Some people think that the term “yellow face” simply refers to Caucasians using yellow make up and taping their eyes to portray Asian characters, but it goes beyond that. To me, it’s the creation of an Asian-like creature that’s fully developed in the mind of someone else.
— Librarian Glenn Masuchika
Librarian Glenn Masuchika's recent exhibit in Pattee Library on Asian Americans in cinema and literature, features materials from the library collections -- books, Hollywood blockbusters, and independent film. Here, he describes the theme of the exhibit and talks about how the depiction of Asians in popular culture has evolved over the decades.
From Breakfast at Tiffany's to The King and I, a common theme emerges
About two-and-a-half years ago I was asked to review materials in our collections that could support a minor in Asian American Studies at Penn State. As I started to review our materials, one theme kept recurring, and it is a theme that is prevalent when you look at any immigrant literature or film. When immigrants first come to America, it is always the majority which tries to define them—what they look like, how they sound, the way they act, their philosophies. They are recreated by the majority, and not in flattering ways.
Some people think that the term “yellow face” simply refers to Caucasians using yellow make up and taping their eyes to portray Asian characters, but it goes beyond that. To me, it’s the creation of an Asian-like creature that’s fully developed in the mind of someone else. Charlie Chan is one example. We have the Sidney Toler Charlie Chan films in our collection. They’re entertaining, but also very unsettling. This theme runs through the collection, starting with Charlie Chan, and other movies like “The Good Earth,” in which the entire Chinese cast was played by Caucasians. This exhibit shows how Asian Americans have moved from this “other” oriental to self identify.
Reclaiming the narrative
Over the last 40 years, we’ve seen filmmaking slowly widen its scope as more Asian Americans write, act and direct. Of these productions, “The Joy Luck Club” (1993) was probably the biggest commercial success. The Libraries at Penn State offer some recent movies that focus on Asian and Asian American stories. All the DVDs on display are available at the Penn State Libraries, and can be found by searching The CAT, the online catalog, from the Libraries' homepage.
Supporting a program in Asian American Studies
Currently, students in literature and English are the ones who are getting the most exposure to Asian American materials at Penn State. Writers like Maxine Hong Kingston and the playwright Frank Chin — the “bad boy” of Asian American literature — are getting a lot of interest. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Penn State will offer a minor in Asian American Studies at this time. However, the plan is still on the back burner, so if someone ever flips the switch and says “We’re going to start it right now,” the Libraries' collection would be able to support it. Although we won’t be able to match the collections of universities on the west coast, what we do have to offer is incredibly rich and diverse.
For more information, contact Glenn Masuchika 814-867-2229, gnm1@psu.edu.
