A new PBS documentary “Seeking Asian Female” and its web series “They’re

A new PBS documentary “Seeking Asian Female” and its web series “They’re All So Beautiful” by producer Debbie Lum have sparked a new round of discussion in the Asian American community about the Asian Fetish, or the “yellow fever,” an attraction of Asian culture, things or people, specifically Asian women.

The documentary, airing on PBS May 6, explores the marriage of a white American Steven and his Chinese wife Sandy, who met through an online dating website. They married after Steven’s short visit to China despite being unable to understand each other’s language. In the film, Lum’s role transformed from a filmmaker to a translator and marriage counselor. She said it is an eccentric love story about the aging white man Steven and his obsession with marrying any Asian woman, and the young Chinese bride he finds online.

According to a Pew research survey last year, 36 percent of Asian female newlyweds married outside their race in 2010, compared with just 17 percent of Asian male newlyweds. Among all newlyweds in 2010, 28 percent were Asians, the highest of all races.

Neon Tommy spoke with Lum about her upcoming documentary here.