What is it to be Chinese in Hollywood? Who comes to mind first? Charlie Chan? Suzie Wong? Bruce Lee? Filmmaker Arthur Dong explores the stereotype of the Chinese in his documentary "Hollywood Chinese" and shows us frame by frame the journey from the first Chinese American produced film in 1916 to Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain.
Growing up I watched Hop Sing on Bonanza, I watched the actor Victor Sen Yung speak Pidgen English while serving up grub for the Cartwright clan. I watched on late night television Nancy Kwan play the part of Suzie Wong, a prostitute that falls in love with William Holden, my first dose of the exotic relationship between white men and Asian women. While in high school, I could not get through a week without someone asking me what my "ancient Chinese secret" was, it certainly wasn't Calgon.
Hollywood saw me as a quiet subservient worker bee with a heart of gold, and at times comic relief. I on the other hand saw an individual that didn't fall into any of their stereotypes. So why did they keep throwing those images at me? Who was writing this stuff? And why were they perpetuating it? Arthur Dong in his documentary explores these questions and answers them in the way that does not condemn but gives context to the times that the Chinese in Hollywood lived through.
Arthur Dong in his documentary explores the history of the Chinese American in film with archival footage, images, and interviews with writers, actors and directors. I had the pleasure of seeing the documentary last summer in the theatre, it was enlightening to see actors speak about the parts they played and how they felt about playing them then and now. The documentary is an intimate and heartfelt look into the part that Chinese Americans played and are now playing outside the stereotype. And as for the answer to the question what is the "ancient Chinese secret", I am none and all of the above.
Links:
The DVD is available now through Arthur Dong's site.
For more information on Hollywood Chinese click here.
Arthur Dong Filmography:
Sewing Women
Forbidden City
U.S.A.
Coming Out Under Fire
Licensed to Kill
Family Fundamentals
Image: James B. Leong, Interpreter, The Pagan God, 1919. Photo courtesy of the Robert S. Birchard Collection.
Hollywood saw me as a quiet subservient worker bee with a heart of gold, and at times comic relief. I on the other hand saw an individual that didn't fall into any of their stereotypes. So why did they keep throwing those images at me? Who was writing this stuff? And why were they perpetuating it? Arthur Dong in his documentary explores these questions and answers them in the way that does not condemn but gives context to the times that the Chinese in Hollywood lived through.
Arthur Dong in his documentary explores the history of the Chinese American in film with archival footage, images, and interviews with writers, actors and directors. I had the pleasure of seeing the documentary last summer in the theatre, it was enlightening to see actors speak about the parts they played and how they felt about playing them then and now. The documentary is an intimate and heartfelt look into the part that Chinese Americans played and are now playing outside the stereotype. And as for the answer to the question what is the "ancient Chinese secret", I am none and all of the above.
Links:
The DVD is available now through Arthur Dong's site.
For more information on Hollywood Chinese click here.
Arthur Dong Filmography:
Sewing Women
Forbidden City
U.S.A.
Coming Out Under Fire
Licensed to Kill
Family Fundamentals
Image: James B. Leong, Interpreter, The Pagan God, 1919. Photo courtesy of the Robert S. Birchard Collection.
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That seems a promising perspective on film. I often wonder what leads to cultural stereotypes? I mean, rarely do they represent all of the people in any culture.
What characteristics usually constitute a stereotype? Are they negative, positive or neutral? I wonder the history involved in the accumulation of what is noticeable about one group vs. another culture or race?
I may have to check out the DVD, thanks for the info.
:-)
Hi Tracy,
Stereotypes are a generalization of a group. Most are out of fear and misunderstanding, a way to keep groups in place. It is false assumptions of groups of people, everything from sexual orientation, ethnic groups, religion, social classes,gender etc. It's a blanket perception that is given to judge a group.
Thanks for commenting and visiting, :O)
ophelia
The break-thru for Asians in America movies is growing but it needs to produce more stars to battle the Pitts and Jolie of Hollywood. I hope to see more star power and see less "small" rolls for American Asians.