As history shaped and reformed ideas of people in the world, everyone has their own perception of other races, ethnicity, and culture that is not their own. Much of these conceptions are influenced by what is seen on television, movies, and even commercial ads as society becomes more technologically advanced. I think that sometimes certain ideas of race, ethnicity, and culture of others and even my own are misrepresented, usually by stereotypes.

Many movies that come out in America where the main actor or actress is Asian, talents that would seem attractive to the audience and bring in revenue are the only things that are focused on. In the Rush Hour series, the plots used all revolved around how Jackie Chan would display his Kung Fu skills. Another movie that involve an Asian main actor was Ninja Assassin, that also revolved around displaying fighting skills that would awe the audience.In a way it feels as if the movie industry see Asians and think of fighting skills.

Also, in the Rush Hour series, besides the fighting, there were parts that revealed bits and pieces of the Chinese culture were not entirely correct or even seemed to mock it as well. I remember one part in one of the Rush Hour films where a a Chinese Buddhist monk was introducing his name to Chris Tucker’s character and the monk had spoken his name in an American way as to cause confusion, which then became comedic. I don’t have anything against these movies, as I find them humorous myself, nor do I have anything against this scene, since I did burst out laughing as well, but thinking back I feel a bit mocked by it because the monk’s name is actually my sister’s first name and a part of my own name as well. Not only that, but it feels as if they think the Chinese language is funny, because the monk could have introduced his character name in Chinese but instead it was introduced in the English way.

I think that for people to really understand another race, culture, and ethnicity, they have to experience and learn it themselves from where it originated. I agree with David Henry Hwang’s idea that what you are doesn’t mean you can’t try to accept or in a way be another. I love my own race, ethnicity, and culture, but I am interested in Japan’s and South Korea’s culture sometimes more than my own that my mom claims I was probably reincarnated from one of them.