Asian Representation in American Media | Visibility in Hollywood

[@itsgdubs]

This is my first real attempt at the "video essay" format! I don't think I'll be doing it too often but thought it was fitting for this specific topic. That said, I have so much more respect for KZbinrs who pump out video essays week to week, damn! *bows down*

[@DesigirlxIshika]

Wow, this is such a great video! Honestly, the most intersectional and educational video I've seen so far. I love how you provided data, and quotes and broke down the representation. Major kudos to you for pointing out that Asian does not always and exclusively mean East Asian, this is something which is always missing in videos with Asian American representation. As an Asian, specifically as a South Asian, I also think we have a long way to go before we start seeing decent representation. One thing I've noticed lately that any Asian representation that's come out, everyone consumes it and put it on this high pedal where analysis of it and criticism is not accepted. It's true that we haven't had representation but that doesn't mean we put with any kinds of it. Recent media representations like "Crazy Rich Asians," and "Never Have I Ever" have been so widely consumed and acclaimed. But these two are perfect example of representations that we should actually be critical of. They rely on overly racial stereotypes in order to cater to the white gaze. It's not about representation for ourselves, it more about how can we make Asians relatable to non-Asians? Although the movie "The Half of It" didn't get the hype it deserved, it's a perfect example of how stories about us can be told in an authentic way without relaying on racial stereotypes or jokes. I want to see more Asian representation like "The Half of It."

[@itsgdubs]

Aw thank you Nesha for your kind words and thoughtful response! I agree. Analysis and criticism of works starring Asian leads is not something we should shy away from. Such conversations will only open doors to more nuanced, authentic stories that do not rely on stereotypes. And yes, The Half of It definitely deserved more hype! It is such a good film👏👏

[@jcwt_pdx]

There are Asian male characters as well as female characters, but the males are often overlooked and made invisible to mainstream media, at least until recently. ❤

[@fifigaia8451]

The point about diversify representation is a great one. It is one thing to be represented, but better to have diversify roles.

[@Yojimbo61]

This is why when I grew up I preferred anime, american media in the 90s up till 2010 was very racist not just against asians, but black, hispanic were all always stereotypes. While even in the 90s you had some white people playing natives, and even asians. Like even look at the 80s and 90s Ji Goe all the characters are like purposely different races to make different action figures, but they are like stereotypes of a race or something. While anime, even though they clearly looked like cartoons, people were never really stereotypes, they just had themes such as justice, doing the right thing etc.

[@thisperson199]

very well spoken, I stumbled on this video for research and this was a very good watch 👍🏼

[@SengokutheBudhha]

Nice video and proud of uhh. U r doing great work. Proud Asian!!

[@itsgdubs]

Thank you!! :')

[@SengokutheBudhha]

@@itsgdubs I ping uh on Instagram. Msg when Ull get free

[@foggg7]

i love this video sm!! this is literally what I’ve been trying to convey but i couldn’t ever find a video on it 😭

[@HeleePandya]

Absolutely loved this video! It was so well explained, a lot of videos on this topic often end up digressing into rants but I loved how well researched and thought of this video essay was. I really appreciated the different layers/sub-topics you went through or atleast attempted to cover in brief. And the amount of examples too. I'm definitely going to check out atleast a few of the articles and videos you mentioned in your video. Kudos to your efforts and all the best!! :)) P.S.~ I have to choose a topic for an essay I have to write for Contemporary Issues paper at college and I think I might have just found my inspiration(so thanks a ton!)

[@itsgdubs]

Aw thank you so much! I think it took about two weeks for me to gather research for this video - so I really appreciate you taking the time to watch 💕 And yay! Happy to hear you have some ideas for your Contemporary Issues paper! Wishing you the best of luck!!🤓

[@HeleePandya]

@@itsgdubs wow, you can tell that this is so well researched...absolutely enjoyed watching itt :))

[@itsgdubs]

@@HeleePandya 🥺💕

[@cloudsss35]

yeah this is a rant just to spread awareness:/ It is immensely annoying to see Asians as only East Asians and NO South Asians. Even when rarely represented, the character would either do a TERRIBLE brown voice which sounds NOTHING like the Indian English accent or/and would be inherently terrible AT English- aka not knowing enough words, vocabulary, stuttering etc. As an Indian born and raised in India, English is one of the two official languages here and EVERYONE I know is absolutely perfect at everything the language offers- it is the first language for most of us, and pretty much for everyone in urban areas. Then there is the matter concerning an Indian-American (or Indian-Brit, Indian-French... wherever you are raised- your parents are probably immigrants) and an Indian raised in their own country. An Indian-American would speak American English in a white accent, obviously, having been raised there and an Indian would speak English in an Indian accent- (which fyi, SOUNDS NOTHING LIKE THE BROWN VOICE REPRESENTED IN HOLLYWOOD- we do not weirdly stretch words or stress upon syllables AT ALL, it is, in very gross terms, a watered-down British accent- learnt from them after they colonised and stole our wealth and centuries of prosperity) however THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO DISTINCTION IN THEIR LEVEL OF PROWESS IN THE LANGUAGE. This is quite accurately depicted, atleast to a great extent in Never Have I Ever, directed by Indian-American 'The Office' star Mindy Kaling. fyi 2.0, the Indian accent sounds nothing like Raj's from Big Bang Theory( WHAT EVEN IS THAT ACCENT NOOOO) and none of us are weird socially awkward geeks who can't approach the opposite sex and WE DO NOT SMELL OF CURRY/GRAVY (thank you very much white stereotype.) The same applies for every ridiculous Indian accent(PLEASE FOR HEAVENS' SAKE GET IT RIGHT FOR ONCE) and stereotyped Indian character in Hollywood. The level of inaccuracy- brown characters directed by ignorant whites who do not have even the slightest clue leaves me utterly flabbergasted. great video btw!

