'' The film won eight Oscars out of 10 nominations in every conceivable category," he says. "Every category that is, except for acting ones." Which might have been a much stronger point were he not using Dev Patel and Freida Pinto. ’’
Despite the success of 'Slumdog Millionaire' why is it that there is still a lack of South Asian actors in Hollywood?
Cameos, cab drivers and criticism are what’s in store for South Asian actors in Hollywood today. As we enter the age of new and advanced digital technology, the stereotypes and representations of South Asians remain the same, despite director Danny Boyle’s record breaking, global blockbuster 'Slumdog Millionaire (2008)’ a story about a boy from the slums who defies all odds to become millionaire. The film was said to have changed the cinema landscape, opening the doors for South Asian actors wanting to break into Hollywood. The film was considered ‘‘as being a globalised movie...’’ as a result of its ‘‘meshing of western and eastern forms and locations, styles and sounds’’ and was clearly rewarded for its efforts scooping an amazing ten Academy Awards, seven BAFTAS and four Golden Globes. Although there have not been any signs of growth or change in Hollywood and the media since the film’s success. As its influence on the Hollywood industry has been minimal to none, with South Asians barely visible in American film and television. The industry remains dominated and majorly dictated by the American, middle class, white male.
Over the last decade there have been glimpses of promising change for South Asians as ''Examples of Bollywood slowly entering the western world..’’ such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘‘new musical Bombay Dreams..,’’ and ‘‘ Monsoon Wedding was a hit in western cinemas’’ showing a glimmer of hope for South Asians. Just like Slumdog Millionaire did at first, giving audiences from ethnic backgrounds optimism of change, something that is yet to occur. Despite the fact that since the film’s short success, members of cast from the film such as; Anil Kapoor has gone on to star in American television show 24, Dev Patel has had a cameo role in The Last Airbender and Freida Pinto has become the face of L’Oreal becoming ‘‘the first Asian spokeswoman for the Lauder brand’’. Changes that can be judged either as stepping stones to further success or just minute changes to the industry, through audiences perspectives.
Further developments in Hollywood do not seem imminent as ‘‘Ethnic minorities are continually misrepresented by racial (and racist) stereotypes.” ‘‘Rather than representing them as individuals,’’ the media identifies individuals by their ethnic groups to determined whether or not they are Hollywood material. As the industry plays upon moral panics such as the 9/11 incident to construct suitable roles for South Asians, racially profiling and grouping them as terrorists, when looking at recent films that have cast different ethnic minorities. For instance films such as Harold and Kumar; Escape from Guantanamo Bay; uses the stereotype of South Asians as being depicted as terrorists in a comic parody, mocking the American justice system. Whereas My Name is Khan; looks at the personal struggles of South Asians in America being negatively portrayed as terrorists and discriminated against despite the character having a disability and being far from it . Two completely different films, both that show South Asians stereotyped as terrorists, which would incorrectly deliver the message that South Asians are terrorists, when clearly they are not.
In relation to this South Asian actor Dev Patel ‘‘whose role as a young "chai-wallah.." in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire,’’ has found it hard to break into the industry due to the ‘‘stereotypical’’ roles that have been offered to him such as those of doctors, nurses, and computer nerds. As South Asian actors are unlikely to be offered roles that are of any significance or even remotely challenging. Whereas they are more likely to be ‘‘offered the roles of a terrorist, cab driver and smart geek...’’ All roles that are ‘‘constructed by media representations’’ which are racially discriminating against South Asians. This explains why it’s so difficult for south Asians to break into the Hollywood industry.
Although you could argue that there have been some breakthroughs into American television which is a start, as the likes of Parminder Nagra, star of British hit comedy Bend it Like Beckham was a regular on one of America’s longest running weekly shows ER. Also Sendhil Ramamurthy is another who has had a glimpse of success; he has been a member of the Heroes cast for 4 years and has starred in films like It’s A Wonderful Afterlife. Another South Asian who has had their success in both Hollywood and in American TV is Aasif Mandvi, who is a regular on The Daily Show and has had a few cameo appearances in films such as The Proposal and Spiderman 2.
Breaking into Hollywood is already tough for any new (aspiring) actor, as they have to overcome all the competitive audition stages against other actors. Even the well known South Asian director Gurinder Chadha feels it’s ‘‘not easy..’’ for South Asians ‘‘to break into Hollywood.’’ This shows that from a director’s point of view that chances of success in Hollywood may be slim to none for any aspiring actor, let alone one from an ethnic decent such as a South Asian. This would explain why more South Asians that have taken up roles in American television as it is easier to accept one of the many stereotypical roles that are offered, than to wait for a bigger role that may never come. As American TV producers look to introduce South Asian minorities into small roles to help promote equal opportunities, which is definitely a progressive step forward. This would defend the industry against the media’s perpetuated representations of South Asians, which may upset audiences and cause social issues in America. Although this could just be linked ideologically to ‘’legislation promoting equal opportunity’’ , stating how the industry simply uses ethnic minorities wherever possible simply to attract all audiences, in aid to gain more of the brown pound, as there is a large share of the population in America that is ethnic and wealthy.
