Asian Americans Campaign Against "Lost In Translation" Oscar Bid

A grassroots organization of Asian Americans campaigns against the film "Lost In Translation" and its heavy use of Japanese stereotypes for humor. Such depictions perpetuate racial and cultural insensitivity and misperceptions that are harmful to Asian Americans.

NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) February 14, 2004 --Asian Americans in Los Angeles and New York lobby audiences at screenings of the film "Lost In Translation" in attempts to reach members of the motion picture industry eligible to vote in the Academy Awards and other industry awards. The group feels that Academy should not award any Oscars to film that gives a biased and offensive portrayal of the Japanese and which perpetuates racial and cultural insensitivity towards Asian Americans.

The humor and lampooning of the Japanese in the film has a strong racial element. The film portrays the Japanese people as a collection of shallow stereotypes. The audience laughs AT the Japanese people and not with them. Japanese characters in the film include the weird prostitute and other Japanese who mispronounce their R's and L's; an ineffectual film director, strippers, and doctors who assault you with the Japanese language; the stoic sushi chef; and a colorful talk show host and partygoers.

The main characters' condescending treatment towards these stereotyped Japanese is unfair and offensive. The main characters are portrayed as people in a way that the audience identifies with. Meanwhile the Japanese characters are portrayed as cartoon-like and bizarre. The main characters tell jokes at the expense of the Japanese characters and exploit their inability to understand English. There is an over-emphasis on Japanese stereotypes such as the inability of the Japanese to correctly pronounce their L's and R's, mocking them because they bow and are short, and references to their weird food. The main characters visibly express disdain, and make insulting remarks and jokes in the direct presence of Japanese characters. There are no redeeming Japanese roles in the film, nor is there any significant dialogue between the main characters and the Japanese characters. They merely serve as buffoons for the main characters to ridicule.

"Lost In Translation" provides a biased and offensive portrayal of the Japanese people and perpetuates negative stereotypes that are harmful to the Asian American community. Had this film been set in Africa or Mexico, for example, we do not think the film would have contained such an insensitive and racist portrayal of a people. This film is indicative of a level of mainstream tolerance and acceptance of Asian American discrimination that would otherwise be unacceptable if directed towards African and Hispanic Americans.

Asians and Asian Americans are frequently portrayed as caricatures and the target of racist jokes in American radio, television, and film. Caricatures and racist humor lead to discrimination, racial taunts, and violence. This makes the film's portrayal even more dangerous. Due to films such as "Lost In Translation," we Asian Americans are treated as foreigners in our own country.

About www.lost-in-racism.org

www.lost-in-racism.org is a grassroots organization of individuals in the Asian American community whose mission is to promote a fair and balanced portrayal of Asian Americans in the entertainment industry.

Visit our website at: http://www.lost-in-racism.org

Disclaimer: The www.lost-in-racism.org Campaign only represents the personal opinions of individuals in the Asian American community. We are not affiliated with any production studio or Academy Award nominee.