Comments on: The Hollywood Wall: An Ethnic Barrier http://halfwaymag.com/archives/2005/09/01/the-hollywood-wall/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:33:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: An Asian Male http://halfwaymag.com/archives/2005/09/01/the-hollywood-wall/#comment-179 Fri, 02 Sep 2005 04:30:54 -0700 http://halfwaymag.com/archives/2005/09/01/the-hollywood-wall/#comment-179 The Asian American male in the media can almost always be equated as the socially retarded or the academically successful uber nerd. Sure there are a couple of overtly racists roles in films the Asian male plays (the key maker in the matrix, the convenience store owner in the Pepsi commercial, Harry Kim in Star Trek, the highly trained martial artist that can’t speak English, Harvey Park from House MD addicted to a dominatrix, etc…). Even amongst your list of actors in the media – the Asian male seem to reiterate one characteristic whereas the Asian females have various character types (You forget Sophia Choi from CNN who is almost always on). Is it society (Hollywood) telling us as a population – this is what you are? Perhaps – but if we want to change Hollywood, nay, change the perspectives of all America about who we are – we must ourselves personally bring about a new perspective on what the Asian Male is. Your anger, Mr. Tyler, about the under representation of Asians maybe just – but greater injustices of the media typifying, defining and devaluing what Asian “male-ness” is. We can all wait for that one strong actor that “will break the vault” or we can all demonstrate to society that we are not the estranged academically focused work-a-holics who lack the social ability to even remotely connect on any emotional level with another human being that they think we are. The Asian American male in the media can almost always be equated as the socially retarded or the academically successful uber nerd. Sure there are a couple of overtly racists roles in films the Asian male plays (the key maker in the matrix, the convenience store owner in the Pepsi commercial, Harry Kim in Star Trek, the highly trained martial artist that can’t speak English, Harvey Park from House MD addicted to a dominatrix, etc…). Even amongst your list of actors in the media – the Asian male seem to reiterate one characteristic whereas the Asian females have various character types (You forget Sophia Choi from CNN who is almost always on). Is it society (Hollywood) telling us as a population – this is what you are? Perhaps – but if we want to change Hollywood, nay, change the perspectives of all America about who we are – we must ourselves personally bring about a new perspective on what the Asian Male is. Your anger, Mr. Tyler, about the under representation of Asians maybe just – but greater injustices of the media typifying, defining and devaluing what Asian “male-ness” is. We can all wait for that one strong actor that “will break the vault” or we can all demonstrate to society that we are not the estranged academically focused work-a-holics who lack the social ability to even remotely connect on any emotional level with another human being that they think we are.

]]> by: Matt http://halfwaymag.com/archives/2005/09/01/the-hollywood-wall/#comment-193 Tue, 27 Sep 2005 13:37:34 -0700 http://halfwaymag.com/archives/2005/09/01/the-hollywood-wall/#comment-193 It appears that both of you (Asian Male and Tyler) are buying into the stereotype of the Asian male by accepting the social stigma of "nerdiness" and "social retardation" that you both claim to resent. Just look around you at your fellow Asian males and you will see that they are everywhere, in blue collar jobs, professional careers, business, art, acting, and yes in the homeless. The point that you are missing is that this is not about the break through actor/actress or changing ourselves as a community. We already have had break through Asian-American actors/actresses and changed ourselves as a ethnic group to "fit in." To tear down the media blanket that covers us we need the will and financing to create our own media outlets as well as a charismatic leader to catalyze this movement. It is easy to spot examples of this in the African-American and Latino-American ethnic communities. It appears that both of you (Asian Male and Tyler) are buying into the stereotype of the Asian male by accepting the social stigma of “nerdiness” and “social retardation” that you both claim to resent. Just look around you at your fellow Asian males and you will see that they are everywhere, in blue collar jobs, professional careers, business, art, acting, and yes in the homeless. The point that you are missing is that this is not about the break through actor/actress or changing ourselves as a community. We already have had break through Asian-American actors/actresses and changed ourselves as a ethnic group to “fit in.” To tear down the media blanket that covers us we need the will and financing to create our own media outlets as well as a charismatic leader to catalyze this movement. It is easy to spot examples of this in the African-American and Latino-American ethnic communities.

]]> by: Rob http://halfwaymag.com/archives/2005/09/01/the-hollywood-wall/#comment-46070 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:01:37 -0800 http://halfwaymag.com/archives/2005/09/01/the-hollywood-wall/#comment-46070 This question has already been answered and I'm sad to say that it's almost entirely the Asian American community's fault. Here's why: I have two friends who work in the entertainment and media industry. During a meeting, there was a pie chart about the percentage of ethnicity that watch their shows. Someone chimed in and asked why aren't Asian Americans on the chart? They responded that Asian Americans consume media and everything else *exactly* like white people so there is no reason to change and take on more risk that whites might not watch it. Long story short, white casts are safe with both races while Asian casts are risky with white people...maybe even Asian people themselves. Justin Lin's movie, Better Luck Tomorrow, only 5% of the ticket sales came from Asian Americans while 95% came from whites. Asians don't even support their own media. Doctor, heal thyself. This question has already been answered and I’m sad to say that it’s almost entirely the Asian American community’s fault.

Here’s why:

I have two friends who work in the entertainment and media industry. During a meeting, there was a pie chart about the percentage of ethnicity that watch their shows. Someone chimed in and asked why aren’t Asian Americans on the chart?

They responded that Asian Americans consume media and everything else *exactly* like white people so there is no reason to change and take on more risk that whites might not watch it. Long story short, white casts are safe with both races while Asian casts are risky with white people…maybe even Asian people themselves.

Justin Lin’s movie, Better Luck Tomorrow, only 5% of the ticket sales came from Asian Americans while 95% came from whites.

Asians don’t even support their own media.

Doctor, heal thyself.

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