Mockery, Deviants, Aliens, and Asians in Marvel films: A Media Analysis of Asian Representation

Shek, David Ka Lok

4. term

English, Master

2022

2022-05-31

This thesis uses content analysis to examine Marvel Studios films released from 2008 to 2021 (Phases One to Four) and how they portray Asian characters and actors of Asian descent. It focuses on whether familiar stereotypes persist: the “model minority” (diligent, compliant) for positive figures and the “yellow peril” (threatening foreigner) for negative ones. The thesis argues that, in Hollywood, casting often constrains actors to roles defined by skin color rather than range of ability. In Phases One and Two (a seven-year span), Asian presence is minimal: roles are stereotyped, screen time is very brief—sometimes around two minutes—and dialogue is scarce. By Phase Three (2016–2019), visibility improves, with more speaking parts and supporting roles, yet stereotyping continues, with Asians framed as foreigners, model minorities, or aliens. The study also finds that body type shapes casting: larger-bodied Asian actors appear in supporting roles, while athletic-bodied actors are more often cast as antagonists or as physical foils—“living props”—for white leads. Gender and sexuality are portrayed unevenly: no interracial relationships involve Asian men and white partners, whereas Asian women may pair with white men and are depicted as hyperfeminine and oriented toward white male characters. Across roles, Asian characters are frequent targets of mockery: verbal abuse is played for laughs as friendly banter, and rapid editing obscures the impact of physical blows. The thesis argues that these patterns suppress Asian visibility and limit representation, and warns that they risk normalizing stereotypes and hate toward people of East-Asian descent.

Dette speciale anvender en indholdsanalyse til at undersøge Marvel Studios’ film udgivet fra 2008 til 2021 (Fase 1–4) og hvordan de fremstiller asiatiske karakterer og skuespillere med asiatisk baggrund. Det fokuserer på, om velkendte stereotyper består: “model minority” (flittig, lydig) for positive figurer og “yellow peril” (den truende fremmede) for negative. Specialet argumenterer for, at man i Hollywood ofte begrænser skuespillere til roller defineret af hudfarve frem for evner. I Fase 1 og 2 (en periode på syv år) er asiatisk tilstedeværelse minimal: rollerne er stereotype, skærmtiden er meget kort—nogle gange omkring to minutter—og der er få replikker. I Fase 3 (2016–2019) øges synligheden med flere taleroller og biroller, men stereotyperne fortsætter, idet asiater indrammes som fremmede, modelminoriteter eller rumvæsner. Undersøgelsen finder også, at kropstype præger rollebesætning: større kropstyper blandt asiatiske skuespillere ses i biroller, mens atletiske kropstyper oftere bruges som antagonister eller fysiske modspillere—“levende rekvisitter”—for hvide hovedroller. Køn og seksualitet fremstilles ulige: der vises ingen interracial relationer mellem asiatiske mænd og hvide partnere, mens asiatiske kvinder kan have relationer med hvide mænd og skildres som hyperfeminine og orienteret mod hvide mandlige karakterer. På tværs af roller er asiatiske karakterer ofte mål for hån: verbal nedgørelse spilles for komik som venskabelig drilleri, og hurtig klipning skjuler effekten af fysiske slag. Specialet hævder, at disse mønstre dæmper asiatisk synlighed og begrænser repræsentationen, og advarer om, at de kan normalisere stereotyper og had mod personer med østasiatisk baggrund.

[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]

Asians ; Representation ; Media ; Stereotypes ; Narrative

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