Wendy Wu Homecoming Warrior PDF

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Summary

Write up on Orientalism in movies Asian American Disney...

Description

Orientalism is the depiction or imitation of the Eastern world in art, literature, film, or products by people usually from the Western world. Orientalism is still around in society currently but there are major differences as to how these ideals are portrayed or expressed. The views are much more subtle in today’s world and not explicit. In movies by United States & United Kingdom production studios, orientalism is portrayed and then released intentionally to the mass to push these Asian stereotypes and create differences. That’s why for this piece I have chosen an American film by Disney’s Family Channel. I grew up watching Wendy Wu Homecoming Warrior (2006) and the Asian-American stereotypes just pop off. The main character Wendy is portrayed as a self-sacrificial warrior who just wants to be homecoming queen but on the night of the event “Yin Lo” comes to fight. She must give up the thing she wants most to fulfill her duty/submit and does not complain (not very realistic). Her willingness to fulfill the role is so extraordinary that it defeats evil and Yin Lo will never return. Also, the idea that Wendy has a natural aptitude for Kung-Fu creates a barrier of uniqueness and makes her out to be a perpetual foreigner even though she is born/raised in America which is a real burden Asian-Americans face. This represents the belief by many white people that Asians love to do martial arts. In the movie she also aces her World History midterm just by simply meditating on the desk before the exam… the meditation released all the China knowledge that had been in her all along. The film also mocks Buddhism in many ways as Wendy’s mom said her mother used to tell her silly Buddhist stories and her father bows to his wife at a museum Infront of the Chinese exhibit. Wendy also tells Shen [the love interest] that if he wants to be

with her he must become normal looking by trading in his monastery robes for typical American clothes....