The unfortunate but sad truth is that when thinking of a film with a primarily Asian cast, most western minds go straight to a kung fu movie, most likely one starring Jackie Chan or Jet Li. In this age of technology, millennials and those born later get their truth from the media. The celebrities who star in the most movies are who we view as talented. The photo getting the most likes on Instagram becomes our idea of beauty. Many of us have little concern for the detrimental impact these notions can have on young minorities who don’t get to see someone who “looks like them” on the big screen.
“Crazy Rich Asians” hit theaters Aug. 15, and it made noise. The coverage it received prior to its release date and its overwhelming success has made this summer the summer of Asian representation in the media. Everyone is talking about these “Crazy Rich Asians” and the heartwarming love story this film told.
The film, directed by Jon M. Chu, was not only a rom-com that left viewers in tears, but it also shed light on many social dynamics in Chinese communities. The story took place in Singapore, a Chinese-dominated country. The film’s title was a hint about the immense wealth one could expect to see in this film . However, it quickly diminished stereotypes in the minds of many and portrayed Asia as what it truly is – beautiful and innovative. Most importantly, it showed a beautiful love story of two Asians and the cultural battles they face, a struggle not shown enough in the media.
Social media was filled with Asian-Americans coming forward with their struggles growing up not seeing their people on the big screen. Posts were going viral with people expressing how this film aided their journey to self-acceptance in a positive way.
“Crazy Rich Asians” was not the only cinematic revelation that represented Asian culture this summer. The Netflix original “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” was another rom-com with an Asian lead. Lara Jean, portrayed by Lana Condor, is a Korean-American teenager who is going through what so many young girls are going through – boys, bullies and finding herself. The bits of Korean-American culture shown throughout this film might have appeared simple, but each facet gave Korean-Americans a chance to be proud of who they are. “Thanks Peter Kavinsky. Hope more kids are proud to pack their Yakult with their lunch now,” twitter user Susan Ng (@shalalasusan) tweeted. It might seem like something small, but it’s something all minorities can relate to – hiding parts of their culture for fear of being different.
Sophomore Molly Miyan, a music major, expressed that these films were “on the right path” to getting Asian culture the attention it deserves, but the media has a long way to go. One aspect that these films failed to represent was diversity. Miyan grew up in an assimilated home where her father was an immigrant from Bangladesh and her mother from Thailand. Although she lived in an Asian-dominated neighborhood, she still felt excluded for not fitting into people’s ideas of what an Asian should look like. Miyan explained the struggles she and many other Asian woman face in their own community; she described how she faced somewhat of an identity crisis because she was looked down upon for not being “brown” and was further excluded because her features did not fit what the community considered “Asian.” This raises the question: isn’t race supposed to be based on culture rather than the way one looks? Conversely, “Crazy Rich Asians” failed to portray an array of Asians, as did “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” It is further proof that the media forgets Asia is a continent with 48 countries and various cultures. “The Asian community needs more representation,” Miyan said.
Miyan was also able to shed light on the unattainable beauty standards she feels are imposed on Asian women. She expressed how they are expected to have a “certain type of body.” We live in a society that constantly puts these women in a Catch-22, where they are either considered too skinny or the opposite. To make matters worse, there are very few Asian women in the media recognized for their beauty. Miyan also described how she was often expected to look a certain way. She explained that Asian girls are expected to “be girly and have long hair.” A fair complexion is what is deemed beautiful, and this standard is what is driving the flourishing market for whitening cream in India. The lack of diversity in these films and the media in general causes these girls to not have anyone in the public speaking on their behalf.
“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” however, was a breath of fresh air for Miyan. She explained that growing up, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” star Brenda Song was the only Asian she could think of represented in the media. “Asian women are more than our stereotypes,” Miyan said. Lara Jean, a relatable high school girl, gave young Asian girls someone they could relate to on a deeper level: They could escape the stereotypes constantly weighing them down and see themselves through a character. Miyan also rejected the common assumption that “every single Asian person has to be a doctor.” Although “Crazy Rich Asians” gave the lead female character, Rachel Chu, a successful career as an economics professor, the audience wasn’t suffocated with her professional status. Instead, they could relate to a young woman madly in love.
Both of these films started what could be a revolution in Hollywood and the media. We have a long way to go in representing all Asian nations and cultures, but at least we’ve made a start.
