Sexual Violence In Asian American Combat Movies

As a result, the Asian females lost their sense of “individuality” and “diversity of what it means to be Chinese.” As Connie accents, the stereotypical representation of Asian women increased during “the US involvement with the Philippines wars, Japan and China in World War II, and more recently, the Korean and Vietnamese Wars” because the American soldiers saw Asian women “as prostitutes and sexual objects who provide rest and recuperation from the war zones” (as cited in sitemaker.umich.edu). As time passed and media came into existence, stereotypical names, such as “Dragon Lady” and “China Doll,” of Asian-American women began to represent the Asian American women as sexual and erotic objects in the media.

From the time we are born, we are immediately introduced to influences that will shape and develop our character for the rest of our lives. Our character can be affected in a positive or a negative way by various influences that we encounter on a daily basis. We need to be aware of how much we absorb and let those influences change our behavior. External influences, such as video games, movies, and television shows impact our everyday lives, even when we are not conscious of them.

Asian American actors and actresses are portrayed in Hollywood movies as always being the silent and yielding foreign victims to social injustice and prejudice. Whether or not these depictions are true, they are nonetheless stereotypes that Hollywood producers have come up with. According to the US Census in the year 2000, Asian Americans make up 4.2% of the entire American population, and knowing that most Asian Americans live on the west and east coast of the United States, many Americans living in central parts of this country have not really been exposed to any Asian Americans. Because of this fact, it is highly probable that most Americans get their exposure to the Asian American lifestyle only through television and movies. Even if

directors have stated that they cannot well-finance their film if the name of their leading actor is not mainstream name (Kim). White Americans during this time too, probably believed that if Asians were casted in the film, it would not be as good as they did view Asians as inferior in every way including in the performing arts. Even when Asians actors were casted to play Asian roles, Asian Americans would go out of their way not to watch. David Henry Hwang, who would later go on to write his own version of Flower Drum Song, said as a young man growing up in the sixties, watching how Asian characters were featured made him feel “icky”. All the Asian characters that he saw were either portrayed in an unrealistic or comical way or as a character that was dependent on the leading white character (Hwang). It made it hard for Asian Americans to look to media for role models when they were hardly ever represented and represented in inhumane ways.

Overall, the Why We Fight films reflect the strategic priorities of the U.S. government and focused primarily on the struggle in the West. A Japanese equivalent to this series is titled The Battle of China. This was an epic paean to the resistance of the Chinese people against Japan’s aggression. Through all of the destruction and devastation of the Japanese, they come with this counterpoint that was heightened by a commentary in which Japan’s rhetoric of “co-existence and co-prosperity” was recited while the screen showed the devastation of China’s cities and the mutilated corpses of its men, women, and children.

I have chosen to discuss the culture of violence in America and how it relates to gun control. It seems we cannot turn on the television, computer or smart phone without reading about gun violence throughout the country. I believe America’s love affair with violence has contributed to an increase in violent crimes. Having said that, there are several incidences in the news where possessing a gun has proven to be helpful in keeping homeowners safe and alive. In one case, a son was at home during a home invasion and used his gun to prevent the attack. This incident happened in Wagoner County, Oklahoma. Three teens dressed in black, wearing masks and gloves, broke into a residence. Authorities arrived to find two of the intruders shot to death in the home, one suspect was found dead in the driveway, and later an additional accomplice turned herself in to the authorities (Wire). Also, there is the case in which a 73-year-old man stopped a home robbery because he had a gun and shot the intruder. The elderly man reported being robbed several times that year, likely contributing to his perceived need to arm himself.

World War II, which from 1939-1945, was the largest and bloodiest war the world has ever know. And also a lot of races, and gender problem about the minorities. During the war, color of soldier discrimination by white soldier, American they don’t trust Japnese by break the role and promise. In the same time they got the same opportunities as men. Although black soldier discrimination by white in WWII, American moved Japanese to camping, Women got the chances to work as like men.

