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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
A New Image for Asian Men?
he original flavor stereotype of Asian men may have its inspiration in Hollywood mockery of the first wave of Chinese immigrants in the Old West. Bonanza's gimpy Hop Sing was the only recurring image of Asian men for most of TV's formative decades. For variety's sake, Hollywood racked its brain and added the coolie, the waiter and the bucktoothed enemy soldier.
Corean soccer star Ahn Jung-hwan
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Fortunately, Hollywood is no longer a one-stop outlet for depictions of Asian men.
Pro sports's $30 billion estimated annual U.S. rake rivals the $35 billion pocketed by Hollywood. Driven by athletic excellence, pro sports allow no room for image jiggering to satisfy racial biases. The exploits of dashing Ahn Jung-hwan in the World Cup wasn't scripted for white American mass audiences. The straight-sets drubbing that a tall young Thai named Paradorn Srichaphan gave Andre Agassi at Wimbledon can't be left on the cutting-room floor. Ichiro's leadoff-hitting and base-stealing can't be imitated with wires and special effects.
Hi-tech and bio-tech -- whose estimated $400 billion annual revenues dwarf the media -- have spawned another set of images that clash with Hollywood's. How do Americans reconcile premiere AIDS researcher David Ho or Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang with Hollywood's Hop Sings and Long Duck Dongs?
Questions arise. Doubts are engendered.
Even modern culture -- commonly tarred by association -- isn't entirely subject to Hollywood's reflexive Asian-male undercutting. Classical music lovers are nourished by Yo-Yo Ma's gourmet cello notes and thrill to the daring rifts of Japan's iron chefs. Younger Americans surrender racial identities to a no-holds-barred universe created by manga artists. Linguists and speed readers frequently abandon Hollywood's relentless quest for the lowest common denominator in favor of films made for Asian sensibilities.
To the extent sports, culture and business enjoy a tighter relationship with reality than does Hollywood, they offer Asian men a fairer, more compelling stage. And these spheres too pack big audiences that take note of the yawning abyss that separates Hollywood's "original flavor" Asian men from the crispier, spicier variety in the real world.
Is America seeing the emergence of a new, improved Asian male image? If so, is it making life easier for Asian American men? Or just stimulating a more determined effort at undercutting?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 04:38:55 AM)
Political Observer,
I remember back in about '93 watching Margaret Cho's sitcom about a Korean-American family, (I think it was called "All American Girl"?) It was pretty funny, but I think it lasted only one season. I guess there just wasn't enough of an audience for it. But it was interesting because I learned more about Asian families and people from watching, and also it made them seem like just another American family. I wonder if another show like that will come along. Maybe more people should write or email the TV networks and show their interest in another show like it.
curious girl
Friday, August 23, 2002 at 06:07:26 (PDT)
Huu76:
You wanna talk about putting a BMW in everybody's driveway? What does that have to do with this topic? We are talking about the AM image in the media. Before you try to insult me, stick to the subject.
Political Observer:
I'm sorry that I came off so rash & mean. I didn't mean to, honest. However (& I say this to Blacks to), don't blame other's for what's wrong. Get together (regardless of race, sex, & religion) & try to change it. That's all I was trying to say. Back to the point... Why wait to see if there is a "market" for Asians in the Black & White community? Just do it. Don't even come public with it (until it's ready). Maybe it's just me, but I think that there is a bigger market than you think. It's not just Asians & White asiaphiles that are into Asian culture. You'd be supprised!
I know that there are stations around, but I meant for Asians to come out with BIGGER stations/movies/shows that can reach a larger audience everywhere. Not just in "major" cities. I just want to say that I am sorry, again. In my first post, I really didn't mean to be such a bitch. The LAST thing I want is for Asians & Blacks to hate each other.
Sammi-Would You Hit A Girl With Glasses?
Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 21:20:03 (PDT)
Troy Sunner,
you wrote "Show us that they can speak and feel"
That is precisely what I'm refering to. When you see white and black characters on television, they get happy and laugh, but also get pissed off and lash out. There's also a mellow side and light momments projected.
Asian characters don't do that. They just exist in a vacuum. The characters are physically apparent but they don't interact on a personal level.
Changes have been made and hollywood is making progress, but the new asian male image has quite a way to go.
You have to believe that in many ways people in hollywood who don't embrace asians use this lack of asian characters with more common traits as a way to implicitly exclude positive asian images. It's not a suspicion anymore, it's pretty obvious.
I live in california and I notice a lot of white people who not only tolerate but also celebrate and embrace asians. Unfortunately most of them are not in positions of power to make the changes needed. They're just common folk like me who live day to day and don't possess political and entertainment authority.
Political Observer
Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 10:35:17 (PDT)
"There's no question that a new image of asians is emerging. The remaining question is will it be accepted in mainstream and accepted by white and black audiences. I would certainly hope so, but the reality is there is jealousy and old racism.
I actually don't mind seeing more positive images of asian people and some black people feel the same way as some white people"
The good and easy part is that all that has to be done is to develop the characters just a tad. Show us that they can speak and feel. It doesn't take a whole movie to bankroll, just flesh out the character a bit. Each of these movies can be redeemed very easily by giving the actors a script. Not a big or lengthy one but a couple of words won't kill anyone.
Toy Sunner
Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 22:12:18 (PDT)
Sorry Ed.
CaliGirl and huu76,
Like I said
"Usually only asians and white guys with a fetish for asians buy these movies in large quantities. It's sad because asians do have a lot to offer movie going audiences. There is not enough support for it"
There's no question that a new image of asians is emerging. The remaining question is will it be accepted in mainstream and accepted by white and black audiences. I would certainly hope so, but the reality is there is jealousy and old racism.
I actually don't mind seeing more positive images of asian people and some black people feel the same way as some white people. It would certainly help if more asians were cast in sitcoms and dramas. There's an everyday feel about those shows that cause characters to appear common. There's gradual changes taking place that will improve quality of life for asian entertainers and athletes.
Hopefully there will not be a backlash because whenever asians do well it seems to piss off everyone who don't do as well. That's all I'm saying.
Political Observer
Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 12:41:37 (PDT)
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