Qianye Zhang
Sep 4, 2018 · 4 min read

‘Crazy Rich Asians’: Not New For Asians, Not True For The Rest

Satays in local foodcourt, Nyonya Kuils and home-made dumplings on family dinner, a combination of Hokkien, Cantonese, Singlish, Malay, Mandarin and English…everything seems so Asian.

But not for me.

As an international who has lived in mainland China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and America, watching the film ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ has given me a sense of familiarity, but only at a distance.

Film critics touted the work as “breaking stereotypes”, contributing to the diversity of Hollywood, or, as a Chinese film critic mentioned, “intentionally revealing the body of the leading actor” to tell the audience that Asian guys are just as sexy.

But to me, it is not a fair claim unless we have a clear definition of “Asian Stereotypes”.

To answer this, I asked some friends from U.S. and Canada their ideas of the stereotypes of “Asians”. And I got answers like these: slanted eyes, luxury bags and cars, catering in restaurants , poor English (just like me), Tiger Mom, excel at maths and science but no personality, and model minority.

Wait. If I were to categorize these stereotypes, they seem to fall into two broad types: old stereotypes (physical features, Tiger Mom, hardworking people, model minority, etc.), and new stereotypes (being rich and enjoying lavish things). On the other hand, there are at least three groups of “Asians” in the movie by definition, namely, the new immigrants (Nick Young and Rachel’s mom, though different in generation), second-generation Asian Americans (Rachel), and Asians in Asia (the Young family in Singapore).

If the audience and readers are bored with the old stereotype, they will only be further impressed by the element of “richness”. It also seems to affirm the impression that China and Chinese tourists have left to the world in the past few years. Buying Guccis and Ferraris, acquiring luxury hotels in Europe and North America, the rich Asians spread their money everywhere in the world to show their new found richness which they mistakenly perceive as an equivalence to “greatness”. Perhaps the movie unintentionally breaks the stereotype of “no personality”, but it also intentionally reinforce the “rich” part of the “new” stereotype”.

Previously working as a journalist and a political analyst, I have lived across China and Southeast Asia. The ones from where I lived that touch and inspire me are those

-Chinese women joining the global “me-too” campaign and fight for women’s rights;

-Students in Hong Kong protesting on the street;

-Generations of Malaysians striving against the corrupted ex-regime;

-and Asian Americans who are working together to sue Harvard for the racial discriminations in its admissions.

One may say they constitute only a small portion of Asians. Yes, but just as small as the real rich Asians. Neither side can represent an authentic “Asian”. But the former is what I wish the future stereotype would look like.

And yet when I’m writing these words, I’m deeply aware my perhaps unorthodox perspective is shaped by my unique experience growing up in China. I know many of my diligent yet humble Japanese friends would feel unfairly represented by the “new Rich Asians” that I am imagining. I dare not speak for the whole Asia or Asians, not like the arrogant Chinese anchor Rui Chenggang, and definitely not like this movie Crazy Rich Asians.

Though the movie bestows representativeness to Asians in Hollywood by using a nearly all-Asian cast, it literally adds few, if any, to a more comprehensive understanding of Asians. The story of a Chinese Cinderella trying to please her future mother-in-law is cliché, reminding me of a lot of past TV series and movies. Just to name one, in Episode 79 of a successful TV comedy series My Own Swordsman, a girl Yang Huilan from grassroots fell in love with a second-generation rich man but the love was rejected by the boy’s Tiger Mom. Just a reminder, the TV series is set in Ming Dynasty (AD 1368–1644). And unsurprisingly, since you have watched movie, the Tiger Mom was finally conquered by the power of true love and wholeheartedly embrace the girl into the family.

The settings of roles bores me more than the storyline. When watching Rachel playing majeong with her future mother-in-law, I was eagerly expecting she would play some game theories to show her smartness in the play and to attract the old lady. But no. She did what any women without this academic background would do. Then why economic professor here?

A story of luxuries, pretty girls, Southeast Asian natural scene and local cuisine, and the plot of conquering the challenges and finding true love…everyone loves watching this. I would like to watch it more if all the significant forms are removed, and only left with the real complexities of Asians at the core of the movie.

For those who know little about Asians, the movie is misleading. For those who know a lot about Asians, it is not worth watching. For the future generations, my only wish is that when they mention “Asians”, the idea of “crazy rich” will not automatically jump into their minds. In short, it’s not new for Asians, and not true for the rest.

Qianye Zhang

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An economist by training, columist in China and Hong Kong, former political reporter and political consultant. Working in a multibilateral development bank.