Representing Themselves: International Students in the Creative Space

International students have often been subject to public, political, media and academic discus sion. In the public, political and media realms, international students have often been painted as backdoor migrants, cash cows whose international student fees feed the host nation’s economy and fund educational institutions, and the cause of a variety of national ailments ranging from unemployment to housing shortages to overcrowding (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2021). Meanwhile scholarship about international students often features their vulnerabilities across curriculum and wellbeing, and of late, an increasing focus on agency and advocacy (see articles in the Journal of International Students edited by Krishna Bista and Chris Glass [n.d.] by way of example). However, how have international students voiced their own experiences with people and cultures in destination sites? By weaving in work I have done on multiculturalism and cinema as a creative space, and my critical studies on international students, this chapter looks specifically at two diverse creative mediums where international students in Australia have found a space for (self) representation: on television and in theatre. In particular, this chapter looks at American based and Malaysian-born former Australian international student Ronny Chieng’s televi sion series Ronny Chieng: International Student, and the international student theatre event Act of Translation, whose cast is made up of international student performers narrating and relating their experiences in Australia. This chapter thus discusses the rich experiences of international students who use the creative realm to have entertaining, funny, poignant and honest conversations with audiences about their (multicultural) experiences with Australians, with Australian culture and with each other. This chapter, however, also acknowledges that while the international student voice is now making inroads into the creative space, it does so through conventional stereotypes as a way to engage with audiences. Before discussing inter national students and the creative artefacts featured, this chapter first highlights how creative work can be a canvas for reflecting on society.<p></p>