It's not exactly an industry secret that most of the people appearing on our TV screens are Caucasian. Diversity is a hot topic right now -- especially in terms of media representation -- and tempers can naturally rise regarding such a major issue. However, a recent trending hashtag has found a new way to combat lack of diversity in films: #StarringJohnCho spreads movie posters with Asian actor John Cho photoshopped in place of the white heroes.
The movement was started by William Yu in order to bring attention to the lack of media representation for Asian actors specifically. Recent controversies such as casting Scarlett Johansson in "Ghost in the Shell" or Tilda Swinton in "Doctor Strange," both white actors playing originally Asian characters, have brought to light how few roles are given to Asian actors. And yet, directors will attempt to argue that there simply are no Asian actors who are talented or profitable enough. To this claim, William Yu answers with John Cho. The actor has appeared in films such as the "Harold and Kumar" Films, "American Pie," and the new "Stark Trek" film series. According to the movement's official site, "John Cho has a proven track-record of selling tickets and wooing audiences...Cho is everything you'd want for a title role that will have audiences laughing, swooning, and returning to the theater again and again."
The logic is hard to argue with. John Cho is indeed a reliable box-office success. He's funny, handsome and talented, and yet consistently plays sidekicks rather than the hero. Yu's point is that Cho is just as capable as white actors such as Matt Damon, Chris Pratt, or Daniel Day-Lewis to star as the heroes of major motion pictures. There is no reason, besides deeply ingrained prejudices and ideas founded on stereotypes, that these characters need to be white.
But the really fascinating part of this story is not the message of pushing for racial equality -- which is, sadly, a battle people have been fighting for ages. Rather, this movement is unique for the way it goes about defending the cause. I, an educated Asian-American who strongly believes in racial equality, found myself cracking a smile the first time I saw John Cho's face in place of Matt Damon's on the poster for "The Martian." Why was I smiling? As Yu put it, "If you're laughing at John Cho as James Bond, why does that seem so outrageous?" He's right. It shouldn't be funny. Yet, in a way, it is, because it reverses the usual expectations of what we would see on a movie poster. And instantly, the hashtag pushes you to think about your own beliefs at attitudes. These are photoshopped images and not meant to be taken as serious facts, of course, but if you find Yu's posters ridiculous, it might be worthwhile to take a moment to consider why you feel that way.
Yu's whole movement is a very clever tactic in the current culture. For one thing, it utilizes social media as its starting point. Creating a hashtag is a great way of getting it out there and circulating among younger people who will not only be more likely to share it on their social media, but who are also more likely to affect our future world. Furthermore, Yu's method is clear but not aggressive. Especially in online communities where identities can so easily be masked, it's easy to let ones temper get away and say whatever you like. And while there is certainly a time and a place for such brutally honest expression, yelling at someone rarely is the most effective way to win them over to your side. With controversial subjects such as race, which impact people's lives in huge ways, it is easy to feel very angry and want to just demand change right on the spot. The #StarringJohnCho movement, however, is not aggressive, demanding or preachy. In fact, the campaign needs very few words at all. All it takes is some images, cleverly photoshopped, to offer people a visual of what the world could be like. It reveals a world with greater diversity and shows us it wouldn't be that weird or scary. Some justified humor comes from the fact that all the posters depict just one actor in all of these roles, and that helps to further lighten the mood on a tense topic.
We seem to be living in the age of being offended. Some cling so tightly to ideas of political correctness that they can't seem to discuss anything without becoming injured. Others scoff at these people's apparent sensitivity and take offense in their offense. It's a battlefield of opposing opinions online right now. So amid this turmoil, it is truly refreshing to see a movement which tackles a serious issue in need of attention in a way which is lighthearted, thought provoking, smart, and, above all, peaceful. While it is hard to say how much the hashtag itself can accomplish, all social justice warriors would be wise to take a tip from Yu when figuring how to mount campaigns that are effective and powerful without being more inflammatory than necessary.
