Heineken trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVsf82IuVLI
Crazy Rich Asians trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ-YX-5bAs0
In zero period, we watched a Heineken beer commercial that, in just 90 seconds, managed to make me feel like a total outsider. Heineken conveyed two seemingly contradictory stereotypes about people of Asian descent: that they are simultaneously the same, and yet different. Let me clarify; according to Heineken, all Asians are the same as each other, but they differ from the norm- that is, light-skinned, white-skinned. On screen both big and small, Asian people provide an "exotic" backdrop for white viewers to feel "special", blessed by the scarlet dragon or the over the top caricature of Buddha. Yet what shocked me the most about this commercial was not the blatant use of stereotypes, but the sheer number of people of Asian descent that were in this commercial.
Yes, despite the subliminal racial messages in the Heineken commercial, that is the single most Asians I have ever seen in any ad (and any movie franchise or television show, as well). And yes, I realize "Asian" is far too vast a word to describe the multitudes of talented actors and actresses from China, South Korea, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and so many other countries, and I apologize for that, but the word "Asians" just serves to reinforce my point. From Heineken to Hollywood, American media has a tendency to view all Asians as the same, as a single group not worth representing.
Nearly half of the world's population is Asian and yet Hollywood keeps casting whites to play Asian characters. The whitewashing of Asian characters and the lack of diversity in Hollywood is an increasingly prevalent issue- in fact, although Asians are the largest-growing demographic in the United States, their presence in films has actually shrunk drastically in the last 10 years.
This constant, unrelenting dismissal of Asians in the arts is why the film Crazy Rich Asians is so important. Crazy Rich Asians for Asian-Americans is the equivalent of Black Panther for African-Americans. The storylines are totally different, the genres are complete opposites, the characters and settings and almost everything about the two movies seem more like foils than parallels, and yet...they both provide something to believe in, a hope for (long overdue) inclusivity and lasting representation on the big screen.
Crazy Rich Asians has so much depending on it, as it is one of, if not the first, big-budget Hollywood movie to showcase an all-Asian, A-list cast. Its reviews could make or break the future of Asian cinema.
Crazy Rich Asians is set in a world nearly as fictitious and escapist as Wakanda- the high-rise skyscrapers of billionaires in Singapore. However, while Black Panther is a story of heroics, power, and acceptance, Crazy Rich Asians is, at first glance, simply a shallow and superficial tale about the glitzy, ritzy lives of the Asian elite. Its real impact lies not in its plot but in its cast. While it might not be as powerful as Black Panther, it's a movie starring Asians! And, for me, that gives it plenty of meaning already.
I think, growing up, we idolize people we see on TV. Everybody emulates their favorite actor or actress. Subconsciously, we internalize these images as part of how we see ourselves. We base our identities on the media surrounding us. And if we don't see ourselves, or people that look like us, being represented, we start to feel like we don't belong, that there is something wrong with us.
I'm lucky. I have privilege that many of my friends lack. I can see half of myself in every ad or movie. I see half of myself in every sitcom. Half of me is everywhere. But Heineken, Hollywood? It would be great if you could show both halves (without playing into the same old stereotypes).
Your move.
Crazy Rich Asians trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ-YX-5bAs0
In zero period, we watched a Heineken beer commercial that, in just 90 seconds, managed to make me feel like a total outsider. Heineken conveyed two seemingly contradictory stereotypes about people of Asian descent: that they are simultaneously the same, and yet different. Let me clarify; according to Heineken, all Asians are the same as each other, but they differ from the norm- that is, light-skinned, white-skinned. On screen both big and small, Asian people provide an "exotic" backdrop for white viewers to feel "special", blessed by the scarlet dragon or the over the top caricature of Buddha. Yet what shocked me the most about this commercial was not the blatant use of stereotypes, but the sheer number of people of Asian descent that were in this commercial.
Yes, despite the subliminal racial messages in the Heineken commercial, that is the single most Asians I have ever seen in any ad (and any movie franchise or television show, as well). And yes, I realize "Asian" is far too vast a word to describe the multitudes of talented actors and actresses from China, South Korea, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and so many other countries, and I apologize for that, but the word "Asians" just serves to reinforce my point. From Heineken to Hollywood, American media has a tendency to view all Asians as the same, as a single group not worth representing.
Nearly half of the world's population is Asian and yet Hollywood keeps casting whites to play Asian characters. The whitewashing of Asian characters and the lack of diversity in Hollywood is an increasingly prevalent issue- in fact, although Asians are the largest-growing demographic in the United States, their presence in films has actually shrunk drastically in the last 10 years.
This constant, unrelenting dismissal of Asians in the arts is why the film Crazy Rich Asians is so important. Crazy Rich Asians for Asian-Americans is the equivalent of Black Panther for African-Americans. The storylines are totally different, the genres are complete opposites, the characters and settings and almost everything about the two movies seem more like foils than parallels, and yet...they both provide something to believe in, a hope for (long overdue) inclusivity and lasting representation on the big screen.
Crazy Rich Asians has so much depending on it, as it is one of, if not the first, big-budget Hollywood movie to showcase an all-Asian, A-list cast. Its reviews could make or break the future of Asian cinema.
Crazy Rich Asians is set in a world nearly as fictitious and escapist as Wakanda- the high-rise skyscrapers of billionaires in Singapore. However, while Black Panther is a story of heroics, power, and acceptance, Crazy Rich Asians is, at first glance, simply a shallow and superficial tale about the glitzy, ritzy lives of the Asian elite. Its real impact lies not in its plot but in its cast. While it might not be as powerful as Black Panther, it's a movie starring Asians! And, for me, that gives it plenty of meaning already.
I think, growing up, we idolize people we see on TV. Everybody emulates their favorite actor or actress. Subconsciously, we internalize these images as part of how we see ourselves. We base our identities on the media surrounding us. And if we don't see ourselves, or people that look like us, being represented, we start to feel like we don't belong, that there is something wrong with us.
I'm lucky. I have privilege that many of my friends lack. I can see half of myself in every ad or movie. I see half of myself in every sitcom. Half of me is everywhere. But Heineken, Hollywood? It would be great if you could show both halves (without playing into the same old stereotypes).
Your move.
i agree with you that there is an extremely low representation of racial minorities in hollywood films, especially asians. although the movie, crazy rich asians, is based on a book and the story has therefore already been exposed to the public, it does not seem to be getting nearly as much attention or praise for its casting as black panther had. do you believe that the reason why it is not receiving as much hype is related to the claims that asian prejudice is more unnoticed and ignored than that of other races? the movie does also seem to still hold several stereotypes. do you think it's enough to just have an all asian cast? or do the characters need to accurately portray asians without extreme stereotypes before we truly receive representation?
ReplyDeleteI think part of the reason the film isn't receiving as much attention is because, like you said, it is extremely problematic. It doesn't really dismantle the existing stereotypes about Asians in the media. In fact, its plot is trivial and inconsequential.
DeleteI don't think it is enough to just have an all Asian cast. I don't think the film is working to have more well rounded Asian characters- I think the only thing that matters about Crazy Rich Asians is that it might lead to more representation of Asians in Hollywood. It's a stepping stone on the path to inclusivity, but that's just what it is- the first step. Change doesn't happen overnight.
Regarding your point about Asian prejudice, I'm not really sure if that's why the film hasn't been receiving as much attention as Black Panther. It could just be because the plot is not nearly as enthralling, but it could also be because prejudice against Asians is often forgotten about??