Paragraphs:
- The origin of Chinese racism
- Chinese stereotypes
- Hollywood’s profit off this stereotype
- Crazy Rich Asians
- Crazy Rich Asians is unrealistic
- Crazy Rich Asians has stereotypes
- Authors personal experience with stereotypes
- How media influences stereotypes
- Fresh off the boat failures
- More problems with Fresh off the boat
- Examples of how Fresh off the boat is inaccurate
- Fresh off the boat is still historic
- Tv and movies fail to represent true Asian American life
This Chau piece discusses Asian life in America and how they are still stereotyped against. The author starts by talking about the gold rush and how racism towards the Chinese was established. The government even made laws against them, further separating them from everyday people. Chau then goes into the current stereotypes against the Chinese people. Some include being “too hardworking” or “no interpersonal skills or charm.” Then the author states how certain stereotypes are encouraged due to many Hollywood films and shows.
Chau spends a lot of this essay speaking about how Hollywood movies and shows greatly influence Americas racism towards Asian Americans. One example the author uses in this text is Crazy Rich Asians. This movie was released in 2018 and was thought to be very important due to its all Asian cast. Many hoped that Crazy Rich Asians would help put an end to many stereotypes, but it didn’t. It doesn’t realistically show what life is like for Asian Americans and its main characters are extremely wealthy and spoiled. When in reality not nearly that many people can relate to wealth of that sort. While Crazy Rich Asians was also unrealistic it also supported some stereotypes that people have towards Asian Americans. For example, the main character in the movie separates herself from the Americans and furthering our divide. This shows the audience that the Asians and Americans are different and do not really tend to mix. For the author and the entire Asian American community this movie was a letdown and did not further help their situation.
After discussing the movie Chau then goes on to talk about when she experienced stereotypes in her own life. She says how her own friends stereotyped her when eating and even though it was a joke it is still hurtful. Chau then speaks about how much influence television has on public views and stereotypes. When Asians are portrayed as different and not a part of America they aren’t accepted as part of the general people.
Chau then brings in an example of another television show called Fresh Off the Boat. This show was supposed to be about the everyday life of a Chinese American family but only lasted 19 episodes. Fresh Off the Boat gave many people hope for spreading the right information about life for Asian Americans, but it failed to do so. It skipped over the real parts of their life that the audience wouldn’t want to see. In doing so it wasn’t successful in ending stereotypes and brining Asians and Americans together.
Chau uses organization in this speech to help the readers understand her point much better. By starting by addressing and informing the audience about the Asian American situation and then diving into why the problem exists. Chau then bring examples like Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh Off the Boat to further the point. Organization plays a major role in this piece of writing.