Blog #1

1. How were you introduced to Asian popular culture?

I was first introduced to Asian popular culture when I was younger around elementary school age when a friend of mines introduced me to Sailor Moon. She had all the figurines of the characters as well as the theme songs to the anime series. I started to watch Sailor Moon because of her obsession with it. After that, I didn’t really watch anymore anime but as I entered college, my older sister and cousin recommended that I should watch Korean dramas because it was very good and addicting. Soon I started to watch Stairway to Heaven and realized that the dramas are really long and takes a lot of my time!


2. What aspects of Asian popular culture do you enjoy? For example, what are some of your favorite films, dramas, groups, etc., etc.?

I enjoy how Asian popular culture especially Korean dramas are sometimes so predictable yet very addicting to watch. I like how the dramas can somehow make me be in the moment with the drama allowing my emotions to take effect. I enjoyed watching Stairway to Heaven, Temptation of Wife, Angel’s Temptation, Smile, Honey and He’s Beautiful, although I must admit I do skip some of the parts to the dramas just because sometimes its too slow and I want to know the ending already.


3. What happens to you in the process of watching/listening/engaging in (different types of) Asian popular culture? How is it different from watching/listening/engaging in American popular culture?

While watching Korean dramas, my focus is the drama and nothing else. I like to fully pay attention to the drama since I have to read the subtitles. Sometimes while watching the drama I would get really mad and don’t understand why some of the characters would be so stupid and allow such things to happen. Watching the dramas made me realize that they like to get revenge on each other and there is always a love triangle, which I don’t understand either since it always seems like they are related somehow. Watching Korean dramas is different from watching or engaging in American popular culture because for me it seems like the drama causes more emotions out of me then American dramas. It is also different in that Korean dramas are more fantasy like.

4. What are some Asian popular culture blogs and sites you have found fun, helpful, or informative? Please provide links if possible.

The only site I really know for dramas is mysoju.com besides that I don’t think I know any Asian sites