Week 12: Asian Stereotypes in Hollywood

In Chin’s, Sayonara Stereotypes: The Depiction of Chinese/Japanese Americans in Hollywood Cinema, she examines the stereotypical representations of Asians in Hollywood cinema. Asian females typically play demure and submissive characters or the dangerous dragon lady, whereas the Asian males are type casted into villains, gangsters, ninjas, martial art masters or as the “wimpy business man” (Chin, 2003). Furthermore, the different “Asian” ethnicities and culture are classified into one type of ethnicity and culture and portrayed as this stereotype. The representation of Asians in cinema affects one’s representation of Asians in one’s everyday life and interaction with Asians. Therefore, Asian individuals need to break the stereotype and be cast in different roles.

Source: Chin T. 2003. Sayonara Stereotypes: The Depiction of Chinese/Japanese Americans in Hollywood Cinema. Synergies. 2, 1, 1-6. (RL). 

Image source: http://pixabay.com/en/outline-man-silhouette-recreation-25770/

Week 12: East and West

Recently, I read parts of George Chryssides book, The Advent of Sun Myung Moon, which explores the new religious movement of the Unification Church. Founded in South Korea in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon, the book provides insight into religious beliefs and practices of the church and attempts to represent the church in an unbiased manner and without judgment. Although the Unification Church’s beliefs are based upon the Bible, traditional Korean elements have been infiltrated into this modern religion. In the Unification Church, the creation of the ideal family is produced through the Blessing ceremony in which members become loyal subjects and is married into Sun Myung Moon’s family (Chryssides, 1991). This is similar to Confucianism, as at the centre is the family due to the belief that in order to reform society good family relationships were essential. Shamanistic characteristics are demonstrated in the indemnity ceremony in which the husband and wife beach other ceremoniously to force Satan out (Chryssides, 1991). This is derived from the shaman wedding ceremony ritual in which the bride and groom beat each other to expel evil spirits (Chryssides, 1991). The Unification Church has created a religion that fits within the expectations of the Western world and adheres to some Christian values but still maintains the traditions of the east.

Source: Chryssides, George D. 1991. The Advent of Sun Myung Moon. London: Macmillan.

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Week 11: Media Representation of First Nations People

In Canada, the portrayal and representation of the First Nations people in the media is predominantly negative and focused upon the social problems of alcoholism, illiteracy and lack of education. Although these are important issues to be addressed, it should not be the only depiction of First Nations. There is a general disregard for the First Nations people especially as the media continuously puts them as the villain against the government. For example, in the protest against the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Project which would run through First Nations land and have potential environmental effects (Audette, 2012). Furthermore, the representation of the First Nations people is show from the perspective of the non-indigenous due to media companies being predominately controlled by white people. This caused the emergence of the first Aboriginal television network channel in Canada called Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). The purpose of the network is to promote First nations people and let them have a voice and representation in the media sphere. However, the network does not receive much exposure beyond the Aboriginal communities and indigenous people needed to expand into the mainstream media in order to have themselves represented positively. In January 2012, Arctic Air, a Canadian television series that revolves around a family-owned airline company in Yellowknife, has a predominantly First Nations and Inuit cast and allows for the representation of First Nations people to be shown in a positive way. Also, the lead actor Adam Beach raises awareness about the issues of the First Nations people and serves as a positive role model for the First Nations.

Source:

Audette, Trish. 2012. First Nations members bring B.C. pipeline protest to the steps of Alberta legislature [online]. Vancouver Sun.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First+Nations+members+bring+pipeline+protest+steps+Alberta+legislature/6554248/story.html

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN): http://www.aptn.ca/

Image source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1120842--tim-harper-chiefs-seeking-help-must-instead-sell-trust

Week 11: Same-sex marriage

Obama’s announcement of support for same-sex marriage, during the debates of Amendment One in North Carolina, which bans any which bans any domestic legal union such as civil unions and domestic partnerships and same-sex marriage in the state constitution, caused outrage from some religious groups. The Vatican urged American Bishops, “not to back down in the face of powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage” (Drouin-Keith, 2012). Other Christian denominations in South America, and parts of Asia denounced Obama’s announcement due to marriage being for the purpose of procreation. Currently, same-sex marriage is only legal throughout the entire nation in eight countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden and Portugal. For many gay-rights activists same-sex marriage is not even on the agenda, instead the activists are attempting to not have their governments condemn homosexuals. For example, in China sodomy was illegal until 1997 and homosexuality was considered a mental illness until 2001 and now the Chinese government simply acts like homosexuality is nonexistent (Drouin-Keith). In my opinion, the government should not have the right to interfere with one’s personal relationships, as former Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau once said, “there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.” Also, religion at least in secular countries should not be able to dictate the legal rights of a country.  This lack of equality for homosexuals is equivalent to the struggles of the past with interfaith or interracial marriages. It is my hope and belief that in forty years (or less) that at least in western societies we will look upon the condemnation and the lack of equality for homosexuals as a thing of the past. 

