KAMC/MediAsia2025 Conference Programme & Abstract Book

International Academic Board

Professor Anne Boddington, IAFOR, Japan (IAB Chair)

Dr Joseph Haldane, IAFOR and The University of Osaka, Japan & University College London, United Kingdom

Professor Jun Arima, IAFOR & The University of Tokyo, Japan

Professor Virgil Hawkins, IAFOR Research Centre & The University of Osaka, Japan

Mr Lowell Sheppard, IAFOR & Never Too Late Academy, Japan

Professor Umberto Ansaldo, VinUniversity, Vietnam

Dr Susana Barreto, University of Porto, Portugal

Professor Grant Black, Chuo University, Japan

Dr Evangelia Chrysikou, Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, United Kingdom

Professor Donald E. Hall, Binghamton University, United States

Professor Brendan Howe, Ewha Womans University, South Korea & The Asian Political and International Studies Association (APISA)

Dr James W. McNally, University of Michigan, United States & NACDA Program on Aging

KAMC & MediAsia 2025 Conference Programme Committee

Dr Nasya Bahfen, La Trobe University, Australia

Dr Thomas G. Endres, University of Northern Colorado, United States

Dr Joseph Haldane, IAFOR and The University of Osaka, Japan, & University College London, United Kingdom

Professor Bradley J. Hamm, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, United States

Professor Virgil Hawkins, IAFOR Research Centre & The University of Osaka, Japan

Professor Timothy W. Pollock, Osaka Kyoiku University and Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan

Professor Padma Rani, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India

Dr Paul Spicer, Hokkaido University, Japan

Letter of Welcome

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome to Japan, welcome to Kyoto, and welcome to The 16th Asian Conference on Media, Communication & Film (MediAsia2025) and The 6th Kyoto Conference on Arts, Media & Culture (KAMC2025)!

Japan is the home of The International Academic Forum, and Kyoto in particular is an amazing city to host this event, as it juxtaposes the ancient and modern and boasts an extraordinarily rich cultural and artistic history. I encourage you to take full advantage of your time in Kyoto, and nearby Osaka, if time allows.

I would like to thank the conference organising and review committees for their roles in helping make this great conference possible, and for helping put together a really rich programme. I would also like to thank the plenary and featured speakers, as well as the diverse delegates from around the world who will be joining us onsite in Kyoto, and online.

At this conference, you will join some 300 participants from 39 countries in a celebration of the international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary, and a quite unique comparative and contrastive space in which to exchange the latest ideas and research from your different fields, countries, and perspectives. As with all IAFOR events, we expect you to engage openly and actively and encourage you to explore new research pathways informed by the many discussions and encounters over our time together.

I look forward to meeting you all,

Warmest regards,

Dr Joseph Haldane Chairman & CEO, The International Academic Forum (IAFOR)

Professor, European Center for Peace and Development (ECPD), United Nations University for Peace Guest Professor, Osaka School of International Public Policy, The University of Osaka, Japan

Visiting Professor, Doshisha University, Japan

Visiting Professor, The University of Belgrade, Serbia

Honorary Professor, University College London (UCL), United Kingdom

Member, Expert Network, World Economic Forum

Become an IAFOR Member

IAFOR provides an enriching personal and professional environment for academics and scholars of all ages and backgrounds to exchange and contribute to interdisciplinary and intercultural dialogue that informs and is informed by their own cultural and disciplinary background and experiences. We are able to do this thanks to our extraordinary network of individuals and institutions around the world who support our work and help shape our events globally. We particularly emphasise the nurturing and support for emerging academics from an array of different backgrounds, and aim to provide opportunities for them to seek advice, support and guidance, as well as offering mid-career and more established academics opportunities to forge working relationships beyond their traditional disciplinary ambitions.

In our current world where division and strife are often reinforced and played out in national and local contexts, and political posturing frequently seeks to ostracise and demonise, IAFOR is committed to working across cultural and national borders, and to work to bring people together through dialogue. We believe that mature human interaction and academic and cultural exchange are essential to offering positive versions of the future, where cooperation happens between individuals and institutions who share a commitment to listen, to reach out and bridge divides, and to contribute to good global citizenship, and to making the world a better place.

By becoming a member of IAFOR, you will become part of an extraordinary network and a stakeholder in shaping the IAFOR mission and facilitating international exchange, encouraging intercultural awareness, and promoting interdisciplinary discussion in the hope and expectation of generating and sharing new knowledge. Join us now in this growing global organisation, and help make a difference today.

To learn more about IAFOR membership, please visit:

iafor.org/membership

K AMC /Med iAs ia 2025

Sta tis tics Date of C r eati on: Octob er 6 , 2 0 2 5

Date of Cr eation: Oc tober 7, 2025

One o f the gre ate st stre ngths o f I A FOR's co nf e re nce s is the ir inte rnatio nal and inte rcultural div e rsity.

K A MC/Me diA sia2025 has attracte d 299 de le gate s f ro m 38 co untrie s

Conference Venue: Tuesday, November 4 to Friday, November 7

Kyoto Research Park (Building #1)

Address: Chudoji Minamicho 134, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto

Building 1

Tuesday, November 4 to Friday, November 7

Kyoto Research Park (Building #1)

Suggested Lunch Options and Local Amenities

Please note that lunch is not provided. This map offers suggestions on where you can eat around the conference venue, as well as the locations of local amenities.

November 4 | All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Tuesday at a Glance

Conference Venue: Kyoto Research Park, Building 1

09:00-10:00 Conference Check-in & Coffee | Foyer (4F)

10:00-10:25 Welcome Address & Recognition of IAFOR Scholarship Winners | Science Hall (4F) & Online

Joseph Haldane, IAFOR, Japan

10:30-10:55 Keynote Presentation | Science Hall (4F) & Online

The Shōwa Restoration in 1930s Japan: True National Socialism

Brian Victoria, Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, United Kingdom

10:55-11:10 Q&A Session

11:15-11:40 Keynote Presentation | Science Hall (4F) & Online

Reshaping the Soundscape: Engagement, Adaptations, Innovations and Hindrances in India’s Commercial FM Radio Channels

Padmakumar K, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India

11:40-11:55 Q&A Session

11:55-12:05 Conference Photograph

12:05-13:55 Extended Break

13:55-14:55 Panel Discussion | Science Hall (4F) & Online

Japanese Newspaper Coverage of the World

Virgil Hawkins, IAFOR Research Centre & The University of Osaka, Japan

Nobuyuki Okumura, Musashi University, Japan

Reiko Tsuchiya, Waseda University, Japan

Joseph Haldane, IAFOR, Japan (Moderator)

November 4 | All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Tuesday at a

Glance

Conference Venue: Kyoto Research Park, Building 1

15:00-16:00 The Forum | Science Hall (4F)

Generative AI and Legacy Media: Potentials and Pitfalls Nasya Bahfen, La Trobe University, Australia (Respondent) Apipol Sae-Tung, IAFOR, Japan (Moderator)

16:15-17:15 Conference Welcome Reception & Conference Poster Session | Atrium (1F)

19:00-21:00 Conference Dinner | Yachiyo Nanzenji

This is a ticketed event

November 5 | All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Wednesday at a Glance

Conference Venue: Kyoto Research Park, Building 1

09:00-09:30 Conference Check-in | Foyer (4F)

09:10-09:55 IAFOR Information Session | Science Hall (4F)

Matthew Chima, IAFOR, Japan

Melina Neophytou, IAFOR, Japan

Apipol Sae-Tung, IAFOR, Japan

10:00-11:00

Roundtable Discussion | Science Hall (4F) & Online

Expanding Film and Media History: Lessons from Japan

Aaron Gerow, Yale University, United States

Yutaka Kubo, Kanazawa University, Japan

Mitsuyo Wada-Marciano, Kyoto University, Japan

Timothy Pollock, Osaka Kyoiku University and Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan (Moderator)

11:00-11:30 Networking Coffee Break

11:30-13:10 Onsite Parallel Session 1

Room A (4F): KAMC | Digital Humanities and Cultural Studies

Room B (4F): KAMC | Performing Arts Practices: Theatre, Dance, Music

Room C (4F): KAMC | Climate Change and Arts, Media, and Culture

Room E (4F): KAMC/MediAsia | Interdisciplinary Media Studies

Room G (4F): KAMC | Literature, Literary Studies, and Theory

13:10-14:10 Extended Break

November 5 | All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Wednesday at a Glance

Conference Venue: Kyoto Research Park, Building 1

14:10-15:25 Onsite Parallel Session 2

Room A (4F): KAMC | Digital Humanities, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies

Room B (4F): KAMC | Performing Arts Practices: Theatre, Dance, Music

Room C (4F): MediAsia | Critical Cultural Studies in Gender and Communication

Room E (4F): MediAsia | Film Criticism and Theory

Room G (4F): MediAsia | Featured Panel: A Review of the State of World News in Japan

15:25-15:40 Coffee Break

15:40-16:55 Onsite Parallel Session 3

Room A (4F): KAMC | Cultural Studies and Communication

Room B (4F): KAMC | Differences, Identity, Ethnicity

Room C (4F): KAMC | Sociology

Room E (4F): MediAsia | Film and Literature

17:00-17:45 Cultural Event | Science Hall (4F)

Kimono Workshop

This is a free event open to all registered onsite delegates. Delegates are invited to a special session focusing on the art of kimono dressing, featuring live demonstrations by kimono teacher Satoko Yamada.

November 6 | All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Thursday at a Glance

Conference Venue: Kyoto Research Park, Building 1

08:30-09:00 Conference Check-in & Coffee | Foyer (4F)

09:00-10:40 Onsite Parallel Session 1

Room A (4F): KAMC | Media Studies

Room B (4F): KAMC | Digital Humanities and Literature Studies

Room C (4F): MediAsia | Social Media and Communication Technology

Room E (4F): KAMC | Communication

Room G (4F): KAMC | Cultural Studies

10:40-10:55 Break

10:55-12:10 Onsite Parallel Session 2

Room A (4F): KAMC | Media and Literature Studies

Room B (4F): KAMC | Digital Humanities and Cultural Studies

Room C (4F): KAMC/MediAsia | Social Media and Communication Technology

Room E (4F): MediAsia | Broadcast Media, Film, and Literature

Room G (4F): KAMC | Visual Culture and Cultural Studies

12:10-13:10 Extended Break

13:10-14:50 Onsite Parallel Session 3

Room A (4F): KAMC | Film Studies

Room B (4F): KAMC | Media and Cultural Studies

Room C (4F): MediAsia | Social Media and Communication Technology

Room E (4F): KAMC | Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations

Room G (4F): KAMC | Visual Culture

14:50-15:15 Networking Coffee Break

15:15-16:55 Onsite Parallel Session 4

Room A (4F): KAMC | Media Studies

Room B (4F): KAMC | Cultural Studies and Communication

Room C (4F): MediAsia | Social Media and Communication Technology

Room E (4F): MediAsia | Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations

Room G (4F): KAMC | Aesthetics and Design

November 7 | All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Friday at a Glance

Conference Venue: Kyoto Research Park, Building 1

08:45-09:00 Conference Check-in | Foyer (4F)

09:00-10:40 Onsite Parallel Session 1

Room A (4F): KAMC | Visual Culture and Cultural Studies

Room B (4F): MediAsia | Critical Cultural Studies in Gender and Communication

Room C (4F): KAMC | Gender, Sexuality, and Culture

Room E (4F): KAMC/MediAsia | Education/Pedagogy

Room G (4F): MediAsia | Communication Theory and Methodology

10:40-10:55 Break

10:55-12:10 Onsite Parallel Session 2

Room A (4F): MediAsia | Visual Communication

Room B (4F): KAMC | Sociology

Room C (4F): KAMC | Gender, Sexuality, and Culture

Room E (4F): KAMC | Education/Pedagogy

Room G (4F): MediAsia | Journalism, Media, and Education

12:10-13:10 Extended Break

13:10-14:50 Onsite Parallel Session 3

Room A (4F): KAMC | Cultural Studies

Room B (4F): KAMC | Sociology

Room C (4F): KAMC/MediAsia | Media and Identity

Room E (4F): KAMC | Education/Pedagogy

Room G (4F): MediAsia | Law, Policy, and Media Ethics

14:50-15:15 Networking Coffee Break

15:15-16:55 Onsite Parallel Session 4

Room A (4F): KAMC | Cultural Studies

Room B (4F): KAMC | Language and Cultural Studies

Room C (4F): KAMC | Gender, Sexuality, and Culture

Room E (4F): KAMC | Education/Pedagogy

Room G (4F): MediAsia | Digital Media, Communication, and Advertisement

17:00-17:15 Onsite Closing Session | Room G (4F)

November 8 | All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Saturday at a Glance

Conference Venue: Online via Zoom

10:55-11:00 Message from IAFOR

11:00-12:40 Online Parallel Session 1

Live-Stream Room 1: KAMC/MediAsia | Visual Communication

Live-Stream Room 2: KAMC/MediAsia | Film, Literature, and Cultural Studies

Live-Stream Room 3: KAMC/MediAsia | Media Studies

12:40-12:50 Break

12:50-14:30 Online Parallel Session 2

Live-Stream Room 1: KAMC | Aesthetics, Design and Art Practices

Live-Stream Room 2: MediAsia | Critical Cultural Studies in Gender and Communication

Live-Stream Room 3: KAMC | Education/Pedagogy

14:30-14:40 Break

14:40-16:20 Online Parallel Session 3

Live-Stream Room 1: MediAsia | Film and Visual Communication

Live-Stream Room 2: KAMC | Cultural Studies

Live-Stream Room 3: KAMC/MediAsia | Digital Humanities and Cultural Studies

16:25-17:40 The Forum | Live-Stream Room 1

Generative AI and Legacy Media: Potentials and Pitfalls

Virgil Hawkins, IAFOR Research Centre & The University of Osaka, Japan (Online Respondent)

Melina Neophytou, IAFOR, Japan (Online Moderator)

17:40-17:45 Closing Message from IAFOR

IAFOR’s Conference Themes for 2025-2029

IAFOR’s conference programme provides an essential comparative and contrastive space for people to engage in multidisciplinary research across borders of nation, culture, discipline, and professions. We encourage mixed approaches and methodologies, combining theory and practice between and across the disciplines, and we look to harness the collective intelligence of our International Academic Forum in addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time. Through the implementation of new formats in our conference programme over the last year, including Intelligence Briefings, Keynote Interviews, and The Forum, we gathered insights into what has been discussed at the theoretical and policy levels, identify the challenges, and the outlook for best practices in tackling global contemporary issues, which we have identified as the themes for 2025-2029. Our four themes can be seen as standalone themes, but they are also very much in conversation with each other. Themes may be seen as corollaries, complementary, or in opposition/juxtaposition with each other. The themes can be considered as widely as possible and are designed, in keeping with our mission, to encourage ideas across the disciplines.

1. Technology and Artificial Intelligence

Our first theme examines the rapid pace of technological advancements, aided most particularly by those driven by artificial intelligence and its enormous and growing impact in all fields.

2. Humanity and Human Intelligence

Our second theme asks us which principles, values, and attributes we wish to encourage, protect, and nurture and how we accomplish this. Technological advancements constantly ask us to reconsider and reimagine what it means to be human, including questions regarding communication, creativity, inclusivity, ethics, and care.

3. Global Citizenship and Education for Peace

This theme prompts us to consider our existence and coexistence with each other, within our communities and places of belonging, and with peoples of different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, as well as with our environment and our planet. It includes engagement with enormous issues facing us beyond borders, such as peace and human security, climate change, etc.

4. Leadership

The final theme recognises the continuing importance of leadership as a skill, particularly in light of difficult times, where recognising and encouraging best practices in leadership at all levels of society is critical. Encouraging leadership at the government level, in businesses, and within institutions of all sizes represents the engine of change.

Conference Themes in Theory, Policy, and Practice

Many theories are born and initially tested in the academy, informing discussions in the public sphere that influence policy. IAFOR represents a unique combination of engagement emerging from the collaborative efforts of senior policymakers, administrators, and individuals working on the ground or in the field. IAFOR has made this rare combination of equitable theoretical and practical exchanges the standard for our organisation and represents a valuable model for how science should be done.

We will develop conference and institutional programmes and publications around these themes as well as capacity building sessions for our conference programme over the next five years. It is our aim with the implementation of these themes, alongside the implementation and continuing refinement of new formats, to best harness the unique arena IAFOR and its network have built in regards to pressing issues of today and the future.

General Information

This QR code, also located shown on the back of your name badge, contains the information you need to attend the conference, including:

- Full Conference Schedule

- The ‘Find a Presentation’ Feature

- Conference Survey

- Suggested Lunch Options

- Online and Virtual Presentations

- Presentation and Session Chair Guidelines, and more.

Check-in & Information Desk

You will be able to pick up your name badge at the Conference Check-in & Information Desk at the times listed below. If you have any questions or concerns, IAFOR staff and volunteers will happily assist you in any way they can.

Tuesday, November 4 | 09:00-16:30 – Kyoto Research Park, Building 1, Foyer (4F)

Wednesday, November 5 | 09:00-17:00 – Kyoto Research Park, Building 1, Foyer (4F)

Thursday, November 6 | 08:30-16:30 – Kyoto Research Park, Building 1, Foyer (4F)

Friday, November 7 | 08:45-16:30 – Kyoto Research Park, Building 1, Foyer (4F)

Saturday, November 8 | No in-person check-in

Name Badges

Wearing your badge is required for entrance to the sessions. You must wear your badge at all times.

Refreshment Breaks

Complimentary coffee, tea, water, and light snacks will be available during the scheduled coffee breaks. Please note that lunch is not provided.

Connecting to WiFi

Free WiFi is provided at the Kyoto Research Park for light use, like reading emails and web browsing. Streaming video will not be possible. If your presentation includes video, please bring it on a file that can be played without an internet connection.

Building 1

Network: CONV-EG

Password: 75382krp

General Information

Conference Schedule

The full conference schedule (including abstracts) and conference programme are available on the conference website, accessible through the QR code located on the previous page as well as the back of your nametag.

Pre-recorded Virtual Presentations & Virtual Poster Presentations

A full list of pre-recorded virtual video presentations and virtual poster presentations will be on the conference website during and after the conference. We encourage you to scan the QR code to watch these presentations and provide feedback through the video comments.

Conference Catch-up

All Keynote Presentations and live-streamed sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the Conference Catch-up page (video-on-demand) via Vimeo. The catch-up page will be publicly available after the conference until Sunday, December 7, 2025.

Certification

Corresponding authors will be able to download Certificates of Presentation for all presenters by logging in to the submission page. Certificates of Presentation will be available from Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Session Chair certification, Certificates of Attendance, as well as reviewer certification, will be sent out by email in a PDF format after the conference.

Photo/Recording Waiver

Human interaction through networking, and dissemination of this knowledge, is at the core of what IAFOR does as an academic research organisation, conference organiser and publisher. As part of the archiving of the conference event, IAFOR takes photos in and around the conference venue, and uses the photos to document the event. This also includes the filming of certain sessions. We consider this documentation important and it provides evidence of our activities to members, partners and stakeholders all over the world, as well as to current and potential attendees like you. Some of these photos will therefore appear online and in print, including on social media. The above are the legitimate interests of the organisation that we assert under the European Union law on General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Under this legislation, you have an absolute right to opt out of any photo. We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. Read our full privacy policy – iafor.org/about/privacy-policy

Networking: Connecting with Other Delegates

IAFOR conferences are designed to offer countless networking opportunities to make and consolidate personal and professional connections, reconnect with colleagues, and meet new friends in a spirit of convivial collegiality. Whether in the plenaries, parallel sessions, workshops, information sessions, or cultural events, we encourage your active and open participation throughout the conference, remembering the importance of the spaces in-between; over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, or the continuation of conversations and relationships outside the conference. We encourage you to network at the conference over the Networking Events, the Networking Coffee Breaks, and the Extended Breaks

In addition, you are invited to join the Online Presentation Sessions and the Online Forum discussion to explore even more presentations and opportunities to make connections for future collaborations. While conferences serve as a platform to present your work and make connections, please be mindful of the other delegates’ privacy and their consent to provide personal information.

Networking Spaces

Kyoto Research Park, Building 1, features several comfortable spaces, such as the main lobby, coffee area, and the restaurant, which serve as perfect locations for networking during the conference. These spaces provide an excellent opportunity to meet new people, connect with familiar faces, exchange ideas, and explore possible collaborations. We encourage you to make use of these spaces to connect with fellow attendees for a quick coffee or a longer chat to broaden your network and enhance your conference experience.

Missed the opportunity to make connections?

You can connect with other delegates by using our ‘Find a Presentation’ feature. This feature can be accessed by scanning the QR code provided on the back of your name badge, and is also available on the conference website. You can search by presentation title, submission number, the presenter’s name, or the name of their affiliation. From there, you can look up the presenter’s bio and connect with them through their preferred contact channel.

In addition to the ‘Find a Presentation’ online feature, presentation schedules are also displayed in front of presentation rooms. Use the notes pages to write down the presentations that you plan to attend or any information you may need for the conference.

Networking Events

Welcome Reception

Join fellow delegates for a drink or two at the conference Welcome Reception. This event provides a great opportunity for delegates to network and get to know each other.

Time & Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 16:15-17:15

Location: Kyoto Research Park, Building 1, Atrium (1F)

Ticket Price: Free to attend

Admission is included in the conference registration fee and is only open to registered onsite conference delegates.

Conference Dinner

Join us after for the Conference Dinner at Yachiyo Nanzenji, a historical and cultural gem in Kyoto. Nestled near the famed Nanzenji Temple, Yachiyo is renowned for its traditional kaiseki cuisine, which pays homage to Japan's seasonal beauty through artful presentation and delicate flavours. Designed by famed gardener Jihei Ogawa, the traditional, century-old building is surrounded by a lush garden featuring a tranquil pond. Delegates can enjoy a quiet evening together in the storied Nanzenji garden, carrying on conversations and connections from the conference plenaries to the table.

Time & Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 19:00-21:00

Location: Yachiyo Nanzenji Garden Restaurant, Nanzenji Fukuchicho 34, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto

Ticket Price: 13,500 JPY

Availability: 80 persons

This is an optional ticketed event. Only onsite conference delegates with pre-purchased tickets are able to attend the Conference Dinner.

Cultural Event | Kimono Workshop

Delegates are invited to a special session focusing on the art of kimono dressing, featuring live demonstrations by kimono teacher Satoko Yamada. This interactive session will guide attendees through the precise process of dressing in a kimono, using live models to illustrate each step. Explanations on the techniques used, as well as the cultural rationale and traditions behind these practices will be provided.

Time & Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 17:00-17:45

Location: Kyoto Research Park, Building 1, Science Hall (4F)

Ticket Price: Free to attend

Admission is included in the conference registration fee and is only open to registered onsite conference delegates.

IAFOR events are among the most d iverse on Earth

Bridging divides of nation, culture, and discipline; informing and shaping ideas, research, practice, and policy in a comparative and contrastive space, IAFOR encourages the sharing and nurturing of diverse ideas.

Over the past year, more than 5,000 delegates from more than 120 countries have participated in an IAFOR event.

Inspiring global collaborations, this diversity of peoples, nations, voices, cultures, and ideas is at the heart of what we do.

It is our greatest strength. Join us.

IAFOR Publications

Conference Proceedings

IAFOR Conference Proceedings are Open Access research repositories that act as permanent records of the research generated by IAFOR conferences. The Conference Proceedings are published online in the IAFOR Research Archive (papers.iafor.org). All accepted authors who present at the conference may have their full paper published in the online Conference Proceedings. For further details of how to submit your paper, please visit the Conference website.

Please note that:

1) Papers published in the Conference Proceedings cannot be considered for publication in IAFOR journals.

2) IAFOR's Conference Proceedings are not peer-reviewed and are not "Scopus-indexed".

Full text submission is due by Friday, December 5, 2025, through the online system. The proceedings will be published on Friday, January 16, 2026

Conference Reports and Intelligence Briefings (ISSN: 2759-4939)

IAFOR produces conference reports that provide concise and coherent overviews of the ideas, conversations, and areas of research presented at our conferences. These include key themes and takeaways, referencing programme(s), speakers and attendees, which are curated and archived for both those who attended the event, as well as those who did not. Readers can stay abreast of many of the developments and insights provided by the conference, and the collective intelligence of its participants. Links to video recordings of the presentations and interviews references are included where possible, encouraging readers to engage further with the conference material and presentations. Each report contains photos of the event, as well as key statistics pertaining to general attendance and demographics.

Read and download the Conference Reports and Intelligence Briefings, and access Conference Photo Galleries from the past conferences from the QR code on the back of your name badge. You will receive a notification email when the Conference Photos and the Conference Report and Intelligence Briefing of this conference are available.

THINK Magazine: The Academic Platform

THINK is an online magazine presenting the latest in interdisciplinary research and ideas from some of the world’s foremost academics and thought leaders. As a publishing platform, THINK makes selected research presented at IAFOR’s international, intercultural, interdisciplinary conferences freely available to a global academic audience. Content on THINK spans everything from the arts to psychology, politics to film, law to education and history to technology, presenting research, ideas and perspectives from every corner of the globe. The format is varied, encompassing full research papers, long-form journalism, opinion pieces, creative writing, interviews, podcasts, video, photography and more. To learn more about THINK, please visit think.iafor.org or access the webpage from the QR code on the back of your name badge.

IAFOR Journals

IAFOR's Open Access Journals

IAFOR publishes several editorially independent, Open Access journals across a variety of disciplines. They conform to the highest academic standards of international peer review, and are published in accordance with IAFOR’s commitment to make all of our published materials available online.

How are papers submitted?

Submissions should be original, previously unpublished papers which are not under consideration for publication in any other journal. All articles are submitted through the submission portal on the journal website and must conform to the journal submission guidelines.

How does IAFOR ensure academic integrity?

Once appointed by IAFOR’s Publications Committee, the Journal Editor is free to appoint his or her own editorial team and advisory members, who help to rework and revise papers as appropriate, according to internationally accepted standards. All papers published in the journal have been subjected to the rigorous and accepted processes of academic peer review. Neither editors nor members of the editorial team are remunerated for their work.

Where are the journals indexed?

IAFOR Journals are indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ, ERIC, MIAR, TROVE, CiteFactor and EBSCO, SHERPA/ROMEO and Google Scholar. DOIs are assigned to each published issue and article via Crossref. Please note that indexing varies from journal to journal.

What’s the reach?

Each of our journal issues is viewed thousands of times a month and the articles are frequently cited by researchers worldwide, largely due to our dedicated marketing efforts. Each issue is promoted across our social media platforms and to our tailored email marketing lists. On average, each journal publishes biannually.

What’s the cost?

IAFOR Journals are Open Access publications, available online completely free of charge and without delay or embargo. Authors are not required to pay charges of any sort towards the publication of IAFOR Journals and neither editors nor members of the editorial boards are remunerated for their work.

How are IAFOR Journals related to IAFOR Conferences and Conference Proceedings?

IAFOR Journals reflect the interdisciplinary and international nature of our conferences and are organised thematically. A presenter can choose to publish either in Conference Proceedings or submit their manuscript to the corresponding IAFOR Journal for review.

Current IAFOR Journal titles include

IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies (Scopus Indexed)

IAFOR Journal of Education (Scopus & Web of Science Indexed)

IAFOR Journal of Literature & Librarianship (Scopus Indexed)

If you would like more information about any of IAFOR’s publications, please visit iafor.org/publications

Academic Grant & Scholarship Recipients

IAFOR's grants and scholarships programme provides financial support to PhD students and early career academics, with the aim of helping them pursue research excellence and achieve their academic goals through interdisciplinary study and interaction. Our warmest congratulations go to the following scholarship recipients who have been selected to receive grants and scholarships to present their research at the conference.

KAMC2025 Scholarship Recipients

Phylix Asilevi (Virtual Poster Presentation)

96872 | From “Objectivity” to “Ubuntu”: Reassessing the GJA Code of Ethics

Ms Phylix Asilevi is a graduate student and a teaching assistant at the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University, United States.

Deena Nirmala Putri Soedikto (Oral Presentation)

96513 | Reflexive Green Entrepreneurship: The Innovative and Sustainable Practice Among Young Indonesians

Ms Deena Nirmala Putri Soedikto is currently a doctoral student of Sociology at Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia.

Manyatsa Vilakazi (Oral Presentation)

96453 | Black Women’s Curation of Home as Archive and Exhibition in South African Townships

Ms Manyatsa Vilakazi is a lecturer and visual storyteller exploring memory, identity, and archival practices through photography, video, and sound.

Teresa Weinholtz (Oral Presentation)

96735 | Machine Mediators: Rethinking Intelligence and Posthuman Ecologies in the Artist’s Book

Ms Teresa Weinholtz is a PhD student at the Research Centre for Communication and Culture, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal.

MediAsia2025 Scholarship Recipients

David Clement (Virtual Presentation)

94844 | Intercultural Relations and Educational Development: A Focus on Nigeria and China

Mr David Clement is a university administrator with experience in human resources, faculty administration, and higher education governance. He serves as Assistant Registrar and Faculty Officer at the Faculty of Law, Adeleke University, Nigeria.

