Born in the US: Raised by Immigrants
All of my roots stem from Southeast Asia, from our rules, traditions, and how we view each other. It is a rough transition whether growing up in the States or Laos to then transition those morals and mesh them with American traditions. These changes in intercultural communication make or break relationships of all kinds.
Harm in Stereotypes
The stereotypes placed on us in everyday life and then in the film have affected us more than we'd like to OPENLY admit.
Austin Powers, known for its Groovy theme, comedy, and action- also places two Asian twin sisters into a generalized stereotype of its time. They are too giggly/ditzy to understand or add depth to the movie, (or more so as it came off, give respect to.)
Bring It On, Whitney: The only Asian girl on the team and as media often did a more "passible" Asian. We only see East Asians represented on screen, and with the rise of interracial actors, it begins to feel trivial for authentic representation, as it began to messily mix with eurocentric beauty standards imbedded in many Asian women.
Fox Eye Trend:
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/fox-eye-trend-asian-cultural-appropriation-trnd/index.html
We grow up getting mocked for being different like the parents of these kids told them exactly how to be offensive. Pulling the corner of their eyes up, saying our food is disgusting, and then turning to profit on us and our marketability in trending foreign relations: Anime, Cosplay, Ramen, Sushi, Pho, Boba, etc.
“This trend involves putting your fingers to your forehead and pulling back where eyes appear more slanted and stretches the face back. Asian Americans are quick to notice how problematic this gesture is. It is a direct rip off of the face where kids mimicking Asian eyes will pull back their own eyes to slant them.”
More:
Growth in True Representation
Raya and The last Dragon 2021
The film was fully a masterpiece, and with the approval of both of my parents, it is proof that SMALL things mean so much.
Raya and the Last Dragon is Disney’s first animated movie based on Southeast Asian culture. For this movie, Disney created the Southeast Asia Movie Trust, which was led by Lao visual anthropologist Dr. Steve Arounsack of California State University, Stanislaus. The Trust is a group of consultants with areas of expertise ranging from music and choreography to architecture and martial arts.
Respectful greetings were seen throughout and after being mocked most of my life for greeting everyone this way instead of a handshake or waving hello it had me emotional to see a perfect example of how our greetings are done. No matter to whom, we bow, (or as I know nok), and raise our hands to say hello, goodbye, and thank you.
My father pointed out how the Tribes were all direct influences of different lands. China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other island countries like Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. How Fang land had Thai wardrobe and mannerisms, with buildings built like our Temples.
Introduction to our foods, where we hold our souls and love for survival. We make much of the little we have and add as much flavor we can to keep ourselves from a bland, malnutritional diet. Congee, also known as porridge
Displaying our clothing from fabrics, to how pants are worn, and textiles used- to properly show our rice field hats. Often worn to mock us, to inappropriately represent us- an item we wear for labor, commodity, and to identify the working class was finally shown respectfully with no negativity.
A cute note:
My father and I gushed over Names and Traditions throughout the film, but especially this little one, who goes by "Noy"! In Laos "noy/noi" means small, and that cute name for this cute little one makes it even better of a reference to the work put into this film in every aspect. The other names of Lao descent were Boun (Boon) and Tong! Familiar names that even reside in my family, a big smile on our faces as main characters introduced themselves.
More on Raya:
https://yr.media/arts-culture/5-ways-raya-and-the-last-dragon-embraces-southeast-asian-culture/
Never Have I Ever 2021
"American Coming of Age Comedy-Drama, of a South East Asian Teenager?! Finally!!!" My brain shouted.
I know the script was accurate when I first watched it, but the personal relatability and turmoil of Devi were frustratingly annoying...why? Because I thought and acted similarly at that age... Seeing that back is like a smack in the face you need from reality, but it's also somewhat refreshing, I wasn't alone in feeling this way. Pushing myself academically, having an enemy I made over grades, dating, and relationships, how to handle being compared to any other Asian around and feeling confident in myself still... It's a lot to handle.
Links:
‘Never Have I Ever’ charms viewers with more nuanced representation in season two
https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2021-09-01/pop-culture/never-have-i-ever-charms-viewers-with-more-nuanced-representation-in-season-two/#:~:text=The%20immigrant%20struggle%20is%20complex,Devi%2C%20Kamala%2C%20and%20Nalini.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
MARVEL, well done! FINALLY
The accuracy, the appreciation-
Not only do Simu and Awkwafina touch on cultural aspects but are a spitting image of Asian-American kids in the US. Katy (Awkwafina) is frequently seen not speaking her native tongue and openly admitted she doesn't speak it well but will reply in English when spoken to. A very real thing in our lives as we are raised to know English, but keep our country's language too. Not everyone can and some excel past and learn more than one language like ShangChi (Simu Liu) shows in his multiple language scenes.
