Community: “A fist-full of Paintballs”

By: Guadalupe R.

Community, is an American comedy show that was created by Dan Harmon. Community, is a successful comedy series that aired on NBC for five consecutive seasons (since 2009-2014). The series follows an elder group of students and faculties, all of different ethnic backgrounds, in a fictional community college called, Greendale.

However, the only reoccurring Asian American actor in the series is Ken Jeong –who plays the role of Ben Chang; also known as “Senor Chang.” Although, the Asian character, Ben Chang, is not a static character he is still marginalized, to some extent, for his Asian background. His marginalization is evident throughout the series by his limited amount of air time. Though Ben Chang has become a success in the series, and the public wants to see more of him, he is still not one of the main characters nor has his air time increased. There are some episodes where Mr. Chang is not included at all and when he is –he only comes on like two or three times, with a span of a couple minutes or less, throughout the entire episodes.

Mr. Chang is not the only minority; there are other minorities in the shows like Abed Nadir, as Danny Pudi, (Palestenian) and Donald Glover, as Troy Barnes, (African American).  However, they are not as marginalized as the Asian Character Ben Chang. This shows the media’s continued marginalization and success of Asian Americans on screen.

In addition, watching the episode “A Fist-Full of Paintballs” reminded me of the article, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: A Diasporic Reading” by Christina Klein, because in the article Klein compares Bruce Lee with James Bond and their differences in fighting –where Bruce Lee fought with his hands and James Bond with firing weapons. It seemed ridiculous then, that an Asian American could be taken seriously with a firing weapon like James Bond. However, it seems like times have not changed as much because Asians are still not taken seriously with weapons on the media.  In this episode, “A Fist-Full of Paintballs,” Mr. Chang has two paintball shooting weapons determined to execute everyone in his path, and instead of looking menacing, this is seen as another hilarious part of the show; indirectly enforcing the stereotype in the media.

Ken Jeong: “Community”

By: Guadalupe R.

Ken Jeong is an Asian American actor, comedian, and physician that portrays Benjamin Chang in the NBC comedy show, Community. The Asian character, Ben Chang, which is portrayed in this show, does not really fit the ‘model minority’ role (stereotype) that is mostly played by Asians throughout the media.  

In the show, Ben Chang is a dynamic character that continuously changes through the progression of the show. He is an interesting character that at times is portrayed as outgoing, narcissistic, and loud; while other times, he is portrayed as an unbalanced man with serious issues of self-pity and depression.  And neither of those personalities, expresses the model minority stereotype of the typical shy, academic, and submissive Asian that is mostly presented on screen.

Chang’s portrayal of employment also defines the model minority stereotype in the sense that Mr. Chang is not a successful Asian with a distinguished career. In fact, Mr. Chang had false teaching credentials which he used to work as a spanish teacher in Greendale Community College. After being fired for false information –he enrolled as a student in Greendale in hopes to obtain his real teaching credentials. However, after being divorced and left ‘homeless’ he became the campus security guard. As a security guard Mr. Chang created a ‘regime’ among the students where things had to be done his way. After being fired again, he began working in a sandwich shop.

Mr. Chang’s character is evidently different from the Asian characters that the American public is used to seeing; especially since most Asians have successful jobs in the medical and dental fields (as is the case for Ken Jeong- who is in real life a licensed medical doctor). But why is it that the director of this show was not heavily criticized like the director from the film, “Better Luck Tomorrow”? Is it because they are two completely different genres that must portray Asians differently?

I would say, yes, a comedy show is much more lenient on its roles and expectations. Is it fair? Probably not, since any genre has the ultimate purpose to -entertain.

Tom Haverford: The Reinvented

-Written by Tina

Tom Haverford oozes exaggerated charm and confidence. It is hard to believe that he once felt like an outsider looking in. We get a glimpse of his insecurities of being an Indian American boy growing up in South Carolina in season 5, episode 20 of Parks and Recreation. 

In this episode, Jerry Gergich, the government official everyone used to tease, is finally retiring. The natural laws of an office space must find another "Jerry" before the unraveling of the office spacetime continuum destroys the universe. And Tom Haverford becomes his coworkers' new target of ridicule and humiliation.

Fur underwear. Really, Tom? That just does not sound comfortable. 

But Tom Haverford really did reinvent himself. Tom Haverford has got swag. He knows what's up in the latest fashion and music world. He buys all the coolest and newest gadgets once they hit the shelves. Tom Haverford is hip. Unfortunately most of Pawnee is not.

Justin is someone Tom aspires to be. He is a successful lawyer. He wears Armani suits. Women are easily charmed by his good looks and amazing stories. He is worldly. Tom wants to be like him. And so Tom tries to impress him.

The juxtaposition of these two different moments in Tom Haverford's life sheds light into his development as the suave yet cocky entrepreneur.

The people we surround ourselves with are a defining factor in who we end up becoming. Someone like Tom, who cares heavily about his personal image, would make pretty drastic changes to appear socially acceptable. Back when Tom was a kid in South Carolina, his classmates ostracized him because he was a skinny, awkward Indian American. He hated his classmates' dismissals of who he was and resolved to make changes. 

The changes he's made have cut off all connections to his Indian roots. Only until he meets Justin does Tom want to revisit his Indian heritage. 

