Abstract

As the chapters of this volume have demonstrated, the rise of East Asian popular culture, its coproduction, circulation, and consumption in the region, and the generation of new kinds of cross-border connections, have been studied extensively over the past twenty years. Given that the trajectory of these ongoing trends is towards complexity, it is vital to regularly make a contextualized examination of emerging cases and issues. Reflecting on the subjects covered by the other chapters in this section, this chapter considers some significant issues pertaining to the study of East Asian popular culture connection and suggests future directions for research. It will discuss the limitations of and impediments to cross-border connections and how those connections have been shaped by the internationalizing forces generated by the interplay of industries, markets, and state policies. Finally this chapter will propose a collaborative project—trans–East Asia as method—to critically and effectively engage with these predicaments.