Not only does ShangChi battle with older sibling syndrome,
his rough relationship with his father hits too close to home for many. In-home dynamics, the older sibling protects the younger one from any harmful parenting to prevent the damage they had to self-heal from, when ShangChi finds he must see his father once more it lights a whole stomach-turning plotline.
Any child in an Asian upbringing feels like they are failures to their parents and often with strong-headed ones like Xu Wenwu (Tony-Lueng Chui-Wai), coming off as loving is not easy. We see ShangChi's mother saying he is proud of him (fiction I tell you) and it cuts to the grudge of his father and the harsh words or never equating to having the rings. As it may be fiction in action and supernatural powers, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings touched us all with personal experiences being displayed on the big screen, Some may laugh like it's unrealistic, and we laugh because we lived it.
More on ShangChi:
Why ‘Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings’ means so much to Asian Americans like me
Cultural impacts of ‘Shang-Chi
https://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2021/09/29/cultural-impacts-of-shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-featuring-first-asian-superhero-in-mcu/
Turning Red 2022
Some will call it too cringe, while for many of us, it was the child movie we needed to feel okay in our skin. Turning red shines a light on topics Asian girls are shunned on growing up from natural body changes, anxiety, and pressures to be "Good Enough". Our love for our mother/parental figures and the depths we'd go to, to hear they are "proud of us." Turning Red easily became one of my favorites to show my little loved ones growing up so they don't have to grow up in fear of their normal habits and grow into confident adults.
More on Turning Red:
5 Important Reasons ALL Kids Should Watch “Turning Red” https://nerdbot.com/2022/03/13/5-important-reasons-to-watch-turning-red-with-kids/#:~:text=When%20boys%20learn%20about%20the,and%20failing%20at%20every%20turn.
'Turning Red's portrayal of periods is a turning point for coming-of-age movies
https://mashable.com/article/turning-red-sex-education-coming-of-age-stories
MYTHS?
Yes It's True
“No shoes in the house!”
Some may laugh, and we may just laugh with you. Not all jokes used on us are lies, to which we laugh in our own relatability- you know it's us, we know because we lived through it. The dishwasher jokes, shoes off when home, and the things that we see as daily necessities to functionality are used for humor to show we all do this.
Chopsticks For EVERYTHING!?
NO... Not every Asian culture uses Chopsticks for everything.
Yes, it is very versatile and helpful for many things like any other utensil, but it has somehow come off as a requirement of Asian authentication to use them and use them often.
We find ourselves teaching others how to use them so we can properly have our meal and be respectful. Eating Pho with a fork doesn't have the same touch as with chopsticks... I said what I said.
Even more so Slurping and finishing your broth can be seen as a sign the food was DELICIOUS in some cultures. Be open to asking, before coming off unintentionally off-putting.
Example: Slurping your noodles loudly is considered a compliment to the chef throughout Japan and China – a sign of deep appreciation for your one-bowl meal. In South Korea and Singapore, however, not so much. (
Links:
What not to do when eating noodles
https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/inspiration/articles/how-to-eat-noodle-soup-in-asia#:~:text=Slurping%20your%20noodles%20loudly%20is,in%20a%20quiet%20train%20carriage.
8 rules for Japanese chopstick etiquette
https://www.andiamo.co.uk/blog/8-rules-for-japanese-chopstick-etiquette/
True Struggles
Why Asian Market Places Feel Sacred
Our souls are in our food, our family, our loved ones- when we shop, we shop to fill the stomachs of ourselves and those we care about. The markets are full of Grandmas who tell you you need to eat more, Grandpas who tell you the best vegetables to shop for, Aunties who will teach you how to bargain, Uncles who will have the funniest stories, and so much more. It takes a village to know a village and that's why our marketplaces are so sacred to us.
At first glance, it's a foreign land waiting to be discovered and for us it's home. Full of Dim Sums, Hot Pot, Street food, and more. Our culture lives safely in these cities that hold "China Towns" and "Little Saigons" free to thrive and bring our homeland to a new country.
