Asian People in the Media

Bruce Lee was one of the first Asians to break into Hollywood. His martial arts and philosophy brought him to stardom in the 50's and 60's worldwide. However, since his death, Asians have always been associated with knowing martial arts in the media. This includes Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and even Lucy Liu, who started out as an actress and model, however for various roles in her career, has been associated as a character who knows martial arts. Her portrayal in Kill Bill, as O-Ren Ishii is an example of where she had to play a highly trained samurai/assassin.





Furthermore, into movies, Asians are often depicted as immigrants who have just arrived and know little-to no English, with a strong oriental accent. Also known as the 'ching chong' language. They normally work in Chinese restaurants, and the owner of the restaurant is also commonly a Triad leader. Triads, are also often stereotyped and sometimes exaggerated. In the blockbuster's Fast & Furious, and Rush Hour, we see how Triads are highly violent people, dressed in suits, carrying uzi's and samurai swords - which is incorrect since Triads are Chinese and samurai swords are Japanese.

Asian women are also seen as bad driver's and Western culture has publicised how Eastern Asians are consumers of meat considered taboo such as dog. However, novelist May Lee Chai stated that during her two year stay in China 'the only people she saw eating dog were a group of American students.'

Asides from all the negatives, Asians are often perceived as super smart, being really academic and excelling in maths and science. Jobs are normally Doctors, and Lawyers - with Asian parents being really strict on their children. YouTubers such as 'KevJumba', and 'RyanHiga', talk about their experiences as children and have gained a mass following in doing so. Asians are also seen as inferior in sports, with only two players in English top flight football being Asian. Jeremy Lin, the first Chinese player drafted in the NBA, also stated how teams overlooked him not due to skill but due to his race.

Overall, Asians are perceived as an inferior race in the media with no recognizable change with the current stereotypes currently associated. - I'm still waiting on an Asian Zombie.