Since the first half of the 19th century, Asian Americans have been involved in the media industry when the original “Siamese Twins” Chang and Eng Bunker became naturalized citizens of America. Roles in television and other media were scarce for Asian Americans, only available roles were very stereotypical. Early Asian American actors such as Bruce Lee and Sessue Hayakawa could only land stereotypical supporting roles in prime time television. While minority actors have progress through the years, Asian Americans in the media remains an issue. The misrepresentation of Asians Americans that continues the tendency of stereotypes and type casting. To this day, Asians Americans take on roles that tends to portray the stereotypical roles. Asian Americans becomes easily targeted and exploited from such representation. “Model Minority” Stereotype is consistently express through advertising and primetime television; Asians being nerdy: having type casted into professional roles ignoring real values and cultures, Asian women: seen as hypersexual, erotic, cunning and dangerous, Asian men: dangerous, unfriendly, master of martial arts, undesirable male partners and weak. Media representation of Asian Americans in America’s media history, continue to influence and reproduce dominant Americentric impressions, rather than the true authentic depiction of Asian American culture and behavior. Americentric stereotypes of Asian American women and men has led to limited roles of Asian Americans

The Rape of Nanking, by Iris Chang, describes the Japanese atrocities that took place in Nanking, China during World War II. Throughout their takeover and occupation of Nanking, the Japanese soldiers were exceedingly cruel to the Chinese people. According to Chang’s account and analysis of the events that transpired, Japanese attitudes towards gender played a key role in the soldiers’ violent, cold-blooded actions, and Chinese attitudes towards gender kept the victims silent.

In Xiaojian Zhao’s essay, “Chinese American Women Defense Workers in World War II,” the author focused on the development of Chinese American women’s accomplishments during World War II. Initially, after reading the essay, I felt a sense of pride and empowerment in my heritage as a half Chinese American woman. Zhao clearly states her thesis as the essay “focuses on the unique experience of Chinese American female defense workers in the San Francisco Bay Area.” I believe the author’s purpose is to educate readers of the World War II period which contributed to a large milestone in the progression of Chinese American women’s acceptance into American society.

Asian American are face some types of stereotypes in today’s society, and it may produce by media or historical propaganda. For example, from the economic views, the Asian American should be successful than other race. From the education view, the Asian American kids should be smart, good at the math or engineer etc. particularly, the stereotype of the Asian women we can easy discover in the media, such as the Hollywood movies. the Asian American actresses are viewed as sexual and erotic objects of the society. From the history, most the Asian American actresses limit in the roles, such as "Dragon Lady", and "China Doll", in addition, both two role's characteristics represent sexual and erotic nature of Asian women. Even in today, these stereotypical

     Asian Americans only make up a small percent of the American population. Even more significant is that this percentage live mostly on the west and east coasts of mainland United States and Hawaii; leaving the rest of the American population to most likely get their exposures to Asians through television and movies. However the exposure they have receive throughout the history of cinematography has been hardly flattering. Throughout the course of history Asians in film have been portrayed as evil or the "yellow peril" as described by others. If Asians are not being classified as evil in this picture then they are most likely the comic relief, with their lack of coordination or grasp of the English

Sexual violence is a significant social and cultural problem within America and all over the world. Within the United States nearly 1 in 5 women – or nearly 22 million – have been raped in their lifetimes. Arrest rates for sexual assault cases are low as they are hard to investigate because of the effects of the trauma itself. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, approximately 12% of the 283,200 annual rape or sexual assault victimizations from year 2005-2010 resulted in an arrest at the scene or during a follow-up investigation. Findings from the same survey revealed that more than one-third of women reported experiencing a sexual assault at some point during their lifetime. Within American society, rape constitutes an experience

The 1993 movie directed by Kaige Chen, Farewell My Concubine, addresses the Chinese political issues during the war against Japan via interpersonal issues of an opera troupe of young male actors. The movie is as long as it is engaging. With two orphan boys who are raised to act in an Opera for their entire lives, dedication obtains a whole new meaning. Dieyi's training to act as a woman and to reflect femininity in his whole life increases the dissension that is observed within the film as well as its connections to the politics of China. The use of ghastly sound effects, close-up cinematographic techniques, and military involvement combine together in this movie to create a devastatingly dramatic experience.

Ang Lee’s Crouching tiger Hidden Dragon is probably one of the most successful foreign films to ever be screened in America. Being the number one film of the year in 2000. On the other hand it was reportedly considered a flop in China. While it was influenced by American film styles, it still kept true to many aspects of its Chinese film heritage. With very apparent love story, it lacked the Extreme amount of Kung Fu fight scenes eastern audiences have come to enjoy. This is a stunning love story between a monk and widow. While it does have its share of over the top fight scenes, when you start to dig deeper the films many social implications become apparent. With ties to subjects such as religion, martial arts, philosophy, love, and even gender issues. This film is a representation of the modern era and how long practiced traditions are being challenged. Each character and plot line allows a glimpse into the Social and Traditional understanding of a culture.