Summary
Asian Americans
are a minority group of the American population. Popular media exposure to
Asian Americans lacks portraying actuality/reality of Asian Americans. Especially, Hollywood is unfair and
destructive in its portrayal of Asians. The goal of this video essay is to
demonstrate stereotypical, archetypal and often negative characteristics are
imposed on Asians in Hollywood movies. There are clear indications that such media
characterizations are reinforcing misperceptions and misrepresentation that are
manifesting in real life.
Movies from the
early century have been successful in portraying this stereotypical version of
the Asian woman. Many of popular films do not reflect the true individuality of
the typical Asian American living in America. In Hollywood films, Asian
Americans often characterized such as ‘China doll’ (Inferior and subordinate to
whites, hypersexual, exotic, overly feminine and eager to please), ‘Dragon
lady’ (seductive, untrustworthy, female version of the Asian bad guy), or
‘Women warrior’(strong, independent, often is a hero). Lastly, through the
video essay I intend to provide the very meanings and implications of media
representation of Asian American women in both negative and positive ways; and
also to explain the relationship between reality and the media world.
Bibliography
Xing, Jun. Asian America Through the Lens: History, Representations, and Identity.
Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, 1998. Print.
Larson, Stephanie G. Media & Minorities: The Politics of Race in News and Entertainment.
Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006. Print.
Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. London: British Broadcasting Corp, 1972. Print.
Tung, Jennifer.
Asian 'It' Girls Say So Long to the Dragon
Lady. The New York Times
May 21, 2000,
Sunday.
Chin, Jean L. "Psychotherapy for Asian American Woman
Warriors." Women & Therapy. 30 (2007): 7-16. Print.
Nam, Vickie. Yell-oh Girls!: Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity, and
Growing Up Asian American. New York: Quill, 2001. Print.
Videos;
Rob, Marshall. 2005. Memoirs of a Geisha. Columbia Pictures, Dreamworks and Spyglass
Entertainment.
Cook, Barry, Tony Bancroft. 2004. Mulan. [United States], Walt Disney Home
Entertainment.
Goldberg , Leonard.2000. Charlie's Angels. Columbia Pictures.
Margaret Cho interview:
Hawaii Five-0 (Kono's
Biggest Hits):
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