Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Contemporary mainland Chinese cinema has witnessed a notable rise in female-centered movies, coinciding with the emergence of third wave feminism and feminist consumerism in 21st-century media culture. Underpinned by feminist film theory, this thesis submerges into the ocean of contemporary mainland Chinese cinema, exploring the portrayal of femininity over the past two decades. Using Fairclough’s three-dimensional model in critical discourse analysis, the study specifically delves into the female gaze in the acclaimed 2021 film, B for Busy, which attained the highest rating on the Chinese IMDB Douban during that year. The research aims to capture the evolution of femininity in mainland China’s cinema since the 1990s and, more specifically, how it challenges gender normativity through cinematic language within the broader sociocultural milieu. Additionally, this thesis further investigates the discursive aspect and sociocultural aspect of B for Busy, examining its audience reception and how it reflects post-feminism with Chinese characteristics in mainland Chinese media discourse. By doing so, it contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the reconstruction of femininity in contemporary mainland Chinese cinema and its resonance within China’s evolving sociocultural landscape. This research serves as a supplement to existing scholarship in the field, shedding light on the intricate intersections between gender representation, feminism, and societal change in mainland Chinese cinema.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Ever since the unravelling of events in 1974, Cyprus has been divided along ethnic and geographic lines. Over time, each side developed its own politics of remembrance regarding the past, which deepened existing dichotomies between the two dominant communities of the island, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, who have lived apart for nearly half a century. Focusing on the Greek Cypriot community, this thesis paper will examine various mnemonic symbols and practices to broach how cultural memory permeates the south side of the island. The younger generation, meaning those born after 1974, will be the focal point of this analysis. The thesis is guided by three main points of inquiry; firstly, it will explore the ways cultural memory is constructed and utilised within the Greek Cypriot community. Further, it will examine its impact and influence on the community’s collective identity. Finally, it will consider cultural memory’s potentially divisive nature and its implications for intercommunal dynamics. The line of research explores the ways cultural memory encourages a collective to remember but also to forget. In the case of the former, remembrance will be approached as a form of duty and belonging which ties cultural groups together. Regarding the latter, theoretical concepts such as historical narrativity will be utilised to gauge the constructedness of the past. This part of the research will also investigate the ways historical narratives may create antagonistic views between communities whilst maintaining ethnonational sentiments across both sides, ultimately leading to the forgetting of a shared past. Using this as a point of departure, the thesis will move to consider heritage’s potential for symbolic healing through the renegotiation of existing memories and identities across the divide. The overarching aim of this thesis is to examine how cultural memory shapes the present through its representations of the past, and how this may impact future reconciliation efforts between the two communities. This is an important area of research which can provide useful insights into the processes which polarise populations within post-conflict nations but also consider solutions for peacebuilding and reconciliation. Concerning methodology, the thesis will take a qualitative approach; by following a case study research design, it will introduce Greek Cypriot remembrance practices, and apply data analysis methods including discourse analysis, textual analysis, and interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) to survey each of them. This thesis aims to contribute to the existing literature concerning memory, identity, and heritage in Cyprus by offering a focalised view of one community and a particular generational group within it. This addresses a gap in existing research on the topic whilst also creating the potential for future research.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

This thesis focuses on long distance relationships (LDDRs) and tries to understand how selected couples maintain interpersonal communication through digital media. Because of the developed remote communication media, even a long-distance couple is physically apart from one another and unable to communicate face-to-face, they can still share information online through their devices. By doing so, they can still feel each other’s presence, meet their need for interaction in another way, and maintain their close relationships despite the distance. And with more media productions have chosen LDRRs as main storyline, also raised questions about the accuracy of these portrayals compared to real-life experiences. This thesis aims to compare the experience of LDRRs presented in movies with real-life experiences. We focus on the movie Going the Distance (2010) and use a combination of close-reading and interviews to discuss how couples in our selected samples maintain intimacy during the long-distance process. This study discovered that the story of long-distance relationship in the chosen movie can significantly mirror the selected real experiences and offer distinctive viewpoints and fresh examples for a deeper comprehension of long-distance relationships of the interviewees.