South Korea still differentiates itself from many democracies in that it retains the death penalty. Thus, the research question guiding this thesis is the following: Why has South Korea still not...Show moreSouth Korea still differentiates itself from many democracies in that it retains the death penalty. Thus, the research question guiding this thesis is the following: Why has South Korea still not abolished capital punishment? Using discourse analysis, I examine the current state of the capital punishment issue and the factors prolonging retention in recent context. I suggest that political elites’ passive attitude and reliance on common retentionist arguments—public opinion, deterrence and retribution—can be regarded as the primary reason for the failure to abolish in recent years.Show less
This BA thesis researches the representation of three Western TV personalities in South Korea through critical discourse analysis of four recent popular Korean TV programs starring foreigners. It...Show moreThis BA thesis researches the representation of three Western TV personalities in South Korea through critical discourse analysis of four recent popular Korean TV programs starring foreigners. It examines how the Korean media creates images of Western expats and how these images are adopted in other programs to fit their discourses. This research argues that the Korean media intends to convey positive discourses of multiculturalism in which notions of friendship and hospitality are central by adapting the images of Tyler Rasch (United States), Daniel Lindemann (Germany) and Alberto Mondi (Italy). It criticizes the Korean media for its lack of diversity in its recent surge of programs featuring foreigners. Even though programs featuring foreigners are becoming more popular and familiar among its Korean audience, this research argues that they are Eurocentric by illustrating how the media uses images of Western expats.Show less
This thesis aimed to provide a critical review on gender bias within the structural analysis method of Vladimir Propp, through the analysis of the Korean fairy tale of Changhwa and Hongnyon
The thesis argues that in the event of another DPRK famine, an argument under the principles of The Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) for international intervention can be made.
Due to the recent influx of foreigners into South Korea, its once very much homogeneous society is now becoming more diverse. The presence of these foreigners, who bring with them their own customs...Show moreDue to the recent influx of foreigners into South Korea, its once very much homogeneous society is now becoming more diverse. The presence of these foreigners, who bring with them their own customs and attitudes, has brought about the need for the rethinking of what it means to be a Korean citizen. One powerful way of shaping and changing society's views on national identity is through multicultural discourse in the national school curriculum. In this thesis I will review what changes the South Korean government has made tot the national curriculum, in order to broaden the meaning of South Korean national identity and accommodate the foreigners into society.Show less
In Zuid-Korea lijkt men extreem veel waarde te hechten aan het uiterlijk. Zoveel zelfs dat het uiterlijk doorslaggevend kan zijn op de arbeidsmarkt. Als gevolg is plastische chirurgie een...Show moreIn Zuid-Korea lijkt men extreem veel waarde te hechten aan het uiterlijk. Zoveel zelfs dat het uiterlijk doorslaggevend kan zijn op de arbeidsmarkt. Als gevolg is plastische chirurgie een wijdverspreid verschijnsel. De obsessie met schoonheid en plastische chirurgie in Zuid-Korea wordt in deze scriptie op basis van al bestaande bronnen geanalyseerd.Show less
Casting the Other in a villainous light has been a trend long known in the U.S. entertainment business. Asian villains have been employed since the late 19th century, leading to the birth of the...Show moreCasting the Other in a villainous light has been a trend long known in the U.S. entertainment business. Asian villains have been employed since the late 19th century, leading to the birth of the yellow peril trope in entertainment narratives. More recently a trend of shifting this yellow peril trope from Chinese, Japanese, or any other Asian nationality to North Korean has appeared. Since the late 20th, but mostly 21st, century there has been an increase of North Korean antagonism in entertainment media. This thesis examines this shift and attempts to explain and explore this, including the effects essentialist representations (could) have on the consumer. This is done by analysing 3 films and 2 video games, all dealing with North Korean antagonism as narrative. There are also parallels drawn between the increase of North Korean antagonism in fiction and real politics, as fiction often feeds off of reality to create dramatic storylines.Show less
