This week, I examined the effects of the model minority myth and “whitewashing” in Hollywood films. “Whitewashing is the casting of white actors in the roles of non-white people” (Ly, 2016). Whitewashing is seen in multiple Hollywood box-office films such as M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender film (2010), Scarlett Johannsen in Ghost in the Shell (2017), Emma Stone in Aloha (2015), Natt Wolff in Death Note (2017), Tilda Swinton in Dr. Strange (2016) and more. Ly (2016) expresses how inaccurate representation and whitewashing can harmfully impact how Asian- Americans seek out their identity when they’re not fairly represented in the media. In the past, the type of representation we have seen in the media has not only impacted Asian- Americans but the way other people in society view Asians. This article also speaks to how these types of representations are simplified, one-sided, stereotypical, and misleading which can lead to Asian- Americans being taught to not be proud of where they come from and who they are (Ly, 2016).
The representation of Asians in American film and television is a guiding piece that will be examined throughout my project. This article was helpful towards my research as it better explained the role of whitewashing in American films and how it can impact a person’s identity. When creating my interview questions for my potential film subjects, “whitewashing” and the model minority myth has been at the forefront when producing this mini-documentary.
I also think it’s important to also consider how constant stereotypical and one-sided roles of a certain race in the media can impact society and how it can translate into the interactions people have in their encounters with others. I’m currently seeking more research and information on how these specific roles in the media are harmful and misleading towards Asians and the Asian- American community.
This week for our production/training day I’ve been focused on creating the interview questions I’m going to use. To assist me with this I learned from the LinkedIn Learning Videos: Interview Production Techniques, Skills for Inclusive Conversations, and Video Editing Fundamentals. I also checked out equipment last Monday and have been playing around with and getting familiarized with the GH5s.
Ly, I. (2016). Essay : Asian misrepresentation in media propels stereotypes. May, 1–3.
Skills for Inclusive Conversations. LinkedIn Learning. Revived October 12, 2021, from https://www.linkedin.com/learning/skills-for-inclusive-conversations/the-need-for-inclusive-conversations?u=2206009
Video Interview Production Techniques. LinkedIn Learning. Revived October 12, 2021, from https://www.linkedin.com/learning/video-interview-production-techniques/filming-world-class-interviews?u=2206009
Video Editing Fundamentals. LinkedIn Learning. Revived October 12, 2021, from https://www.linkedin.com/learning/video-editing-fundamentals/welcome-to-the-exciting-world-of-video-editing?u=2206009
Photo: Obtained from Google Photos/ Credit: Jenny Chang / The Foothill Dragon Press /https://foothilldragonpress.org/256695/opinion/the-dangers-of-whitewashing/
