Bling Empire: Reality TV and Asian American Identity

 Bling Empire | Netflix Official Site

I am not a fan of reality television, but I do understand the appeal, and this show used the success of popular Asian culture. The popularity of Crazy Rich Asians or even the Kpop idols. The popular entertainment of wealthy voyeurism drove the creation of this show. 

I think the creation of this show does fall into a niche of popular Asian culture, but it does ignore many of the other aspects of Asian culture. It's hard to relate to these extremely wealthy individuals, and it's easy to overlook the hardships of Asian identity with shows like this. 

I didn't feel like this show was any different from other reality shows. The format was the same, and the individuals and conflicts just reminded me of the Kardashians or Real House Wives. I've only seen bits and pieces of these shows, but the energy and format felt familiar.  I'm still not a fan of reality television, and this show didn't change my mind, but it is interesting to see this small part of Asian culture.

Comments

  1. AmyMarch 21, 2021 at 10:10 PM

    According to the reading the power of this show is in the fact that it is so similar to other reality shows. They made it with an all Asian American cast but did not change the genre conventions at all. What we're left with is a typical reality show and that is its most subversive element.

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