Source:  Source:

Drouin-Keith, Leon. “Gay Marriage a Distant Dream for Most.” The Gazette [Montreal] 11 May 2012. http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/marriage+distant+dream+most/6604175/story.html

Image source:

 http://blog.brandyourself.com/online-reputation/online-reputation-horror-success-stories/social-media-success-taking-a-stand/

Week 10: Sport, Religion and Professionalization

The definition of religion is difficult to define as many people have different perspectives and idea of what religion is, what constitutes a religion and what should or can be considered a religion. My definition of religion is a shared set of beliefs, values and ideas to a higher power. As a result, sport encompasses this definition, both in the engagement of professionalized sports, and the actual participation in sports. Sports allow for one to share a sense of community with other individuals who share the same beliefs, values and ideas. In addition, in sports there is an altruism component of giving back to the community and sports is used as a platform to raise awareness about other issues.

However, for professional sport players I think one’s sport becomes less spiritual and religious as one may forget about the love of the sport and lose the essence of why one loved it. Instead, the sport becomes about money, fame and celebrity of participating in the sport and becomes redundant due to being ones occupation. For example, in the NBA (National Basketball Association), NHL (National Hockey League) and NFL (National Football League), there was a season of lockouts because of a dispute about the division of revenue amongst the players and owners. As a result, the love and connection to the sport was lost and it became about the business aspect of the sport instead of the emotional.

Image source: http://pixabay.com/en/black-icon-outline-star-drawing-34248/

Week 10: Paddle Boarding

I did not grow up with a traditional, conventional institutionalized religious constant in my life. My religious background consisted of sporadic church visits as a child and the celebration of the commercialization of Christmas and Easter complete with Santa Claus, presents, the Easter bunny and chocolate. As a result I constantly seek to find different spiritual and religious experiences that are not based in institutionalized religion. Over the long Labour Day weekend, I went to the beach resort town of Mooloolaba and tried for the first time paddle boarding, a truly religious experience for me.

On a cloudless blue sky, my two friends and I embarked with strong strokes along the Mooloolaba River on our paddle boards. The river was peaceful with only the quiet ripples of the water to be heard. All of my problems and negative thoughts and feelings slipped away as my mind, body and spirit aligned into perfect harmony. The experience of paddle boarding made me reflect upon my life and connect to nature, sport and an indescribable higher power of peace. 

Image source: http://www.southfloridaadventures.com/archives/features/stand-up-paddleboarding-the-miracle-workout/

Week 9:The Portrayal of Religion in the Media: A Theoretical and Reflective Piece

My examination of religion in the media is demonstrated through the comparison of my viewpoints on Australian, Canadian and American media. I have drawn on these three types of media as I have spent four months in Australia, I am Canadian and I am a consumer of American media due to the close proximity to Canada and the influence American news and politics has on Canada. American media, particularly in regards to politics revolves around religion and underlies political debates (Hoover, 2012). For example, the debates and policies on same-sex marriage and abortion are founded upon religious views. The controversy surrounding Obama's birth certificate and having a middle name that defers him to being a Muslim. As a result, in the minds of some Americans this constitutes him as a "terrorist" due to the hostility against Muslims in the some western societies. The backlash against Muslims, Islam and Middle Eastern people since 9/11 has infiltrated into political debates which has resulted in civil religion, a religion being identified with politics and as a result interferes with the prophetic mission of a religion (Hoover, 2012). The coverage of events like 9/11 have played a significant role in the civil religious practices as it highlights that civil religion is not about the worship of the American nation but part of national self-understanding (Hoover, 2012).

            Although, Canada is a country founded on Christian values and principles, Canadian political policies are not mixed with religious viewpoints and perspectives in the media. In Canada, the protection of multiculturalism is extremely important therefore the coverage of religion in regards to protests, problems and attacks within society on religious groups is met with sensitivity. My knowledge and exposure to Australian media is significantly less in comparison to American and Canadian media. But, in the four months that I have been here, I have come to the conclusion that Australia and Canada are similar in the coverage of media and in the exclusion of religion in politics.

Sources: Hoover S. 2012. Religion, Media, and 9/11. In Lynch G. and J. Mitchell with A. Strhan. Eds., Religion, Media and Culture: A Reader. 75-88. London and New York: Routledge.

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