Transnational adolescent nostalgia : memories of meteor garden in Singapore

Abstract

Meteor Garden a Taiwanese idol television drama, was the most successful adaptation of the Japanese manga, Hana Yori Dango. Its leading actors, F4 also achieved unrivalled perennial fame and success particularly in Asia. This paper examined the creation, communication and preservation of memories on Meteor Garden by Asian fans. It also examined the influences of such nostalgic popular memories on them. Through the examination using in-depth interviews and online observations, this paper hoped to highlight that nostalgic popular memories could be a form of inter-Asian connections made possible by the circulation of media products. The influences of nostalgic popular memories could be permanent, transnational and evolving due to the social media. The effects were highlighted by the identity shared among transnational fans, the evolution of the fan loyalty of the drama after the initial years of idol worship and the maintenance of F4's everlasting fame.