This thesis presents an ethnographic report of the subculture of skateboarding in the city of Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province. Through interviews as well as both participant and not...Show moreThis thesis presents an ethnographic report of the subculture of skateboarding in the city of Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province. Through interviews as well as both participant and not participant observations, the author has immersed himself in the local skateboarding scene to discover the peculiarities of this movement as well as the links that connect skateboarding in this mid-sized city to declinations of this subculture around the country and the world.Show less
The Social Credit System is an automated mechanism that, collecting citizens’ personal information, aims at restoring trustworthiness in Chinese society. At the same time, this system might serve...Show moreThe Social Credit System is an automated mechanism that, collecting citizens’ personal information, aims at restoring trustworthiness in Chinese society. At the same time, this system might serve the purpose of restoring CCP’s moral legitimacy. To shed a light on this second objective, I explore and explain how morality came to be relevant in sustaining political authority in imperial China and why it is still important in Chinese contemporary political discourse. After having depicted the symptoms of China’s moral decay, I analyze the scope and objectives of the SCS. Specifically, I show how the logic behind a peculiar form of Chinese social relation, namely guānxi came to influence the SCS. Moreover, I depict the SCS as an educative tool to mold a new kind of society hinging on the concept of sincerity. Nevertheless, I caution about the potential risks and inefficacies of this didactic automated mechanism.Show less
This thesis focused on the long-running Japanese variety show named Shoten, figuring out the main factor that encourages its continuous popularity. To solve the research question, the show has been...Show moreThis thesis focused on the long-running Japanese variety show named Shoten, figuring out the main factor that encourages its continuous popularity. To solve the research question, the show has been analysed from its character and humour, especially political jokes, by using the video copy recorded by the author in Japan and its official DVD box. The thesis has reached the conclusion that it is the intimacy created by Shoten's character and humour that has made it a long-running show.Show less
Korean society has made great strides forward in gender representation in the last decade, yet mainstream media often encourages stereotypes and binary gender roles. However, the genre conventions...Show moreKorean society has made great strides forward in gender representation in the last decade, yet mainstream media often encourages stereotypes and binary gender roles. However, the genre conventions of historical fusion and fantasy combine elements of imagination and otherness that can engage in discussion on gender and represent gender in an alternative, more open, way. It addresses a contemporary issue yet is not bounded by the restrictions of today’s society. To analyze the potential positive representation of the genres, this thesis analyzes the Korean historical fantasy fusion drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (hereafter Moon Lovers) (2016). In order to study the alternative representations within mainstream media, this thesis looks at how the series’ representation of gender is in line with gender normativity. The leading research question is: Does Moon Lovers break gender normativity? The study was conducted through film analysis and guided by gender theory. In conclusion, Moon Lovers does not break with gender normativity. However, the potential of the genres to represent gender in an alternative way still require further study.Show less
This research investigates the use of translation techniques for figures of speech related to meaning: metaphor, simile, personification, metonymy, synecdoche, synaesthesia. Three direct...Show moreThis research investigates the use of translation techniques for figures of speech related to meaning: metaphor, simile, personification, metonymy, synecdoche, synaesthesia. Three direct translations from Italian to Chinese of "Inferno" are taken into consideration.Show less
Confucianism has a long history in China, and its reach continues to grow. Confucianism is the practice of following the ideology of Confucius (551 B.C. – 479 B.C.), who was a Chinese philosopher...Show moreConfucianism has a long history in China, and its reach continues to grow. Confucianism is the practice of following the ideology of Confucius (551 B.C. – 479 B.C.), who was a Chinese philosopher and teacher. In memory of him, the many Confucian temples in China not only display the importance of Confucius and his philosophy but also teach visitors about Confucius and Confucianism. These are temples where people can pay their respects to Confucius, honor him, and learn more about his life and thoughts. The Confucius Temple in Qufu was built a year after Confucius’ death, in 478 BC, at the location thought to have been his residence. The Temple is advertised in many tourist guides as the largest and most famous Confucian temple in China, and as one of the three greatest ancient building complexes in the country. This study tries to understand how the Temple contributes to the understanding that visitors gain from visiting the Temple, by conducting questionnaires and interviews.Show less
