~American Born Chinese~ Week 8

The main focus for this week was stereotypes and how they are used in comics. For the reading this week we were asked to read comics that had to do with stereotypes so I read American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.

 Stereotypes can be good or bad or both. For an example of a stereotype that is good and bad is someone of Asian to send always gets good grades and is really smart. The stereotype can be good if you fit the stereotype. On the other hand that stereotype can be bad, if you are from Asian descent and you don't get good grades or are having a problem with a class you can be stress, pressured and feel bad for yourself for asking for help.  An example of a stereotype that is not good but is thrown around in the US culture is the dumb blonde. That if you were blonde that means you’re stupid just based off the fact that you have natural blonde or have died your hair blonde. Hair color means nothing about how smart someone is or not. An example of a good stereotype is “the nice Jewish boy” that comes out of the beliefs system of girls wanting to marry the perfect Jewish man. Which not every person is going to be nice, perfect, good person, but this stereotype is something to strive for.

 In this graphic novel the AmericanBorn Chinese it touches and shows how the main character

goes through life and all of the problems and obstacles he had to go through. For an example of stereotype being reflected or put on the main character really starts off at the beginning when he started his new school. There were stereotypes that the main character ate dogs, arranged marriage and being married off at thirteen and many others. Some of the stereotypes are major, so when you read it you really notice it. Then there are others there a little more low-key.

I believe that with the simple images and great storyline with the lessons, teachings, obstacles, problems and hardships of the author’s life really makes this graphic novel. It’s a makes you not want to put it down. Will he get the girl? What crazy thing is he going to now? I really enjoyed this graphic novel.