Stereotypes and Representation in 'Crazy Rich Asians'

Introduction

The film, Crazy Rich Asians, based on the book of the same name by Kevin Kwan, was lauded as a phenomenal piece of Asian representation that appeared in the Western mediasphere in decades. Although the film celebrates parts of the Asian experience and culture, it fails to challenge some of the most prevailing Asian stereotypes. Despite being a huge commercial and critical success, Crazy Rich Asians has tones of racism as a result of reiterating Asian stereotypes.

Youth and Racial Identity Representation in 'Crazy Rich Asians'

In this day and age, the representation of youth and racial identities in mainstream media and pop culture is as important as ever. Production companies, writers, directors, and actors themselves have a social responsibility to challenge preconceived notions about race instead of conforming to old ideas. In Crazy Rich Asians, the film revolves around the relationship of Nick Young, whose family belongs in the uber elite class of ultra wealthy Singaporeans, and Rachel Chu, a smart, career-driven professor at New York University . The two characters, Nick and Rachel, respectively reflects the typically-seen stereotypes that Asians especially from the motherland are incredibly rich and that Asians in general have to be incredibly smart. These stereotypes are considered “positive” and therefore not “offensive”, but they further perpetuate the narrow worldview as such that Asian people have to fit in one of the categories. It is worrying that these interpretations of Asian people are normalized on mainstream media. In the article Race in the Age of Tribeless Youth Culture , the author underlines a few important points. One in particular is how a media and pop culture can “resonate with notions of post-racial universalism” especially among youths (Gazi, 11). Dope represents a break in the mold for African-American youths by introducing “black nerd” characters rarely seen on mass media, allowing for others in the community to identify with or be inspired by (Gazi, 10). In contrast, Crazy Rich Asians failed to provide breadth and depth in its characters, and instead relying on generic stereotypes of Asian people.

Challenging Conceptions in the Book

Apart from that, the age-old idea rhetoric that white people are of a superior race is often displayed and reiterated in mainstream media and pop culture. In the opening scene, Eleanor Young arrived at a posh hotel in the United Kingdom with her young children, Nick and Astrid. It is raining and the family is drenched and their shoes covered in wet dirt leaving a mess on the floor. The hotel manager, who is white, refuses to let Eleanor use the telephone or assist her, forcing her to use a telephone booth outside in the rain. Eleanor returned to the hotel, only this time to be greeted by the previous owner of the hotel who revealed that Eleanor is now the new owner. The scene concluded with Eleanor walking in the elevator and told off the manager to clean the floor. Although this scene appears to be a victory in the standoff against the white man, it it troubling in some ways. This scene validates the idea that the white man is superior and that a person from a minority race needed to prove his or her worthiness. Asian people have to achieve obscene levels of wealth to be validated and accepted at par with the so-called superior race. In the article Anthropologists’ Views on Race, Ancestry, and Genetics, the results and data indicate a “dramatic rejection” of race concepts among most professional anthropologists (Wagner et al., 326). This finding is significant because it demonstrates a consensus among anthropologists that race is an arbitrary construction that is deeply embedded among individuals and societies (Wagner et al., 326). Based on the finding, there is no credibility to distinguish between races as there is no such thing of which to measure racial superiority.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the representation of the Asian identity is far from accurate or relatable in Crazy Rich Asians, save for the uber elite class of the ultra wealthy. Needless to say, it is virtually impossible to encapsulate the entire Asian experience in the length of a feature film. However, the film’s (and book’s) depiction of Asian people through characters Nick and Rachel, as well as in the opening scene of the film, may possibly reveal a deeper disconnect of what it really means to represent a group of people. At the end of it, stereotypes stem from gross, generic misunderstandings and they are a form of racism, be it “positive” or negative.

Works Cited

1. Chu, Jon M. Crazy Rich Asians. Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Michelle Yeoh. SK Global Entertainment. Starlight Culture Entertainment. Warner Bros. August 7, 2018.
2. Gazi, Jeezhan. “Race in the Age of Tribeless Youth: Rick Famuyiwa’s Dope (2015) and recent shifts in African-American Pop Culture.” Journal of Aesthetics & Culture, 9:1 (2017): 1-11. Online.
3. Wagner, Jennifer K., et al. “Anthropologists’ Views on Race, Ancestry, and Genetics.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 162 (2016): 318-327. Online.