I watch the odd episode now and then, but I haven't been following any series, so I don't know if racial stereotypes still exist in TV. I will say, however, that I haven't seen any Asian superheroes or leading characters.
tv Do racial stereotypes still persist in TV?
- Thread starter Aspiring Mogul
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Did you want to see Asian super heroes that appealed to Asians in Asia, Americans of Asian descent, or to the predominant WASP American market with a healthy side order of Latino Americans?
Someone wants to sell TV advertising dollars to pay the producers for a product.
Follow the money and you'll find stereotypes are a luxury no one can afford.
I'm kinda surprised we don't have a stronger Latino American TV programming, actually.
I think Asian Americans make up for less than 5% of the US TV viewing audience, and trying to write/produce something in America/Canada for a much bigger Asian overseas market is... problematic.
Someone wants to sell TV advertising dollars to pay the producers for a product.
Follow the money and you'll find stereotypes are a luxury no one can afford.
I'm kinda surprised we don't have a stronger Latino American TV programming, actually.
I think Asian Americans make up for less than 5% of the US TV viewing audience, and trying to write/produce something in America/Canada for a much bigger Asian overseas market is... problematic.
Ever hear of a guy named Jeremy Lin? He's the Asian American starting point guard for the New York Knicks and has appeared on the cover of the last two issues of Sports Illustrated. Lin is the hottest thing in sports right now. MSG stock rose 250 million in cap value since his rise to prominence. Arenas sell out when he appears.
My point is that the Asian American market and in turn the overseas is wide open for a good product that appeals to them.
My point is that the Asian American market and in turn the overseas is wide open for a good product that appeals to them.
Why? I'm not PC, and I believe in free markets, but I'd like to know what you're thinking.
Dedueshebag is just trying to bait you into getting upset.
I dunno.
"Dedueshebag" seems like rather harsh language.
Additionally, Lim is hardly representational of a TV superhero, which I'm assuming the OP meant as a fictional superhero.
Just guessing, though.
Yes, Lin is a real athlete, as opposed to a fictional character.
And yet, movies Like Super Cop and Black Mask are very popular here in the USA.
What about Hiro from Heroes?! Best part of the show, imo.
Seconded! Hiro and Ando stories were among the better aspects of the show. Heroes was pretty good about spreading out the ethnicities, though on the other hand, they did play up stereotypes at times.
On this subject, on the dvd of "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" there is an alternate commentary track called "Commentary! The Musical" (exactly what you'd think it would be, and really really funny). Maurissa Tancharoen, one of the writers and bit actors has a song called "Nobody's Asian in the Movies" which is all about casting stereotypes, and really funny. I'm sure you could probably dig it up on Youtube (I'm at work or I would).
I was hoping George Takei would get a series for his Captain Sulu show, but that didn't happen.
I don't know about anyone else, I used to enjoy Martial Law starring Sammo Hung and Kelly Hu. Sammo even played his character on Walker Texas Ranger starring Chuck Norris.
The current Hawaii Five-0 has two Asian characters.
Why has this conversation turned into naming our favorite Asian characters? As if a small handful of characters can even slightly compare to the thousands of roles available to pretty, skinny white people. But programmers need to sell advertising, we all get that.
And that's not even answering the original question -- YES, there are definitely a lot of stereotypes on TV, in the way that particular groups of people are portrayed. I kind of feel like if you don't see it, you're not watching.
And no, I'm not okay with that.
And that's not even answering the original question -- YES, there are definitely a lot of stereotypes on TV, in the way that particular groups of people are portrayed. I kind of feel like if you don't see it, you're not watching.
And no, I'm not okay with that.
I'm probably over-analyzing (as I tend to do) but I personally don't understand the point of stereotyping in entertainment.
Call me an idiot, but if a program is populated with middle aged stereotypical (used most often as a perjorative) white anglo saxons such as myself what's the point of me watching... basically "me" running around doing "me" sorta stuff?
Sh!t, I can do that all day long at home.
And why would I wanna watch some other non-white bread act like me?
Oh, sh!t! If they ain't acting like me then who should they act like? Them?
Bahhhhh!!! Now I'm stereotyping in the perjorative sense!
I just don't get it.
WTH is an asian stereotype - entertainment wise?
Are other asians supposed to look at that and say "Yep. THAAAAAAT's what I act like. This is good entertainment".
Do Americans of Asian descent have a stronger affinity for native cultural values? - or - on the occasions some of them visit their ancestral land do the natives kinda look at 'em funny and note "You sure act/think like an... American." ?
God knows I don't think I'd fit in with my mutt Scots/Irish/English ancestors.
I think after living somewhere over there for a few decades I'd still always be thought of as "That American that lives down the way".
Is an Asian super hero someone that mighty morphs fifty+ feet tall, engages enemies in Kara-te-fu, and always has a katana on 'em?
WTH is that?
Does that sound good?
Anyone wanna drop $1.5mil an eposode on me for that?
It'll be like an Incredible Hulk+Power Rangers mash up.
I just don't get stereotypes.
At all.
Especially as entertainment.
Call me an idiot, but if a program is populated with middle aged stereotypical (used most often as a perjorative) white anglo saxons such as myself what's the point of me watching... basically "me" running around doing "me" sorta stuff?
Sh!t, I can do that all day long at home.
And why would I wanna watch some other non-white bread act like me?
Oh, sh!t! If they ain't acting like me then who should they act like? Them?
Bahhhhh!!! Now I'm stereotyping in the perjorative sense!
I just don't get it.
WTH is an asian stereotype - entertainment wise?
Are other asians supposed to look at that and say "Yep. THAAAAAAT's what I act like. This is good entertainment".
Do Americans of Asian descent have a stronger affinity for native cultural values? - or - on the occasions some of them visit their ancestral land do the natives kinda look at 'em funny and note "You sure act/think like an... American." ?
God knows I don't think I'd fit in with my mutt Scots/Irish/English ancestors.
I think after living somewhere over there for a few decades I'd still always be thought of as "That American that lives down the way".
Is an Asian super hero someone that mighty morphs fifty+ feet tall, engages enemies in Kara-te-fu, and always has a katana on 'em?
WTH is that?
Does that sound good?
Anyone wanna drop $1.5mil an eposode on me for that?
It'll be like an Incredible Hulk+Power Rangers mash up.
I just don't get stereotypes.
At all.
Especially as entertainment.
In all honesty, Japan likes to make fun of other racial groups in some of their movies too.
Who has seen Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl 2009 from Japan?
But, that does not make it right either.
Who has seen Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl 2009 from Japan?
But, that does not make it right either.
In all honesty, Japan likes to make fun of other racial groups in some of their movies too.
Who has seen Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl 2009 from Japan?
But, that does not make it right either.
Who has seen Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl 2009 from Japan?
But, that does not make it right either.
No, and in fact it basically sounds like the typical stereotype you would expect if a super hero were played by an asian actor. I didn't really watch Heros much - but didn't Hiro's character go back in time to feudal japan, and bring back a samurai sword with him, etc? That's kind of the less-obvious presence of racial stereotypes on television - it's fairly rare to see a non-white actor in a mainstream role where the role isn't in some way specifically tied into their ethnicity. It's not just about 'making fun' of people based on racial stereotypes - it's about pigeonholing actors into roles that are specific to their ethnicity.