Erwin James Dela Cruz (Live-Stream Presentation)

95689 | Interplay of Institutional Pathways and Queer Identities in BL Media in the Philippines and Thailand

Mr Erwin James Dela Cruz (they/them) holds an MA in Philippine Studies from the University of the Philippines Diliman and is an incoming PhD student in Sociology and Anthropology at Thammasat University, Thailand.

Tan Gia Bao Huynh (Oral Presentation)

96441 | The Queer Yōkai

Mr Tan Gia Bao Huynh is a PhD student at Waseda University, Japan.

Chandrakant Kamble (Virtual Presentation)

94532 | Talking Dalit Women Through Their Own Voice: A Case Study of ‘Khabar Lahariya’

Dr Chandrakant Kamble is an Assistant Professor at the Amity School of Communication, Amity School of Education, India, and holds a PhD from Symbiosis International (Deemed University), India.

Groundbreaking ideas

IAFOR Spring Conference Series in Tokyo

Speakers, Keynote & Featured Presentations

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Abstracts appear as originally submitted by the author. Any spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors are those of the author.

Keynote Presentation: Brian Victoria

The Shōwa Restoration in 1930s Japan: True National Socialism

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 10:30-10:55 | Science Hall (4F) & Online

Needless to say, ‘National Socialism' will forever be associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party he led in Germany. However, as numerous scholars have shown, by the time Hitler and the Nazis came to power in 1933, the term ‘National Socialism’ had become little more than a façade used by Hitler and the Nazis to crush the political left and empower Germany’s corporate elites.

In Japan, the leaders of incidents like the Young Officers Uprising of February 26, 1936 are typically described as simply having been ‘militarists’ seeking an enhanced role, including additional funding for the military, especially the army. This applied term has contributed to a misleading understanding of the motivations of those involved in these incidents, something they themselves described as shōwa ishin: a ‘Shōwa Restoration’.

This keynote presents a new understanding of prewar Japanese history than we currently have. The national socialist-embracing proponents of a Shōwa Restoration sought major domestic economic and social reforms, especially land reform, in 1930s Japan, inspired by the ‘home-grown’ ideology of men like Kita Ikki, whose national socialist writings, especially his seminal 1919 work, An Outline Plan for the Reorganization of Japan (Nihon Kaizō Hōan Taikō), predate those of the German Nazis. The talk will examine how leading proponents of the Shōwa Restoration had clear political goals consisting of domestic social reforms that can only be described as ‘nationally socialist’ in nature.

Brian Victoria

Dr Brian Victoria is a native of Nebraska and a 1961 graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, United States. He holds an MA in Buddhist Studies from Sōtō Zen sect-affiliated Komazawa University in Tokyo, and a PhD from the Department of Religious Studies at Temple University, United States.

In addition to a second, enlarged edition of Zen At War (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006), Brian's major writings include Zen War Stories (RoutledgeCurzon, 2003); an autobiographical work in Japanese titled Gaijin de ari, Zen bozu de ari (As a Foreigner, As a Zen Priest), published by San-ichi Shobo in 1971; Zen Master Dōgen, coauthored with Professor Yokoi Yūhō of Aichi Gakuin University (Weatherhill, 1976); and a translation of The Zen Life by Sato Koji (Weatherhill, 1972). In addition, Dr Victoria has published numerous journal articles focusing on the relationship between religion, particularly Buddhism, and violence and warfare.

Dr Victoria was a Professor of Japanese Studies and Director of the AEA Japan and Its Buddhist Traditions Program at Antioch University, United States from 2005 to 2013. He was a Visiting Research Fellow at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies in Kyoto, Japan from 2013 to 2015. His latest book, Zen Terror: The Death of Democracy in Prewar Japan was published by Rowman & Littlefield in February 2020. Dr Victoria is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies and a fully ordained Buddhist priest in the Sōtō Zen sect.

Keynote Presentation: Padmakumar K

Reshaping the Soundscape: Engagement, Adaptations, Innovations and Hindrances in India’s Commercial

FM Radio Channels

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 11:15-11:40 | Science Hall (4F) & Online

India has a dynamic radio landscape, with over 380 operational commercial radio stations and more than 480 community radio stations as of 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently approved the FM Radio Phase-III Policy, a significant expansion of India’s FM radio network in an effort to reach 234 new cities and small towns, an initiative that is expected to enhance the growth of the FM radio industry in India. This expansion is anticipated to address the existing demand for FM radio services in some cities and many small towns that currently lack such provisions, creating a platform for the dissemination of local content in the target locations’ native languages.

The commercial radio sector in India has undergone a major transformation since its inception in the early 2000s. India’s FM radio stations have started moving from completely studio-centric shows over to on-the-ground activations for attracting new listeners and even ’at-home studios’ for post-pandemic programming. Topicality, high interactive content, and quick digital adaptation have been strategies adopted by many stations to ensure and sustain listenership with a few adopting cross-platform strategies resulting in a broader listener base. The traditional aural medium in India is showing signs of hybridisation by shifting its stance from being an anonymous ‘blind’ medium to a hybrid visual medium with the advent of social media.

A preliminary content analysis using the ‘intensive listening’ method revealed that interactive shows are high among Indian radio stations. Are these interactive shows just forms of mere engagement, or participatory in the real sense? How about the quality of participation of the listeners? What are some of the content strategies adopted by these radio channels? How are Indian Commercial Radio stations responding to newer tastes of listeners? This presentation will discuss these questions and explore issues related to the FM Radio Phase-III FM Policy, the challenges these stations face, their show strategies, and insights on creating persuasive audio creatives.

Padmakumar K

Dr Padmakumar K is a Professor and Head of Post Graduate Programs at the Manipal Institute of Communication located within the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India. He teaches courses on podcasting, radio production, media research, brand planning and corporate communication. He is a recognised PhD Supervisor at the Institute and a member of Boards of Studies at several Indian Universities. He is currently the Indian Faculty Ambassador of the International Association of Media & Communication Research (IAMCR). Professor K was awarded the prestigious Australia India Research Student (AIRS) Fellowship in 2023, funded by the Australian Department of Education, to teach and pursue his research as a postdoctoral fellow at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.

Before his academic work, Professor K spent ten years in Commercial Radio, in positions ranging from Producer to Programming Director. As a DAAD Fellow, he taught International Media Systems at Hochschule Bremen, Germany and Media and Culture at Volda International University, Norway, and was invited as a plenary speaker at major international forums, including the 2013 Asia Media Forum in South Korea (2013), Broadcast Asia in Singapore (2015), and Youth Communication Day in Indonesia (2020). He has also conducted a number of workshops on voice culture, radio programming, and corporate communication at leading Indian media and communication schools, including IIMC Delhi and Kottayam, Symbiosis International University, XIM University, Bharathiar University, PSG CAS Coimbatore, and KCLAS.

Panel Discussion: Virgil Hawkins, Nobuyuki Okumura, Reiko Tsuchiya, Joseph Haldane (Moderator)

Japanese Newspaper Coverage of the World

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 13:55-14:55 | Science Hall (4F) & Online

The major Japanese broadsheet newspapers in circulation today have a history spanning 150 years, but unlike many of their city-focused Western counterparts, these leading newspapers tend to operate at a national level. They primarily focus on domestic issues, allocating a certain amount of page space to world news and maintaining a network of foreign bureaus. But how do they choose to cover the world? It is reasonable to assume a strong ‘home’ lens, in which countries, regions, and events perceived as impacting Japan’s national interests are prioritised when covering global news. We can also assume that powerful Western countries exert influence on what is reported. However, long-term research on how Japanese newspapers cover world affairs remains limited, and our understanding of broader trends in coverage is still developing.

This panel examines how Japanese newspapers construct and prioritise their coverage of the world, with attention to both historical and contemporary patterns. By bringing together new research on the international orientation of the press, the panel seeks to highlight how domestic concerns, geopolitical pressures, and broader media transformations intersect to shape reporting choices.

Virgil Hawkins

Dr Virgil Hawkins is a professor specialising in world affairs and the news media, and is based at the Osaka School of International Public Policy (OSIPP), The University of Osaka, Japan. He obtained his PhD in International Public Policy from OSIPP, where he focused on international politics, conflict, the UN Security Council, and the news media. He proceeded to work for five years for a non-governmental aid organisation, primarily in Cambodia and Zambia, before returning to the university as a faculty member. He has written and edited a number of books, including Stealth Conflicts: How the World’s Worst Violence is Ignored (2008), and Communication and Peace: Mapping an Emerging Field (co-edited, 2015). His work focuses on furthering our understanding of how and why the vast majority of the world remains relatively uncovered by the news media.

To these ends, Professor Hawkins has since shifted his focus to work at a more practical level. He coestablished the Southern African Centre for Collaboration on Peace and Security (SACCPS) [saccps. org] in 2010, which is a network that has brought together researchers and practitioners working on these issues throughout the region. He went on to establish Global News View (GNV) [globalnewsview. org], a large-scale media project that analyses trends and deficiencies in the world news coverage by the Japanese news media, and attempts to compensate for those deficiencies by providing analysis on undercovered global issues.

Nobuyuki Okumura

Dr Nobuyuki Okumura is a Professor in the Faculty of Sociology at Musashi University, Japan, and has been teaching within the department of Media Sociology since 2014. His research interests include Journalism Politics and Media, Media Ethics, and Digital Journalism Fact Checking. He earned a master’s degree in International Relations from Sophia University in Tokyo in 1989, and later joined the news division of TV Asahi, working as a producer for its News Station programme. He also served as a reporter in the station’s political news and editing departments. Professor Okumura has been a visiting scholar at the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies within the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, United States, and Professor in the College of Social Sciences at Ritsumeikan University, Japan.

Reiko Tsuchiya

Dr Reiko Tsuchiya is a Professor in the Faculty of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University, Japan. She has researched the history of media, focusing primarily on the period from Japan’s Meiji era to the post-war period, with a particular interest in newspapers and printed ephemera. She has published several books including Media and Intelligence in Occupied Japan (2024 Japanese), Chronology of Japanese Media History (2018, Edited in Japanese), The Pacific War Read from Propaganda Leaflets against the Japanese (2010, Japanese), and The Origin of Popular Newspapers in Japan (2002 Japanese).

Professor Tsuchiya is also a co-editor of an English book, Competing Imperialisms in Northeast Asia: New Perspectives, 1894-1953 (Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Asia, 2023) and contributed an English paper titled "Japanese Mass Media" for the New Cambridge History of Japan, Volume III: The Modern Japanese Nation and Empire, c.1868 to the Twenty-First Century (2023). She has served as Director of the 20th Century Media Research Institute since 2010, organising monthly research seminars and overseeing the editing of the institute’s annual research journal, Intelligence

Joseph Haldane

Joseph Haldane is the founder, chairman, and CEO of IAFOR. He is responsible for devising strategy, setting policies, forging institutional partnerships, implementing projects, and overseeing the organisation’s global business and academic operations.

Dr Haldane has a PhD from the University of London in nineteenthcentury French studies (ULIP/RHUL), and has research interests in world history and politics; international education; and governance and decision making. Since 2015, he has been a Guest Professor at the University of Osaka’s School of International Public Policy (OSIPP), and Co-Director of the OSIPP-IAFOR Research Centre since 2017.

In 2020, Dr Haldane was elected Honorary Professor of University College London (UCL) through the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, and full Professor in the United Nations Peace University's European Center for Peace and Development in 2022. A member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network for global governance, he holds visiting professorships at Belgrade and Doshisha Universities where he teaches ethics and governance. He is a member of the International Advisory Council of the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, United States.

Dr Haldane has had full-time faculty positions at the Université Paris-Est Créteil and Sciences Po Paris in France, and Nagoya University of Commerce and Business, Japan, as well as visiting positions at the French Press Institute (Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas), France, and the Schools of Journalism of Sciences Po Paris and Moscow State University, Russia.

Dr Haldane has been invited to speak at universities and conferences globally, including the UN HQ in New York, and advised universities, NGOs, and governments on issues relating to international education policy, public-private partnerships, and multi-stakeholder forums. He was the project lead on the 2019 Kansai Resilience Forum, held by the Japanese Government through the Prime Minister’s Office and oversaw the 2021 Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned study on Infectious Diseases on Cruise Ships.

The Forum: Generative AI and Legacy Media: Potentials and Pitfalls

Nasya Bahfen (Respondent), Apipol Sae-Tung (Moderator)

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 15:00-16:00 | Science Hall (4F)

Virgil Hawkins (Online Respondent), Melina Neophytou (Online Moderator)

Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 16:25-17:40 | Online via Zoom

Disinformation through social media is at a crisis point in Asia and throughout the world (Surjatmodjo et. al. 2024). Legacy media, or traditional forms of media that existed before the internet, plays a key role in addressing the root causes of fake news and hoaxes by amplifying credible and reputable sources, and providing information to inform the populace. However, as newsrooms rapidly embrace generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools to create content or perform tasks based on input computer data (Fletcher & Nielsen, 2024), ethical concerns arise about whether algorithmic biases tied to structural factors, such as gender, race, or class, will exacerbate misogyny, hate speech, and fake news on and offline (Thompson, 2023). This could lead to stereotyping and physical harm against minorities, migrants, women, gender-diverse groups, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This Forum session invites delegates to discuss the following questions: Can legacy media play a part in building a future free from misinformation? What are the potentials and pitfalls in the use of AI by legacy media? How can legacy media be used in the institutions and classrooms in which we work and engage with others in an effort to combat disinformation spread by GAI?

Nasya Bahfen (Respondent)

Dr Nasya Bahfen is the postgraduate media and communications coordinator at La Trobe University, Australia, where she is also a researcher with the Centre for Sport and Social Impact. A former journalist and producer whose research looks at sport, media, and diversity, Dr Bahfen currently teaches digital content making and has supervised the completion of higher degrees by research students in the fields of Journalism and Public Relations/Strategic Communication. Her previous academic work includes how race is framed in Australian journalism through sport, interview choice among young journalism students covering diversity, the incorporation of social media in media education, and internet use by Southeast Asian and Australian Muslim youth. Dr Bahfen was previously a visiting scholar with NYU’s Center for Religion and Media, where she conducted research comparing social media use among Muslim students in Melbourne and New York City. Her coauthored book Cyber Racism and Community Resilience: Strategies for Combating Online Race Hate (2017) was funded by the Australian Research Council, and explored building resilience among Jewish, Muslim, and other culturally diverse groups targeted by cyber racism.

Apipol Sae-Tung (Moderator)

Apipol Sae-Tung is an Academic Coordinator at IAFOR, where he contributes to the development and execution of academicrelated content and activities. He works closely with the Forum’s partner institutions and coordinates IAFOR’s Global Fellowship Programme. His recent activities include mediating conference reports for the Forum’s international conference programme and facilitating the IAFOR Undergraduate Research Symposium (IURS).

Mr Sae-Tung began his career as a Program Coordinator for the Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. He was awarded the Japanese Government’s MEXT Research Scholarship and is currently pursuing a PhD at the Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University, Japan. His research focuses on government and policy analysis, particularly on authoritarian regimes. Mr Sae-Tung holds an MA in International Relations and Diplomacy from Thammasat University, Thailand, where he studied foreign policy analysis and Thailand-China relations. He also holds a BA in History from the same institution.

Virgil Hawkins (Online Respondent)

See page 40 for the full biography.

Melina Neophytou (Online Moderator)

Dr Melina Neophytou is the Academic Operations Manager at IAFOR, where she works closely with academics, keynote speakers, and IAFOR partners to shape academic discussions within The Forum, bring conference programmes together, refine scholarship programmes, and build an interdisciplinary and international community. She is leading various projects within IAFOR, notably The Forum discussions and the authoring of Conference Reports and Intelligence Briefings, and she oversees the Global Fellows Programme.

Born in Germany and raised in Cyprus, Dr Neophytou received her PhD in International Development from Nagoya University, Japan, in 2023, specialising in political sociology, the welfare state, and contentious politics. She received an MA in International Development from Nagoya University, with a focus on Governance & Law, and a BA in European Studies from the University of Cyprus, Cyprus.

Dr Neophytou’s research interests currently focus on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the relationship between state and society. Her current work examines technologies such as facial recognition (FRT) and biometric surveillance, and how these tools impact freedom of expression, protest, and social policy.

Roundtable Discussion: Aaron Gerow, Yutaka Kobo, Mitsuyo WadaMarciano, Timothy W. Pollock (Moderator)

Expanding Film and Media History: Lessons from Japan

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 10:00-11:00 | Science Hall (4F) & Online

The academic study of film and film history was developed within the discursive fields of European and American academia, and has consequently often been limited by the assumptions, values, and viewpoints of the scholars in the Western Academy. This roundtable will focus on the panellists’ individual contributions and efforts to broaden the field beyond a Western-centric lens, especially in regards to East Asian film inclusion. Discussion will be drawn from the panellists’ current and ongoing activities: Professor Aaron Gerow’s efforts to incorporate the work of Japanese film scholars into the existing framework of film theory, Professor Mitsuyo Wada-Marciano’s reintroduction of historically significant female documentarians back into the mainstream of Japanese film history, and Dr Yutaka Kubo’s examination of how Japanese film studies and criticism can be reimagined through a queer lens by reflecting on curatorial, academic, and critical practices.

Aaron Gerow

Dr Aaron Gerow is Alfred W. Griswold Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures and Film and Media Studies at Yale University, United States. He has published extensively on Japanese and East Asian film history, television, cinema in the Japanese empire, film theory, censorship, and spectatorship, among other topics. His books include Visions of Japanese Modernity: Articulations of Cinema, Nation, and Spectatorship, 1895-1925 (2010); Research Guide to Japanese Film Studies (co-authored with Markus Nornes, 2009 [Japanese edition 2016]); A Page of Madness: Cinema and Modernity in 1920s Japan (2008); and Kitano Takeshi (2007). His co-edited anthology Rediscovering Classical Japanese Film Theory – An Anthology was published in Japanese in 2018. Professor Gerow has supervised the reprinting of several important prewar Japanese film journals, as well as the English translation of Hasumi Shiguéhiko’s influential book, Directed by Yasujiro Ozu (1983). He is currently preparing a monograph on the history of Japanese film theory as well as editing an anthology with film producer and curator Aiko Masubuchi on Japanese film director Obayashi Nobuhiko. Professor Gerow also runs his own Japanese film website titled Tangemania, which can be accessed at aarongerow.com.

Yutaka Kubo

Dr Yutaka Kubo is Associate Professor of Film Studies at Kanazawa University, Japan. His research centers on queer forms of touch, affect, mourning, foodways, aging, and digital archiving in Japanese visual culture. Dr Kubo earned a BA in English with a Concentration on Film Studies from Framingham State University, United States, and received his PhD from Kyoto University, Japan, in 2017. He is the author of Yūyakegumo no kanata ni: Kinoshita Keisuke to kuia na kansei [Over the Sunset: Kinoshita Keisuke and Queer Sensibility] (Nakanishiya shoten, 2022) and has written chapters for the upcoming anthologies The Cinema of Kinoshita Keisuke (Edinburgh University Press, 2025), The Japanese Documentary Cinema of Haneda Sumiko (Routledge, 2025), and Screening Postmillennial Queer Film (Routledge, 2026). Outside of academia, Dr Kubo has served as script supervisor for Yasutomo Chikuma’s forthcoming 2025 film ‘The Deepest Space in Us’.

Mitsuyo Wada-Marciano

Dr Mitsuyo Wada-Marciano is Professor of Cinema and Media Studies and Director of the Joint Degree Master in Transcultural Studies programme in the Graduate School of Letters at Kyoto University, Japan. Professor Wada-Marciano earned an MA in Cinema Studies from New York University and a PhD in Film Studies from the University of Iowa, United States. Her research interests include Japanese cinema and media culture, East Asian Cinema, women's documentary, and archive film in the digital period. Professor Wada-Marciano has authored a number of books and articles, including Nippon Modern: Japanese Cinema of the 1920s and 1930s (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2008), Japanese Cinema in the Digital Age (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2012), and No Nukes: (Post-3.11) eiga no chikara, âto no chikara [No Nukes: (Post-3.11) Power of Cinema and Power of Art] (Nagoya University Press, 2021), which was translated into English under the title Japanese Filmmakers in the Wake of Fukushima: Perspectives on Nuclear Disasters (Amsterdam University Press, 2023). Her latest research involves film archiving in and outside Japan, and has been supported by the Grants-in-aid for Scientific Research (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) since 2020.

Timothy W. Pollock

Professor Timothy W. Pollock lectures on film and visual culture at Osaka Kyoiku University, Japan. He has presented papers on film, semiotic theory, ethics, and education, all of which were structured around the central theme of the power of multi-modal, dramatic visual narratives. His film research has focused on the development of standards and practices in classical Japanese cinema in general, and on the later films of Ozu Yasujiro in particular, while his work in the field of semiotics has focused on the applicability of social semiotic theory to the analysis of Japanese cinema and Japanese visual culture.

Professor Pollock’s media work includes appearing in conversation with fellow film historian Stuart Galbraith IV on the new Blu-ray releases of the Akira Kurosawa films Sanjuro, Red Beard, and The Idiot from A Contracorriente Films. As a long-time resident of Japan, he has also worked as an assistant editor on the second edition of the GENIUS Japanese-English Dictionary. He has served as a judge for film festivals in the United Kingdom and India, and is currently serving as visiting faculty at the Manipal Institute of Communication in Karnataka, India.

Tuesday, November 4

16:15-17:15 | Atrium (1F) Tuesday Poster Session

Abstracts appear as originally submitted by the author. Any spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors are those of the author.

16:15-17:15

Tuesday Poster Session

Aesthetics and Design

97563 | More Than Aesthetics: Rethinking Industrial Design Studio Pedagogy Through AI, Inquiry, and Systems Thinking Hung-Hsiang Wang, National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan

The rise of generative AI is reshaping industrial design practice and prompting critical reflection on whether traditional studio pedagogy is adequately preparing students for emerging challenges. As design problems become more interdisciplinary, technology-integrated, and systemically complex, educators face growing pressure to reconsider the purpose and structure of studio-based learning. To address this disconnect, the present study reconsiders how design studios can cultivate future-ready competencies by presenting a redesigned studio course grounded in expert insight and evaluated through student engagement and learning outcomes. Interviews with four senior design professionals, experienced in both industry and academia, revealed three essential pedagogical shifts: (1) from craft instruction to design reasoning, (2) from tool operation to AI–human collaboration literacy, and (3) from isolated styling to systems-level, human-centered problem-solving. These insights informed the development of a proof-of-concept studio course in which undergraduate industrial design students undertook a semester-long project focused on creating interventions to mitigate the health risks associated with prolonged sedentary behavior. Generative AI tools were integrated to support user inquiry, concept development, and early-stage validation. Portfolio analysis and rubric-based expert reviews indicated clear gains in students’ design reasoning and systems awareness. Pre- and postcourse surveys further demonstrated improved cognitive and behavioral engagement, particularly in their appreciation of research value and iterative design thinking. This paper suggests that studio pedagogy can be meaningfully enriched by integrating generative AI into inquiry-driven, technologically literate, and systems-oriented design education, complementing traditional aesthetic concerns with broader cognitive and contextual competencies.

Arts Practices

100548 | Closed Field: A Day at Home with the Vision Machine

Terezie Sedlinska, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

The open field is a standard experimental tool used to assess locomotion and anxiety-like behavior in animal models of depression. It involves placing a mouse into a barren, over-lit box and analyzing their movement during this stressful experience. Despite its continued use, open field has been criticized for being too contrived, and yielding limited, anthropomorphized readouts. Recent advances in machine vision tools, such as DeepLabCut or MoSeq, promise to extract richer insights from recordings of freely behaving animals and to bypass the need for biased human interpretation. In this artistic research project, I aimed to explore and subtly subvert these tools through a performative self-experiment. Over several days, I recorded myself in my home under three conditions: (1) no intervention (naturalistic behavior), (2) while behaving according to randomly generated activity commands, and (3) real-time commands derived from a previous day’s movement pattern analysis. I annotated my activity via an unsupervised machine readout using DeepLabCut pose estimation and MoSeq sequencing and compared it to auto-phenomenographical notes. Rather than seeking empirical conclusions, this project aims to interrogate agency and the gap between lived experience and behavior observed from the outside. By placing myself in the role of both subject and observer, I explored what is captured by machine vision, what is left out. Echoing Harun Farocki’s critique of instrumental seeing and Sophie Calle’s intimate surveillance, this work inhabits the boundary between data analysis and embodied knowledge.

Cultural Studies

96746 | Visualizing Collaboration: Public-Private Coordination in Taiwan’s Cultural Industry Revitalization

Chih-Hao Tsai, Cheng Shiu Universty, Taiwan

Chih-Fang Chiu, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, Taiwan

This study investigates the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the revitalization of Hakka culture in Jiadong Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan, with a particular focus on the use of visualization tools. Employing an interpretive case study methodology, the research explores how visual representations facilitate coordination among diverse stakeholders and contribute to the generation of social and economic value through collaborative processes. Data were collected through interviews with project personnel from local educational institutions and supplemented by secondary sources including photographs, concept maps, and visual renderings. The findings demonstrate that visualization significantly supports critical phases of PPP development—namely visioning, cultural action, and resource mobilization—by promoting shared understanding, aligning stakeholder objectives, and enhancing the co-creation of value. This study advances theoretical understanding of the mechanisms by which visualization underpins cross-sector collaboration and provides practical implications for policymakers and practitioners engaged in cultural heritage revitalization initiatives.

96757 | AI-Based Data Quality Control for Cultural Mapping Systems: A Case Study from Thailand

Sutat Gammanee, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand

Warong Naivinit, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand

Chanakit Mitsongkore, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand

Sureewan Jangjit, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand

The integrity of cultural data is fundamental to the preservation of local heritage, the formulation of evidence-based policies, and the advancement of cultural tourism. In Thailand, where cultural diversity is both rich and deeply embedded in community life accurate and contextually relevant cultural information is indispensable for fostering local identity and driving grassroots economic development. Nevertheless, the existing Cultural Mapping System in Thailand continues to encounter persistent issues, including data inconsistency, duplication, incomplete metadata, and limited contextual alignment, all of which undermine its practical and policy-oriented applications. This study introduces an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled framework for data quality control within the national Cultural Mapping platform. The proposed system leverages advanced AI techniques, including image classification, natural language processing, and geospatial validation to systematically detect anomalies, assess content relevance, and generate automated recommendations for data refinement. A pilot implementation using approximately 6,000 cultural records demonstrated that the system achieved over 85% accuracy in identifying irrelevant or duplicate entries, thereby significantly alleviating the burden of manual data verification. Moreover, the system supports the temporal and value chain-based visualization of cultural data, facilitating both operational decision-making and long-term strategic planning. The findings underscore the potential of AI technologies to enhance the quality, usability, and trustworthiness of national cultural datasets, contributing to the broader goal of intelligent, data-driven cultural governance in Thailand.

Education/Pedagogy

97925 | The Effects of Using Virtual Avatars (VTubers) in Asynchronous Online Courses on Learning Performance, Learning Motivation, and Cognitive Load

Po-Sheng Chiu, National Chiayi University, Taiwan

Shuan-Yu Wu, National Chiayi University, Taiwan

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of online education, where most instructional videos still feature real human instructors. However, the success of VTubers in the entertainment industry suggests their potential for educational applications. Prior research indicates that VTubers can foster unique student thinking strategies within interdisciplinary STEAM contexts. Yet, empirical studies examining their impact on learning outcomes remain limited. This study explores the effects of VTuber-based instruction on learning performance, motivation, and cognitive load. Two versions of an asynchronous instructional video for an “AppInventor2 Programming” course were developed—one using a traditional instructor and the other a VTuber avatar. A quasi-experimental design with 39 university students was employed, using pre- and post-tests along with qualitative feedback. Results showed that the VTuber group had significantly higher learning performance, while no significant differences were found in motivation or cognitive load—possibly due to identical subtitles and visual cues in both videos. Qualitative responses revealed students’ interest and preference for VTuber instruction, supporting its integration into online learning environments.

96679 | English Language Education Through the Japanese Tea Ceremony

Junko Carreira Matsuzaki, Tokyo Keizai University, Japan

The Japanese tea ceremony is a quintessential element of traditional Japanese culture and has recently attracted international attention due to the global popularity of Japanese food and matcha. As Matoba (2021) notes, the tea ceremony is “a universal and integrated art form that engages all five senses,” offering an intellectual and emotional experience through both contemplation and communication. These qualities make it a powerful educational tool, particularly for fostering intellectual and moral sensibilities. This study explores the potential of the tea ceremony as a language learning resource, especially in fostering global citizenship. We developed video materials titled The Tea Ceremony in English and integrated them into university English classes. Learning the tea ceremony in English involves physical movement, making it suitable for Total Physical Response (TPR). Additionally, the tea ceremony aligns well with the four pillars of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): Content, Communication, Cognition, and Community. 20 university students from the Tokyo metropolitan area participated in this study. The students were assigned tasks related to learning the tea ceremony in English, and their reflections were analyzed. Results showed that many found the experience “interesting,” “enjoyable,” and “refreshing.” Moreover, it encouraged students to consider sharing Japanese culture with non-Japanese speakers and prompted reflection on their own cultural identity. These findings suggest that integrating traditional culture into language education can play a significant role in developing culturally aware, globally minded individuals.

