Representation of Stereotypes

The representation of Stereotypes Some people may to too close minded to see people based on how their culture is represented in the media rather than who they are as an individual, but by doing this what are the affects stereotypes have on a person or a culture? Both Homecoming King by Hasan Minhaj and Kim’s Convenience directed by Peter Wellington are comedy shows that are based on first generation families. Hasan Minhaj is a first-generation that comes from an Indian Muslim family that immigrated to America from India. King is about the experiences that Minhaj went through growing up as a Muslim right after the 9-11 attack took place; likewise, Kim’s is about a first-generation Korean-Canadian family that owns a convenience store. This show is about the lives of the Kim family. It represents not just Asian families but diverse types of families. Kim’s tries to make their show relatable to everyone by telling their heart-felt and comedic story. Similarly, both Kim’s and King represent their culture through media to educate other people that stereotypes do affect the people and their culture; however, King focuses more on the affects they experience from being seen as a stereotype, whereas, Kim’s shows more of the lifestyle that comes along with living in a community surrounded by people who represent these stereotypes. Regardless, both comedies are a result of the stereotypes due to the effect they have in real life, this is the reason both shows were created: to provide awareness of stereotypes that have an effect of people and their culture. Although both shows are based on first-generation families and their experiences after coming to a new country. The stereotypes and how they were affected by these stereotypes are different. In Homecoming King one of Minhaj’s biggest conflicts he faced was when he was supposed to go with Bethany Reed to his high school prom. Minhaj talks about how Bethany’s parents told him: “We’re going to be taking a lot of photos tonight, so we don’t think you’d be a good fit” (Minhaj), because he was Muslim. As the 9-11 attack took place during that time Minhaj was stereotyped and although Bethany’s parents though that Minhaj would not be dangerous they did not want Minhaj to ruin their image as people in their family would see the photo and the parents assumed the family would question. The next day at school everyone was wondering why they did not go to the prom together, Minhaj went on to make up a lie saying that it was because he thought that proms were cliché to cover up the true reason they did not go together. Once the other kids had found out they proceeded to ridicule Minhaj making him out to be at fault. Minhaj not only faced problems at school but at home as well. Minhaj and his family experienced hate crimes, were called racial slurs, and received threatening phone calls. People vandalized their property, invaded their privacy, and even threaten to kill them: “Me and dad run outside and all the windows on the Camry are smashed in…The kids know where we live, they’re timing this in real time, so they’re watching us,” (Minhaj). This shows what Minhaj and his family experienced by being stereotyped. They felt angry for what was being done to them because it is not fair, they should not have to deal with this just because they are Muslim. Minhaj’s father is the one trying to ignore what is happening because he said, “This is the price we pay for being here,” (Minhaj). No one should have to accept the discrimination that comes from being seen as a stereotype. Many things we see in the media influence and inspire us, but media has no diversity. Media continues to push equality yet there is no Asian representation. Usually when Asians are represented in the media they are portrayed as stereotypes, but this may not be a terrible thing. Kim’s uses many stereotypes along with many stereotypical characters for comedic affect to make the characters more relatable in a positive way not just to the Asian community: “It’s like watching parts of my life replayed back to me,” (CBC). This show has a very diverse cast and although the family being shown on screen is Asian. The family being Asian just gives them a more physical representation in the media as they represent the characters being displayed, but the show itself is relatable to so many diverse cultures and families: “I love that the show bring together an incredibly diverse cast in that happen in Toronto all the time, but never make it on TV,” (Yoon). Asians are barely in everyday media and this could be due to the stereotypes people see them as, which would make sense why people do not see them as the “right fit” just like in Homecoming King. Now that media focuses on equality, is there even a “perfect fit” anymore because how can one voice represent every race or culture: “I think these past couple of years has really been special for diversity and representation…there is no more tokenism” (Liu), there are so many different people with personalities that represent so many different cultures: how can we stereotype people to see them as one thing when everyone is so diverse in their own way. Stereotypes are a negative thing because it is assuming the character of someone based of what has been seen from people of the same race or culture but having representation as a result because of the affects of stereotypes should be the thing that is recognized the most. Minhaj based his show off the experiences he faced of being seen as a stereotype. Although the show was humorous and was for comedy he also wrote it to show the affects it had on him and what he learned from these experiences: “Don’t let this experience define you…because love is bigger than fear,” (Minhaj). The stereotypes he’s dealing with have taught him that no matter how much hate or negativity is in the world, love will always be bigger. No matter what people must deal with in their life, do not let all those negative experiences affect the person you will come to be. These lessons are not only sometimes Minhaj has learned to better his life, but these are lessons he is now able to promote through his own platform due to his success. This is the way Minhaj has represented himself through the affects of the stereotypes; however, in the past media has had one voice representing every race and because of this, various stereotypes were being created. Nowadays many different casts and media groups have a more diverse way of representing themselves, which makes sense because one voice cannot speak for every race in this world: “There’s all these different characters that each have their own quirks and idiosyncrasies,” (Liu). Kim’s has characters that are diverse not just in race but in personalities as well. Kim’s represents themselves through media with diversity to make their show more relatable to their audience, but more importantly to fight back against stereotypes that have been created in the past. In conclusion, both Kim’s Convenience and Homecoming King are a result of the affects of stereotypes based on personal experience and through what has been seen in the media. Kim’s creates a relatable and diverse setting that show things that people may have experience before but was never brought to mainstream media. Now the diversity of Kim’s provides representation of all race and culture to fight back against the stereotypes that have been created in the past. Kim’s promotes these values in the form of content that is funny, and everyone can watch. Although Kim’s is more of a voice for everyone Hasan Minhaj talks more on his own experiences he faced and how stereotypes affected him. In Homecoming King, Minhaj talks about different life experiences that many people go through. In his case the stereotypes that were put on him really had an affect and were the main cause of the experiences he had. Ultimately both shows represent the affects stereotypes has but through mainstream media. One show represents diverse people to go against the stereotypes, and one shares their personal experience on how stereotypes had an affect on them to educate other people about the affects stereotypes have on a person and their culture. These shows are about more then just sharing life experiences in a comedic way. They show the hardships and mindset one goes through when the affects of stereotypes start to become a part of their lives. One way we have tried to fight back the stereotypes is to have more diverse representation in the media. If there are more diverse representation and people represent themselves, people will be more educated to know that just because one is a certain race or culture, doesn’t mean they have specific personalities. Personal beliefs and physical appearance do not define the type of person they are. There needs to be more diverse representation in media so less people are affected by stereotypes and more people are educated on the affects stereotypes have. Media now focuses more on equality, but instead of just preaching for equality, there should be more focus on diversity because although everyone is equal, not everyone is the same.