In the past few years, the United States has seen an increase in Asian-led American films such as seen in Crazy Rich Asians, Minari, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Furthermore, Americans have shown a great interest and love for international Asian film and television such as Parasite and Squid Game. 

However, there is still much to be desired when it comes to Asian representation in Hollywood. Asian characters in American film and television, more often than not, live in "racialized spaces" where a majority of the characters they interact with are Asian, and the stories that they're in are exclusive to the Asian experience. Although these stories are valuable, they create an "othering" effect for audiences. "Wow, look how different they are!" Asian-Americans in film are more often seen as Asian rather than Americans. These views are modern examples of Edward Said's theories on "orientalism."

This petition is not for doing away with on-screen depictions of Asian and Asian-American specific culture, because it's important to have this represented and educate the masses. However, I would like to implore Hollywood to cast Asian actors in roles that aren't specific to their culture. We'd like to see an Asian action hero that's not a martial arts film. We'd like to see Asian astronauts. We'd like to see Asian superheroes. We'd like to see Asian-led comedies. We'd like to see Asian-led dramas. We'd like to see more Asian-characters as relatable. Any audience member, regardless of ethnicity, should be able to see themselves in that Asian protagonist. 

By casting more Asian-Americans in media, we'll do away with the current notion that Asian-American led films are exotic. I'd like nothing more than to normalize seeing Asian-Americans in Hollywood.