World
Exploring Masculinity and Representation of Asian American Men in Film
Dive into the complexities of masculinity and the portrayal of Asian American men in film. This exploration highlights cultural narratives, challenges stereotypes, and showcases the evolving representation of Asian identities in the cinematic landscape.
Exploring Masculinity in “Past Lives”
In a striking moment from the 2023 film “Past Lives,” the protagonist, Nora Moon, describes her childhood friend Hae Sung Jung as “really masculine, in this way I think is so Korean.” This dialogue jolted me into attention when I first heard it. It felt as though the film was intentionally emphasizing the masculinity of an Asian man—a portrayal I had rarely encountered on the big screen before. To be honest, hearing that made me, as a Korean American man, feel a sense of pride.
Realizing there was a deeper narrative to explore, I embraced the opportunity as a reporter for The New York Times’s Culture desk. When The Times’s Projects and Collaborations team approached me about writing an article on the representation of Asian American men, particularly in romantic roles, I was eager to delve into the subject. It is well-documented that Asian and Asian American men have long been marginalized and emasculated in American cinema. Therefore, I sought to chronicle the nuanced, yet significant, transformation occurring in recent years.
The article, published online today, features compelling visuals by Ricardo Nagaoka and examines how the roles available to Asian and Asian American actors have evolved, particularly over the last few years. To gain a comprehensive understanding of this shift, I spoke with nearly two dozen Asian Americans, including actors, writers, directors, scholars, historians, and everyday individuals. I wanted to uncover how immigration policies and cultural narratives have shaped America’s perception of Asian men, as well as how years of negative Hollywood portrayals have impacted their self-image.
Research from the 2000s and 2010s indicates that Asian men, alongside Black women, often found themselves at the bottom of the racial romantic hierarchy in real-life dating scenarios. This marginalization has, at times, fueled misplaced anger and toxicity, particularly directed towards Asian women. The struggle for representation and acceptance continues to unfold, revealing a complex tapestry of emotions and experiences among Asian American men.