Why Media Representation Matters To Biracial And Multiracial PeoplePosted in Articles, Asian Diaspora, Communications/Media Studies, Media Archive, United States on 2015-06-09 00:57Z by Steven |
Why Media Representation Matters To Biracial And Multiracial People
Blue Nation Review
2015-06-04
John Paul Brammer, Identity Editor
“So, you’re sort of nothing then.”
I’ve only heard this once. Someone asked me what my race was because they were curious. I explained to them that I was mixed, that I had both indigenous and European blood, and after mulling it over for a second, that was their response.
They meant no malice by it. If anything, they were trying to be playful. But it still reminded me that when it comes to the dominant narratives on how we perceive race and culture in this country, I don’t quite fit the story.
I am reminded of this again with the debate over Emma Stone’s multiracial character in Cameron Crowe’s certified stinker Aloha. Stone, a white woman, was cast to portray a half-white, quarter-Chinese, quarter-Native Hawaiian character by the name of Allison Ng.
Crowe has come forward and apologized for his decision. But casting Stone in the first place has opened a very necessary dialogue on multiracial characters in the media.
In the context of the media diversity debate, multiracial people exist in a precarious place. On the one hand, they seem to be left out for the sake of a more direct approach to criticism of media representation of minorities…
Read the entire article here.