Tuesday Poster Session

Media Studies

96737 | Accessible Books for Children with Print Disabilities in Japanese Public Libraries

Hanae Ikeshita, Sagami Women’s University, Japan

Print disability refers to an individual’s difficulty in reading printed materials due to factors such as perceptual or physical disabilities, visual impairments, age-related vision loss, and illiteracy stemming from cultural and social backgrounds. In June 2019, Japan enacted the Reading Barrier-Free Act to encourage public libraries to collect and provide accessible reading materials. This study investigated the accessibility of library resources for children with print disabilities in Japanese public libraries. We focused on public library conditions that facilitate reading among children with print disabilities, the current state of accessibility, and the availability of material collections. The survey findings revealed that regarding children’s reading environments, specific measures, such as the use of pictograms and colorcoded headings by subject area, were implemented to help children locate the desired materials easily. Concerning support for children with print disabilities, efforts were made to procure and lend accessible resources, including Braille materials, large-print books, and audio recordings, alongside the establishment of “Apple Shelf.” To comply with the Reading Barrier-Free Act, libraries adopted measures including the development of accessible material collections, installation of user aids such as the “Apple Shelf,” “Easy User Guide,” and “Communication Board,” and provision of reading support devices, including reading trackers and magnifying devices. Ongoing challenges include the need for staff development and establishment of long-term strategies to support the continuous acquisition and dissemination of accessible resources.

Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations

100664 | Shedding Light on Persuasion: The Influence of Spokesperson Facial Lighting Ratio on Print Ad Effectiveness

Hsuan-Yi Chou, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan

Jhao-Siang Chang, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan

With the advancement of modern society and media technology, advertising has become a crucial factor influencing consumer behavior. Design elements in print advertisements have been widely demonstrated to significantly affect advertising effectiveness. Among these, featuring a spokesperson in print ads is common practice, and the facial lighting ratio—the contrast between light and shadow on the face—plays a critical role in shaping the spokesperson’s image. Yet, its impact on consumer responses remains understudied. This research investigates how a spokesperson’s facial lighting ratio affects ad attitude and purchase intention, with narrative transportation and mystery serving as mediators, and gaze direction and product type as moderators. Two experiments reveal: (1) A high lighting ratio enhances narrative transportation, boosting ad attitude and purchase intention; (2) Mystery mediates the effect of lighting ratio on narrative transportation; (3) When the spokesperson averts gaze, a sequential mediation pathway from lighting ratio to ad effectiveness emerges; (4) For hedonic products, high lighting ratios enhance ad effectiveness via narrative transportation; (5) For utilitarian products, low lighting ratios improve ad effectiveness by enhancing the feeling of rightness. The findings of this study contribute to interdisciplinary discussions across photography, lighting design, spokesperson imagery, mystery, narrative processing, and construal level theory. Practically, this research offers valuable insights for advertising professionals seeking to enhance ad effectiveness by leveraging narrative transportation mechanisms. It also enables consumers to develop more acute awareness and critical judgment when engaging with advertisements and making product decisions.

96969 | Media Representations of CSR and Corporate Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic Yie Jing Yang, Shih Hsin University, Taiwan

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented global crisis, compelling businesses across various industries to reconfigure their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies in response to rapidly evolving social needs. In Taiwan, leading corporations such as Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) proactively engaged in pandemic relief efforts by collaborating with the government to procure and donate vaccines, while also implementing broader ESG sustainability initiatives. This study explores how CSR was represented in the media during the pandemic, focusing on the thematic content, corporate sectors, information sources, and news framing strategies. Employing content analysis, the research examines 493 CSR-related news articles published between late 2019 and 2022 in three major Taiwanese newspapers: China Times, United Daily News, and Liberty Times. The results indicate that CSR reporting peaked in 2021, with “social and expansion-related” initiatives receiving the most coverage, while “legal and ethical” aspects were underrepresented. Financial institutions dominated CSR news, followed by manufacturing and service sectors. The majority of articles were neutrally position, though positive portrayals outnumbered negative ones. Notably, the most common news frame emphasized contributions to social value. Of the 493 CSR-related news articles analyzed, more than half (51.1%, or 252 reports) were directly related to the pandemic. The most common CSR theme in pandemic-related coverage was “providing pandemic-related supplies,” followed by “launching relevant products.” The most frequently identified beneficiaries of these efforts were “public welfare organizations and other NGOs,” followed by “society and the general public.” In contrast, “disadvantaged groups” received comparatively less attention in pandemic-related CSR, and no CSR activities were specifically targeted at the “ecological environment” or “supply chains”.

Tuesday Poster Session

98295 | An Analysis of Goal Differences and Their Effects Between the Public Sector and Media Agency Service Providers in Taiwan’s Government Procurement Projects

Yu-Li Wang, Chinese Culture University, Taiwan

Taiwan’s government sectors frequently outsource the integrated marketing communication projects to the media agency service providers—ranging from media and advertising to PR, cultural, and digital agencies—to elevate their communications across multiple platforms. This study adopts the “ principal-agent theory,” as its research framework, employing the “in-depth interview method” supplemented by “secondary data analysis” to explore public tender cases in Taiwan’s government procurement projects. A total of 28 successful interviews were conducted with representatives from media agency service companies and public sector tenders from January. 2, 2024, to February 6, 2025. The study identified four key strategic orientations commonly adopted by media agency service companies: (1) Profit-oriented goal – focusing on securing government contracts to ensure stable and long-term revenue streams; (2) Market expansion goal– aiming to broaden market reach and elevate brand visibility through partnerships with public sector entities; (3) Professional positioning goal–emphasizing institutional competence and competitive edge through the delivery of specialized services;(4) Project execution goal – prioritizing effective and timely project implementation to fulfill contractual obligations and uphold industry reputation. In contrast, the objectives guiding public sector communication tenders can be categorized into four core dimensions: (1) Public value communication goals – fostering public understanding of policies and contributing to democratic engagement; (2) Regulatory compliance goals – ensuring adherence to legal frameworks and administrative protocols; (3) Risk mitigation goals – reducing exposure to political, legal, or reputational risks associated with public communication; (4) Performance visibility goals – strengthening the transparency and measurability of governmental actions within a performance-oriented governance framework.

Digital Media and Use of New Technology in Newsgathering

98392 | A Transformer-Based Natural Language Inference Approach to Detecting Misinformation in Philippine Online Narratives

Paul Rossener Regonia, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines

Ma. Pauline Abcede, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines

Led Rhoniel Salazar, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines

Roselyn Gabud, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines

Yvonne Chua, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines

The Philippines has been labeled “patient zero” of the global online disinformation epidemic. Chief architects of disinformation operate at an industrial, strategic, and exploitative scale, systematically producing misleading content. With most Filipinos online, a significant portion of the population remains highly vulnerable to digital disinformation. Current fact-checking efforts rely largely on manual monitoring of suspicious posts. However, the limited number of fact-checkers and their constrained resources hinder the timely verification as misinformation rapidly spreads on social media. Classical AI methods can support efficient fact-checking, but they often struggle to understand context and provide explanations. To address these limitations, we propose a natural language inference (NLI) approach that classifies online claims as factual or false by assessing their logical relationship to premises derived from verified ground truths. We fine-tuned an NLI transformer model using 5,024 fact-checked articles from credible Philippine fact-checking websites, including Vera Files and Tsek.ph. Leveraging open-source large language models such as LLaMa 3.1 and DeepSeek-R1, our NLI model achieved classification accuracy of up to 89% in detecting false claims. Furthermore, our model can generate chain-of-thought reasoning to explain its classification decisions, offering fact-checkers insight into how conclusions are drawn and enhancing trust in AI-assisted verification. These results demonstrate the potential of NLI models as scalable tools to support fact-checkers. Beyond the Philippine context, the model’s adaptability to local media environments opens possibilities for context-sensitive fact-checking in various languages. We also envision integrating NLI into multimodal formats, particularly audio and visual media, which dominate social platforms.

Film Criticism and Theory

96549 | How Is Cinematherapy Possible? Reframing Film Viewing as an Existential-Phenomenological Practice

Yi-chun Wu, National Chengchi University, Taiwan

This study reconsiders the concept of cinematherapy, arguing that it should not be simplified as a clinical psychological technique. Instead, it is reframed as a philosophical and experiential form of film engagement rooted in existential phenomenology. Unlike conventional models that rely on therapist-led interpretation and standardized emotional responses, this research emphasizes how viewers generate meaning through personal, embodied encounters with film. By drawing on Merleau-Ponty’s theory of embodiment and Heidegger’s notion of being-in-the-world, the paper proposes a three-part experiential framework: image guidance, which initiates symbolic identification and imaginative immersion; bodily resonance, which evokes sensory awareness and affective responses; and narrative reflection, which enables the viewer to reconfigure their interpretive frame and deepen their self-understanding. The paper analyzes Incantation (2022), a contemporary Taiwanese horror film that combines mockumentary style, occult rituals, and the threat of invisible curses. Through subjective camerawork, chaotic bodily expressions, and interactive narrative elements, the film provokes a visceral response to themes of belief, guilt, and existential instability. Rather than offering symbolic resolution or therapeutic release, the horror aesthetic functions as a destabilizing space where viewers confront fractured subjectivity and existential anxiety. This study contributes to the theoretical expansion of cinematherapy by presenting it as a dynamic process of embodied meaning-making. It invites interdisciplinary dialogue across film theory, media philosophy, and affect studies, and repositions the viewer as an active participant in their own emotional and existential interpretation of cinema.

Wednesday, November 5

Parallel Sessions

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Abstracts appear as originally submitted by the author. Any spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors are those of the author.

11:30-13:10 | Room A (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC2025 | Digital Humanities and Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Michael North

11:30-11:55

100542 | 01110100 01101111: A Practice-Based Inquiry into Digital Archival Bias and Legibility

Wei-Cheng Hsu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Yu-Fang Lai, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Chih-Yung Chiu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

This project begins with the recognition that digital data, despite its ubiquity and utility, is inherently fragile. Drawing from both historical perspectives, we propose that the reliance on digital storage may result in archaeological bias in the future. In response to this situation, predecessors have proposed several methods, which can be broadly categorized into two types: digital and off-digital. However, neither type breaks through the core difficulty of preserving the essential condition of our digital culture—that is, not only safeguarding data content from the risks of digital storage, but also transmitting how data is accessed and interpreted in the present. Facing this issue, we utilized a practice-based research methodology, and our kinetic creation 01110100 01101111 was developed as a part of our research. 01110100 01101111 is a custom digital image system consisting of an encoder and a decoder. The encoder processes digital images by applying low-resolution and grayscale discretization, encoding them into a low-level storage format in which each pixel is recorded with 2 bits. This data is then physically documented on paper tapes. On the other hand, the decoder—built using an electronic circuit structure based on 74HC595—is designed to decode and display the images using a progressive scan rendering. This project proposes an alternative strategy in response to the threat that our generation may become archaeologically illegible. Through the practice, the project reveals the potential of preserving not only the video images themselves, but also the processes through which present humanity decodes and renders information intelligible.

11:55-12:20

98311 | Informing Higher Education Multilingual Policy with Intercultural Communication Competence: A Global South Case Study

Robson Nkosi, University of the Free State, South Africa

Multilingual institutions are characterized by the use and coexistence of multiple languages (Nicolaescu, 2023). Research shows this is a growing priority in higher education worldwide (Herrarte, 2023). However, many South African universities face persistent challenges in effectively implementing multilingual policies (Bwowe et al, 2024). This study examines the University of the Free State (UFS) multilingual policy to explore how the absence or limitation of policy provisions for the holistic development of intercultural communication competence (ICC) may hinder a university’s pursuit of genuine multilingualism. Using qualitative methods and guided by Identity Negotiation Theory, which conceptualizes ICC as comprising affective (e.g., empathy), cognitive (e.g., knowledge and understanding of cultural differences), and behavioural (e.g., appropriate verbal and nonverbal actions) components (Ting-Toomey, 2017), the study reveals that the current UFS policy poses risks of diminished belonging, intercultural communication misunderstandings, and limited intercultural adaptability among university members. The study argues that any one or a combination of these risks can undermine efforts to achieve genuine multilingualism, both at the policy level and in everyday university interactions, affecting broader institutional goals such as social cohesion and inclusivity. It concludes by calling for the integration of explicit policy provisions that support holistic ICC development across the university community to foster inclusive intercultural communication and meaningful multilingual transformation. The findings of this study may inform other linguistically and culturally diverse institutions worldwide.

12:20-12:45

96735 | Machine Mediators: Rethinking Intelligence and Posthuman Ecologies in the Artist’s Book Teresa Weinholtz, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal

Mixed Signals (2023) is an artist’s book by kennedy+swan that merges the conventional physical book with augmented reality (AR). Through its nature-themed watercolours that transform into interactive AR scenes, this hybrid work explores the ethical tensions in using artificial intelligence (AI) as a means of researching nature. Set in a near future where AI enables interspecies communication, the artist’s book presents a fictional narrative that challenges anthropocentric assumptions and the complexities of human–nature–technology relations in the Anthropocene. Drawing from Braidotti’s posthuman theory, in this paper I examine how Mixed Signals interrogates the role of humanity in the natural world. By positioning its speculative AI technology as both a symptom of the Anthropocene and a tool for rethinking interspecies relationships, the work navigates a future that is inhabited not only by human intelligence, but also artificial, animal, and other non-human intelligence. Through a multimodal analysis, I consider how the text, watercolours, and augmented digital elements in Mixed Signals interact in its construction of meaning. Specifically, I examine how the work employs speculative storytelling surrounding AI and more-than-human perspectives to critique anthropocentric frameworks. Ultimately, I argue that Mixed Signals contributes to wider discussions on the potential and limitations of AI, posthuman ecologies, and the cultural function of art, specifically the artist’s book, in imagining post-anthropocentric futures.

12:45-13:10

100558 | Empowering Tertiary Arts Educators: A Case Study in Digital Tools for Collaborative Programme Viability Planning

Michael North, Unitec, New Zealand

Amid increasing financial pressures, empowering educators through transparent, data-driven tools has become essential in tertiary arts education (Ferns et al., 2007). Building on frameworks of distributed leadership (Bolden, 2011) and digital transformation in education, this case study describes the design and implementation of a collaborative, SharePoint-based planning tool within a New Zealand performing arts and screen production programme. Early outcomes and staff reflections indicate that digital tools specifically designed for course coordinators empower teaching staff to directly shape course delivery and design, ensuring the financial viability of both courses and programmes.

11:30-13:10 | Room B (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC2025 | Performing Arts Practices: Theatre, Dance, Music

Session Chair: Keung Hung

11:30-11:55

95376 | The Dawn of the Feely Effect – How Ancient Narrative Practices Can Inform the Storytelling of the Future Elizabeth Swift, University of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

“Take hold of these knobs on the arms of your chair,” whispered Lenina. “Otherwise, you won’t get any of the feely effects.” (Huxley, 1932) Watching and listening are no longer enough. As the crowds who flocked to ‘The Feelies’ in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World knew, the ultimate narrative experience involves all the senses in order to evoke the feeling of living viscerally within a story, rather than just to experience it vicariously. In the early years of the 21st century the immersive arts have grown to dominate the world of innovative arts and media. ‘Immersive’ has indeed become an umbrella term covering a whole range of cultural happenings that lean heavily on the promise of a multisensory narrative experience, frequently involving interactivity. Spear-heading the immersive revolution is the new technology of virtual and augmented reality, haptic interfaces, and binaural sound, that promise agency and multisensory experiences in fake ‘new worlds’ accessed through digital devices. This paper explores how the roots of contemporary multisensory storytelling are to be found, however, not in the developments of new technology, but in ancient narrative practices which predate, by millennia, the emergence of our dominant Western cultural traditions. Through investigating contemporary archaeology and anthropology, it explores how ancient storytelling practices were multi-sensory and interactive in the same way as emerging narrative techniques.

11:55-12:20

97820 | Sacred Intelligence: Exploring Humanity and Human Intelligence Through Religious Communication in India

Jerry Joseph Onampally, University of Mumbai, India

Mathew Martin Poothullil John, University of Mumbai, India

Sunder Rajdeep, University of Mumbai, India

This paper examines the interrelationship between humanity and human intelligence through the lens of religious communication, focusing specifically on the Syrian Catholic community in Kerala, India. Situated within India’s pluralistic spiritual environment, the study considers how religious discourse—embodied in scripture, liturgy, devotional music, rituals, and oral narratives—shapes emotional intelligence, ethical behavior, and human values. While acknowledging broader Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, Christian, and Sikh traditions, the primary emphasis is on how Syrian Catholic communicative practices cultivate moral consciousness and cognitive empathy. The research adopts Symbolic Interactionism to explore how individuals interpret divine messages and sacred narratives to negotiate identity, purpose, and ethical responsibility. Simultaneously, Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory informs the analysis of interpersonal, intrapersonal, and existential intelligences emerging through religious engagement. Religious communication is approached as a semiotic system that nurtures not only theological knowledge but also humanistic reasoning and spiritual insight. The methodology involves a post-recorded qualitative content analysis of homilies, liturgical chants, and community storytelling, employing ELAN software for multimedia annotation and discourse mapping. Data from both urban and rural Syrian Catholic contexts reveal that religious expression fosters emotional regulation, resilience, selfawareness, and social cohesion. In light of the communication on Religion, Culture and Peace, this study underscores how localized religious communicative practices contribute to a global understanding of humanity and intelligence. It calls for renewed attention to religious narratives as reservoirs of ethical wisdom, essential for cultivating peace, dignity, and spiritual intelligence in a rapidly transforming world.

12:20-12:45

95292 | Appropriation or Appreciation? Musical Representations of Japan in Screen Media

Ryoka Hagiwara, Heidelberg University, Germany

This paper examines the relationship between musical representations of Japan and the concepts of cultural appropriation and appreciation within screen media, including film and television. As global interest in the culture and history of Japan rises, the use of Japanese portrayals and representations in the media becomes more prevalent, raising critical questions about authenticity, respect, and hierarchical structures. I will analyse case studies, exploring how specific music genres, instruments, and compositional techniques associated with Japan are employed and utilised in the media. This includes the use of traditional Japanese instruments like the shakuhachi and koto, the incorporation of J-POP and anime music, and the creation of original scores inspired by traditional Japanese music such as gagaku. Through a critical lens, I will investigate whether these musical representations contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of Japanese culture, or perpetuate stereotypes. How are musical signifiers of “Japan” constructed and deployed? What are the arguments on authenticity in their use by non-Japanese musicians and artists? How does the line between appreciation and appropriation shift with context, intent, and reception? By analysing musical aesthetics, cultural context, and audience reception, this paper aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between music and cultural representation in the globalised media landscape. I argue that education and critical examination of these representations are essential for cultivating a more ethical and culturally sensitive approach to media production and consumption.

12:45-13:10

96509 | Enhancing Cultural Heritage Awareness Through Digital Puppetry: Bridging Intergenerational Connections via Immersive Technologies

Keung Hung, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage, particularly traditional puppetry, faces existential threats from declining youth engagement and practitioner numbers—a “sunset industry” hampered by limited societal recognition and resource allocation. This study investigates how immersive digital puppetry can revitalize cultural awareness among youth (8–12 years old) by bridging cutting-edge technology with endangered traditions. Building on the award-winning Digital Puppet project (Gold, SVIIF 2024; Bronze, Geneva 2024), we develop an AI/VR platform integrating motion-captured techniques from master puppeteers and 3D-scanned historical puppets. Through school workshops, exhibitions, and interactive VR performances, we examine how blended physical-virtual experiences can foster intergenerational knowledge transfer. This interdisciplinary research addresses critical gaps in: Innovative preservation methodologies – Creating scalable digital archives of vanishing puppetry techniques; VR’s underexplored role in cultural transmission – Quantifying its efficacy through youth engagement metrics; Participatory models – Empowering digital natives as co-creators of heritage narratives. Key objectives include: Developing an AI-enhanced VR system incorporating motion data from veteran puppeteers, 3D-scanned artifacts, and generative storytelling tools; Evaluating cultural awareness outcomes via pre/post assessments of 60+ students; Establishing evidence-based guidelines for digital heritage pedagogy. Preliminary results suggest immersive puppetry significantly enhances youth engagement by merging play with cultural learning, blurring boundaries between tradition and innovation. The project contributes a replicable framework for safeguarding intangible heritage globally while advancing STEAM education through technology-mediated art. Outcomes will inform policy recommendations for integrating digital preservation into school curricula and public funding initiatives, offering a sustainable model to counter cultural erosion in aging artisan communities.

11:30-13:10 | Room C (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC2025 | Climate Change and Arts, Media, and Culture

Session Chair: Tham Nguyen

11:30-11:55

95541 | Metaphors of Disaster: Examining Media Representations of the 2013 Bohol Earthquake Using Conceptual Metaphor Theory

Jay Israel De Leon, De La Salle University, Philippines

The media plays a crucial role during disasters, serving as a key source of information for preparedness, response, and recovery. It also functions as a powerful instrument in shaping public perception, discourse, and action. Studies on disaster reporting highlight the frequent use of figurative language to describe natural phenomena and the people affected, thereby framing disaster events in specific ways. This study examines the metaphorical representations of disasters in Philippine media, focusing on the earthquake that struck the island of Bohol, Philippines on 15 October 2013—one of the most devastating earthquakes in the country in the 21st century. The analysis draws from two widely read Filipino-language newspapers, i.e., Pilipino Star Ngayon and Pang-Masa, and applies Conceptual Metaphor Theory, which posits that metaphors are not merely linguistic expressions but fundamental features of human cognition. The study explores dominant metaphorical themes and conceptual metaphors used to frame the earthquake, reflecting on their implications for Philippine society’s understanding of disasters and their influence on disaster management and communication practices. By examining how the media constructs disaster narratives through metaphor, this study contributes to a broader discussion on the role of language in shaping societal responses to crises and offers insights into improving resilience-building and policy-making in disaster-prone regions like the Philippines. 11:55-12:20

96789 | Telemetry Breath: Digitally Mediated Micro-environment as a Vector of Environmental Closeness Kok Yoong Lim, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam

Agnieszka Kiejziewicz, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam

In several countries, the public’s right to nature is embedded in constitutional provisions. In Vietnam, the same impulse lives on more quietly through cultural practices, such as bringing trees into the house for New Year or adorning landscape scenes. Largely unspoken nostalgia for nature, culturally yet not consciously acknowledged in public discourse, inspires us to frame a practice-led conceptual solution guided by Vogel’s post-naturalist environmental philosophy (2015), which recasts cognitive longing for environmental intimacy as a call to reclaim the lost connection in the human-shaped world. We ask whether digital art can redistribute environmental closeness by translating a remote jungle, in real-time, into a laboratory-based microcosm. Streaming data, such as oxygen level, humidity and volatile organic compounds from the atmospheric sensors installed in the jungle, we convey the sampled air into a sealed Petri-dish ecosystem made from native soil. Under a microscope, the dish becomes a living projection, and its microbial weather conditions respond directly to the forest, giving birth to a primary habitat in the human-made surrounding. Grounded in environmental philosophy and affective ecology, the project combines creative coding, humanities and bio-art. Through interactive design, we inquire: Can a digitally mediated microenvironment evoke affective responses comparable to real nature? How might such installations reassert the primary human right to nature and what new aesthetics or ethical laws emerge in the process? By treating air as a connective medium, we reframe sustainability as shared respiration, reclaiming access to nature not through coordinated actions, but through a single, breathing, microscopic world.

12:20-12:45

100447 | Animation Tools for Expressive Movement Design of Collaborative Robots with a Focus on Precision and Safety

Tan Jui Hien, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Ridhima Bector, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Bernhard Johannes Schmitt, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Domenico Campolo, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

The integration of expressive motion into collaborative robots (cobots) is gaining attention for its potential to enhance human-robot interaction. While robotic engineers often focus on safety, productivity and efficiency, animators’ expertise in creating lifelike characters could bring valuable insights into motion design for human-robot interaction. However, most existing animation workflows lack tools that support non-technical users in designing expressive motion within robotic safety constraints. This paper introduces a custom suite of animation tools developed in Blender to address this gap. These tools enable animators to control gaze direction, rotational angles, and positional constraints more easily while staying within the physical limits of real robotic hardware. The current toolset includes a visual line-of-sight system, global coordinate tracking, and a hybrid Inverse/Forward Kinematics (IK/FK) rig that respects joint limitations. This research evaluates whether such Blender tools enhance animators’ experience and efficiency in creating safe and expressive movements, while also considering certain limitations, such as end effector location and joint angle precision. The study involves animators creating emotionally expressive motions both with and without the tools, followed by non-expert participants observing the animations on a physical cobot. Parameters including animation time, perceived usability, motion clarity, and safety are tested through quantitative measurements and subjective assessments collected via surveys and observational analysis. This work offers a practical framework that bridges the gap between expressive animations and safe robotic motion, with broader implications for collaborative robotics, animation software design, and human-robot interaction.

12:45-13:10

100600 | Eye-tracking Study: The Effects of Spatial and Temporal Distance in Visual Climate Change Communication

Tham Nguyen, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam

Le Trieu, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam Hong Vu, University of Colorado Boulder, United States

This study uses experimental research design (2 physical distances: close vs. far x 2 temporal distances: present vs. future) and eye-tracking technique to examine the impacts of visual climate change communication on individuals’ attention and their perceptions, attitudes and proenvironmental behaviors. Theory of visual attention and construal level theory serve as the theoretical framework. Eye-tracking techniques enable researchers to monitor movement of participants’ eyes and fixation metrics such as time to first fixation, fixation duration. Previous research on climate change communication employed eye-tracking techniques to analyze audience attention to both textual and visual elements of communication messages (e.g., Courtney & McNeal, 2023; Sutton & Fischer, 2021). This study collected data in a biometric laboratory at a public university involving 120 undergraduate student participants in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. While wearing eye-tracking glasses, each study participant is randomly assigned to one of four groups to view nine climate change images depicting the impacts of three types of natural disasters with image captions linking the disasters with climate change impacts. Findings reveal visual elements and climate change messages influencing individual’s attention as well as the relationship between eye-tracking metrics and other aspects of communication effectiveness, including risk perceptions, emotions, environmental attitudes and pro-environmental behaviors. The study seeks to enhance our understanding of how individuals attend to different visual elements and extends research of construal level theory in visual climate change communication. Practical implications aim to inform communicators visual elements and messages that can capture individuals’ attention to trigger desired changes.

11:30-13:10 | Room E (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC/MediAsia2025

|

Interdisciplinary Media Studies

Session Chair: Chie Noyori-Corbett

11:30-11:55

95706 | Informal Distributed Networks: How UK National Museums Sustained European Collaboration After Brexit Kirsty Warner, King’s College London, United Kingdom

This paper explores how UK national museums have sustained cross-border collaborations with European counterparts in the wake of Brexit. Despite the loss of EU funding, new restrictions on mobility, and rising administrative burdens, partnerships between UK and EU cultural institutions have shown notable resilience. Based on doctoral research involving thirty interviews with museum professionals and extensive archival analysis, the paper provides examples from three case studies: Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales), National Museums Liverpool, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The analysis considers how national museums in the UK have continued to engage with European partners post-Brexit and identifies the forms of institutional and relational resilience that have supported this continuity. Findings highlight the enduring strength of professional relationships, the strategic autonomy of institutions, and the capacity of individuals, particularly senior leaders, to navigate change while reaffirming shared priorities. In a period marked by political fracture, these museums demonstrate how continuity is maintained through organisational planning and the intelligence embedded in long-term relationships and leadership practices. This paper contributes to broader discussions on how public cultural institutions respond to external pressure and uncertainty. It positions museums as active participants in transnational networks, where resilience emerges from human insight, institutional memory, and sustaining trust. At a time when frontline staff are often the first affected by crisis measures, this study prompts a deeper reflection on the role of human agency and intelligence in institutional survival and the capacity to endure change.

