1. Why is the film considered controversial?

What upset(s) some viewers ~ on a (conscious taste) narrative level, on a(n unconscious) political/cultural level? 2. How are the characters 3-dimensional? Make specific notes. Ben- starts out as a typical non-first generation Asian model minority student. As the movie progresses, we see the different emotions that Ben feels. They seem to be the typical feelings that every normal high school student feels. The pressure and stress that come from exceeding within school, work, and relationships. Ben's stress is further amplified because he is an Asian minority. The audience can see the effect that being an Asian affects Ben when he is a bench warmer on the school basketball team and one of Ben's friends says that everyone already gets the impression that he is on the team 3. What about the films industrial context, enabled Lin to make Better Luck Tomorrow (the way that he did)? 4. How is this film effective what makes it work, as a film in general and also as an Asian American film specifically? 5. How does this film play with the model minority myth? ~ In what specific ways does BLT deconstruct, defy, or even destroy the model minority myth, and what does it replace it with (remember Loni Dings strategic call to displace not merely replace stereotypes). The film starts out with by defining the model minority myth by showing what Ben does to prepare for his college application. In the beginning Ben can be described as the model minority. He works hard at a part time job to increase his chances for getting accepted into a good college. Ben also works hard to get good grades and studies to get a perfect score on the SAT. Ben in the beginning is also portrayed as an overachiever because of all of the accomplishments that he has achieved not only at his job where he is the employee of the month for the last four months, but also at his school regarding his grades and SAT prep. Ben even goes so far as to working hard towards his basketball dreams constantly finding time to practice even with his already busy schedule. But as the movie follows Ben's daily life, it is revealed that Ben seems to be a model minority only on the surface. Ben uses his model minority status to participate in criminal activities. Ben starts hanging out with the other Asian American 6. What can you identify as comprising an Asian American independent media ethic? (Remember Loni Dings advocacy/call for strategy, for example.) 7. Take notes of how, stylistically and aesthetically, Asian American characters are cool 8. Does it make a difference to you to know that the director and writer are Asian American men? Why? They are the ones that can relate the most to the characters because since they are the