EDNA AIZENBERG (1945-2018) IN MEMORIAM

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HÍBER CONTERIS (1933-2020): IN MEMORIAM

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

Beginning in the 1970s, immigration from China, Japan, and Korea has steadily grown bringing approximately 200,000 immigrants to Argentina. With ethnic Chinese, Japanese, and Korean persons adding to the growing national population, are non-Asians Argentines aware of these new immigrants? To what degree are Asian cultures depicted in 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 cuisine, Korean pop music, and Chinese characters. The majority of Argentines 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