This document provides an analysis of postcolonial concepts portrayed in the 2018 film "Crazy Rich Asians." It identifies the objectives as examining how concepts like assimilation, hybridity, and subalterns are depicted. The methodology section outlines a qualitative case study approach involving contrapuntal reading of the film. Key concepts that will be analyzed include the characters' portrayal, conflicts, and how they represent Asian identity and community. In conclusion, the film effectively shows elements of cultural assimilation, hybridity despite the dominance of English, and ways different social classes and cultures view one another as subaltern.

1. POSTCOLONIAL ANALYSIS
“Crazy Rich Asia” Film

2. INTRODUCTION
"Edward Said stated
that
postcolonialism
discourse puts
"natural,"
presents human forms
in educational idioms
and methodologies,
assigns truth to
objects of their own
making."
(Al Mtairi, 2019)
"Colonialism is an
ideology of
colonial power that,
in addition to
together opposites as literary and cultural
representations,
works to assert
control over the
colonized nation in
the field of
language."
(Mignolo, 2014)
"Discourse has text
and context,
interacting with a
unified meaning by
those involved. A
discourse not only
consists of
grammatical verses,
but a discourse must
provide meaningful
interpretation for its
readers and listeners."
(Cook, 1992)

3. OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study is to examine how the
postcolonialism elements being portrayed through the movie Crazy Rich
Asians. Specifically, the study aims to:
1.Identify the postcolonial concepts such as assimilation, appropriation,
hybridity and subalterns in the movie.
2.Examine how these concepts are portrayed in the movie
3.Examine how the concepts help in understanding asians’ identity and
community.

4. METHODOLOGY
1. Research Design
"Qualitative approach - an
unfolding model that
occurs in a natural setting
that facilitates the
development of the details
of an occurrence through
the high involvement in an
actual experience of the
researcher ."
(Creswell, 1994)
"Acase study - as the
research in which the
researcher discover in
detail a phenomenon,
event, process or one
or more individuals."
(Creswell, 2003)

5. 2. Selection of sample/participants/texts
Discourse: ‘Crazy Rich Asian’ movie released in 2018,
directed by Jonathan Murray Chu
Focus
- western discourse
- view and resistance from the easterners
The movie portrays several significant postcolonialism
elements that can be analysed in depth which are assimilation,
hybridity and subaltern
The text units are in the form of narratives, dialogues between
narratives, commentary of the show’s characters behaviour,
thoughts and actions that express concerns about the way
orientalism and postcolonialism in the Crazy Rich Asian movie

6. 3. Data Collection Procedure
Data collection techniques - Contrapuntal reading, a type of reading
strategy proposed by Said. According to Said (1994), to gain a deeper
understanding and to analyse the colonialism elements in a text or
discourse, a reading strategy that is Contrapuntal Reading is needed.
In understanding a discourse or text, it is necessary to understand not
just what it is brought about by a text, but also the background
knowledge behind the text (Said,1
994).

7. 4. Data Analysis Procedure
Crazy Rich
Asians film
Aspects that being
observed throught the
film content analysis:
1) Characterization
2) Conflicts
Assimilation Hybridity Subaltern
Postcolonial elements in Crazy Rich Asians film

8. 1.Watch the ‘Crazy Rich Asian’ movie over and over again until a
comprehensive understanding is captured.
2.Record the narrative and events in the movie which shows the
elements of orientalism and postcolonialism are recorded.
3.Elaborate the elements found in the movie that are related with
Edward Said orientalism and postcolonialism theories.
Identifying the postcolonial concepts from the movie, the
researchers will identify aspects such as assimilation,
appropriation, hybridity and subalterns.
This usually happens in many forms such as values, ideology, behaviour, and
practices towards the minority groups that tend to adopt the culture from the
majority.

9. Characterization :Deals with how the charactersin the movie are described
10 features can be analysed from the antagonist and protagonist viewpoint in the movie
Dialogue between characters
The way the characters speaks
Physical appearance and feelings
Interaction between characters
The existence of static
characters
The development of static
characters
Observation of the types of
characters
Stand out quality
Stereotypes
Characteristics credibility of
character in the movie

10. Conflict
DESCRIPTION OF THE MAIN CONFLICT
WHETHER IT IS INTERNAL OR
EXTERNAL CONFLICT THAT OCCURRED
IN THE MOVIE
Q U E S TI O N S TO A S S I S T I N A N A LY Z I N G
C O N F L I C T I N M O V I E
Is it internal conflict where
the characters suffer
inwardly?
Is it external conflict which
caused by the environment
or surroundings the
characters find themselves
in?

11. 01 To achieve 3rd objective of
the study, Asian identity and
community are the aspects
that the researchers are
looking to identify.
02 Hence, an observation
towards the characters will
be important in identifying
this objective.

12. A S S I M I L A T I O N
C U L T U R A L
Cultural assimilation - adaptation or culture
resemble process of the dominant group's
values, beliefs, and behaviors by the
minority group

13. Chinese-American (her mother migrated from China to
America when she was young)
May look Chinese but she is an American in her mindset
She and her boyfriend (Nick Young) are living in the US but
Nick was originally from Singapore
Character Rachel Chu

14. Hugging policy
She assimilate the hugging culture from the west whenever meeting someone new. She hugged
Eleanor
, Nick Young’s mother
However, in Eastern countries, people seldomhug an unknown person or a person that we
have just met

15. Liquid in a servingtray
U.S.A. – drink it
Eastern Chinese community – wash hand (similar to Malaysian culture of
washing hands in a basin on the table before and after eating)
Example: Rachel was offered a fragrant water in a green glass bowl at
Nick’s grandmother’s gathering, she automatically picked up the bowl to
drink. Luckily her action was stopped by his boyfriend, Nick Young

