The Model Minority - Annika’s Take

Growing up in Asia, I admit that I have had the privilege to receive a more overt exposure to Asian local TV shows and films that have been produced and written in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. Yet, I’ve still noticed the drastic disconnect that Hollywood films and North American TV shows have with either Asian culture or Asian characters. 

When I was in my preteens, I would look up to many female actresses in Hollywood and yearned - nay fantasized - to be their character growing up. Whether it was riding on the back of a Vespa with the boy of my dreams and having a doppelganger pop star in Italy, or learning the ropes to becoming the Princess of Genovia; there was little to no Asian representation in any young adult or children films during that time. And so unfortunately the only forms of media that I could share the slightest bit of affinity or resemblance to were “American Dragon: Jake Long” and “Mulan”. 

I’ve realized that many Asian character arcs lacked the complexities within their acting roles; ones without depth, three-dimensional, challenges, and own personal developments. They were solely just a stereotype, a cookie-cutter trope, or merely just a supporting character to help a white protagonist achieve their own goals, in a children’s TV show or coming of age movie. Well, I guess London Tipton in “The Suite Life” could be put up for debate ...since she goes against the model minority and academic / scholar cliche…?

The New York Times stated a study reporting that, over a one-year period, of the 242 scripted shows on broadcast, cable and streaming TV, just one-third had a series regular who was Asian-American or Pacific Islander. Keeping in mind that these shows were all set in cities such as San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, which all have significant Asian-American and Pacific Islander populations (33 percent, 12 percent and 24 percent, respectively).

The 2018 movie “Crazy Rich Asians” became a huge milestone for many Asian Americans, as it hit international theatres with an all-Asian cast, an Asian American director, and an Asian, as one of its screenwriters. 

Arthur Dong, Chinese American filmmaker and author of “Hollywood Chinese: The Chinese in American Feature Films” acknowledged that, “the sensation of “Crazy Rich Asians,” both in its critical and box office success, is a sign that things are changing.” Dong stated, “what is different is that the Asian American community won’t sit back. Filmmakers are being nurtured. Attitudes are being nurtured and strengthened where we won’t take that yellow-face casting anymore, where we won’t take that kind of whitewashing attitude of making an Asian character white.”

And although we have seen other recent notable features like “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before”, “Raya and the Last Dragon”, and are looking forward to viewing “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” on the big screen; all with robust and creditable roles, and that equally highlight Asian characters in a positive, powerful and relatable light for other Asian youths... I hope that this sets the course in motion for all future Hollywood films to come, and ensures significant Asian representation going forward.

Resources:

• Why Do Asian-Americans Remain Largely Unseen in Film and Television?

• The Evolution of Chinese and Asian Faces in Hollywood