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

Mukbangs and Morality: China’s Crackdown on Food Waste

An influencer sits in front of a table. Beside her are dozens of baby back ribs, a whole rack of lamb and a large bowl of noodles. In front of her is a large plate of shrimp, and surprise: another ...

Fandoms and Foreign Policy: The Impact of K-Pop on Global Politics

19,000 seats, with more than two-thirds empty — this was the scene at President Donald Trump’s June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This poor turnout was largely attributed to the organizing efforts of K-Pop fans in the digital space, who had ...

Made in Taiwan: The Cross-Strait Politics of Public Health

“Made in Taiwan” — this label, seen affixed to the front of masks worn by White House senior staffers, has become a fundamental symbol of Taiwan’s soft power amid the COVID-19 pandemic. James Pasley of Business Insider reported that the ...

Popular Culture and Politics: Evaluating the Implications of China’s Celebrity Soft Power

China’s soft historical and current approaches to soft power have been characterized by state-sponsored media programs, the establishment of Confucius Institutes and the policy implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Soft power, a term coined by American political scientist ...