Conclusion
Following an examination of various resources, we have found that several factors surrounding the development of Asian America have promoted the underrepresentation of Asian Americans in the media. Socially, stereotypes established from early American portrayals of Asians, family influences resulting from a large immigrant population within in the demographic, and views of Asians stemming from their position in the American frontier job market, were responsible for our current lack of Asian Americans in the media.
Additionally, early laws hampering the acceptance of Asians, anti-Asian rhetoric of high-ranking political figures, and actions taken by those in the entertainment industry to limit opportunities for Asian American performers have contributed to an environment politically hostile to any significant increase in their cultural visibility.
Economically, the film industry has largely excluded Asians from the media due to the perceived lack of profit potential from employing Asians. In addition, both professional and working class Asian immigrant families have frequently frowned upon the arts as potential careers. Money, therefore, has impeded and continues to impede the proliferation of Asian faces in front of the camera.
In conclusion, the lack of satisfactory representation of Asian Americans in the media does not result from any truthfulness of the stereotypes that lead audiences to find Asians unappealing in any sense. The same factors that led to the troubled development of the Asian American experience also prevented that very same experience from being truthfully presented to a wide American audience. Ultimately, the onscreen Asian has suffered - as have Asian Americans whose stories are largely presented to the rest of America through the distorted lens of stereotyped, inauthentic characters as well as performers of Asian descent whose careers are hampered by media industries' biases. These problems will pervade into the future, unless the views of Asian Americans change through the proliferation of authentic Asian American stories by Asian American artists and storytellers on the national screen and stage.
Additionally, early laws hampering the acceptance of Asians, anti-Asian rhetoric of high-ranking political figures, and actions taken by those in the entertainment industry to limit opportunities for Asian American performers have contributed to an environment politically hostile to any significant increase in their cultural visibility.
Economically, the film industry has largely excluded Asians from the media due to the perceived lack of profit potential from employing Asians. In addition, both professional and working class Asian immigrant families have frequently frowned upon the arts as potential careers. Money, therefore, has impeded and continues to impede the proliferation of Asian faces in front of the camera.
In conclusion, the lack of satisfactory representation of Asian Americans in the media does not result from any truthfulness of the stereotypes that lead audiences to find Asians unappealing in any sense. The same factors that led to the troubled development of the Asian American experience also prevented that very same experience from being truthfully presented to a wide American audience. Ultimately, the onscreen Asian has suffered - as have Asian Americans whose stories are largely presented to the rest of America through the distorted lens of stereotyped, inauthentic characters as well as performers of Asian descent whose careers are hampered by media industries' biases. These problems will pervade into the future, unless the views of Asian Americans change through the proliferation of authentic Asian American stories by Asian American artists and storytellers on the national screen and stage.
Now, onto the fun stuff...
Asian American Film Jeopardy
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| jeopardy.ppt |