Cultures transcending borders

Ryan Ke

Section 1

Week 7

            Jung-Sun Park’s article explains how rapid globalization has allowed Korean American youth to build their identity and community through the consumption of transnational popular culture. While it is clear that American media has spread beyond our borders, new technologies have also allowed Asian media to influence American culture. Park uses ethnographic studies to show that the accessibility of South Korean popular culture has allowed a way for young Korean Americans to connect with older generations and create a sense of belonging and community. In some cases, the prevalence of Korean media has spread to the larger society as well.

            I found this article interesting because it highlighted the reasons behind a phenomenon that I had noticed but had not quite thought about. Through this article, I see how this increased consumption of South Korean popular culture has spread to the larger population. I also agree that the motivation behind this consumption will shape and influence how Asian media is spread beyond Asian American youth. Is a similar phenomenon occurring with other Asian cultures? If no, why not, if yes, is it occurring for the exact same reasons?

Here is an example of a Korean movie that was shown in American movie theaters.