Edward Said, in his discussions of Orientalism, was quite furious – okay, pissed – with the exoticization and the Othering of people who aren’t from the West. When he was not brandishing his pen to write fiery opinions on the divide between the “exotic” Orient and the “dominant” Occident, he would literally be throwing stones in support of the Palestinian people. The stereotype of the “token Asian” isn’t just something you’ll find on TV or cinema; the Oriental is somewhat reduced and objectified by centuries of colonization, domination, and force. So everything “Asian” pretty much becomes a “token.”
Then again, let’s not squander a perfectly good rant on theorizations.
