How does one understand media through cultural barriers?

Fresh off the Boat is new comedy on ABC based off a memoir with the same title by Eddie Huang. The hilarious first season, follows the Huang’s relocation from Washington D.C to Orlando, FL as they attempt to open a steak restaurant in the pursuit of the “American dream”. What makes the story so interesting and entertaining is the culture clash that the family experiences when moving from the north to the south. Furthermore, the first season takes place between 1995-97, right at the cusp of the internet revolution. Eddie, the main character of the show, is a pre-teen struggling to assimilate to his new high school. To make matters worse, his parents are struggling to assimilate into their own new surroundings. Although new media, such as the internet, cell phones and iPod are now used in place of traditional media. Teens ages 12-17 continue watch an average of 12 hours of television per week ( Brown et al., 2009, p. 12) and listen to 16 hours of music per week (Brown et al., 2009 p, 12). One could assume that 20 years ago, traditional media consumption among teens would have been even higher and even more important than today.

In episode 3, Eddie struggles to fit in with the kids at school. He doesn’t wear Jordan’s and  eats traditional Taiwanese food, and as a result is treated like an outsider by the other kids. Eddie wants to learn how to fit in, so he pops in his cassette tape of rapper Old Dirty Bastard (ODB) for inspiration. The ODB song Eddie listens to, features scantily clad booty shaking woman around him while he raps and throws money in the air. ODB’s music is similar to a lot of rap music and other traditional media, it portrays sexuality or some sort of sexual behavior, however the sexual actions often lack consequence (Brown et al., 2009, p. 12.

 In reading, Can media promote responsible sexual behaviors among adolescents and young adults?  Delgado and Austin posit that parents play a crucial role in their children’s sex education ( p.407). I would contend that parents are crucial, however they can hinder a child if they live in an area that differ from own culture and values. Eddie believes that he needs to find a really hot girl so that he can be cool. To go about this, Eddie uses ODB as inspiration. He attempts to woo Honey, his mother’s friend. In one scene, he attempts to “make it rain” on her by showering her with coupons from his dad’s restaurant and asks her to dance a little. Eddie does not understand that he is degrading this woman and treating her like a stripper. ODB does it, and that his is American inspiration. Most of readings this week focused on youth and sexual health. We learned that teens can be influenced by media content and that certain pre and post intervention can be effective in changing their behavior. I would argue that pre intervention and post intervention techniques are even more crucial for those who lack understanding due to cultural barriers. I also wonder whether or not there is exists research regarding sexual health and first generation citizens or immigrants.

Brown, J. D., Keller, S., & Stern, S. (2009). Sex, Sexuality, Sexting, and SexEd: Adolescents and the Media. Prevention Researcher, 16(4), 12-16.

Delgado, H. M., & Austin, S. B. (2007). Can media promote responsible sexual behaviors among adolescents and young adults?. Current opinion in pediatrics, 19(4), 405-410.

Khan, N., Kasdan, J., & Mar, M. (2015). The Shunning [Television series episode]. In Fresh off the Boat. Orlando, FL: ABC.