Brooke Martin
John Hughes' Sixteen Candles is a 1980s high school comedy that has been criticised for its use of stereotypes, including racist portrayals of non-white characters. The film features a Chinese exchange student, Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, who is the only non-white character in the film. Long Duk Dong is portrayed as a stereotypical Asian character, with limited English skills and struggling to assimilate to American customs. The film also includes casual racism, with characters making fun of Long Duk Dong's appearance and English skills, and using racial slurs. While some viewers find the film funny and nostalgic, others have criticised it for its offensive characterisations and perpetuation of racist stereotypes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of non-white characters | 1 |
| Name of non-white character | Long Duk Dong |
| Actor playing the non-white character | Gedde Watanabe |
| Stereotypes portrayed | Racist, Oriental tropes, "white patriarchy", "yellowface", "model minority myth" |
| Other offensive stereotypes | Sexist, Homophobic |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The only non-white character is a Chinese exchange student
The 1980s comedy Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its portrayal of racist stereotypes. The film's only non-white character is a Chinese exchange student named Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe. In the film, Dong is portrayed as having difficulty assimilating to American customs, and is the target of racist jokes and slurs. For example, people refer to him as a "Chinaman," mock his English, and make fun of him for using a fork and spoon as if they were chopsticks.
The character of Dong has been described as an "offensive caricature" and a "racist stereotype". One reviewer notes that the film "crumbles under the test of time, reflecting both progressiveness and how far Hollywood representation still has to go". Another reviewer points out that the film includes "painful stereotypes", including the racist portrayal of Dong.
Despite the criticism, some have defended the character of Dong, arguing that he is simply a remnant of a time when white people dominated movie portrayals. Others have argued that the film is a comedy and that people should not take it so seriously.
The film also includes other problematic content, such as casual homophobia, sexual assault, and the objectification of women. As a result, some broadcasters have added content warnings before screenings of the film.
Candling Chicken Eggs: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The character is referred to as a Chinaman
The 1980s comedy Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its use of racial and gender stereotypes. The film's only non-white character, Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, is a Chinese exchange student. People refer to him as a "Chinaman," call him dirty and weird, and make fun of his English. The character's first appearance in the film is upside down, dangling from a top bunk bed, waggling his eyebrows at the female protagonist, and attempting to speak English with the line, "What's happenin', hot stuff?". Later in the film, Long Duk Dong uses a fork and spoon as chopsticks at dinner, indicating that he is still having trouble assimilating to American customs.
The character of Long Duk Dong has been described as an "offensive caricature" and a "racist stereotype". One reviewer notes that the film "panders blatantly to racist stereotypes", with another stating that the portrayal of the Chinese exchange student is "racist". The film has also been criticised for its treatment of women, with one review highlighting how men and boys talk about women's bodies and aggressively hit on them. Another review mentions a side plot that revolves around the sexual assault of a drunk girl, which is played for laughs.
While some viewers find the film's humour offensive, others argue that it was a product of its time and should not be taken too seriously. One commenter on Reddit said, "It's funny bar none... It was funny then, and it's funny now." Another commenter questioned why actor Gedde Watanabe agreed to play the role, acknowledging that the film prompts "careful deliberation of the fine line between comedy and offensiveness."
The film Sixteen Candles has prompted discussions about the portrayal of racial and gender stereotypes in media and the impact these depictions can have on audiences. While some may find humour in the film, others view it as a reminder of the progress that still needs to be made in Hollywood representation.
Ear Candling: Does It Hurt or Help?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Long Duk Dong is played by Gedde Watanabe
Long Duk Dong is played by Japanese-American actor Gedde Watanabe in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. Watanabe's character is a Chinese foreign exchange student and has been called an offensive stereotype of Asian people.
Watanabe's portrayal of Long Duk Dong has been described as "overtly stereotypical of Asian-Americans". The character has a thick accent, practices his conversational English, and is mystified by American food. He is also accompanied by a gong sound every time he enters a scene. Despite the controversy, Watanabe did not let criticism sidetrack him and went on to have a long career in film, television, and theatre. He has since appeared in numerous guest spots on sitcoms like "Murphy Brown", "Seinfeld", and "Mad About You".
