Being multi-ethnic seems to be something of a contradiction. How can someone be Japanese, yet not be Japanese at the same time? The fact that multi-ethnics have access to two or more cultures,...Show moreBeing multi-ethnic seems to be something of a contradiction. How can someone be Japanese, yet not be Japanese at the same time? The fact that multi-ethnics have access to two or more cultures, languages, and consequently two or more sets of values can influence how they identify themselves according to the situation, resulting in multiple possible identities. This study will explore multi-ethnic identities from the perspective of multi-ethnic Japanese individuals themselves. The focus lies on tracking down and exploring multi-ethnic adolescents’ experiences of being Othered in Japan and look at the key elements that need to be examined when analyzing multi-ethnic identity. How do multi-ethnics manage feeling a constant mismatch between how they identify themselves and how others identify them? How do they then find a means to feel ‘normal’, like they belong? These are the main questions that I will focus on answering in this thesis.Show less
Very few historical figures exerted such long-lasting and significant influence on the idea of tyranny as Jie of Xia dynasty (2207-1766 BCE) and Zhou of Shang Dynasty (1766-1122) did. Since their...Show moreVery few historical figures exerted such long-lasting and significant influence on the idea of tyranny as Jie of Xia dynasty (2207-1766 BCE) and Zhou of Shang Dynasty (1766-1122) did. Since their earliest mentioning in Chinese texts, they are identified as wicked rulers who, because of their lavish lifestyle and their ill-advised political conduct, brought about the demise of their dynasties. In this work, I tried to analyse the idea of tyranny as crafted on these two rulers. To what extent the figures of Jie and Zhou influenced the depiction of later Emperors; in other words, can we speak of a stereotypical representation of tyranny modelled on the two pre-imperial kings? These were my thesis’ main research questions. To investigate possible answers, I addressed the stereotypical depiction of Chinese rulers by analysing, as study cases, the figures of Emperor Qianfei (449–466) of Liu Song dynasty (420–579) within official historiography, and Emperor Yang (569–618) of Sui dynasty (581–618) in fiction. It turned out that the two emperors' depictions had clear allusions to and parallels with the two pre-imperial kings. In the cases presented, the aim of the historian, or of the fiction writer, to portray a tyrannical ruler adheres, quite precisely, to the figures of the Xia and Shang wicked rulers.Show less
Comparative analyses of ethnic minority policies in Manchukuo and the Soviet Union during the inter war years. Rather than "ideas", it was mostly the need of the indigenous population for the...Show moreComparative analyses of ethnic minority policies in Manchukuo and the Soviet Union during the inter war years. Rather than "ideas", it was mostly the need of the indigenous population for the establishment of hegemony as well as domestic and international crisis that drove ethnic minority policies.Show less
Marlon Hom demonstrates that Pu Songling’s portrayal of women can be divided into two categories: 1. mortal women and 2. mythical women. Pu's women show only one set of characteristics at a time....Show moreMarlon Hom demonstrates that Pu Songling’s portrayal of women can be divided into two categories: 1. mortal women and 2. mythical women. Pu's women show only one set of characteristics at a time. The morally good and chaste personality traits belong to the humans, while the independent and assertive women are usually mythical beings. Lady White in "The Tale of the White Snake" (bái shé zhuàn 白蛇傳) displays both the mortal and supernatural aspects: she exhibits proper human behaviour, but at the same time she retains the assertive traits attributed to her snake spirit nature. This thesis will explore why and how Lady White's portrayal in the drum ballads is shown in a much more favourable light compared to her depiction in the vernacular story "Lady White is imprisoned underneath the Thunder Peak Pagoda".Show less
Japanese texts presented in mixed script, a combination of Chinese characters (kanji) and syllabic kana graphs, are typically processed faster than texts written solely in kana. Previous research...Show moreJapanese texts presented in mixed script, a combination of Chinese characters (kanji) and syllabic kana graphs, are typically processed faster than texts written solely in kana. Previous research has identified a variety of phenomena that could explain this difference, including script familiarity effects as well as possibly more fundamental differences in the ways these two orthographic styles are processed. A number of authors have pointed out that in mixed script, the boundaries between the visually distinct kanji and kana scripts can be used as an indicator of the boundaries between bunsetsu, units comprised of an independent word and any clitics that may follow it. This thesis assesses to what extent this particular characteristic of mixed script can explain the difference in reading speed, based on an analysis of previous empirical research in the field and a new experiment. In this experiment, 40 Japanese native speaker informants were tasked with reading 4 texts of different types, presented in either mixed script or kana and either with or without spacing between bunsetsu. Reading time measurements show a large overlap between the effects of bunsetsu spacing and mixed script, pointing to the presence of visually distinct script boundaries in mixed script as the main (but not the only) cause of the difference in reading speed between mixed script text and kana text. Considerable differences were found between the 4 stimulus texts, and an analysis of these differences reveals how the effects of this feature of mixed script may fluctuate depending on the characteristics of the text.Show less
