Ah Hollywood! America’s most profitable export has recently begun to feature more and more Asian culture and influences in its films. From Shrek (史瑞克) to The Matrix(駭客任務) to just about every action movie made these days, Kung Fu is spotlighted. Asian movies from Japan, Korea and HK are being remade in Hollywood at break-neck speed. Asia exported Kung Fu years ago and has been popular in American movies since the 1970s with Bruce Lee(李小龍) leading the charge. But did you know that the first Asian movie star made her debut during the 1920s in silent films?
Last night we discussed the US’s continuing fascination with the ‘Far East’ and all things Asian. We also noted that US culture is only skin deep, with more focus on what things appear to be, rather than what they are. The US has a tradition of taking only small parts of other cultures and incorporating them into film. Stereotypical sounds and visual cues tell the American movie-goer that a movie has some other culture theme. For example we watched a scene from The Matrix where Neo fights Morpheus in a ‘sparring program’. They use Kung fu in a Japanese tatami-floored room wearing white, complete with gong sounds and typical Hollywood trite ‘Chinese’ music- to alert the viewer- that this is ‘Asian’. This is typical of the US- Americans often can’t tell the difference between any of Asia’s cultures or peoples: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, all look the same to most in the US.
The discussion turned to other higher quality movies and a homework assignment was given to see the Oscar nominated Babel(火線交錯).
Join us next week for more discussion of US and Asian Stereotypes in movies and culture.
Last night we discussed the US’s continuing fascination with the ‘Far East’ and all things Asian. We also noted that US culture is only skin deep, with more focus on what things appear to be, rather than what they are. The US has a tradition of taking only small parts of other cultures and incorporating them into film. Stereotypical sounds and visual cues tell the American movie-goer that a movie has some other culture theme. For example we watched a scene from The Matrix where Neo fights Morpheus in a ‘sparring program’. They use Kung fu in a Japanese tatami-floored room wearing white, complete with gong sounds and typical Hollywood trite ‘Chinese’ music- to alert the viewer- that this is ‘Asian’. This is typical of the US- Americans often can’t tell the difference between any of Asia’s cultures or peoples: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, all look the same to most in the US.
The discussion turned to other higher quality movies and a homework assignment was given to see the Oscar nominated Babel(火線交錯).
Join us next week for more discussion of US and Asian Stereotypes in movies and culture.
by Charles Estus
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