I feel that many Asian youths living in a predominantly white area would encounter similar experiences that result in them rejecting their Asian upbringing. What we need are more Asian Americans in the popular media spotlight. These kids (and Tom) need Asian American heroes.  

Sullivan and Son: Asian Angst

I would like to break down my favorite episode of the series, the season 2 premier, "The Pilot, One More Time." Why is it my favorite? It's because Asian American actor, Ken Jeong, guest stars and convincingly nails down a role outside of his usual insane characters like Señor Chang from the hit show Community. In Sullivan & Son, Jeong plays Susan's husband, Jason, who is a successful doctor but has no social sensitivity as emotions his emotions were beaten out of him by his mother. Needless to say, Ok Cha treats Jason the most favorably as he emulates the product of precise and engineered upbrining. Even if Jason and Ok Cha are not related, this episode really stresses the expectations of the Asian tiger mom and the negative effect such pressures can have on Asian American children. At the same time, however, this show does not forget to address the misunderstood older generation-in this case, that older figure is Ok Cha.

Scenario: Susan feels her relationship with Jason is strained so she asks Steve for help to loosen him up and "teach him how to have fun." Of course, at a bar, Jason is introduced to the lustful lifestyle completely opposite to his routine and quits his job to join the bar scene. Now, young Asian American viewers, myself included, may feel somewhat supportive towards Jason; he was boring until Steve changed him with alcohol and a newly found passion for living free. Asian American students are sometime put under as much pressure to be perfect as Jason, secretly wishing they could trade their academic success for a shred of confidence in the social arena. Predictably however, the real world is not so kind as to greet abandonment of responsibility with indifference, and Ok Cha is the bludgeoning reality check.

She-ogre Ok Cha isn't abusive for her own pleasure (well, that's not entirely true), she truly believes that Asians have the capacity to do great things when given the opportunity, but it's up to the parents to beat that motivation, not just metaphorically, into their kids-and I can empathize with them! As Ok Cha says, "that was our love." She knew that Asians would face difficulties when assimilating so they became calloused to resist the burdens of stereotypes and then trained their children to toughen up to become successful doctors and lawyers-to fulfill the American dream. Because of Ok Cha, and other parents like her, I respect her deeply. I respect Ken Jeong who was able to personify the angst that Asian American youth built up when growing up under pressure. And I respect the writers of this show who were able to bring an invisible aspect of Asian youth culture to light.

-by Dylan Huynh

Informing the Stereotypes - Kelly Kapoor and The Office

by Mitchell Isidro

Picking up from where I left off with my “Are You Even Indian?” post, I covered the unique way Kelly freely defines herself to be Indian American and how that reflects the poly-cultural attitude of the younger generation of Asian Americans. I also wanted to make it clear that within the context of comedy shows her portrayal is primarily to humor the audience and should not be seen as offensive. Subsequently, the writers of The Office continue to play off of stereotypes even unto the series’s fifth season. I argue that even as the writers make fun of her “Indianness” with small references to Asian female stereotypes, Kelly's portrayal is largely for comedic reasons which help inform audience members of such racial categorizations.

        It is important to discern what specifically are those, albeit indefinite, stereotypical portrayals of Kelly in The Office such as her depiction as a submissive Asian female. In season 5’s Customer Survey, one of Michael’s opening lines is praising Kelly as the office’s  “dusky and exotic customer service rep” which reflects an inaccurate view  of the “mysterious” Asian American woman shared by some members of American culture. Building off of such a view, Kelly is later found guilty for seeking revenge on Jim and Dwight. However, when she is accused by Michael, she randomly claims that she has been raped to rapidly change the subject in a humorous way despite being a very serious subject. Thus it produces two contradictory portrayals of her character both as a vague reference to a devilish and secretive side of the "mysterious" Kelly with her revenge plot, and as a victimized “china doll.” Again, it is important that I caution that these situations are meant for comedy and therefore should not be appropriated as examples to be critical of the show. I believe that the writers put these small references to Asian female stereotypes in the show to create some sort of awareness about such stereotypes. Even in the next episode “Business Trip” Kelly magically hooks back up with Ryan again after Ryan impresses her with his push ups and then subsequently shares a ridiculously passionate kiss in spite of already being in a relationship with Darryl. This may point to, again, the docile china doll stereotype that is easily manipulated that Kelly finds herself portraying occasionally. Yet, in context this should not be surprising because the shows writers make it a point to make fun of the precarious and unsteady relationship she has with Ryan. Even in a later episode “Moroccan Christmas,” Angela, a Caucasian female co worker, is also found, although sexually, unfaithful to Andy.

        Therefore, Kelly’s portrayal reflects complex nature of human beings and also what it means to be an Asian American female. Her stereotypical portrayals are not always clear at times especially to passive audience members, but I think it is just a way for writers to inform unknowing audiences what these stereotypes exactly may be. It is also wrong to undermine the importance of the show being a comedy  because in such a light hearted show, viewers do not have to take the issues seriously and instead can learn about how human identity is appropriated by show writers to produce some thought provoking material.

Be sure to comment below! I would like to hear your thoughts whether in agreement or disagreement! I think it is important to discuss these even in the context of speaking about comedy shows!