The two lead characters are a Black and a white detective, a racial casting composition referenced unsubtly in the show's title. Black and White (Symbol)īlack and White, the fictional police procedural TV series on which Wu and his family members are cast, is a symbol for how Black Americans in the entertainment industry have reached parity-or what appears to be parity-with white actors while Asians are more likely to be cast as extras or pure stereotypes. However, by the time he ascends the ladder of roles and arrives at his dream, he has realized that the upper echelon of stardom available to him is no less of a stereotype than Generic Asian Man was. From a young age, Wu aspires to be cast one day as Kung Fu Guy. Kung Fu Guy-the role Wu and any other Chinese-American on Black and White longs to play-is a symbol for how an Asian actor's highest achievement still has limitations because of cultural prejudice. Yu emphasizes this point by having Wu and his family eventually escape the scripted world in which the novel takes place, the set-like environment of Chinatown dissolving to reveal the protagonist finally being himself and enjoying life with his family. By telling the story in this unconventional format, Yu can play with and expose the stereotypes of modern entertainment, establishing how those stereotypes confine Asian Americans by laying out generic roles.
The teleplay format through which the novel is conveyed is a symbol for how most Americans understand Chinese culture through its representation in movies, which are rife with stereotypes.
0 kommentar(er)