The reality of a shrinking labor market as the population is aging and birthrate is declining in Japan, is asking for more female participation. Changing economic demands and working conditions is...Show moreThe reality of a shrinking labor market as the population is aging and birthrate is declining in Japan, is asking for more female participation. Changing economic demands and working conditions is leading to an increasing number of double-income families. It is creating variety in the gender roles and contributing to a new order. A study of ten qualitative interviews was conducted to examine the working conditions and experiences of working mothers in Tokyo. The case study shows that working mothers are facing three main challenges when trying to find a work-life balance: (1) time management, (2) high responsibility of work within the household and (3) working culture that impacts career. The case study of this thesis gives an insightful assessment of policies, what they do and do not address. Analyzing narratives and understanding how mothers approach their working situation and lifestyle is an important element in discussing the work-family balance to clarify remaining issues in working culture. It turns out that informal resources and strategies are important to overcome or deal with the challenges, as formal policies still seem to lack in addressing part of the core labor issues and remaining gender inequality.Show less
Learning Chinese characters is one of the major challenges CFL learners face, and it may in some cases become overwhelming and cause learners to lose their motivation for learning the language....Show moreLearning Chinese characters is one of the major challenges CFL learners face, and it may in some cases become overwhelming and cause learners to lose their motivation for learning the language. However, the character script is one of Mandarin Chinese’s most salient features, and is indeed one of the aspects that draws learners to learning Mandarin in the first place. This brings us to an important question: How should Chinese characters be taught to CFL learners? In The Netherlands, Mandarin is now being taught at more and more high schools, but as this is a relatively recent development, not that many Dutch textbooks are as yet available for Dutch high school student CFL learners. This study has examined: What research has had to say about how to teach Chinese characters to CFL learners (‘Theory’); How several beginner-level textbooks in use at Dutch high schools teach Chinese characters (‘Practice’); The views and approaches of a group of Chinese CFL teachers and a group of Dutch CFL teachers regarding teaching Chinese characters (‘Practice’); and finally: To what extent practice, especially practice in Dutch high schools, appears to correspond with theory (‘Practice versus Theory’). Insofar as research has provided clear results or suggestions, and insofar as the present study has touched upon the corresponding topics, practice in fact appears to closely correspond to theory. It is also clear, however, that more research is needed.Show less
Since the Xi leadership, the Communist Party lays significantly more emphasis on the importance of history and its education, which is reflected in the party’s overall discourse, institutional...Show moreSince the Xi leadership, the Communist Party lays significantly more emphasis on the importance of history and its education, which is reflected in the party’s overall discourse, institutional changes and the compiling of a new series of unified textbooks. Education is key in the national socialization process, and can be utilized for fostering patriotism. This study is concerned principally with the discursive construction of a key period in Chinese history in the new junior high school textbooks: the “century of humiliation”. Through combining one of the approaches within the critical discourse analysis school and ethnographic research methods, this study dissects the discourse within in the textbooks and examines the transmission process of the discourse in the classroom environment. Furthermore, the research also analyses the contextual environment in which the textbooks arose, taking into consideration the broader official discourse and relevant recent trends. This study reveals the applied discursive strategies and demonstrates their significance in creating a historical truth.Show less
This research provides new insights into Japanese society and the importance to food consumption onboard trains in Japan. Food and the consumption thereof play a part in every society. In the urban...Show moreThis research provides new insights into Japanese society and the importance to food consumption onboard trains in Japan. Food and the consumption thereof play a part in every society. In the urban areas of Japan there is no getting away from the consumption of food, especially in and around stations. One of the most common products consumed onboard the trains during long journeys is the ekiben. Another service providing food onboard trains is the dining car (shokudōsha). While the ekiben continued to thrive, the shokudōsha were discontinued completely in 2002. This thesis explains why this difference in prosperity exists through an examination of the history of the shokudōsha and the ekiben. Thereafter, it explains how societal changes influenced the cultural significance of both services. The thesis concluded that there was a difference in cultural significance between the shokudōsha and the ekiben. This thesis aims to contribute to the comprehensive research of food culture in Japan and to stimulate more English research into the shokudōsha to expand the knowledge of food culture in Japan.Show less
