Post 153: The Asian American as "The Other"

Post 153: The Asian American as "The Other"

No matter how an Asian American sees him/herself, he/she is always viewed as 'the other' whether they are in China, or if they are in America.

In America, an Asian American is viewed as Asian because he/she has an Asian face. An Asian American is always perceived as a foreigner, not quite the typical European American, which is how most of the world thinks of when they think of the word, 'American'.

In China, an Asian American is seen as a 'watered down' version of Asian, because he/she lacks knowledge of the Chinese, Japanese, (name your Asian country) language, culture and history. Wang says, "This is a really common thing, which is that Asians in Asia don’t necessarily see “Asian American” as its own separate identity, that it’s like a watered-down version of Asian. That they just have a lack of understanding." Wang states that Asians in Asia do not consider Asian Americans as fully Asian.

When Lulu Wang made her movie, "The Farewell" and her movie won for Golden Globes, the Golden Globe people wanted to nominate her movie as best 'foreign' film, even though The Farewell was an American production about Chinese Americans. It makes one wonder why are Chinese Americans still perceived as being 'foreign'?

“The Farewell” (a very American story and a U.S. production) was classified at the Golden Globes as a “foreign” film. The fight for the film to be seen as American seems similar in a lot of ways what Asian Americans go through." (LA Times by Jen Yanato, 3/29/20)

I remember reading an article about how The Farewell flopped in China because the Chinese viewed the film as just being about an ordinary family event. Then, I remember reading how in China, they don't consider Chinese Americans (Asian Americans) as truly Chinese. After reading that article, (not the Lulu Wang article listed above), I remember feeling hurt.  It is bad enough not being accepted as fully American in America, but also not being fully Chinese in China? Then what am I exactly? Simply 'The Other'?  That's the dilemma Asian Americans face.

The LA Times has a podcast they just started called Asian Enough which explores cultural identity issues about being Asian American. Give it a try to understand the tough cultural identity issues of what it is like to be Asian American.

Here is how LA Times describes Asian Enough.

From the Los Angeles Times, “Asian Enough” is a podcast about being Asian American -- the joys, the complications and everything else in between. In each episode, hosts Jen Yamato and Frank Shyong invite celebrity guests to share their personal stories and unpack identity on their own terms. They explore the vast diaspora across cultures, backgrounds and generations, share “Bad Asian Confessions,” and try to expand the ways in which being Asian American is defined. The first and second episodes will premiere on March 17 everywhere podcasts are available, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday. (There are some annoying ads you have to listen to so be warned!)