Reclaiming the Narrative: Media, Representation, and Self-Definition

Introduction: From Object to Subject

For centuries, South Asian men have been objects of others' narratives:

• Colonial administrators' descriptions
• Orientalist art and literature
• Hollywood stereotypes
• News media portrayals

The shift to being subjects—creators and controllers of our own stories—is profound and ongoing. This lesson examines:

• Current state of representation
• Strategies for narrative control
• Digital platforms and democratization
• Challenges and opportunities
• Vision for future representation

Part 1: Current State of Representation

Progress Since the 2000s

Increased Visibility:More South Asian men in media than ever before:

• Starring roles, not just sidekicks
• Complex characters with interiority
• Romantic leads (challenging desexualization)
• Behind the camera (writers, directors, producers)

Diverse Portrayals:Moving beyond stereotypes to show:

• Class diversity
• Regional/linguistic diversity
• Different professions beyond tech/medicine
• Various personalities and traits
• LGBTQ+ South Asian men
• Mental health and vulnerability

Creator Control:South Asian men increasingly have:

• Production companies
• Streaming deals
• Publishing platforms
• Social media followings
• Financial backing

Persistent Limitations

Still Underrepresented:

• Percentage of roles far below population percentage
• Especially limited for older South Asian men
• Working-class characters rare
• Regional diversity lacking

Stereotypes Persist:

• Tech worker/doctor still dominant
• Accent used for comedy
• Sidekick or comic relief
• Sexual desexualization continues
• Terrorist/religious fanatic in some contexts

Gatekeeping:

• Major studios/networks still mostly white-controlled
• South Asian creators face more obstacles
• Need to prove viability constantly
• "Diversity" as trend, not standard

Colorism:

• Lighter-skinned South Asians overrepresented
• Darker skin associated with lower class or villainy
• Beauty standards favor proximity to whiteness

Part 2: Strategies for Narrative Control

Creating Your Own Content

Why DIY/Independent Production:

• Don't wait for Hollywood permission
• Tell stories you want to tell
• Creative control and authenticity
• Build audience directly
• Prove viability for larger projects

Platforms:

• YouTube for video content
• Podcasts for audio
• Self-publishing for books
• Social media for short-form
• Film festivals for shorts
• Crowdfunding for financing

Examples:

• YouTube creators building audiences
• Self-published authors
• Independent filmmakers
• Podcast hosts discussing identity and culture
• TikTok creators reaching millions

Working Within the System

Infiltration Strategy:

• Get jobs in mainstream media
• Build credentials and credibility
• Push for better representation from inside
• Mentor next generation
• Use platforms for South Asian stories

Key Roles:

• Writers rooms for TV
• Development executives
• Directors and producers
• Casting directors
• Agents and managers

Challenges:

• Often need to "prove yourself" with non-South Asian content first
• Pressure to represent entire community
• Tokenization
• Pushback on "ethnic" stories

Collective Action

Organizations:

• South Asian content creators networks
• Advocacy for representation
• Research and documentation
• Awards and recognition programs

Campaigns:

• #OscarsSoWhite (broader movement)
• Calling out specific stereotypes
• Celebrating positive representation
• Demanding accurate casting (not brownface)

Part 3: Digital Platforms and Democratization

Social Media as Tool for Self-Representation

Advantages:

• Low barrier to entry
• Direct audience relationship
• No gatekeepers (initially)
• Rapid iteration and feedback
• Community building
• Viral potential

Platforms:

Instagram:

• Visual storytelling
• Short video (Reels)
• Stories for daily connection
• Influencer economy

TikTok:

• Short-form video
• Algorithm favors content over followers
• Youth-dominated
• Trend participation and creation

YouTube:

• Long-form video
• Ad revenue potential
• Subscriber base building
• Educational content

Twitter/X:

• Text-based commentary
• Real-time conversations
• Networking
• Amplification

Podcasts:

• In-depth conversations
• Accessibility (audio while commuting, exercising)
• Lower production costs than video
• Building loyal audiences

"Brown Boy" Aesthetics and Identity

What It Is:Online cultural movement celebrating South Asian male identity:

• Fashion and style
• Cultural pride
• Humor and memes
• Music and art
• Lifestyle content

Positive Aspects:

• Visibility and normalization
• Community and belonging
• Reclaiming identity
• Challenging stereotypes

Critiques:

• Can be superficial
• Sometimes reproduces patriarchy
• Colorism in who gets visibility
• Consumerism and commodification
• Class privilege assumed

Part 4: Mental Health Destigmatization Through Media

Speaking Openly

Public Figures:Growing number of South Asian men publicly discussing:

• Depression and anxiety
• Therapy experiences
• Suicide attempts and recovery
• Family struggles
• Medication
• Ongoing mental health management

Impact:

• Normalizes help-seeking
• Reduces shame
• Provides hope
• Shows successful people also struggle
• Creates permission for others

Examples:

• Athletes discussing mental health
• Actors and comedians
• Business leaders
• Social media influencers
• Community advocates

Mental Health Content Creation

Formats:

• Instagram posts about therapy
• YouTube videos explaining conditions
• Podcasts interviewing therapists
• TikToks about medication
• Memes normalizing struggles

What Works:

• Authenticity and vulnerability
• Humor without minimizing
• Educational without lecturing
• Culturally specific context
• Resources and hope

Part 5: Authentic Representation vs. Respectability Politics

The Tension

Respectability Politics:Pressure to only show "positive" representations:

• Successful, educated, non-threatening
• Traditional family values
• Model minority exemplars
• Avoid anything that feeds stereotypes

Arguments For:

• Counter negative stereotypes
• Protect community from discrimination
• Show diversity of success
• Inspire youth

Arguments Against:

• Limits artistic truth and complexity
• Reinforces model minority myth
• Erases working-class experiences
• Can't show flaws or struggles
• Inauthentic and flat

Finding Balance

Authentic Representation:

• Show complexity and humanity
• Include flaws alongside strengths
• Depict real struggles and systems
• Don't make every character a spokesperson
• Trust audiences with nuance

Example:"I can write a South Asian male character who makes mistakes, struggles with addiction, or treats people badly—not because I'm reinforcing stereotypes, but because South Asian men are human. The solution to stereotypes isn't perfect representation, it's complex, varied representation where we're allowed to be fully human."

Part 6: Vision for Future Representation

What Would Full Representation Look Like?

Quantity:

• Proportional to population
• Present in all genres and formats
• All age ranges represented
• Regional and linguistic diversity
• Class diversity

Quality:

• Complex, three-dimensional characters
• Protagonists, not just sidekicks
• Full range of emotions and experiences
• Sexual and romantic agency
• Interiority and inner lives
• Not defined primarily by ethnicity

Behind the Camera:

• South Asian men as writers, directors, producers
• Decision-making power
• Creative control
• Mentorship of next generation

Systemic:

• No longer "diversity" but normality
• South Asian stories considered universal
• Mixed casts without explanation
• Cultural specificity when relevant
• Not forced to represent everyone