Asian Misrepresentation in Media | Peter Westacott | TEDxIthacaCollege

Summary

This transcript addresses the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of Asians in media, focusing on how stereotypes are reinforced through limited portrayals. The speaker discusses the impact of whitewashing and yellowface, sharing personal experiences and research to show how these practices perpetuate harmful biases. They emphasize the importance of diverse, empowering roles for Asians and other marginalized groups in media, calling for a broader range of authentic characters. The speaker highlights the power of media to shape societal views and urges the audience to demand more inclusive representation to break down harmful stereotypes.

Takeaways

• 😀 People often categorize others based on physical appearance and stereotypes, leading to misconceptions about their identity and culture.
• 😀 Stereotyping is a quick way for the brain to categorize behaviors and people, but when it comes to race, it can be harmful and limiting.
• 😀 The media plays a significant role in shaping how people perceive different races, and the lack of Asian representation on screen reinforces harmful stereotypes.
• 😀 Asians are severely underrepresented in the media, and when they are portrayed, it is often through stereotypical roles that limit their complexity and diversity.
• 😀 Whitewashing and yellowface are practices where non-Asian actors are cast in Asian roles, which contributes to the erasure of authentic Asian representation in the media.
• 😀 The lack of diverse portrayals of Asians in media makes it difficult for individuals to form accurate and positive racial identities.
• 😀 Hollywood's economic focus on casting well-known A-list actors often leads to casting white actors in Asian roles, further perpetuating racial underrepresentation.
• 😀 Harmful stereotypes of Asians, such as the 'tiger mom' or the 'kung fu master,' reduce their complexity and limit how they are viewed in society.
• 😀 The 'foreigner' stereotype reinforces the idea that Asians don't belong in Western culture, even when they have lived there for generations.
• 😀 The media has the power to shape societal attitudes and implicit biases, and limiting the portrayal of Asians to stereotypes helps maintain systemic racism.
• 😀 Change is possible, as seen in cases like the 2017 casting change for the role of Ben Daimio in *Hellboy*, where social media protests led to a more authentic casting choice.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean by 'schemas' and how do they relate to racial identity?

Schemas are mental shortcuts the brain uses to categorize and simplify information about people and behaviors. In terms of racial identity, schemas often lead to assumptions about how someone behaves based on their race, which can result in stereotypes and limited perceptions of individuals from that group.

How does the media play a role in forming these schemas about Asians?

The media plays a significant role in shaping schemas by offering limited portrayals of Asians, often relying on stereotypes. This lack of diversity in representation means that the media reinforces narrow expectations of how Asians should behave or look, which contributes to societal biases.

What is the concept of 'whitewashing' in Hollywood, and how does it affect Asian representation?

Whitewashing is when characters originally written for non-white actors, particularly Asians, are played by white actors. This diminishes the authenticity of the characters' cultural backgrounds and limits opportunities for Asian actors. It also perpetuates the idea that Asian stories and characters are not worth representing accurately.

Can you give examples of whitewashing in Hollywood films mentioned in the transcript?

The transcript mentions several examples of whitewashing, including the casting of Emma Stone as a Chinese Hawaiian woman in *Aloha* (2015), Tilda Swinton as a Tibetan monk in *Doctor Strange* (2016), and Scarlett Johansson as Motoko Kusanagi in *Ghost in the Shell* (2017). These films replaced Asian characters with white actors, contributing to the erasure of Asian identities.

What is 'yellowface' and how has it been used in the film industry?

Yellowface refers to the use of makeup and prosthetics on white actors to make them appear more Asian, often for stereotypical roles. A famous example is Mickey Rooney's portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi in *Breakfast at Tiffany's* (1961), where prosthetics were used to make him appear as a Japanese man, reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

What impact does the lack of diverse representation of Asians in the media have on Asian identity?

The lack of diverse representation creates a narrow, distorted view of Asian identity. It forces Asians to navigate a racial identity shaped by limited media portrayals that don't reflect the complexity of their lives and cultures, leading to difficulties in forming a positive self-identity.

What is the 'foreigner' stereotype and how does it impact Asian characters in media?

The 'foreigner' stereotype depicts Asians as outsiders, often with limited language skills and an inability to fit in. In media, this is reflected in characters like Katana in *Suicide Squad* (2016), who is portrayed as emotionally distant and isolated from others. This reinforces the idea that Asians don't belong in mainstream Western culture.

Why are stereotypes about Asians in media harmful?

Stereotypes are harmful because they reduce an entire group of people to simplistic, one-dimensional roles. When the only representations of Asians in media are stereotypes, they shape how society perceives them, limiting opportunities and perpetuating discrimination.

How does Hollywood's reliance on a few 'A-list' actors for Asian roles contribute to the problem?

Hollywood often casts A-list white actors in roles that should go to Asians, leaving fewer opportunities for Asian actors to rise to prominence. This lack of representation makes it harder for Asian actors to become A-list stars, creating a cycle where only white actors are seen in major roles, reinforcing the underrepresentation of Asians in the industry.

What can audiences do to help address the lack of Asian representation in media?

Audiences can advocate for more dynamic and empowering roles for Asians and other marginalized groups. By voicing their concerns and supporting films and shows that portray diverse, well-rounded characters, viewers can help shift industry standards and promote more inclusive media.