Pemirsa Asia-Amerika dan representasi di layar
Today, cultural dichotomy means more than just differences in traditions or recipes. For the Asian American community who has experienced so much trauma in the past few years, being seen when tuning into media helps create a sense of connection and empowerment. The media industry has also pledged to do its part to invest in content that paints more accurate representations of diverse communities. This year’s Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Diverse Intelligence Series report explores if we have made any progress when it comes to Asian representation.
The good news is yes—there has been a significant increase in Asian representation on screen in 2021. Across the top 1,500 shows in broadcast, cable and streaming video on demand (SVOD) in the U.S., SVOD led the way with 11% Asian share of screen compared to broadcast (3.2%) and cable (2.7%). The presence of Asian talent in top-rated shows like FBI, Equalizer dan Chicago Med, and the debut of Asian-led programs like FOX’s The Cleaning Lady indicate the industry is responding to growing calls for more Asian-inclusive content.
Overall, Asian representation across broadcast, cable and SVOD increased to 4.6% in 2021 (up from 3.5% in 2020). The report notes a significant improvement in representation in the top 10 most-watched shows on broadcast and cable. In 2021, half of the top 10 programs had some Asian talent representation, compared to 2020 when none of the top 10 most-watched shows did. Asian women were present in three of those shows (NCIS, Equalizer dan Yellowstone) and Asian men were present in two (Chicago Med dan FBI).
But just being present on screen isn’t enough. The stories that are told and the roles played by Asians are also critical to shaping people’s perceptions about the Asian American community. In 2020, the dominant themes in the stories when Asians were present were cerebral, thoughtful dan good, which reinforced the model minority myth. In 2021, there was a greater diversity of thematic attributes such as friends, teamwork dan creativity.
Terlepas dari kemajuan ini, konten media masih belum cukup untuk memenuhi permintaan penonton Asia Amerika yang menginginkan penggambaran yang lebih akurat. Hasil penelitian terbaru menemukan bahwa 2/3 orang Asia-Amerika merasa tidak ada representasi yang cukup dari kelompok identitas mereka di TV, dan ketika mereka terlihat di layar, lebih dari separuh responden Asia-Amerika merasa penggambarannya tidak akurat.
Industri media memiliki pengaruh yang luar biasa terhadap kepercayaan dan bias masyarakat. Sekarang adalah waktu yang penting bagi industri ini untuk menyoroti karakter, cerita, dan pengalaman orang Asia di layar kaca melalui program yang inklusif secara budaya. Representasi yang akurat di layar kaca dapat menghasilkan pemahaman yang lebih besar, inklusi, keterlibatan dan perdamaian di luar layar kaca.
