In the People's Republic of China, the state takes a didactic approach towards the diffusion of media and forbids the depiction of homoerotic relationships on the big and small screen. Chinese web...Show moreIn the People's Republic of China, the state takes a didactic approach towards the diffusion of media and forbids the depiction of homoerotic relationships on the big and small screen. Chinese web series "The Untamed" (Chen Qing Ling 陈情令) however adapts a web novel containing an explicit homoerotic romance to public acclaim. This exploratory study examines how the directors of this series navigated government censorship and conveyed the homoerotic subtext between the two protagonists. In order to answer this, the thesis makes use of visual discourse analysis (divided into the layers of the image, the soundscape and the montage) on shot protocols as outlined as in Schneider (2012) while also building upon the theoretical frameworks of Van Leeuwen (1996; 2008), Kress and Van Leeuwen (2006) and Iedema (2004). The analysis is contextualized by a literature review spanning the topics of the history of homosexuality in China, the importance of representation and television, homosexual representation in the Chinese media landscape to end with the topic of the state approach to media and censorship mechanisms of web series. The thesis concludes that the directors successfully depicted homoerotic subtext by using a wide range of audio-visual and narrative techniques while leaving enough space for deniability, which might bring about more adaptations of such materials and influence public opinion about homosexual individuals.Show less
Previous research suggests that psychopathy can also show in language, as “to use language is to engage in a social process” (Holtgraves, 2014). At present, many linguists believe that the analysis...Show morePrevious research suggests that psychopathy can also show in language, as “to use language is to engage in a social process” (Holtgraves, 2014). At present, many linguists believe that the analysis of language can offer some insights into underlying cognitive and emotional processes (Pennebaker, Mehl, & Niederhoffer, 2003). More specifically, word choices can function as subtle indicators of underlying psychopathy (Jughaenel, Smyth, & Santner, 2008, as cited in Le et al. 2017). Research by Hancock, Woodworth, and Boochever (2015) shows that there are linguistics tendencies discovered during the use of different communication mediums (like email, text messaging, Facebook, and Twitter), that are unique for ‘darker personalities’ (such as individuals with psychopathy or psychopathic tendencies). Unfortunately, there is a lack of research regarding fictional killers such as Dexter and Joe, who seem to fit the profile of the sociopathic/psychopathic killer, and whether they share these language tendencies. Therefore, this thesis will explore the language use of both Dexter and Joe, both in conversational speech as well as in their voice over narration, and aims to establish the truthfulness of their language tendencies. If this were to be established, it could suggest that script writers also take into account linguistic behavior rather than just social behavior, which would contribute to the authenticity of television characters.Show less
When creating his main character, Arthur Conan Doyle could never have thought that centuries later the detective stories would still invoke such strong reactions. Although Sherlock Holmes has...Show moreWhen creating his main character, Arthur Conan Doyle could never have thought that centuries later the detective stories would still invoke such strong reactions. Although Sherlock Holmes has indeed been a commercial success over the past hundreds of years, it has had its struggles dealing with its popularity. The 19th century audience already practically forced Doyle to write a sequel to the novel. Since then Sherlock Holmes’ audience and their surroundings obviously have changed dramatically. Technological advancements are not the least important influencers of the original detective stories. The most recent adaptations are the Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Junior and Jude Law and the BBC series Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Both have again reached millions of fans worldwide resulting in a growing demand of new episodes. With that comes a third technological development, the Internet, where an enormous fan base was created and Sherlock Holmes got an online identity of its own. The question arises how a character and his detective stories can still be so popular today. Apart from using facts and numbers that indicate its popularity, this thesis will investigate the developments in British television that has supported the reinvention of the character of Sherlock Holmes.Show less
