Asian Misrepresentation in Media | Peter Westacott | TEDxIthacaCollege

Peter Westacott speaks about the portrayals (or lack thereof) of Asians in the media. Speaking from a psychological perspective, Peter Westacott discusses the consequences of whitewashing and stereotypes and implores for more dynamic, empowering, versatile roles for Asians in media. Peter Westacott is a senior psychology and sociology major at Ithaca College. He is involved with a research team in the Psychology Department called the Center for Research on the Effects of Television (CRETV), directed by Cyndy Scheibe. He has been awarded membership to Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology in 2017.
Peter has always been passionate about advocating for equity, especially on topics of race, gender, and sexuality. He hopes to use both his degrees post-graduation to continue his vision for equality. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@jani8049]

the part where he said that asians aren't wanted in western culture and that we are only what we look like really got to me

[@fifi37475]

Why can't we fit into Western culture? So many other cultures are being represented in western culture right now, but Asians have always been misrepresented and have such a small chance of being in films and tv shows. Next, Asian women are not "weak". Women are not "weak". Who do you think you are, labelling our race and our gender as "weak"???

[@joshthemyth1]

ikr

[@christinaroseth5485]

not feeling wanted shouldn't bother you?? who are you to judge how they should or should not feel and invalidate their feelings about their personal racial experience?

[@anthonywu5258]

Shen People misunderstand race with culture. Imagine an american born child growing up around american kids. This kid will learn and be part of western culture, only to be told when they grow up that they don’t belong because of what they look like, even though they grew up exactly the same. I’m Chinese and I wouldn’t survive one second in China cause I have almost none of their culture. I’m American, and American culture doesn’t equal being white. Cause what you look like has nothing to do with your culture. I am proud to be Chinese, but I will always be closer to America than China, yet America rejects me. You can’t decide how we should feel about this issue because it’s impossible for you to put yourself in our shoes.

[@goodbad-boy]

you proved his point. you really do seem desperate to fit in loooooll

[@Calvbread]

Great speech! We Asians need to speak up :)

[@christopherlaw2074]

Damn right we do. But what will be better is if we can create our own heroes and role models and promote it to western media, like how Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen or Byung Hyun Lee did.

[@miao4884]

Not only speaking up, need to actually participate such as invest in movie industry, screen writing, sharing stories ...

[@shortfunnyvideos566]

Svsca your mostly shy doe

[@fjidfdfjd2459]

Asians in America are still divided by ethnicities speaking different ASian languages at home ... we have nothing in common with each other. in order to create this common Asian-American identity is we must stop immigration from Asia as we speak and wait another 1-200 years for all the foreign born Asians to die out

[@seriouslythough4396]

This is why I pretty much ignore Hollywood film and TV. The internet has opened up a world to international entertainment, we don’t need to be limited by Hollywood entertainment anymore. Not only because of their casting choices but because I also find it substandard in writing quality. Hollywood thinks it can get by on large budgets and special effects but people are realizing they need more than lame, tired formulas for entertainment. Sorry I know this has been off topic but watching non-Hollywood stereotypes is not only mind opening to stereotypes but also more entertaining.

[@biggerbitcoin5126]

When a girls says "you are very attractive for an Asian guy" I always reply "No I'm just attractive" and then give her a little wink.

[@inkkvibe]

This was good, touching and fully kept my focus, and this comes from a person who watches Ted talks to fall asleep.

[@artSFCA]

Bravo! This is why I moved to San Francisco where half the population are Asian!

[@HuongNguyen-mj5eo]

I don't know if he had watched the Ted talk named "Asian enough?" (done in 2016) by David Huynh - a Vietnamese American before he wrote the script for this, cause I found an amazing coincidence in the topic and even the examples he used to demonstrate his points of view. Even his childhood experience in the school play is similar to what David experienced. I just want to know this, cause I care about copyrights. I don't know if Ted is really aware of this. Anyway, he did a good job (not as excellent as David though).

[@waldfee2283]

I believe with the same look you have the similar experiences with other People.

[@Mark-te8ky]

we need more of this!

[@martin_chung]

Well articulated. This is fantastic.

[@TheYnotThat]

Peter, you nailed it more perfectly than I've ever heard. Thanks for your talk.

