Goonies and Stereotypes

The 1980’s movie The Goonies presents itself as a cultural artifact in today’s pop culture.  If you have not seen The Goonies then you missed out on a great film.  The movie features a gang of friends, “the Goonies”, looking for long lost treasure.

                The movie creates a certain "Asian" stereotype supported by the character Richard Wang, played by actor Jonathan Ke Quan.  Richard is the only Asian in the film.  Aside from being the only Asian he is also the only “non-white” character, bringing emphasis to his diversity among the other kids.

                Specific stereotypes circulate around those who appear Asian.  These traits often include being extremely smart, nerdiness, cleverness, cunning, sly, slightly odd or out of place, strict parents, socially awkward, asexual (males) and speaking broken or heavily accented English.

                In The Goonies Richard Wang embodies many of these assumed traits.   Before Richard gets a chance develop as a character the audience learns of his nickname.  Richard “Data” Wang.  The nickname “Data” primes the viewers to think of math and science related subjects.  Richard can be envisioned as the human calculator.   The assumption that the sole Asian character is smart has already been planted.  Playing into the genius role even more, “Data” invents numerous gadgets and contraptions that allow the Goonies to navigate their way out of sticky situations.  The collection of devices includes “pinchers of peril”, “punch out”, “octo-blaster”, “slick shoes” and “bully blinders”.   All of these gizmos are hidden underneath the long trench coat Richard wears throughout the movie.  The stealthily concealed gadgets give “Data” the cunningness that many Asian characters are expected to portray.  “Data’s” slyness comes in handy, abrupting the villains going after the Goonies never know what’s going to abrupt them next.  The audience cannot predict when “Data” will come in with the clutch to help out his friends.  Michael Omi would support these scenes with the statement that “Asians are seen as sneaky and cunning.” 

 

                Omi’s quote “Asians are usually cast as the role of sidekick or kung fu master” depicts Richard.  His inventions are a way for him to be the sidekick, helping out the leaders when they run into trouble.  They also label him as role of a type of kung fu master.  Richards’s role in the film involves mostly his inventions and how the bog down the bad guys in the nick of time.  This mimics the kung fu master defeating the criminals.

                A second stereotype supported by the character “Data” comprises of the broken and heavily accented English.  “Data” English contains a heavy accent and the words are broken up.  His sentences do not flow the way the other character’s do.  Richard’s friends even have a difficult time understanding what he is trying to say.  Richard must repeat what he is attempting to express numerous times before one of the friends finally grasps it.  This is considered humorous especially in the scenes when “Data” tries to warn the gang that the villains are coming.  The stereotype of the poor English encourages laughter at those trying to learn the English language.

                “Asians are seen as asexual” cast the final stereotype represented through Richard.  Richard is the only boy in the film who does not express at least a little interest in the older girls.  The other guys flirt and show off trying to impress the ladies while Richard is too into his gadgets to pay the girls any attention.  The “white” boys repetitively attempt to romantically interest the girls even after constant denial.

                The stereotype of the Asian male becomes apparent in many cultural artifacts.  The portrayal created must be looked at carefully, as with all racial stereotypes.