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Let's get more British Chinese/East Asians on TV, film, theatre & radio
Petition published by dtks888 on Aug 06, 2010
635 Signatures 
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Target: BBC, C4, ITV, C5, SKY, BAFTA, RNT, RSC, DCMS, ACE, SOLT, TMA, ITC
Region: United Kingdom
Web site: http://www.chinatownartsspace.com
Petition Background (Preamble):
The first recorded Chinese in the UK, Shen Fu Tsong, was a celebrated guest at the court of James II in 1685. The British Chinese/East Asian (BC/EA) community grew during the 20th century & at 1.6% is now the UK's 3rd largest minority.
Art is a mirror to life & everyone needs cultural affirmation. BC/EA people are not reflected adequately in mainstream TV, film, theatre or radio, so remain "culturally invisible". This impacts negatively on the British public, who end up with stereotyped misunderstandings of this particular cultural group, eg. always speak with foreign accents or are illegal immigrants selling dodgy dvd's!
BC/EA children & young people top every academic poll due to the importance of education in Confucian culture. However, they need positive BC/EA role models to value both sides of their cultural heritage, so they can better assimilate into British culture. Without BC/EA role models, they can sometimes feel culturally isolated, confused and undervalued. What a waste of human potential!
Why are the Welsh proud of learning 2 languages and have their own Welsh language TV/radio stations? Because that positively promotes their bicultural heritage. Why does rugby star Thomas, tennis star Navratilova or actor McKellen coming out gay have a positive effect for LGBT young people? Because cultural affirmation helps people feel they belong to society.
It's unacceptable that the vital, hard-working BC/EA community contributes taxes & 1.6% towards the total licence fee, subsidising everyone else's cultural needs, while commissioners, producers, directors, writers, casting depts etc, ignore BC/EA history & their long presence in the UK.
In the age of Obama, it's time for the UK to accelerate it's professed commitment to internationalism and diversity. It's time for positive change.
Art is a mirror to life & everyone needs cultural affirmation. BC/EA people are not reflected adequately in mainstream TV, film, theatre or radio, so remain "culturally invisible". This impacts negatively on the British public, who end up with stereotyped misunderstandings of this particular cultural group, eg. always speak with foreign accents or are illegal immigrants selling dodgy dvd's!
BC/EA children & young people top every academic poll due to the importance of education in Confucian culture. However, they need positive BC/EA role models to value both sides of their cultural heritage, so they can better assimilate into British culture. Without BC/EA role models, they can sometimes feel culturally isolated, confused and undervalued. What a waste of human potential!
Why are the Welsh proud of learning 2 languages and have their own Welsh language TV/radio stations? Because that positively promotes their bicultural heritage. Why does rugby star Thomas, tennis star Navratilova or actor McKellen coming out gay have a positive effect for LGBT young people? Because cultural affirmation helps people feel they belong to society.
It's unacceptable that the vital, hard-working BC/EA community contributes taxes & 1.6% towards the total licence fee, subsidising everyone else's cultural needs, while commissioners, producers, directors, writers, casting depts etc, ignore BC/EA history & their long presence in the UK.
In the age of Obama, it's time for the UK to accelerate it's professed commitment to internationalism and diversity. It's time for positive change.
Petition:
We, the undersigned, call on commissioners, producers, directors, writers, casting depts etc, working in mainstream arts organisations (BBC, C4, ITV, BAFTA, RNT, RSC etc) to create more regular British Chinese/East Asian (BC/EA) characters & documentaries, and cast more BC/EA actors & presenters on TV, film, theatre & radio. This would help redress the current woeful under-representation in the UK.
We, as internationally-minded, reasonable people - irrespective of race, colour or creed - call for the immediate implementation of inclusive casting/commissioning strategies to reflect the true diversity of the UK.
The first recorded Chinese in the UK, Shen Fu Tsong, was a celebrated guest at the court of James II in 1685. The BC/EA community grew during the 20th century & at 1.6% is now the UK's 3rd largest minority. BC/EA's work in almost every profession throughout the UK, yet still remain culturally invisible in the media.
Art is a mirror to life & everyone needs cultural affirmation. Why does the BBC show Eastenders alongside a Classic drama? To affirm both working class and upper / middle class life and experiences.
The majority of BC/EA's live and work in London; the first Chinatown was in Limehouse (East End); but there are no regular BC/EA characters or family on Eastenders. White, South Asian, Black, LGBT and disabled characters are represented - but no BC/EA. Why?
It's time to take urgent action, implement strategies to ensure equal opportunities and enable all arts organisations to embrace the enterprising BC/EA community. Only then will we, as a nation, reflect the cultural aspirations and values of London 2012.
We, as internationally-minded, reasonable people - irrespective of race, colour or creed - call for the immediate implementation of inclusive casting/commissioning strategies to reflect the true diversity of the UK.
The first recorded Chinese in the UK, Shen Fu Tsong, was a celebrated guest at the court of James II in 1685. The BC/EA community grew during the 20th century & at 1.6% is now the UK's 3rd largest minority. BC/EA's work in almost every profession throughout the UK, yet still remain culturally invisible in the media.
Art is a mirror to life & everyone needs cultural affirmation. Why does the BBC show Eastenders alongside a Classic drama? To affirm both working class and upper / middle class life and experiences.
The majority of BC/EA's live and work in London; the first Chinatown was in Limehouse (East End); but there are no regular BC/EA characters or family on Eastenders. White, South Asian, Black, LGBT and disabled characters are represented - but no BC/EA. Why?
It's time to take urgent action, implement strategies to ensure equal opportunities and enable all arts organisations to embrace the enterprising BC/EA community. Only then will we, as a nation, reflect the cultural aspirations and values of London 2012.
The Let's get more British Chinese/East Asians on TV, film, theatre & radio petition to BBC, C4, ITV, C5, SKY, BAFTA, RNT, RSC, DCMS, ACE, SOLT, TMA, ITC was written by dtks888 and is in the category Arts & Entertainment at GoPetition. Contact author here. Petition tags: british chinese, east asians on tv, film, theatre, radio
