The Quantum Reactor Episode 9: Techno Orientalism (with James Mendez Hodes)

Techno Orientalism is a problem that's plagued the sci fi genre for decades. Today, we're joined by James Mendez Hodes to discuss some of the films that suffer from it, some of the films that avoid it, and how the industry can learn from it going forward.

Films/Television Shows mentioned:

Blade Runner

Blade Runner 2049

Star Wars series

The Hidden Fortress

Sense8

Cloud Atlas

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Better Luck Tomorrow

Tangled

Big Trouble in Little China

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

James' Recommendations:

Moon Girl  and Devil Dinosaur

Cowboy Bebop

Carole and TuesdayJames Mendez Hodes Articles:

https://jamesmendezhodes.com/blog/2019/1/13/orcs-britons-and-the-martial-race-myth-part-i-a-species-built-for-racial-terror

https://jamesmendezhodes.com/blog/2019/6/30/orcs-britons-and-the-martial-race-myth-part-ii-theyre-not-human

James Mendez Hodes 3 Black Halflings Appearances:

https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/lets-hamilton-this-guy-systemic-racism-in-fantasy

https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/its-ok-frodo-i-actually-dont-see-height-systemic-racism-in-dd

https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/another-finger-on-the-racist-monkeys-paw-closes-with-james-mendez-hodes

https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/the-monks-monopoly-with-james-mendez-hodes

https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/punch-you-in-the-ki-a-guide-to-monks-with-james-mendez-hodes

Nute Gunray accent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD2gZ-2OI4I&ab_channel=JoTambor

Research Links:

https://thechloegong.com/2019/12/28/techno-orientalism-in-science-fiction/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/mb7yqx/cyberpunk-cities-fetishize-asian-culture-but-have-no-asians-blade-runner

https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/slavery-the-robot-and-orientalism-in-science-fiction-37635

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230101678_6

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/where-the-future-is-asian-and-the-asians-are-robots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8e8xtvElpQ&ab_channel=MaiaC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbqX53avv0o&ab_channel=YujinKim