Western Pop Culture Attracts Chinese Youth

Western pop culture appears to resonate with many Chinese young people. In the article that I read which can be found here http://www.npr.org/2014/03/10/287339133/sherlock-house-of-cards-top-chinas-must-watch-list , many young people in China are being attracted to various shows that are popular in the United States and other parts of the western world. The show Sherlock has become a sensation in China. Many Chinese young people are drawn to the shows sense of mystery and its leading man, Benedict Cumberbatch. He is said to be found attractive in the eyes of many young Chinese girls due to his accent and his gentlemanly manner. There is actually a cafe in China called 221B Baker Street, which is named after the apartment Holmes and his partner Watson live in together. It has many different nods to different Sherlock Holmes adventures, and it has a wall that is entirely devoted to Benedict Cumberbatch. This cafe is so popular that people have to make reservations days in advance just to be able to get a seat.  Another American show that is popular is House of Cards. The reason this show is popular in China is very interesting. Since there is so little publicized political drama in China, the article says, many Chinese people have to turn to other sources to get their fix.  However, the most popular show in China right now is the American-made show The Big Bang Theory. This article states that one of the reasons this show is so popular is because many Chinese young men identity themselves with the main character of Sheldon Cooper. Due to the one-child policy, most Chinese young people are only children, and according to the article, "believe that they are infallible." They like his ego and his unquestionable intelligence. The fact that many youngsters in China like these very "western" shows is very interesting, and it is a good example of how interconnected the United States is with China.