Notes on Dissertation (Updated: Mar 14 2024) Tentative Research Focus This dissertation

Notes on Dissertation (Updated: Mar 14 2024)

Tentative Research Focus

This dissertation aims to investigate the complex relationship between media representation, particularly LGBTQ+ themes portrayed in East Asian TV dramas, with a specific focus on male-male romance, and educational policies in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. By delving into the portrayal of male-male romantic relationships in television dramas within the broader spectrum of LGBTQ+ representation, the study seeks to understand how these themes interact with and potentially influence educational policies and practices. Through an interdisciplinary approach, it will analyze the cultural, social, and political contexts of each region to uncover the mechanisms through which media representation, particularly male-male romance drama, shapes societal attitudes towards gender and sexuality and subsequently impacts educational values and practices. This research will contribute to a deeper understanding of the interplay between media representation, educational policies, and social change in East Asian societies.

Revised topics (just brainstorming!!) :

The Influence of LGBTQ+ Representation in TV Dramas, with a Focus on Male-Male Romance, on Educational Curricula in East Asia: A Comparative Study of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan

Exploring the Nexus between Media Representation and Educational Policies: LGBTQ+ Themes in East Asian TV Dramas with Emphasis on Male-Male Romance

Some research questions in mind:

1. How do male-male romance dramas in East Asian TV dramas contribute to the representation of LGBTQ+ themes?

2. What are the key differences and similarities in the portrayal of male-male romantic relationships in TV dramas across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan?

3. How do societal attitudes towards gender and sexuality influence the depiction of male-male romance in East Asian TV dramas?

4. To what extent do male-male romance dramas influence educational policies and practices in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan?

5. How do educators and policymakers perceive the portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes, specifically male-male romance, in TV dramas, and how does this perception shape educational curricula?

6. What are the reactions of students, parents, and other stakeholders to the inclusion of male-male romance dramas in educational materials and discussions?

7. How do cultural, social, and political factors influence the inclusion or exclusion of LGBTQ+ themes, particularly male-male romance, in educational curricula?

8. What strategies can be employed to enhance the positive impact of male-male romance dramas on educational discourse and curriculum development in East Asia?

9. How do male-male romance dramas intersect with broader discussions of diversity, inclusion, and representation in educational contexts?

10. What are the potential long-term effects of incorporating male-male romance dramas into educational curricula on societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals and issues in East Asian societies?

Bibliography:

1. Barber, Sian, Caoduro, Elena, & Körr, Kai. (2022). Education & TV Histories of a Vision. View (Utrecht). 11 (21). 1-4

2. Bouman, M. (2003). Entertainment-Education Television Drama in the Netherlands. In A. Singhal., M.J. Cody., E. Rogers., & M. Sabido. (Ed.), Entertainment-education and Social Change. (pg. 20-38). New York: Routledge.

3. Calzo, Jerel P. M.A., & Ward, L. Monique Ph.D. (2009). Media Exposure and Viewers’ Attitudes Toward Homosexuality: Evidence for Mainstreaming or Resonance? Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 53(2), 280-299. DOI: 10.1080/08838150902908049

4. Caprioglio, Teresa. (2021). Does ‘Queer Narrative’ Mean ‘Trauma Narrative’ on TV? Exploring Television’s Traumatized Queer Identity. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 22(4), 452-464.

5. Kondo, K., & Steemers, J. (2007). Can television be good for children? London: Save Kids’ TV.

6. Kwon, J. (2021). The past, present, and future of Boys love (BL) cultures in East Asia. Transnational Convergence of East Asian Pop Culture, 96–112. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003126850-8

7. Kwok, Diana K., Wu, Joseph, & Shardlow, Steven M. (2013). Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Among Hong Kong Chinese Social Work Students. Journal of Social Work Education, 49(2), 337-352. DOI: 10.1080/10437797.2013.768493

8. Liao, Li-Ling, Chang, Li-Chun, Lee, Chia-Kuei, & Tsai, Su-Ying. (2019). The Effects of a Television Drama-Based Media Literacy Initiative on Taiwanese Adolescents’ Gender Role Attitudes. Sex Roles, 82(3-4), 219-231.

9. Malthouse, E. C., Maslowska, E., & Franks, J. U. (2018). Understanding Programmatic TV advertising. International Journal of Advertising, 37(5), 769–784. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2018.1461733

10. Ni, H. (2021). The Popularity of Adapted Boy’s Love TV Series and the Ambiguous Social Identity of Gay Group: A Case Study of the Audience Analysis on the New TV Series Word of Honor. In Proceedings of the 2021 4th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2021). Atlantis Press SARL.

11. Nozawa, E. (2023). Boys’ Love, Transmedia Storytelling, and LGBT Awareness in Contemporary Japan. In S. Salenis (Ed.), Gender in Japanese Pop Culture: Rethinking Masculinities and Femininities (pp. 175-208). Joensuu: Palgrave Macmillan.

12. Schey, Ryan. (2022). Literacy (Dis)Orientations in a Secondary Classroom: Possibilities and Limits of an Intersectional LGBTQ+-Inclusive Curriculum. Reading Research Quarterly, 58(1), 25-43.

References to be read:

1. Title: Queer Representation, Visibility, and Authority in East Asia

Author: E. Sean Riehm

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Year: 2020

2. Title: Media and Cultural Studies: KeyWorks

Editors: Meenakshi Gigi Durham and Douglas M. Kellner

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Year: 2012

3. Title: Queer Representation in Asian American Literature and Film

Editor: Ignatius M. Y. Lo

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Year: 2017

4. Title: Boys’ Love Manga: Essays on the Sexual Ambiguity and Cross-Cultural Fandom of the Genre

Editors: Antonia Levi, Mark McHarry, and Dru Pagliassotti

Publisher: McFarland

Year: 2010

5. Title: Queer Japan: Personal Stories of Japanese Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals

Author: Barbara Summerhawk

Publisher: Lexington Books

Year: 2005

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