Project C : Interogation

The stereotype works in different ways, it ranges from showing Asian Americans restricted to clichéd occupations to showing particular Asian racial features, names, accents, or mannerisms as comic or sinister. Asians restricted to supporting roles not only in American mainstream media but ironically also in projects with Asian or Asian American content of which there is no relevance or need of. Usually, when a project features Asian subject matter, the main character will still be white. Another stereotype that is shown is about Asian male sexuality as negative or non-existent. Although Asian women are frequently portrayed as positive romantic partners for white men ("Sayonara," "The World of Suzie Wong," ad infinitum), Asian men aren’t shown as heroes or as the romantic lead roles with women of any race. There exist another stereotype for women though, Asian women are often portrayed as compliant, industrious, eager to please and nicknamed the "China doll," "geisha girl" with a certain sexuality underlined.



Depicting people in groups rather than as individuals can have a similar effect, especially if similarity is enhanced by similar poses or synchronized action. The three women not only look similar but also all walk in the same direction and are angled towards the viewer in more or less the same way. This reinforces the ‘they’re all the same effect ‘that constitutes generalization. Elsewhere (van Leeuwen, in press) I have pointed out how in press photographs of the Gulf War allied soldiers were usually depicted as individuals, doing things like defusing bombs, writing letters home, and so on, and Iraqi soldiers as groups involved in synchronized actions like aiming guns and surrendering. Distancing Showing people from a distance (in a 'long shot') can also decrease their individuality and make them more into types, because from a distance we will be less able to discern their individual features.


Society, in general, is influenced by media great deal nowadays but American society, in particular, has altogether a very impressionable effect by it and media nowadays can make or break a perception or an impression, recent elections were the biggest example of that. The portrayal of Asian particular East Asians by Hollywood as this stereotypical image of a person who is only good enough to be the supporting role along with certain negative physical attributes has impacted the way American see Asian Americans and it can be reversed the exact same way as it is portrayed.

Exercise IV : Class Exercise Based on Reading Set 7

For this exercise we were required to have read the reading set 7 and discuss with our group and share the topics that we plan to explore or investigate along those lines.

The introduction of 'Handbook of Visual analysis' talks about methods and wireframes of how there are different ways to interpret visuals and take out meaning from it. The book also emphasises on the fact that these methods are not always required to be taken in consideration while analysing a visual.

Sometimes the analysis can be done without the methods defined in the book. The methods/categories defined the book vary from how different groups are portrayed in the media including journalism, to analysing historical art pieces using the techniques and tips given by the art historians.  To the chapter that talks about understanding how different things can have completely different meanings in various cultures.


My first topic was to investigate how certain groups are always shown to some sort of role in the mainstream media. for example, a Chinese guy si always shown as someone who is either good with maths or is a kung fu fighter.

My second topic was to find out about how different colors, shapes and things can have different meanings in different cultures. For example, calling someone an Owl is considered an insult in Indian/Pakistani culture but in the western culture, an owl represents wisdom.

The third topic was how advertising have shifted the tone towards smoking. From something that was vastly celebrated and acknowledged as manly to something that's not good for your health. (Eg The Marlboro man)

The topic that I decided to go for was the first one. I am gonna investigate how the tone and attitude towards a certain community forms an opinion and perception about certain communities.