“Can a white person write a story about the Chinese labor corps?”
Yellowface follows June Hayward, a struggling writer in her 20s eclipsed by her former classmate, Athena Liu—a talented, charming, Asian American woman with a multi-book deal and a slew of awards and nominations.
As June attempts to revive a writing career that floundered before it began, Athena toasts to an exciting new TV deal, causing a freak accident that leads to her untimely death (who indulges in a pancake-eating competition after landing a Netflix deal?).
After Athena’s death, June steals her unpublished manuscript about the Chinese Labor Corps during World War I, adopting a pen name, Juniper Song, and rewrites the white characters to be more sympathetic. As her book skyrockets to bestseller status, the chaos that follows reveals the dangers of success. Athena’s ghost begins to haunt her with shivering reminders of betrayal, and the Asian American community confronts June of cultural appropriation. June, obsessed with her newfound success, denies these accusations.
R.F. Kuang’s narrative critiques the systemic inequities of commercial publishing by illustrating how privilege can distort both authorship and representation. This highlights the need for greater inclusivity of marginalized narratives, not just what will “sell best”.
As readers, we often put too much trust into the hands of our narrators to provide a complete picture, but Kuang deliberately spotlights how unreliable June’s narration is. As she grapples with guilt and denial, we consider how her privilege warps her understanding of the world around her. June’s denial spirals into a psychological unraveling, leading to hallucinations and confrontations with a ghost.
In a time when artificial intelligence tempts us to shortcut the creative process, Yellowface serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of our own genuine narratives. June’s descent into madness, characterized by hallucinations and the torment of Athena’s “ghost,” underscores the moral consequences of cheating.
Kuang ultimately pushes us to consider the effects of our own deceptions and emphasizes the value of authentic expression. Students often lose sight of how important their originality is and resort to AI. But by creating a supportive community that emphasizes our own authenticity, we will not only enrich our own experiences but also cultivate a deeper appreciation for the unique narratives we all bring to the table.