Stars, Fandom, and Identity - Comrades: Almost a Love Story - Essay Example

Stars, Fandom, and Identity Insert Insert s In the recent years, film directors have been seen to produce films with characters that are passionate fans of certain stars or icons whereby they are associated with popular culture. Moreover, images of fans are omnipresent in the current popular media, and mostly reveal how the character’s lives and identities are being transformed in some ways by the works or character of their fan (Poshek Fu, 2000). In addition, their lives and identities are transformed just for being a fan of the popular star, movies or the phenomenon in question. Most of the time, fans develop their own choices and sense of self-identity with respect to their icon, star or media consumption, according to Chow (2007). In the essay, I will be using the film, Comrades: Almost a Love Story (Chan, 1996), in order to illustrate how individuals’ lives or identities are transformed in certain ways in the film for being a fan of the popular star. Using the characters’ Li Xiao Ju and Li Qiao, I will examine how their lives have been transformed for being fans of a certain star in the movie. The film spans over several years that involve Li Xiao, who is a Mainlander moving to Hong Kong in order to get himself a job, and Li Qiao, also a Mainlander moves to Hong Kong and tries to be a successful entrepreneur through the selling of Teresa Teng’s cassette tapes and in search for a better live (Peter, 1996). She also does other odd jobs such as selling flowers and other employments. Li Xiao is assisted by his aunt in getting a job as a delivery man. Li Xiao has moved to Hong Kong in hopes of earning enough money that will enable him to go back home in order to marry his fiancé. While Li Xiao seems to be earnest and uncertain in regards to things Li Qiao, on the other hand, is smooth, quick and efficient when setting and following her dream and goals. Their difference in their personal traits is also evident in the type of wage earnings that each assumes when they arrive in Hong Kong. As we will come to find out in the film, theyre different in person trait will because of Li Qiao’s live transformation by the songs of Teresa Teng. Because of how Li Qiao emulates, and her passion for Teresa as she is associated with popular culture makes her be an ambitious and hardworking lady. It is clear that the life of Li Qiao has been transformed in some way for being a fan of a popular star. As an immigrant, she does not have any apparent kin who could help her get a job or an apartment. However, she is able to get herself a job as a counter clerk at McDonald’s. She is also working for a commercial English language school as a recruiter on commission basis. One can argue that her ability to acquire these jobs on her own as opposed to Li Xiao, who is helped by her aunt, is her passion to be like Teng, her star (Poshek Fu, 2000). Being Teresa’s fan ensures that Li Qiao is independent and; thus her live being transformed in some ways. The live of Li Qiao is also transformed for being a fan of Teng by the fact that as dramatized in the film, she is selling Teng’s cassette tapes. She becomes a sales person because of her being passionate about the works of Teng. Hence, how is the activity of job earning between Li Xiao and Li Qiao translated into the kind of abstract procedure of self-fashioning? It is evident in the fact that as the two protagonists wipe the slate clean in Hong Kong; one cannot fail to recognize the growing independence and self-assurance of Li Qiao. She emulates the character of her fan, Teresa Teng, who was very famous, successful and influential (Chow, 2007). Li Qiao is trying to live her life like that of Teng in a different way but also to be as successful and independent as her star thus transforming her life to better. Li Qiao strikes the audience as the stereotyped poor immigrant who has a dream of acculturation and upward social mobility. This is just like her star who also earned success in Japan regardless of her setbacks and being an immigrant. She is influenced by the life of Teng and; therefore, transforming the way she carried her activities and the way she lived. However, one cannot say that Li Xiao and Li Qiao do not have the similarities. As seen in the film, they are both fans of Teresa Teng; therefore the activities that they are doing are also somehow similar. The way they like some things as depicted in the movie is evident by their jobs and their love for each other. For an instant, Li Xiao’s job is delivering chicken meat to restaurants while Li Qiao’s job is providing food to people (Peter, 1996). Both moving to Hong Kong in search of better jobs depict the way their lives have been transformed by being Teng’s fan. Just like Teng tried to crack the Japanese market with her music irrespective of her being from another country, Li Xiao and Li Qiao migrate to Hong Kong. Their similarities in doing the same things depict their love for the same star (Teng and her music) that went to another country in the efforts of being successful. One can also argue that their fate to meet and become great comrades in their passionate fan for Teng. When they are together they would listen to Teng’s love songs; therefore, strengthen their love for each other. It is evident in the film that theyre continuously listening to the same artist’s music made them fall deeply in love. If it was not Teng’s love songs they were both listen, they might not have become the real friends or comrades they came to be. It means that both being Teng’s fans, their lives were transformed. Therefore, it is clear that the beautiful voice and melancholy ballads of Teng that seem to be expressed in musical developed unspoken feelings of love for Li Xiao and Li Qiao (Poshek Fu, 2000). The turn of events when they separate and the viewer is left wondering how they will meet again is storming. It is Teresa Teng’s music that reunites them once again. Their fondness of Teng’s songs that was considered as a norm for the people of Mainland brings them together. If it were not for them being fans of the same star, after separation they may not have met in any other way, there their passion for Teng’s music brings them together once more. This is on the day of the death of Teresa Teng, when the two are walking the New York City streets that fate grants them the opportunity to elicit and old flame as they spontaneously meet one another at a random television store while watching a tribute to their favorite star. Therefore, because of their passion for the same star, associated with a popular culture, both are able to meet with their significant other and start out a life together as one (Chow, 2007). In conclusion, different scenes in the film, Comrades: Almost a Love Story has depicted how the lives of the two protagonists have been transformed in one way or another by their being fans of the popular star by the name of Teresa Teng and her music (Chow, 2007). Li Qiao prosperity is influenced by her passion for Tang’s success in another country. She tries to be like her and succeed as an independent and self-assured person. The fate of the two protagonists of being together and falling in love with each other is influenced by their love for the same superstar and her music. The love songs that they listen while they are together strengthened their feelings towards each other, of which would not have happened if they did not love the same star in the film. The song in the film gives Li Xiao and Li Qiao an opportunity to identify with one another in the first place and through the Teng’s song that start to communicate spiritually (Poshek Fu, 2000). Also, Teng’s songs play a significant role in enhancing Li Xiao and Li Qiao love and mutual dependence; as a result. References Chan, Peter (dir.) (1996). Comrades, Almost a Love Story; Hong Kong: Golden Harvest Entertainment Co. Ltd Poshek Fu (2000). “Between Nationalism and Colonialism: Mainland Émigrés, Marginal Culture, and Hong Kong Cinema, 1937-1941,” in the Cinema of Hong Kong: History, Arts, Identity, ed. Poshek Fu and David Desser (Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 199-226. Rey Chow (2007). Sentimental Tabulations, Contemporary Chinese Films: Attachment in the Age of Global Visibility. New York; Columbia University Press Read More