An NYU-based art exhibit is looking at the evolution of Asian characters
An NYU-based art exhibit is looking at the evolution of Asian characters in U.S. comic books. Many such characters began as forms of xenophobic propaganda, and some are reflecting current U.S. perceptions of Asians. To learn more, guest host Allison Keyes speaks with William F. Wu, who collected the artwork on display, and Jeff Yang, who’s curating the exhibit.
The exhibit called “Marvels and Monsters: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics,” looks at how images of Asians that began as xenophobic propaganda have evolved and how such characters still define some American perceptions of Asians today. It’s on display at the New York University library through August 19th.
Read the entire NPR interview with science fiction writer William F. Wu, whose collection of comics is featured in the exhibit. Also, interviewed is exhibit curator Jeff Yang. He’s one of the editors of the book, “Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology.” His column, “Asian Pop,” appears in the San Francisco Chronicle.