Chinese American Narratives: Reclaimed by Indie Publishing

About the Project - Written by Zena Airale

Step into a world where media shapes identities and narratives—where stories are not just told but lived. Imagine a journey through time, exploring the evolution of Chinese American representation in media, from early stereotypes to nuanced narratives. Since 1815, Chinese Americans have grown up in a world where the media they watch, read, and create shape how they see themselves and others. Finding ways to talk about these experiences in a way that normalizes and humanizes them is essential. In my capstone project, “Chinese American History: Reclaimed by Indie Publishing,” I dive deep into how media representation and cultural identity have changed for Chinese Americans.

My interest in documenting marginalized communities began in middle school where I explored independent publishing within digital platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Kickstarter, discovering a vibrant community of girls (and now nonbinary individuals) challenging mainstream narratives and reclaiming their stories in the gaming industry, expanding from just entertaining themselves—being seen rather than heard. In high school, I discovered fan communities that opened my eyes to the wide range of creative possibilities within media, especially in terms of representation and identity. It was through these communities that I became deeply interested in exploring how media shapes our understanding of ourselves and others, particularly within marginalized communities like Chinese Americans. While progress has been made from the initial stereotypes and stigmas from the 19th century, challenges such as authenticity and cultural appropriation persist. However, the democratization of media production through digital platforms has empowered marginalized voices. Yet, the scattered nature of these narratives online makes it challenging for audiences to grasp their depth fully.

This is where my project comes in. It is heavily influenced by the Convergence Culture theory (that explores the blurring boundaries between media and its consumers) and the Narrative Paradigm theory (focuses on the role of storytelling and shared narratives in shaping human communication and understanding). Effective knowledge sharing and transfer especially for underrepresented communities, is greatly enhanced through peer-reviewed content and communication that draws upon and uplifts shared personal experiences and discoveries and is additive to scholarly research and professional publications and offerings. Online communities dedicated to ethnic studies should draw inspiration from concepts such as transmedia storytelling, mass media, and convergence culture. These communities—utilizing ideas from platforms like Wikipedia, Facebook, Tumblr, Archive of Our Own, Internet Archive, and Discord—offer spaces for individuals to connect, validate their experiences, and collaboratively construct a comprehensive understanding of their shared interests or concerns.

In preparation for this website, I examined existing literature on media representation, cultural identity, and the impact of digital platforms on marginalized communities. Through this research, I explored the evolution of Chinese American representation and authorship, from caricatures and stereotypes to authentic and nuanced portrayals. I also inspected case studies of successful indie publishing projects and campaigns, examining their strategies for conveying personal reflection and historical fact, and navigating challenges like cultural appropriation, over generalization, and authentic knowledge sharing. In discovering these success stories, my website aims to inspire and empower other marginalized communities to reclaim their narratives through independent content creation, as well as creating a space for dialogue and understanding across cultural boundaries.