term "Asian" is itself a broad generalization. When we say Asian, do we picture Sri Lankans? Koreans? Kazakhs? Palestinians? What gives us the right to lump them together? Why are we forcing groups together that would otherwise see themselves as distinct from one another?
22
I've lived in Taiwan for 30 years. I also take exception to people referring to others as "Asian". Currently, according to the IOC, Asia extends from Japan to Israel.
2
I think this is as simple as 5.6%. Asians are 5.6% of the population. How many white people or black people are in Bollywood films or films made in China or Japan? I am sure that it is very few. The demographics are what they are, but I will agree that when Asians are in American movies they are paper thin stereotypes and that should be fixed. The most disgusting example of this is the treatment of the Vietnamese in Vietnam War pictures.
3
Uh...maybe it's because Asian-Americans are only 6% of the population? And the overwhelming majority of them pursue careers in math, science, and engineering? I never understand articles like these. This is like the Apu controversy all over again, where a bunch of Indian-Americans pondered why there weren't more of them represented in entertainment, without realizing that Indian-Americans are barely 1% of the country's population.
Oh, and by the way, the reason why they cast Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One in "Doctor Strange" is because China would not accept a Tibetan character, for obvious reasons. Funny how you leave that out.
This is all so ridiculous. Instead of complaining about racism, maybe you should instead be encouraging more Asians to immigrate here, as well as criticizing Asian parents for not encouraging their children to pursue the arts.
22
In listing Asian nominees for Academy Awards, there should at least be a mention of Miyoshi Umeki - who actually won the Oscar for Supporting Actress - and at least a mention that Haing S. Ngor won as well. Also, props to Henry Golding for getting a near-lead role in A Simple Favor, right after CRA.
4
Don't forget the Korean couple on the TV series "Lost". And, Glenn on "The Walking Dead".
Just saying, as a middle aged white woman, I find Asian men hot. They should be represented more in pop culture offerings.
7
All of the other English speaking countries that make films are doing a better job of integrating Muslims, Hindu's, and Asians in their casts. Watch their work on all of the stations available on a ROKU. We will make progress when we learn that diversity in the cast makes a film product more profitable. Oh, don't forget Flower Drum Song when you speak of American movies with Asian casts.
They need to reboot "Charlie Chan" because he was a hero to me growing up. A smart detective that didn't have to have car chases and gun fights to solve a crime. I mean "Murder She Wrote" was in New England with a senior. Can't we go back to when he had movie after movie with this Asian character who was the most intelligent detective on the West Coast.
2
Asian Americans represent 5.6% of the American population. 5.6%. To insist on seeing many faces that look like yours in Hollywood strikes me as more narcissism and lack of imagination than anything else.
6
I see lots of Asian people on my TV Shows and in all types of roles.
1
In the 1956 "The Teahouse of the August Moon" set in post-war Okinawa, Marlon Brando plays Sakini, an interpreter, who is always outsmarting the American occupiers. It's a very funny farce and Brando is very good but it's a shame that the producers didn't bother to cast a Japanese actor to play the part.
2
Mexican Americans the largest minority population in the USA are virtually invisible in mainstream TV and films. Yes, they do appear as drug lords, undocumented immigrants, gangbangers but not in roles that carry a less than stereotypical Hollywood imagining. It seems the Times will only carry stories of minorities in Hollywood when they have a huge box office success: Black Panther (check), Crazy Rich Asians (check), Coco (nada).
The use of Asian-American actors as fill-ins for classic Hollywood white films is demeaning and offensive. Our Mexican American stories (as well as those of Asian-Americans) are so much more original and richer than Hollywood could ever dream of.
9
The term "Asian-American" has become extremely vague. Even educated NYT readers don't realize that, in contemporary journalism, it includes Armenians, Iranians, and people of the Philippines.
.
I think historically, it referred to the people of far-east Asia who suffered physiological, appearance-based discrimination here in the USA.
.
Perhaps someone else here will share a more distinct definition. Or perhaps I should skip entertainment-industry sociologism.
15
@Qxt63- Armenians and Iranians are Causasians, not Asian.
7
@lou andrews - it should read, "Caucasians", not Causasians. My apologies.
1
@lou andrews And yet their homeland is in Asia.
I am Taiwanese, by blood, and American by life. This is a topic that I've been aware of since I was a young child when the kids at school would call me "Jackie Chan" (not the worst tbh).
While I appreciate the article and the illustrations accompanied with it, I think it does some harm as well. In that, the message can be received as "we need to be like them to be validated".
The Breakfast Club is fine on it's own, it doesn't need an "asian makeover", and neither does "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off". While it does inspire and motivate me to think "what if?", let's not stop there. If we are to create a new future, the one we have always known to be possible, let's stop lamenting the past and channel that energy forward.