[@Rugged-Mongol]

Even more difficult for a traditionally masculine Asian man like me. It's as if everything and everyone is against us XD

[@metropunklitan]

wow the audio and camera quality is amazing!! i love the ideas expressed in this video as well and i can relate on a deep level with everything you said

[@itsgdubs]

Thanks so much for the kind words! I'm glad to hear that the video resonated with you :')

[@Rugged-Mongol]

If we're ever gonna make a Jonny Kim biopic, then it would be my humble honor to play the role.

[@theuzers]

why i wathed mainly chinese tv shows as a kid

[@takashi2843]

You look like Chinese actress Shen Yue

[@flower_girl4983]

I've never seen myself be represented in anything.

[@jefe.amo32]

Lucy Liu’s character was adopted by a white man, John Cleese. And her boyfriend was Matt LeBlanc. 😢💔

[@tuffybaxton6162]

I love the netflix show Beef And I'm not Asian

[@nicholasrod3097]

Nothing was wrong with Lucy liu

[@nicholasrod3097]

Nothing was wrong with Charlie’s angels movie 🎥

[@satanshameer690]

What about Asian male characters. There's absolutely none

[@ironheart5830]

Yeah

[@Skw1813]

The Hollywood model when creating Asian characters is very black and white, and definitely comes with an agenda. For Asian men they don’t allow any representation unless it fits into the emasculation agenda that has been put in place. Society doesn’t like Asian men being men, makes them uncomfortable. Racial gatekeeping is real, and is the reason you don’t see many Asian men in mainstream media, whether that is Hollywood, music, sports, etc… Asian women also have a few stipulations as well. One they also have to fit some sort of stereotype, and are usually served as sidekicks to the main character. Another big one that does seem to stand out is they need to go interracial. If you look at all prominent Asian Women within western media, one thing that is common across the board, they are mostly not with Asian men. On and off screen. This has programmed people into thinking in order to be a strong Asian woman, they need to strive to be the white mans arm candy so to speak.

[@ramisakhan4399]

She mentioned how asian American men are typically portrayed, mentioned male asian actors and that East Asia isn't the only subcontinent in Asia

[@satanshameer690]

@@ramisakhan4399 so, what about representation of East Asian and southeast Asian men

[@Essays4College]

Asians have been identified as a discriminated group whether that's true or not is another story entirely. Nevertheless once that was perceived Corporate America has started including Asians in tv commercials. It's quite noticeable. Nothing wrong with that at all but it just shows how Corporate America works.

[@tragicallyhoney]

There’s representation in Asia just watch Asian television

[@mini-bi8482]

4:27

[@ThugginGame-sb3du]

I dont see white people complaining about lack of white represenin asian films

[@elangbam3115]

We don't need Hollywood to represent us. We have Kdrama, K-pop, kmovies.

[@KahinAhmed72]

True, but it’d be objectively better if Hollywood was more racially-inclusive with their stories like in “Better Luck Tomorrow”.

[@DP-yn3jf]

All of those Korean movies and media do not represent Asian Americans.

[@daeith1233]

@@DP-yn3jf bc they aren't americans, they don't represent any type of american tbh if you look at it that way

[@DP-yn3jf]

@@daeith1233 yeah of course they don’t. They are Asian media that is really good but we can’t just be satisfied with them because most Asians can’t really see themselves in that media. We need more

[@tragicallyhoney]

@@KahinAhmed72it’s American media they don’t need to cater for everyone white ppl created Hollywood get over it

[@blameitoncapitalism]

Your American in Asian-American is way much more prominent. You spent 95% of the video talking about yourself. It's the word you used the most. "I, I, I'm, I, myself, I, I, me, I". Also provided zero interferences in a attempt of solution. Incredibly individualist for a topic that is supposed to be treated as collective, historical issue, since it IS a social issue, but you seem like you can only think in your own perspective and about your personal story. Very American.

[@Jun_8925]

The 1st person pronoun being used to describe an individual's own experiences ... how is that confusing, or indicative of "American" world views? If anything, it would be more "American" to make sweeping generalizations about the world as truth, without the disclaimer that it's just one person's response to a topic. Kinda like what you're doing right now - dropping a poorly thought out idea and taking someone's words in the worst possible understanding. Also lmao... so if this person just replaced the words "i" and "my" with "we" and "our," it would fit better with talking about social issues? 😂

[@pingpong9343]

Cant you watch Bollywood isn't that the Asian Hollywood? What is the Caucasian representation in Bollywood? The double standards are kind of ridiculous to be honest.

[@sivamdeb7605]

There are tons of Caucasian actors in Bollywood....I don't know what you are talking about...?

[@gy6g4f47]

I never knew that there were caucasians living in India . You can find millions of people from different races in America but in India most people are Indian that's the difference.

[@Teleios15013]

Bollywood is Indian media. It’s not the “Asian Hollywood” lol who the hell told you that

[@TheSunshinefee]

Indian movies are mostly watched by Indians and most of the money they make are coming from Indians world wide. And, in India, the majority of people living there are brown whereas America is a melting pot and 40 percent of the money made by Hollywood is coming from non-white audiences.

[@GurleenKaur-co3lg]

The thing is Hollywood is an American media and bollywood is indian media. Hollywood should show all Americans. Because America is diverse , people from all over the world live in america. America is not all one race .

[@Bloonik]

2:50