Asian Americans in Cinema
lease choose only one of the topics below to write your discussion essay #2 post:
(1) Can you still find lingering aspects of the Fu Manchu and Charlie Chan stereotypes in contemporary popular culture? What other Asian character types now seems to be common?
OR
(2) It has been noted by some cultural critics that Asian American women have an easier time becoming broadcast journalists than do Asian American men. Why do you think this might be the case, and what do those ideas tell us about dominant notions of gender?
(Your posted essay should be *at least* 500-750 words—and often longer—to address your topic thoroughly.) ALWAYS DEFINE YOUR TERMS BEFORE YOU GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES when writing essays, however brief they may be.
Remember that you should write formally, using complete sentences and distinct paragraphs. Include a thesis at the beginning of your essay, define terms very specifically (e.g., implicit, explicit meanings, space and time) referring to the textbook and course videos before you start applying them to the film, and support your observations with specific examples from the films and the textbook. Rather than trying to discuss the film/topic as a whole throughout your essay, focus on specific scenes or moments as examples in order to drill down into your topic. The more specific you can be, the better. Give page numbers if you cite or quote the textbook.
Answer preview
Asian Americans have had their fair share of cinematic characters over the years. The roles these characters played has somewhat evolved, yet some of the original aspects still linger in the present. Fu Manchu is a Chinese criminal mastermind who made appearances in cinema in the 20th century. Created by the author Arthur Henry Ward, Fu Manchu depicted a genius-level intellect and considered antihero. Fu Manchu believed in Asian superiority and was a warlord determined to command the world by wiping out the white race. Fu Manchu’s popularity based on his passion for cruelty due to his creative scientific methods of causing agony (Wingfield, 2008). The significant aspects…
(650 words)