More “Action” Needed for On-Screen Asian Representation
Growing up in the 80s and 90s, it wasn’t common to see an Asian face on the screen - and when I say screen, I mean TV or in the theaters as I’m a child of pre-Internet days. My on-screen role models were Connie Chung on the news, or Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh, who were typecast as martial artists - because, of course, every Asian does karate, right?
However, as I watch my post-pandemic CBS primetime crime shows, I notice there are more and more Asians playing roles we normally see non-people of color in. While they are not necessarily leading parts, it is nice to see an Asian face that isn’t just a nerdy techie or doctor role. This is definitely a positive step, especially from an everyday perspective.
Still, we are not seeing Asians playing lead roles in films that are not exclusively ‘Asian’ stories. Films like Everything Everywhere All At Once, Shang Chi and Turning Red are amazing, but they still follow an Asian-American centric story. Aside from Last Christmas (2019) with Henry Golding playing the lead romance role, or Love Hard (2021) with Jimmy O. Yang, I have not seen many Asian leads on the silver screen. While there may be many reasons for this such as a small talent pool, delays in production, etc., the fact is that the small screen has been faster to acknowledge the rise in Asian representation compared to the big one.
Although some might wonder as to why this is important or worth a conversation, I would guess that those who are wondering are not of Asian heritage. They are probably not from a population who sees their ethnic background typecast as the evil North Korean villains, the eccentric exotified female in a nail salon, pleasure house, or the like, nerdy technician or computer geek, or as mentioned before the guru of the martial arts. In that case, I do not expect that an understanding of the importance of diverse, nuanced representation will be had initially.
Also, this is exactly why the conversation is important and well worth it.
Without a discussion, how will anyone ever know the impact of having on-screen representation? When it becomes mainstream to celebrate a Chow Yun-Fat, Daniel Dae Kim, or Constance Wu - by non-Asians as well as Asians without considering them just some kind of sex object - then, and only then, can we, as Asians, feel like the conversation is no longer needed. It is then when we can believe that society is outwardly accepting an Asian face just as they do a non-one.
Until then, we need to keep talking and asking the hard questions: Why are we still not seeing Asian faces as leading roles of non-Asian stories like that of Sandra Oh in Killing Eve? She’s an Asian American actress playing a role that has nothing to do with her ethnic background. What will it take for the Hollywood red carpet to be filled with Oscar-winning Asian actors who are celebrated for their talent without the hidden nuance of the telling of what it’s like to be Asian? Although it is more than necessary and important for the world to learn more about the history of Asian experiences, it is also important to show Asian people as an integrated part of the Western society in which many of us live.
I, for one, look forward to having these conversations and hopefully seeing the answers turned into “action” in future silver screen showings.