[@Shakester71]

Just look at the music and movie industry with their lack of Asian representation. How many great singers have we seen on reality shows like American Idol or the X Factor? Heejun Han was a tremendous singer. After AI, he moved to Korea and is a huge star. Same with guys like John Park,. Charice Pempengco (when she was still Charice) is a generational voice like a Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion or Christina Aguilera. Where is she now? When we think of Asians, we think of people like Jackie Chan or William Hung and thats the perfect example of the perception that most people have of Asians. They're either a kung fu master or a nerd.

[@miao4884]

Shakester71 exactly!

[@Kyeongjuni]

Yep it’s really sad. As an Asian teen, I’m labelled as a mere stereotype, not by my name.

[@fwefhwe4232]

why do yellow people take on white people's names ? as an Indian, i rarely come across non-christian Indians who take on white people's names

[@MsAltair85]

Well, there's kpop which it's becoming really mainstream

[@mommabangtan8555]

MsAltair85 It sure is.

[@Saturn_Ivory]

Oh my god he’s Soooooooo CUTE!!

[@user-dn4zh4fj6x]

I just wanted to really applaud you for explaining and breaking down what you're trying to talk about so well for everyone to understand clearly and see this situation from a different point of view, such as yours !

[@ghiberti]

Informative and witty! :)

[@miao4884]

Great speech!

[@mrmrmarcus6969]

What a heartfelt talk. Handsome too😁

[@admeister8]

Well done for creating the awareness!

[@user-rb7us2qm7c]

Thank you that was very helpful. As a psych undergrad i'm starting to re-think my area of interest. Is there a sub-discipline as Asian psychology? Media psychology would work too. BTW, he is hoooot

[@rozaizes357]

Excellent!!

[@phillipho5190]

Well said!

[@BUSCUS012]

thank you!

[@aleck4490]

well done!

[@3dogsnight73]

I’m so proud of you peter! Great job.

[@mrmrmarcus6969]

He's handsome! ❤

[@avisbro]

There are older immigrants that attempt to connect with descendant cultural habits towards me. They get louder and frustrated with me. I finally tell them I'm from San Diego. I was only in my birth country up to 5 years of age. My whole childhood as a military dependent is dismissed as people try to connect to a culture I have no clue about.

[@adityanagare9700]

Even Indians are stereotyped in Hollywood and not only Hollywood but also Bollywood sometimes stereotypes some groups of people in India

[@ramisakhan4399]

Indians are considered Asians, South Asians

[@centralaccountkoylabhwan1888]

Very true

[@KL00100]

Perfect.

[@velocisstarrle4480]

I am PROUD to be an ASIAN no matter how other races think about Asians ! Be proud of who you are because at the end we all are HUMAN, we are SAME species. Am I correct?

[@IG-ln7zt]

I'm white. Disallowed from being proud.

[@yqweqwun7390]

@@IG-ln7zt aah im not white... yah i feel sorry that white people arent allowed to celebrate their identity and thus inspire the section of white society which is demotivated hopeless white people atleast. I think if someone starts it and says we dont hate colored people...you can come along as well ...we just wanna moteivate fellow white people...i hope not many people wud get upset..

[@Stevaniezeal]

Spot on

[@AlexisSakellaris]

this issue is SUPER prevalent in theater as well! racism runs rampant in opera because it's so rooted in tradition, favorites like madame butterfly and the mikado get free passes all the time. often they are even performed in yellowface, a practice which seems to have not completely faded away the way blackface has. miss saigon, a hugely popular musical from the 90s, is consistently performed around the world despite its harmful racial and sexist stereotypes. the controversy that ensues is never as big as with films, since theater relies on a small but loyal fanbase. nevertheless, we need to put an end to cultural and racial misrepresentation in ALL forms of media!

[@Pinayfarmgirl]

Stereotyping is everywhere even in our own Asian countries. Like in the Philippines, the ligther your skin is the more attention and opportunities for you.

[@lawrenceyang9959]

This guy is half Asian and half white, so why do people see him as Asian and not white?

[@123456jalee]

because Asian culture is looked down upon by Western media even if you're half . I am half Chinese half Mexican living in America. I have also seen the Western media dignify asian men as like aliens. Or not human. They portray Asian men as emasculate, silly, nerd, kung fu people. Hollywoods influence reaches to the world and this is how they want to portray Asians.

