Narrating The Other: Cultural Appropriation and Misrepresentation in Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Abstract

Cultural representation in literary works is not merely a reflection of reality but also a site where identity, power relations, and social meanings are constructed. This study examines the representation of Asian identity through the concept of yellowface, focusing on how racial stereotypes and cultural misrepresentations are produced and negotiated in literary narratives. Using a qualitative approach with textual analysis, this research analyzes selected literary works that portray Asian characters through racialized representations. The analysis is guided by theories of representation, orientalism, and cultural identity to explore how yellowface operates as a mechanism that reinforces unequal cultural relations. The findings reveal that yellowface representations construct Asian identities through stereotypical visual, behavioral, and cultural markers that reduce diverse Asian experiences into simplified and exoticized images. These representations not only reproduce historical patterns of racial hierarchy but also influence how Asian identities are perceived within dominant cultural discourse. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that yellowface functions as a form of cultural appropriation in which dominant groups maintain representational authority while limiting the agency of marginalized identities. This study contributes to literary and cultural studies by highlighting the importance of examining representation as a political and ideological process rather than merely an artistic choice. By critically analyzing yellowface, this research emphasizes the need for more inclusive and culturally responsible approaches to representing Asian identities in literary works..