ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Portrayal of East Asians in American film and theater

Okay, so you know how on TV and in movies, you see people who look different from you and your friends sometimes? Well, sometimes those people are from East Asia, which is a big area that includes countries like China, Japan, and Korea.

The way those East Asian characters are shown on TV or in movies can be important because it can affect how people think about them in real life. Sometimes they are shown as heroes or cool characters, but other times they are shown in ways that aren't very nice or fair.

For example, sometimes East Asian characters are shown as being really smart or good at math, which might sound nice, but it can also be kind of limiting because it makes it seem like that's all they're good at. Other times, they might be shown as being sneaky or untrustworthy, which is not nice at all and can be hurtful.

It's important that everyone, no matter what they look like, is shown in different ways on TV and in movies, and that they are portrayed in a fair and respectful way. That way, we can all learn about each other and understand that everyone is different and special in their own way!