Asian Heritage Month is the perfect time to learn more about Asian-American/Canadian culture through your preferred arts, media, and flavours.
Film & Television
Over the last few years, Asian communities have been given more opportunities for authentic representation in film and television. Below are a few links to stories explaining the impact that casting and storytelling in mainstream media has had on Asian communities:
- ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is going to change Hollywood. It’s about time. Time (2018): Link.
- Seeing ‘Didis’ on screen: What South Asian representation on Bridgerton means to the diaspora. The Star (2022): Link
- Pixar’s Turning Red: Adolescence, Asian family dynamics and diversity. Cold Tea Collective (2022): Link.
Books [Source: https://www.cbc.ca/books/17-canadian-books-to-read-for-asian-heritage-month-1.5135252]
To celebrate Asian Heritage Month, CBC Books has curated a list of 17 novels, nonfiction, comics and children’s literature by Canadian writers with Asian ancestry.
Included on this list is Chop Suey Nation by Ann Hui, which includes honourable mention and interviews with the family behind Thunder Bay’s own Ling Lees restaurant.
Fun fact: “Chinese food” as we know it in small-town Canada is not authentic Chinese food. To quote Hui:
“It’s a food that was created out of discrimination and racism and ingenuity and creativity. It tells such a fascinating part of our history here in Canada.” – Ann Hui
Read the full article on CBC’s website for the list of all 17 recommended books.
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