This essay really resonated with me. My mom started watching Asian dramas after visiting her family in Malaysia after an absence of many decades. I did the same after my own return to home home. It’s funny how me, the American, now recommends Chinese dramas to my Cantonese-speaking uncle in Malaysia. I ain’t waiting for Hollywood to eventually figure out that Asian perspectives can be central to tv and film.
I actually found very important life lessons about communication/miscommunication/insufficient communication aspects of the show My Unfamiliar Family very insightful and I later adapted the lessons I learnt there with rl situations. It turned out great tbh. We used to tip-toe around one another, but we all learnt later on that it was more comforting that though we couldn’t be perfect all the time, everyone in the family still had our back.
Like your mum, I hail from Malaysia and grew up used to Poh Poh watching her Cantonese dramas at 6pm each evening. I watched a few series over the years but never really got into the habit. Decades later, after many years in the West, it was the pandemic that caused me to accidentally stumble into the K-drama black hole. Apparently I wasn’t the only one — I discovered several old friends had done the same. I’ve had so much fun debating the merits of various dramas with friends around the world these past few years!
0
0
Modal title
Modal title
Modal title
Modal title
A verification email has been sent to your new email address.
Please click the link in that email to complete the email change process.
Modal title
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit,
sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna
tsutsuloo
March 17, 2021 at 4:00 PM
This essay really resonated with me. My mom started watching Asian dramas after visiting her family in Malaysia after an absence of many decades. I did the same after my own return to home home. It’s funny how me, the American, now recommends Chinese dramas to my Cantonese-speaking uncle in Malaysia. I ain’t waiting for Hollywood to eventually figure out that Asian perspectives can be central to tv and film.
NYTimes | March 16, 2021
How Chinese Dramas Helped Me Build a Relationship With My Sister
By Victoria Chang
After our mom died, I turned to her beloved pastime for comfort. It opened up a new way to communicate with my family.
mmmmm
March 17, 2021 at 6:06 PM
I actually found very important life lessons about communication/miscommunication/insufficient communication aspects of the show My Unfamiliar Family very insightful and I later adapted the lessons I learnt there with rl situations. It turned out great tbh. We used to tip-toe around one another, but we all learnt later on that it was more comforting that though we couldn’t be perfect all the time, everyone in the family still had our back.
tsutsuloo
March 20, 2021 at 9:47 AM
Brilliant. Pop culture’s important—it’s one of the main ways we learn to be people!
currypuff
January 22, 2022 at 7:20 PM
Like your mum, I hail from Malaysia and grew up used to Poh Poh watching her Cantonese dramas at 6pm each evening. I watched a few series over the years but never really got into the habit. Decades later, after many years in the West, it was the pandemic that caused me to accidentally stumble into the K-drama black hole. Apparently I wasn’t the only one — I discovered several old friends had done the same. I’ve had so much fun debating the merits of various dramas with friends around the world these past few years!