| Producer | 1990 Institute |
| Overview | Marvel’s Shang-Chi with its Asian American superhero is an important film for Asian American representation. But is this really a cultural watershed moment or more of a marketing opportunity to ensure profit for Disney’s shareholders? Could it be exploiting the desire for more positive Asian representation? Time to buckle up as we dive into these issues in our new video, “Shang-Chi: Does the Legend Live up to the Hype?”. We talk about filmmakers and films that pushed the boundaries further and paved the way for Shang-Chi’s success – why didn’t they receive the same attention? How much does Shang-Chi really challenge Hollywood stereotypes of Asian men? A movie like Shang-Chi is overdue and a milestone for the AAPI community, but there’s still a long way to go in terms of Asian representation on the big screen!
0:00 Introduction 1:01 History of Emasculation of Asian Men 2:16 Diversity and Inclusion in Hollywood 2:37 How’s Shang-Chi Doing? 2:55 He Didn’t Get to Kiss the Girl! 3:35 Strong Female Characters & The Four Quadrants 4:16 How to Market a Superhero Movie? 5:25 Asian Men in Leading Roles 5:50 Cultural Message & the Power of Media 7:00 The Evolving Definition of Male Masculinity 8:04 The Future of Asian Representation |
| Publish Date | October 7, 2021 |
| Reference Materials | USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative
What You See Isn’t What You Get: The Role of Media in Anti-Asian Racism, March 17, 2021, Nielsen Asian American masculinity is being increasingly celebrated. But many men still face stereotyping, by Richard Morgan, June 22, 2021, Washington Post What Is Toxic Masculinity? by Maya Salam, January 22, 2019, The New York Times How Marvel’s Shang-Chi Had To “Destroy” Its Own Racist Origins, by Eric Francisco, August 26, 2021, Inverse Asians and Pacific Islanders Account for Less Than 6 Percent of Speaking Roles in Hollywood Films, Study Finds, by Abid Rahman, May 18, 2021, The Hollywood Reporter |
| For Teachers | A lesson guide for 9-12 grade teachers to discuss masculinity, Asian representation in film and cinema, and how images portrayed by the media might or might not influence the perception of Asian Americans. |
| Recommendations | Films and television series that represented Asian Americans positively or negatively
Always Be My Maybe A Simple Favor Better Luck Tomorrow Blue Bayou Breakfast at Tiffany’s Charlie Chan’s Secret Chen is Missing Crazy Rich Asians Dr. No Doctor Strange Enter the Dragon Flower Drum Song Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle IP Man Joy Luck Club Kim’s Convenience Minari Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Revenge of the Nerds Rush Hour Saving Face Searching Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Sixteen Candles Snake Eyes Sound of Metal The Big Sick The Brides of Fu Manchu The Cheat The Crow The Farewell The Goonies The Grandmaster The Green Hornet The Green Knight The Hangover The Replacement Killers The Wedding Banquet |
A 1990 Production • Asian Americans • Cultural/Social • Lesson Plans • Racism • Resource Lists
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the First Asian Superhero
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.