Hi all,
My name is Elliot. As of currently, me and my father have partnered with somebody on a production (can’t really say more legally) and basically there are points where the story is set in Japan. As I was reading this person’s draft I noticed that the depiction of some of the Japanese character were… lets just say less than favorable.
Now doing my own research and listening to people talk about their experience with representation, I am knowledgeable on a good handful of things to avoid. Obviously these points I would bring up don’t mean much coming from someone who isn’t Asian.
It would be very helpful if any Japanese, or Asian people in general, could please list some things to avoid when depicting asian characters so I can shove it in his face.
Thanks 🙂
5 comments
If it’s just part of character it doesn’t matter. If it’s to seriously show how certain nationality etc is bad, then it’s a problem.
Remember, if it’s only fiction and it’s not serious, You shouldn’t care. I remember in my childhood tons of black characters with big lips. Nobody ever dare to think it was bad. Only today political correctness say “this is racism” (spoiler alert: it’s not). As long as it’s just part of the joke and not serious depiction, caricature and stereotypes aren’t bad. You have stereotype of grumpy soldier Germans or always (not)drunk vodka drinking soldier Russians, or baguette eating French with striped shirt and beret. Are these depiction harmful? No. Because they are jokes. If You say that real Russians are drunkards, then this is harmful, because You attack real people, not just joke about it.
Of course, media should know the healthy balance of stereotypical and non stereotypical depiction. But people should really stop making a big fuss over literally **nothing**. You are not hero just because You call something harmless racist.
Depending on what exactly the media You are talking about shows the Japanese character, it may be just a harmless joke or actual discrimination.
Stereotypes do exist and will exist, regardless if we want them or not. But if we’re gonna fight them, they will be more prominent, visible. And people hate when You try to hide something, because it often looks like You are covering the truth. If that’s not enough, we could always just educate people, that stereotypes in media are just jokes, they are not real depiction of these nationalities and races and whatever else.
And some of the stereotypes are actually harmful, because they may be jokes, but society doesn’t take them as jokes. Then there is a problem. And we should fight these.
What you need isn’t a list of stereotypes.
What you need is a Japanese sensitivity reader. If you Google, you should be able to find one who does sensitivity reads professionally.
Pay for a sensitivity reader.
Gang members, dragon ladies/tiger mums, dying in the name of honour, focus on tradition, repressed girls, nerd boys, short stature jokes, accent jokes… Some tell me I’m “sensitive” but extra points for your production if you avoid them. Good luck.
Well, the first thing you do is, back off the production where you write a script about a race you don’t belong in. The second thing is fucking off forever.