In this thesis I will discuss the politics behind Japanese anime and manga. In particular, I will try to elucidate the motivations behind the use of Nazi-inspired characters and Nazi symbolism in...Show moreIn this thesis I will discuss the politics behind Japanese anime and manga. In particular, I will try to elucidate the motivations behind the use of Nazi-inspired characters and Nazi symbolism in popular fiction. My research will be loosely structured around Hiroki Azuma’s infamous “Otaku; Japan’s Database Animals”, in which he discusses the effects of postmodernity on the way in which fiction is produced and consumed. Starting with Hiroki Azuma’s theory on the decline of a “grand narrative” and the increased importance of “moé” in fiction, it is my goal to see if Azuma’s theory holds up against the large variety of Nazi representations in contemporary Japanese popular culture.Show less
This thesis explores how the media mix, the Japanese equivalent of the media franchise, influences the entertainment experiences of its fan audiences through a case study. It not only analyzes in...Show moreThis thesis explores how the media mix, the Japanese equivalent of the media franchise, influences the entertainment experiences of its fan audiences through a case study. It not only analyzes in what ways the anime media mix of Yuri!!! on ICE functions as a system, in which media content is dispersed and consumed in different media forms, but it also explores the ways Yuri!!! on ICE is experienced as a world of its own that is interrelated with various other existing worlds, such as the world of professional figure skating, the online and temporary (event) spaces centered on fan culture and its communities, and the various existing cities on which the world of Yuri!!! on ICE is based. By analyzing not only a specific franchise, but also the variety of texts that relate with it from different theoretical perspectives, this thesis looks for gaps that can be filled in between different but related theories on media, semiotics, culture and space, particularly on the (re)construction of arbitrarily systematized worlds (both actual and virtual) through cultural production, signification and play.Show less
This essay analyses Oiwa, the female vengeful ghost protagonist of the kabuki play Tōkaidō Yotsuya kaidan, written by Tsuruya Nanboku IV in 1825. Due to its popularity, Oiwa has been a widely...Show moreThis essay analyses Oiwa, the female vengeful ghost protagonist of the kabuki play Tōkaidō Yotsuya kaidan, written by Tsuruya Nanboku IV in 1825. Due to its popularity, Oiwa has been a widely discussed topic by experts of the field, but there is a fundamental issue to reconsider if we are to achieve a better understanding of this character: why did she turn into a vengeful spirit? By applying the theoretical concept of intertextuality, i.e. by considering the relations between Yotsuya kaidan and other texts such as its sources and other plays from Nanboku’s repertoire, this thesis challenges the consolidated opinion that Oiwa turned into this frightful creature out of jealousy towards her unfaithful husband. Although jealousy is impossible to exclude, it argues that key to unravelling the motivations behind Oiwa’s revenge is the status of Yotsuya kaidan as the parody of the famous dramatization of the forty-seven ronin’s tale Kanadehon Chūshingura (1748). As propaedeutic to the making of this point, this work also looks at a less discussed side of Oiwa’s character, that as a daughter, wife and mother of a samurai household at the end of the Edo period.Show less
Presentation of the topic As a consequence of its vertiginous development in the last decades, China has gained a new position as an international superpower. Economic development has led to...Show morePresentation of the topic As a consequence of its vertiginous development in the last decades, China has gained a new position as an international superpower. Economic development has led to drastic social changes which had an impact on the official conception of Chinese Identity supported by the government. After the Maoist era and the reforms conducted under Deng, the old communist ideology did not suit Chinese people anymore. The government has had to find new discourses on which to base the national community. Contemporary China’s nationalism engages repeatedly with China’s glorious past and the unique value of Chinese traditional culture. Through such themes, the government aims to build a connection between contemporary Chinese society and Chinese history, in an effort to fill the lack of ideology which followed the Maoist era. Moreover, in contemporary times China’s international image has changed too; it is now one of the most powerful economies in the world, but lacks of international cultural influence. This study will investigate whether Chinese domestic cultural governance is meant to have an impact on an international level, and how such an objective would be achieved. This research will focus on the formulation and implementation of cultural governance under the president Xi Jinping, approaching the subject in a threefold analysis: theories on Chinese identity and nation-building, international network building and cultural investments under Xi Jinping, and exemplifying case studies in the Shandong province (The Confucius Temple and Kong’s Manson in Qufu, and the Shandong Province Museum in Jinan). Research Questions The questions this research seeks to answer are: how is cultural governance formulated and implemented in Contemporary China? What are the theories behind Chinese nation-building strategies that engage which traditional culture? How should the governmental support to Chinese traditional culture be interpreted? Who is the audience for such narrative and what does it aim for? How does this discourse reflect on a local level, such as the Shandong Province?Show less
