This thesis explores the ways in which the Japanese actress and singer Kaji Meiko embodies the image and the voice of the female action heroine through her roles as Matsushima Nami in "Female...Show moreThis thesis explores the ways in which the Japanese actress and singer Kaji Meiko embodies the image and the voice of the female action heroine through her roles as Matsushima Nami in "Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion" (1972) and Kashima Yuki in "Lady Snowblood" (1973). Chapter 1 offers a narrative analysis of both films by examining various story elements and how they reinforce, critique, or comment on social and political issues at the time they were released. This includes questions of gender and sexuality brought to the fore by Kaji's portrayals. Chapter 2 presents an analysis of the lyrics of the two theme songs Urami Bushi and Shura no hana, performed by Kaji Meiko herself, through the lens of Frith's 'song as a speech act' approach. Kaji's unique delivery can be considered “yakusha no uta”, an extension of her acting. Her performance of the songs contributes to deepening the film’s narrative and adds a layer to her characters' complexity. What sets Kaji apart from her contemporary actors is that her characters represent more complex representations of women in action films. Kaji's artistic involvement during the design process of her characters and her versatile acting brought both the characters of Matsushima Nami and Kashima Yuki to life as unconventional women who were strong and resilient, carrying the actress to stardom.Show less
Aimee Mollaghan is one of the first to combine the concepts of soundscape and psychogeography in the pursuit of examining how the Irish landscape can serve to express emotion, alienation, and...Show moreAimee Mollaghan is one of the first to combine the concepts of soundscape and psychogeography in the pursuit of examining how the Irish landscape can serve to express emotion, alienation, and nostalgia. Focusing on a film about an expatriate sound recordist and his journey from his new home Berlin to that of his childhood. She describes the film as a work that engages with soundscape and landscape in a psychogeographical manner. Inspired by the work of Mollaghan, this thesis delves deeper into the notions of psychogeography and soundscape as described by Guy Debord and R. Murray Schafer. Abiding by Mollaghan’s study, the thesis concentrates on soundscape and psychogeography and its correlation between the experiences of individuals from an expatriate community. Throughout the years, the Japanese expatriate community in the Netherlands has grown increasingly, and so have the institutions and services catered towards Japanese expatriates. Is it possible that the emergence of familiar institutions and activities may create a similar soundscape to that of urban Japan? And if so, does this familiar soundscape evoke negative emotions or acculturative stress among expatriates? This thesis endeavors to explore the link between an unfamiliar soundscape and the loneliness, homesickness and nostalgia that it might evoke.Show less
