Tyler Brooks
The 1980s comedy Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its insensitive and offensive portrayal of women and people of colour. The film, written and directed by John Hughes, centres on Samantha Baker, an angsty teenager whose 16th birthday is forgotten by her family. While the film was initially praised for its portrayal of teenage culture in the 80s, it has since been recognised as promoting rape culture, sexism, and racist stereotypes. The character of Long Duk Dong, a Chinese exchange student played by Japanese-American actor Gedde Watanabe, has been particularly criticised for perpetuating racist tropes and stereotypes about Asian men.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the character | Long Duk Dong |
| Name based on | Male genitalia |
| Language | Barely speaks English |
| Only person of color | Yes |
| Imitation | The way he spoke was imitated in almost every scene |
| Actor | Japanese person playing a Chinese character |
| Entrance | Accompanied by the sound of a gong |
| Nicknames | "Chinaman" |
| Stereotypes | Socially inept, lecherous but sexually inept |
| Sexual assault | Orchestration of the sexual assault of a popular girl |
| Racism | Racist jokes |
| Sexism | Insensitive jokes about women |
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What You'll Learn
Long Duk Dong is a racist caricature
The sound of a gong accompanies each of his entrances, and people refer to him as a "Chinaman," call him dirty and weird, and make fun of his English. His character also embodies the stereotype of the "socially inept mute, or the lecherous but sexually inept loser." For instance, in his first appearance, he dangles from a top bunk, waggling his eyebrows at the female protagonist and saying, "What's happenin', hot stuff?"
Long Duk Dong became the new Asian American cliché for his generation, with real-life implications. Asian Americans who grew up in the second half of the 1980s complained that they were called 'Donkers' in junior and high schools and were taunted with quotes of Dong's stilted English lines.
While some may argue that the film was a product of its time and that societal norms have changed since its release, it does not negate the fact that the character of Long Duk Dong is a racist caricature. The continued insistence that this film is a "classic" despite its insensitive and unfunny jokes about people from other cultures is problematic and reflects how far Hollywood representation still has to go.
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Racist tropes and stereotypes
The 1980s comedy Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its use of racist tropes and stereotypes, particularly in its portrayal of Long Duk Dong, a Chinese exchange student played by Japanese-American actor Gedde Watanabe.
Long Duk Dong is depicted with several offensive stereotypes. Firstly, his name is based on male genitalia, and the character is repeatedly ridiculed for it throughout the film. He is the only person of colour in the movie, and his broken English is imitated and mocked in almost every scene he is in. Additionally, a gong sounds every time he appears on screen, and he is referred to as a "Chinaman" and called dirty, weird, and "a bohunk" (a slur for European immigrant labourers). His character has been described as "every horribly quintessential Asian stereotype rolled into one", perpetuating the cliché of the socially inept or lecherous but sexually inept Asian man.
The character of Long Duk Dong has been criticised for reducing Asian men to a one-dimensional joke and reinforcing Hollywood's stereotypical, racist depictions of Asians as emasculated side characters meant to be laughed at because they are "different" or "strange". The use of yellowface, the model minority myth, and white patriarchy in cinema has also been called out as problematic.
While some may argue that the film is a product of its time and that societal norms have changed since its release, others argue that it blatantly pandered to racist stereotypes even when it was made. The film has been described as insanely racist, with its treatment of Asian characters and casual use of racial slurs leaving a terrible taste in viewers' mouths.
In addition to the racist tropes and stereotypes, Sixteen Candles has also been criticised for its sexist portrayal of women and its treatment of consent. The film has been accused of promoting rape culture and normalising sexual assault and harassment.
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Racist jokes
The 1980s comedy Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its use of racist jokes and stereotypes. The film centres on Samantha Baker, an angsty teenager whose 16th birthday is forgotten by her family due to her sister's wedding. While the film was initially praised for its portrayal of teenage culture in the 1980s, it has since been recognised as insensitive and offensive, particularly in its treatment of women and Asian people.
One of the most problematic aspects of the film is the character of Long Duk Dong, a Chinese exchange student played by Japanese-American actor Gedde Watanabe. Dong is depicted with numerous offensive stereotypes, such as having limited English proficiency, using chopsticks instead of a fork and spoon, and being referred to as a "Chinaman". Additionally, a gong sounds every time he appears on screen, and his name is based on male genitalia. The character has been described as a running joke, reinforcing Hollywood's stereotypical and racist depictions of Asians as emasculated side characters meant to be laughed at because of their "difference" or "strangeness".
