Failure of Asian Representation in the Media

This piece thoroughly discusses the failures of Asian representation in the media, which is a relevant topic to explore as it heavily ties with the Model Minority experience. In this text, Lopez, in short, argues that the media is a significant tool of utilization for minority communities that have never had the opportunity to be properly represented throughout history in terms of entertainment. Youtubers like Ryan Higa and Michelle Phan are mentioned as the few examples of how Asian Americans have attempted and succeeded in achieving a following to be considered “influential”. Since these two content creators were also youtubers that I grew up watching, this reading heavily associates with my own Asian American experience. Lopez ties this in with the idea of Asian American Media Activism, which is the key to facilitating social change and achieving cultural citizenship. In other words, Asian American representation in the media has a significant influence on how society perceives our community and how Asian individuals develop a sense of belonging in American society.

Lopez, L. (2016). Asian American Media Activism: Fighting for Cultural Citizenship. New York, USA: New York University Press. https://doi.org/10.18574/9781479835942.