In a 2008 NPR segment, Long Duk Dong was described as a "stain" on Hollywood's history of representing Asian characters. However, some critics, like Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, praised Watanabe's performance, saying that he "elevates his role from a potentially offensive stereotype to high comedy".
Reflecting on his portrayal in 2024, Watanabe acknowledged some problematic elements of the character but emphasized the role's impact in sparking conversations about Asian representation in media. He also appreciated the evolving opportunities for more nuanced portrayals of Asian characters in Hollywood. Watanabe also stated that he did not initially perceive the role as offensive, attributing his perspective to the scarcity of roles for Asian actors at the time.
In Sixteen Candles, Long Duk Dong makes his first appearance upside down, dangling from a top bunk and waggling his eyebrows at the female protagonist. He utters the memorable phrase, "What's happenin', hot stuff?" which has become an important part of the American film lexicon. Despite the controversy surrounding his portrayal, Gedde Watanabe's performance as Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles has left a lasting impact on popular culture.
The Warm Glow: Do Women Like Candles?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The character's English is made fun of
The 1980s comedy Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its use of racist stereotypes and the casual use of offensive language. The film's only non-white character, Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, is a Chinese exchange student. His character is portrayed as a racist caricature, with his English being made fun of. In one scene, he dangles from the top bunk of a bed, waggling his eyebrows at the female protagonist, and says, "What's happenin', hot stuff?" He is also shown using a fork and spoon as chopsticks at dinner, alluding to his trouble assimilating to American customs. People in the film refer to him as a "Chinaman," call him dirty and weird, and make fun of his attempts to speak English.
The film also includes a scene in which a character makes a joke about preferring "pink" guys over Black guys and the casual use of homophobic slurs, such as "f--got." The grandparents on one side are portrayed as "white trash," and the grandparents on the mom's side are seen as using their exchange student as free labour, with seemingly progressive white people exploiting him.
While some viewers find the film entertaining and a classic 80s teen film, others have criticised it for its offensive characterisations, problematic gender and race stereotypes, and the cringeworthy treatment of women and Asian people. The film has prompted discussions about the fine line between comedy and offensiveness and the progressiveness of Hollywood representation.
Encanto's Candle: Will it Relight?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The film has been called racist
The film Sixteen Candles has been called racist due to its portrayal of Long Duk Dong, a Chinese exchange student. Long Duk Dong is the only non-white character in the film, and he is portrayed as a racist stereotype, with broken English, using a fork and spoon as chopsticks, and making sexual advances towards the female protagonist. People refer to him as a "Chinaman," call him dirty and weird, and make fun of his English. The character has been described as an "offensive caricature" and a "racist stereotype."
The film has also been criticized for its portrayal of other characters, including an Italian family that is portrayed as sleazy, and the casual use of a homophobic slur. The film has been called a "tour of adolescence filled with casual, very problematic gender and race stereotypes."
Some people have defended the film, arguing that it is a product of its time and that it is still funny. Others have criticized the film for its portrayal of women, including a side plot about the sexual assault of a drunk girl, which is played for laughs.
The film has prompted discussions about the line between comedy and offensiveness, and how Hollywood representation has evolved since the 1980s. While some argue that the film should be viewed with a historical context, others believe that it is problematic and offensive, regardless of when it was made.
Overall, the film Sixteen Candles has been called racist for its portrayal of Long Duk Dong and other characters, and has sparked debates about the acceptability of comedic portrayals of racial and ethnic stereotypes.
Cinnamon Candles: Spider Repellent or Myth?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is one non-white character in the film Sixteen Candles.
The non-white character in Sixteen Candles is Long Duk Dong, a Chinese exchange student.
Long Duk Dong is portrayed through racist stereotypes. People refer to him as a "Chinaman," make fun of his English, and he is seen as struggling to assimilate to American customs.
Yes, the portrayal of Long Duk Dong has been widely criticized as offensive and perpetuating racist stereotypes. Some have defended the portrayal as comedic and a product of its time.
