Asians In Hollywood: From Anna May Wong To "Kung Fu Panda"

I've always said the only people worse represented throughout Hollywood history than black people, were Asian people. Just like we had our share of white actors parading around in blackface, Asians had to tolerate white actors in yellowface: that is, white actors made up to look like and play Asian characters. Charlie Chan and Fu Manchu, to name two. Whenever the discussion about minority representation on screen came up in the public consciousness, Asians seemed to barely rate a mention.   

Well now you can sample some Asian images throughout Hollywood history, good and bad, by tuning in to Turner Classic Movies every Tuesday and Thursday in June. Their series, "Race and Hollywood: Asian Images In Film," is a film festival showcasing Asian performers from the era of silent films, up until more contemporary movies like "The Joy Luck Club" and "Enter The Dragon."

Last week's program featured a documentary on Hollywood's first Asian film star, Anna May Wong.  "Anna May Wong:  Frosted Yellow Willows" chronicled the career of the American born Wong who dreamed as a child of being in the movies. Though she found work, first as an extra, and then in larger roles, the choicest roles, even for Asian characters, were reserved for white actresses.

 

A lovely woman, whose beauty radiated off the screen, Wong longed for the chance to showcase her acting, so she left Hollywood and was rewarded with better stage and film roles in Europe. She became the toast of the continent in the 20's and 30's and internationally acclaimed. But still, as far as Hollywood was concerned she never gained the kind of stardom she would have had she not been Asian. In later years, like Hattie McDaniel and other black actresses of her generation, Wong caught flack from her own people for the roles she took.

 

After the documentary, TCM showed several of Wong's films including "Shanghai Express" starring Marlene Dietrich.

 

Keith at hapihour.org applauded TCM for the series:

 

   

I gotta hand it to TCM for going through the efforts to air these films wrapped in an educational festival. We can never be too educated about how people of color, LGBT and other disenfranchised members of our community have been — and continue to be — misrepresented and stereotyped in popular culture.

 

Speaking of popular culture and a film that's otherwise lauded as a classic, one of the many problems I have with the movie "Breakfast At Tiffany's" is Mickey Rooney's terribly offensive portrayal of Holly Golightly's Japanese neighbor. 

His portrayal is supposed to be funny, but believe me, it ain't.  And I'm not Asian. Today it would be like watching Angelina Jolie, slanted eyes and all, made up to play Sandra Oh's role on Grey's Anatomy.

 

And that brings me to "Kung Fu Panda"---you thought I forgot, didn't you? Well, I didn't. Angelina Jolie is one of the voices in this animated movie about a panda who's "forced to become a kung fu master to save his jungle from leopard villians." It made $60 million at the box office last weekend and though it's gotten good reviews there's some dissatisfaction about the movie in the blogosphere.

 

Jennifer at Mixed Raced America is "annoyed" by "Kung Fu Panda:"

 

   

Because do we need MORE reinforcement of Asian stereotypes, especially those that perpetuate the connection of Asians with Panda bears and martial arts, and DAMN IT, this one has BOTH. Maybe I wouldn't be so annoyed if there were more Asian Americans on-screen just being, well, Asian American. Pumping gas at your local Shell station. Ringing up your groceries.

 

The Black Snob also has problems with the movie:

 

   

Most times America must seem like a black or white world where if you're not a black person or white person no one really gives a crap about whether your thousands-of-years-old culture is being portrayed by a cartoon panda doing martial arts voiced by Jack Black. Just suck on it Chinese Americans.

   

When I see Kung Fu Panda I think--Is this the equivalent of Hollywood making a movie about a jive-talking Chicken from the country whose dream is to become a famous rapper, moves to the ghetto but is constantly being pursued by greasy black fry cook from Church's--World's Greasiest Chicken Chain?

 

The Angry Asian Man isn't so angry about "Kung Fu Panda," but he does have a warning for parents:

 

   

Not only will it make truckloads of money this weekend, it will no doubt inspire countless kids across the country to kung fu kick each other. Parents, expect some Kung Fu Panda-inspired injuries this summer.

 

You won't however get any injuries by watching TCM's film festival.  That is unless you decide to kung fu your TV set.

 

By the way, "The Killing Fields" which I mentioned in my Memorial Day post:  "Ten TV Shows And Movies That Taught Me Something About War," will air as part of the festival on June 26th.

 

Cross Posted From BlogHer

 

A lovely woman, whose beauty radiated off the screen, Wong longed for the chance to showcase her acting, so she left Hollywood and was rewarded with better stage and film roles in Europe. She became the toast of the continent in the 20's and 30's and internationally acclaimed. But still, as far as Hollywood was concerned she never gained the kind of stardom she would have had she not been Asian. In later years, like Hattie McDaniel and other black actresses of her generation, Wong caught flack from her own people for the roles she took.

 

After the documentary, TCM showed several of Wong's films including "Shanghai Express" starring Marlene Dietrich.

 

Keith at hapihour.org applauded TCM for the series:

 

   

I gotta hand it to TCM for going through the efforts to air these films wrapped in an educational festival. We can never be too educated about how people of color, LGBT and other disenfranchised members of our community have been — and continue to be — misrepresented and stereotyped in popular culture.

 

Speaking of popular culture and a film that's otherwise lauded as a classic, one of the many problems I have with the movie "Breakfast At Tiffany's" is Mickey Rooney's terribly offensive portrayal of Holly Golightly's Japanese neighbor. 

His portrayal is supposed to be funny, but believe me, it ain't.  And I'm not Asian. Today it would be like watching Angelina Jolie, slanted eyes and all, made up to play Sandra Oh's role on Grey's Anatomy.

 

And that brings me to "Kung Fu Panda"---you thought I forgot, didn't you? Well, I didn't. Angelina Jolie is one of the voices in this animated movie about a panda who's "forced to become a kung fu master to save his jungle from leopard villians." It made $60 million at the box office last weekend and though it's gotten good reviews there's some dissatisfaction about the movie in the blogosphere.

 

Jennifer at Mixed Raced America is "annoyed" by "Kung Fu Panda:"

 

   

Because do we need MORE reinforcement of Asian stereotypes, especially those that perpetuate the connection of Asians with Panda bears and martial arts, and DAMN IT, this one has BOTH. Maybe I wouldn't be so annoyed if there were more Asian Americans on-screen just being, well, Asian American. Pumping gas at your local Shell station. Ringing up your groceries.

 

The Black Snob also has problems with the movie:

 

   

Most times America must seem like a black or white world where if you're not a black person or white person no one really gives a crap about whether your thousands-of-years-old culture is being portrayed by a cartoon panda doing martial arts voiced by Jack Black. Just suck on it Chinese Americans.

   

When I see Kung Fu Panda I think--Is this the equivalent of Hollywood making a movie about a jive-talking Chicken from the country whose dream is to become a famous rapper, moves to the ghetto but is constantly being pursued by greasy black fry cook from Church's--World's Greasiest Chicken Chain?

 

The Angry Asian Man isn't so angry about "Kung Fu Panda," but he does have a warning for parents:

 

   

Not only will it make truckloads of money this weekend, it will no doubt inspire countless kids across the country to kung fu kick each other. Parents, expect some Kung Fu Panda-inspired injuries this summer.

 

You won't however get any injuries by watching TCM's film festival.  That is unless you decide to kung fu your TV set.

 

By the way, "The Killing Fields" which I mentioned in my Memorial Day post:  "Ten TV Shows And Movies That Taught Me Something About War," will air as part of the festival on June 26th.

 

Cross Posted From BlogHer