Creative Currents

American cultural exports have been embraced and welcomed throughout the Asia-Pacific. Sports such as baseball and basketball were first introduced to Japan and China, respectively, in the late nineteenth century, and musical genres such as jazz and hip hop have influenced musicians throughout the region. The glamour and excitement of Hollywood cinema have also made lasting impressions, including the early Art Deco-era Chang, a beloved silent drama filmed in the jungles of Laos and Thailand, and the present-day success of the Marvel Comics franchise, some of which has been filmed in China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

At the same time, the diverse peoples, cultures, and traditions of the Asia-Pacific have long offered a source of inspiration for creatives in the United States and spurred the imagination of American artists, filmmakers, and authors, such as Paul Theroux. Throughout the last two centuries, Americans have brought home with them various elements of Asian-Pacific culture, including literature, cuisine, religion, art, and dance. Immigrants and the growing Asian-Pacific American diaspora have infused them into American culture.