[@123456jalee]

@chonburi11 Okay man but the Western media clumps all asians in one lump. All weak, sumbmissive, etc. Trust me , I live in America. If there are any East Asians like you said skinny, nerd, etc its because the diet over years. Mao prob fed them white rice, tofu ( estrogen food) . If 1or 2 generations eat meat, eat animal fats, drink raw milk instead of that they will look strong & healthy. Look at the Mongolian diet, look up what they eat and tell me if they look weak to you

[@lawrenceyang9959]

To be honest, this guy looks almost as white as Keanu Reeves...

[@1211jinx]

@@lawrenceyang9959 he had Asian eyes.

[@Terrybulll]

Still as relevant today

[@rivertells8876]

Still chose Daniel Dae Kim. He did a great job in lost but we needed more handsome asian guy in his place.

[@EugeneTChu]

He also quit "Hawaii 5-0" due to unequal pay and screen time compared to his White co-stars

[@MrCooL-yt7kz]

He is a handsome guy !

[@ivangilepo8549]

They also stereotype the Latino in Suicide Squad. Diablo the fire guy they think that all Latinos are gangster and drug traffickers and murderer in the movie Suicide Squad.

[@jasonreviews]

jackie chan got his fame from HK... Not US..... There is still no such thing.

[@joshthemyth1]

no he definitely had more fame and notoriety here in the states especially after rumble in the bronx that was fire

[@joshthemyth1]

also back then for some weird reason it was cool to be american i dunno why it was just like that i remember all that back then it was weird because iam asian and ppl thought i knew kung fu for no reason lol

[@tenzinyeshe7060]

@@joshthemyth1 youre wrong. He got more fame after the western medias gave him more movies but he wouldnt have if he hadnt been popular already and it was back in asian and asian market not just hk.

[@koloblouandsith9160]

What is his name??

[@brandonsmith666]

AZN represent!

[@haej8279]

He’s hella hot like damn

[@rhythmandacoustics]

His voice is too high pitch but good jawline and appears to be tall. He might be mixed because of his last name. The only way to have more Asian actors in the US cinema is to have more Asian Directors and Producers. The last guy who almost made it to mainstream was back in the 90's, Robin Shou from Mortal Kombat, and Beverly Hills Ninja.

[@mikezheng697]

Recent years, Asian women start to like dating white men more often than before. Asian women spoke of No Dating Asian men policy, shameful. It seems Asian men are at the very bottom of social, romance chain.

[@rumncoke3059]

Asian men don't place their femals on check..now you have this

[@aniketsinha2781]

I don't have a problem with less representation but problem with wrong representation.

[@rosie6]

he is so cute❤

[@licenseddrugdealer7725]

A very long way to see any signifcant improvement in the depiction of Asian men in the West social media. To be fairly speaking, it is vice versa in Asia anyways. Thus, its all come down to Asian population making up only ~6% of the total population.

[@andrewau1993]

You can go to represent asian in Hollywood

[@natalietsang]

but when he says media he really refers to western media because there is lots of content outside America.

[@unreliablenarrator6649]

Did you get the part about him being American? Next you'll be telling us about African media and European media, right?

[@unreliablenarrator6649]

Please check your Asian stereotypes. Oh, b=y the way, and AAPI recently bought the LA Times, should they only run Asian news and hire Asian reporters?

[@popflorals]

@PurelyAfrican Asians have a higher income per household because they usually have more family living with them. So of course an asian household with more people working(ex: 2 parents, grandma, an uncle/aunt, maybe even a cousin, 3 kids) would bring in more income than a white family who usually do not have extended family living with them(ex: 2 parents with 2 kids).

[@123456jalee]

Most of it comes from Hollwood , USA media

[@kurniawanarifmaspul]

Why I felt like some of his presentations adapted Natalie Tran?

