Debate triggered over Asian stereotypes at the movies

Marvel release viewed as key step in breaking the mold

After watching the new Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, data analyst Kevin Chen said he felt proud of his Chinese ancestry.

"Finally, Hollywood's Chinese dragon is true to the legend that is not malevolent and does not spit fire," said the 35-year-old, who was born in Hong Kong and grew up in the Bay Area in northern California.

"The characters are deep and well-rounded, not like the geeks or nerds that we are often portrayed as," he added.

The movie tells the story of martial arts warrior Shang-Chi－Marvel's first Asian superhero－and depicts cultural images related to Chinese mythology and culture. To date, it is the top-grossing release during the coronavirus pandemic in North America.

Featuring a cast mainly from East Asia, the film is viewed by industry observers as a major step in improving representation of Asians and Asian Americans in mainstream media in the United States.

The 1990 Institute, which is dedicated to engaging the people of China and the US through education, philanthropy and collaboration, said the movie is "a golden opportunity to rewrite the narrative around Asian masculinity, and a chance to stand up, be noticed and change the game."

The institute, which is based in San Francisco, has recently produced a video to explore the film's role in challenging Hollywood stereotypes about Asian men.