Jeff Yang’s new book is a ‘shoutout’ to the films that shaped Asian America: NPR

The representation of Asian Americans in film has made significant progress in recent years. One author reflects on how the path to get here hasn’t always been easy.

• Who is he? Jeff Yang is a writer and author who has spent decades exploring Asian American communities and culture.

What’s the big deal? Jan’s latest book is Golden Screen: The films that made Asian Americans — A collection of cultural commentary on the current state of Asian American representation in our media.

• The book curates more than 130 films from the past century and asks contributors like author Preity Chhivar to reflect on how their favorite films have shaped their identity as Asian Americans .
• Includes a foreword by Michelle Yeoh and an afterword by Jon M. Chu.

What are people saying? Jan and Chivar sat together. Taking everything into account Host Alsa Chan talks about the need for this book, the stories told, and the state of Asian American film today.

On why I felt this book was necessary:

Jan: Now, this is the moment we finally, for the first time, begin to see diverse, inclusive, and authentic representations of the Asian experience on screen.

Even when you’re playing little bits and pieces, Everything at once, wherever you are When he won the Oscar (in an interview), I almost cheered out loud.

And this book is kind of like cheering out loud.

On why it was necessary to include foreign films to convey the Asian American experience:

Jan: For me, watching a kung fu movie in a double feature theater in Chinatown was the first time I saw an Asian hero saving the day and getting the girl.

In America, we loved action movies. I admired the white actors I saw on screen. But actually, for the first time, I met people who shared some aspects of my life and the world, and for the first time I felt that something new was possible.

Chibber: “We always say, “Bollywood is the biggest film industry in the world,” right?

But I feel like for a long time, Bollywood movies were seen as a kind of gimmick or not necessarily a valid art form. And that’s what I grew up with too.

I think the influence of Bollywood has become much more recent in Hollywood than it was when I was a kid, for a variety of reasons. But it was such a big part of our community that all I wanted to do was share it with everyone I knew.

On their hopes for the next breakthrough in Asian American cinema:

Jan: So that we don’t have to take a deep breath every time a new Asian or Asian American movie hits our screens.

We don’t want to worry about whether it will be successful or represent us well. And I think we’re getting close to that. The time has finally come for Asian Americans to be ordinary.

We can put forth stories that don’t require us to conform to model minorities or the standards of success typically imposed on minorities.

Want to know more about the book? Listen consider this How books are banned in America places a mental and financial burden on librarians

What should I do then?

• Chibber said having a variety of Asian American voices create art creates more opportunity and room for experimentation.
• “I think it’s really exciting for creators in our community to realize that they can make films and art regardless of their identity.”
• Golden Screen: The films that made Asian Americans Currently available.

learn more: