Y2K Fashion in China

In America, the 20-year rule in fashion brought about the revival in low-rise jeans, tracksuits, baguette bags, and cargo pants in the past few years. Tiktok and Instagram spread the vintage fashion trend among America’s Gen-Z. Y2K fashion could not have been revived without thrift stores…

3 idiots, What’s behind the comedy?

3 idiots earned its success across the globe, and many agree that success is primarily due to the flawless actings, universal senses of humor, and the motivating plots such as the scene where Rancho safely delivered the baby with his creatively built equipment in…

Petrol Masculinity and the American Dream: Ford F150’s success in China

Ford F150 is the most successful Pickup in America. Coming in a variety of trims, it suits the occasion from construction sites and farms to Beverly Hills and Mulholland Drive. The iconic truck also appears…

Ancillary 7

I believe that Ethiopian food does not translate as well into America as other country’s food due to its difficulty being assimilated into American culture. Other cultures’ foods, such as Mexican food and Chinese food are easier to be “Americanized” because of the style they are eaten and the ingredients…

The Individualist Appeal of My Hero Academia to Americans

La Casa de Papel in Serbia

A small budget spanish show, La casa de Papel, was at the top of the netflix charts during quarantine resonating with people across the globe. The reason it resonated with so many people is because it touched upon financial hardships, anti-capitalism, and breaking the rules and…

The Cultural Values of Korean Barbecue

Food is the heart and soul of many different cultures. It is what brings people together, whether it be for celebrations or casual events. This idea of sharing experiences and bonding over food is why Korean barbecue has translated well across borders. People…

Hayao Miyazaki’s Criticisms of War

While some may argue that Howl’s Moving Castle did not translate well in the United States due to its perplexing storytelling, I would argue that it did not translate well, especially when it was first released, because of its anti-war messages. Many Americans were in…

Your Name’s success in Asia was its failure in the west

Your Name, Makoto Shinkai’s metaphysical love story about two body-swapping teenagers, is the highest grossing anime of all time. While it earned rave reviews and awards from Japanese commentators and the public, the film missed its…

Three Idiots Can Work Among American Audiences

I chose to look at how 3 Idiots translates to American media. Although the story involves three college students and the problems they and their peers face while trying to live a happy life, the American audience that has actually seen the movie…

Ancillary #7: The Under-hyped Miyazaki Film

Japanese and American reception of Hayao Miyazaki’s 1984 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Studio Ghibli’s honorary “first release”, has varied dramatically. Not only did the film enjoy widespread popularity during its original release in Japan…

Ancillary 7: Underlying Chinese Message in Zootopia

While cartoon films starring anthropomorphic animals are extremely common, Zootopia’s popularity in America is due to how the film talks about current issues, specifically prejudice and racial profiling, in a way that is easy to understand…

Japan and skateboarding

I believe that skateboarding translated so well because of its unique style that aligned with trends of the time. Skateboarding and style, or more specifically clothing, have always gone hand in hand. Even today, some of the most popular clothing trends such as baggy dickies pants and…

A juxtaposition of a game and society

My main perspective on why Squid Game translates well across borders is because I believe the…

Ancillary 7

The KonMari Method

Preliminary Thesis: While many claim that the enthusiastic acceptance of Mrs. Kondo’s book by American audiences is due simply to our excessive propensity to buy, I argue that the underlying reason for the mass popularity of her method is the semblance of…

Individuality in Isekai

Re:Zero is an anime that focuses on an otaku named Subaru, or a person who consumes Japanese entertainment through manga and anime, who is depressed until suddenly, he gets instantly transported into another world. To him, this is just like what he read in the anime and manga where the…

Ancillary 7

Even though he’s the world’s most famous athlete, many Americans would argue Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t translate well in the United States because of soccer’s backseat role to sports such as football, basketball, or baseball. Many would claim athletes like LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Mike Trout far…

South Asian Cuisine

Pizza, pasta, french fries, hot dogs, hamburgers — American cuisine is often described as bland, flavorless, and quite simply boring. South Asian cuisine has translated well across borders due to its unique combinations of flavors, aromas, and its enticing unique nature, which is extremely…

Gorbachev on Pizza

The dynamics involved in how well the commercial has translated to both the west and to Russia actually appear to me to be two sides of the same coin. Insofar as it relates to the west, this screams a further affirmation of victory in the Cold War and a chance to rub salt in the wounds — for…

Squid Game — not a localized phenomenon

I think that Squid Game has translated well in the United States. While many might argue that Squid Game translated well because of its’ shock value and memorability, I argue that Squid Game translated well the United States because it mirrors and symbolizes…

Ancillary #7

While some argue that the reason Final Fantasy X is such a beloved game in Japan and the US is because it strikes a chord in universal themes such as love, I argue the reason behind the game’s success is based on differences in cultural value where Final Fantasy X appeals to Japan in terms of a…

Ancillary 7

Thesis:

While many claim that 365 days translated well to the UAE because of its erotic sexual scenes and a handsome male lead, I claim that the critique of the lack of Emirati women’s freedom- embodied in the symbol of the kidnapping of female protagonist Laura and her…

Why “Squid Game” Was able to Climb to The Top in The US

Hit 2021 Korean survival drama “Squid Game” has become one of Netlfix’s top 10 shows. While Netflix and other streaming services have carried other survival games and Korean dramas alike, “Squid Game” comes as a sort of unprecedented…

Ancillary #7: The Exotic Nature of Congee

While some may say that the rice porridge dish congee is widely accepted by many Americans because of its flavorful impact using only simple yet palatable/universal ingredients, I argue that this Chinese staple is only seemingly enjoyed because of our…

More than a Beauty Pageant

While many claim that Miss Universe is mainly a representation of national pride and celebration of beauty, I would argue that for the Philippines, it brings a sense of victory and voice that sets apart a colonized history of deprivation of Filipino indigenous character, aesthetic…

Ancillary 7

Thesis: Some would argue that the movie Rio would not be well received by Brazilians because of how it portrayed the favelas and poverty; however I would argue that the movie tackled core political issues such as the growing issues of street children raising awareness and criticizing the government to do…

Squid Games

Films that consist of “survival games” have always been top hits in America and all over the world. Squid Games is a tv series about common children’s games played in Korea, which we know that k-dramas are also trending so there’s no surprise that Korean filmmakers made another top film. Squid Games is a…

Ancillary #7

Though there are multiple core reasons for explaining why BTS has been such a massive hit in the United States, the primary reason they have have been able to succeed so greatly is because BTS has been able to hone in on their ability to incorporate the cultural trends of our society, and in every single…