Are Asian-Americans underrepresented in media?
Originally Posted by i_heart_my_DB8,Mar 15 2010, 08:01 AM
Your friend is right.
The Asian male is not seen as glamorous or masculine in the eyes of the average American. When was the last time you saw an Asian male in a leading role for something other than martial arts?
The Asian female on the other hand is seen as "exotic" and attractive in the eyes of the average American, which is why you see them on commercials that are trying to pepper in racial integration without raising too many questions.
It is what it is. Don't feel bad, I've met other white-folk who are blind to the notion until it's explained to them.
The Asian male is not seen as glamorous or masculine in the eyes of the average American. When was the last time you saw an Asian male in a leading role for something other than martial arts?
The Asian female on the other hand is seen as "exotic" and attractive in the eyes of the average American, which is why you see them on commercials that are trying to pepper in racial integration without raising too many questions.
It is what it is. Don't feel bad, I've met other white-folk who are blind to the notion until it's explained to them.
Originally Posted by i_heart_my_DB8,Mar 15 2010, 08:01 AM
Your friend is right.
The Asian male is not seen as glamorous or masculine in the eyes of the average American. When was the last time you saw an Asian male in a leading role for something other than martial arts?
The Asian female on the other hand is seen as "exotic" and attractive in the eyes of the average American, which is why you see them on commercials that are trying to pepper in racial integration without raising too many questions.
It is what it is. Don't feel bad, I've met other white-folk who are blind to the notion until it's explained to them.
The Asian male is not seen as glamorous or masculine in the eyes of the average American. When was the last time you saw an Asian male in a leading role for something other than martial arts?
The Asian female on the other hand is seen as "exotic" and attractive in the eyes of the average American, which is why you see them on commercials that are trying to pepper in racial integration without raising too many questions.
It is what it is. Don't feel bad, I've met other white-folk who are blind to the notion until it's explained to them.
The Asian dude in Lost? Not a leading role but his entire purpose seems to be a chauvanist gangster. Slum Dog Millionaire? The Matrix (if you count Keanu Reeves). Flash Forward?
Originally Posted by Not Sure,Mar 15 2010, 01:38 PM
What makes you think you know what I would and wouldn't be put off by? Who are you and why do you think you know me?
Right in the middle of a discussion about how mass media does not reflect the actual individuals that make up the market, you inject an opinion that boils everything down to "most people would/would not like this or that." Do you see the irony?
One can only assume that your opinion of "most people" is formed either by your own perception of yourself (as in "Most people would agree with me), or by your observation of what is demonstrated to be a non-accurate depiction by mass media.
I would guess that "most people" would disagree on many topics. The best you could do is try and figure out individual points where a majority agree. But it would be foolish to think that if you take all those individual points and put them together, the majority would agree on all of them. Just look at elections in the US. "Most people" can't even agree on who should be President. It's a bit of a stretch to suggest you know what kind of entertainment "most people" would prefer.
In other words, your idea of what "most people" want says more about what you want.

And don't you think it's worth noting that to any random individual, i.e. "most people," you are a member of their "most people" generalizations?
Originally Posted by NuncoStr8,Mar 16 2010, 12:11 AM
The same thing that makes you think you know what "most people" would or wouldn't be put off by. Is that fair?
And your misqoute of my post couldn't be farther from the truth. I like movies that are quirky and don't follow the typical Hollywood "formula". How do you presume to know what kind of movies I like?
It's obvious from the posts in this thread that stereotypes are considered acceptable by "most people":
Someone was surprised because they saw an asian in a mobile phone ad.
A few people posted that all asian men aren't sexy based on the fact that you don't see asian men in leading roles, and all asian women are "exotic", and said something like "this is the opinion of the average american".
One guy thinks that converting to Judaism will get asians more tv roles.
To these people these are probably just incidental or humorous observations, but it is stereotyping.
This stereotyping is happening right in front of you in this thread and if you are one of "most people", you won't even see it.
Back on topic: Hollywood is a business, and they are selling a product. It represents races the way "most people" would like to see them represented, because they want "most people" to pay to see their movie.
Apparently my point went entirely over your head. I don't believe in "most people." I also don't believe mass media or internet forums are accurate representations of larger society. Personally I think you'd have to be an idiot to think an internet forum is representative.