There is one South Asian actor who is considered a success in Hollywood by the name of Kal Penn, who has starred in many different films including the comic film franchises Harold and Kumar and National Lampoons Van Wilder, both films which portray him as a stereotypical south Asian in America, in oppositional forms. One character is shown as being rebellious and wild and more post colonialist, and the other role, being more racially discriminating and offensive; as that of an South Asian being ideologically ‘fresh’ and new to America. His résumé also includes him in the lead role in the intense drama The Namesake, along with having cameo roles in films such as; Superman Returns and Epic Movie as well as starring in American TV shows such as 24, House, and ER. Although even someone with his impressive résumé found it tricky to break into the Hollywood industry and was also offered questionable roles. When discussing his role in American TV series 24, Kal Penn stated he had a ‘’huge political problem with the role...’’ As ‘‘It was essentially accepting a form of racial profiling..’’ As a result of being offered the role of a terrorist because of his South Asian background.
It can be argued that the media uses Lasswell’s Hypodermic Needle model as it shoots its content at audiences ‘‘like a magic bullet, directly penetrating the viewer' mind’’ . As audiences have been ‘‘injected’’ by Hollywood’s star power making them less willing to accept new upcoming stars. As ‘’the media are highly selective in the way in which they construct and represent the world back to us” . Showing exactly how the media uses the industry to implement audience’s minds with the media’s ideologies of what is fair and true. This would link to the hegemonic theory which states that the majority of the media is ‘‘controlled by a relatively small group of people (who are generally male, middle class and white)’’ underlining the main reason for the media being biased in favour of the white, showing that even in a post colonialist society the media still remains colonialist through some aspects. It is also important to remember that ''Ethnicity is crucial to identity formation..’’ even though ‘‘it’s not something predetermined or complete,’’ this is what separates individuals and groups from being one. This is what the media uses against South Asian and other minorities to subordinate them from the upper ruling class. This is something that we can argue the media conglomerates and monopolys such as Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, use as it would sometimes seem they would look at anyone from an ethnic background and immediately place judgement on and stereotype them, such as South Asians being ‘’depicted as doctors, engineers and mathematicians.’’ This Justifies just how unfair it is that the media has the power to place judgements on ethnic groups such as South Asians. Although audiences have become more powerful within the media through their user generated content (UGC). It could be argued that with enough backing from audiences that ethnic minorities such as South Asians can eventually overpower the media’s ruling elite, to have their say and input into what is being produced. As audiences can create political and social campaigns rioting against the media, to help introduce more ethnic minorities onto the big screen in cinema as their voices are now more powerful and have the influence to make change.
Even when looking back historically South Asians were ‘‘invisible’’ as their roles in Hollywood, if any where minuet in the case that they were seen as a prop for ‘‘the background’’ to add colour to the room. For example the film Outsourced (2006) As in the promotional poster the South Asians are in the background, behind a white American male character, who is virtually an unknown actor. This Shows the extent to which the Hegemonic Media would go to, to subordinate South Asians. Also when looking further back to the 1970’s, where South Asians first became noticed in broadcast media, in programmes such as the British comedy series Mind your language; a show about teaching ethnic minorities english back in the 1970’s. Even then ethnic minorities such as South Asians were subordinate to the white. This fits in with the Ideologies of the media in using ethnic minorities as extras or as simply just fitting in with the background.
Even though South Asians have taken a step forward in gaining cameo roles, in both television and film they are still not seen to have any real significance or importance in most texts, underlining the reasons behind their very slim chances of success. Although the argument can be made against this as Slumdog Millionaire has showed us that South Asians can in fact act, and that audiences can relate to them, as they offer something new and fresh to the industry as well as providing the same attributes of any other actor, to be able to play any role of any character in any film.
To conclude, as more recently ‘‘South Asian stereotypes’’ have undergone many changes over recent years, reflecting various changes in society and the zeitgeist, fighting back against the ‘‘whitewashed’’ society which has been constructed through ‘‘Media stereotyping’’. ‘‘The representation..’’ of South Asians are ‘‘not fixed forever and its possible to observe how it changes over time.'' As the ways in which the media ‘‘portray minorities..’’ to ‘‘perpetuate particular stereotypes,’’ can be observed simply as entertainment, and can easily be adjusted and changed to suit audiences globally who may object to this. But things are changing through the ever growing power and voice that audiences have now days, and the changing society that has grown to accept ethnic minorities more equally.
Word count 2,200
Bibliography
Works Cited
Books -
Andrews, Maggie. Burton, Julia. & Stevenson, Elspeth. (2009). AQA A2 Media Studies: Student's Book (Aqa Media Studies for A2). Surrey: Nelson Thornes Ltd.
