Maddie James
John Hughes' 1984 coming-of-age comedy Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its portrayal of foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe. The character has been described as a quintessential Asian stereotype, with his broken English and American catchphrases causing him to be mocked by the other characters. While the film has been labelled as horribly offensive and insanely sexist, others have defended it as a product of its time. Watanabe himself has said that he did not think the role was stereotypical or racist, but he has since reflected that he was “a bit naive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Long Duk Dong's first entrance | Hanging upside down from a top bunk, waggling his eyebrows at the female protagonist |
| Long Duk Dong's English | Broken, with American catchphrases |
| Long Duk Dong's hair | Parted straight down the middle ("butt-cut") |
| Long Duk Dong's social status | Not one of the cool kids |
| Long Duk Dong's romantic life | Finds romance at the high-school dance |
| Long Duk Dong's drinking | Gets seriously drunk |
| Long Duk Dong's family | Host family |
| Long Duk Dong's eating habits | Mystified by quiche; uses a fork and spoon like chopsticks |
| Long Duk Dong's sound effects | Accompanied by the sound of a gong |
| Long Duk Dong's impact | Became one of the most enduring characters of the decade's teen comedies; gave mean kids new material for bullying Asian Americans |
| Long Duk Dong's legacy | Characterised as a stereotype, racist and part of Hollywood's offensive depictions of Asian men |
| Long Duk Dong's defence | Played against stereotypes by getting the girl and partying; Hughes' decision to write the character defended by actor Gedde Watanabe |
| Long Duk Dong's actor's reflection | Didn't think the role was stereotypical or racist at the time, but recognised that the movie used the word "Chinaman" and that people had to be educated about what was offensive |
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What You'll Learn
Long Duk Dong's character is a racist stereotype
Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, is considered by many to be a racist stereotype. The character is an awkward, nerdy Chinese exchange student who speaks in broken English and uses American catchphrases. His first entrance in the film sees him hanging upside down from a top bunk, waggling his eyebrows at the female protagonist, and asking, "What's happenin', hot stuff?". At dinner, he is mystified by the food and uses a fork and spoon like chopsticks. His entrances are accompanied by the sound of a gong, and he gets drunk at the high school dance, ending up in a tree shouting, "Oh, sexy girlfriend!".
In 1984, when the film was released, some Asian-American groups criticised the character as stereotypical and racist, part of a long history of Hollywood's offensive depictions of Asian men. Asian Americans have long battled traditions of yellowface, the model minority myth, and white patriarchy. Long Duk Dong embodies many of the stereotypes that Asian men have been fighting on screen: the socially inept mute, or the lecherous but sexually inept loser. The character gave bullies new ammunition, with Asian Americans reporting that they were called "Donkers" and taunted with quotes from the film.
However, Gedde Watanabe, who is of Japanese-American descent, did not think the role was stereotypical or racist at the time. He has said that he was happy to get his first big paycheck and that there were limited opportunities for Asian actors. He has also said that the character played against stereotypes in certain ways, such as getting the girl and partying. In retrospect, Watanabe has said that he was “a bit naive” about the role and that it took him a while to understand how it affected people.
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The film promotes rape
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles has been criticized for its portrayal of Long Duk Dong, a Chinese exchange student who embodies several Asian stereotypes. However, another point of contention is the film's treatment of women and its alleged promotion of rape.
One of the main plot points of the film involves the female protagonist, Samantha, getting drunk at a party and being brought home by her crush, Jake Ryan. Jake says to another character, "She's drunk, I could violate her ten different ways, and she wouldn't know." This is seen as an "amazing opportunity" by the male character, who is a minor, and the film presents this situation as romantic.
The implication that a drunk, unconscious woman cannot consent and that taking advantage of her in this state is acceptable is highly problematic and promotes rape culture. The film also portrays women on their periods as "spaced-out, useless fools," further contributing to its misogynistic portrayal of women.
While some viewers have only recently recognized the rape implications, others have long considered the film horribly offensive. One viewer expressed gratitude that their mother prevented them from watching it as a teenager, calling the film "trash."
In conclusion, Sixteen Candles, a film that was released almost four decades ago, contains themes and portrayals that are highly problematic by today's standards. The film's treatment of women and its portrayal of sexual assault as humorous or romantic is unacceptable and contributes to a culture that normalizes and promotes rape.
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It's sexist
While the 1984 film Sixteen Candles has been criticized for its portrayal of the character Long Duk Dong, the film has also been called out for its sexist depictions. The film has been described as "insanely sexist" for its portrayal of women on their periods as "spaced-out, useless fools." Additionally, the film has been criticized for promoting rape culture. For example, one scene depicts a male character giving away his drunk and unconscious girlfriend to a minor with the line: "She's drunk, I could violate her ten different ways and she wouldn't know." This scene has been interpreted as normalizing sexual assault and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about masculinity.
