Today, mainland China makes up a large part of the videogame industry, with successful titles not only catering the Chinese gaming audience, the largest in the world, but also gaining international...Show moreToday, mainland China makes up a large part of the videogame industry, with successful titles not only catering the Chinese gaming audience, the largest in the world, but also gaining international popularity (Yong and Downing 2008, 515–29). However, former research has shown that inequal gender dynamics in the videogame industry lead to a predominantly male environment, that portrays women in sexist stereotypes (Vysotsky and Allaway 2018, 101). Chinese videogames are no exception to this; in a South China Morning Post (SCMP) interview with a female game concept artist based in Chengdu, there was a strong belief there is “a tacit agreement that female characters in games are supposed to be ‘pretty’ and ‘sexy’ (Shen 2020).” For instance, when designing a new character, the instructions read: “It needs to give people an urge to masturbate (Shen 2020).” This research aims to find the link between gender representations in videogames and traditional Chinese cultural values, comparing and analysing mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, and Chinese diaspora games, which are Chinese games made in a different environment than the homeland. The choice for analysing both mainland Chinese, Taiwanese and diaspora games, based on the respective differences between both societies which makes a comparison possible, requires an explanation that has historical roots.Show less
Japan, despite being a developed economy, is well known for its persistent gender inequality in the workplace. Many women quit their jobs when they get married or become mothers, and they can...Show moreJapan, despite being a developed economy, is well known for its persistent gender inequality in the workplace. Many women quit their jobs when they get married or become mothers, and they can usually not return to their previous job, so upon their return to the labor market, that is if they return, they tend to end up being placed in lower positions or doing low-paid part time work. Japanese policymakers over the last decades have recognized women’s bad position on the labor market as a problem, and have made multiple policies in an attempt to better women’s position. In this thesis I evaluate one of these policies, the Eruboshi certification, through the observation of Chiba Bank ltd. as a case study.Show less
This thesis examines the representation of homosexuality in Korean webtoons, and answers the question: How has homosexuality been represented in Korean Boys’ Love webtoons from 2019-2022? In order...Show moreThis thesis examines the representation of homosexuality in Korean webtoons, and answers the question: How has homosexuality been represented in Korean Boys’ Love webtoons from 2019-2022? In order to answer this question, the thesis uses content- and critical discourse analysis of three Korean webtoons that are part of the Boys' Love genre. Based on this, it concludes that Korean Boys’ Love webtoons largely represent homosexuality in a heteronormative, glorified and sexualized manner.Show less
In recent years, the effects of climate change and global warming have become more apparent. The cause and solutions thereof lie within cities. A solution that has an important and prominent role...Show moreIn recent years, the effects of climate change and global warming have become more apparent. The cause and solutions thereof lie within cities. A solution that has an important and prominent role is the implementation of more urban greenery. Urban greenery cools down the city, thereby ameliorating the Urban Heat Island effect. Furthermore, urban greenery has the ability to sequester carbon, makes the city have a nicer and healthier appearance, and has a positive impact on the physical and mental health of city dwellers. Urban greenery consists of large-scale and small-scale greenery. Large-scale can be understood as urban parks and forests, whereas small-scale is in the sense of gardening, such as tree border gardens and façade gardens. The focus of this thesis lies on the latter of these types of greenery. Specifically, on façade gardens, the implementation thereof, and the factors that influence this implementation. With use of literature and database research, structured observations, and a questionnaire, the main factors that influence the implementation of façade gardens in the city of Leiden was researched. It was discovered that the four main reasons are the structure of the neighbourhood, personal interests of inhabitants and their academic attainment level, information provisioning, and proximity to public parks.Show less
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the London music scene, causing unprecedented challenges for artists. This thesis explores how creative processes, collaboration, and the mental health...Show moreThe COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the London music scene, causing unprecedented challenges for artists. This thesis explores how creative processes, collaboration, and the mental health of musicians intersect due to the pandemic. London faced extensive COVID-19 restrictions since March 2020, disrupting musicians' ability to collaborate, access recording studios, and perform live. The absence of live audiences and reduced social connections hindered the essential feedback loop for artists. However, many adapted by leveraging technology for remote collaboration and online performances. The research focuses on creative processes, collaboration, and mental health, providing a comprehensive analysis of the pandemic's impact. By drawing on existing literature and conducting a specific study on London artists, the research aims to contribute valuable insights for future strategies to support the resilience and recovery of the London music scene.Show less
