アジア系アメリカ人の観客とスクリーン上の表現
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 そして 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 そして Yellowstone) and Asian men were present in two (Chicago Med そして 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 そして good, which reinforced the model minority myth. In 2021, there was a greater diversity of thematic attributes such as friends, teamwork そして creativity.
このような進歩にもかかわらず、メディアのコンテンツは、より正確な描写を求めるアジア系アメリカ人の視聴者の要求を満たすにはまだ不十分である。最近の調査結果によると、アジア系アメリカ人の2/3が、テレビで自分たちのアイデンティティ・グループが十分に表現されていないと感じており、また、自分たちが映し出されたとしても、アジア系アメリカ人の回答者の半数以上が、その描写が不正確だと感じている。
メディア業界は、人々の信念や偏見に多大な影響力を持っています。今こそメディア業界は、文化的に包括的な番組を通じて、アジア人のキャラクター、ストーリー、経験をスクリーン上で強調することが重要な時です。スクリーン上での正確な表現は、スクリーン外でのより大きな理解、包摂、関与、平和につながる。
