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.
It is interesting that the topic of people stereotypes come in different shapes and forms since the media is always evolving. All the facts mentioned in BK's blog are certainly correct, but I believe there is a deeper underlying meaning behind these generalizations. Stereotypes are meant to give us a basic picture or idea of a person/object as a starting point. It's a way of familiarizing ourselves with one another and the things surrounding us. Unfortunately, the film and television industry in Hollywood has used this to manipulate the way we think. I don't necessarily believe that it is their fault entirely because their mission is to entertain and make money. Therefore, directors and filmmakers will do whatever it takes to generate cash. Entertainment always comes with controversy, so it isn't a surprise that they have built false images of our society. I also believe that we are to blame for this flaw because it is our duty to research and inspect these facts. People are often too lazy to do their homework on these issues since everything has become automated and free. As a result, we believe what we see and hear when it reaches the surface. I think BK did a great job in challenging the way we reflect on this topic and our society.
ReplyDeleteI think it is an interesting topic to think about the Asian people's memorial of American. In the other hand, I think Asian people also has different thoughts for American people based on different eras. For example, in the Pacific War, Japanese people has a huge different thoughts for American people than now. Many details should effect the memorial of each person. People also stand in different angles to think about different phenomenons. But I just think that each one are specials, this world are become more involve and more diverse. social media has a strong power to effect the thinking of people, but has a strong faith should be an important personality of each person.
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