In this thesis I examine how cross cultural exchange between mainland China and Japan has influenced the Chinese video game industry. I use the Chinese game Genshin Impact as a case study to...Show moreIn this thesis I examine how cross cultural exchange between mainland China and Japan has influenced the Chinese video game industry. I use the Chinese game Genshin Impact as a case study to examine how the developers have been influenced both by the history between the two countries as well as how modern flows of media and media consumption habits have shaped the perception of modern Japan through its fictionalized depiction in the game. Of note is how the despite the negative historic relations between Japan and China there is still a great deal of respect for modern Japanese popular culture to be found in the game. As such it gives an insight into the complex relationship between the two nations as cross cultural exchange has led to a warm reception of Japanese popular culture despite general negative views towards Japan being common in the PRC.Show less
This article uses the Japanese otome game (video games for women) as an example to examine the exoticism during cultural exchanges in this current globalized world. This article mainly argues that,...Show moreThis article uses the Japanese otome game (video games for women) as an example to examine the exoticism during cultural exchanges in this current globalized world. This article mainly argues that, even though we are getting in touch with cultural products such as video games that contain the mixture of global cultures, what attracts most of the people is the ‘exoticism’; which indicates that what seems to erase or blur cultural borders in a globalized world is actually enlarge and emphasize on the cultural differences. By carefully analyzing four otome games that based their stories outside Japan, this article shows how most of the foreign elements are used 'exteriorly' in these Japanese products. The article ends up with an elaboration on similar cases in other cultural aspects, which indicates that the chase of exoticism is rather common all over the world. It is difficult to be certain of whether the cultural gap under globalization is narrower and wider than before, but instead of the convergence, the diversity of cultures is probably more emphasized in the contemporary world.Show less
This thesis seeks out to explore the differences and similarities between how Japanese, Chinese and Western Lolitas consume the fashion. By using previous academic works on Lolita Fashion,...Show moreThis thesis seeks out to explore the differences and similarities between how Japanese, Chinese and Western Lolitas consume the fashion. By using previous academic works on Lolita Fashion, accompanied by books magazines, blogs, posts on social media in various languages, the Japanese, Chinese and Western Loilta communities are exposed. Lolita fashion, which originates from Japan, has spread to countries all over the world. While in the first place the overseas communities tried to adapt Lolita in its “true form”, factors like local culture, aesthetics and availability has resulted in differences between the three regions. For example Japanese and Chinese Lolitas find model-influence more important than event-influence, while for Western Lolitas it is the other way around. As Western brands therefore also lay more of a focus on sales at events instead of hiring famous Lolita models for a photoshoot, this could be the reason why Western brands do not do it well in Japan and China. Chinese brands on the other hand do it well all over the world. Trends started by Chinese Lolitas are also being adapted in Japan. Chinese Lolitas even have gained so much influence that Japanese brands, which still carry a symbolic status in all the three Lolita communities, are adapting their sales to the wishes of Chinese Lolitas. It could therefore be concluded that while Japan is still the main source of influence in how Lolita fashion is consumed, China has become just as important in recent years. While Japan and China are reacting to each other, the West is merely adapting Japanese and Chinese influences to their local communities.Show less
