Prevalent themes in the book Interior Chinatown deal with identity and what it means to be an “American.” The main character Willis Wu grew up idolizing a movie role entitled “Kung Fu Guy.” Through watching his parents in the film industry, Willis learned that actors climb this ladder of roles going from background oriental male to dead Asian man to generic Asian man number three/delivery guy to generic Asian man number two to generic Asian man number one. These one-dimensional parts have one commonality: race. Asian-Americans solely portray background characters to fill a diversity quota, or they depict stereotypical, racist roles such as confused immigrants or martial art experts. As a result, these parts are the standard for Asian-Americans because that is all that is expected of them in the movie industry. However, this ideal is not what Dorothy Wu wants for her son. “Don’t grow up to be Kung Fu Guy…Be more” (Yu 75).
For Asian-Americans, they come to the United States hopeful to live out their American dream. “Young Wu dreams of the American air…In his dreams, he arrives on a bright Monday morning, the ship pulling into the port, friendly strangers waving him and the others onto shore” (Yu 169). Instead of being met with open arms, Asians enter a society that does not accept them. Therefore, Asian Americans must conform to a racist society. In a scene with detective Turner and Greene, the background character Old Asian Man speaks in his normal voice. “(without accent) Yeah, man. I speak English,” he says. The cast and crew are frustrated because he does not say the line with an accent. As a result, the scene is reshot with the Asian character performing the line with an accent, despite not having one.
Constantly, Asians are reminded of their race. While Ming-Chen Wu studied in college, his peers walloped his friend Allen because he was Asian. This incident reinforced in his mind how people in America see him. “Because now they know what they are. Will always be. Asian Man” (Yu 174). Race makes America so culturally different and authentic, but it is the downfall of this country. Race is part of a person's identity, but Asians are often classified and defined solely by their race. Willis Wu reinforces this idea. “But how often do…any of us ever think the thought, I’m an Asian man? Almost never. Not until someone reminds you” (Yu 281).
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Identity and the “American Dream”
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I agree with your analysis on the "American Dream" and the way that idealization is explored in Yu's Interior Chinatown, however I believe that Yu's intention with his narrative of race is the opposite of what you described; he pushes for the characters to not put themselves into a box or try to be something stereotypically given to them. I noticed throughout the book that Yu's narration about racial identity and ethnic background is very witty and wry, but also discordant. Up until the end of the book and after the trial, that the protagonist is written like how an upstart, white scriptwriter would write an Asian role in Hollywood. Willis Wu is an interesting character because he fits this role that someone else has written for him, while the other characters around him try to get him to break away from that mentality. And after some badass monologuing by Older Brother, he does see himself as more than Generic Asian Man; he sees himself as Willis Wu.
ReplyDeleteI found your commentary on the book interesting and informative. Race and what it means to be Asian in film clearly define this novel. If there if one overarching problem this book points out, it’s how stereotypical the roles are for Asians in film. One question I have about the book and your blog post is: how does Hollywood fight this issue? I’d say one of the biggest obstacles is that movie studios and directors respond to money, so there needs to be a financial incentive to add more accurate, American Asian roles to movies. Movie studios and producers need to find ways to give Asian Americans accurate roles, while still creating a profitable movie. This could be as simple as finding more qualified Asians to play roles a white person would usually play, but this problem might be deeper than that as well.
ReplyDeleteYou also talk about how Willis’s parents want him to be more than “Kung Fu Guy.” The allure of Kung Fu Guy is clearly trapping many Asian actors, including Willis’s dad. However, Willis shows the reader that there is a lot more to life than Chinatown. The reader sees how much enjoyment he gets from being around his daughter, and spending quality time with his wife. When Willis is not working, with his family, and away from Chinatown at the end of the book, he is the happiest he’s ever been.