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A review by tackling_my_tbr
The Whitewash by Siang Lu
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
Rambunctious and subversive, THE WHITEWASH is a very imaginative — and very funny! — chronicle of the Asian identity within our Hollywood film industry.
Styled in the form of a documentary transcript, there’s a lot of larger-than-life characters in this one; from self-absorbed actors and smug producers to shifty online journalists and assorted film crew, even a sad ex-girlfriend here and there. Loosely, it’s a fictional account of the making of Brood Empire, a grand Hollywood spy thriller starring, for the first time in history, an Asian male lead. It’s set to be explosive. Genre-defining. But instead, it’s really the start of Brood Empire’s epic demise.
Interspersed through this main storyline is a factual account of Asian representation in film and TV. And it’s a tumultuous journey. The way in which the Asian character has been historically stereotyped as firstly the villain, then the self-deprecating, subservient or sexless side character. The continual whitewashing of the Asian identity. The cultural appropriation of eastern martial arts by white actors like Jean Claude van Damme. Behind the scenes examples of pay discrimination with prominent script writers and actors. China’s growing influence on cultural censorship. Wow, there was a lot I wasn’t aware of. I’m by no means a film buff, but I found all of it entirely fascinating.
THE WHITEWASH may sound overtly critical, but it’s far from it. Instead, it plays on just how farcical this form of institutionalised racism really is. What’s clever about this book is that it uses these real-world examples, conflates them in the fictional Brood Empire production storyline, resulting in an absurd, tongue-in-cheek, satirical parody. It’s full of playful wit, banter, ego clashes, just all-round clever humour that’s insightful and also gave me a bad case of the chuckles. I just could not stop myself laughing in some places!
This was a very unique take on blending fiction with history — and I very much enjoyed the ride!
💌 UQP
Find more of my reviews on Instagram: @tackling.my.tbr
Styled in the form of a documentary transcript, there’s a lot of larger-than-life characters in this one; from self-absorbed actors and smug producers to shifty online journalists and assorted film crew, even a sad ex-girlfriend here and there. Loosely, it’s a fictional account of the making of Brood Empire, a grand Hollywood spy thriller starring, for the first time in history, an Asian male lead. It’s set to be explosive. Genre-defining. But instead, it’s really the start of Brood Empire’s epic demise.
Interspersed through this main storyline is a factual account of Asian representation in film and TV. And it’s a tumultuous journey. The way in which the Asian character has been historically stereotyped as firstly the villain, then the self-deprecating, subservient or sexless side character. The continual whitewashing of the Asian identity. The cultural appropriation of eastern martial arts by white actors like Jean Claude van Damme. Behind the scenes examples of pay discrimination with prominent script writers and actors. China’s growing influence on cultural censorship. Wow, there was a lot I wasn’t aware of. I’m by no means a film buff, but I found all of it entirely fascinating.
THE WHITEWASH may sound overtly critical, but it’s far from it. Instead, it plays on just how farcical this form of institutionalised racism really is. What’s clever about this book is that it uses these real-world examples, conflates them in the fictional Brood Empire production storyline, resulting in an absurd, tongue-in-cheek, satirical parody. It’s full of playful wit, banter, ego clashes, just all-round clever humour that’s insightful and also gave me a bad case of the chuckles. I just could not stop myself laughing in some places!
This was a very unique take on blending fiction with history — and I very much enjoyed the ride!
💌 UQP
Find more of my reviews on Instagram: @tackling.my.tbr