Valerie Wu

Valerie Wu

Valerie Wu is a senior at the University of Southern California, where she is pursuing a double major in Narrative Studies and Law, History, and Culture, as well as a minor in Cinematic Arts. At Glimpse she specializes in analyzing global arts/entertainment, cultural diplomacy, and the Asia-Pacific region. Outside of Glimpse, she serves as a resident film critic at the Daily Trojan and previously conceptualized and wrote “Soft Power,” a biweekly column about transnational popular culture in relation to Chinese American identity. Originally from the Bay Area, she enjoys exploring Los Angeles and in particular, eating out at restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley.

wuvaleri@usc.edu

How the TV Show “The Americans” Represents the Russian Nuclear Threat

A “normal” American family may seem like the least likely framework for discussions about the politics of potential nuclear war.  The narrative choice of such a family, however, is clear once audiences are made aware that this “family” is merely ...

Video game adaptations reflect international focuses and concerns

A video game might not be one’s first thought when it comes to deciphering the intricacies of international relations. In fact, video games are often more associated with their role in popular culture as a means of entertainment. However, these ...

‘Big Hero Six’ showcases global cultural intersections

Although the animated Disney film Big Hero Six was released in 2014, viewers were able to return to the dynamic cultural city and landscape of San Fransokyo—a combination of “San Francisco” and “Tokyo”—earlier this summer. With the 2022 Disney+ series ...

South Korean webtoons bring Korean culture to new heights

“True Beauty,” “My ID is Gangnam Beauty” and “All of Us Are Dead” — if these titles sound familiar, that’s because they’re the names of television shows that have brought Korean culture to the forefront of modern entertainment. “All of ...

Western Media’s Portrayal of a Futuristic, Dystopian China is Harmful

SAN FRANCISCO — Imagine a futuristic city where robots prevail. Since the advent of imperialism, this futuristic and otherly view has often served as the popularized Western conception of Asia. This concept is known as Techno-Orientalism, a phenomenon that primarily ...

Why Educating The Next Generation of Leaders in Sino-American Diplomacy is Controversial

SAN FRANCISCO — Today’s media discourse surrounding the United States and China tends to capitalize on the political and economic turmoil between the two countries. This focus overlooks the importance of cross-cultural education in redefining the diplomatic relationship between both ...

Why China’s #MeToo Movement Matters

SAN FRANCISCO — Feminism in China is a polarizing issue, with the debate over the extent of women’s rights and empowerment often fraught with controversy. Chinese feminists. who are most vocal about women’s rights online, are often attacked by trolls, ...

Emily in Politics: How Netflix’s Portrayal of the American Tourist Impacts the United States’ Image Abroad

SAN FRANCISCO — In the television series “Emily in Paris,” Emily (played by actress Lily Collins) is a fun, upbeat and young American woman who arrives in Paris, ready to explore the city. At first glance, the Netflix show, released ...

Boba Diplomacy: Bubble Tea’s Influence on Taiwan’s Soft Power

For many Asian Americans, boba is a popular drink of choice. Boba, a tea-based drink with tapioca pearls, has become an iconic item in Asian American culture. The drink is often discussed in the popular Facebook group “Subtle Asian Traits” ...

Press Freedom in the Philippines Is Critical to Media Worldwide

Earlier this year, Filipino journalist Maria Ressa’s arrest became the focus of international attention. In an event that was later made the subject of the documentary “A Thousand Cuts,” Ressa and former colleague Reynaldo de Santos Jr were convicted of ...