School of Rock stereotyping Asian girls?

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 8:31pm

I personally love the show, except for some instances where the Asian girl is called "Lucy Lu" and where she is portrayed as the typical high achiever I-want-it-all math-genius Asian type. Do you think this is kind of racial stereotype? 

Edit: typo 

P.S. It seems like Lucy Lu is the only person one can think of in such scenario. Perhaps Ming-na Wen?

Just a quick thought. Does a grade school kid know the word "anodyne"? At least half of my Concepts in Social and Culture Analysis class have no idea what it means.

Updated On: 3/18/16 at 08:31 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 8:32pm

It's comedy. Have you not seen Avenue Q?

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 8:52pm

Why are Americans are so paranoid about anything they view that maybe possibly if you stand on one leg could be viewed as stereotype?

[Kad]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 8:55pm

QueenAlice said: "Why are Americans are so paranoid about anything they view that maybe possibly if you stand on one leg could be viewed as stereotype?"

Maybe because America's history with race is atrocious? 

[kcrusso]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 8:58pm

The original cast breakdown had the Summer Hathaway character described as a "BLONDE Manhattan princess".  Casting specifically went AGAINST the preconceived "type" and cast an Asian American despite the original concept.  I applaud the choice.

Also, there are NO other Asian specific references during the show despite them having cast members with Filipina and Korean backgrounds.  

 

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 9:29pm

Yep. Actually you can say that about the world in general.  Starting with the USA.  Or maybe starting with Europe.  Or maybe starting with wherever.  

I have friends from Europe who say that racism can be just as bad over there.  If not worse.

 

Kad said: "QueenAlice said: "Why are Americans are so paranoid about anything they view that maybe possibly if you stand on one leg could be viewed as stereotype?"

Maybe because America's history with race is atrocious? 

 

"

 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 9:39pm

Asians seem to always be given terrible portrayals-Throughly Modern Mille, Anything Goes, Priscilla was pretty reprehensible too (I know it was based on the movie) as well Lily in the Annie revival having to act all stereotypically "chinky." 

Asian actors deserve far better representations and opportunities. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 9:49pm

Kad said: "QueenAlice said: "Why are Americans are so paranoid about anything they view that maybe possibly if you stand on one leg could be viewed as stereotype?"

Maybe because America's history with race is atrocious? 

 

"

It's actually not just history. If you watched this year's Academy Award you should know what I'm talking about.

[dreamer92]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 11:34pm

As a fellow minority I don't see any problem.  I bet if there was a blonde haired girl playing the role she would be called, "blondie" or "goldilocks" or "Britney Spears". If she was black, "Oprah" or "Tyra Banks".  As for the stereotype, Summer in the movie is "high achiever I-want-it-all math-genius", and they kept to that, so whoever plays it will portray those character traits. 

Updated On: 3/17/16 at 11:34 PM

[Stinger2]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 11:36pm

I dont find a high acheiving, intelligent leader who Dewey says that he would vote for if she were running for president to be an offensive stereotype.

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 3/17/16 at 11:46pm

Yes, I do think it is a racial stereotype. The show is filled with stereotypes. The little black girl never really had an internal struggle at her new school outside of not being recognized for being a sassy, full-voiced diva. The little gay boy loves Barbra Streisand and fashion and is never celebrated for his uniqueness. His ideas are rejected. On top of all of that, the adult women are offensively underwritten to the point that they only come off as shrewish. 

Putting all of that aside, I still had fun at the show. I really enjoy the score, and sometimes its possible to see a show's faults but still like it for what it aspires to accomplish. School of Rock sets out to entertain, and it does just that.  

Updated On: 3/17/16 at 11:46 PM

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 3/18/16 at 2:20am

I agree that this show is super enjoyable, and I had a great time tonight. However, why this kind of stereotype bothers me is that it ignores the amount of hard, sometime toxic, work behind their excellency. It takes way more than being Asian to be a straight A student or be good at STEM. Just think about after all these years' hard work, you finally become an expert at physics. Someone next to you simply puts it, "of course you are, because you are Asian, not Bsian." It's unfair to be somewhat forced to trade a happy childhood for what the society expect them to be. Perhaps this does not apply to the entire Asian community, but I know it is a problem when my friend told me she decided to put away her "Asianess" for two hours and see a show as opposed to working on her papers. I didn't know "Asianess" was a word or had any concrete meaning before.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 3/18/16 at 2:20am

I agree that this show is super enjoyable, and I had a great time tonight. However, why this kind of stereotype bothers me is that it ignores the amount of hard, sometime toxic, work behind their excellency. It takes way more than being Asian to be a straight A student or be good at STEM. Just think about after all these years' hard work, you finally become an expert at physics. Someone next to you simply puts it, "of course you are, because you are Asian, not Bsian." It's unfair to be somewhat forced to trade a happy childhood for what the society expect them to be. Perhaps this does not apply to the entire Asian community, but I know it is a problem when my friend told me she decided to put away her "Asianess" for two hours and see a show as opposed to working on her papers. I didn't know "Asianess" was a word or had any concrete meaning before.

[AntV]

Posted: 3/18/16 at 8:51am

PThespian, is the "I didn't say I was fat" line after Dewey calling himself and the kid fat, among other things, still in now that Jared left and a much thinner kid is in the role?