logo
Seattle author Tessa Hulls wins Pulitzer for her memoir

Seattle author Tessa Hulls wins Pulitzer for her memoir

Axios07-05-2025
Seattle author Tessa Hulls won a Pulitzer Prize this week for her first book, "Feeding Ghosts."
What they're saying: Hull's graphic memoir is "an affecting work of literary art and discovery whose illustrations bring to life three generations of Chinese women — the author, her mother and grandmother, and the experience of trauma handed down with family histories," the Pulitzer committee wrote.
What's inside: The book details how Hulls' grandmother fled persecution by the Communist government, smuggling herself and Hull's mother to Hong Kong in the false bottom of a fishing boat.
"Feeding Ghosts" explores immigration, loss of culture, mental illness and mixed race identity, but "is ultimately about the ways in which mothers and daughters both damage and save each other," Hulls writes on her website.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pop Mart's Labubus boost China's soft power as Beijing brands find global appeal
Pop Mart's Labubus boost China's soft power as Beijing brands find global appeal

CNBC

time2 hours ago

  • CNBC

Pop Mart's Labubus boost China's soft power as Beijing brands find global appeal

For years, China had an image problem it couldn't shake off — synonymous with cheap exports, heavy censorship, and a state shrouded in secrecy and scandal. That has been changing as the country strives to burnish its image, rising in soft power rankings, with domestic businesses helping Beijing secure a significant facelift. Chinese coffee chains are popping up in New York. Chinese video games are generating billions in revenue. Even Chinese makeup, or "c-beauty," companies are expanding into global markets. But the most surprising factor boosting China's cultural rise isn't a flying car, an AI model, or a bestselling game — it's a toy. Labubus are everywhere: Pop Mart's ugly-cute $30 keychain has been spotted on the bags of Rihanna and K-pop band Blackpink's Lisa, with the plushie attracting hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide. Just a few weeks ago, Pop Mart opened its first store in Germany — the latest addition to its more than 500 stores across the globe. Pop Mart's viral blind boxes — items sealed in mystery packages — have become the hallmark of one of China's most aggressive international growth stories. The company has forecast a 350% year-on-year jump in profit in the first half of the year. Goldman Sachs estimates that over the long term, Pop Mart's sales could reach $11.3 billion globally, the same level as Lego sales. The company is even taking on Japanese legacy brands such as Sanrio and Bandai. In 2024, Pop Mart sales rose 107%, while Sanrio, home to Hello Kitty, reported a 45% jump. Pop Mart's success isn't a fluke. It's part of a deliberate strategy that's been capturing consumers' hearts. With several proprietary offerings and the addictive appeal of the blind box, the brand has tapped into the sweet spot of emotional spending at a time of geopolitical and economic uncertainty. "One of the key themes is IP, or chasing small pleasures," said Michelle Cheng, co-Lead of the Asia consumer research team at Goldman Sachs. "It's something the young generation loves — not just in China or Asia, but globally." Pop Mart isn't alone in boosting China's soft power. Video games, once tightly regulated by China's government, are now exploding in popularity. Black Myth Wukong, based on the Chinese folk story "Journey to the West," sold 20 million units in its first month globally, making it one of the fastest-selling titles of all time. Genshin Impact, a "gacha" game, where players spend in-game currency or real-world money to obtain virtual goods (named after Japanese "gachapon"), made $2 billion in its first year on the market, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. It now generates more revenue outside China than at home, with players in Japan and the U.S. leading the charge, according to data by Statista. Home-grown innovators are transforming China's image. Consultancy Brand Finance ranked the country second in its global soft power index this year, up a spot from 2024, overtaking the UK for the first time and sitting just behind the U.S. Brand Finance attributed the jump to China's strategic efforts at enhancing its global image, focus on sustainable development, stronger brands, as well as the country reopening to visitors after the pandemic. "Finally, China has become visible, and young people are no longer attaching negative brand perceptions to China," said Yaling Jiang, a consumer analyst. "The best outcome of these consumer products is that people can see through the negative filter of them being Chinese and see them for what they are." While the perceptions about the country are changing fast, it remains to be seen if a state that has historically taken a top-down approach to reshaping its image can allow its brands to speak for themselves.

Chinese Media Stocks Surge on Potential Easing of Drama Rules
Chinese Media Stocks Surge on Potential Easing of Drama Rules

Bloomberg

time4 hours ago

  • Bloomberg

Chinese Media Stocks Surge on Potential Easing of Drama Rules

Chinese media stocks rallied following reports of a potential easing of restrictions on local drama production, which analysts said would benefit content producers and long-form video platforms. Shares of Zhejiang Huace Film & TV Co. and Mango Excellent Media Co. surged by the 20% daily limit, while a local film and television exchange-traded fund gained as much as 6%, the most since February 13. In Hong Kong, China Literature Ltd. and Damai Entertainment Holdings Ltd. jumped as much as 25% and 11%, respectively.

Michelle Yeoh promises new musical treats are on the way in Wicked: For Good
Michelle Yeoh promises new musical treats are on the way in Wicked: For Good

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Michelle Yeoh promises new musical treats are on the way in Wicked: For Good

Michelle Yeoh has promised fans new musical treats are on the way in Wicked: For Good. The 63-year-old actress plays Madame Morrible in the sequel to the hit witch movie, and has now hinted it will feature new songs. She told People ahead of the arrival of the highly anticipated second installment of the Wicked film series: 'I think you're getting some new songs.' Michelle quickly added with a laugh: 'I didn't say that.' The Oscar-winning star, known for her work in both Hollywood and Chinese cinema, spoke while promoting two projects. Alongside Wicked: For Good, she is also lending her voice to the English-language version of the Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha II, in which she plays Lady Yin, the mother of the rebellious young demigod Ne Zha. The films' dual releases have kept the actress busy throughout 2025, with Wicked: For Good set to premiere on 21 November and Ne Zha II hitting theaters on 22 August. The new songs in Wicked: For Good were composed by Stephen Schwartz, who created the music and lyrics for the original Broadway show. He confirmed the additions to People at the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony, saying: 'I have permission to say there are two new songs in the movie because the storytelling demanded it. 'One of them happens to be for the character of Elphaba. The other one happens to be for the character of Glinda.' Michelle also reflected on her ongoing connection with the Wicked cast. She said: 'I was just at Hollywood Bowl (for) Cynthia,' she said, referring to Cynthia Erivo's performance as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. Michelle added: 'I love her. She was so amazing.' Discussing Ne Zha II, Michelle said about her enthusiasm for the project: 'I had seen Ne Zha II in Chinese, and even at that time I thought, 'I hope they do an English version, because you want little kids to be able to see it and understand'. 'So when they did come to me and said, 'Would this interest you?' I jumped right in.' She also praised the film's faithful adaptation of Chinese mythology, noting the balance between traditional storytelling and contemporary accessibility. Michelle said: 'The storytelling is so amazing because they have kept intact the classic myth of how it was before, but added that contemporary way of storytelling. 'So that's the bridge for the generational gap. Like we say, it is timeless, but timely.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store