Images of Asian-Americans Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Images of Asian-Americans - Article Example A significant amount of evidence attests to the occurrence of a major problem in relation to the depiction of Asian Americans in the media. A major theory is that a â€Å"bamboo ceiling† exists wherein Asian Americans are limited in terms of their depictions in the media (Newamericanmedia, 2014). Tung (2006) similarly indicated that Asians were misrepresented in the media. In order to overcome the bamboo ceiling individuals, researchers, and the general public must increasingly seek novel ways to overcome such depictions. Other researchers have focused on the various ways that this ethnic group actually benefits from pervading racial attitudes in the United States. One theorist considered that the course of United States media has presented an attitude that can be termed anti-blackness. This attitude is such that â€Å"white† characters in media, including Asian-Americans, have benefitted while â€Å"black† characters (this definition includes Latinos for the dis cussion) have consistently been oppressed (Race Files, 2014). Still, while Asian-Americans may not face the same levels of discrimination in the media as black and Latinos, a substantial amount of discrimination exists such that pro-active measures need to be taken to reduce the oppression. Changing the depictions of Asian Americans in the media requires a pro-active approach. One example of this pro-active approach was undertaken by performance artist Kristina Wong. Wong recognized that not only was there a limited amount of depictions of Asian Americans on television but that these depictions were often-based on out-dated stereotypes that did not effectively display the Asian American experience. As a means of counter-acting these depictions Wong joined a reality television show and used the venue as a means of portraying Asian Americans in different contexts (Wong, 2014). While Wong’s approach to changing