With its ability to transcend the limitations of time and space and reach large audiences around the globe, film plays an outsized role in the circulation of discourse and, as such, holds a large sway over the production and reproduction of stereotypes. Understanding meaning as both dynamic and intertextual, the circulation of these stereotypes plays an integral role in the formation and maintenance of identity, particularly for Asian-Americans in the current US socio-political landscape. Drawing heavily on Connell’s (1995) work on hegemonic masculinity and Hall’s (1997) conceptualization of stereotype, we look at the film Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) to analyze stereotypes of subordinate masculinities within the context of Asian-American identity. A multimodal approach combining Critical Discourse Analysis and Visual Discourse Analysis reveals how the film challenges mainstream notions of hegemonic masculinity by reimagining existing stereotypes of the “model minority” that have historically been used as a means of oppression. Instead of locating power by appealing to current hegemonic frameworks, Everything Everywhere All at Once offers alternative modes of approaching existing stereotypes. By reframing representation in this way, this film presents new potentialities for developing Asian-American identities rooted in an ethics of care and compassion. Finally, we look at new possibilities for Asian-American representation in the future.

Authors:
Ty Leung, Independent Scholar, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Mr Ty Leung is a School Teacher/Instructor at Independent in United States

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

Bookmark