Creeber, Glen. (2008). The Television Genre Book (Second Edition ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan
Hartley, J. (2002). Communication, cultural and media studies: the key concepts (3. ed.). London [u.a.: Routledge.
Kruger, Stephen. Rayner, Philip. & Wall, Peter. (2004). Media Studies: The Essential Resource. London: Routledge, London and New York.
Laughey, Dan. (2009). The Media Studies Guide. Harpenden: Kamera Books.
Hartley, J. (2002). Communication, cultural and media studies: the key concepts (3. ed.). London [u.a.: Routledge.
Williams, Kevin. (2003). Understanding Media Theory (Hodder Arnold Publication). London: A Hodder Arnold Publication
Newspapers and magazines –
South Asian Stereotypes
http://www.detoursmagazine.com/blog/2010/04/28/78-south-asian-stereotypes
How Slumdog Millionaire is changing film-making in India
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/04/slumdog-millionaire-india
Go South and East, Hollywood
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/dec/22/south-and-east-asian-actors
Dev Patel attacks Hollywood over lack of roles for Asian actors
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/aug/11/dev-patel-asian-roles-slumdog?INTCMP=SRCH
The White Castle Ceiling
http://nymag.com/movies/profiles/28866/
‘It takes me back to my Punjabi roots’ -Gurrinder Chadha
http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/interviews/2009/gurinder-chadha-interview-140509.html -
New Meera Syal film ‘Mad, Bad and Sad’ releases next week
http://www.asiansinmedia.org/2009/07/24/new-meera-syal-film-mad-bad-and-sad-releases-next-week/ -
Pinto Thinks L’Oreal Is Worth It
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/100775/Pinto-thinks-L-Oreal-is-worth-itPinto-thinks-L-Oreal-is-worth-it#ixzz1CaggvjVQ
Internet –
Top soaps Accused Of Stereotyping Ethnic Minorities
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/passtheremote/2008/07/top-soaps-accused-of-stereotyp.html
The Hypodermic Needle Theory and The Mass Media
http://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1708629.html
Bollywood - The History and Key Elements of Bombay Cinema; With an Excursus on Gurinder Chadha's Cross Cultural Film "Bend It Like Beckham"
http://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/27389.html
Stereotypes of South Asians
http://www.enotes.com/topic/Stereotypes_of_South_Asians
What happened to all the South Asians in Hollywood
http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/006344.html -
All Snark, No substance
http://jedifreac.livejournal.com/
Representations of South Asians in popular media
http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/4/0/8/7/2/p408720_index.html
Moving Image Text –
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) Danny Boyle, U.K
Bend it like Beckham (2002) Gurinder Chadha, U.K
Harold and Kumar (2004)
Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
Danny Leiner, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schollsberg, USA
The Namesake (2006) Mira Nair, USA
National Lampoons Van Wilder (2002) Walt Becker, USA
My Name is Khan (2010) Karan Johar, India/USA
Outsourced (2006) John Jeffcoat, USA/India
Spiderman 2 (2004) Sam Raimi, USA
The proposal (2009) Anne Fletcher, USA
Its a Wonderful Afterlife.(2009) Gurrinder Chadha, UK
Superman Returns.(2006) Bryan Singer, USA
Epic Movie(2007)Jason Freidberg, Paul Schiff,USA
TV Programmes -
Mind Your Language (1977 - 1979) Vince Powell, U.K
ER (1994 – 2009) Christopher Chulack, Jonathan Kaplan, Richard Thorpe, USA
House (2004 – Present) David Shore, USA
24 (2001 – 2010), Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, USA
Heroes (2006 - 2010)Tim Kring, USA
Works Consulted
Books -
Abrams, N., Bell, I., & Udris, J. (2001). Studying film. London: Arnold;.
Wiley-Blackwell. (2004). Asian American Youth: Culture, Identity and Ethnicity.
Hollywood Cinema. Malden, MA:
Newspapers and magazines
Now you see us, Now you don’t
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/dec/04/mondaymediasection32?INTCMP=SRCH
Katrina Kaif: How Bollywood fell in love with a British unknown
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/dec/19/bollywood-belly-dance-british-star?INTCMP=SRCH
Bachchan and Khan head Indian player list
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2003/dec/03/bollywood.news?INTCMP=SRCH
Go South and East, Hollywood
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/dec/22/south-and-east-asian-actors?INTCMP=SRCH
Slumdog Millionaire - Overview
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/movie/126911/slumdog-millionaire
English is Recast in Indian Films
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/oct/17/bollywood-english?INTCMP=SRCH
Internet –
Bollywood Hopes Christmas Animation Is A Draw For Audiences
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/bollywood-hopes-christmas-animation-is-a-draw-for-audiences-2168547.html
Slumdog Millionaire
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/
Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0481536/
Slumdog Millionaire - Reviews
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/slumdog_millionaire/
