Why is there still a trend of white people portraying Asian people in movies?
December 7th, 2009 | by admin |This has been going on for over 50 years. White men and women portraying characters meant to be Asian.
"Warner Oland plays Charlie Chan in Charlie Chan Goes to Shanghai (1935)
The Good Earth (1937) didn’t have a single Asian person in a lead role
Jennifer Jones as Han Suyin in Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)
John Wayne as Genghis Khan in The Conqueror (1956)
Tony Randall as Dr. Lao in The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)
David Carradine beats out Bruce Lee for the starring role in the TV series Kung Fu (1972)
Linda Hunt won an Oscar for her portrayal of Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)
Peter Weller as Buckaroo Banzai in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai (1984)
In the book, A Wizard of Earthsea, Ged is described as having red-brown skin. In the TV series, Earthsea (2004), he’s white
In the movie 21 (2008), based on a true story involving Asian Americans, several Asian characters are changed to white
Finally, in Dragonball: Evolution (2009), a Japanese character Son Goku is rewritten as a white character"
Why is no one doing anything about this?
http://www.racialicious.com/2009/12/03/casting-white-actors-in-asian-roles-1957-to-today/#more-4545
The thing is Asians like many other groups of people had a rather rough history of being treated like bird droppings on a new car. Also you must take into account their warlike history where the victor always assimilates the loser well this is what we see now.
The young Asian women raised up to marry only white guys or the feminine portrayal of Asian men in media it is a result of the "we are conquered" mind set. Sadly there are is much blind eyed racism aimed toward Asians why won’t they say anything? Its because they want to be accepted by white people.
18 Responses to “Why is there still a trend of white people portraying Asian people in movies?”
By f0xybr0wn on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
If there aren’t any or enough white faces, they won’t see it.
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Racism.
By _ on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
They’re making a live action Dragonball Z movie!!!! That’s sooo cool!
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By Lúta on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
I don’t know why but I think it’s stupid. Doesn’t just happen with Asians though.
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By Oliver Oz on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
and asian people still kiss white azz even when whites are casting them out of films.
Nothing is being done about this because asians are to submissive they are obedient servants to white people, that is what they are known for. So much book smarts but no common sense
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By Black Superhero on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
I dunno, man. Asians probably like the fact that the Great White is portraying them. I don’t know about the rest but for Dragonball Z, the cartoon is based in Japan but some of these folks got blond hair. What Japanese person you know got natural blond hair?
But I think Asians gotta be like us sometimes and get vocal. It’s kinda insulting.
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By Sinziana on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
why not?after all, Whites were the first who had the initiative to make those movies.
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By Jezzzy65 on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Ist answer got it.
Plus azns want to be white so they don’t care!
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By Appollonia on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
It was hard enought for us to breakthrough the barrier.
I think Jet Li is a perfect candidate to represent this issue.
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By ღAustralienne petite amieღ on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
I think its funny not racist.
And whites have their own stereotypes in asian media too.
Should whites get ”vocal” too?
If black people didn’t complain that much probably they would have a better ”fame” in this world.
Rather than the racism they face now.
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By GMan™ on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
When me and my Asian friends heard Goku was going to be white we were kinda of in a state of "WTF"
Anyway I know exactly what your talking about, and I’ve noticed when ever a white guys portrays an Asian guy he is always nerdy and goofy looking, and very clumsy.
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By Wind On The Water on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
It is for a white American audience. It goes for my people as well and has only just started to change. They used to use so many italians and greeks as native americans, that whites think they can simply wear braids and get a tan to look like us. The whole business gives you a funny feeling inside doesn’t it?
That Kung Fu series fiasco with ugly David Carradine about drove Bruce Lee insane considering it was his baby.
I was very very disappointed with the way they changed Ged and his co-horts in the Earth-Sea Trilogy. In fact, when I saw what was happening I could not even watch it.
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By MELANESIANBOI on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
The answer is that they’re aren’t enough Asian actors in Hollywood, which is why you see the few portray each and every Asian nationality.
Also Hollywood probably feels a movie will flop with an Asian cast.
But there are some big Asian stars in Hollywood whose movies are successful such as: Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh.
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By Armywife2248 on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
They don’t want to seem "too pushy" like people consider black people to be because we would not take that shyt lying down, lol. So they begrudgingly accept this in order to keep "the establishment" happy. Seriously though, that is pretty messed up. I was especially upset with them giving Bruce Lee’s part to David Carradine. I used to love to watch "The Green Hornet" when I was little….Kato (Bruce) was my favorite character.
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By Neo Draven on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Goku was a Saiyan. Not Japanese. I agree, though; he should’ve been played either by the cat who was Liu Kang in the Mortal Kombat movies, or the lead guy in Kung Fu Hustle.
WAY too many of your proofs are from too early in American history for them to really count. After the 60’s, your argument has merit. Before then, it wasn’t just Asians, it was ALL races, so it isn’t really fair to single out the Asians.
Don’t get me wrong here; I applaud the fact that you are drawing attention to a race other than your own; no one on Yahoo does that. But, consider as well that whitey in America shat on ALL races, and still does. So, it wasn’t just the Asians getting picked on.
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By Lee on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Good question. I was actually discussing this with a friend of mine the other day. First of all, I am Asian and I’ve thought about this before. It appears that Asian men and women just aren’t that marketable as leading men or women in American movies. Money has a lot to do with the decision making process of who gets cast. I mean in Hollywood, are you gonna get the best actor in China or Russell Crowe? Who’s gonna draw a bigger audience? The answer is obvious.
Other than that, Asians make a very small percentage of the U.S. population, roughly 5% (as of 2008). So when there is a casting call for a movie, it’s very hard to find Asian American actors who also fit the role…there’s just too few of them. Having them imported from overseas is a lot of effort because prior to the 1990’s, you’re not gonna find too many international Asians that can speak fluent English with little or no accent. That means English lessons and a language coach. Most of the movies you listed were 20+ years ago.
I’m sure there are other reasons but I think don’t think its a question of ethics, but rather business. Although it doesn’t mean I don’t sit there and scratch my head over their decisions.
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By Zumaria on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Racism, simple as that. It’s also done to Native Americans, they will usually just get someone white to play their role, or they will actually change the character and make them white, like they did with that movie 21, the real characters are Asian, and they got someone white to play the lead role. http://asiammedia.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/racist-casting-process-for-upcoming-21-hollywood-movie-about-mit-blackjack-team/
It’s not right. Maybe Asians are not more vocal about it because of different culture.
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By cocoa butter on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
I can only speculate, as every one else- why most Asians stay hushed on the matter. But, Bruce-Lee for one, spoke on it- and began to cast real Asian people in his movies. I think it all comes down to leadership- the leaders have to step up and speak on it. It may not be something most of them are all that concerned about- but I know for a fact, it hinders other Asians trying hard to make it in the film industry.
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Bruce Lee & Jet Li fan. Also loved that girl in Rush Hour & crouching tiger- she was a bad B*tch.
Would like to be exposed to more.
By Xuttuh on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
The thing is Asians like many other groups of people had a rather rough history of being treated like bird droppings on a new car. Also you must take into account their warlike history where the victor always assimilates the loser well this is what we see now.
The young Asian women raised up to marry only white guys or the feminine portrayal of Asian men in media it is a result of the "we are conquered" mind set. Sadly there are is much blind eyed racism aimed toward Asians why won’t they say anything? Its because they want to be accepted by white people.
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My fiance is Asian she told me this herself.