Stereotypes are bad, right?  I mean, no one wants to be put into a box and labeled.  However, for some composers who work within the realm of film, stereotyping is seen as being beneficial, in both a business sense AND a personal sense.  



Timo Chen recalls that he once landed a gig with an Asian American director who "believed that, being of Chinese descent, I had [probably] been taught the values of frugality and therefore would not go over budget."  Additionally, Sujin Nam encounters a similar situation whenever her Jewish agent calls her before anyone else when he find some Asian-related projects.  Nam says that she "welcomes it" and that "it [has] never bothered [her]."  She figures that "being Asian is often regarded as being smart, hip, fashionable, tech-savvy and even philosophical", so why should it trouble her?  



These are only a couple of cases in which stereotyping was viewed in a positive light.  So, we cannot just come to the conclusion that all Asian/Asian American film composers are okay with being put into a box for the sake of the job.  However, the idea these two instances raise is that sometimes, while driving down the road of success, cultural pride and integrity may take a backseat in the process.



Another factor that plays into stereotyping is the fact that since most people of Asian descent are hired together on the same projects, it seems as if Asian/Asian Americans are on this journey of success together.  A direct quote from Chen goes to show this is true for some of those who work within the field of film: "We all stick together and it is a fun journey."  Perhaps once they really reach the top visibility level, like that of John Williams, James Horner, and Hans Zimmer, all of the stereotyping will have been worth it, because they got there together, and the place they've ended up is ultimately where they've aimed to be-- successful.



Source: 



http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/magazine/issue-18-action/fighting-music

Stereotypes