The objectification of women is explored in the writings of Bourdieu. Bourdieu claims that “the social world constructs the body as a sexually defined reality and as the depository of sexually...Show moreThe objectification of women is explored in the writings of Bourdieu. Bourdieu claims that “the social world constructs the body as a sexually defined reality and as the depository of sexually defining principles of vision and division” (2001, 11). Within this structure, society categorises its constructions of gender, with ‘masculine domination’ used to outline those constructions (Ibid.). Bourdieu further argues that “things and activities” receive their objective value when they are juxtaposed in relation to their “homologous [opposite]” (Ibid., 7). This can be applied to social gender dynamics in which men hold power and women act out gender stereotypical and unequal activities. For example, regarding workplace customs in Japan, men are preferred for long-term positions whilst women often fulfil temporary, lesser valued roles (Goff 1995, 1153). Bourdieu's theorisation of female objectification and gender hierarchy may be applied to the social constructions of gender in Japan and their reinforcement through institutions of power. This helps to understand the link between pornography and gender inequality which the thesis argues, must be challenged at state level. Applying Bourdieu’s theory, pornography may be seen as a system to serve ‘male domination’ and pornographic media as an instrument to reinforce and reflect the wider problem of institutionalised gender inequality in Japan. The irony to be explored in this, and the following two chapters, is that the institutions of the Japanese state themselves propagate gender inequality, whilst simultaneously blaming issues of gender inequality on marginalised groups, such as the Otaku – discussed in Chapter 3. Pornography itself is also blamed. An example is the case of Yoshimoto, where after being arrested for rape, police officer Yoshimoto claimed: “I bought and got aroused by pornographic videos with a rape theme, and could not control my compulsion. I feel sorry for the victims” (Shibata 2008, 12). This agent of the state diverted blame away from both himself and the structures of the state, as if neither it, nor he had any responsibility for this victimisation of women.Show less
This thesis is a qualitative analysis of the clothing of Japanese Gothic Lolita women supported by six remarks. The study hypothesises that the statements made were meant to redefine gender...Show moreThis thesis is a qualitative analysis of the clothing of Japanese Gothic Lolita women supported by six remarks. The study hypothesises that the statements made were meant to redefine gender identities, societal values, and gender role expectations for women in the Japanese society and to find empowerment within the societal structures. It hypothesises that the statements were meant to signify a rebellion against the idea that dressing in a stereotypically feminine, childlike, and kawaii way is disempowering for women. Furthermore, this research finds that Japanese Gothic Lolitas lay the foundation to rethink the gendered structures embedded in the Japanese society through the signifiers of their clothing and the discourse within their statements by defining themselves not in relation to others, but to themselves. Thus, a framework is created that allows women to rebel against the traditional constraints of gender role expectations and to redefine their identities as influential, assertive individuals.Show less
This thesis aims to evaluate the effectiveness and equitability of the various environmental policy instruments tackling carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 2005 to 2015 in Japan.
The present paper explores the myth of Japanese homogeneity in relation to current multicultural challenges existing in Japan and analyses them in contrast with the country’s endeavours in...Show moreThe present paper explores the myth of Japanese homogeneity in relation to current multicultural challenges existing in Japan and analyses them in contrast with the country’s endeavours in anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In order to do so, fundamental theories on multiculturalism, nationalism, identity politics, and intercultural communication are first examined and then applied to the literature on the organisation of mega-events—such as the Olympics. The focus being on the case of the coming Tokyo Olympics, this paper has a more in-depth look at the current situation in terms of tourism and multiculturalism—briefly looking at the past Olympics celebrated in Tokyo 1964. Special attention is devoted to perceptions towards immigrants and foreigners in Japan, as well as the approaches and regulations taken by the government in terms of immigration, tourism, and hospitality, particularly regarding demographic and economic challenges. The final findings suggest that both political and social change are strongly interconnected and are equally crucial in achieving the goal of a more welcoming and accessible Olympics.Show less
This paper proposes another axis of understanding for the Minamata case study by analyzing the philosophical intricacies of the Japanese culture in contrast with Japan's politics and industrial...Show moreThis paper proposes another axis of understanding for the Minamata case study by analyzing the philosophical intricacies of the Japanese culture in contrast with Japan's politics and industrial goals. Instead of offering a technical solution to such a far-reaching event, it looks at the hidden potential of Japanese cultural practices in transforming the way politics consider the priorities of human development and how local communities’ expectations can be met when their lifestyle is taken into consideration. In that sense, the Minamata incident reveals to be more than a local disaster but also to a larger extent the illustration of a societal and philosophical discordance.Show less
This essay aims to show how Hallyu (the South Korean Wave) can be considered a soft power tool, and to answer the question, “What have been the results of Hallyu’s influence on North Korean society...Show moreThis essay aims to show how Hallyu (the South Korean Wave) can be considered a soft power tool, and to answer the question, “What have been the results of Hallyu’s influence on North Korean society?” By introducing the theory of ‘soft power’, I illustrate how Hallyu can be used as a political instrument. I use Chomsky’s ‘propaganda model’ and Elull’s concept of ‘horizontal propaganda’ in order to describe how North Korean society is structured by the Kim regime’s use of propaganda, and how this manufactures consent for the acceptance of social, economic and political policies. Furthermore, by using the ‘uses and gratification’ approach, and the ‘cultivation theory’ I explain the reasons for and effects of Hallyu consumption in North Korea. In doing so, I outline the opportunities and limits of Hallyu as a soft power tool. While the North Korean regime uses (the threat of) violence to maintain control of its citizens, there is also a large amount of public support that bolsters its power. The influence of Hallyu is contradicting the propaganda that is pervasive in North Korean society, thereby undermining consent. This in turn can lead to destabilizing the various institutions upon which the regime relies for influence and control. We cannot predict that this will occur, but we can identify a number of changes that we can relate to the influence of Hallyu.Show less
