Asians in Mass Media
This may sound like a rant, or an essay - but really it's just my opinion and observation, and hopefully it won't offend anyone, and I apologize in advance if I do.
September is a great month for avid TV watchers - it's when most season premieres begin. I've never been much of a tv person until I lost my job, live in a town with a limited social life and have honestly felt a tinge of racism myself here recently.
Anyhoo, back to TV - this is where I notice things that made me go hmm...
Based on census reports for both Canada and the US, it appears that approximately 20% of both countries are made up of visible minorities. Bear in mind that many visible minorities classify themselves as "Canadian" or "American", so the number is likely 25%.
So, if 1 out of every 4 north americans are a visible minority - how is that that mass media does not reflect this whatsoever?
It pains me to know, that even know in this modern world where boundaries are continually being broken down - that there are SO few visible minorities represented in mass media. Especially asians and south asians. Even blacks and hispanics have much better representation than asians. The Hispanics have Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Enrique Inglesias, Antonio Banderas etc, and they have their own tv sitcoms. Blacks are even more fairly represented - countless tv sitcoms and famous actors such as Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Queen Latifah, among countless singers as well.
So now we look at asians and south asians. Bollywood is still so far from Hollywood to the point I can't even name more than M Night Shyamalan and Archie Punjabi (Good Wife supporting actress). I heard about a new sitcom "Outsourced" which has alot of south asians, but come on - that title just reeks of stereotyping!
Asians are starting to somewhat be represented on TV. Lost was a good example of mixed races on one show, but even Lost - the 4 main characters were white. Hawaii 5-0 is a new show with the 2 main stars being white male, and the 2 supporting actors asian male and asian female. Hawaii has BY far the highest percentage of asians, so how the #1 and #2 stars of this new show are not asian, beats me.
When I think of famous asians in North America - most people may think of Jacky Chan and Jet Li - but HELLO they are not from North America. Which north american asians are famous? Hmmm... Lucy Liu (who at 41 now is still so hot!) but has she ever been given the chance for a lead role in a hollywood romance or blockbuster? John Cho from Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle - he's good but again on the sidelines. Sandra Oh (good Canadian girl!) is a hot tamale on Greys Anatomy.
Vancouver and LA shoot hundreds of movies and tv shows - funnily enough in both cities, whites are now the minorty. So, why are asians not represented in hollywood? Wouldn't it be different to see a hollywood blockbuster with the lead actor being asian or south asian? How would ratings or profits differ if the Transformers starred a pair of teenage asians? Or if Gossip Girl had a mainly south asian cast?
And where are the musical talents? Why are there literally NO asians or south asians on MTV or MuchMusic? Where are the hot asian supermodels? Where are the male asian Calvin Klein underwear models?
I'd like your opinions please :)
September is a great month for avid TV watchers - it's when most season premieres begin. I've never been much of a tv person until I lost my job, live in a town with a limited social life and have honestly felt a tinge of racism myself here recently.
Anyhoo, back to TV - this is where I notice things that made me go hmm...
Based on census reports for both Canada and the US, it appears that approximately 20% of both countries are made up of visible minorities. Bear in mind that many visible minorities classify themselves as "Canadian" or "American", so the number is likely 25%.
So, if 1 out of every 4 north americans are a visible minority - how is that that mass media does not reflect this whatsoever?
It pains me to know, that even know in this modern world where boundaries are continually being broken down - that there are SO few visible minorities represented in mass media. Especially asians and south asians. Even blacks and hispanics have much better representation than asians. The Hispanics have Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Enrique Inglesias, Antonio Banderas etc, and they have their own tv sitcoms. Blacks are even more fairly represented - countless tv sitcoms and famous actors such as Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Queen Latifah, among countless singers as well.
So now we look at asians and south asians. Bollywood is still so far from Hollywood to the point I can't even name more than M Night Shyamalan and Archie Punjabi (Good Wife supporting actress). I heard about a new sitcom "Outsourced" which has alot of south asians, but come on - that title just reeks of stereotyping!
Asians are starting to somewhat be represented on TV. Lost was a good example of mixed races on one show, but even Lost - the 4 main characters were white. Hawaii 5-0 is a new show with the 2 main stars being white male, and the 2 supporting actors asian male and asian female. Hawaii has BY far the highest percentage of asians, so how the #1 and #2 stars of this new show are not asian, beats me.
When I think of famous asians in North America - most people may think of Jacky Chan and Jet Li - but HELLO they are not from North America. Which north american asians are famous? Hmmm... Lucy Liu (who at 41 now is still so hot!) but has she ever been given the chance for a lead role in a hollywood romance or blockbuster? John Cho from Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle - he's good but again on the sidelines. Sandra Oh (good Canadian girl!) is a hot tamale on Greys Anatomy.
Vancouver and LA shoot hundreds of movies and tv shows - funnily enough in both cities, whites are now the minorty. So, why are asians not represented in hollywood? Wouldn't it be different to see a hollywood blockbuster with the lead actor being asian or south asian? How would ratings or profits differ if the Transformers starred a pair of teenage asians? Or if Gossip Girl had a mainly south asian cast?
And where are the musical talents? Why are there literally NO asians or south asians on MTV or MuchMusic? Where are the hot asian supermodels? Where are the male asian Calvin Klein underwear models?
I'd like your opinions please :)