Furthermore, Dong's character is the only person of colour in the movie, and the other characters imitate the way he speaks in almost every scene he is in. The portrayal of Dong has been criticised for promoting racist stereotypes of Asian men as socially inept or sexually inept losers. The character's impact extended beyond the film, with Asian Americans reporting being called "Donkers" in schools and being taunted with quotes from Dong's stilted English lines.
While some may argue that the film reflects the societal norms and humour of the time, it is important to recognise that racist jokes, regardless of the era, can cause harm and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. As societal norms and values evolve, it is crucial to re-evaluate media through a contemporary lens to ensure that offensive content is not perpetuated or glorified.
In conclusion, Sixteen Candles contains racist jokes and stereotypes that have not aged well and contribute to a negative portrayal of people of colour, specifically Asian Americans. While the film may have been considered a classic in the past, it is important to acknowledge its problematic content and the potential harm it can cause to audiences, particularly young viewers who may not have the critical framework to recognise and reject these stereotypes.
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Lack of diversity
The 1980s comedy "Sixteen Candles" has been criticised for its lack of diversity and the offensive portrayal of its only prominent non-white character, Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe.
Long Duk Dong is a Chinese exchange student staying with the protagonist Sam's grandparents. His name is based on male genitalia, and he is the subject of repeated ridicule throughout the film. Every time he appears on screen, a gong sounds, and he is referred to as a "Chinaman," called dirty and weird, and mocked for his limited English. His character embodies a host of stereotypes about Asian men, including being socially inept and sexually inept. He is also the only person of colour in the movie, with all other characters being white.
The lack of diversity in "Sixteen Candles" is indicative of the broader issue of Hollywood's stereotypical and racist depictions of Asians and lack of representation for people of colour. The film reinforces the image of Asians as emasculated side characters meant to be laughed at because they are "different" or "strange."
The film's writer and director, John Hughes, has been criticised for pandering to racist stereotypes and contributing to the perpetuation of these harmful depictions on screen. While some may argue that the film reflects the societal norms of the time, it does not excuse the offensive portrayal of Long Duk Dong, which has had very real implications for Asian Americans who have faced taunts and bullying based on the character's stereotypes.
The lack of diversity and the offensive portrayal of Long Duk Dong in "Sixteen Candles" have rightfully been called out and criticised. While the film may have been considered a classic when it was released, it does not hold up under the test of time, serving as a reminder of how far Hollywood has come in terms of representation and the work that still needs to be done.
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Sexual assault and consent
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its treatment of sexual assault and consent. The film includes a subplot in which a drunk and unconscious girl, Caroline, is passed from one boy to another and then raped. The film's romantic hero, Jake Ryan, muses that he has "Caroline passed out in the bed upstairs" and that he could "violate her ten different ways if [he] wanted to". Jake then sends Caroline off to be raped by another character, the Geek, saying "be my guest". The film's treatment of this situation has been described as "repulsive and dangerous".
The film also includes a scene in which Samantha's underwear is shown to a group of boys who pay a dollar for the privilege, and another in which Samantha is felt up by her grandmother. While the latter scene may be played for laughs, any touching of private parts without consent qualifies as sexual assault.
The film's treatment of sexual assault and consent reflects the dominant cultural narrative of the time. In the 1980s, gang rape was considered a horrible crime, but only in the abstract when thought of as a crime perpetrated by strangers on a sober, virginal victim. The mainstream culture of the time did not have the same ideas about sexual assault when it was perpetrated by acquaintances, especially at parties where alcohol was involved. Sixteen Candles is not single-handedly responsible for the rape culture of the 1980s, but it did both reflect and help shape the social context in which it exists.
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Frequently asked questions
The film Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its stereotypical and offensive portrayal of its only character of colour, Long Duk Dong, a Chinese exchange student played by a Japanese actor. Long is depicted as socially inept, lecherous, and sexually inept. His every entrance is accompanied by the sound of a gong, and other characters make fun of his English.
The film has also been criticised for its treatment of women, with male characters talking about women's bodies and arranging the sexual assault of a popular girl. The film also makes light of consent, with one male character pursuing the main character despite her many rejections.
Viewers have responded negatively to the film, calling it "insanely sexist", "outrageously racist", and "incredibly dull". Some viewers have also pointed out that while the film may have been considered acceptable in the 1980s when it was released, it has not aged well and is now seen as offensive and inappropriate.
In a 2014 interview, Gedde Watanabe revealed that he imagined Long's future, where he owns restaurants and is well-known, suggesting that he envisioned a more fulfilling life for the character than what was depicted in the film.