The Chinese war on Uyghur terrorism is often condemned for its human rights abuses, however, this ignores the Chinese view on the issue. The conflict between the Uyghurs and the Chinese reaches far...Show moreThe Chinese war on Uyghur terrorism is often condemned for its human rights abuses, however, this ignores the Chinese view on the issue. The conflict between the Uyghurs and the Chinese reaches far into the shared history, but it has accelerated after the events of 9/11 which created a new discourse on terrorism in China. This study aims to create a better understanding of the conflict by researching the conflict as objectively as possible. The question that will guide this thesis is: To what extent does the Chinese definition of terrorism and the perceived threat of the Uyghurs align with the counterterror measures taken in comparison to counterterror measures employed by a number of Western nations? To answer the question, the Chinese definition of terrorism has been compared to an academic definition, along with a research on the Uyghur threat, and an analysis of the counterterror measures of China in comparison to the Netherlands and France. While the Chinese definitions is too broad, Uyghur terrorist organizations do form a threat, and the Chinese counterterror measures are not too different from France due to the securitization process, both countries have gone through. The thesis concludes that counterterror measures are valid in the light of the perceived threat due to the issue being securitized.Show less
This research looks at how Japanese gay women use English as a form of self-expression, by looking at underlying factors such as community, language use by gay Japanese, Japanese women's language,...Show moreThis research looks at how Japanese gay women use English as a form of self-expression, by looking at underlying factors such as community, language use by gay Japanese, Japanese women's language, and gay Japanese women's language itself. It then uses this knowledge to analyze the documentary Gaycation and the language used by gay Japanese women in the episode. It concludes that dependency on English loanwords increases when the conversation involves a topic related to the queer community, however apart from this Japanese gay women do not necessarily use more English while speaking Japanese.Show less
In post-Showa Japan, the expansion of literature into popular media forms, such as anime and manga, has accelerated due to development of media technology and, more importantly, rapid marketization...Show moreIn post-Showa Japan, the expansion of literature into popular media forms, such as anime and manga, has accelerated due to development of media technology and, more importantly, rapid marketization. This phenomenon raises the questions of how exactly literature paves its path into the world of anime, and what is the sociocultural significance of this phenomenon in the context of contemporary (i.e. post-Showa) Japan. This thesis investigates Natsume Soseki’s Kokoro and its anime adaptation in 2009, episodes 7 and 8 in the anime series Aoi Bungaku (青い文学 meaning “blue literature”), to search for the connection between literature, popular culture and Japanese modernity. In the light of the methodology borrowed from contemporary adaptation studies, this thesis tries to answer two questions: 1) how is Natsume Soseki’s Kokoro adapted in Aoi Bungaku; 2) how can we interpret this adaptation in terms of changing Japanese society? Based on visual analysis of this adaptation, this thesis argues that the so-called contemporary Japanese visual “post-modernity” (for example, the “superflat” theory proposed by Takashi Murakami and Hiroki Azuma) is never a break from neither Meiji nor Western “modernity”. Rather, this “post-modernity” is built upon Meiji “modernity” with technological advancement and market expansion. The essence shared by this “modernity” and “post-modernity” is the capitalist mode of production.Show less
Recent years have seen the release of a number of cyberpunk films and series, both in cinemas and on streaming services such as Netflix. Among them are Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Ghost in the Shell ...Show moreRecent years have seen the release of a number of cyberpunk films and series, both in cinemas and on streaming services such as Netflix. Among them are Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Ghost in the Shell (2017), Altered Carbon (2018), and this year’s Alita: Battle Angel (2019). The original Blade Runner (1982) can be seen as the first cyberpunk movie with its benchmark depictions of a distinctly dystopian future and Asian oriented cityscapes. Ghost in the Shell and Alita: Battle Angel are both films based on Japanese anime. My focus of interest for the past year has been gender and sexuality, I have been combining this with my interest for Japanese animation. Cyberpunk has been particularly an interesting genre because it depicts our (generally dark) vision of a technologically advanced future, yet it actually tells more about our contemporary society and condition. The genre has often been critiqued on the fact it has been dominated by (white, straight) men, which produced the one-sided stereotyped depiction of women and minorities in the genre. Japan has often been the setting of these cyberpunk narratives. This had to do with Japan’s technological and economic growth in the 1980s, which caused fascination and anxiety towards Japan in the West. One of the reasons why the Hollywood version of Ghost in the Shell peaked my interest is because it is a recent live-action version of a very popular franchise that focuses on a female cyborg. It is additionally one out of many films that has been accused of whitewashing its main protagonist, which was a reason for me to not see this film when it played in theatres. Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell from 1995 was an international co-production, and is considered to be one of the greatest anime films. The film also inspired the Wachowskis to make The Matrix trilogy, The Matrix is up to today one of the most well-known cyberpunk films. In my thesis I will be looking at the (heteronormative and race) ideologies that are at play in both of the Ghost in the Shell films. In my first chapter I will lay a foundation of the sides of cyberpunk I will focus on. I will discuss techno-Orientalism, Donna Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto, cyberfeminism, and feminist post-cyberpunk. In my second chapter I will give an analysis of Rupert Sanders’ Ghost in the Shell film, while focusing on the ideology, queer moments, whitewashing, and oriental style. And finally in my third chapter I will focus on Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell. As the “ghost” is a reference towards the soul (and spiritual identity), and the “shell” references towards the (mechanical) body, I will discuss identity, the male gaze, Haraway’s “informatics of domination”, and heteronormativity. I will also be discussing the possibilities and limitations of the cyborg body and the objectifications it goes through in both the GITS films.Show less
