Transnational Flows of Popular Culture and Asian American Youth

Reading Reflection #8

Melissa Elizalde

Section A01

May 17th, 2014

    A Response to "Korean American Youth and Transnational Flows of Popular Culture across the Pacific"

by: Jung-Sun Park

        This week I chose to write and discuss about Jung-Sun Park's article on Korean American Youth and Transnational Flows of Popular Culture. I personally find this topic highly interesting because I have participated in the consumption of South Korean popular culture through listening to Korean Pop music. This articles main focus was on the key role that Asian American youth play in facilitating the trans-pacific flow of pop culture that has been made possible through advances in technology. Although consumption of homeland culture is normal among recent immigrants, this article points out that there has been an increase in the consumption of homeland pop culture not only among recent immigrants, but also among 2nd and 3rd generation youth. Although this article didn't specifically reference the transnational flow of popular culture among different ethnic groups in the United States, I can personally attest to participating in the consumption of Mexican pop culture through watching Mexican films and listening to various forms of Mexican music. I can also agree that we are seeing an increase in the consumption of Korean pop culture among the younger Asian American generation. I personally have many Asian American friends who listen to K-pop and watch Korean dramas. Among this articles interesting points, I specifically enjoyed learning about the reasons behind the transnational flow of pop culture. I learned that the transnational flow of pop culture could be accredited to the lack of belonging that Asian American youth feel living in the United States. This lack of belonging thus leads them to consume their homeland pop culture in order to feel connected to a place/culture in which they belonged. Overall I enjoyed learning about this topic and would appreciate a discussion about the various types of international pop culture that are consumed by the students in our class.

                                                                                 Korean Pop group, EXO

Question 1: Have you experienced the increased consumption of Korean Pop culture among Asian American youth? Have you ever listened to K-Pop or watched Korean dramas?

Question 2: Do you feel like you belong in America? Why or why not?