By Andrew Salmon
A filmic phenomenon is currently sweeping the American popular cultural space. Talk shows, newspaper columns and online chat are all a-buzz with hit rom-com, "Crazy Rich Asians."
It portrays Asian-Americans ― long considered a serious and successful, but not particularly cool or interesting ethnic group, given its propensity for elite education and professions like finance, law and medicine ― as fun and glamorous. Suddenly, it is cool to be Asian-American.
However, the movie and the novel upon which it is based have generated some angst in Asia, most notably in Singapore, where it is largely set. Some Singaporeans complain that the "Asians" of the title are "East Asians." While that ethnicity is economically and politically dominant in the island state, it is not the only one: Singapore also hosts minorities of South Asian and Malay descent. An Indian colleague has already expressed irritation at the movie's title.
So while Americans of East Asian descent applaud the movie, Asians of different ethnicities are out of the picture. Hence an irony: A movie that has won bouquets for diversity in the U.S., is earning brickbats for overlooking the diversity of its setting, Singapore.
Perhaps those making similar movies in the future should be more specific about the ethnicities they are portraying. Let me the first to suggest a new rom com: "Mad Wealthy Koreans."
Set in Los Angeles and Seoul, it covers a well-to-do Korean-American maiden, with corporate familial connections, who journeys to Seoul. The audience will see the city on the Han through her eyes as she experiences the delights of galbi barbeque, the jollity of so-maek, the excellence of Gangnam cosmetic surgery and the good-natured fun of the noraebang.
As a travelogue goes ― so far, so good. The tricky part is her well-to-do beau. As a member of the 0.1 percent, this privileged gent inhabits a fortress-like mountain-side residence overlooking the city. Each morning, he is driven to his corporate boardroom in a tinted-window black saloon. There, he instructs slavish executives on corporate strategy and familial enrichment (though not necessarily in that order) while crunching macadamia nuts. He is a modern royal: a chaebol scion.
The scenario offers abundant comic potential. Chuckle as our hero abuses helpless subordinates! Guffaw as he shamelessly embezzles funds! Cheer as his lawyers pull strings to keep him out of jail! Weep, as he falls for the heroine, turns a virtuous leaf, and everyone lives happily ever after!
It could work, no? It is not too far removed from the plot of many a K-soap. But generally, heroes do not arise among the ultra-privileged. If we are talking Hollywood, let us focus on Korean Americans. Their experience deserves filmic treatment.
The Korean-American population first expanded under authoritarian governance in South Korea, suggesting many were fleeing. Others moved Stateside with a plan, commercializing elements of Korean culture, such as cuisine and martial arts.
Korean socio-cultural mores may be responsible for much success. A Cambridge professor in China two years ago made the point to me that Korean migrants customarily do far better, economically, than locals anywhere. This is due to their prioritization of diligence, educational attainment and cooperative associations and networks. The only ethnic minority in China wealthier than Han Chinese, per capita, are Korean Chinese, he said.
While some Korean-Americans refute the "model minority" stereotype, there is some truth in most stereotypes. And rags-to-riches stories have universal appeal.
In America, Korean migrants were strangers in a strange land. Often with no English, they banded together in communal groups and churches. Many worked hard in menial jobs with the sole goal of investing in their children's education.
For many, it was no easy path. During the LA riots, Korean-Americans became targets for disaffected minorities in the communities they worked in. Like other minorities, some suffered prejudice at the hands of the white majority. And mass success in Ivy League colleges even led do affirmative action programs calibrated against them.
Much here bespeaks modern America, both good and ill. If "Crazy Rich Asians" spawns a trend of similarly themed films ― a typical Hollywood process ― the Korean-American experience offers compelling stories.
Andrew Salmon (andrewcsalmon@yahoo.co.uk) is a Seoul-based reporter and author.
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It portrays Asian-Americans ― long considered a serious and successful, but not particularly cool or interesting ethnic group, given its propensity for elite education and professions like finance, law and medicine ― as fun and glamorous. Suddenly, it is cool to be Asian-American.
However, the movie and the novel upon which it is based have generated some angst in Asia, most notably in Singapore, where it is largely set. Some Singaporeans complain that the "Asians" of the title are "East Asians." While that ethnicity is economically and politically dominant in the island state, it is not the only one: Singapore also hosts minorities of South Asian and Malay descent. An Indian colleague has already expressed irritation at the movie's title.
So while Americans of East Asian descent applaud the movie, Asians of different ethnicities are out of the picture. Hence an irony: A movie that has won bouquets for diversity in the U.S., is earning brickbats for overlooking the diversity of its setting, Singapore.
Perhaps those making similar movies in the future should be more specific about the ethnicities they are portraying. Let me the first to suggest a new rom com: "Mad Wealthy Koreans."
Set in Los Angeles and Seoul, it covers a well-to-do Korean-American maiden, with corporate familial connections, who journeys to Seoul. The audience will see the city on the Han through her eyes as she experiences the delights of galbi barbeque, the jollity of so-maek, the excellence of Gangnam cosmetic surgery and the good-natured fun of the noraebang.
As a travelogue goes ― so far, so good. The tricky part is her well-to-do beau. As a member of the 0.1 percent, this privileged gent inhabits a fortress-like mountain-side residence overlooking the city. Each morning, he is driven to his corporate boardroom in a tinted-window black saloon. There, he instructs slavish executives on corporate strategy and familial enrichment (though not necessarily in that order) while crunching macadamia nuts. He is a modern royal: a chaebol scion.
The scenario offers abundant comic potential. Chuckle as our hero abuses helpless subordinates! Guffaw as he shamelessly embezzles funds! Cheer as his lawyers pull strings to keep him out of jail! Weep, as he falls for the heroine, turns a virtuous leaf, and everyone lives happily ever after!
It could work, no? It is not too far removed from the plot of many a K-soap. But generally, heroes do not arise among the ultra-privileged. If we are talking Hollywood, let us focus on Korean Americans. Their experience deserves filmic treatment.
The Korean-American population first expanded under authoritarian governance in South Korea, suggesting many were fleeing. Others moved Stateside with a plan, commercializing elements of Korean culture, such as cuisine and martial arts.
Korean socio-cultural mores may be responsible for much success. A Cambridge professor in China two years ago made the point to me that Korean migrants customarily do far better, economically, than locals anywhere. This is due to their prioritization of diligence, educational attainment and cooperative associations and networks. The only ethnic minority in China wealthier than Han Chinese, per capita, are Korean Chinese, he said.
While some Korean-Americans refute the "model minority" stereotype, there is some truth in most stereotypes. And rags-to-riches stories have universal appeal.
In America, Korean migrants were strangers in a strange land. Often with no English, they banded together in communal groups and churches. Many worked hard in menial jobs with the sole goal of investing in their children's education.
For many, it was no easy path. During the LA riots, Korean-Americans became targets for disaffected minorities in the communities they worked in. Like other minorities, some suffered prejudice at the hands of the white majority. And mass success in Ivy League colleges even led do affirmative action programs calibrated against them.
Much here bespeaks modern America, both good and ill. If "Crazy Rich Asians" spawns a trend of similarly themed films ― a typical Hollywood process ― the Korean-American experience offers compelling stories.
Andrew Salmon (andrewcsalmon@yahoo.co.uk) is a Seoul-based reporter and author.
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