This study sets out to understand the workings, uncover the outcomes and shed light on the insiders’ experiences of cram schooling in Japan. Cram schools are an intertwined part of the Japanese...Show moreThis study sets out to understand the workings, uncover the outcomes and shed light on the insiders’ experiences of cram schooling in Japan. Cram schools are an intertwined part of the Japanese education system, with the majority of Japanese students being enrolled in cram school at some time in their education. The seemingly necessary but in reality voluntary cram schools lead to several issues: one of them, referred to in this study as the first dimension, is the dimension of cram schooling causing a lot of stress for and pressure on the students, and depriving them from much-needed free time. The second dimension focuses on the accessibility of cram schools, and brings the debate of inequality and social immobility to this study. The third dimension is based on original interviews and provides an inside look into the experiences of cram school students and teachers, in a search for an answer to the research question: “How do the participants of Japanese cram schooling experience the cram schooling system and do their opinions match the criticisms voiced by outsiders?”Show less
Being a super-ageing society brings a plethora of problems: social, political and economic. This thesis will limit itself to the economic problems and their political implications due to its...Show moreBeing a super-ageing society brings a plethora of problems: social, political and economic. This thesis will limit itself to the economic problems and their political implications due to its limited scope. The most common mentioned problems associated with an ageing society are the pressure on 1) the healthcare system, 2) the pension system, and 3) the labour market. Yet, the current situation is that most elderly workers above 65 are not welcome in the workforce, despite all the relief they can offer. The conclusion of this thesis is that the resistance is due to ageism and archaic employment systems. In order to create a more accommodating employment situation for the elderly, a salary system revision is necessary. The existing literature, however, lacks concrete plans in regards to revising such system. Based on a case study at a company that was in the midst of introducing a salary system revision, this thesis tries to explain the measures that are needed to realise this revision successfully. The most important elements of realising this system are basing salary on performance and only giving promotions if there are vacancies. This will create a system where salaries are equal to production, as opposed to tenure.Show less
The main goal of this work is to make a timely and relevant contribution to understanding where moral legitimacy stems from in the Chinese context during a period of economic, political, and social...Show moreThe main goal of this work is to make a timely and relevant contribution to understanding where moral legitimacy stems from in the Chinese context during a period of economic, political, and social change. Particularly, how is Chinese government reestablishing its moral authority through the implementation of a centralized SCS? Is it possible, from a Chinese perspective, to restore the government’s morality by limiting individuals’ agency? What are the risks and benefits of this majestic project? To solve these queries, it is necessary to delve into China’s political tradition and contemporary history, and to highlight the role of morality as a source of government’s legitimacy. I believe this work will contribute to paving the road to an unbiased understanding of the rationale behind the implementation of the SCS.Show less
In this thesis, I have analyzed the meaning of family, mother(hood), and mothering as depicted in Gong Ji-young’s novel My Happy Home (chŭlgŏun naŭi chip). The analysis of this novel is based on...Show moreIn this thesis, I have analyzed the meaning of family, mother(hood), and mothering as depicted in Gong Ji-young’s novel My Happy Home (chŭlgŏun naŭi chip). The analysis of this novel is based on various literature on the concepts of household, family, mother(hood), single motherhood, and types of mothering, in addition to a discussion of the situation of South Korean families and mothers. I discuss the various methods Gong uses to indicate how family, mother(hood), and mothering are conceptualized by society and how she herself defines these concepts. The analysis indicates a level of rejection, but also agreement with society’s view on these concepts and Gong’s own interpretation.Show less
During the last decade, inbound foreign tourism rate in Japan underwent an outstanding escalation: from 5.22 million in 2003, the number of tourists visiting the country skyrocketed to 19.3 million...Show moreDuring the last decade, inbound foreign tourism rate in Japan underwent an outstanding escalation: from 5.22 million in 2003, the number of tourists visiting the country skyrocketed to 19.3 million in 2015. The government made active efforts towards this achievement as part of the strategy to strenghten the Japanese image abroad, as well as its national brand. A necessary part of this strategy was constituted by Japanese food, following the international popularity that it enjoyed in the recent years. As the global interest for authenticity and uniqueness grew especially in regards to food and tourism, this resarch tries to understand why Japanese government is using food as a product to give legitimization to its entire national brand, specifically by selling it through tourism consumption, to then establish which strategies are being adopted in order to reach this scope.Show less