[@avisbro]

I was given a back handed compliment. 😐I was told I'd be a great surgeon (cardiology),...😏 because of my small Asian hands.😣 Oh geez,...😒

[@theghostofspookwagen4715]

Good luck being a cardiosurgeon. It's a tough road but it is very rewarding if you get there. I believe in you bro

[@tmeownoyb3539]

Dbz evolution, aviator, iron Man 3

[@officialarchiemo]

Where the hood asians at on ted

[@isaaaaa6464]

But I feel like Korean, Chinese and Japanese have a different stereotype to Arabs,Pakistanis and Indians. Arabs, Pakistanis and Indians aren’t seen as feminine, and extremely intelligent

[@deadcodex4129]

True, the culture of Eastern Eurasia (Southeast Asian and East Asia) are very different to that of the Middle East and South Asia. Although when people hear the word "Asian" in North America they are usually going to assume that person is talking about a person of East/Southeast Asian Descent. However, in the UK it's reversed, people tend to interpret South Asian/Middle Eastern when they hear the word "Asian". It's all about assumption and it can vary depending on where you are located.

[@nnt9498]

This is neither here nor there but what i find funny is that everyone forgets that russians, who live in a country that takes up almost 50% of asia's land mass it seems, are not considered when talking about asians. They seem to be shoved in with europeans or are in there own little space.

[@fran9201]

@@deadcodex4129 actully Middle Eastern people in UK are still called "Middle Eastern", people from the Indian Subcontinent are called "Asians"

[@FRISHR]

It’s not as bad as Middle Eastern’s representation in media.

[@Kyeongjuni]

FRISHR that’s really true. It’s a shame no one ever talks about it in that sense.

[@meeraaln]

as a middle eastern i say.. both are bad. there's no reason to compare and say ones worse than the other, we both deserve better.

[@Shakester71]

Its simple. Asians aren't cast into main roles because Hollywood doesn't think they would be able to appeal to a wide audience. Even a movie about Crazy Rich Asians, couldn't cast an Asian to play the main role. Instead, they took a half British, half Thai actor to play the role of a Singaporean. How lame is that? You mean to tell me there isn't a Chinese guy in Hollywood that could play that lead role? Daniel Wu wasn't available? I thought someone like Godfrey Gao would have been a perfect for that role and he would have appeal to the women as well.

[@theghostofspookwagen4715]

>half thai >not asian Hmm.

[@wy2528]

yes, indeed!

[@user-cw2py6wh8l]

Go watch shang-chi

[@belle2496]

Mr. Unioshi (not sure how to spell his name) is supposed to be Japanese, but we Japanese talk about his name not sounding like Japanese all the time.😂 Where did it come from? I’ve never heard of Japanese name like that.

[@1211jinx]

Not Uniyoshi? Or Unyoshi 🤔

[@trollking99]

I'm mixed Hispanic and Asian. Why do you all need validation from someone else? Do your own thing and stop with this victim mentality.

[@meeraaln]

i know you did not just tell someone who's part of an OPRESSED(caps for emphasis) group to stop the "victim mentality" .... they are victims. period. no pretending here.

[@trollking99]

@@meeraaln I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not...

[@Niancat2366]

3:38

[@offilawnoone9020]

In recent movies, I began to notice that gays are usually colored and often Asian.

[@allieschultz9192]

@chonburi11 There's this journalist Lily Singh, and I honestly would love to see her in a movie. She is southeast Asian, and if you look her up on KZbin, her skits are amazing.

[@allieschultz9192]

@chonburi11 I'm sorry, I didn't realize India is considered just south, not south-east, I should have checked, thank you for correcting me.

[@allieschultz9192]

@chonburi11 We need more representation for Southeast Asians, I agree. I don't know many actors, politicians, journalists, even authors from Southeast Asia. I'm slowly starting to see more, but nowhere near the rate I want to.

[@kennethalvaro5114]

"crazy rich asian" an american produce movie with all asian actors

[@shwmurmssybnk]

kenneth Alvaro it was one of the first since the “joy luck club”

[@dinosaur8724]

@dek heay Pffffft still they are not yellow they are brown so just shut up

[@prabhdeepkaur6785]

bruvh some times i feel like people forget the desi community i.e India, Pak ect is also considers as ASIAN

[@jordyt1109]

I feel this would be more genuine if he was full Asian. His message is still true...but he has privilege and can choose to identity with his Whiteness when he so chooses.

[@AceofDlamonds]

Stop saying "Caucasian" please. There are very few actual Caucasians in the US.

[@nein9082]

Are you talking about how most """whites""" in the U.S. are mixed or talking about the people from the Caucasus region?

