Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Immigrants and Their Descendants in Argentine Audiovisual Popular Culture

Abstract

For the past 40 years, immigration from China, Japan, and Korea has steadily grown bringing approximately 200,000 immigrants to Argentina. With an increase in the national population, questions of adaptation and integration into Argentine society are raised. To what degree are new immigrants affecting Argentine popular culture? Are there heavy Asian influences in the way characters are developed or how Asians are portrayed in film and television? This paper seeks to investigate the cultural presence of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean immigrants and their descendants in Argentine audiovisual popular culture. Research was carried out through the analysis of Argentine films, television programs, and YouTube video clips that portray Chinese, Japanese, and Korean persons. It was found that Argentine popular culture includes programs and films related to Japanese anime, Korean pop music, and Chinese characters and are accustomed to seeing actors of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean descent in main and supporting roles both in film and television. As Chinese, Japanese, and Korean immigrants continue to move to Argentina, their role in shaping and defining Argentine popular culture has become more prominent.