EP62 - Breakfast at Tiffany's, Yellowface, and Whitewashing

August 08, 2019 / Morgan Jaffe

EP62 - Breakfast at Tiffany's may be a classic film but it's hard to ignore Mr. Yunioshi, a Japanese character played by a white man in yellowface. While discussing this adaptation of Truman Capote's 1958 novel, let's look at the history of yellowface in Hollywood, reminding ourselves that while we might not see someone doing such a blatant caricature yellowface and its racism, xenophobia, and orientalism still seeps into pop culture today - but now more covertly through whitewashing.

Art by Jeremy Ferris.

New episodes released the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.

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categories / anti-immigration, books, film, orientalism, racism, white supremacy, whitewashing, xenophobia
tags / Breakfast at Tiffany's, yellowface, Truman Capote, anti-Asian, anti-East Asian, Anti-Japanese, Mr. Yunioshi, Mickey Rooney, Anna May Wong, Dr. Seuss, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Marlon Brando, D.W. Griffith, Frank Capra, Fu Manchu, Warner Oland, John Wayne

EP38 - Firefly and East Asian Representation (or Lack Thereof)

July 25, 2018 / Morgan Jaffe

Although it was only on TV for less than a full season, Firefly has become a cult classic. And while I'll admit that I'm a fan of the show, there's on big problem: although Firefly is inspired by East Asian culture, there aren't any East Asian actors.