11:55-12:20

100538 | Transforming Creative Leadership, Collaboration, and Education: Liminality, Deep Attention, and Improvisation

Jack Tsao, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Creativity faces a profound crisis and metamorphosis, driven by the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI), which automates ideation and production while questioning the exceptionalism of human creativity. Combined with the longstanding pressures of neoliberalism, prioritising efficiency, profit, and scalability, creative industries have faced declining resilience and innovation. The shortcomings of big-budget Hollywood productions and AAA gaming studios—marked by formulaic storytelling, excessive commercialisation, and risk-averse decision-making—are emblematic of these challenges. This paper advocates for renewed approaches to creative collaboration and leadership by drawing on Deleuze and Guattari’s topology of the rhizome, proposing non-hierarchical, interconnected, and adaptive creative assemblages. Drawing on two case studies of creative professional practices—Assemble Studio, a UK-based architectural collective and Turner Prize recipient, and Sandfall Interactive, the French studio behind the critically acclaimed Japanese role-playing video game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – I identify three generative and interconnected principles for creative flourishing and resilience in the face of economic rationalism: liminality – trans-disciplines that bridge public and private, permanence and temporality; deep attention – engaging with materials, histories, and communities; and improvisation within constraints—financial, spatial, or temporal—that open up emergent creative capacities. Finally, I discuss the broader implications of these principles for daring creative organisations and education, arranged to optimise experimentation, transdisciplinary collaborations, rooted in meaningful engagements with the world, and adapting to the contemporary demands of the 21st century.

12:20-12:45

96629 | WhatsApp and the Reconfiguration of News Production Processes in the Community Radio Space in South Africa

Mfundo Telson Radebe, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

Blesssing Makwambeni, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa

Extant studies show that the advent of social media is reconfiguring news production processes globally. Social media platforms such as X, Facebook, and Tik Tok, are bringing audiences into news production processes in ways that promote participatory journalism. However, although considerable research has examined how social media is being integrated into news production processes in journalism, most studies have focused on commercial media and social media platforms such as X, Facebook and Instagram and overlooked WhatsApp, a social media platform that is more popular in under resourced communities. In light of this background, this study adopts a conceptual framework consisting of participatory journalism and technological appropriation to examine how WhatsApp is being integrated in news production processes in two community radio stations, MADIAZ Radio and Nkqubela FM in South Africa. The findings of the study show that WhatsApp is the main social media platform being used in news production processes in the two under-resourced community radio stations in South Africa. WhatsApp is being harnessed for news sourcing, production, and dissemination due to its pervasiveness and low cost. The findings further show that WhatsApp is re-configuring the relationship between journalists and audiences in the two radio stations by allowing previously passive audiences to shape the news production process.

12:45-13:10

100481 | Visual Art as a Methodological Strategy in Community Participatory Research

Chie Noyori-Corbett, University of Oklahoma, United States

David P. Moxley, University of Alaska Anchorage, United States

The presenters, social work researchers, will describe how visual arts can be used effectively in a community participatory research (CPR) project for the purpose of assisting refugees in expressing their thoughts and feelings about relevant support systems for resettlement. The presenter will share an example of CPR using the visual arts in helping women refugees communicate the supports they want and need during the resettlement process in a southern city located in the United States. The presenters worked with a group of refugee women from a Southeast Asian country. As most of the participants could not read or write in their native language or use English, the presenter involved two culturally competent participants in the CBR arts process--an artist and an interpreter from the refugees’ country of origin who assisted participants in framing visual representations of their resettlement needs. The artist created a series of paintings capturing multiple visual representations of the participants focus group discussion content. A subsequent community forum facilitated participants’ further discussion of the paintings in elaborating the support they sought for successful resettlement. The presenter will share the paintings and thematic interpretations with the audience and outline steps she took to incorporate the visual arts in the CBPR process. The presentation will inform the audience about the usefulness of the arts in CBPR in designing helping processes, support systems, and culturally responsive practice.

11:30-13:10 | Room G (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC2025

| Literature, Literary Studies, and Theory

Session Chair: Bernard Montoneri

11:30-11:55

96817 | Relational Intelligence: Human and More-than-Human Co-Becoming

Ioana Clara Enescu, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania

This paper explores the entanglement of human and more-than-human intelligence in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as reflected in Veronica D. Niculescu’s narrative Pescărușul de la geam [The Seagull at the Window]. Published in 2021, while the pandemic crisis was still unfolding, the book recounts the story of a woman and a seagull who discover each other through a window, with curiosity, joy, and emotion. What unfolds from this encounter is a lyrical meditation on shared vulnerability and the emergence of a new cognitive disposition that resonates with Scott Slovic’s concept of the COVID-mind. According to Slovic, the pandemic presents a rare “opportunity for conscious evolution,” foregrounding our cognitive limitations, ecological entanglements, and the urgent need for radical shifts in perception and behavior (Slovic, 2020). Reading Niculescu’s work through the theoretical lens of ecocriticism / econarratology, this paper argues that the book offers an alternative model of intelligence: a relational one. Drawing on Donna Haraway’s concept of “playing string figures with companion species” (Haraway, 2016, p. 10), the human-seagull relationship becomes a metaphor for creative, ethical world-building grounded in contact, collaboration, and co-becoming. The nonverbal intelligence and affective presence depicted in Pescărușul de la geam challenge anthropocentric norms, revealing the more-than-human world not as passive background, but as responsive participant.

11:55-12:20

96541 | Software and Cultures: Integrating Storytelling, Reflections, and Art Studies into a Graduate Course for AI-literate Computer Science Students

Evgeny Pyshkin, University of Aizu, Japan

Embracing uncertainty, abolishing the fear of not knowing, and acknowledging the gaps in knowledge (Starikoff 2024) are the attentioncapturing aspects of the contemporary educational paradigm that shifts the primary purpose of education from knowledge transfer to knowledge discovery, favoring the inquisition of the unknown through creating an inherently mutual immersive learning process involving both tutors and students, where questions and exploration are valued over immediate answers. While designing the course “Software and Cultures”, we targeted the problems of technocratic education, which prioritizes the development of professional skills over serving students’ needs across all aspects of their life. With ubiquitous access to technology support, the young who are assumed to be AI-literate but are actually AI-dependent, are not actively engaged in understanding the serious arts, the latter including both traditional and paradoxically those appealing to the contemporary vision and involving generative AI. Grounded by the idea of positioning computer science within the realm of liberal arts (Walker & Kelemen 2010), the course extended students’ knowledge of arts and acknowledging the value of cross-disciplinary metaphors (Pyshkin & Blake 2020), taking students on journeys into terra incognita, broadening their engagement with the liberal arts ideals of intellectual curiosity, cultural literacy, and interdisciplinary exploration. With the masterpieces of literature, visual and performing arts, music, decorative crafts, architecture, and design, we draw the project stories, reflection exercises, and case studies to address the bias between the pedagogical and engineering goals, on the one hand, and creativity, dedication, and personal growth, on the other.

12:20-12:45

100298 | From Mr. M’Choakumchild to Bradley Headstone: Impact of Ongoing Educational Reforms on Schoolteachers in Hard Times and Our Mutual Friend

Akiko Takei, Chukyo University, Japan

Charles Dickens maintained a sustained engagement with contemporary education, particularly regarding its provision for the working class and individuals experiencing poverty. Through his portrayals of diverse schools and teachers, he interrogated the structural deficiencies of the ongoing education and teaching systems. In Hard Times (1854), Dickens satirises the pupil–teacher system established by the 1846 regulations embodied in Mr. M’Choakumchild, whose mechanical and fact-driven pedagogy exemplifies the shortcomings of utilitarian education. A decade later, in Our Mutual Friend (1864–65), Dickens revisits these concerns through Bradley Headstone, a complex central antagonist. In contrast, Mr. M’Choakumchild is just an unlikeable minor character. This more nuanced treatment signals the schoolteachers’ evolving social and professional standing, while also reflecting the impact of the 1862 Revised Code. Shaped by economic imperatives and utilitarian ideals, the Code further instrumentalised education, intensifying teachers’ workloads and pressures. Headstone’s obsessive and violent traits can be interpreted as manifestations of psychological strain imposed by these reforms. His tense relationship with Charley Hexam encapsulates the transition from apprenticeship-based pupil–teacher training to the mechanical and structured discipline ushered in by the Revised Code.

12:45-13:10

98395 | Absurdism and Consumerism in the Morgan Library Manuscript of the Little Prince Bernard Montoneri, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

Saint-Exupéry visited the US in 1938, again in 1939, and from 1940 to 1943. This period was the most prolific in the French writer’s life: he published Wind, Sand and Stars in 1939 (US National Book Award for Nonfiction), Flight to Arras in 1942, The Little Prince and Letter to a Hostage in 1943. The Little Prince was mostly written in New York, notably at his friend Silvia Hamilton’s apartment and in Saint-Exupéry’s Bevin House in Asharoken (Long Island). Before he left America, the writer offered his 30,000-word manuscript of The Little Prince to Silvia Hamilton, who sold it to the Morgan Library and Museum in 1968. Saint-Exupéry removed numerous sentences and paragraphs before submitting The Little Prince to his publisher. The published version is only half the size of the Morgan Library manuscript. This presentation focuses on references to Absurdism and Consumerism in the novella. While some examples remain in the published version (the businessman counting and owning stars so he can buy more), other examples were removed by Saint-Exupéry: in folio 94, the little prince visits a store that sells all sorts of inventions, including a very expensive instrument making the sound of a small earthquake. The storekeeper resembles the voice of absurd authority, offering ready-made pleasure and suppressing true longing. The little prince, in asking for something as impossible and poetic as a device to make the moon rise, becomes a rebel, refusing to participate in absurd commerce and instead yearning for transcendent, non-utilitarian meaning.

14:10-15:25 | Room A (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 2

KAMC2025 | Digital Humanities, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Xavier Lin

14:10-14:35

96653 | Writing a New Future: Digital Humanities and the Script Transition in Manipur

Malemnganbi Akoijam, Indian Institute of Information Technology Manipur, India

Dayananda Taorem, Indian Institute of Information Technology Manipur, India

Potshangbam Linthoingambi, Indian Institute of Information Technology Manipur, India

Nirupama Kshetrimayum, Indian Institute of Information Technology Manipur, India

Sayoni Loitongbam, Indian Institute of Information Technology, India

In 2006, the Government of Manipur, India, officially replaced the Bengali script with Meetei Mayek for writing Meeteilon (the only TibetoBurman language with its own script and written culture in Northeast India) in schools, following decades of public protest and cultural assertion. While this marked a symbolic return to indigenous identity, it also created a generational divide in script literacy. The younger generation, trained only in Meetei Mayek, is increasingly unable to access the bulk of modern Manipuri literature and archival materials, which remain in Bengali script. The older generation, meanwhile, often lacks knowledge of Meetei Mayek. The current literacy demography in Meeteilon can broadly be categorized into four groups: those literate only in the Bengali script, those literate only in Meetei Mayek, bilingual readers proficient in both scripts, and those unable to read Meeteilon in either script. Only a handful of scholars are proficient in both, posing a serious challenge for research and literary preservation. This paper probes into the urgent necessity for digital intervention in the form of digitization and AI-assisted transliteration tools to bridge this script divide. It argues that without such technologies, the cultural and literary continuity of Meeteilon faces the risk of fragmentation. Presented as a case study of script transition in Manipur, this work draws attention to the intensity of impact that potential digitization holds—not just for access, but for enabling future generations to reclaim and research their literary heritage.

14:35-15:00

98442 | Cantonese Opera Libretti Translation into English: Reception of Lyrical Resonances

Kelly Kar Yue Chan, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong

Cantonese opera libretti are deeply intertwined with classical poetry, exhibiting refined language, rhetorical sophistication, and aesthetic depth. However, translating these lyrics into English presents significant challenges due to cultural and linguistic differences in order to achieve a certain kind of resonance. Translators must navigate three possible approaches: (a) rendering only the basic meaning, (b) preserving poetic structure and literary nuances, or (c) ensuring singability and performability in alignment with musical and theatrical demands. It is even harder to translate performance surtitles as they introduce further complexities, which must adhere to strict constraints on length, readability, and musical synchronization. The untranslatability of these surtitles is heightened compared to operatic scripts meant for reading or research. Attempts to revive Cantonese opera in English have encountered difficulties, particularly in maintaining the metrical integrity and condensed content of the original Chinese lyrics. Limited lexical equivalence and inadequate translation quality have often weakened the audience’s reception. While libretti maintain poetic segmentation, providing greater accessibility and receptibility for readers, surtitles remain a greater challenge in fully capturing the artistic essence of Cantonese opera. In such regard, to adopt the Reception Theory to scrutinize the aspects of cultural, rhetorical and aesthetics of several translated versions of the celebrated classic operatic play The Flower Princess will be feasible in this research. This study also explores the feasibility of translating or adapting poetic and musical dimensions across linguistic boundaries.

15:00-15:25

93684 | How Do You Solve a Problem Like Verb to Be? A Parallel Translational Comparison Dealing with the Vocabulary Incompatibility Xavier Lin, National Chi Nan University, Taiwan

Dealing with incompatibility forms the main, if not the sole, task in translation. Of what and how one language expresses, there are never perfectly compatible counterparts in another language. Even when the incompatibility is ostensibly made translatable with different types of shifts and swaps, what inevitably suffers is the lost of the stylistic and/or aesthetic coherence of the whole translation since each individual case is often dealt with to conform with each different context, ending up in winning the battle but losing the war. Solutions, arguably, can be found where this consistency has been achieved, rare as it may be. The verb to be, essential and common in English but non-existent in Chinese, is a typical case of vocabulary incompatibility; this paper will investigate how it is translated into Chinese and what Chinese expressions can be translated into English with verb to be as the verb of the predicate—by examining Shan Te-hsing’s Chinese translation of Gulliver’s Travel and David Hawkes’ English translation of The Story of the Stone. Both of the source texts are iconic and canonized masterpieces in their own literary traditions; both of the translations, arguably, have been esteemed as exceptional translational achievements in their own languages. It is the goal to demonstrate how the incompatible existential situation of the verb to be can be abridged between English and Chinese through parallelly comparing the two translational masterpieces in question.

14:10-15:25 | Room B (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 2

KAMC2025 | Performing Arts Practices: Theatre, Dance, Music

Session Chair: Jonathan Dimond

14:10-14:35

95740 | Exploring Intercultural Learning: Practices and Challenges in Collaborative Performing Arts Projects

Peishi Weng, Taipei University of Marine Technology, Taiwan

Yijie Ou, Taipei University of Marine Technology, Taiwan

The internationalization of higher education has attracted an increasing number of international students to study in Taiwan recently. As a result, opportunities for cross-cultural interaction among university students on campus have gradually increased. Nevertheless, Taiwanese students’ cross-cultural experiences remain relatively limited. This study aims to explore the learning experiences of 20 international and Taiwanese students who collaborated on new media-related projects, including music recording, singing, and video production. Utilizing Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning model, the study investigates participants’ interactions and learning experiences in a cross-cultural context. Data were collected through classroom observations, interviews, and questionnaires to examine the dynamics of collaboration, cultural exchange, and mutual learning during the project process. The findings indicate that both groups of students demonstrated a positive attitude toward cross-cultural communication, suggesting a willingness to engage with foreign cultures. However, interviews also revealed several challenges, such as language barriers and cultural stereotypes. Thus, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how cross-cultural collaboration influences students’ intercultural communication skills and offers suggestions for future studies to further enhance cross-cultural cooperation and learning, thereby fostering a more inclusive and internationalized campus environment.

14:35-15:00

96115 | Fostering Intercultural Communication Through Dramatic Monologue: An Online Drama Initiative Between Tertiary Students from Singapore and Japan

Ken Mizusawa, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Aya Murray-Kawakami, Meijo University, Japan

Richard Angus Whitehead, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Multiliteracies scholars have long argued that multimodality and multiculturalism must serve as the foundation for more effective, authentic and meaningful intercultural communication. After all, the ability to communicate with purpose, clarity and confidence across different cross-cultural, digital domains is precisely what is required of future-ready individuals. Yet, mastering intercultural communication skills has been further problematised by a fractured and contentious world in which cultural, linguistic and mass media resources are constantly and casually being borrowed, broken up, and blended with little or no regard for their specific origins, inherent value or cultural sensitivity; neither are there formal opportunities to develop them within the typical disciplinary structure of higher education. This case study examines an online drama initiative between Singaporean and Japanese students designed to foster 21st century intercultural communication skills in English via the writing and performing of monologues via Zoom. The monologue can be considered the perfect vehicle for fostering intercultural communication as it is a dramatic form centred on bridging divides (between the fictional and real worlds) and fostering shared understandings (between a specific situation and its universal meaning) multimodally. By adapting the four tenets of the multiliteracies method, we interrogate the problems and possibilities of drama work that is bound by a screen rather than a physical location (critical framing), confuses the distinction between private and public spaces (situated practice), adapts performance conventions for an actor effectively in close-up (overt instruction) and compels students to begin writing in one context and perform it in another (transformed practice).

15:00-15:25

95666 | Symmetry in Intercultural Rhythm: a Geometric Perspective on Rhythm in Indian and Balinese Music Jonathan Dimond, Melbourne Polytechnic, Australia

The Carnatic music of South India and the folk music of the Balinese gamelan are very different genres with unique performance practices, ensembles, tuning systems and traditions. Both genres, however, appear to place precedence on temporal organisation of the music. This paper uses simple geometric tools to analyse a representative composition from each genre in order to acquire an understanding of the mathematics behind their construction. It is revealed that symmetry operates on multiple levels of scale and in complex ways. Through comparative analysis, differences as well as latent similarities in the approach to symmetry in rhythm and metre are revealed. Through mathematical abstraction, musical relationships may be made between these and the cyclic rhythmic language of other intercultural genres (such as the music of sub-Saharan Africa). For performers and composers interested in intercultural collaboration, the semiotic translation of rhythmic features facilitates an improved understanding of the music. The results of this quantitative research may enable the contemporary musician to create new music with a hybridised intercultural style.

14:10-15:25 | Room C (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 2

MediAsia2025 | Critical Cultural Studies in Gender and Communication

Session Chair: Manjula Venkataraghavan

14:10-14:35

96441 | The Queer Yōkai

Tan Gia Bao Huynh, Waseda University, Japan

This research investigates the queerness of yōkai (supernatural entities) as fluid, transgressive figures within Japanese folklore and contemporary media. Focusing on the 2007 anime “Mononoke”, the study argues that yōkai offer a powerful framework for rethinking gender and identity beyond rigid binaries. The anime’s protagonist - the androgynous Medicine Seller - serves as a liminal figure who traverses the boundaries of human and spirit, self and other, male and female. By drawing on queer theory, particularly the works of Judith Butler, Jack Halberstam, and Mikhail Bakhtin, this paper reframes yōkai not as mere folkloric symbols, but as dynamic embodiments of queer resistance, affect, and transformation. Rather than interpreting these figures solely through semiotic or structural lenses, the article foregrounds their performative and affective power, how they trouble normative identity and invite non-anthropocentric readings of gender. Ultimately, this study contends that yōkai, both historically and in anime like “Mononoke”, persist as queer agents of disruption and world-making, offering new possibilities for understanding the relationship between folklore, media, and identity.

14:35-15:00

98533 | Male Beauty Influencers in India: Challenging Masculinity Through Digital Labour and Self-Branding Online

Shemol Misra, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India

This paper investigates the burgeoning phenomenon of male beauty influencers in India, examining the intricate interplay between gender, digital labour, and the construction of personal brands on social media platforms like Instagram. It explores how these influencers challenge conventional and gendered notions of masculinity by expressing themselves through beauty content while simultaneously constructing and commodifying their identities to remain visible in a competitive influencer economy. As beauty and grooming content gains momentum online, these influencers destabilise dominant gender norms while also engaging in digital labour. This research qualitatively analyses content from a purposively selected sample of influencers with 20K to 500K followers. This mid-tier range was chosen because these influencers tend to produce frequent content as they engage more with their followers to grow their brand. Data was collected over one month and analysed using content and thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke (2006). The goal is to understand how these influencers perform masculinity through language, visuals, and branding in ways that both reflect and resist traditional gender expectations. By focusing on male influencers in a space often seen as feminine, this research highlights how masculinity is being redefined through digital labour and self-branding in India’s evolving digital economy. It contributes to emerging scholarship on masculinities, gendered labour, and influencer economies in the postcolonial and Indian contexts.

15:00-15:25

95823 | Son Preference: A Cinematic Contemplation

Manjula Venkataraghavan, Manipal Institute of Communication-MAHE, India

Debjani Halder, Manipal Institute of Communication-MAHE, India

Within Indian patriarchal family structures, the preference for male children has contributed to the loss of girl children, both before and after birth. This phenomenon, rooted in cultural norms such as inheritance practices, continues to shape gender dynamics, reflected in the skewed sex ratio in South Asia. With the rise of the women’s movement and discourses on gender justice and human rights, reproductive rights and the right to life have gained prominence in contemporary India and found cinematic expression since the 1990s. This study examines the theme of ‘son preference’ through post-1990s alternative Indian cinema, using a dual lens of representation—political and artistic. Drawing on feminist theory, it explores how socially committed filmmakers portray gender rights while also revealing underlying patriarchal traces. Some of the selected films include Father, Son and Holy War (1994), Mrityudand (1996), Hari-Bhari (2000), Lajja (2002), Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women (2005) and Tommidinelaly (2011).

14:10-15:25 | Room E (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 2

MediAsia2025 | Film Criticism and Theory

Session Chair: Hoang Bao Linh Du

14:10-14:35

100463 | ‘Screen with a Mouth’: Deconstructing the Narrative Significance of Fourth-wall-breaks in Ten English-feature-films from Annie Hall (1977) to Deadpool (2016)

Aparaajith Sharmaa, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication Studies, India

Rohan Dasgupta, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India

The term ‘breaking the fourth wall’ is used in film, theatre, television, and literary works. It refers to a character directly addressing an audience, or actively acknowledging— through dialogue or breaking character— their fictional reality. Fourth-wall-breaking cinema requires purposive thought and preparation. Annie Hall (1977), Ferris Bueller’s day off (1986), Fight club (1999), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and Deadpool (2016) are a few films involving fourth-wall-breaks, box-office success, and critical acclaim. The researchers studied a total of eighty-three fourth-wall-breaking scenes from ten English-language feature films (including aforementioned films) using a multipronged-framework-backed narrative-analysis (Qualitative Method). These films feature characters, especially the protagonist, who address the audience in at-least four scenes. Special care was taken to apply this analysis to the nuances of films’ diverse genres-&-contexts. This research borrowed some elements from Tom Brown’s book “Breaking the Fourth Wall—Direct Address in the Cinema”. These were: the number of fourth-wall-breaking characters, their confessions, their honesty, and their effort to build an emotional connection. The researchers formulated additional elements to suit the specific needs of the research. These were: characterization, the attempt to retain attention, the effort to entertain, the significance of the scene, and the placement of fourth-wallbreaks in the scene. The study garnered pivotal insights into the quintessential narrative elements of fourth-wall-breaking cinema. These elements are agency, characterization, engagement, ingeniousness, intimacy, showmanship, significance, synergy.

The research quantified the multifaceted usage of fourth-wall-breaks, and undertook a nuanced examination of their intricacies. Patterns, range, and uniqueness emerged among the chosen films.

14:35-15:00

96936 | Border-Crossing Girlhoods and Middle-Voiced Subjectivity in East Asian Youth Cinema: A Case Study of Bai Xue’s The Crossing (2018)

Yiqing Yang, Kyoto University of the Arts, Japan

This paper examines how deviant or marginalized adolescents in contemporary East Asian cinema enact forms of middle-voiced subjectivity—actions that emerge not from clear agency or submission, but through relational structures embedded in social and institutional contexts. By introducing Koichiro Kokubun’s theory of the middle voice into the field of film studies, this paper develops a novel framework for reinterpreting adolescent subjectivity. In dialogue with Foucault’s concept of relational power, Arendt’s theory of will and action, and Butler’s notion of gender performativity, it proposes a shift away from agent/victim binaries toward a more relational, process-oriented reading of youth behavior in cinema. Focusing on Bai Xue’s The Crossing (2018), the study analyzes the protagonist Peipei, a teenage girl navigating the physical and socio-economic border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Peipei’s engagement in smartphone smuggling is neither fully volitional nor purely coerced; rather, it unfolds as a structurally generated action shaped by relational ambiguity and systemic pressures. A middle-voiced reading, this paper argues, enables a more nuanced understanding of adolescent agency under conditions of cultural displacement, institutional constraint, and gendered precarity—inviting a reconsideration of what counts as “deviance” in contemporary cinematic narratives.

15:00-15:25

96724 | The Chinese American Daughter Figure in Contemporary American Films: Searching for Belongingness in Liminal Spaces

Hoang Bao Linh Du, Deakin University, Australia

This paper examines the Chinese American daughter figure in contemporary American films through the concepts of “model minority” and “liminality”. Particularly, this paper focuses on the two recent independent films, The Farewell (2018) and The Half of It (2019), and their daughter characters, Billi Wang and Ellie Chu. The Chinese American daughter characters will be investigated through critical textual and comparative analysis. Drawing on the key concepts of “model minority”, “liminal space”, and “liminal subjects”, the paper examines how the daughters are positioned and position themselves as 1.5-generation Chinese American women caught between the host country (America) and the motherland (China), especially, through the stereotype of high-achieving racial minority. This paper aims to look into the dynamics of navigating a hyphenated identity and the “in-between” or “liminal” intercultural spaces as they are represented onscreen. As the films’ directors are Chinese American and the films are loosely based on their experiences as daughters of Chinese immigrant families, the findings of this research aim to explore and propose new perspectives on narratives that are told from the standpoint of both the invisible and hypervisible double minority, which can subvert and challenge white masculine dominant identity narratives.

15:40-16:55 | Room A (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Cultural Studies and Communication

Session Chair: Jea Agnes Taduran-Buera

15:40-16:05

98549 | Reframing Cultural Authority: A Study on Subcultural Tastemakers on Discord

Arghya Das, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India

Padmakumar K, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India

This paper examines the emergence of new cultural tastemakers on participatory communication platforms, using the platform Discord as a case study. By utilizing Bourdieu’s concept of Distinction, it interrogates how platform specific affordances enable a renegotiation of authority and cultural capital in cinephillic spaces that centre around cult, exploitation, and fringe cinema. The Discord server, the server administrators, moderators, and the community are shown to act as decentralised tastemakers, fostering subaltern cinematic aesthetics while wielding increasing symbolic power in fragmented digital public spaces. This analysis applies Gibson’s (1979) Affordance theory to show how Discord’s structural affordances – such as server hierarchies, channel segmentation, pinned messages, and bot-based moderation – act as infrastructural agents that shape discursive legitimacy and cultural hierarchies. Finally, participatory communication theory (Carpentier, 2011) is used to interrogate how the participatory culture on Discord challenges the uni-directional cultural authority traditionally held by professional critics and gatekeepers. Ultimately, this study aims to rearticulate the politics of taste-making in the platform era, demonstrating how new actors contest and reconfigure aesthetic hierarchies. By positioning Discord as a site of cultural production rather than mere communication, this paper contributes to on-going research into digital subcultures, their decentralised authority, and the evolving field of media and communication studies.

16:05-16:30

100552 | Leveraging Social Media for Wildlife Conservation Awareness and Advocation: A Content Analysis of Tesso Nilo National Park Instagram Account

Acniah Damayanti, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Novi Paramita Dewi, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Research on wildlife conservation in Indonesia highlighted over extraction of natural resources, wildlife trade, human-wildlife conflict, as well as public awareness among many challenges of wildlife conservation (Altamira & Koestoer, 2024; Prawiradilaga & Soedjito, 2013; Strang & Rusli, 2021). Public awareness is especially vital to wildlife conservation because it empowers individuals and communities to understand the value of biodiversity, take responsible actions, and support policies that protect endangered species and their habitats. The government alongside environmental non-government actors has been working hand in hand to build public awareness through many promotional activities, including using social media. Social media has emerged as a powerful platform for environmental communication nowadays, offering interactivity, real-time engagement, and wide audience reach. Tesso Nilo National Park is one of Indonesian conservation agency actively uses social media to educate the public, advocate wildlife conservation, and promote eco-tourism through its Instagram account @btn_tessonilo. This study investigates how Tesso Nilo National Park utilizes its official Instagram account to promote wildlife conservation awareness and advocacy. By conducting a content analysis of posts published within the year of 2025, the research aims to identify recurring themes, visual storytelling techniques, engagement patterns, and conservation messaging strategies. This study will provide an insight on how a government conservation agency, through social media, builds environmental narratives, advancing environmental causes, and discussed them with the audience.

16:30-16:55

100434 | TikTok’s Influence: A Rhetorical Analysis of a Vegan Advocate’s Reels Jea Agnes Taduran-Buera, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

TikTok has emerged as a powerful platform for advocacy, allowing individuals and organizations to amplify their voices and drive social change. With its engaging short videos and extensive reach, TikTok empowers users to raise awareness about critical issues, mobilize supporters, and foster community engagement. By tapping into the creative potential of this platform, advocates can inspire action, challenge societal norms, and create meaningful conversations that resonate with diverse audiences. While veganism is often viewed as an alternative and even radical lifestyle that challenges mainstream views on food consumption, health, and morality, it has recently garnered scholarly attention. Studying distinctive dietary minorities, such as Ed Winters, a prominent vegan advocate, helps us understand his motivations and how he uses dialogue to negotiate a socially marginalized status. This study conducts a rhetorical analysis of Winters’ TikTok reels, examining their social relevance and the subjectivity of the data presented. It draws on discourses surrounding animal welfare, human health, and environmental awareness. Three rhetorical acts are identified that serve as powerful tools for advancing advocacy. They illustrate how Winters constructs discourse to convey the importance of discussing these issues rhetorically through TikTok, facilitating collective deliberation in persuasive situations in the digital age.

