This week in BCM320, we viewed the 2018 Pakistani Film Cake, which is features an eccentric family coming together under one roof as Zareen contacts her siblings living abroad about their fathers deteriorating health. This film also conveys the themes of family values, death and romance in a Pakistani setting.

One aspect of the film that intrigued me was the family values that was portrayed throughout the movie. In Pakistan, family bonds are valued and this society is led by collectivism where relationships are family are strong. Loyalty to the family also comes before all other social relationships. Family relatives are also protected from outside influences. Gender roles are also a major theme that was identified in this screening and I found it interesting that this film challenges these stereotypes and expectations by creating independent career focused women. Usually in Pakistan, women stay home then go to work and are…

The final viewing for BCM320 was the Japanese Manga series, Hi Score Girl, which revolves around the life of gamer Haruro Yaguchi, and his relationship with quiet female gamer Akira Ono. This series is known as a 90’s arcade romantic comedy and is appreciated for its unique art style, and accurate depictions of the multitude of gaming software and culture.

I loved watching this series because I have always been intrigued by Japanese culture and have always found a fascination in the lifestyle they live. I did some research on Japanese gaming culture and found a few interesting facts:

• Gaming centres in Japan have strategic locations and are usually built near major train stations.

• It is not only the major cities that have arcade, even suburban and rural areas have centres at their shopping malls.

• The popularity of gaming cultures in Japan peaked during mid-1980’s when the country served as…