Roles of Asian women and Dollhouse

[acrimonyastraea]

I wondered if anyone here has been watching Dollhouse.  I haven't been very pleased with the show for a lot of reasons.   I have a question about a particular scene in episode 5 and how it plays into racist tropes.  (For anyone not familiar with the show, Wikipedia has good information but it's also critical to know that the Actives are "blank

Comments

[buymeaclue]

This is the most amazing show. I have this whole long list in my head of ways in which it's gross, and then people keep pointing out all these other ways that hadn't even occurred to me. Good grief.

[acrimonyastraea]

I know, right?

[bluestareyed]

Joss doesn't have the best track record in regards to Asians or Asian culture. The problem I have with it is that it seems so completely clueless of him, just doing things that make "sense," you know?

I won't lie though, I kinda like the show. It would be better with some serious improvements though.

Another thing about Sierra that confuses me. Why is she blonde? What purpose can that serve?

[tree]

Why is she blonde?

i don't know if she specifically went blonde for the show, but the actress has been various shades of blonde since she was in neighbours.

[bluestareyed]

Thanks for the context :D I just found it confusing is all.

[tree]

oh, yes. like i said, i don't know if blondeness was a prerequisite for the role or if it was her own choice. even if it was her own choice, though, there's still the question of why so many brunette actresses (of all races) seem to go blonde eventually/at some point. does being of asian descent with blonde hair make her more 'marketable' than with her natural hair colour? i don't know the answer, obviously, but it's something i wonder.

[acrimonyastraea]

I'm much more familiar with talking about women's roles and sexism. I could go on all day about women in Buffy and Angel!

Being a white woman, I have a lot to learn about racism and I'm trying to be more aware of racism and appropriation in media. I know many people have written about Joss's icky race issues. Some had hope for Sierra, but it doesn't look like that's going to work out very well.

[miintikwa]

Eww.

I can't even begin to describe all the ways that this show is grossing me out, and I haven't even watched it.

[such_heights]

Oh my, this!

[dancesontrains]

Same here D:

[ajollypyruvate]

Yeah, same here.

[tree]

the only Asian American in the cast

for the record, Dichen is Australian, not American.

[acrimonyastraea]

Thanks for correcting me, I should have checked. I'll correct the post.