15:40-16:55 | Room B (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Differences,

Identity, Ethnicity

Session Chair: Tien Ly Quyet

15:40-16:05

96057 | Reframing the Legacy of Slavery: Historical Injustices, Contemporary Realities, and Black Agency

Rheagan Humphrey, Southern Methodist University, United States

The legacy of slavery in the United States undeniably shaped African American history, but present-day narratives that center Black Americans primarily as victims risk eclipsing a more complete truth: one of agency, progress, and responsibility. This study challenges the assumption that systemic injustice wholly defines Black life in the modern era. Drawing on social contract theory, particularly Charles Mills’ critique of racialized power, and Thomas Sowell’s data-driven analysis of cultural and economic behavior, the paper explores how historical exclusion has given way to new opportunities often downplayed by prevailing discourse. Jason Riley’s critique of liberal paternalism underscores how well-meaning policies and narratives can reinforce dependency and stifle advancement. Focusing specifically on patterns of economic mobility, this paper highlights how many Black Americans have risen into the middle and upper classes through entrepreneurship, professional achievement, and community resilience. It argues for a reframing of racial discourse toward merit, resilience, and self-determination. By foregrounding Black agency and the capacity for growth, the paper resists narratives that suggest progress has been negligible and affirms that we are entering an era increasingly shaped by character and competence, not inherited grievance.

16:05-16:30

96635 | Beyond the Hospital Bed: Reproductive Justice and Immigration in the U.S.

Daniela Gallardo, Arizona State University, United States

In the evolving political landscape of the United States, immigration has become increasingly criminalized, as immigration detention centers operate as carceral spaces where reproductive injustices are perpetuated. These injustices include forced sterilizations, inadequate medical care, and denial of access to reproductive services, which reveal the need to center a Reproductive Justice framework that affirms the right to bodily autonomy and the ability to parent in safe environments. This paper examines the intersection of immigration, reproductive justice, and childbirth, with a specific focus on the experiences of undocumented and detained women. Drawing from Indigenous feminist frameworks, I investigate how undocumented women navigate childbirth outside the dominant U.S. medical model, and whether parteras (midwives) can serve as a culturally grounded, community-based alternative. I ask: What alternative birthing practices exist among undocumented communities, and can parteras be implemented to support these women? Through a qualitative cross-national analysis of Mexico’s integration of parteras into its healthcare system, I explore the possibilities for replicating such models in the U.S. This work seeks to illuminate both the gendered and racialized impacts of structural barriers undocumented women face in accessing reproductive care. Ultimately, I argue that reimagining reproductive healthcare for undocumented women requires a decolonial and justice-centered approach that honors cultural traditions, affirms autonomy, and resists the carceral state.

16:30-16:55

93766 | Vietnamese Buddhism in the 21st Century Tien Ly Quyet, Eastern International University, Vietnam

The objectives of this paper are to study the Buddhist Identities in Vietnam in the twenty-first Century. The author of this study tries to analyze the Vietnamese Buddhism from the point of view of a researcher who has experienced the tumultuous destiny of the most popular religion, occupying over 70 percent of the population by some estimates. Reaching broadly among the population, Vietnamese Buddhism has enjoyed a considerable influence on the thinking and behavior of Vietnamese people. New pagodas among them the biggest ones in Southeast Asia have been built across the country. Vietnamese monks had more opportunities to visit Buddhist countries to update theories and teachings. Buddhist followers frequent pagodas and temples every Sunday and on the first and half lunar days for praying. The increasing number of Buddhist activities and population, however, raises conflicting opinions among scholars, state and independent organizations inside and outside. What is the true identity of Vietnamese Buddhism in the 21st century? How it is constructed, negotiated and intersected with other modes of identity in the globalized and digitalized world? How it survives and develops in a socialist communist system different from most of the rest of Asia? What social, cultural and spiritual roles it plays in Vietnam? The study discloses Vietnamese Buddhism in the twenty-first century: its identity, particularity, philosophy, activities and core values in a challenging world. It contributes to an insightful understanding of one of the most dynamic and popular religions in Vietnam.

15:40-16:55 | Room C (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Sociology

Session Chair: George Vincent Gamayo

15:40-16:05

96513 | Reflexive Green Entrepreneurship: The Innovative and Sustainable Practice Among Young Indonesians

Deena Nirmala Putri Soedikto, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Young people face many challenges which impact their lives, yet they serve as critical agents of transformation. Through innovative and locally rooted solutions, young people in Indonesia engage in the practice of green entrepreneurship, which not only addresses environmental challenges but also actively shapes new cultural norms around sustainability. In their reflexive practice, they identify problems and offer solutions through enterprising activities, yet at the same time exercising their contextual sensitivity and the ability to navigate both enabling and constraining factors. Using narratives case study approach, qualitative data were collected from founders of green businesses in several cities in Java and Bali, Indonesia. In-depth interviews were conducted online to gather rich, qualitative insights into their journeys. The result reveals two key themes: 1) types of innovation by young people through their green entrepreneurship, and 2) enablers and constraints related to their innovative practice. These findings are further analyzed using Margaret Archer’s concept of reflexivity. The analysis indicates that reflexivity is crucial for young people to navigate enablers and constraints in their practice of green entrepreneurship. In this process, they are exercising leadership skills and capacities grounded in both local wisdom and global awareness, which exemplify the essence of global citizenship. This dynamic interplay positions young people’s practice of green entrepreneurship not just as an economic activity, but as a cultural force redefining innovation and sustainability in contemporary Indonesia. Most importantly, their practice should give valuable insights in developing educational content to promote global competence.

16:05-16:30

100513 | Using Design Thinking to Promote Behavior Change in Tourism and Generate Individual and Societal Benefits

Chu Hsiang Hsin, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

Tourism, as an experiential activity, offers rich potential to foster positive behavior change in both individuals and society. However, traditional tourism design often lacks focus on promoting sustainable or wellness-oriented behaviors. This paper explores how the human-centered and iterative process of design thinking can be applied to redesign tourism experiences that nudge travelers toward more sustainable, healthconscious, and socially responsible behaviors. By integrating behavioral theories and the EAST framework (Easy, Attractive, Social, Timely), the study demonstrates how empathetic research, prototyping, and co-creation can inspire meaningful transformation through travel. Case discussions illustrate how empathy-driven design can identify the motivators and barriers of behavior change. The paper also addresses challenges in implementing design thinking within the tourism sector, such as organizational inertia and cross-disciplinary collaboration, and suggests strategies to overcome them. This research contributes to the growing discourse on design for social innovation, emphasizing how thoughtfully crafted tourism experiences can act as catalysts for broader cultural and behavioral shifts.

16:30-16:55

95676 | Pagsulong: Social Constructions of Climate Justice Among Urban Poor Families in Manila, Philippines

George Vincent Gamayo, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippines

Over 500,000 urban poor families live in Metro Manila, enduring natural hazards, such as tropical cyclones, floods, earthquakes, volcanic ashfalls, and extreme heat. These families live below the poverty line and often reside in slums and informal settlements. While there is extensive literature on how urban poor families are affected by disasters, limited attention has been given to how climate justice is constructed and advocated within their communities. This paper seeks to explore how urban poor families understand climate change and investigate the ways in which they can sustainably mitigate its adverse impacts. This study employs the Culture-Centered Approach (CCA), a metatheoretical framework that actively engages subaltern communities in identifying issues and co-constructing solutions grounded in their cultural contexts and lived experiences. Data were collected from five urban poor families in Manila through focus group discussions. Findings indicate that families associate kahandaan (preparedness) with resilient and affordable housing, which they view as essential for surviving potential climate-related disasters. In contrast, they critique the ayuda (relief) system as a temporary and superficial measure that fails to address the deeper structural vulnerabilities underpinning patronage politics. From their perspective, climate justice can only be achieved through the provision of sustainable livelihoods, education, and healthcare, delivered with minimal bureaucratic impediments and grounded in Filipino cultural and familial values. Additionally, they emphasize the need for improved pakikipag-ugnayan (coordination) between local governments and the urban poor—creating opportunities for pakikipagkasundo (negotiation) and pakikilahok (participation).

15:40-16:55 | Room E (4F)

Wednesday Onsite Parallel Session 3

MediAsia2025 | Film and Literature

Session Chair: Xuelin Zhou

15:40-16:05

No presentation scheduled

16:05-16:30

94530 | The Paradigm of New Cinema Movement in India (1960s to 1980s): Exploration of Ideological and Cultural Manifestation

Debjani Halder, Manipal Institute of Communication, India

In 1948, the year after India’s independence, the visionary director Satyajit Ray articulated his perspectives on the state of Indian cinema while composing the Manifesto of Indian Cinema. He sought to comprehend the fundamental causes contributing to the restricted global acknowledgement of Indian cinema. Ray asserted that American idioms significantly influenced India’s dominant cinematic language while contending that they could adapt to diverse cultural situations. This manifesto was written shortly before he began working on “Pather Panchali” (1955). Within the context of Ray’s seminal work, ‘What is Wrong with Indian Film,’ a cohort of emerging filmmakers, graduates of the Film Institute of India, has skillfully introduced a new cinematic genre that intricately examines the nuances of desire and mortality. An ontological and phenomenological approach to realism characterises this new movement. They examine how a traumatic historical narrative can result in social and cinematic suppression. They challenge the exploitative processes sustained by Brahmanical power and express their opposition to caste, gender, and community prejudice. This paper will examine cognitive divergence and its relationship with an Indian aesthetic framework within the Indian New Wave, utilising a realist perspective that emphasises image generation and cinematic cognition. It examines the necessity of avant-gardism for New Cinema, encompassing cultural attitudes and the concepts of progress and linear time inherent in its evolution.It will also also examine the philosophical ramifications of the New Cinema movement, which may establish a distinct identity that diverges from both social realism and the norms of middle cinema.

16:30-16:55

100307 | The Return of the Repressed: The Resurrection of Chinese Thriller in the 1980s

Xuelin Zhou, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Following the abandonment of decades-long isolationist policies in the late 1970s, China witnessed a return of the thriller genre in cinema. Notably, two films produced by Changchun Film Studio in 1979, The Moment and Gunshots in the Secrecy Bureau, heralded a decade characterized by a proliferation of thriller narratives, fostering a pivotal component of the dynamic and inclusive Chinese cinema of the 1980s. This presentation considers how the emergence and evolution of thriller films during this decade mirror the profound social transformations occurring in China, indicating the nation’s gradual reintegration into the global community. It posits that local filmmakers, through embracing a genre of international acclaim, expanded their creative horizons and engaged with an increasingly interconnected cultural context. A detailed analysis of key thriller films from the decade reveals a discernible influence of Western elements, especially reflected in narrative structures and stylistic choices. The presentation concludes by asserting that the resurgence of the thriller genre not only revitalized Chinese cinema but also signified a broader cultural shift, illustrating China’s evolving identity on the world stage.

Thursday, November 6

Parallel Sessions

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Abstracts appear as originally submitted by the author. Any spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors are those of the author.

09:00-10:40

| Room A (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC2025 | Media Studies

Session Chair: Sebastian Satrio Darminto

09:00-09:25

97822 | Audience Discourse on Political Videos of Indian YouTube Channels: A Study of Select Legal-Political Event

Shivankar Joshi, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India

Sarvesh Tripathi, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India

Social media has ingrained itself into our daily lives, and journalism is no exception. A large number of independent creators and journalists have launched their YouTube channels to share political content and engage with the public. This study examined the internet discourse surrounding the Supreme Court of India’s verdict on the Electoral Bond’s judgment. The top five Indian YouTube news channels, with the highest subscribers were, selected: The Lallantop, NMF News, Ravish Kumar Official, The Wire, and First Post. The first 500 comments, posted on the videos discussing the Electoral Bond’s judgment, from each channel were examined. The user comments, made in the comments section of the videos, were analyzed by the researcher by employing Clarke and Braun’s six-step Thematic Analysis of the comments, which helped in identifying different themes. After analyzing the comments, the study identified the following dominant themes: 1) Attacking BJP, 2) Attacking Journalist, 3) Corruption, 4) Emoji, 5) EVM, 6) Not favoring the judgment, 7) PM Cares, 8) Pleading, and 9) Praising the judiciary. Habermas’ Public Sphere Theory (1962), specifically its digital adaptation by Zizi Papacharissi, which says that the internet has created a new public sphere, serves as the basis of the study. This study enhances the field of media and communication by underscoring the role of YouTube as a digital public sphere and highlights the phenomenon of agenda shift, meaning that the digital public shifts the discussion to some other issue of social-political importance rather than staying on the core issue.

09:25-09:50

100445 | Integration Policy Under the Shadow of Colonial Legacy: A Comparison of France and Japan

Yongqing Zhang, Ritsumeikan University, Japan

This article attempts to investigate the legacies of colonisation on integration policies in Japan through a comparison with France, against the backdrop of the problematisation of the “foreigner problem” in today’s Japanese political discourse. It proposes that certain similarities are revealed while scrutinising and comparing the integration policies targeting former colonies of France and Japan respectively. It intends to contribute to the understanding of the Japanese integration model, which has not been officially endorsed by the Japanese government, unlike many European countries. It examines and compares general philosophies, public political discourse and relevant immigration policies that France and Japan released to rule their colonies and to integrate immigrants from their colonies in the post-war era. The first and second section of this article are dedicated to present the colonial histories in brief and the corresponding integration policies adopted by France and Japan respectively. Based on the abovementioned analysis, the third section utilise the framework of historical institutionalism to examine the relations between the colonial past and the integration present.

09:50-10:15

100440 | From Hashtags to Symbols: Reading Protest Through a Semiotic Analysis of Digital Resistance in #TolakRUUTNI on X Muhammad Nauris Firdaus, The University of Melbourne, Australia Yulia Mega Puspita, University of Melbourne, Australia

The digital landscape, particularly social media platforms, has developed from its initial function as a tool for interpersonal connectivity to resisting political discourse, where digital artworks are used to challenge state-imposed legal reforms. This research analyzes this shift through the lens of public resistance to the Draft Law on the Indonesian National Army (RUU TNI), specifically exploring the use of digital artworks with the hashtag #TolakRUUTNI on platform X as an instrument of collective Indonesian resistance movements. This research aims to examine the representation of resistance through digital art against state authority through Roland Barthes’ semiotic analysis, which includes three levels of meaning: denotation, connotation, and myth. At the denotative level, the dominant visual themes include resistance to authority, the use of cartoon characters, animal symbolism, and textual elements in the artworks. Connotatively, these visuals function as a form of collective expression that shows resistance to power, criticism of state intimidation, and solidarity depicted through popular fictional characters. Mythologically, these artworks construct a narrative that positions civilians as heroic figures who fight militaristic authoritarianism, while describing the state as a repressive entity that echoes the power dynamics of the New Order era, particularly the military’s dual function in both civil and political domains. Beyond serving aesthetic purposes, the digital artworks in this movement become a medium for generating resistance discourse, reshaping political engagement, and building solidarity among Indonesians through the X platform.

10:15-10:40

100512 | Examining the Role of Film in Peacebuilding Through Audience Reception

Sebastian

Satrio Darminto, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan

Film possesses narrative power that can build empathy, raise awareness, and encourage reconciliation in post-conflict contexts. As a cultural medium, film not only offers entertainment but also conveys messages of peace that can bridge differences in social and political identities. This study examines how audiences from two parallel audience groups respond to the reconciliation narrative. The primary focus is to evaluate the role of film in building understanding, emotional resilience, and hope. The experimental group watches “First They Killed My Father” , a biographical film set in 1975 Cambodia, about the life of Loung, whose life shatered when the Khmer Rouge seized power . The film is particularly suitable, as it powerfully fosters empathy, and promotes reflection on political violence, reconciliation, and healing. The control group watches “Radio” (2003). Set in the 1970s, it is a biographical film about a mentally challenged man. It offers emotional depth and explores themes of inclusion and acceptance, while remaining neutral. Therefore it allows for a clear contrast with the experimental group’s viewing. The state-of-the-art of this study lies in its approach. Unlike traditional film studies that focus more on the film text itself, this research places audience response at the centre of the analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of film as a tool of cultural diplomacy or soft power. Findings demonstrate the potential of film as a cross-cultural communication medium that plays a role in strengthening international understanding and rela&ons. This study, thus, makes a novel contribution to the study of international relations.

09:00-10:40 | Room B (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC2025 | Digital Humanities and Literature Studies

Session Chair: Eiko Ohira

09:00-09:25

97786 | Digital Pulpits: The Rise of Religious Influencers and the Transformation of Faith Communication in the Post-Pandemic Era

Jerry Joseph Onampally, University of Mumbai, India

Mathew Martin Poothullil John, University of Mumbai, India

Sunder Rajdeep, University of Mumbai, India

The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a dramatic transformation in religious communication, forcing religious leaders, preachers, and spiritual influencers to shift from traditional worship spaces to digital platforms. This study investigates the emergence of “digital pulpits”—religious influencers who harness YouTube, Instagram, and podcasts to preach, engage, and build virtual faith communities. Focusing primarily on Christian and Islamic influencers in India and Indonesia, the research situates itself within scholarship on digital religion, mediatized faith, and influencer culture, while also critically engaging with existing work on digital evangelism and religious branding. The study aims to understand how religious authority, message framing, and modes of interaction are being reshaped in the post-pandemic era. It adopts a mixed-methods approach: a qualitative content analysis of 40 video sermons, Instagram posts, and podcast episodes, and audience perception analysis via 8 focus group discussions and 20 in-depth interviews with digital followers aged 18–35. The research probes how these influencers construct authority, navigate platform algorithms, and blend spiritual narratives with digital aesthetics to enhance reach, authenticity, and engagement. Preliminary findings suggest that digital platforms democratize religious communication, facilitating decentralized authority, personalized theology, and participatory spirituality. This paper contributes to emerging debates on the mediatization of religion, particularly in non-Western, multicultural contexts. It also proposes a framework for understanding post-pandemic spiritual publics shaped by algorithmic visibility, networked interactivity, and influencer credibility. The study holds significance for scholars of religion, communication, and media studies, offering insights into how digital environments are redefining faith expression, leadership, and community formation in contemporary societies.

09:25-09:50

98331 | The Practice of Contemporary Taiwanese Humanistic Buddhism: A Case Study of Shih Chuan-dao Min-Chieh Chiu, National Tainan University, Taiwan

Contemporary Taiwanese Buddhism has experienced vibrant growth and has gradually developed its own unique identity, with one of its key components being the humanistic Buddhist philosophy of Master Yin-shun. Master Chuan-dao, Tainan Miao-Xin Temple’s abbot, was one of the notable practitioners. However, the academic circle has yet to explore it from the perspective of Humanistic Buddhism education. This study adopts the text analysis method, which aims to sort out and analyze Master Chuan-dao’s teaching from the standpoint of Humanistic Buddhist education. This study found that Master Yin-shun’s humanistic Buddhist ideals deeply inspired Chuandao; he tirelessly propagated Master Yin-shun’s Buddhist philosophy both domestically and internationally. Master Chuan-dao focused on four aspects: propaganda and preaching, social care, community education, and artistic care to realize the pure land on earth. Furthermore, he decorated temples with calligraphy artworks by the famous Tainan calligrapher Zhu Jiu-ying, offering modern individuals an immersive environmental education. In essence, Master Chuan-dao’s transition from traditional Buddhism to contemporary humanistic Buddhism firmly established him as a practitioner of humanistic Buddhism.

09:50-10:15

100354 | ‘Crushed by the Blinding Weight of the Sun’: The Great Game, the Seductions of Shangri-La, and the Impossible Present Jason Scott Polley, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

Parimal Bhattacharya’s historical memoir Bells of Shangri-La marks a parallax paradox, one where personal memories and chronicled experience can fail to overlap. The Bengali scholar charts, and follows in, the footsteps of the first assaults—or cloaked cartographic sorties subsidized by India’s British Raj—upon terra incognita Tibet, the world’s final frontier. Writing in first-person, he is animated, and oft unduly influenced, by the personages who precede him to ‘the land of snows.’ Despite his discovery of the historical consequences of what Kipling christened the Great Game, namely the British empire’s first inadvertent and then intentional engineering of the Fall of Tibet, the scholar-memoirist remains enamoured with the Romanticised place. Seduced, he dwells on the call of Shangri-La, a utopic place that, so Peter Bishop maintains, is not only geographically unlocatable but also imperially fashioned by the West. Yet, as a representative decontextualised pearl, Tibet still memorially materialises as a fantastical and all-but unattainable split space—one where fact and fiction can become indistinguishable, where the Modern can interpose upon the Edwardian, where the colonial can override the postcolonial, and where the historically silenced speak. Bhattacharya captures the disembodied voices that came to fashion the western mirage of Tibet, a beautiful (not just beautified) place where the likes of Alexandra David-Neel can encounter—despite Tibet being fashioned under Western eyes—the sublimity of what Mark Payne calls the postapocalyptic pastoral.

10:15-10:40

94642 | Prakriti, an Outcaste Girl with a Desiring Gaze in Buddhist Literature of Thick Nhat Hanh and Rabindranath Tagore Eiko Ohira, Otsuma University, Japan

The story of Prakriti’s desire for Bhikkhu Ananda appears in both the Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhist scriptures. Thick Nhat Hanh’s Old Path White Cloud: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha (1991) has won him a worldwide readership. Prakriti’s story also appears in this artistic masterpiece. Hanh tells how Prakriti is persuaded to abandon her selfish desire for Ananda and to hope that he can continue the path of liberation. In this way she becomes the first bhikkhuni from “the untouchables.” Tagore focuses more on Prakriti’ awakening, which helps him break the fetters of “dry meditations” and take a step towards a bodhisattva’s enlightenment. Tagore presents Prakriti as a desiring subject narrating Tagore’s deeper view of Buddhism, rather than an object to be persuaded to become a nun. This makes Tagore’s story sound controversially subversive and unique compared to Hanh’s story which is very imaginative within the constraints of a Buddha biography. In Hanh’s story Ananda resists Prakriti’s seduction while in Tagore’s story Prakriti never gives up her longing because she believes that it is the path for him toward his ultimate purification. Chandalika deserves more attention as a powerful text depicting a desiring woman from a gender studies perspective.

09:00-10:40 | Room C (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 1

MediAsia2025 | Social Media and Communication Technology Session Chair: Jacqueline Recaña

09:00-09:25

100252 | Investigating the Characteristics of Online Flaming Participants in Japan

Zhixian Lian, Ritsumeikan University, Japan

Xue Duo, Ritsumeikan University, Japan

Online flaming has garnered significant attention as a global social issue. However, most research primarily focuses on the mechanisms and social impact of flaming. Still, the characteristics of those who participate in online flaming are not yet fully understood. To fill this gap, we conducted a large-scale survey in Japan with 21,053 participants. The results revealed nearly 30% had engaged in some form of online flaming activity, such as posting negative comments about others, liking or retweeting flaming content, or following related accounts that regularly post inflammatory messages. In terms of demographics, among participants who engaged in flaming, 50% were between the ages of 29 and 46, 57% were male, 51% held full-time jobs, 54% had a university degree or higher, and 42% had a total household income below the Japanese average. At the same time, we measured the participants’ subjective social status (i.e., individuals’ perception of where they stand in the hierarchical structure of society) because prior research indicated that individuals’ subjective social status can influence their aggressive or unethical behavior. We found that individuals with higher subjective social status were more likely to participate in flaming incidents than those with lower subjective social status. These new findings help us understand the profile of flaming participants and serves as a basis for gaining deeper insights into their psychological states. They also contribute to efforts aimed at mitigating this social issue.

09:25-09:50

96781 | Preserving Sacred Heritage at the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta Through Digital Innovation

Vinia Rizqi Primawati, Nahdlatul Ulama University of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Fanitra Pedi Atmanti, Tsukuba University of Japan, Indonesia

The Royal Palace of Yogyakarta is a 260-year-old Javanese monarchy and a cultural institution. This Palace remains active, led by the reigning King His Majesty Hamengku Buwono X, and continues to host traditional activities. Located in Yogyakarta–the sister city of Kyoto–The Palace is rooted in hundreds of sacred heritage; ceremonies, way of life, beliefs, etc. These sacred heritage were previously known only to a limited audience, largely due to the absence of digital transformation, which is the primary focus of this research. Since launching its Instagram account in 2014, followed by YouTube, an official website, a manuscript digital archive, and TikTok, Kraton Jogja has grown into a trusted source of cultural knowledge and community engagement, including its digital ecosystem worldwide. Nevertheless, several dynamics and changes have emerged, not solely limited to the wider spread of information. Consequently, a research of the impact of digitalization within traditional institutions is crucial for developing more effective strategies, especially for guiding similar traditional entities. This research uses a mixed-methods approach based on the combination of literature review, stakeholder interviews, firsthand field experience, and digital platform analytics. The findings affirm that digitalization acts as a tool for dissemination rather than dilution. It preserves sacred traditions while setting clear boundaries between what is publicly shared or private, differentiates modernization from westernization, emphasizing tradition and innovation can coexist to ensure continuity across generations. This case also highlighting the urgent need for intangible heritage digital archiving and considers future possibilities such as artificial intelligence in long-term cultural preservation.

09:50-10:15

100496 | Group Chats or Groupthink? Examining Telegram Groups as Public Spheres

Edson Tandoc, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Pheng Khai Tan, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Telegram groups have risen in popularity across many countries. Telegram’s distinctive affordances—including encrypted messaging, anonymity, and the absence of algorithmic moderation—make it particularly attractive to users seeking secure and private environments for information exchange, compared to other messaging platforms. For some users, joining Telegram groups provides a space to connect, be entertained, and discuss issues that matter to them and their communities. In the small city-state of Singapore, Telegram gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, with hundreds of users joining anti-vaccination groups to read and exchange information and opinions about vaccines and related topics. For some, these groups may serve the function of a public sphere, which Jürgen Habermas conceptualized as a space where individuals come together to discuss community issues and propose solutions. A public sphere allows for free participation and the exchange of diverse perspectives through rational discourse. While originally envisioned as a physical space, the public sphere can also take the form of digital spaces, such as messaging app groups like those on Telegram. To what extent did Telegram groups in Singapore function as a public sphere? This study addresses this question through a computational analysis of more than 800,000 messages exchanged in two of the largest Telegram groups in Singapore over a one-month period. Using multi-level analyses—including network analysis and discursive analysis—this study examines network diversity, discussion toxicity, and argument rationality to assess whether these groups facilitated discourses characteristic of a public sphere.

10:15-10:40

96254 | A Rhetorical Analysis of Teachers’ Self-Presentation on Facebook

Jacqueline Recaña, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

People often think about how they want to present themselves to others. Self-presentation is the presentation of self that individuals tend to perform intentionally and desire to be seen by others. This study aimed to understand how people use social media, specifically Facebook, to influence others. This study specifically investigated the intricate strategies teachers employ in crafting their online identities on Facebook and thoroughly analyzed the rhetoric and gender expression they present on the platform. Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad, Erving Goffman’s Dramaturgical Approach, and Jones’ Five Types of Self-Presentation were used to depict the participants’ selfidentification tactics. This qualitative study used content analysis of data. The study observed 11 teachers with different gender identities who are active Facebook users. The researcher observed the participants’ Facebook posts for three months to carefully make an analysis of the participants’ rhetoric regarding their self-presentation and gender expression. Representatives from each gender identity were considered: male, female, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The researcher administered a structured interview with open-ended questions to explore the breadth and depth of this study. The findings suggest that teachers still struggle to fully express themselves on social media platforms such as Facebook, due to concerns about how their online image might impact their professional reputation.This study supports Goffman’s hypothetical structure wherein people’s self-introduction in the social condition adjusts and cooperates on the job they are currently in. This means that teachers display a specific character online that they want the public to perceive about them.

09:00-10:40 | Room E (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 1 KAMC2025

| Communication

Session Chair: Paulo Nascimento

09:00-09:25

96742 | Contested Cultural Spaces: The Utilization of Jathilan Events for Anti-Drug Campaigns in Bantul, Indonesia

Siti Muflihah, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

This research explores the contested cultural space that emerges from the use of the traditional Javanese art performance, ‘Jathilan’, as a medium for anti-drug campaigns in Bantul Regency, Indonesia. Jathilan, deeply embedded with ritualistic and symbolic cultural meanings, is utilized by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Tourism Office not by integrating prevention messages into the performance narrative itself but by leveraging the event’s large public attendance to disseminate anti-drug messages through banners, speeches and side activities. Using a qualitative case study approach, this research combines field observations and interviews with performers, campaign organizers, and local audiences. The findings reveal that the cultural space of Jathilan becomes a site of contestation between traditional cultural values and the objectives of modern public health campaigns. A communicative dissonance emerges, as the anti-drug messages conflict with local perceptions and practices associated with jathilan, such as possession rituals and alcohol consumption. This study highlights the importance of cultural context sensitivity in designing effective public communication strategies that accommodate local values to foster acceptance and reduce resistance. The findings contribute to critical discourse on the intersection of traditional culture and modern communication and open avenues for discussing cultural politics within public health campaigns.

