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If you grew up in the U.S. Elementary school in the early 2000s, you have likely read the Percy Jackson book series. These books follow the idea of Greek Gods living in the 21st century and they became a core piece of U.S. school culture. But the reason for our infatuation with Greek Culture is not because of Greece, it is because of Rome. Roman identity is an important part of Europe’s development (which in turn, becomes an important part of American development). The Romans liked Greece so much that they adopted Greek culture as a part of their own – their philosophies, religions and art. This historic example is one of many. Cultural integration and fascination are happening around the world all the time. The Roman Empire took place during 30 BCE, but what about the 21st century?   

East Asia has taken the United States by storm with K-pop, anime, Korean barbecue and Squid Game. This is America’s current cultural fascination. K-pop groups tour the States and K-pop stores have been popping up across the country. Anime merchandise is readily found in department stores like Target. Even KBBQ restaurants have been appearing with more frequency.   

Dr. Thomas Lecaque is a history professor at Grand View University. He is not a typical K-pop fan, but he appreciates the production and craft behind it.    

“The fascination and love [for K-pop] doesn’t just come out of nowhere,” Lecaque said. “I know a lot about K-pop secondhand and I love it… the craze of it makes sense.”    

While K-pop is relatively new, the world’s desire for East Asian goods goes way back in history. In 130 BCE, Europe wanted Chinese woven silk and Chinese porcelain. These products became so desired that the Silk Road developed and became a hub of cultural trading. This arises from the desire for new experiences.   

“We don’t want to be generic and bland. The same way that you get bored of your hometown, you don’t want to experience the same thing all the time. You want to experience new things, so we get excited about new cultures because it’s exciting to stretch yourself out of your comfort zone and experience new things,” Lecaque said.   

It is good practice to immerse yourself in different cultures’ food and media. It not only expands your worldview but can also help humanize groups of people. When you have not met people from a specific group, it can be easy to have prejudice. When you meet people from groups other than your own, you expand your worldview and gain the opportunity to learn about what makes you similar. Listening to music from other cultures or eating food from other cultures builds perspective.   

“It is hard to reconcile the idea of loving K-pop but also hating Asian people,” Lecaque said.  

The best part of new cultural experiences is seeking discomfort within comfort. Think of any Asian restaurant in your area. Anime is readily available on many platforms. Hulu, Netflix and HBO, the list goes on. To experience Chinese food, you do not need to leave your state. To experience K-Pop or Anime, you do not need to leave your home. This is both a blessing and a curse. While listening to K-pop and eating Korean food may be a glimpse into a Korean culture, this is only a fraction of what the culture really is.  

“The problem is that people often assume that because they’re hyper-saturated in media, they know the culture. No, you don’t. You know that one little piece of representation, but that doesn’t actually mean you know anything about what informs it,” Dr. Joshua Call said. Call is an English and game design professor at GVU.  

Learning about cultures other than your own does not necessarily require leaving your comfort zone. Google and YouTube are excellent tools. There are tons of Korean or Japanese YouTubers showing snippets of their daily life. While this is still an extremely curated view of their culture, it is deeper than Korean dramas or Anime. Visiting different countries and experiencing the culture firsthand is ideal.  However, this is not realistic for many. A happy medium is to explore other cultures with food. Try new food and talk to the people behind it. Where are they from? How did they end up here? How do they still integrate and indulge with their culture here?   

“Never stop engaging in what other cultures produce. Don’t. Go explore, go explore broadly,” Call said. “[And] recognize there’s a difference between people and the products.” 

If you like something from a different culture, it is good practice to learn more about where it comes from. While it is easy to get stuck on the mainstream representations of culture, it is important to remember that there is more beyond the surface. This goes beyond strictly Asian cultures. It applies to any culture outside of your own. The next time you order food from another culture, take some time to learn about the people behind your food.