Topic > Stereotypical Asian Roles in Hollywood Sitcoms

Diversity of any kind is something that should be celebrated, whether it's race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. However, even in the 21st century, Asian men and women are still often overlooked and overly stereotyped in Hollywood and especially in American sitcoms. The roles in which Asians are cast portray dated characteristics. Stereotypical Asian roles are at opposite ends of the spectrum from being a nerd to being a prostitute. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The idea that Asians are inarticulate in English or don't understand the nuances of Western culture is commonly used for exaggerated comedic purposes. Behind the laughter is the knowledge that Asians are still not taken seriously but rather for the entertainment of others because being put on a pedestal at the center of the joke makes us insecure about how they are presented to us. Asians represent an important part of the newly diverse America and its culture, but the lack of representation is not as evident. Analyzing the way Asian characters are presented in the two popular early 2000s sitcoms 2 Broke Girls and Gilmore Girls, the essay aims to analyze the ways in which Asians are, and have always been, represented in Hollywood visually and linguistically. Furthermore, this essay aims to see how far America has truly come to accept and embrace Asian identity in its culturally diverse country. The paradigm of television is a very influential tool in the way it informs how we perceive the world and shapes our knowledge about it. certain groups of people. When there is no or almost no representation of Asians on TV and the only representations are stereotypes repeated over and over again, Asians are limited to a handful of expectations shown by the media that are not representative of their racial identity or culture. American sitcoms are examples of how Hollywood uses Asians as a springboard to create the punchlines of a show rather than providing them a platform to expose their culture and educate the unsuspecting Western masses. Considered a groundbreaking series for its mostly female cast, Gilmore Girls was progressive when it came to female representation, but their portrayal of Asians received mixed reactions. One of the main characters, Mrs. Kim, has taken on characteristics that cast a negative light on the way Asian parents raise their children, showing a huge contrast with the mainstream Western family regarding parental control. She is also visually portrayed to stand out and appear different on purpose with her conservative wardrobe which differs from the main character's more relaxed and casual style of Mom. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now In more recent times, the early 2010s sitcom 2 Broke Girls saw the character Han Lee, a Korean-American restaurant owner, represent the stereotypical characteristics that Western media loves to recycle; from an immigrant's broken English to the idea that Asian men have low sexual appeal. Hollywood has a long history of falsely portraying Asians on screen, and stereotyping isn't the only way they do it.