09:25-09:50

96725 | Strategic Communication Through Immersive Technologies: Shaping UNU Yogyakarta’s Future-Oriented Image in ‘Under the Same Sun’ Exhibition

Intan Agisti Nila Sari, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

Syaifa Tania, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

In the context of intensifying competition among higher education institutions to engage the digital generation, communication strategies leveraging immersive experiences have gained increasing global relevance. Immersive experiences that integrate digital technologies with emotional engagement have been recognized as effective tools for constructing institutional images that are future-oriented and adaptive to the evolving landscape of modern communication. This study investigates the communication strategy employed by Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama (UNU) Yogyakarta to establish its image as a forward-looking educational institution through an immersive experience-based exhibition. Employing a qualitative approach, the research analyses the integration of technologies such as video mapping and interactive art installations within the new media art exhibition, “Under the Same Sun.” This exhibition was selected due to its innovative use of immersive technology within the higher education sector, particularly among Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) universities. Grounded in corporate image theory, the findings indicate that immersive technology not only enhances audience engagement but also reinforces UNU Yogyakarta’s positioning as a modern and adaptive institution attuned to the needs of the digital generation in the NU academic community. By delivering immersive experiences through new media art exhibitions such as “Under the Same Sun,” UNU Yogyakarta strategically manages its identity as a futuristic and innovative institution. The implications of this study provide valuable insights into the role of immersive technology as an effective communication strategy in higher education branding, particularly in strengthening institutional competitiveness in the digital era.

09:50-10:15

98138 | Cultural Interpretations and Ambiguity of Sustainability Symbols in Malang’s Hotel Industry: A Peircean Semiotic Approach

Benita Situmorang, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia

Maulina Pia Wulandari, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia

Bambang Dwi Prasetyo, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia

Moch Syahri, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia

This study critically examines the interpretation and ambiguity of sustainability symbols in the hotel industry of Malang through the lens of Peircean semiotics. Employing a qualitative research design, the research aims (1) to explore how hotel guests from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds interpret sustainability symbols, and (2) to identify key factors contributing to misinterpretation or ambiguity of meaning. Data are collected through field observations, in-depth interviews, and analysis of hotel policy documents across selected hotels in Malang. The analytical framework applies Peirce’s triadic model representamen, object, and interpretant to systematically code and analyze guests’ interpretations. Preliminary findings suggest significant variability in how sustainability symbols are understood, influenced by guests’ cultural values, prior environmental knowledge, and the communication practices employed by hotels. Moreover, ambiguity frequently arises due to the generic design of symbols, insufficient explanatory information, and tendencies toward greenwashing. Triangulation of data sources enhances the reliability of the results and uncovers nuanced factors underlying interpretive gaps between the intended meaning and guests’ perceptions. This study underscores the importance of culturally sensitive and educational visual communication in the hospitality sector to ensure that sustainability messages are both authentic and effective. The findings contribute to the advancement of semiotic analysis in tourism studies and provide actionable recommendations for hotel managers seeking to strengthen the impact of their sustainability initiatives. Importantly, these findings also serve as a policy recommendation for the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association in developing national sustainability standards for the hospitality industry.

10:15-10:40

97038 | The Effect of Artistic and Digital Interventions for Promoting Mental Health in Immigrants: A Theoretical Approach

Paulo Nascimento, University of Madeira, Portugal

Élvio Rúbio Gouveia, University of Lisbon, Portugal

Sabine Madsen, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

Pedro Campos, University of Madeira, Portugal

Immigrants encounter numerous disparities compared to non-migrants, as migration is a disruptive event that negatively impacts their mental health. Lack of support networks, dual identities, and traumatic experiences contribute to this vulnerability. In response, community-based artistic and digital interventions, such as textile design, embroidery, and digital storytelling workshops, have emerged as promising strategies to promote their mental well-being. However, these interventions often lack theoretical grounding to guide and maximize their individual and combined effects. We address this gap by integrating three theoretical frameworks that can scaffold interventions designed to support immigrants’ mental health. First, the Network Episode Model (NEM) provides a foundation for designing community textile workshops where immigrants can create social networks and integrate within their new communities. Second, the dual identity model informs embroidery workshops to help participants navigate identity conflicts, while strengthening belonging and self-esteem. Finally, narrative theory shapes digital Storytelling workshops, allowing immigrants to construct personal stories that give meaning to traumatic experiences through self-expression and catharsis. Building on NEM, the dual identity model, and narrative theory, this paper presents a theoretical approach that facilitates both innovative design of interventions to promote mental health and systematic evaluation of effects based on theoretical concepts.

09:00-10:40 | Room G (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC2025 | Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Rosalind Murphy

09:00-09:25

96807 | Learning from Gamelan: Exploring Indigenous Problem-Solving Practices in Javanese Musical Ensembles

Afriza Animawan Arifin, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia

Heni Kusumawati, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia

This study explores indigenous problem-solving practices within Javanese gamelan ensembles, focusing on how musicians navigate interpersonal and musical challenges through culturally embedded, non-hierarchical strategies. In contrast to dominant Western paradigms that often emphasize individual assertion or verbal negotiation, gamelan ensembles offer a distinct model rooted in mutual listening, emotional attunement, and collective responsibility. These practices embody a form of cultural intelligence that remains largely underacknowledged in global discourses on leadership and conflict resolution. The central objective of this research is to investigate how problem-solving occurs in Javanese gamelan ensembles and how such practices reflect indigenous modes of maintaining social harmony and shared purpose. The guiding question is: How do members of Javanese gamelan ensembles engage in problem-solving, and what culturally embedded values shape these processes? The study employs a qualitative ethnophenomenological approach, using in-depth interviews with eight participants: three kendhang players, three pengrawit, and two expert informants in Javanese music and culture. Triangulation across these perspectives enables a comprehensive understanding of the lived experience of conflict resolution in gamelan practice. The analysis will use interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to identify meaning structures and cultural logics embedded in participants’ responses. Rather than proposing generalized outcomes, this research posits that traditional gamelan practices may represent an alternative model of collaborative problem-solving—one grounded in silence, listening, adaptation, and collective intuition. These insights are positioned to contribute to the development of culturally rooted frameworks for peace education and global citizenship, where indigenous knowledge systems remain vital yet underutilized in leadership and conflict transformation discourses.

09:25-09:50

100490 | On the Issue of Suffering in an Inquiry into the Good Roxanne Montoya Mahecha, University of Tsukuba, Japan

This essay examines the role of suffering in An Inquiry into the Good and argues that Nishida Kitarō’s serene and abstract philosophical style represents not a denial of personal pain but an embodied ethical stance grounded in Zen Buddhist principles and Japanese cultural tradition. Rather than addressing suffering through confessional or emotional discourse, Nishida adopts technical and detached philosophical language that reflects his commitment to transcending the ego-centered self. Through a comparative analysis examining how Herrigel’s Zen in the Art of Archery describes the process of overcoming frustration and attachment in spiritual practice and how Suzuki’s Zen and Japanese Culture explores the cultivation of mushin (no-mind) and self-negation in martial arts, this study establishes a cultural framework for understanding Nishida’s approach to suffering. His concept of “pure experience” and the negation of subject-object dualism operates through the same logic of ego-transcendence that characterizes Zen practice. The essay demonstrates that Nishida’s serene philosophical style represents a performative dimension of his moral philosophy. Rather than indulging in personal tragedy through emotional expression, his abstract language embodies the very ideal of selflessness he advocates. This stylistic analysis reveals how philosophical writing itself can function as spiritual practice, offering new insights into the relationship between form and content in early modern Japanese philosophy. This study contributes to Nishida scholarship by introducing a methodological approach that examines philosophical style as moral positioning, while also illuminating how cultural traditions shape not only philosophical content but the very modes of philosophical expression.

09:50-10:15

100421 | Loki’s Fragmented Identity: Transmedia Characterization in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Sevda Kaya Kitınur, Izmir University of Economics, Turkey

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has significantly shaped contemporary popular culture through its intricate narratives and evolving characters. Among them, Loki stands out as a figure whose identity is continuously redefined across films, series, and animated productions. This paper examines Loki’s character through the lens of transmedia storytelling, focusing on how his fragmented identity is constructed and transformed across multiple media platforms. The analysis engages with Henry Jenkins’ concept of transmedia storytelling while also drawing on Jason Mittell’s notion of narrative complexity and Matt Hills’ insights into fan-driven character multiplicity. To address the instability of Loki’s identity, the chapter incorporates Judith Butler’s theory of performativity and Stuart Hall’s concept of cultural identity, emphasizing identity as socially constructed, performative, and contextually negotiated. Methodologically, the research employs a qualitative comparative narrative analysis to trace Loki’s transformation from villain to anti-hero and beyond. It explores how each medium contributes distinctively to his portrayal, enabling new facets of his character to emerge. Through this approach, the chapter argues that transmedia narratives offer fertile ground for the emergence of fragmented identities, with Loki exemplifying the dynamic, multifaceted construction of character in contemporary popular media.

10:15-10:40

96818 | Cinematic Futures: Afrofuturist Animation, Immersive Technologies, and Black Speculative Joy Rosalind Murphy, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal

This paper explores how contemporary Afrofuturist animated works, including Entergalactic (Netflix, 2022), Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (theatrical, 2023), and Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (Disney+, 2023) employ immersive technologies such as AI-enhanced visual effects, 2.5D animation, and metaverse-inspired world-building to redefine cinematic storytelling and Black speculative culture. Positioned at the intersection of cultural studies, media studies, technology, and digital humanities, This interdisciplinary study investigates how these works present diverse expressions of Black speculative futures that range from Afrofuturist romance and multiverse heroism to reimagined African heritage grounded in diasporic memory, emotional resonance, and collective joy. Using comparative case study analysis and thematic readings, the paper draws on Afrofuturism, technoculture, and narrative design to demonstrate how these animated films serve as innovative storytelling approaches that challenge dominant narratives, reimagine identity, and expand cultural agency. It highlights the leadership of digitally native Generation Z creators and audiences in shaping participatory, engaging stories created and shared across streaming, social media, and interactive technologies. By situating Afrofuturist storytelling within broader conversations on cultural representation, technological innovation, and speculative world-building, this paper offers a model for understanding how animation can function as both a cinematic and socio-cultural tool. These works not only entertain but also educate, empower, and provide alternative visions of the future that center Black imagination, emotional depth, and creative sovereignty. Ultimately, it argues that Afrofuturist animation exemplifies the transformative power of media and technology to imagine inclusive, culturally resonant futures that bridge digital creativity and global storytelling.

10:55-12:10 | Room A (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 2

KAMC2025

| Media and Literature Studies

Session Chair: Vinyasa Hegade

10:55-11:20

97244 | Designing Prolonged Grief: Cinematic Storytelling and Interactive Narrative in Eidolon Filipe Tomé, University of Beira Interior, Portugal

Ana Pires, Interactive Technologies Institute, Portugal

Francisco Vasconcelos, University of Madeira, Portugal

Pedro Campos, University of Madeira, Portugal

Grief, a deeply human and culturally nuanced experience, has long been explored through literature and cinema. But how can interactive media—particularly video games—explore grief through gameplay? In this paper, we present Eidolon, a first-person psychological thriller that explores Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) through a hybrid narrative combining cinematic aesthetics, digital interaction, and AI-driven memory reconstruction. Eidolon is rooted in the five stages of grief and inspired by films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Manchester by the Sea to construct a surreal and emotionally resonant story. The plot follows a protagonist trapped in an AIgenerated dream simulation, who must resist the erasure of his deceased sister’s memory. The narrative is further presented through visual metaphors, escape-room-inspired puzzles, and time-based tension, encouraging deep emotional engagement and reflection. The game combines Unreal Engine’s MetaHuman framework with live-action footage, merging real and virtual elements to create a tense environment where grief blurs the line between memory and reality. This hybrid design, rooted in cinematic storytelling and player agency, fosters a reflective emotional experience. Preliminary playtesting with 20 players suggests that participants reflected on their personal experiences of loss, even within a fictional context. We contribute through the creation of Eidolon and its artistic and technical development as a showcase of how cinema and psychological themes can be meaningfully translated into interactive digital play. We position games not only as entertainment but as cultural artifacts capable of addressing complex emotional states—offering new possibilities for understanding grief in our modern digital age.

11:20-11:45

97166 | Posthuman Ecologies: Degrowth Ethics and Environmental Trauma in Kurt Vonnegut’s Speculative Fiction

Junsheng Zeng, Rikkyo University, Japan

This paper synthesises two complementary literaryhistorical studies to examine how Kurt Vonnegut’s midcentury fiction engages posthumanist inquiry through environmental, ethical, and speculative narrative. By ecocritical close readings of Cat’s Cradle, God Bless You, Mr Rosewater, Breakfast of Champions, and SlaughterhouseFive, it traces Vonnegut’s transformation of ColdWar trauma—most notably the Dresden firestorm—into environmental parables: icenine dramatizes the risks of oversimplifying ecosystems, while Rosewater’s philanthropic model embodies post-growth and ethical redistribution. These narratives resonate with contemporary degrowth and posthumanist scholarship, showing literature’s capacity to critique petrocapitalism and imagine alternative social imaginations. Methodologically, this study integrates literary analysis, environmental history, and narrativevisualisation theory to map Vonnegut’s speculative fiction onto planetary boundaries discourse. The paper argues that speculative fiction functions as a bridge between arts and sciences literacies, offering a posthuman perspective that integrates humanities and empirical data—including graphs and charts—to reconceptualize human–nonhuman relations. By situating Vonnegut’s cautionary tales within a datarich framework, the study deepens literary interpretation and models an interdisciplinary approach for posthumanist and sustainabilityoriented research.

11:45-12:10

96973 | Ecofeminist Currents: Gender, Nature, and Resistance in Girish Kasaravalli’s Dweepa Vinyasa Hegade, Deakin University, Australia

This paper critically examines Dweepa (Island), a seminal work by Girish Kasaravalli, through the lens of ecofeminism to explore the intertwined realities of gender oppression and environmental degradation in rural India. While mainstream Indian cinema has largely overlooked the intersection of ecological and gendered injustices, Dweepa, situated within the tradition of Indian parallel cinema, offers a compelling narrative that foregrounds the dual marginalisation of women and nature. Focusing on the displacement caused by dam construction, the film symbolically critiques the state-driven model of development that commodifies both the environment and women— particularly those from lower-caste and rural communities. Through a detailed textual analysis of the film’s narrative structure, visual symbolism, and cinematic techniques, this paper elucidates how Kasaravalli constructs a powerful metaphor of rising waters to represent both ecological devastation and the intensifying burden of patriarchal oppression. Central to this study is the character of Nagi, whose resilience in the face of environmental and social displacement exemplifies the lived experiences of marginalised women who bear the brunt of ecological crises. Drawing on ecofeminist theory and contemporary film scholarship, this paper situates Dweepa within broader debates on environmental justice, gender equity, and the role of cinema as a medium of socio-political critique. Ultimately, the study underscores the capacity of Indian parallel cinema to address pressing intersectional issues and contributes to emerging scholarship at the nexus of ecofeminism, film studies, and rural socio-environmental discourse in the global South.

10:55-12:10

Thursday

KAMC2025

Onsite Parallel Session 2

| Digital Humanities and Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Saranya Thaloor

10:55-11:20

96836 | TikTok and Algorithmic Social Imagination in Japanese Youth’s Gendered Perception: Reviewing the (Em)Power(ment) Dynamic Between Audience and Platform

Lok Fai Pun, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Anthony Chun Fung Cheung, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Gendered perception is continually constructed through social change. In contemporary Japanese society, an emerging gendered image on TikTok contradicts the entrenched traditional view of a “dominant male and submissive female.” This shift has arisen from a bottom-up approach. While these new gendered images from users are continuously reinforced and catalyzed by the platform—thanks to its algorithm designed to maximize popularity and revenue—they also redirect society’s attention to TikTok content and influence the youth’s social imagination regarding gender issues. Understanding this phenomenon suggests an alternative interpretation of various social aspects of youth, such as marriage, Hikikomori (social withdrawal), and the emergence of soft masculinity (bishonen). This paper is developed based on related research regarding the concept of “algorithmic social imagination” through big data content analysis (including TikTok threads’ views, likes, keyword associations, content of the posts, visual images of the videos, comments, etc.). It further supports the argument with a qualitative approach, conducting 40 in-depth interviews with Japanese youth about their idealized gendered imaginations shaped by TikTok content. By gathering respondents’ feedback on how these algorithmic elements influence their gendered perceptions, the study aims to address two key questions: (1) What idealized gendered images do respondents perceive and react to the TikTok platform, and (2) How do its digital affordances shape their gendered imaginations. The research seeks to uncover the complexities of youth negotiating traditional and global values alongside platform-driven norms, contributing to a broader understanding of the significance of the “trinity”: the dynamic between audience, platform, and public discourse.

11:20-11:45

97837 | Problems on the Law of Control Online Games for Protecting Children

Warapat Ratanapanich, Kasetsart University, Thailand

This research examines Section 26 of the Child Protection Act B.E. 2546 (2003) and aims to: (1) compare and analyze laws concerning online game regulation for child protection between Thailand and foreign countries; and (2) propose recommendations for developing appropriate legislation regarding online game supervision for child protection. This study employs qualitative research methodology through documentary research, analyzing data from textbooks, research studies, and academic articles to draw conclusions. The research findings reveal that: (1) Thailand currently lacks specific legislation governing online game regulation for child protection, resulting in several legal challenges including: 1) inadequate supervision of violent online game content involving obscenity, crime, and gambling; and 2) insufficient regulation of online games that adversely impact children’s well-being, such as gaming duration controls, pregaming warnings, and education about online gaming that may lead to sexual violence, criminal behavior, and gambling. (2) Comparative analysis between China, the United Kingdom, and Thailand demonstrates that: 1) China and the United Kingdom have established specific laws regulating violent online game content, while Thailand lacks such specialized legislation; and 2) China and the United Kingdom have implemented laws governing online games that impact well-being, including gaming time restrictions and pre-gaming warnings, whereas Thailand has no specific online game regulatory framework. (3) This research recommends the development of specialized online game regulatory legislation, specifically: (a) establishing clear supervision of violent online game content; and (b) implementing comprehensive regulation of online games that negatively affect children’s well-being.

11:45-12:10

97657 | Investigating AI Overdependence and Erosion of Cognitive Skills Across Generations: The Moderating Role of Personality Traits Saranya Thaloor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, India

This research investigates how accelerating dependency on artificial intelligence (AI) in day-to-day activities may affect cognitive functioning across four different generations—Baby Boomers (1946–1964), Generation X (1965–1979), Generation Y (1980–1994), and Generation Z (1995–2009). As AI becomes the tool for convenience, there are increasing concerns about the decline in important cognitive skills of an individual such as critical thinking, problem solving and decision making. The motive of this study is to understand the role of personality traits with reference to the Big Five model (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) which may influence the relationship between AI and cognitive growth. The research design used is a mixed method approach with 200 participants across generations and will be administered using structured questionnaires measuring AI dependency and cognitive growth (quantitative) alongside focus group discussions with 30 individuals to share their insights on the topic(qualitative) For quantitative data analysis, the PLS-SEM model is used along with thematic analysis using NVivo software for qualitative understanding. The findings pointed out that generational differences hold a main role in determining the AI usage impact on cognitive skills depletion, in which Gen Z shows more inclination towards higher AI dependence and challenges in cognitive functioning. These findings can offer significant input for all stakeholders working on mindful usage of AI along with ensuring adequate cognitive development. The study also paves the way for more discussions on personality traits that may take a lead role in analyzing the AI impact on cognitive functioning in this age of technology.

10:55-12:10 | Room C (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 2

KAMC/MediAsia2025 | Social Media and Communication Technology

Session Chair: Ardian Yuwono

10:55-11:20

95791 | Reconstructing Prabowo Subianto’s Personal Branding for the 2024 Indonesian Presidential Election: A Case Study of the “Gemoy” Campaign on TikTok

Irwan Saputra, Kindi PR and Strategic Communications Consulting, Indonesia

Pratiwa Dyatmika, Mining Industry Indonesia (MIND ID), Indonesia

Amirul Hazmi Hamdan, Kindi PR and Strategic Communications Consulting, Indonesia

Prabowo Subianto was finally elected as President of the Republic of Indonesia in the 2024 General Election with the personal branding ‘Gemoy’. This phenomenon grew rapidly on social media, especially TikTok, and affected his political image. Although previous studies have primarily examined the meaning of this branding qualitatively, this study fills the gap by quantitatively analysing the frequency, hashtag and sentiment of conversations on Tiktok and their contribution to image formation. These public interactions are then analysed using Symbolic Convergence Theory (SCT). This study uses a constructivist paradigm with a qualitative approach. The Netnography method is applied by utilising social media monitoring analytical tools to capture public conversations on the TikTok platform between 1 September 2023 and 14 February 2024. The results show that the ‘Gemoy’ narrative is a fantasy theme constructed by Prabowo and his campaign team in a communicative drama with elements of characters, actions, and settings that form a collective imagination among the public. This study contributes to strengthening the understanding that social media can be strategically orchestrated to build personal branding of political figures, providing new insights for the study of political communication in the digital era.

11:20-11:45

95677 | Vlogging Nationalism: The Self-Presentation of Pro-Duterte Influencers in the Face of International Scrutiny

Brent Soriano, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippines Nadeshya Valila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippines

This study investigates the responses of pro-Duterte political vloggers, commonly referred to as Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS)—to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation of the former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Grounded in Erving Goffman’s theory of self-presentation, this explores how these vloggers construct and perform their public personas to defend Duterte and delegitimize international legal institutions. Employing qualitative content analysis as the principal methodological approach, it examines select ten (10) Filipino YouTube vloggers. The findings indicate that these vloggers engage in strategic framing, positioning themselves as patriotic truth-tellers while portraying the ICC as a biased and external threat to Philippine sovereignty. Their self-presentation is marked by performative nationalism, selective disclosure and emotionally charged rhetoric, all of which serve to bolster their credibility within the DDS community. Thus, it contributes to the broader understanding of how digital political actors employ self-presentation strategies to influence public discourse and sustain nationalist narratives amid international accountability efforts.

11:45-12:10

98247 | A Representation for Patriotism: The Utilization of Artificial Intelligence in @ainusantara’s Historical Contents

Ardian Yuwono, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia Faudyan Satria, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have extended into the social media content creation. In this context, AI serves as a tool for producing audio-visual presentations that appear ‘natural’. In Indonesia, this characteristic has ultimately been utilized by an Instagram social media account, @ainusantara, to consistently displays AI-based content with themes that are widely known by the public. The @ ainusantara account focuses on producing content featuring Indonesian myths and historical stories, spanning from the era of kingdoms (before the establishment of the Indonesian state) to the post-independence period. Regarding this, there is a more specific theme among the various topics the account presents—namely, the pacification of patriotic values. This is proven from the contents depicting the struggles of Indonesian heroes from the 15th to 17th centuries against VOC and Dutch colonial rule. This study aims to dissect the question: How are patriotic values represented in @ainusantara’s content featuring stories of Indonesian heroes from that period? To address this question, the study examines three relevant posts using multimodal analysis based on Kress & van Leeuwen’s framework. The research subsequently finds that @ainusantara’s contents strongly convey patriotism through scenes showcasing the resilience of national heroes as they led local forces against colonial powers, as well as the fear exhibited by the colonizers in facing such resistance. In this context, AI technology successfully assists @ainusantara in presenting detailed visual elements of these scenes, manifesting the narrative flow embedded in the dialogues between subjects within the contents.

10:55-12:10 | Room E (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 2

MediAsia2025 | Broadcast Media, Film, and Literature

Session Chair: William Kunz

10:55-11:20

98687 | Labor Representation in Direct Cinema and Korean Documentary: A Comparative Focus on Two Days, One Night (2014) and Factory Complex (2014)

Sun Hee Choi, Korea University, South Korea

The first metaphor in the history of cinema was the image of labor and workers. For centuries, labor has been a central theme in film and documentary, signifying not only means of livelihood but also a vital link between self-realization and community existence. This study investigates the cultural implications of labor’s representation by analyzing two significant films: Two Days, One Night by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne from Belgium, and Factory Complex by Korean director Im Heung-soon. In the 21st century, the dimensions and sites of labor have rapidly diversified through the rise of platform labor, automation driven by artificial intelligence, flexible and precarious employment, emotional work, and creative labor. This research focuses on how film and media have adapted to portray workers’ roles and identities amid these transformations. At this turning point, workers are no longer depicted solely as traditional producers; instead, their roles and identities are being reshaped by digital platforms and AI. Factory Complex employs archival footage, experimental miseen-scène, interviews, and documentary techniques to convey the instability and solidarity of women workers as their labor shifts from industrial to digital environments. Two Days, One Night uses the realism of direct cinema to explore individual psychology, anxiety, perseverance, and the search for solidarity. The core theoretical framework draws on Hannah Arendt’s concept of “homo laborans”, viewing labor as a fundamental aspect of the human condition and a basis for worldliness and solidarity. Through this lens, the study analyzes narrative structure, character development, and visual language to examine how these films portray labor and workers’ identities in the changing socio-economic context.

11:20-11:45

96782 | The Reception of Korean Dramas in Japan Post-2020: A Netflix-Centric Analysis

Junyan Shi, Tohoku University, Japan

Hallyu, a significant East Asian cultural phenomenon of the 21st century, has gained global prominence in recent years. Korean dramas (K-dramas) constitute a vital component of Hallyu’s impact in Japan. Notably, the recent “fourth Hallyu boom” in Japan was significantly driven by K-dramas. The global Netflix release of “Crash Landing on You” on February 23, 2020, achieved explosive popularity, catalyzing this fourth wave. Subsequent Netflix-distributed K-dramas like “Itaewon Class” and “Squid Game” further amplified this momentum. Consequently, Netflix occupies a central and influential position in shaping the contemporary reception of Hallyu, particularly K-dramas, in Japan. This study specifically examines K-drama viewership on Netflix in Japan. Utilizing K-drama playback data published on Netflix’s official news site, Tudum, from April 2021 to April 2025, we analyze viewing patterns and characteristics. Additionally, we incorporate reports from the “Asahi Shimbun” and “Yomiuri Shimbun” during this period to contextualize the new realities of Hallyu acceptance in Japan since the 2020s. Our findings reveal distinctive characteristics of Netflix K-drama viewership in Japan, including “globality” (simultaneous global access), “simultaneity” (real-time cultural impact), and “diversity” (in genre and audience reach). We conclude that Netflix, as an integral platform within the fourth Hallyu boom, has fundamentally supported K-drama reception in Japan, with new and original Netflix K-dramas serving as the primary viewing source.

11:45-12:10

100540 | The Flow of Netflix Programming in Asia (2022-2024): One Uniform Service or Collection of Unique Services William Kunz, University of Washington Tacoma, United States

In Netflix Nation (2019), Roman Lobato argues that it might be more appropriate to “see Netflix as a collection of national media services tied together in the one platform rather than as a uniform global service.” That question frames this examination of Netflix across East and Southeast Asia. Netflix launched in Japan in September 2015 and in most of Asia in 2016, and by the end of 2024, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region accounted for over 57 million subscribers, more than double the paid subscriptions from the end of 2020. This study focuses on the flow of television series within the region in 2022, 2023 and 2024 based on weekly Top 10 lists in 10 different markets: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The analysis presents evidence of the impact of Netflix’s investment in the region, as well as the differences between markets. Worldwide, a Korean drama ranked first among the non-English television series 53 times (33.8%), generating more hours than the highest ranked English language show in around one-fifth of those weeks. On the national level, the differences are evident among the markets with the most subscribers, from South Korea where in-country shows ranked #1 in over 95% of the weeks to Indonesia where in-country shows ranked #1 in just over 5%. Japan, meanwhile, shows the evolution of Netflix slates, with a Japanese program ranked #1 in less than 50% of the weeks in 2022 but over 90% of the weeks in 2024.

