The All Asian Cast of Crazy Rich Asians
"Crazy Rich Asians" recently came out in theaters based off of Kevin Kwan's book, and it is now the highest-earning romantic comedy since 2009.
This film is the first in 25 years to have an all Asian cast. For America, this is huge process in ethnic diversity. Almost all of Hollywood movies stars primarily white actors and actresses. A good majority of the minor roles are filled with caucasians as well. Often someone with a minority background lands a role, they're portraying a stereotypical character of their race. Considering a director or two asked to change Rachel, the main character, to a white woman, it's quite evident how much society has standardized the uniformity of the movie casts. An all Asian cast truly brought Hollywood out of its norm.
Many Asians were proud to see non-east Asians, a minority, cast in the movie, large roles at that too. However, many Asians aren't completely happy with this movie because it's a story of fiction. They feel as if they aren't truly represented in media. Crazy Rich Asians portrays a crazy rags-to-riches story with the Chinese ways interwoven but muted to their true value. Many traditions and ways of Chinese aren't shown to the level of importance that they actually have on east-Asian culture. (Click here to read about why Asians aren't happy with the movie)
Do you think that Crazy Rich Asians did society justice? If more culture was added to the movie would Americans feel as if the movie was geared more towards Asians? How do you think the movie has either brought or pulled apart the country?
This film is the first in 25 years to have an all Asian cast. For America, this is huge process in ethnic diversity. Almost all of Hollywood movies stars primarily white actors and actresses. A good majority of the minor roles are filled with caucasians as well. Often someone with a minority background lands a role, they're portraying a stereotypical character of their race. Considering a director or two asked to change Rachel, the main character, to a white woman, it's quite evident how much society has standardized the uniformity of the movie casts. An all Asian cast truly brought Hollywood out of its norm.
Many Asians were proud to see non-east Asians, a minority, cast in the movie, large roles at that too. However, many Asians aren't completely happy with this movie because it's a story of fiction. They feel as if they aren't truly represented in media. Crazy Rich Asians portrays a crazy rags-to-riches story with the Chinese ways interwoven but muted to their true value. Many traditions and ways of Chinese aren't shown to the level of importance that they actually have on east-Asian culture. (Click here to read about why Asians aren't happy with the movie)
Do you think that Crazy Rich Asians did society justice? If more culture was added to the movie would Americans feel as if the movie was geared more towards Asians? How do you think the movie has either brought or pulled apart the country?
Nice post, Sara. I see this as a figurative "bridge" because it's a popular art form (film) that opens the doors of representation to larger groups, and that's a good thing. (I saw the movie, by the way, and hated the ending. She should have left him! I didn't like the Hollywood ending . . .)
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