Shi, Y. (2005). Identity Construction of the Chinese diaspora, ethnic media use,

    community formation, and the possibility of social activism. Continuum: Journal of

    Media & Cultural Studies,19(1)18. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from Communication

    & Mass Media Complete database. (Document ID: 16236681)

Yu Shi is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Iowa. In her essay, she studies Chinese diaspora members who are residing in America and the influence ethnic media has in their lives.

            Shi claims that ethnic media plays a constructive rather than a reflexive role in the creation of culture. She believes ethnic media re-links cultures to places and lead to rediscoveries of cultural practices. Her study also shows that many Chinese students and professionals in America experience uncertainty and paradoxes while refining their cultural identities.

The author concludes from her study that watching Chinese ethnic media does not cause or support social activism. She also discovered that members of the Chinese diaspora appear to have fragmented cultural identities. Shi explained that the border-crossing ethnic media consumption demonstrates the blurring distinction between western cultures and eastern cultures, which leads them to desire to restructure boundaries.

            The author claims that ethnic media is essential to the Chinese diaspora and crucial to their creation of their individual characters. Ethnic media provides them with socializing topics and perspectives that facilitate the imagination of a transnational Chinese community, according to Shi.

            The essay stresses that the lives of Chinese diaspora members are filled with contradictions. Shi observed in her study that they no longer practice ancient Chinese traditions while residing the U.S., but they nevertheless refuse to call this process westernization. The survey participants appear to be living in between two different cultures.

Shi finds that the Chinese diaspora members complain that when visiting China they can’t relate to the concerns and issues of the Chinese natives, however, they can’t relate to many American belief systems either. The author claims that this phenomenon also expresses itself in their ethnic media use. While consuming Chinese media the Chinese diaspora often feel alienated and disassociated from some topics covered in the media.

            Shi said that many Chinese interviewees felt alienated from the U.S. mainstream culture. They turned to ethnic media for information because their English was limited. Further, they stated that many Chinese had difficulties understanding the American culture. According to the author, many had a hard time understanding American humor, for instance.

            The members of the Chinese diaspora also often turn to ethnic media because they don’t find news coverage of their home countries in the American mainstream media. Interestingly, Shi’s survey revealed that the original consumption of the Chinese diaspora members does not change while residing in the U.S.A. For instance, one survey participant stated that he only consumes Beijing published news and not Hong Kong ones. Shi’s survey shows that gender, class, religion and personal history are essential in the choosing of a particular ethnic media outlet.

 The study further revealed that the Chinese diaspora members are willing to change the way they consume ethnic media by going online. Shi discovered that many don’t change their original ethnic media news source and simply elect to go online to read Chinese newspapers.

            Shi’s detailed survey sheds light on the Chinese Diaspora member’s ethnic media use and even the reason for the selection of certain ethnic media outlets. Her conclusions about them not feeling at home in America or China is eye opening. Shi explains well how ethnic media can construct international community and assist in the formation of hybrid cultures. This essay is well done because it gives a unique insight in the Chinese diaspora member’s culture. (reviewed by Julia R. Joest)