Sixteen Candles has also been criticized for its portrayal of gender dynamics and the objectification of women. One review noted that the film follows the trope of a "nerdy girl getting the popular hot guy," reinforcing the idea that women should aspire to be with popular or desirable men. The film has also been accused of objectifying women and reducing them to their appearance.
The film's treatment of its female protagonist, Samantha, played by Molly Ringwald, has also been criticized. One review noted that Samantha's dream man was a "COMPLETE jerk," suggesting that the film promotes the idea that women should aspire to be with men who treat them poorly. Another review pointed out that Samantha's storyline revolves around her crush on a popular boy, while her sister's wedding and her 16th birthday are overshadowed. This criticism highlights the film's focus on female preoccupation with romance and male approval, which reinforces gender stereotypes and minimizes the importance of female agency and personal milestones.
While the film has been praised for its performance by Molly Ringwald and its soundtrack, these sexist portrayals have led some viewers to find the film dull and uninteresting. The film's normalization of sexism and its lack of well-developed female characters have been cited as reasons why the film has not aged well and is no longer considered a classic by some audiences.
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It's outdated
The 1984 film "Sixteen Candles" has been criticised for its portrayal of the foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe. The character has been described as a "quintessential Asian stereotype", with broken English, a heavy accent, and a lack of familiarity with American culture.
The film has been called "outdated" due to its portrayal of racial stereotypes, which were more common in media during the time of its release. In the years since, there has been a growing awareness of the harmful impact of such stereotypes, and a push for more accurate and diverse representation in media.
Watanabe has reflected on the role in recent years, acknowledging that he did not initially view the character as offensive or stereotypical. He has stated that he was simply happy to have a well-paying role as an Asian actor in Hollywood. However, he has also expressed that he now understands the criticism, and recognises the importance of multi-dimensional characters for Asian actors.
The film's writer-director, John Hughes, has also been criticised for perpetuating racial and gender stereotypes in his other popular films set in American high schools, such as The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. These films have been accused of promoting a standardised image of high school life, with stock characters that do not reflect the diversity and complexity of real-life students.
While "Sixteen Candles" may have been considered a classic coming-of-age comedy when it was released, it is clear that its portrayal of certain characters and themes has not aged well and is now seen as offensive and insensitive by modern audiences.
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It's offensive
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its portrayal of the foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe. The character has been described as a "quintessential Asian stereotype", with his broken English, heavy accent, and mystification by Western food and customs. His every entrance is accompanied by the sound of a gong, and he is portrayed as socially inept, lecherous, and sexually inept.
The character has been accused of perpetuating racist stereotypes about Asian men, and Asian-American groups have decried the character as offensive and harmful. The character's portrayal has had real-life implications, with Asian-American men reporting that they were taunted with quotes from the film and called derogatory names like "Donkers" and "Donger" at school.
Some have argued that the film, written and directed by John Hughes, promotes a one-dimensional and offensive image of Asian men, contributing to a long history of Hollywood's offensive depictions of this group. The film has been described as "insanely sexist" and promoting rape culture, with the male lead giving away his drunk and unconscious girlfriend to a minor with the line "She's drunk, I could violate her ten different ways and she wouldn't know".
While the actor Gedde Watanabe has defended his decision to take on the role, reflecting that he was happy to get his first big paycheck and that it didn't occur to him that the character was a stereotype, he has also acknowledged that the movie used offensive language and that people had to be educated about the parameters of offensive content. In retrospect, Watanabe realised he was “a bit naive” about the impact of the film, and the ways in which it would affect people.
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Frequently asked questions
The film "16 Candles" has been criticized for its portrayal of the foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, as a racist stereotype. Long Duk Dong is an awkward, nerdy Chinese exchange student who speaks in broken English and uses chopsticks to eat. While some viewers have found this character offensive, Gedde Watanabe has stated that he did not think the role was stereotypical or racist at the time, reflecting a lack of opportunities for Asian actors.
The character of Long Duk Dong has been criticized for perpetuating negative stereotypes of Asian men as socially inept or sexually inept losers. Asian Americans who grew up in the 1980s reported being called derogatory names inspired by the character and quoted his broken English lines.
Since its release in 1984, "16 Candles" has been re-evaluated and criticized for its portrayal of racist and sexist stereotypes, as well as its promotion of rape culture. While some consider it a classic 80s teen film, others find it unbearable and offensive. The film reflects both the progressiveness and the limitations of Hollywood representation at the time.
