Throughout the novel of Interior Chinatown each character can be categorized by their role(s) within the production of "Black and White". I found it interesting how names truly give an individual an identity, yet in the book the names mentioned within the production were primarily Green and Turner - both being the two lead roles. Every other individual was labeled by their job and/or ethnicity. Within the script for "Black and White" Willis is first seen as playing the Special Guest Star, yet Green still refers to him as the "Asian Guy" to which Willis feels contemplates to himself, "Two words that define you, flatten you, trap you and keep you here" (94). Within this point of the novel, it is apparent that being Asian-American is what defines these characters, even if they make their way through the hierarchy of roles like the Special Guest Star they will always be seen as their ethnic background by the lead roles. Names not only act as an individual' identity, but failing to use one's true name is seen as dehumanizing and degrading to the person. The inability to properly address the Asian actors within the "Black and White" storyline further demonstrates the trend of dehumanization faced by the Asian actors and how little attention is given to this issue by the lead actors, who are either white or black. As a result Asian Americans within the book and in reality feel boxed in and trapped by their ethnic background.
Later on in the novel, we see in the trial that Willis is referred to as "You" in the script for "Black and White." During his time in trial, he gives his perspective of the difference in being Generic Asian Man and Kung Fu Guy being none and that both roles were exactly similar in terms of their implications. Willis further this argument by stating, " I'm guilty of it as anyone. Fetishizing Black people and their coolness. Romanticizing White women. Wishing I were a White man. Putting myself into this category" (246). It is apparent how much this stereotype of a "Generic Asian Man" has forced Willis and many other Asian Americans to be someone that they are truly not. Even including the fact that Willis saw black people "cool" emphasizes how the media has portrayed Asian Americans to be seen as emotionless and in the background/incapable of being more than their generic role. With this comes the idea of how these characters are addressed in terms of their names. Being given a set all-inclusive name for most of their roles, many Asian Americans like Willis are seen as wanting to be more yet never attaining more in their role besides being a different extra in the script (or in terms of society more than their Asian background).
I found it very eye opening throughout the novel how race plays a significant role in keeping Asian Americans in a box. As you mentioned, names are avoided completely and generalized terms are used in order to identify a person. I found it very interesting to read the five roles that Asian Americans are given: Background Oriental Male, Dead Asian Man, Generic Asian Man Number Three/ Delivery Guy, Generic Asian Man Number Two/ Waiter, and finally Generic Asian Man Number One (Yu,11). As I read the novel, I was constantly aware as to how for people other than Asian Americans, their race is a part of them, but it is not what they are solely defined as, unlike Asian Americans. Your post was eye opening in the sense that I didn’t even notice that Green and Turner were the only names used in the production. Green is a white female and Turner is a black man which further perpetuates the idea that Asian Americans, in comparison to any other race or ethnicity, are being looked down upon and not treated as equals. I also found it interesting that you mentioned the quote from Willis on page 246, where he explains how he too has fallen into the stereotypes of different races and ethnicities. Willis, along with other Asian Americans, has had to live in a society that treats them as if they don’t have the same potential as others and he has fallen into the belief system.
ReplyDeleteYour point about names giving individuals their identity stood out to me here. This is interesting because it reminds me of how oftentimes when Asian immigrants come to the U.S. they change their names to American names to make it easier for Americans. By doing this, they are losing a piece of their identity and conforming to our society in order to fit in. This idea relates to the fact that within the script some people were addressed solely as their job. This to me is stripping them of their identity and limiting them to their job title. This takes away from the rest of their personality. I completely agree with how dehumanizing this is and I can see how this relates to how Asian actors feel degraded in our society. Your point about Willis being put into this box of “generic Asian man” also interested me because of how degrading it is as well. The fact that Willis feels like he can’t be anything more than the role of “generic Asian man” is disheartening because it limits him and his capabilities. This idea is common among immigrants because they are often thought of as nothing more than an immigrant whereas when Americans think about other Americans they think about their personality, identity, etc.
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