The Relationship BEtween Asian Americans and Entertainment

By Brandon N.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has consistently shattered box office records, both domestically and worldwide–bringing in over $360 million.

As a movie with an all Asian cast, its success is not only something to be embraced within the Asian American community. The film stands as a testament to the progress that has been made when it comes to opportunities for Asian creatives compared to years prior.

That does not mean it has been easy making these strides in the creative industry. Asians went from being a marginalized community that played stereotypical roles, some being whitewashed, to having a month dedicated to celebrating the culture and heritage of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, with many short films starring Asian actors and writers being broadcasted on a variety of platforms and across California.

In an interview with Josh Ko, executive director at Kollaboration SF–a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for and hosting opportunities for Asian creatives to further their craft, he mentions how, “It’s not enough to have increased representation, but to have representation that accurately depicts a community. You can’t do that with just one show or one song, it has to be continuous.”

Source: Credits to Kollab SF www.kollabsf.org

And for a while, that has been the standard way of things in Hollywood, in entertainment, in the press. Occasionally you would see an Asian face on screen, but they wouldn’t be very complex or have a lot to say. And of the few roles that Asians could land, it would often be a sexualized role, like the “fine china doll” or the wise “dragon lady” for women. For males, they would be tokenized and stripped of any and all masculinity. Reduced to the nerd with the thick accent that no one understands.

However, there is one thing that has been a beacon of light for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders who wanted to put their work out there: social media. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook allowed content creators and viewers alike to share and connect with one another. Justin Chon, Asian-American actor in films like 21 & Over and Blue Bayou, has said that the success of YouTubers like Ryan Higa, like Kevjumba, Wong Fu Productions, etc. show that there is a demand for content run by Asian Americans.

Unlike on mainstream TV, consumers can choose who and what they want to watch on YouTube. This system has been a big influence on getting creators into the mainstream, said in an article by The Washington Post.

The stairway to proper presentation is getting ever closer. Philip Wang, co-founder of Wong Fu Productions, once said, “Try to build systems where we can have that control of what we want to see” during an interview on NPR when asked about Asian-Americans in Hollywood.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Asians in the media.

On the music side of things, there has been an influx of Asian musicians. Record label 88rising has made a name for itself by promoting and elevating Asian talent and having notable names signed to them. Some of which include, Niki, Rich Brian, Joji, Chungha, Seori, etc. They have done tons of collaborations outside of their label and even worked on the soundtrack for Shang-Chi! The opportunity to work on such a big project for the Asian community has promoted the works of many creatives in the field.

Aside from 88rising, one cannot deny the rise of K-Pop acts in the west. Names like BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, and NCT are of common terminology now. For a music genre that’s been around since the early 2000s, the explosion in popularity of boy group BTS has captivated a new audience of listeners. Once people got a taste, there was no stopping them. BTS proved that music is a language that transcends all barriers.

The absence of Asian-produced content in film, music, sports, and so forth has simultaneously created a community, an audience, and a need for its advocacy.

As Filipino American singer-songwriter Brian Dublin puts it, “We just have to keep fighting to tell our stories. As much as possible and whenever we can.”

In a period where there have been numerous hate crimes and attacks towards the Asian diaspora, especially the elderly, having more moments for Asian creatives to shine is empowering. Having our stories told, and our voices heard.

“Sometimes you don’t realize how important representation is until you see it,” Dublin has said.