Bling Empire and Crazy Rich Asians vs America’s ‘model minority’ myth: some viewers have criticised the Netflix reality show for its unflattering depiction – but is that really a bad thing?
- Standups Ali Wong and Margaret Cho, and rapper-turned-actress Awkwafina, happily subvert stereotypes of the ‘model minority’
- Henry Golding and Constance Wu’s characters in CRA might be more clean-cut … but that’s offset by Fiona Xie and other cast members’ antics
East Asian-Americans definitely face their fair share of stereotypes, most frequently finding themselves placed on a restrictive pedestal as the “model minority”. American films and TV shows can often fall back on this tired image when they portray Asian characters too.
In that light, some might argue that irreverent Asian characters or TV personalities are a breath of fresh air … even if they don’t always present themselves in the best way. Here are some seminal pop culture moments that have transformed the image of East Asians in the US and beyond.
Bling Empire
Whether staged or spontaneous, the water cooler moments provided by the cast of Netflix’s Bling Empire are certainly eyebrow-raising. Childish jabs and rivalries over expensive jewellery prove we’ve come a long way from The Joy Luck Club.
Awkwafina is Nora from Queens
The rapper-turned-actress’ sitcom sees her play a fictionalised version of herself: an underachieving stoner whose shenanigans include burning down a flat, abusing Adderall (an amphetamine) and sampling flatulence for music.