Disorienting: Asians on Screen

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Disorienting

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Phil Wang investigates the representation of East and South East Asians in western media.

Comedian Phil Wang looks at the representation of East and South East Asians in the West, discovering a largely overlooked form of racism that's been exacerbated by Covid-19.

Comedian Phil Wang takes a personal look at the representation of East and South East Asians in the West - on stage, screen and beyond. 

He shines a light on many ingrained racist stereotypes, reflects on yellowface and whitewashing - all at a unique moment. With a backdrop of an alarming rise in violence and threat in the shadow of Covid-19, East and South East Asian artists, writers and others in the media are mobilising like never before to fix the longstanding issues and address a persistent form of racism that gets largely overlooked.

Talking with academics Diana Yeh, Xun Zhou and Lu Gram, actors and writers Daniel York Loh and Chloe Mi Lin Ewart, master illusionist Jim Steinmeyer and musician Emma-Lee Moss (also known as Emmy the Great), Phil encounters magic crystal lanterns, starships and ouija boards. He takes a yellowface ride from Fu Manchu, to James Mason in a dodgy moustache with an even dodgier accent, through to 21st century Hollywood. 

Phil also discovers the dark power of stereotypes, from the screen to the playground to the street and in the bedroom.

Presenter: Phil Wang
Producer: Richard Ward
Executive Producers: Max O'Brien and Sean Glynn

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