Massey Documents by Type

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294

Browse

Filters

Settings

Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Popular culture

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    'Weeaboo Japanese' : exploring English-Japanese language-mixing in online Japanese popular culture fandom : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Philosophy in Linguistics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Gardiner, Rowan Elizabeth Arbuthnott
    The complexities of a globalised modern society pose methodological and theoretical issues for linguistic research in areas such as Language Contact, Language-Mixing, and Sociolinguistics, due to the commodification and transmission of language and language features resulting in new language interactions. The boundary between definitions of language borrowing and code- switching is currently a matter of increased interest, particularly in terms of research identifying cases of language use involving unskilled participants. This study investigates and linguistically analyses the presence of Japanese language features within English language contexts that are produced by members of online discussion forums who are fans of Japanese popular culture, and for whom fluency in Japanese language is not assumed nor required for participation. Corpus linguistics techniques were employed on data gathered from two online sources in order to identify what linguistic features were present and establish their extent according to frequency. These same corpora were qualitatively analysed to establish community attitudes towards English-Japanese language mixing and what these results indicated in terms of policing and community norms, and overall what both the quantitative and qualitative results meant for how the language phenomena could be defined according to current theoretical paradigms. The results showed that the most frequent word class was nouns, and the semantic domains found were mostly related to Japanese fandom concepts that were topical to the forum, such as specific interests, clothing and fashion, food, media related terms, and religion and cultural terms. Most instances were single-word insertions, and where the few multi-word segments occurred they were specifically in reference to a negative stereotype within the community (weeaboo). This stereotype also indicated language policing was a factor affecting language use, and the results showed that while the Japanese language had high status, language use was socially restricted to specific situations and extents of use. The language phenomenon is described as mostly language borrowing behaviours, but as the words retain a high level of knowledge of related assignations and also occur concurrently with a few code-switching type behaviours, the usage-based approach where both elements are considered different aspects of the same continuum is seen as a preferable theoretical paradigm.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The art of involvement : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1998) Bryant, Claire
    Levy (1996, 367) says, The art of involvement discovers the current of music. How do we make a symphony rise from the murmur of a multiple? How do we transfer the sound of a crowd into a chorus, without a musical score? The collective intellect continually brings the social contract into play, it keeps the group in a state of renewal. This thesis focuses on the role of the relations of production in building human capital, recognising this as a component of economic development, along with mobilising financial capital and utilising the natural resource base. Although relations of production sometimes destroy human capital, this thesis discusses examples where marginalised groups have used creolisation strategies to resist globalisation and build their human capital - first, Maori seeking to improve their position of equity within the economy and, secondly, women seeking to use the Net on their own terms. The privatising of the economy, and of the Net, symbolises the continued exclusion of marginalised groups from control, or even much influence, within the post-industrial economy of text and image flows now dominating global economics and culture-making. The risk for Maori and women is that the hunger of a global digital entertainment industry (which today includes marketing, movies, games, politics, chat lines and the news) for different and especially new information, even in the midst of what is, for the individual, infinitely abundant information, is that their stories will be absorbed but leave them with no means of exchange. The telling of different, but equally persuasive stories, is characteristic of the use of creolisation strategies that resist global cultural colonisation. In both large and small ways, the Maori and women in the case studies are using involvement in interactive performances to deny the power of the one-way monologue transmitted by elites seeking passivity, isolation and un-resisting consumption. Although we may live in a 'sea of stories' and sometimes the tide seems to bring only other people's stories it is useful to remember the power of the undercurrent to subvert surface intentions. I use hermeneutic methodology to discuss historic examples of interactive performance and, by comparing these with present day case studies, I develop the argument that such performances have always been used to build human capital. As a relation of production, interactive performance is based on mutuality and negotiation and, when people have the opportunity to practise these skills, they also increase their choices to adopt them in their daily life. By providing 'safe' environments, like flags on the beach within the marae and on the Net, interactive performances create a collective playspace that encourages people to practice and explore self determination skills, and remember the presence of the undercurrent.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The development of stardom : celebrity, image and the media : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Media Studies and Communication)
    (Massey University, 1996) Hillgrove, Richard John
    The Development of Stardom: Celebrity, Image and the Media argues that the phenomenon of stardom has little to do with 'stars' and more to do with psychological processes of 'fans' that create 'artificial' relationships with them. The thesis examines how the fans' bond with a star evolves through a cycle. This can be traced through the foundational stages of 'early attachment', to a period in which the fan feels self actualised by establishing a 'healthy' relationship with the star, and on to a phase where the bond fades. Here, fans either reattach to a new star or react possessively, by trying to hold on to a star despite the continued erosion of their bond. The thesis suggests that the bond the fan forms with the star is false, and yet despite fans often being conscious of their 'fandom', true detachment from a reliance on stars is particularly difficult.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The status of contemporary Māori music : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Philosophy at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2009) Karini, Angela
    Music has always been an integral part of day to day living in both traditional and contemporary Maori society. Significant to Maori music is a distinct philosophical and cultural perspective. Essentially these principles encapsulate the notion of Maori defining their own priorities, expressions, locality and collective aspirations within the realm of music making. For these reasons, the scope of Maori music extends beyond the individual artist and therefore performance. It is concerned with reasserting self determination and collective purpose thus situating itself within the broader context of Maori development. This thesis examines the status of contemporary Maori music, its priorities, distinctive features, and social realities. The research undertaken highlights the historic decontextualisation of Maori worldview, language, music and culture emphasising how western approaches to music making are privileged rendering Maori music systems invalid. Significant to this research has been the determination of an ideological shift referred to as the augmented identity. This reconstruction situates contemporary Maori music in its own distinct space although adjacent to traditional Maori music culture and likewise western popular culture. In addition this study presents a pictorial framework in which to conceptualise the range of influences that assist in the reconstruction of an augmented identity. Another crucial area of this thesis has been the collation of views drawn from a small sample group of practitioners and organisations involved in the contemporary Maori music sector. The research proposes that contemporary expression utilises selective elements of traditional Maori worldview as a premise of cultural validation. Additionally this research claims that artists of Maori descent utilising western performative and aesthetic characteristics generate a false impression of contemporary Maori music and its priorities. As a result Maori worldview and language is often a site of contention for Kaupapa Maori music makers in the national music scene.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    What lessons can we learn from Babe, a sheep-pig, about inter-cultural adaptation?
    (Massey University. Department of Management and International Business, 2007) Sayers, Janet; Ruffolo, Lara
    This paper examines the movie Babe to discuss inter-cultural adaptation strategies and the role that affection and trust plays in inter-cultural relations. Specifically this paper discusses these inter-cultural themes in the context of who Babe becomes (a sheep-pig) and what his transformation into this hybrid may teach us about the inter-cultural adaptation journey. The paper provides a description of the major themes and characters in the movie, and shows how Babe and other animal characters approach the process of intercultural adaptation with varied degrees of success. We suggest that Babe is a useful resource for educators, and suggest ways that the movie can be used to promote dialogue in the classroom about inter-cultural adaptation strategies.