[@theghostofspookwagen4715]

Quite a few Armenians because of the genocide tho

[@pepelepew1077]

12:03 It's possibly a false statement. It's that bad out there, I know after 60 years of unmitigated abuse. Only when I turned 55 did I wake up and do an inventory, I had walked through life inured to the humiliation. I'm not plugging myself, but I am more handsome than the speaker. Canada is in many ways worse than the USA in academics.

[@wanglee21]

Almost every Asian tedx talk is about Asian empowerment. This should speak volumes of how we Asian see the western society.

[@JoeSexPack]

Ok, no non-pales can play Shakespeare or Star Wars roles. Very few. Just like PW wants.

[@MartellThaCool]

LMAO 🤣 😂 non pales

[@offilawnoone9020]

Dude, stop talking. They don't care. Why would they?!

[@manuelcampagna7781]

The plural of "schema" is "schemata". Just sayin'.

[@lcmuckler9951]

.

[@ajtam05]

My boy said schema. Haha...those who know, know.

[@jamesmartuccio5424]

what if the American actors are just better than asian actors in certain instances.

[@jeovonisanchez4821]

Representation in Hollywood is your biggest problem. Your doing pretty good.

[@jessz9284]

Destroy hollywood.

[@MrALenCar321]

What about dragon Ball evolution? Goku was white.

[@behonestkid1456]

Don't overthink be manup and aggressive

[@Miss_em_16]

I am white but , I believe Asian culture should be more into western culture!!!!! I believe that even if things have changed slightly since this video , I hope There can be a change.

[@littleboyboom_boom4726]

Even Asian have euro standard beauty standard

[@dragonboy718]

SO WHY WERE U SO UPSET WHEN A PERSON WAS ASKING WHAT UR BACKGROUND WAS ??? YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD TO TELL HIM UR ETHNICITY

[@feonjun]

I don't think he was. Rather, he's used it as an example of what a *_Schema_* is. Anecdotally speaking, most Asians will tell you their background. We are not as uptight about that kind of stuff. However, I can't speak for Asian millennials though.

[@daniellor6577]

Do you think asian people want more exposure? I know i dont and i dont care. Spend less time thinking about what people think about yourself and do you.

[@echo.echo08]

When one moves or migrates to another country, one should integrate or adjust to that country. i understand that many would want to preserve one's culture but let's not judge or demonize those who choose to fully integrate. if you force your foreign culture into the country that welcomed you, you become a conqueror and since no proud patriot likes conquerors, expect resistance against you (and possibly your entire race)--that's when you create a divide. you want the american dream, but you think your old country's culture is superior and more important and then you reprimand your child for being too american forcing them to two (or multiple) cultures when they have every right to choose? you're like a freeloader who takes the master bedroom and doesn't want to do any housework; who then invites more freeloaders and forces them to be as lazy even if they probably want to work their due

[@khalidsuxx]

this is soo 2010. nowadays kpop conquer the earth n everybody wanna look asian

[@billymadisonsbestestfriend5038]

complaining about a company or organization such as hollywood for not doing something to represent your own whichever qualities.. is like being mad at another religion for not believing in the things u do.. GO make your own avenue in the line of bussiness u want.. and stop complaining that their bussiness endeavours dont match your own.. wishes.. -_-

[@SI-cd7xs]

holding a "talk" at a community college to try and convince women to find u attractive. if that's not rock bottom i don't know what is

[@Kyeongjuni]

CapiTen10 you took out a little piece of the bigger picture he was trying to draw. Don’t try to boost your ego on the internet by being jealous of guys like him. You obviously weren’t really listening to what he was actually talking about

[@MsAltair85]

He doesn't have to convince anyone, he's 10 times hotter than most white guys lmao

[@rosie6]

Pls look at him. He doesn’t need to convince nobody his face does the talking

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Stop complaining and make your own damn movies.

[@monbjra]

We do. We do not attack white men like white movies attack asian men and women.

[@xxxzz8413]

Hello incel.

[@feonjun]

@@xxxzz8413 Projecting your own experience? Despite the negative representation, Asian men do just fine. Asian men's rant is not about preserving the Asian women. Trust me, with all the women in the world, Asian women are not the top tier.

[@xxxzz8413]

@@feonjun Ok incel ally

[@EugeneTChu]

Movies are expensive to make and produce. Due to politics and culture, American movies with Asian leads and realism often get overlooked or ignored