Everybody seems to have turned to “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” to relieve the boredom that grows with every passing day in quarantine. But what exactly about this game has caused it to sweep the nation?
Read moreWelcome to the Zine
Creating an entire magazine is probably not the most common quarantine activity. Read below to find out how artists and bored teenagers have stepped up to creativity and birthed a community of creatives.
Read moreInstagram Closet Sales
Instagram closet sales are a new way to take advantage of the increasing influence of social media. Whether you are buying, selling or just want to browse, Instagram’s closet sales are there for you in an instant.
Read moreYoutube Creator Cult-ure
Youtube personalities, ranging from the smallest gaming channels to the biggest beauty vlogs, have connected with people all over the world. With the Youtube Empire growing with every new creator, it’s time to ask the question: how far will Youtube rise?
Read moreMuseum of Selfies
Whether you love them or hate them, you can’t go far without seeing a selfie on your social media. But did you ever expect to find them in a museum?
Read moreReview: Black Panther
Gripping, hilarious and full of spectacle, the Ryan Coogler-directed Black Panther transcends its comic book origins to become a stepping stone for representation on the big screen, all the while never failing to exceed expectations as a film.
Read moreMillennial Makeup
What’s more iconic than millennial pink? Millennial makeup. The 21st century makeup aesthetic is largely defined by glittering highlighter, sharp contour, sleek liquid lipstick and vivid eye shadow. The industry itself, however, is defined by millennials.
Read moreRabid Fandoms
Fandoms have existed for as long as people have shared interests, but lately, the internet has allowed them to take on a more malicious form. From fans of “Rick and Morty” to “Homestuck,” the worst offenders earn the title of a rabid fandom.
Read moreInnovative Stationery
Update your pencil box with cool gadgets ranging from fancy pens to friendly erasers. Start off the school year right with innovative stationery.
Read moreAsian American Representation
By Danielle Chow
“Crazy Rich Asians” is a masterful portrayal of the luxurious Singapore lifestyle—if you’re Chinese. Based on Kevin Kwan’s New York Times Bestseller, the film follows Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a motivated young Asian-American woman who is head over heels for her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding). After he finally persuades her to accompany him back home to Singapore, Rachel is caught unawares when she is faced with his disapproving mother and the revelation that her boyfriend’s wealth redefines the concept of crazy rich.
While many cultural anchors are used in the movie to remind the audience that they are in Asia, there are some distortions. Although the film is set in Singapore and has the first all-Asian cast in 25 years, there isn't one instance in the movie that focused on someone who isn’t Chinese. The lack of representation of non-Chinese Asian characters shows how far we still need to go in representing all Asians. The Filipino and Malay populations of Singapore are hardly featured—if shown at all. Another cliché the movie includes is the lavish lifestyle Asian communities are stereotypically known for. Even Rachel’s friend—hilariously called at one point “Asian Ellen”—has an over-the-top mansion evocative of Donald Trump’s bathrooms. This simultaneously reinforces the generalization that many Asian families live in the lap of luxury and disregards the poverty evident in the Singaporean population that can’t even afford a mask to help them breathe through the polluted haze.
Even with some shortcomings, the film does make a genuine attempt to highlight Asian culture. While Asian-Americans have distinct differences in upbringing from those in Asia, the movie emphasizes the fundament of cultural identity that is never lost. A major aspect of the movie is Rachel's recognition of parental sacrifice and the importance of family. Her mother is the one she goes to for advice on what to do when she finally decides to visit Singapore and later when she is heartbroken. Although there is some miscommunication regarding Asian culture, there is a clear attempt to expose the audience to the Asian lifestyle through the film.
Although there are a few stereotypes, “Crazy Rich Asians” is a huge step for Asian-American culture. It’s a movie that has its flaws built in from years of poor representation by Hollywood. While it’s clear that there is room for improvement, the film should not be faulted for striving to correct the damage that generalized millions of Asian-Americans. Instead, it should be praised for its an all-Asian cast and attempt to portray a dilemma many Asian-Americans face. The appearance of Asian characters regularly in media, even when the film is not expressly concentrated on Asian culture, would be a remarkable sight to see. This movie, along with future Asian representation, exists in defiance of the decades of movies that just didn’t bother.
By Jillian Warren
After years of playing the sidekick, being forced into stereotypical molds and endless Hollywood whitewashing, it’s time for Asian-Americans to make their mark on the media. Throughout film history, generations of Asians have always been underrepresented in Hollywood. Typically cast in supporting roles that emphasize their Asian “exoticness.” They’re usually never the main protagonist. Even when these rare castings do happen, there’s always some sort of racial justification as to why the character is Asian—as if their whole identity is limited to their race.
Take the television series “Fresh Off the Boat.” As one of the first TV shows to focus on an entirely Chinese family, the creation of the series is definitely a milestone. However, despite the show’s positive messages about Asian-American culture, each episode seems to be drowning in cultural stereotypes, one being the cliche “tiger mom” persona exuded by the boys’ mother.
When presented on-screen, Asian characters should not have to be portrayed as different from the rest of society. What we need a more normalized representation of Asian-Americans in popular media.
One film being praised for its Asian-American lead is the Netflix teen rom-com, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” The movie, adapted from a novel by Jenny Han, centers around Lara Jean Covey, a high school junior who is half Korean. Lara Jean (Lana Condor) loves to daydream, especially about her crushes, leading her to write letters to the boys she feels so passionately about. Though she never intends to actually mail them, the letters mysteriously get sent out, and Lara Jean finds herself agreeing to stage a relationship with the school’s heartthrob, Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo.
In early production, Han was determined to keep Lara Jean’s Asian heritage. After months of fighting production companies that wanted to whitewash the main protagonist, they eventually casted Lana Condor. As a Vietnamese-American actress, Condor could never have pictured someone like herself as the lead in a romantic comedy, something that a lot of Asian-Americans can probably relate to.
Keeping the main lead Korean-American allowed filmmakers to incorporate little bits of culture into scenes—like when Lara Jean’s dad attempts to cook a traditional Korean dinner for his daughters, or the iconic Yakult yogurt drink. Above all, the film tells a heartwarming story about a teenager that falls in love and just so happens to be Asian. Her Korean heritage isn’t shoved to the forefront, giving Asian audiences a more normalized depiction without the unnecessary cultural justification.
Without a doubt, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is a film that provides the equal representation society has needed for years. Asian-Americans can watch it and see themselves represented realistically in the female protagonist. Others can connect to Lara Jean’s quirky, relatable personality. It shows that Asians can be relatable to a diverse audience, which is what today’s films should be striving to do. So grab some Yakult from your local Korean grocery store and watch as the movement of Asian American representation takes shape.
Summer Reading
Summer gives us plenty of time to relax and read for leisure. By reading everything from harrowing adventures to coming of age tales, we can travel all over the world in the pages of these novels.
Read more80s Revival
Nowadays you don’t have to own a DeLorean to travel back in time. The 1980’s are transporting us to the past with every revitalized reboot and trending retro fad.
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