I realize that one of the way of effectively ministering to Asian-Americans is to speak to their hearts about their intrinsic worth in God’s eyes. Much of the messages we receive from American media and entertainment make us define the ideal person with worth as tall, white, and thin–with blonde hair and blue eyes. Heaven forbid they would be short with black hair and slanty eyes.
The following quotes come from a recent article: “My Life: Asian Americans Focus of PBS Film” in the Sampan, a Boston-based Chinese-English newspaper. Adam Smith writes about a PBS short film that tells the story of an Asian-American teenager dealing with the challenges of her life. I didn’t get a chance to see the film, which aired on January 7, so I can’t make an endorsement for it. But the Sampan article itself raised some interesting points. You can read the full text here.
…Actress Di Quon says she’s spent much of her acting career playing the same role that many Asian American actors get stuck with. The “friend” of the main character. Case in point: Her first big break in 2002 was as Lily Kim, a seamstress and friend of Jennifer Lopez’s character in “Maid In Manhattan.”…
“There’s not really a lot of representation for Asian Americans on television,” said Quon, noting that many Asians are relegated to roles as either “foreigners” or to roles that fit too nicely into common stereotypes.
Daniel . . . Asian American in the media is always a complex, but important issue today. I think that the Asian American can benefit from using imagery, not just in cinema, that can affirm our unique and complex persona. As an Asian American pastor leading a multi-ethnic (40% Asian/40% White/20% other) as I use clips and other media, I try to use a variety of cultural imagery without calling attention to the fact that I do so. My small part in trying to expand the worldview of some of my members who on their own might not venture out to see “the other” on screen
One thing I’m noticing in the movie credits is who the producers and executive producers are. If I’m not too far off, the producers are the ones who put up funding for a movie to be made. Now, with Asian Americans allegedly having the highest family median income of any racial/ethnic grouping, Asian Americans are more than financially capable of producing their own films with compelling storytelling that can hit mainstream films that portray realistic real-life roles for Asian Americans’ participation in American society.
Just finished watching a couple of mainstream movies that deal with race that have me asking the questions, “Where is the Asian-American ‘Glory Road’ or ‘Save the Last Dance’?”
And how about the multiple AA characters on Studio 60?