The heavy influence of movies and social media in this generation, affect the overall population and the way behaviors are enacted. It has been a weapon utilized to oppress and target minorities and genders alike. Films such as The World of Suzie Wong, and Fu Manchu are easy depictions of theses unjust manifestation. However, over the years, racial inequality on social media has transcended through numerous practices, still under the same principle. Avatar: The Last Airbender series and movie has been the latest rave on all things racially and genderly unjust.
In The World of Suzie Wong, Suzie Wong, is seen as the ideal image of the Asian woman in the eyes of Westerners. Wong, played by Nancy Kwon, plays the image of the exotic, subjective dragon-lady to the sailors and navy men at the local inn. This belief of Asian woman being exotic, and subjective to the White male has continued its influence in the world of Hollywood. The Asian American women is generally displayed in theses negative connotations, usually to appease the Western society. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, there are not one but two appearances of what the Western society thinks of the Asian American woman. Katara, being one of the main protagonists of the show, plays the gentle, motherly figure within the Avatar group. Her bending powers equip her with the abilities to heal and protect those closes. Another female character would be the main antagonist, Azula. Known as the fire princess, she eventually grows an obsessive compulsion to destroy those who threaten her future as the Fire lord. Thus comparing her to the Western view of the oriental dragon lady.
The appearances of both Katara and Azula continue as an influence upon the younger generation as it questions them. Do they want to grow up to be Katara? The nice, kind motherly-figure with no abilities to fight for herself? Or to be Azula, the over controlling, maniac, who was under the influence of her reigning father, opposite of Katara? Within the show though, Katara is headstrong when the Avatar team reaches the northern water tribe. She is discriminated by her gender and her inability to harm anything. When she was able to fight for herself, we are able to see just how strong she was. However throughout the series, she is unable to show more of the fighting woman she is as she is constantly overshadowed by Aang, the main protagonist of the show. Aside from the series, the film production of the Last Airbender has also been a conflict. The racial significance of the four main children, is one of the main issues to face. Three out of the four main children are played by White children while the antagonist of the show is played by an Asian American actor. Katara, as explained earlier is seen as a strong woman yet gentle character, is played by a White child and illustrates a rather subjective, weak person. Always needing the help of a male counterpart when clearly she has the strengths to protect herself.
This popular television series has been the influence on the younger generation for nearly a decade, highlighted for its dynamics in bringing in an Asian background and for utilizing children as heroes. The Asian background, has also brought back disparities of Orientalism as there are many graphics that display the Eastern society and what the West views them as. The duel between all the characters is the fact that they are inequitable in the eyes of everyone around them. Not only are Katara and Azula being personified as the typical Oriental woman, there joining female cast are also under the same predicament. It leaves the questions of which character younger Asian American girls would choose from.
Thanks for reading!
-Diana Dinh
In The World of Suzie Wong, Suzie Wong, is seen as the ideal image of the Asian woman in the eyes of Westerners. Wong, played by Nancy Kwon, plays the image of the exotic, subjective dragon-lady to the sailors and navy men at the local inn. This belief of Asian woman being exotic, and subjective to the White male has continued its influence in the world of Hollywood. The Asian American women is generally displayed in theses negative connotations, usually to appease the Western society. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, there are not one but two appearances of what the Western society thinks of the Asian American woman. Katara, being one of the main protagonists of the show, plays the gentle, motherly figure within the Avatar group. Her bending powers equip her with the abilities to heal and protect those closes. Another female character would be the main antagonist, Azula. Known as the fire princess, she eventually grows an obsessive compulsion to destroy those who threaten her future as the Fire lord. Thus comparing her to the Western view of the oriental dragon lady.
The appearances of both Katara and Azula continue as an influence upon the younger generation as it questions them. Do they want to grow up to be Katara? The nice, kind motherly-figure with no abilities to fight for herself? Or to be Azula, the over controlling, maniac, who was under the influence of her reigning father, opposite of Katara? Within the show though, Katara is headstrong when the Avatar team reaches the northern water tribe. She is discriminated by her gender and her inability to harm anything. When she was able to fight for herself, we are able to see just how strong she was. However throughout the series, she is unable to show more of the fighting woman she is as she is constantly overshadowed by Aang, the main protagonist of the show. Aside from the series, the film production of the Last Airbender has also been a conflict. The racial significance of the four main children, is one of the main issues to face. Three out of the four main children are played by White children while the antagonist of the show is played by an Asian American actor. Katara, as explained earlier is seen as a strong woman yet gentle character, is played by a White child and illustrates a rather subjective, weak person. Always needing the help of a male counterpart when clearly she has the strengths to protect herself.
This popular television series has been the influence on the younger generation for nearly a decade, highlighted for its dynamics in bringing in an Asian background and for utilizing children as heroes. The Asian background, has also brought back disparities of Orientalism as there are many graphics that display the Eastern society and what the West views them as. The duel between all the characters is the fact that they are inequitable in the eyes of everyone around them. Not only are Katara and Azula being personified as the typical Oriental woman, there joining female cast are also under the same predicament. It leaves the questions of which character younger Asian American girls would choose from.
Thanks for reading!
-Diana Dinh