16. Color of outfit
U.S.A (Westeners) – colour of outfits are not important
Chinese (Easterners) – colour of outfit matters – symbolize something & a sign
of respect
Example:White, black and blue outfits - for saddening occasions such as funeral
Bright colours (red, orange, yellow) - For auspicious occasions such as birthday
and wedding celebration
Red symbolizes good luck, prosperity and joy. Rachel’s mother advised her that her
choice of clothing is not suitable for that occasion as she chose blue and white
dress which both blue and white outfits are worn during funerals and are not
encourage to wear it during auspicious occasions

17. Assimilation of western culture by the easterners
Setting: Wedding Ceremony
Colin Khoo (Nick Young best friend) with Araminta Lee, the wedding ceremony, decoration,
attire
They use use Elvis Presley English song entitled “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” during
their wedding ceremony
The bride, bridegroom, best man and all the guests wore westerners’ outfits such as dress,
gaunt, tuxedo with suit and tie.
Slow dance, wedding dance, drink Champaign, wine
Setting: Party
bachelor party (Nick and Colin) were at, they party like the westerners where all their friends
conduct a disco party on an expensive yatch, popping Champaign with lots of sexy lingerie
girls partying together with them
The party is wild which can be seen in most of the America party where it involves lots of beer,
nudity, crazy dances and so on

18. Cultural Hybridity
Cultural hybridity - constitutes the effort to maintain a
sense of balance among practices, values, and customs of
two or more different cultures.
Spokenlanguage: English
• Nick’s relatives claimed to be pure Chinese and still embracing their culture through
making dumpling
• They always pick on Rachael for being a Chinese American by saying she is ‘too
American’
• However they all use English as their spoken language in their daily life There are
few scenes that show they are still using Chinese while joking or converse with Ah-
Ma, however they mainly use English to speak with each other

19. Character:Rachael Chu
She thought that Nick’s mom would like her since she a Chinese but her mom disagreed saying that
even though she looks and speaks like a Chinese, she grows up in America Eleanor emphasized this
fact while Nick trying to joke about Rachael being a Chinese Professor
Peik Lin also highlighted this fact while talking with Rachael regarding Eleanor’s behavior towards her in
which she thought Rachael as “banana”.This can be seen as below:
"right now she just thought you as
some undeserving, clueless, gold-
digging, trashy, unrefined banana,
yellow on the outside, white on the
inside."
Banana: is a slur for the East Asian or
Southeast Asian people who
considered to have abandoned their
Asian cultural identity and adopt the
Western cultural identity

20. Subaltern
Subaltern - figure of exclusionwhich
represents the specular opposite of
the citizen
Between Different Races
The White British hotel manager did not let Eleanor and her kids to stay at the hotel
Suggested that they stay at the Chinatown instead
Dominance of the Western ways and mind makes them think highly of their race and
position that people other than their race could not afford to be on their level

21. Same Race, Different Culture
1. Peik Lin’s father pointed out Rachael’s figure which is skinny and mentioned
that Americans are skinny because they starve themselves.
• This brings discomfort to Rachael – felt that he is mockingher
• Peik Lin’s father continued to mock until Rachael revealed her background,
he finally treat her better
2. Eleanor Young told Rachael that her mother is too American
• Rachel’s mother work hard to help Rachael pursue her passion
• Parents in Singapore, on the other hand are obsessed with shaping the
life of their children

22. Difference in Opinion
Eleanor Young puts in thought that it is a
privilege to drop out of Cambridge to get
married and raise her family.
However, she started to compare it to
Rachel’s mindset as she assumes that
Rachael might call it old fashion Eleanor
labelled Rachael as “ You Will Never Be
Enough”

23. Difference in Social Class
1.Amanda Ling and few of her friends tried to make Rachael feels bad for being with
Nick
Amanda told her that Nick’s mother preferred to make her as a daughter in law since
she was Nick’s childhood friend and share the same social status as them
2.During the wedding party, Eleanor has discovered the background information
regarding Rachael’s family and found out that her mother has ran away from the mainland
from her husband because she was pregnant with another man’s child.
• His family insisted them to break the relationship as this information will tint their
reputation

24. Conclusion
Postcolonialism elements such as hybridity, assimilation and subalterns in the Crazy
Rich Asian movie are obvious.
Cultural assimilation
-The westernculture towards the lifestyle of the people in the east. The cultural routines
that are usuallypracticed by one side might be considered as bizarre for the other side.
Hybridity
- The exposure that someone gets, shapes the personality of the person
Subalterns
-Superiority mindsetof not only the western people towards the Asians but it also happens
within the Asian community
The study of postcolonialism elementsis an effective method to get some insights
and comprehensive understanding of their lifestyle

25. Suggestions
More studies on postcolonialisms elements
should be conducted towards Asians in
more hollywood films.
The discourse on this subject could be
crucial to the understanding and awareness
of the viewers.

26. or your
attention
TH A N KY O U

27. References
Al Mtairi, N. (2019). Edward Said: Post-colonial discourse and its impact on literature. Education
and Linguistics Research, 5(1), 1-10.
Cook, G. (1992). The discourse of advertising (1st ed.). Taylor & Francis.
Mignolo, W. (2014).Colonial and postcolonial discourse: Cultural critique or academic
colonialism?. Latin America Studies Association, 28(3).
Creswell, J. W. (1994). Research design: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Sage
Publications.
Creswell, J. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods
approaches (2nd ed.). Sage Publications
Said, E. (1994). Culture and imperialism. Vintage Books.