In this thesis, a comparative analysis of the depiction of Kim Il Sung and the depiction of Kim Jong Il in North Korean thematic paintings (chujehwa) is conducted in order to determine how these...Show moreIn this thesis, a comparative analysis of the depiction of Kim Il Sung and the depiction of Kim Jong Il in North Korean thematic paintings (chujehwa) is conducted in order to determine how these paintings reflect the personality cults of the two leaders and whether there are any differences and similarities in the way the two leaders are depicted.Show less
Economic and bureaucratic reforms have shaped China's political economic framework since 1978. Although these reforms made long periods of economic growth possible, new challenges arose in the form...Show moreEconomic and bureaucratic reforms have shaped China's political economic framework since 1978. Although these reforms made long periods of economic growth possible, new challenges arose in the form of often collusive corruption. This dissertation will explore the relationship between economic and bureaucratic reforms and shifting types of corruption in China between 1992 - presentShow less
A study on the position and representation of the musumeyaku of the all-female Takarazuka Revue. For the greatest part of the century long history of the Takarazuka Revue, the otokoyaku, or male...Show moreA study on the position and representation of the musumeyaku of the all-female Takarazuka Revue. For the greatest part of the century long history of the Takarazuka Revue, the otokoyaku, or male-role actresses have enjoyed a monopoly of the theatre's fans' affection. In contrast, the musumeyaku remain mostly on the background. This Thesis reconsiders the musumeyaku's position and what they represent in the world of Takarazuka, and examines the femininity as represented by these actresses.Show less
Literature allows us to experience the world through different eyes, walk through faraway lands and live a life vastly different from our own, if only for a short while. Not even teenagers are...Show moreLiterature allows us to experience the world through different eyes, walk through faraway lands and live a life vastly different from our own, if only for a short while. Not even teenagers are immune to its lure, as shown by the success of youth literature throughout the world. While sales figures of this young branch of literature are astounding, it is also worth delving into its contents. Shown by websites such as The Brown Bookshelf, the Children’s Book Council Diversity Initiative and the #WeNeedDiverseBooks Campaign, there is an ongoing debate on the importance of diversity and representation of minority groups in youth literature, as people wonder what it means when our classrooms are more diverse than the characters in our youth literature. What happens if we bring this debate to China? While China is almost as large as the European continent, it is easy to mistake it for a homogenous country. In truth, China has a hugely diverse population, which begs the questions: is this diversity reflected in its just as hugely popular youth literature? When discussing minority groups in China, the first to spring to mind are the 55 ethnic minority groups. Though they make up less than 10% of the total population, combined they still account for more than a hundred million people. Their representation in Chinese youth literature will be the focus of this thesis. The first chapter will examine the current state of contemporary Chinese youth literature and how it has developed. In the second chapter, I will take a closer look at the problematic nature and context of ethnic minority groups and ethnic representation in China. The third chapter will introduce the five youth literature novels that will be the focus of this research, and a thorough discussion of the ethnic representation in these five novels will be featured in the fourth and last chapter. The main research question is: how are ethnic minority groups represented in contemporary Chinese youth literature?Show less
This thesis researched how four large newspapers: People’s Daily（人民日报）and Southern Metropolis Daily （南方都市报）both from China, and Apple Daily （苹果日报）and Ta Kung Pao (大公报), based in Hong Kong, reported...Show moreThis thesis researched how four large newspapers: People’s Daily（人民日报）and Southern Metropolis Daily （南方都市报）both from China, and Apple Daily （苹果日报）and Ta Kung Pao (大公报), based in Hong Kong, reported on the massive demonstrations of mid-September 2014, following the decision of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on August 31st to hold elections for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in 2017.Show less
The Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami, which occurred on March 3rd, 2011, was a natural disaster of an unprecedented scale. One of its more severe aftermaths, the accident in...Show moreThe Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami, which occurred on March 3rd, 2011, was a natural disaster of an unprecedented scale. One of its more severe aftermaths, the accident in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, remains unresolved until this day. Thousands of people were relocated due to the nuclear contamination, and the local communities were severed. This paper addresses the discussion about the further exploitation of nuclear power in Japan, which arose as a consequence of the nuclear accident. Although the Japanese government intends to continue relying on atomic energy, various statistics have shown the citizens’ objection. In this qualitative study, the representatives of three areas within Tohoku region were asked about their opinions towards nuclear power plants, and their arguments. The interviews were analyzed through the premises of socio-psychological dual-process theory, which explains how the opinions are constructed. One’s personal experience, perception of benefit or loss, and the trust towards the government and the energy companies proved to be the crucial factors for opinions’ construction. Moreover, the tragedy contributed to end the indifference of citizens, disappointed with the centralized government and its poor disaster response. The importance of the local authorities is increasing, and the close-knit societies are recovering faster. Lastly, the Japanese urgent need for alternative energy sources became visible, however currently there is no substitute capable of replacing nuclear power completely.Show less
In recent years, the number of people, both students and adults, learning Japanese has been on the rise throughout the world. With such a fast development, problems and issues concerning both the...Show moreIn recent years, the number of people, both students and adults, learning Japanese has been on the rise throughout the world. With such a fast development, problems and issues concerning both the acquisition of the Japanese language and the teaching method used have become evident. In particular one of the most challenging features of the language has noticeably been detected in the two particles wa and ga. Those two particles, having mainly the function of theme and subject markers, represent an intriguing point for scholars and students alike. Their uses have been at the center of analysis for many years and many linguists have devoted a huge part of their research to inspect their most debated aspects. Researches have focused on different functions each particle can assume and, how their usages can influence the general meaning of a sentence. From Kuno‟s The structure of the Japanese language, considered to be the cornerstone in the field, many different angles of analysis have been used to describe these two particles. Wa and ga are an interesting point of analysis inasmuch as their distinction is vague and subtle both for learners and for Japanese native speakers. Hence, with my research I would like to analyze this issue more in depth, producing evidences of a link between teaching method and particles errors. Through the analysis of written production by L2 Japanese learners, this research confirmed previous findings. It demonstrated a link between classroom instruction and errors in particles usage, calling for much needed reform in Japanese second language teaching.Show less
This thesis examines female consciousness and self-identity in six films by Chinese female directors from the Sixth Generation. This study compares three films from the independent sector to three...Show moreThis thesis examines female consciousness and self-identity in six films by Chinese female directors from the Sixth Generation. This study compares three films from the independent sector to three films from the commercial sector by using the method of social semiotics.Show less
In this paper language attitudes of native Japanese speakers towards native Hakata dialect speakers are researched, to find out about the interdependency between spoken language and linguistic...Show moreIn this paper language attitudes of native Japanese speakers towards native Hakata dialect speakers are researched, to find out about the interdependency between spoken language and linguistic stereotypes, which tends to heavily influence interpersonal relationships as well as the process of establishing biases. Research was conducted by application of the matched-guise experimental technique in combination with a questionnaire. The main questions were: Are Hakata dialect speakers consistently perceived differently in comparison to standard Japanese speakers as a consequence of linguistic stereotyping? If so, then what are the prevalent stereotypes held by native Japanese speakers about people who speak Hakata dialect?Show less