Let's create our own stories, step out of the shadows, and play by our own rules. I believe "Master of None" did this very well and the recent "Crazy Rich Asians" did a bang up job too.
95
One comment in two days! That explains a lot. Interestingly, I see more than a few White Americans marrying Asian origin women. Decades ago, many Asian origin Men coming to USA, used to marry white Women, I do not see that trend much anymore. Just wondering what is the correlation between all these acceptability issues.
3
I enjoyed this very important subject and article! However, I'm a bit surprised that the author doesn't reference Vincent Rodriguez III, Filipino-American, in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I think this is a real step forward, thanks both to the serious brilliance of Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna, and of course the terrific performance of Rodriguez himself.
2
@AB I came here to post the exact same thing -- it's odd to overlook the TV show that cast an Asian male as the romantic lead!
2
5.6 percent of the population. Asians are not a large group. The idea that they are underrepresented is just not accurate.
Culture determines career choices rather heavily. Discrimination often pushes groups into specific fields where they are tolerated. Think women in nursing and teaching, but not math and science. That was a cultural construct that had nothing to do with women's talents or capabilities. it was just where they were allowed.
But also Blacks in the performing arts but not the Visual Arts. Why? This unlike women was more self censorship. Black middle class families didn't have money to educate their children often enough but when they did, they knew performing arts salaries pay better than starving artist (yes I know there are one or two black art stars now)
Ditto for the Jews, why so many entertainers and urban professionals but no Jewish farmers (except in Israel.)
It isn't always racial animus that governs career decisions. Look at asian families cultural beliefs and you might discover something. It's OK if they're different and choosing not to fight for the limelight. Again 5 % is not a huge group. One would expect them not to be very present.
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@Arthur
Not sure where you got your numbers but if we're going to use your logic, then 5.6% of TV programming and Hollywood films should feature Asian actors/writers/directors, etc. And they don't. So you just inadvertently made the author's argument for her.
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Doctoring posters to show an all-Asian cast, is the same as making them all white, or black or whatever.
Makes you look like you hate diversity, only favoring your race.
Isn't that what he was trying to protest?
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@AutumLeaff Why not ask yourself why you are shooting the messenger instead of engaging with the issue, which is the exclusion of Asian-American actors from U.S. film casts.
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Pasting Asian faces on Ferris Beueler poses and Mrs. Robinson odes not help with the cause espoused. Sandra Oh and Lucy Liu have made inroads by playing characters that could have been played by any ethnicity- that 's the key to mainstreaming out of the type-cast roles.
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The author of this article may want to spend time perusing the iTunes Movie Trailer app. Most weeks, even a quick glance will find previews of Indian and East Asian films that are currently or soon to be in distribution.
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Thank you for this heartfelt piece, to which I also relate as an Asian-American woman. However, you mention Hawaii Five-Oh without noting that the two lead Asian actors have left the show, citing unequal pay. On the other hand, you omitted mention of Steven Yeun, who played a major role on The Walking Dead - cable TV's biggest hit series - and he even got the hot girl. :)
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Perhaps in general people are just not that interested?
I think the series 'Fresh Off the Boat' is awful. So stereotypical or trite, (although the actors are great). Put them into good material, well written and directed, people will watch. But if it is all cliche' ridden, not so much. I have noticed a lot more Asians in advertising lately. So perhaps there is more work out there today for Asians than there has been in the past. Give it time.
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The Film and Television industry is a commercial business. If they think they can improve the ratings and profits with Asians, they will show up.
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If diversity in casting is important to you, support the TV shows that do it right. Boost the numbers. Let the networks know why you’re watching (or not watching). The Good Place and 9-1-1 are examples of shows with male leads who are Asian. (And my favorite characters, to boot.)
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"Why Do Asian-Americans Remain Largely Unseen in Film and Television?"
Why largely unseen? Because Asian-Americans still comprise only about 6 or 7 percent of the population of the United States--a bit more than 20 million people out of a population of 325 million people. Are people who ask the above question just completely unaware of demographics in the United States?
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@AR Easy math answer to a racial problem. Not just under-representation but largely misrepresentation of the under-representation. Oops. There's no math formula for misrepresentation! How ironic that there's no math formula for an Asian American problem...
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@AR just because Asian Americans are a minority that does not justify their lack of representation in the media. You missed the whole point of her article. Even when there are Asian roles in films they minimize them to racist stereotypes or instead of giving the roles to actual Asians they give the roles to white people. It's plain and simple Asian Americans need to be represented in the media they need their stories told too.
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@AR
however television protrays us as less than 1%.
Americans of asian origin make up nearly a quarter of the medical profession. Mainstream TV shows in medical settings reflect anything close to that??
contrast it to a British detective series set in London for example and see the diversity of characters in those shows.
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