10:55-12:10 | Room G (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 2

KAMC2025 | Visual Culture and Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Martyn Coutts

10:55-11:20

96793 | Codifying Horror: Visual Jurisprudence and the Didactic Drama of Sin in the Kamakura Hell Scroll So Yin Tam, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

This paper examines the 12th-century Japanese Hell Scroll (jigoku-zoji) as a socio- legal instrument within Kamakura Buddhist art. It argues that its visceral imagery codified moral precepts and karmic retribution as lay jurisprudence for illiterate populations. The visualisation of Buddhist ethics through gruesome punishments functioned as a material extension of the period’s legal-religious syncretism, mirroring the bakufu’s hybrid governance that combined statutory codes with moral didacticism. Hell Scroll’s stylistic shift from Heian idealism reflects doctrinal imperatives and the strategic use of horror as social control, the latter reinforcing shogunal authority through fear of divine judgement. Its synthesis of Pure Land scripture, Shinto motifs, and Chinese aesthetics served as embodied legal pedagogy, translating abstract karmic laws into visual deterrents. This analysis situates the scroll within broader discourses on the visual jurisprudence of material culture. Where art objects enforce normative systems through affective, rather than textual, means, the piece’s didactic function illuminates historical intersections of religious art, moral codification, and state power, inviting comparison with Chinese Diyu tu and later Edo- period rokudō-e to trace transcultural legal-visual syncretism. Ethnographic methods applied to nodal sites such as Osorezan shed insight on the material, artistic, and religious networks of performative legality. The formalisation of typographical punishments in visual tropes functions as standardised legal pedagogy at the interface between canonic and vernacular Buddhism. Such approaches bridge Buddhist art history with a growing body of critical legal scholarship on affective governance contingent on “ocular resources for justice” and expand the discipline’s engagement with normative visuality.

11:20-11:45

98235 | Animating the Ancestors Through Participatory Animation for Indigenous Folktale Preservation

Suraya Md Nasir, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia

Yakup Mohd Rafee, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia

Nor Hazlen Kamaruddin, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia

This paper explores participatory animation as a method for preserving Indigenous folktales among Ukit people in Belaga, Sarawak. While animation is widely used in education and creative media, few projects engage Indigenous communities directly in co-creating stories that reflect their own cultural knowledge, visual traditions, and oral storytelling practices. Through a collaborative process involving community elders and youth, ancestral narratives were adapted into animated sequences using drawing-based storyboarding, character design rooted in local symbolism, and voice recordings in native dialects. The project resulted in a four-phase framework—cultural grounding, co-design, animation production, and reflection—which emphasizes ethical collaboration, intergenerational learning, and culturally specific visual storytelling. The findings show how the visual translation of oral folktales not only fosters intergenerational knowledge transmission but also enables creative ownership among youth participants. The animations produced reflect traditional beliefs, landscapes, and values, while also incorporating contemporary perspectives from the younger generation. By centering local knowledge systems and inclusive co-creation processes, this study contributes to animation studies, Indigenous media, and community-based heritage work. It presents animation not merely as a tool for documentation, but as a living cultural practice—one that sustains tradition through youth-led reinterpretation, visual innovation, and shared authorship.

11:45-12:10

94921 | “We Are All Shinji”: The Influence of Anime and Manga on Digital Art in the Milk Tea Alliance Protests Martyn Coutts, The University of Melbourne, Australia

This presentation engages with how Japanese media flows became part of the visual culture of the protest movements in Hong Kong, Thailand and Myanmar between 2019 and 2021. These separate large-scale protests were connected together through an online prodemocracy group called the Milk Tea Alliance which was formed in 2020. The artworks studied in this presentation show digital protest artworks created as instruments of dissent and exhibiting the aesthetics of Japanese Manga and Anime. These images transcend local language and cultural codes, creating a series of visual signs that speak to broader themes of liberty, democratic values and solidarity. The circulation of these images within movement networks is possible due to the platform affordances of certain social media platforms. This presentation will examine one digital protest artwork from each of these three social movements and seek to understand how these aesthetics were used tactically in support of the pro-democracy causes inside each society. I will deploy scholar Nicole Doerr’s content analysis techniques for studying movement visuals to uncover semiotic and iconographic similarities between these images. I will examine how artists from these three societies were able to weave in local vernacular references within the container of anime and manga visual content. This pragmatic use of Manga and Anime properties shows a sophisticated understanding of how visual culture is able to create powerful emotional identification for social movement participants and allies internationally.

13:10-14:50 | Room A (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Film Studies

Session Chair: Nina Köll

13:10-13:35

96399 | The Cinema of Complicity: Reframing Narrative Authority

Teona Yamanidze, The University of Melbourne, Australia

This paper explores how ideological framing and media narratives shape cultural memory and ethical accountability during times of crisis. Referencing case studies such as Russians at War (2024) and The Antique(2024), as well as soviet period propaganda cinema like Soy Cuba (1964), the research interrogates the ethics of representation in visual storytelling. This paper examines how films and digital content not only reflect cultural trauma but also participate in contemporary forms of epistemic violence by distorting or erasing marginalized histories. The paper introduces the concept of “reversed witnessing,” where visual media appear to testify to traumatic events and at the same time control victim-perpetrator dynamics, especially through emotional manipulation and narrative selectivity. Referring to Spivak’s notion of subalternity and Henschke’s analysis of cognitive warfare, this research attempts to criticize cultural production within the broader framework of digital defamation and geopolitical revisionism. This research calls for better culturally sensitive ways to assess the impact of stories when they are influenced by political powers. Sharing knowledge helps support justice, not just for the communities affected, but also for how we remember and understand the past.

13:35-14:00

100589 | “Where Is Dangdut Going?”: The Emergence of Hipdut

Nitalia

Wijaya, Seoul National University, South Korea

Towards the end of 2024, a snippet of a song titled “Garam & Madu (Sakit Dadaku)” by three Gen Z artists: Tenxi, Naykilla and Jemsii went viral across the Indonesian mediascape. The widespread media circulation sparked active internet discourse, leading online audiences to coin a new term for the genre this song brought to prominence: hipdut (hip hop and dangdut). Although the evolution of dangdut as the music of “the people” is far from novel, this fusion genre may have unlocked the first momentum where dangdut garnered massive response from the younger audience while simultaneously being condemned as “bad” music for its lewdness. Following the genre’s initial online emergence, this research employed virtual fieldwork and literature review to examine the logic behind the guilty pleasure of indulging in “bad” music and to unravel the possibilities of “where is dangdut going?” Inspired by Duke Ellington’s (1962) self-reflective essay on the future of jazz, this research illuminates the versatility and volatility of dangdut, qualities that are essential to the genre’s continued relevance and vitality. The preliminary findings contribute beyond existing accounts on what hipdut trend reveals about contemporary Indonesian society; this particular case may arguably be an exemplary case of how publicly contested, “morally incorrect” means could be mobilized for cultural preservation.

14:00-14:25

94673 | Hot Scenes, Steamy Words: A Validation Exercise of a Speculative Script Resulting from an Analytical Study of Typical Vivamax Film Jag Garcia, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Philippines

The Philippines has a tumultuous history of producing erotic cinema. Despite its commercial success as a platform and artifact of popular culture, VMX films (and Filipino softcore films in general) are critically underexamined in the context of Philippine Cinema studies. In an unpublished study of 14 randomly selected VMX films, Jag Garcia identified recurring themes, structural patterns, and depictions of sexual behaviors within these films, categorizing them as Typical, Autoerotic, and Atypical; the study then proposes a framework that outlines the core conventions of a typical VMX film. To validate this framework, a speculative screenplay was developed and assessed against its parameters, focusing primarily on the distribution and nature of sexual content, the representation and diversity of sexual behaviors, and the agency afforded to female characters within the narrative. The screenplay serves as both a case study and proof of concept, demonstrating the framework’s functionality as a guide for future screenplays for the VMX platform and beyond. With its growing and evolving presence in society and popular culture, this article contributes to the understanding of, and academic discourse in, Filipino adult cinema. Additionally, it challenges the form’s social and cultural stigmas by locating softcore narratives as a legitimate subject for scholarly inquiry, broadening exploration and discussion on gender, representation, and the sociocultural impact of erotic media on Filipino audiences.

14:25-14:50

96810 | Cinema for Troubling Times

Nina Köll, Utrecht University, Netherlands

In an era marked by the dominance of commercial imperatives in theatrical cinema and the accelerating convergence of Hollywood and Silicon Valley—facilitated by algorithmification and corporate consolidation— we also observe emergent countercurrents pointing us to alternative trajectories. This presentation explores the resurgence of community-led filmmaking practices that resist centralized gatekeeping and subvert market-driven logic. These initiatives cultivate communal decision-making through decentralized, collective practices, non-institutional knowledge exchange, community-based value metrics and more sustainable political imaginaries. In my presentation I will explore initiatives such as Think Wells which has established a transnational network of “relational, sympoeitic” film financing, production and circulation (taking cues from Édouard Glissant and Haraway). Other examples include the anti-imperialist filmmaking cooperative Freefilmers collective from Mariupol, Ukraine, and SINEMA TRANSTOPIA in Berlin. Drawing on Walter Mignolo’s theoretical framework of decoloniality, I propose understanding these initiatives as decolonial venues—spaces that not only resist and delink from Eurocentric institutions and a political imaginary that poses as universal but also foster regenerative, plural and transnational modes of cinematic practice. Such practices, I argue, generate what Lauren Berlant describes as “terms of transition that alter the harder and softer, tighter and looser infrastructures of sociality itself.” In the final part of my presentation, I will draw a historical analogy between these current manifestions and the Black Audio Film Collective (1981-1998). Produced at different junctures and under different techno-social conditions, the BAFC also functioned as a decolonial venue, I argue, and therefore offers a vital point of comparison for understanding contemporary practices.

13:10-14:50 | Room B (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Media and Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Kittipong Phumpuang

13:10-13:35

98285 | Humour and Identity Construction in Ahmad Aiman’s Abati Show: A Stand-Up Comedy Analysis

Haziq Harun, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Brunei

This study investigates the humour mechanisms and identity construction in the Bruneian stand-up comedy scene. Stand-up comedy has long been celebrated as a tool for entertainment. Nowadays, stand-up comedy is more than just about eliciting laughter; it is also a form of identity work. While much of the existing research focused on Western contexts, Southeast Asia remains absent scholarly, Brunei, in particular. Using a qualitative case study design, the study analysed a one-hour live performance by a prominent Bruneian comedian, Ahmad Aiman. Through the General Theory of Verbal Humour (GTVH) by Attardo and Raskin, alongside Identity Theory by Burkes and Stets, the research provides a comprehensive analysis of how a comedian employed specific humour mechanisms and constructed their identities. The study uncovered two major findings. First, the analysis reveals that Ahmad Aiman employs six humour mechanisms: Script Opposition (SO), Logical Mechanism (LM), Situation (SI), Target (TA), Narrative Strategy (NS), and Language (LA) to generate laughter ; Crowd Work (CW) emerged as a new, seventh humour mechanism. Second, through humour, Ahmad Aiman constructs positive portrayals of multiple identities: a caring father, a religiously rooted individual, an everyday worker, and a professional comedian. The most salient identity is fatherhood, while his agency lies in how he uses comedy to critique structural norms while still being respected in his culture. This study proves how humour functions as a catalyst for identity construction in Bruneian stand-up comedy, contributing to regional comedy studies in Brunei.

13:35-14:00

94943 | Understanding Cultural and Identity Narratives in the Age of Advanced Digital Technologies

Masoud Kianpour, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada

Advanced digital technologies (ADT) play a crucial role in enabling the creation, dissemination, and reimagining of stories that define who we are and how we connect with one another. This presentation explores the role of social media (as a form of ADT) in shaping identity and cultural narratives within Canadian and global contexts, focusing on their implications for our sense of belonging, truth, social cohesion, collective memory, and cultural representation. Based on a scoping review and meta-analysis of studies from 2014 to 2024 in diaspora studies, sociology, and literary studies, this presentation traces the shift in social media research from early optimism to a more critical reassessment of its impacts. The findings highlight three key areas: (1) The dual nature of social media. While social media facilitates community-building, it also spreads misinformation and polarizes communities. Recent research critiques social media as a space governed by algorithms and AI, and filled with doppelgangers, micro-fascists, or an anxious generation. (2) Identity and Narrative Formation. Social media enables personal storytelling but commodifies narratives. The rise of “micro-influencers” shapes political discourse, often blurring the line between the truth and misinformation. (3) Cultural Identity and Collective Memory: ADT preserves and transforms cultural heritage, yet profit-driven algorithms risk homogenizing experiences and undermining cultural diversity. Social media’s ephemerality may contribute to “digital amnesia.” I conclude by proposing a new analytical framework for examining diasporic identity and collective memory in relation to social media narratives, along with specific suggestions for future research in this ever-evolving landscape.

14:00-14:25

98161 | Hong Kong’s Stagnation in Local Food Production: A Media-Centric Analysis

Lok Fai Pun, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Janice Ka Yee Wong, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Justin Chuangjia Xin, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Anthony Chun Fung Cheung, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Hong Kong exhibits a stagnant and underdeveloped local food production sector compared to other advanced Asian cities such as Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore, primarily due to constrained land resources and discontinuance in technological adoption. While the formers supplement their food supply through domestic imports to optimize land utilization, Singapore—a similarly land-scarce, high-density urban center—has leveraged cutting-edge agricultural technologies to enhance local production, aligning with global sustainability trends. In contrast, Hong Kong persists in its historical dependence on food imports from mainland China, a Global South economy that has achieved greater technological sophistication in food production than Hong Kong itself. This study examines the potential influence of media representation in perpetuating this stagnation, arguing that the lack of substantive media coverage and promotion of local food production has cultivated negative perceptions among Hong Kong’s youth regarding agricultural careers. Focusing on the freshwater fisheries sector as a case study, the research adopts a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the perceived adequacy of media coverage from two critical perspectives: that of local youth, assessed through a survey of over 300 randomly sampled undergraduate students, and that of industry practitioners, explored via in-depth interviews with ten fishery professionals selected through snowball sampling. By bridging empirical insights into policy and media discourse, this research offers valuable implications for public sectors on decisionmaking. Additionally, it advances media studies scholarship by highlighting the importance of embedding global sustainability narratives within mainstream media to foster informed public discourse and civic participation in local food system development.

14:25-14:50

100212 | Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Communication of Thai Daughters-in-Law Abroad: A Case Study of the YouTube Channel “Jayy Crane”

Kittipong Phumpuang, Naresuan University, Thailand

Patcharin Buranakorn, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Thailand

Nang Woe Kham, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Thailand

This aims to analyze the adaptation and cross-cultural communication strategies of Thai daughters-in-law abroad: A Case Study of the YouTube Channel “Jayy Crane”. The researcher selected a purposive sample, namely four video clips from the YouTube channel named “Jayy Crane” that had the most views. The research methodology employed documentary research and textual analysis of video clips. Cross-cultural communication theory is then employed as a framework for analysis, utilising the Integrative Model of Cross-Cultural Adaptation theory of Young Yun Kim (2001). This model posits that cross-cultural adaptation is a process of integrating the acquisition of a new language and culture with one’s original identity, culminating in the ability to coexist within that society. The results of the research were presented in a descriptive analysis format. The study identified two main aspects of “Thai living”. The first concerns food, exemplified by a video promoting Thai cuisine internationally, reflecting cross-cultural integration and the dissemination of “Thainess” by Thais abroad. The second relates to language use, with Thai employed alongside English in programs for narrative interpretation and language instruction. Accurate and intelligible Thai usage was observed, underscoring its cultural significance. In academic contexts, English predominates, yet Thai translations and explanations appear consistently, indicating adaptation to foreign cultures while maintaining core elements of Thainess.

13:10-14:50 | Room C (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 3

MediAsia/KAMC2025 | Social Media and Communication Technology

Session Chair: Charles Meadows

13:10-13:35

98702 | Framing the Ethical Crisis of AI-Generated Images: Social Media Discourses, Intellectual Property, and Public Sentiment in Indonesia

Suci Marini Novianty, LSPR Communication & Business Institute, Indonesia

Nathalia Gunarian, LSPR Communication & Business Institute, Indonesia

Audhiandra Okviosa, LSPR Communication & Business Institute, Indonesia

This study explores how Indonesian users on X (formerly Twitter) frame ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated visual content, particularly the transition from AI-generated images to video. Employing Framing Theory and Crisis Informatics, this research analyzes 150 manually collected tweets from April to June 2025 to understand public discourse related to ownership, consent, exploitation, and misinformation. Findings reveal dominant anxieties over authorship confusion, data exploitation, creative labor devaluation, and the escalation of AI-fueled misinformation through deepfakes and scams. These issues are articulated through citizen-to-citizen debates, highlighting concerns over the erosion of creative authenticity and public trust, and citizen-to-state engagements reflecting frustration with Indonesia’s inadequate regulatory protections. While some users express cautious optimism about AI’s potential benefits in education, mental health, and entrepreneurship, the prevailing discourse emphasizes protection.

13:35-14:00

100594 | Escaping the Self: AI-Driven Content, Shame Narratives, and Existential Disengagement

Rijita Mukherjee, Christ University, India

Nithy Cecil, Christ University, India

Yeshaswini V, Christ University, India

Akeela P, Christ University, India

As algorithm-driven platforms increasingly mediate young individuals’ interactions with mental health discourse, a novel pattern of digital escapism is emerging, rooted in internalized shame and subtle forms of dehumanization. This study examines how AI-curated content on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube reinforces reductive, stigmatizing narratives of mental health that depict individuals as dysfunctional or less human. We contend that such representations not only exacerbate internalized shame but also provoke existential anxiety, leading to avoidance of real-world responsibilities and identity disengagement. Employing a qualitative, constructivist grounded theory approach, we engage young adult participants (aged 18–25) over a two-phase study. In Phase 1, participants maintain digital diaries over two weeks, documenting their emotional and cognitive responses to AI-recommended content related to mental health. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews explore how participants interpret these algorithmic patterns, particularly regarding feelings of being depersonalized, categorized, or objectified by the feed. Additionally, a content audit of a sample of participants’ social media feeds is conducted to identify linguistic and visual markers of dehumanization, such as portrayals that reduce individuals with mental illness to labels, pathologies, or stereotypes. Analytical methods include grounded theory coding for process and emotional patterns, and Critical Discourse Analysis to interrogate the embedded messages within digital content. This research offers a novel contribution by framing AI not merely as a passive recommender system, but as an active cultural agent influencing self-concept, shame regulation, and existential meaning-making. Findings aim to inform ethical content design, mental health literacy campaigns, and policy interventions that counteract algorithmic dehumanization and support digital spaces that foster psychological dignity and human complexity.

14:00-14:25

97845 | Factors Contributing to AI Companion Adoption: Applying the AIDUA Model

Charles Meadows, East Carolina University, United States

The past few years have witnessed an increase of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies with advances being made daily. AI Companions (AICs) are rapidly becoming common place on social media platforms, healthcare portals, and mobile devices. AICs are a classified as a type of generative AI, they are based on large language models that can create content upon user request. AICs are designed to interact with humans (once adopted) in ways that provide an illusion of companionship. The perception of companionship needs to be further explored through the lens of not computer science, but human-computer mediated communication. In using a mediated communication approach, the question of user acceptance becomes paramount. AI companions introduce entirely new social and ethical issues. They are being heralded by the industry as a positive tour-de-force providing companionship and interaction for individuals who need or are lacking human relationships on a day-to-day basis. However, there is concern regarding the illusion of true human interaction. This paper examines our current understanding of the acceptance of AICs through a human-computer mediated approach. Specifically, the paper will be utilizing the AI Device Use Acceptance Model (AIDUA) to explore potential factors that influence an individual’s acceptance of AICs. The researcher will also examine the barriers and ethical issues that must be addressed by individuals and developers. Theoretical implications include an expansion of AIDUA and practical ethical recommendations to AIC developers.

14:25-14:50

96565 | The Concept of Human Dignity Within the Framework of Permission (al-idhn) in Islamic Jurisprudence

Khawla Almulla, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia

Rana Musa, University of Damascus, Syria

This study investigates the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing research within the domains of Islamic culture and jurisprudence, with particular attention to its applications in interpretation (tafsir), Hadith studies, and fiqh (Islamic legal theory). The research aims to outline appropriate usage frameworks for AI in religious contexts and to assess its capability in accurately responding to complex Shariarelated inquiries, thereby advocating for a synergistic collaboration between AI developers and Islamic scholars. Employing a descriptive qualitative methodology, the study formulates and explores a series of critical questions surrounding the integration of AI in Islamic sciences. It is structured into two main sections: The first provides a comprehensive overview of AI technologies, highlighting their relevance and transformative potential in educational environments. The second section critically assesses the effectiveness and limitations of AI in delivering context-sensitive and theologically sound responses to religious queries. Findings indicate that while AI demonstrates potential in supporting Islamic research, it currently falls short in providing the depth, nuance, and authenticity required by scholars in the field. This shortcoming underscores the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration, wherein Sharia scholars actively contribute to the development and refinement of AI systems to ensure alignment with Islamic epistemological and ethical principles. The study concludes by recommending the systematic development of AI tools tailored specifically for Islamic sciences, emphasizing the importance of embedding Sharia-based knowledge structures into AI models to enhance their reliability and scholarly utility.

13:10-14:50 | Room E (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations

Session Chair: Jea Agnes Taduran-Buera

13:10-13:35

100516 | 50 Shades of Kawaii: Analyzing Sanrio’s Brand Portfolio Through Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Olga Roshchupkina, American University of Armenia, Armenia

This study explores the relationship between national culture and preferences of Sanrio’s characters across 14 countries. While prior research has mostly concentrated on Hello Kitty, this project approaches the company’s brand portfolio more holistically, analyzing the relative popularity of 21 characters. Using Hofstede’s six-dimensional model -- Power Distance, Individualism, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance, Long-Term Orientation, and Indulgence -- this study explores how country-level cultural tendencies relate to character preferences. The dataset is based on official Sanrio character country-based rankings from 2018 to 2025. The countries include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Korea, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, the UK, and the USA. While some characters, such as Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, Pochacco, Kuromi, and Hello Kitty, are universally popular, preliminary findings also reveal country or region-specific preferences that correlate with Hofstede dimension scores. For example, countries high in Individualism tend to favor unconventional or even transgressive characters such as Aggretsuko and Gudetama (r = 0.44 to 0.54), while low-Indulgence countries are more likely to prefer nostalgic, clumsy-yet-loyal ones like Hangyodon and Ahirunopekkle (r = –0.43 to –0.71). A cluster analysis based on Hofstede’s dimensions highlighted group-level patterns in character popularity. By linking national cultural dimensions to character preference patterns, this study contributes to cross-cultural consumer research and offers practical insights for international brand strategy and IP management.

13:35-14:00

97856 | Cute for Good: Cuteness as an Affective Strategy for Purpose-Led Communication Design Yix Guo, University of the Arts London, United Kingdom

What makes something cute and why should we care? Is cuteness merely a frivolous aesthetic or a powerful emotional device? Despite its widespread use from advertising and activism to robotics and retail, cuteness remains a polarising, under-theorised, and often trivialised concept. Some scholars celebrate its affective impact; others critique it as infantilising, manipulative, or rooted in consumerism. Can cute do good, then? Research across neuroscience, psychology, humanities, and marketing shows that cute captures attention, stirs emotion, and influences behaviour. Beyond surface aesthetics, cute promotes empathy, nurtures pro-social behaviour, softens defences, humanises messages, and inspires care. Cute enhances brand loyalty, drives tourism, and advances activism. Emerging research also highlights cute’s therapeutic potential. Yet, in design research, cute is still under-theorised. A more systematic framework is needed to understand how it operates across the senses, emotions, and contexts. Buchanan’s Four Orders of Design consisting of symbol, object, interaction, and system offer a useful lens to examine the multi-dimensional impact of cuteness. To map its dimensions further, I developed the Cuteness Matrix, which analyses cuteness along two key axes: Economic-driven ↔ Purpose-driven, and Powerlessness ↔ Empowerment. This framework reveals the multiple roles cuteness can play, from manipulative marketing gimmick to a meaningful human-centred design strategy. It helps designers harness cuteness not just to attract, but to connect, comfort, and catalyse care. “Cute for Good” invites us to rethink what cuteness can do. Cute may be one of design’s most powerful and underestimated strategies: for making the world feel warmer, kinder, and more human.

14:00-14:25

98375 | When Novelty Skips the Feel-Good: Dual Behavioural Routes of Product Creativity and Social Ambience in Creative Tourism

Mohd Fahmi Yahaya, University Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia

Creative tourism theory assumes that creative stimuli shape travellers’ behavioural intentions only after being filtered through experience quality (EQ), yet empirical tests of this mechanism are scarce. Re-analysing a Malaysian dataset of 499 respondents, this study uncovers a dual route pattern in which some creative cues operate through EQ, while product novelty also acts directly on behaviour. Using variance-based SEM with a parallel multiple mediation design, two creative stimuli were examined: Creative Product (Novelty and Usefulness) and Press (Physical and Social ambience), with EQ decomposed into its experiential facets. Results show that Press Social is the most influential indirect driver of behavioural intention, as it amplifies EQ which subsequently enhances intention. By contrast, Product Novelty exerts a direct effect in addition to a smaller mediated path, suggesting that novelty can stimulate action even without changes in affective appraisal. An Importance–Performance Map highlights Press Social as the highest leverage lever, while Novelty represents a low importance but high opportunity factor.

14:25-14:50

100549 | Traditional Trade to Social Selling: Analyzing the Rhetorical Practices of TikTok Affiliates as Drivers of Online Entrepreneurship

Jea Agnes Taduran-Buera, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

TikTok affiliates play a crucial role in the future of online entrepreneurship. These affiliates are creators who collaborate with sellers on TikTok Shop to promote products and earn commissions on sales made through their unique affiliate links. This program allows creators to monetize their content while helping sellers expand their reach and increase sales through promotional efforts. Recently, TikTok has garnered scholarly interest across different fields, including marketing, sales, linguistics, and cultural studies. However, there is a noticeable lack of research specifically focused on how affiliates influence purchasing behaviors within local communities. Thus, this study aims to examine the strategic rhetorical practices of selected Filipino TikTok content creators, who specialize in skincare reviews and marketing and have acquired over 100,000 followers with millions of likes, using a purposive sampling method. The research employed a qualitative descriptive case study design, incorporating thematic analysis to illustrate how influencer identities are constructed and what ethical considerations are involved in the affiliate marketing of skincare products. The results demonstrate how these strategies impact consumer behavior and how affiliates leverage their popularity to influence purchasing decisions. Influencer culture on social media significantly affects how online audiences perceive their self-image and cultural norms. The research explores how affiliates engage with their audiences, emphasizing their capacity to develop relatable personas and utilize persuasive strategies. By employing effective rhetorical techniques, these individuals attract and engage viewers, converting casual observers into loyal customers. Their distinctive approach not only increases brand visibility but also fosters a sense of community among its users.

13:10-14:50 | Room G (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Visual Culture

Session Chair: Yuniya Kawamura

13:10-13:35

100438 | Enter the Velvet Room: Ritual Practice and Occult Aesthetics in Japanese Video Games

Andrej Kapcar, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic

Magical practice has long been shaped by its visual and narrative representations, from religious iconography to fantasy cinema. With the rise of Japanese video games as a global cultural force, these imaginaries have found a new and highly interactive form. This paper asks how Japanese video games mediate occult aesthetics and how players translate these aesthetics into ritual practice. I focus on titles such as Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, and The World Ends With You, which draw on diverse esoteric sources, including Western occult traditions, Japanese folklore, tarot, or Jungian archetypes, and explore how these symbolic worlds are reinterpreted by contemporary practitioners. Grounded in frameworks from media anthropology and the study of digital religions, I employ a mixed methodology that combines narrative analysis of selected games with digital anthropology and practitioner interviews. The ethnographic component is based primarily on online discussion boards and communities (such as Reddit and Discord, ~80% of the data), supplemented by live interviews with practitioners (~20%). This dual approach highlights how players not only consume occult imagery but also ritualize and integrate it into lived practices. By situating these practices within theories of mythopoesis and lived religion, I argue that Japanese video games function as mythopoetic toolkits: they do not merely reproduce occult aesthetics but actively shape how magic is imagined, enacted, and personalized in the digital age.

13:35-14:00

96772 | A Compilation of Definitive Conceptual, Aesthetic, and Narrative Elements of Contemporary (Post 2010) Indian Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Aparaajith Sharmaa, Symbiosis International, India

Comic books and graphic novels are a distinctive amalgamation of artwork and literature. We live in a visually driven digital age, which has benefited various media channels. Comic books and graphic novels, like Films, TV, and Newspapers are available on handheld gadgets. According to trade figures, the comic book industry worldwide is struggling despite the digital convenience. Its appeal is niche, and this industry is not a money-spinner like Films. The Indian comic book industry has managed to prosper in one of the toughest commercial environments in the world. In India, the distribution channels for comic books are non-existent, and the readership is minuscule. For years, they have told stories influenced by Western comic books because they were bound by the harshness of the market. This situation has now changed for the better. Numerous comic cons (pop culture conventions) have been successful in India. The Industry has embraced elements that are deep-rooted in its country’s milieu. Stories have been spun around sadhus, goddesses, mystics, warriors, ghosts, pop culture icons, unusual creatures, and even social issues. This research studies this exact gap: contemporary comic books and graphic novels, which are indicators of cultural metamorphosis. This inquiry (through qualitative methodology: comprehensive textual analysis) attempts to provide a definitive compilation of distinctive conceptual, visual, and storytelling elements that make the Indian comic book industry intriguing and characterful. 107 post-2010 contemporary comic books/graphic novels by 28 publishers were a part of this voluminous study. Patterns, range, and uniqueness emerged amongst the chosen material.

