EP4: Why Asians Don’t Relate to Asian American Movies

Are Crazy Rich Asians and Everything Everywhere All At Once truly Asian movies, or are they just Western interpretations of Asian identity? In this episode of Pondering Pandas, Jayden and Ryan break down why these films made a cultural impact in the West but left many in Asia feeling disconnected. 

From the philosophy of nihilism to the pressures of Asian family dynamics, we explore how identity shifts for immigrants and why the Western and Eastern worlds view success, meaning, and self-expression so differently. Are Asian parents too controlling, or is it just collectivism at play? Why do Westernized Asians feel caught between two worlds? And does social media distort our perception of happiness and achievement? 

Join us as we dive deep into the clash between Western storytelling and Asian realities, unpacking what these films reveal about cultural expectations, generational shifts, and the search for meaning in an increasingly globalized world. 

 

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction 
01:00 - Are Crazy Rich Asians and Everything Everywhere All At Once really Asian movies? 
05:30 - Why these films didn’t resonate with audiences in Asia 
12:45 - The immigrant experience and identity struggles 
20:20 - Nihilism, existentialism, and the search for meaning 
32:15 - The pressure of family expectations in Asian cultures 
42:00 - Social media, success, and distorted self-worth 
50:30 - Breaking generational cycles & final thoughts