This thesis makes an attempt to define North Korean comic books and situate them in the context of North Korean cultural production. Then, using the visual language of comics theory developed by...Show moreThis thesis makes an attempt to define North Korean comic books and situate them in the context of North Korean cultural production. Then, using the visual language of comics theory developed by Neil Cohn, the dialect of visual language used by Ch'oe Hyŏk is analysed and identified by looking at the graphic structure, morphology and narrative grammar. Drawing on Cohn's data, some comparisons are made with the attentional panel categories and filmic shot types of American and Japanese visual language. Based on this, there is an extrapolation as to possible influences on the comics work of Ch'oe Hyŏk.Show less
A prominent aspect of traditional Japanese dance is that it contains parts or dances that are called “male” or “female” that can be danced by dancers of either sex. This study analyses the parts...Show moreA prominent aspect of traditional Japanese dance is that it contains parts or dances that are called “male” or “female” that can be danced by dancers of either sex. This study analyses the parts called “male” or otoko-furi and “female” or onna-furi within yosakoi dance, a modern style of Japanese folkdance through movement analysis and questionnaires. The research question is as following: What are the features of otoko-furi and onna-furi within yosakoi dance, and do these parts resist or affirm gender stereotypes? It becomes clear that it is hard to define otoko-furi and onna-furi, even though the parts contain contrasting movements. Furthermore, contrary to traditional dance the gender of the body of the dancer matters for the execution of the part. This forces dancers to conform their dancing part to the sex of their body, and affirm gender stereotypes rather then resisting them.Show less
The Japanese constitution guarantees freedom from censorship. However, article 175 of the Japanese Criminal Code prohibits the production and distribution of obscenities. In an effort to still be...Show moreThe Japanese constitution guarantees freedom from censorship. However, article 175 of the Japanese Criminal Code prohibits the production and distribution of obscenities. In an effort to still be able to publish erotic manga, manga artists use a plethora of self-censorship techniques, trying to circumvent the law. In this thesis I try to investigate what exactly is deemed obscene under the Japanese law. By examining the works of Japanese erotic gay manga artist Tagame Gengoroh I try to establish whether certain techniques are more favorable than others according to different publication media. It turns out that Japanese judges tend to alter the definition of obscene to the opinions of society; the definition seems to change through time.Show less
This thesis investigates the Shingon esoteric commentarial tradition on the text Shōji jissō gi, written by Kūkai (774-835). More specifically, it focuses on a selection of commentaries produced by...Show moreThis thesis investigates the Shingon esoteric commentarial tradition on the text Shōji jissō gi, written by Kūkai (774-835). More specifically, it focuses on a selection of commentaries produced by prominent Shingon thinkers between the thirteenth and early fifteenth centuries, in order to trace the contours of the tradition and its development during this period. After an assessment of the historical context and the functioning of the texts therein, it is suggested that these commentaries are primarily composed and used for the education of Shingon scholar priests during dharma lectures (dangi). It is also revealed that exegetical texts not only interpret the original text, but also connect it to contemporary concerns that are informed by doctrinal debate inside and outside the Shingon school. On the basis of these observations, it is proposed that a slight shift in methodology for the study of commentarial literature may be necessary.Show less
This thesis analyzes the main factors which are contributing to the popularity of cosmetic surgery among Chinese women, focusing on social contexts, such as marriage and finding a job,...Show moreThis thesis analyzes the main factors which are contributing to the popularity of cosmetic surgery among Chinese women, focusing on social contexts, such as marriage and finding a job, globalization and its outcomes such as the influence of mass media and South Korea. To understand these factors this thesis dives into the concept of beauty by understanding what it means to be beautiful in China throughout history and who ultimately defines it. It is argued that there has been a change of beauty standard in China, meaning that the steps of obtaining beauty changed from applying make-up and wearing certain hairstyles and clothes to a whole new high level which can now only be obtained by cosmetic surgery. A number of factors are ‘defining’ the beauty standard of today, which is globalization, which can be seen as mass media and the popularity of South Korea, and China’s beauty economy which also contributes to higher standards in personal and professional success.Show less
