Hollywood Korean War Films and Representations of Koreans/Asians

Hollywood Korean War Films and Representations of Koreans/Asians This essay examines the perspective of the West on Koreans/Asians through Hollywood’s Korean war films. Hollywood’s representation of Asian enemies remains unchanged, which traces back to Yellow Peril of the early 1920s. The Second World War films show the Japanese soldiers as treacherous and cruel, with little respect for human life. Such representation is repeated in the Asian Communists including North Korean soldiers. They are despicable and kill civilians without any hesitations. In short, they are ‘sub-humans’ who could be exterminated. As for the South Koreans ally with the Americans, they are marginalized like other Asians and treated, in many respects, as the ones who need Americans’ constant nurturing. In particular, the images of Korean orphans and American father figures prevail in many of works, symbolizing the political relationships of both nations. Koreans rarely have the opportunity to reveal their thoughts and emotions. And when they do, they are merely grateful for Americans’ presence and anxious for America’s benevolent guidance. In addition, Koreans are effeminized. Even the Seoul mayor and the President show a lack of strong leadership; the mayor is absent in his humble office of Battle Hymn and Present Rhee faces a perilous situation in a small observation plane in Mission Over Korea. However, these Hollywood’s films show the shades of difference when they deal with Japan and Korea. They denigrate Korea as barren and Korean prostitutes lacking morality, while existing only to satisfy the desire of American soldiers. On the other hand, the films still find Japanese subservient, yet its culture is respected. Furthermore, Hollywood emphasizes the solid relationships of both nations which is mythologized into the marriage between American soldiers and Japanese girls in Sayonara and Japanese War Bride.