Fresh Off the Boat & The Limits of Asian Representation

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In this video, I discuss ABC’s Fresh Off The Boat and examine how the historical lack of Asian representation caused it—and seemingly all Asian American stories—to be scrutinized with an intense microscope by Asian Americans. I also try to break down why it’s been so important for us to have a “perfect portrayal” and what I feel the solution to this elusive depiction might be.

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Sources:
All-American Girl at 20: The Evolution of Asian Americans on TV | LARB
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/american-girl-20-evolution-asian-americans-tv/

Eddie Huang on Seeing His Memoir Become a Sitcom | Vulture
https://www.vulture.com/2015/01/eddie-huang-fresh-off-the-boat-abc.html

“Fresh Off the Boat” and “Black-ish” Reviews | The New Yorker
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/03/09/home-cooking-television-emily-nussbaum

The Prevalence and Portrayal of AAPI… | USC Report
https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii_aapi-representation-across-films-2021-05-18.pdf

John Cho: ‘A movie that treats race in the background feels more authentic... | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/john-cho-interview-b2124032.html

20 Years Later, Margaret Cho Looks Back on 'All-American Girl' | Character Media
https://charactermedia.com/20-years-later-margaret-cho-looks-back-on-all-american-girl/

0:00 From the Outside Looking In
6:51 A Fresh Perspective
13:16 Repeating History
23:55 The Perfect Portrayal

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S01E43 - Eat Pray Love: A Nuanced Critique