How activists in Asia have used Western pop culture in their protests
How activists in Asia have used Western pop culture in their protests
- August 8, 2025
- Jeffrey Wasserstrom, history and Long Institute affiliate, The World, Aug. 8, 2025 (Audio)
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From a song in “Les Misérables” to a hand gesture in “The Hunger Games,” these are just a couple of examples from Western pop culture that activists in Asia have hooked onto when protesting authoritarian governments, especially China’s. Jeffrey Wasserstrom [UC Irvine Chancellor’s Professor of history] has been looking closely at this phenomenon. … Wasserstrom spoke recently to The World’s Host Marco Werman.
For the full story, please visit https://theworld.org/segments/2025/08/08/how-activists-in-asia-have-used-western-pop-culture-in-their-protests.
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