@article{ART003398406},
author={Tianli Zhang and Ryoo, Woongjae},
title={The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives},
journal={Cross-Cultural Studies},
issn={1598-0685},
year={2026},
volume={79},
pages={311-353},
doi={10.21049/ccs.2026.79..311}
TY - JOUR
AU - Tianli Zhang
AU - Ryoo, Woongjae
TI - The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives
JO - Cross-Cultural Studies
PY - 2026
VL - 79
IS - null
PB - Center for Cross Culture Studies
SP - 311
EP - 353
SN - 1598-0685
AB - Contemporary popular culture has witnessed a growing production of transnational content that transcends national boundaries yet emphasizes regional characteristics. In particular, Asian American cinema has emerged as a distinctive narrative genre based on immigrant experiences and has expanded rapidly into Western mainstream markets over the past decade. Drawing on a postcolonial perspective informed by Edward Said's concept of Orientalism and Homi Bhabha's theory of cultural hybridity, this study examines the narrative strategies of four films— Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell, Minari, and Past Lives—focusing on their representations of East Asian images and cultural identities. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 Chinese and Korean audience members to explore the impact of these films on East Asian audiences.
The findings show that Asian American cinema exhibits postcolonial tendencies by representing East Asian cultures and lifestyles and by employing hybrid identities to challenge the white-centered power structure. However, these films continue to construct a binary opposition between Asia and the United States, positioning the U.S. as the center of opportunity and success through recurring representations of the American Dream. Meanwhile, East Asian audiences maintain a critical awareness of U.S.-centered cultural power while adopting a negotiated position toward the visibility and institutional recognition of Asian representations.
Overall, these findings reveal the ambivalence of glocalization, which foregrounds regional and minority identities while repositioning them within a U.S.-centered cultural order, thereby reinforcing the status of the U.S. as a cultural imperial power.
KW - Asian American Film;Orientalism;Cultural Hybridity;East Asian Audiences
DO - 10.21049/ccs.2026.79..311
ER -
Tianli Zhang and Ryoo, Woongjae. (2026). The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives. Cross-Cultural Studies, 79, 311-353.
Tianli Zhang and Ryoo, Woongjae. 2026, "The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives", Cross-Cultural Studies, vol.79, pp.311-353. Available from: doi:10.21049/ccs.2026.79..311
Tianli Zhang, Ryoo, Woongjae "The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives" Cross-Cultural Studies 79 pp.311-353 (2026) : 311.
Tianli Zhang, Ryoo, Woongjae. The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives. 2026; 79 311-353. Available from: doi:10.21049/ccs.2026.79..311
Tianli Zhang and Ryoo, Woongjae. "The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives" Cross-Cultural Studies 79(2026) : 311-353.doi: 10.21049/ccs.2026.79..311
Tianli Zhang; Ryoo, Woongjae. The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives. Cross-Cultural Studies, 79, 311-353. doi: 10.21049/ccs.2026.79..311
Tianli Zhang; Ryoo, Woongjae. The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives. Cross-Cultural Studies. 2026; 79 311-353. doi: 10.21049/ccs.2026.79..311
Tianli Zhang, Ryoo, Woongjae. The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives. 2026; 79 311-353. Available from: doi:10.21049/ccs.2026.79..311
Tianli Zhang and Ryoo, Woongjae. "The Representation of East Asian Cultural Identity and Audience Reception in Asian American Films: Focused on Chinese and Korean Immigrant Narratives" Cross-Cultural Studies 79(2026) : 311-353.doi: 10.21049/ccs.2026.79..311
