API Representation: We Need More

Graphic by Sophie Davis

With the Lunar New Year beginning, it’s making me think of different ways people can better celebrate and understand our culture. Obviously, there’s wearing red, handing out envelopes, and eating symbolic food… but what about celebrating API heritage through appreciating, and even expanding, our current media representations?

According to a USC Annenberg study, 39% of films fail to depict even one API character. A CNBC survey also found that 58% of Americans couldn’t name a prominent Asian public figure—and among those who could, the most common answers were Jackie Chan (not Asian American) and Bruce Lee (died in 1973). Yiiiikes! In 2022, only 1.8% of films centered on Asian stories. Wow. Shocker.

While representation has definitely increased in recent years, like Devi in Never Have I Ever, for example, even some of her qualities fall into the typical archetype: hyper-competent overachievers who get 4.0s and become valedictorian, and kids with crazy Tiger moms. The issue isn’t really that we are missing MORE representation, but broader, more human representation. We have iconic films like The Joy Luck Club and Crazy Rich Asians (arguably the best plane movie oat), but what about more representation for younger generations? These portrayals shape expectations and assumptions around Asian identity, and that matters, especially during a holiday meant to celebrate our culture.

Where are the clumsy ones? The funny ones, but not in a derogatory way? (We need better than Awkwafina, let’s be for real). The ones who don’t have their lives perfectly mapped out? We need more London Tiptons and Jason Mendozas in the media. Not all of us strive for Harvard or to become medical surgeons; some of us are just trying to figure out our place in the world, and deserve that kind of representation just like anybody else.

Happy year of the horse, everybody. Gong hei fat choi.