Anthem Impact in Asian Media, Cinema and Communications – serie

Over the last 15 years, Chinese videogames and fan production have become spaces where state-sanctioned gender norms are reproduced, altered, and challenged. This book analyzes the representation of masculinity in the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) Jianxiaqingyuan Online (Jian 3) (2009) and how fanfiction writers either reproduce or transform these representations. By doing so, the book contributes to game studies by providing insights into how masculinity is represented in Chinese MMORPGs and exploring the ideological implications of the relationship between games and fanfiction. It also contributes to fan studies by showcasing the different textual and rhetorical strategies used by fanfic writers to negotiate with state-sanctioned gender norms.

Contemporary Taiwanese Horror Cinema investigates the resurgence of horror and ghost films in Taiwan’s vibrant cinematic landscape. By analyzing a range of works, from postmodern horror comedies to art-house meditations, the book reveals how ghostly motifs serve as powerful metaphors for identity, historical trauma, and cultural renewal. Bridging traditional folklore with the digital age, Taiwanese filmmakers explore issues of memory, spirituality, and societal transformation, responding to both local and global shifts. Through a multidisciplinary lens combining film studies, cultural history, and media theory, this book offers a fresh and comprehensive examination of contemporary Taiwanese cinema. It highlights the dialogue between genre cinema and art-house aesthetics, and situates Taiwan’s “ghost island” narratives within broader conversations on globalization, queer representation, and cinematic innovation. Accessible and richly documented, Contemporary Taiwanese Horror Cinema addresses scholars, students, and cinephiles interested in Asian cinema, horror studies, and cultural identity.