14:00-14:25

94670 | A Study of Media Art Adaptations of Opera in Post-War Japan: Focusing on the Mangas of U-Maia Mariko Kasahara, The University of Tokyo, Japan

This presentation explores the reception of opera in Japan through the lens of shōjo (girls’) manga. While the relationship between ballet and manga has been discussed in prior research (e.g., Fujimoto 2008), the connection between opera and manga has received little scholarly attention. One notable exception is Machiko Satonaka, a prominent manga artist who has created 21 opera-themed manga works. She recalls being inspired by Hoshi wa Kanashiku (1958), a manga based on Verdi’s Aida by the trio U-Maia, early pioneers in modern Japanese manga. Although U-Maia also created other opera adaptations, their influence did not immediately lead to imitators. It was not until the manga boom of the 1970s that 61 operas were adapted into manga, with over 90% of these appearing in the shōjo genre. This reflects the longstanding role of girls’ magazines—published since 1902—in introducing opera to young female audiences. Opera also became established in Japan during the Taisho period (1912–1926), when Russian and Italian troupes performed regularly. Additionally, the manga industry’s response to the ‘bad book ban’ of the 1950s–60s, during which U-Maia was active, shaped the development of opera manga. By examining these historical and cultural contexts, this presentation aims to elucidate the origins, significance, and potential of opera manga as a unique site of cross-media expression, illustrating how traditional Western art forms were localized and reimagined within Japanese visual culture.

14:25-14:50

98350 | The Depictions of “Kawaii” in Paintings During Japan’s Edo Period Yuniya Kawamura, State University of New York, United States

Japan has become a leader in popular culture that produces and disseminates “kawaii” anime and manga characters. Kawaii culture and its aesthetic are introduced globally through fashion, music, and entertainment that provide psychological comfort and future optimism to many youngsters around the world. The term “kawaii” is translated as cute and adorable in English, but it is more than an adjective. Kawaii is a lifestyle, ideology, and philosophy. Many believe that kawaii as a visual concept is an invention of the twentieth century, but in fact, it has a long tradition in Japan and dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868). In this paper, I trace the history and meaning of kawaii during the Edo period by going through a series of Ukiyo-e (wood block prints) and Sumi-e (ink wash paintings), and investigate how some of the well-known Japanese artists had expressed and depicted the idea of kawaii in their paintings and artworks. For instance, Sengai Gibon (1750-1837), a Zen Buddhist monk, drew manga-like sketches of men, women, and animals, such as dogs, tigers, and frogs, in his paintings. Nagasawa Rosetsu (1754-1799) and Maruyama Oukyo (1733-1795) painted adorable, fluffy puppies in black ink. Kuwagata Keisai (1764-1824), an Ukiyo-e artist who worked under the name Kitao Masayoshi, published a book in 1795 which depicted hundreds of cute, small sketches of people, flowers, animals, fish, and landscapes. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861), one of the most famous Ukiyo-e artists, was very fond of cats and often included cute cats in his work.

15:15-16:30 | Room A (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 4

KAMC2025 | Media Studies

Session Chair: Pipatpong Fakfare

15:15-15:40

98495 | Prioritizing Servicescape Elements in Enhancing the Attendee Experience at Music Events

Maneenate Worrachananun, Bangkok University, Thailand

Pipatpong Fakfare, Bangkok University, Thailand

The evolving landscape of live music events demands more than outstanding performances; it requires immersive, multisensory environments that elevate attendee satisfaction. This study applies servicescape theory to explore how six environmental dimensions— ambient conditions, spatial layout and functionality, visual and symbolic design, social servicescape, engagement opportunities, and crowd condition and navigation—influence experiential satisfaction among music event attendees. Data were collected from 300 respondents across multiple large-scale events in Thailand and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Importance–Performance Map Analysis (IPMA). Results reveal that visual and symbolic design, ambient conditions, and engagement opportunities significantly enhance satisfaction, while spatial functionality and social atmosphere exert weaker but still meaningful effects. Crowd condition showed no significant influence. IPMA findings further highlight ambient and engagement features as high-priority improvement areas. The study advances servicescape research within live event contexts and offers actionable guidance for event organizers seeking to optimize attendee experiences.

15:40-16:05

98170 | Constructing Meaning in Silence: A Phenomenological Study of Audience Response to the Play “Request Sa Radyo Kyrah Martina Araullo, University of Makati, Philippines

This phenomenological study explores how audiences from the University of Makati interpret and respond to the play Request sa Radyo, a non-traditional theatrical Filipino adaptation of Franz Xaver Kroetz’s Wunschkonzert. The one-woman performance was staged without dialogue, relying on ambient sound and symbolic actions, and challenges conventional narrative expectations. Featuring portrayals by Lea Salonga and Dolly de Leon, the play examines the personal world of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) struggling with emotional isolation and routine. Through semi-structured interviews with UMak students and employees, the study investigates how prior expectations, cultural background, and lived experiences shape meaning-making. Findings reveal that audience reactions vary widely, ranging from disengagement to profound emotional resonance based on familiarity with the actors, exposure to unconventional theater, and personal connections to OFWs. The study draws on the interpretivist tradition and Mumby’s Discourse of Representation to analyze how silence, repetition, and performer identity mediate understanding. The paper concludes that experimental theater can cultivate deeper emotional insight when audiences are prepared to engage symbolically, suggesting the value of pre-and post-performance contextualization in educational or culturally complex stage productions.

16:05-16:30

98493 | Prioritization Approach to Music’s Role in Destination Experience Design Pipatpong Fakfare, Bangkok University, Thailand

As tourism increasingly embraces multisensory experience design, music has emerged as a vital yet under-theorized component of destination environments. This study develops and tests a comprehensive framework that captures six key dimensions of music’s role in shaping Destination Experience Quality (DEQ): Thematic Music Integration, Live Music Availability, Cultural Congruence, Emotional Resonance, Music-Induced Sense of Place, and Soundscape Quality. Drawing on experiential marketing theory, the model was empirically tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with data from 350 tourists. Results confirm that all six dimensions significantly influence DEQ, with Thematic Music Integration and Cultural Congruence emerging as the most impactful. Importance–Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) further identifies Emotional Resonance as a high-leverage yet underperforming construct. The study contributes to experiential tourism theory by positioning music as a strategic design element and offers actionable insights for destination planners seeking to optimize musical experiences that elevate visitor satisfaction, memory, and place attachment.

15:15-16:30 | Room B (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 4

KAMC2025 | Cultural Studies and Communication

Session Chair: Long Nguyen

15:15-15:40

100506 | Transforming Mission 4: Creative Cultural Parks and the Rise of Thai Universities as Local Change Agents

Wasin Komut, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand

Siriwit Issaro, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand

Khamla Musika, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand

Pondej Chaowarat, Mahasarakham University, Thailand

This study investigates how Thai universities have transformed their cultural mission (Mission 4) from being ceremonial guardians to active change leaders. Through the 2023 Advance Track research program, supported by Thailand’s Program Management Unit on Area-Based Development (PMU A), eight universities partnered with local communities to establish Creative Cultural Parks. These parks aimed to revitalize cultural capital as a foundation for local economic growth, community identity, and cultural innovation. Using a mixedmethods approach with a strong focus on participatory action research (PAR), the study examined all eight projects through project documents, field observations, stakeholder interviews, and cultural mapping data. It specifically explored the use of storytelling, creative festivals, and cultural incubators as tools to drive transformation. The results show that universities played a pivotal role in co-creating over 200 cultural products and services, supporting more than 100 new cultural entrepreneurs, and boosting average community income by 15%. Creative Cultural Parks emerged as more than just symbolic landmarks—they became vibrant ecosystems for collaboration, innovation, and identity restoration. Importantly, the program empowered local actors to take ownership of their development journeys through co-creation and cultural entrepreneurship. The study argues that when universities align their cultural mission with community participation and national policy agendas, they can unlock untapped cultural assets and produce tangible social and economic outcomes. It recommends establishing permanent cultural management units within universities and integrating cultural resources into broader development frameworks such as the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy and creative economy strategies.

15:40-16:05

100254 | Bridging Silences: Analyzing Triadic Communication in Job Interviews Involving Deaf Candidates, ISL Interpreters, and Employers in India

Puneet Kumar Gupta, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India

P J Mathew Martin, University of Mumbai, India

Anjali Pahad, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India

Varsha Parikh, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India

Sunil Sahasrabudhhe, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India

This study investigates the communication dynamics during job interviews involving Deaf job seekers, Indian Sign Language (ISL) interpreters, and prospective employers in urban Indian contexts. Grounded in the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) Theory (Pearce, 2007) and Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) (Giles, Coupland, & Coupland, 1991), the research explores how meaning is co-constructed and occasionally lost in triadic interpreted interactions. These theoretical frameworks elucidate how participants adjust their communicative strategies and how cultural-linguistic meaning is negotiated or disrupted during a deaf livelihood fair conducted in Mumbai. The central hypothesis posits that while interpreters facilitate access, their presence introduces interactional complexities that influence employers’ perceptions of the Deaf candidate’s competence, spontaneity, and employability—particularly when employers lack familiarity with Deaf culture. This research employs a content analysis method using qualitative conversation analysis of the interviews drawing from video-recorded mock interviews with Deaf participants (N=167), ISL interpreters (N=8), and employers (N=18), supplemented by semi-structured interviews with all stakeholders during the deaf livelihood fair. Thematic analysis reveals key challenges: Deaf candidates encounter delayed turn-taking, reduced expressive freedom, and competence bias; interpreters navigate dual roles of neutrality and cultural mediation; and employers face difficulties interpreting non-verbal cues and often unconsciously simplify questions (Napier, 2011; Friedner, 2015). Communication patterns observed include repetitive clarification loops, rephrased employer prompts, interpreter-mediated cultural bridging, and the absence of back channelling cues from Deaf candidates—often misread as disengagement. The need for this study stems from policy mandates under India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), which call for inclusive hiring, yet practical communication barriers remain unaddressed.

16:05-16:30

96940 | Analysis of Digital Competence in Handling Phishing Cases: Case Study at the Special Criminal Directorate of the Yogyakarta Regional Police

Benny Erwin, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

This study examines the process and digital competency in handling online fraud cases (phishing) at the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the Regional Police of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (Polda DIY). Using a qualitative approach with a case study method, this study aims to analyze the handling process and identify the digital competencies needed by police personnel. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with three members of Ditreskrimsus, observations of phishing case examination and filing activities, and analysis of investigation filing documents and phishing case handling reports carried out by the Polda DIY. This study adopted the DigComp 2.2 framework in data analysis. This framework reveals five areas of digital competency: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, digital security, and problem solving. The results of the analysis indicate a gap in the digital competency area of Ditreskrimsus Polda DIY personnel. Through an analysis of the phishing handling process at Ditreskrimsus Polda DIY, this study highlights the importance of improving digital competency to increase the effectiveness of handling phishing cases in the dynamic digital era.

15:15-16:30 | Room B (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 4

KAMC2025 | Cultural Studies and Communication

Session Chair: Long Nguyen

16:30-16:55

97277 | Top-Down vs Bottom-Up: How Public Narratives Shift Government Agendas in Disaster Discourse

Long Nguyen, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam

Trang Vo, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam

Liem Bui, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam

Phuong Nguyen, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam

In evolving landscapes of media disaster coverage, social media has become a critical arena where official narratives interact with grassroots storytelling. Combining communication infrastructure theory and agenda-setting theory, this study examine how government narratives about climate disasters are reframed and extended by influencers and community pages on social media. Using a content analysis of 3,000 posts of disaster communication during Yagi Typhoon 2024 in Vietnam, the study aims to (1) identify the issue salience and attributes shaped by each storyteller, and (2) explore how the agenda is followed by different storytellers. The study shows that the focus of each type of page is different. While government pages focus on describing the storm, community pages provide information related to students, workers, and influencers who have a higher level of personalization with information about charity programs. Therefore, contradicting the assumption that government and news are those who set the agenda, findings show that influencers with expertise are usually the first to provide the forecast, expressing their professional role. For mobilization narratives requiring community effort or collective actions, community pages and influencers help initiate and maintain interest, while humorizing the announcement from the official sources. For the narrative of rescue efforts where information is limited, government pages and mass media make information official with different aspects, while community pages simply copy the news. This study contributes to the agendasetting theory in the digital age by showing that different communication infrastructures will integrate to set up the agenda, not solely government and mass media.

15:15-16:30 | Room C (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 4

MediAsia2025 | Social Media and Communication Technology

Session Chair: Rosa Pilipinas Francisco

15:15-15:40

98421 | Proactive Approach to Digital Reputation Management in Managing ESG Issues: A Case Study of Mining Industry Indonesia (MIND ID) Pratiwa Dyatmika, PT. Mining Industry Indonesia, Indonesia

Amirul Hazmi Hamdan, State University of Medan, Indonesia

Irwan Saputra, Kindi PR and Strategic Communications Consulting, Indonesia

Issue management in the context of social media presents significant challenges, particularly for high-reputation-risk industries such as mining, which are often targeted by cyber defamation and character assassination. Organizations operating in such sectors must adopt effective strategies to manage issues proactively in the digital sphere. This case study explores the issue management approach of MIND ID, the state-owned holding company overseeing several major mining enterprises in Indonesia. The research employs qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with four key informants and document analysis. Findings indicate that MIND ID adopts a proactive, systematic approach to issue management, focusing strategically on real-time media monitoring. This system enables the organization to detect early signs of reputational threats, resolve misinformation, and engage transparently with stakeholders before issues escalate into a full-blown crisis. MIND ID can respond swiftly and strategically to emerging concerns by continuously tracking digital conversations, reinforcing its public image and organizational legitimacy in a volatile media environment. This study contributes to the discourse on digital reputation management by highlighting the critical role of anticipatory strategies and continuous issue surveillance in high-risk sectors. It argues that in the era of heightened stakeholder scrutiny and digital interconnectivity, a proactive approach to reputation management is essential for safeguarding corporate reputation and sustaining stakeholder trust.

15:40-16:05

100322 | Social Media Crisis Communication in the Global South: Lessons from BPJS Affiliated Clinics in Indonesia Using Austin & Jin’s SMCC

Diana Hestya Ningsih, LSPR Communication & Business Institute, Indonesia

This study examines how Social Security Administrator for Health (BPJS Kesehatan)affiliated clinics in Jabodetabek employ socialmediaenabled communication strategies to manage slowburning crises, maintain patient trust, and protect institutional reputations. Operating within Indonesia’s National Health Insurance program (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional, JKN), these clinics face administrative bottlenecks, heightened patient expectations, and competition from private providers, making effective crisis communication essential. Guided by Austin and Jin’s SocialMediated Crisis Communication (SMCC) model, with insights from Crisis Informatics and Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT), this research reframes health communication as a hybrid, participatory process coconstructed by organizations, patients, and broader publics. A mixedmethods design combined a survey of 200 primary healthcare facilities with patient interviews and document analysis to assess the adoption and effectiveness of digital communication tools. Findings reveal that 92% of clinics use the JKN mobile application for complaint handling and teleconsultations, with 78% supplementing these functions through WhatsApp for personalized engagement, while Instagram and Facebook extend outreach and offline counseling supports elderly patients. Patients valued acknowledgment and empathetic responses, which improved perceptions of credibility even when resolutions were delayed. The study extends SMCC to systemic healthcare crises in the Global South, recommending stronger social listening, empathetic communication training, and improved JKN reliability to enhance patientcentered care.

16:05-16:30

96806 | Visibility, Virality, and Votes: The Power of Migration of Celebrity into Politics Isni Hindriaty Hindarto, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia

The migration of celebrities into politics, as well as the rise of social media platforms, has transformed traditional political campaigning strategies. This shift has allowed for more strategic communication among political figures, the media, and citizens. Nonetheless, the shift to digital campaigns needs a media transformation approach to enable more ethical and effective political campaigns in the future. Over the past five years, previous research has focused on how the combination of traditional media and emerging digital platforms has created a transformative media environment that significantly impacts political communication without focusing on actor-centric approaches. This study examines the migration process, focusing on the role of celebrity politicians in the 2024 election. Ahmad’s celebration of politics and Couldry and Hepp’s deep mediatisation theories will be used in this study to explain the transformation of political communication in the digital era. This study aims to provide a complete understanding of the intricate interplay in celebrity politics. A case study of 3 celebrity candidates examines how their respective media trajectories shape their modes of self-presentation in order to gain visibility, virality, and votes, particularly on platforms like TikTok. This comparative perspective highlights the distinct pathways through which celebrity candidates navigate democracy and appeal to young voters. However, this contribution unintentionally blurs the distinction between entertainment and politics. Additional research is necessary to investigate the possible difficulties and opportunities for democratic consolidation, as well as the long-term impacts of how transformation media-driven political communication affects the character of democracy in Indonesia.

16:30-16:55

95818 | “Playful Uncertainty” as a Mode of Affective Civic Engagement with Vaccine Safety and Efficacy on Facebook During the COVID-19 Pandemic Rosa Pilipinas Francisco, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Philippines

The negotiation of public issues on social media platforms has become an everyday practice, raising lingering questions about their civic ends. Anchored on Georgakopoulou’s small stories and Papacharissi’s affective publics, the paper explores “playful uncertainty” as a mode of civic engagement on social media and unpacks its civic consequentiality. Using COVID-19 vaccination-related local hashtags as a case study, a six-week digital ethnography was conducted, coinciding with the mass roll out of COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines. As a form of methodological bricolage, participant observation, platform analysis, qualitative text analysis, and visual analysis methods were integrated in examining affective attunement with personal COVID-19 vaccination stories on Facebook. The paper puts forward “playful uncertainty” as a typical mode of affective civic engagement in high uncertainty contexts such as a pandemic. Characterized by humor and exaggeration coupled with popular culture, ordinary users deployed playful uncertainty to engage with fake news, deal with their fears about vaccine safety and efficacy, and articulate their frustrations with the delivery of public health services. The paper argues that the emerging affective publics negotiated high uncertainty and, at the same time, deployed criticism. The paper also outlines some detrimental outcomes of this mode of civic engagement. The paper contributes to debates on the value of everyday practices on social media and responds to calls for more research on citizen engagement and participation in civic life on social media in various contexts. The paper also provides impetus for attention to humor in the lay negotiation of expert-based domains.

15:15-16:30 | Room E (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 4

MediAsia2025 | Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations

Session Chair: Swatantra Asija

15:15-15:40

96709 | Quoting Culture, Selling Connection: Intertextuality and Positive Communication in Branded Billboard Banter Dishha Medhavi, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India

Anirban Ghosh, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India

‘Billboard banter’, a marketing trend amongst the Indian Brands has become viral phenomenon that posits a scholarly enquiry. To understand this, we are proposing a conceptual framework that have come out of three-pronged approach. Grounded in Intertextuality Theory, in first phase the billboards were deciphered on the basis of how brands appropriate and subvert visual and verbal messages to stage humour in eight purposively sampled campaigns. Second, using Coopetition Theory, we understand how brands join the bandwagon and cleverly reply to each other’s billboards, teaming up to grab attention and stay culturally relevant, while still trying to outshine one another in the race to go viral. Lastly, guided by Positive Communication Theory, we conduct a thematic analysis of top 200 comments per post on meme-sharing pages, marketing and advertising pages to understand how these banter wars are perceived by the audience. Our conceptual framework links semiotic construction (MDA + intertextuality) to strategic banter war (coopetition) and audience perception (positive communication), leading to enhanced brand advocacy. Preliminary findings of this study suggest intertextual puns from popular Indian movies, puns and visual callbacks not only increase recall but also fuel cooperative rivalries that resonate on social media and a popular viral content on social media. This research extends MDA to conversations between brand dialogues, adds to the coopetition literature with humour dynamics, and offers the media producers theory-driven guidelines for creating banter-friendly campaigns, eventually fostering brand collaborations and audience engagement.

15:40-16:05

96752 | Role of Fan Engagement in Market Creation: A Study of K-Pop Fans in India

Koninika Kundu, MICA, India

Santosh

Patra, MICA, India

This research focuses on the role of Indian Korean popular music (henceforth, K-pop) fans as prosumers of K-pop music and merchandise. Using Henry Jenkin’s Participatory Culture Theory as an approach to understanding how fans have taken agency in importing and distributing K-pop band merchandise from South Korea to India due to a lack of availability of direct purchase channels, the study also proposes to extend Participatory Culture Theory to include not only fans’ role as creatives and content creators, but also as that of market creators and entrepreneurs. K-pop entertainment companies have often been attributed with playing a pivotal role in the revival of physical CDs and merchandise, and among fans, owning such merchandise has become an aspect of fan identity. Despite facing many difficulties in importing band merchandise, such as high customs and international shipping fees, Indian K-pop fans continue to purchase goods with the aid of the fandom community through grouping multiple orders and repurchasing and selling of items, effectively creating and sustaining a market for K-pop cultural products. Through in-depth interviews of K-pop fans on Instagram— the primary platform for purchasing and displaying K-pop merchandise among Indian fans, this study proposes to explore how fans play a major role in consuming and producing the Korean cultural industry, their motivation to consume K-pop and its influence in purchasing related cultural products, and lastly, insights that other entertainment industries can gain from K-pop’s novel approach to fan engagement.

16:05-16:30

94980 | Change in Brand Attitudes Via In-Game Advertisements: An Application of Mere Exposure Theory

Ho Keat Leng, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Sports video games is a popular form of entertainment. Many companies are now using in-game advertisements to reach out to consumers. Studies have generally found that in-game advertisements are effective as gamers are able to recall the featured brands. However, few studies have extended into examining whether in-game advertisements can lead to a change in attitude towards the advertised brands. According to the Mere Exposure Theory, repeated exposure may lead to positive attitudes towards the brand. As gamers play the same game repeatedly, it is expected that in-game advertisements are likely to lead to positive attitudes towards the advertised brand. In this study, 35 respondents were recruited to play F1 2014, a car racing game, on the Playstation console. Respondents were first asked to evaluate their attitudes towards a list of brands including Emirates and Pirelli which were featured in the game. The list also included Cathay Pacific and Goodyear, competitors in the same product category but were not featured in the game. After playing the game, respondents were asked to evaluate their attitudes towards the same list of brands again. A paired-samples t-test was conducted to compare the differences in the attitudes towards the brands before and after the game. While respondents rated all the brands more positively after the game, the increases were larger for the two brands that appeared in the game. This suggests that there is potential in generating positive brand attitudes with in-game advertisements.

16:30-16:55

100555 | Moment Marketing and PR Lessons from the Astronomer’s Coldplay Fiasco Swatantra A, Indian Institute of Management Indore, India

Moment marketing is a strategy wherein organizations utilize a current/viral event to engage with their audience to fetch maximum benefits of the heightened attention and emotions. July 16, 2025, witnessed such a viral moment in the form of a Kiss cam Coldplay fiasco that opened Pandora’s box of memes and moment marketing agencies to fetch the maximum benefits out of it. While popular brands like Amul, IKEA, etc. built their advertisements around this event, social media went berserk with the flood of memes. Astronomer launched its own unique response campaign to pivot this elevated attention for its Brand Building and deflecting negative PR. The current study analyzes various print advertisements of multiple Brands revolving around the Coldplay incident and compares them with the Astronomer’s popular pivoting advertisement featuring Gwyneth Paltrow. The study does a broad Multimodal Content Analysis of the Astronomer’s moment marketing video, with the advertisement campaigns led by certain other brands. The basic signifier and signified relationship, color choices, word choices, and design choices have been analyzed to fetch useful branding and PR lessons from the viral case. While Astronomer’s strategy has been successful in pivoting from the negative PR. Other brands tried to jump on the bandwagon of moment marketing, but a lack of sensitivity and design nuance didn’t provide them the expected publicity; rather, it initiated a spiral of their own negative PR.

15:15-16:30 | Room G (4F)

Thursday Onsite Parallel Session 4

KAMC2025 | Aesthetics and Design

Session Chair: Joshua Dale

15:15-15:40

100528 | Nostalgia in Porcelain: The Contemporary Role of Guangcai in Connecting Craft, Place, and People in Hong Kong Vivian Pang, Royal College of Art, United Kingdom

My dissertation researches the meaning of ‘Made in Hong Kong’ through an examination of Guangcai (Canton enamelled porcelain) industry in Hong Kong in the twenty first century. My research explores its role in Hong Kong nowadays, specifically, how it fulfills a sense of nostalgia and loss associated with Hong Kong. With case study on porcelain pattern naming across British and Hong Kong factories, examines how nostalgia functions as a marketing tool in porcelain design, and how Hong Kong’s craft industries have been shaped by, and contributed to global cultural flows. In addition, the paper explore nostalgia as a Hong Kong phenomenon, further discussing how nostalgia and city development are dialectical opposites. The discourse surrounding cultural heritage in Hong Kong often revolves around the ideas of the ‘dying’ and ‘disappearing.’ Guangcai has acted as a Chinese export porcelain, fulfilling Chinoiserie demand in Europe and America, but today, that is not its role, it represent ‘Made in Hong Kong’ product. Yet, there remains a group of collectors interested in acquiring these porcelain pieces, searching for something that embodies Hong Kong. Why does Hong Kong-made porcelain fascinate them? Are they purchasing the same idea of Chinoiserie, or has the essence of this fascination fundamentally changed? A central argument of her dissertation challenges the common perception of nostalgia as backward-looking or regressive. Instead, the paper frames nostalgia as a forward-looking force, one that enables individuals to reconnect with cultural memory, find continuity in times of change, and imagine alternative futures.

15:40-16:05

96732 | Implementation of Virtue-Oriented Design Inspired by Buddhism Hung-Cheng Tsai, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan Sheng-Chen Hung, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Contemporary product design primarily focuses on fulfilling users’ material needs, with relatively few efforts directed toward incorporating positive or virtuous ideologies. Buddhism is one of the world’s major religions and offers profound philosophical insights through its teachings on impermanence, cause and effect, reincarnation and karma. These concepts embody the wisdom of compassion, concentration (samadhi), insight and liberation. This study seeks to integrate Buddhist virtues into the design of a tabletop game, shifting the conventional design emphasis from “competition and self-interest” to “mutual assistance and cooperation.” By employing the principles of karma, along with scenario-guided methods inspired by Buddhist reincarnation, the game offers an alternative approach to game design. Unlike traditional tabletop games, which usually use printed cards, this study uses three-dimensional physical models to increase visual engagement. The game narrative is structured to generate a sense of excitement and urgency, encouraging players to experience the joy of altruism by rescuing sentient beings from the three lower realms of existence: hell-beings, hungry ghosts, and animals. Through repeated gameplay in this interactive format, which is grounded in Buddhist wisdom, players are gradually encouraged to cultivate a virtuous mindset, ultimately promoting the development of compassion.

16:05-16:30

95825 | When HI Meets AI in Logo Design for an Interior Design Studio Class Min-Chia Young, Shu-Te University, Taiwan

It is widely accepted that computing chip can process information much faster and more efficiently than human brain. When it comes to designing a logo for a retail store in an Interior Design Studio class assignment, the appropriateness of using artificial intelligence image generators has become a frequently discussed issue in assessing students’ work. That is, is it a booster or a buster. This paper compares two groups of students, some using AI image generators and the others not, assessed using design rubrics informed by Jean Piaget’s constructivist learning theory to examine their cognitive abilities and transductive reasoning. Through these group studies, the article aims to demonstrate that the visually appealing images generated or transformed by AI in the students’ works can be effectively used only during the initial design stage, providing rapid conceptual ideas for further development. However, these images are not suitable as final illustrations and cannot replace the manual techniques or the cognitive creativity of human intelligence.

16:30-16:55

100485 | Emotional Machines and Kawaii Technology: How Cuteness Impacts the Experience of Social Robots Joshua Dale, Chuo University, Japan

The fear of robots and AI taking over—or even ending—the world is widespread. In Japan, however, there is little anxiety about a robot apocalypse. Most Japanese people have a positive impression of robots (Robertson 2018). How has this impacted the development of new, social robots that seek to create emotional connection and intimacy with humans? This paper explores two examples of such machines: the Aibo, Sony’s robot dog, and the childlike LOVOT by Groove X. Roboticists have designed both machines to look and act kawaii, or cute, in order to facilitate a more intimate, emotional connection with people (White 2019). This paper traces the various ways that such “kawaii technology” has been incorporated into robot design with reference to empirical studies on the effects of cuteness on psychology (Nittono 2016) and neurochemistry (Kringelbach 2016). I contrast this “universalist” approach, grounded in human biology, with a culture-specific analysis to understand why Japan has embraced emotional machines. Longstanding Japanese aesthetic values such as simplicity and imperfection, as well as a fondness for small things, have encouraged the growth of kawaii in both art and popular culture (Dale 2024). In addition, robot characters from manga and anime, such as Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy, have done much to influence the popular perception of robots in Japan as mechanical beings that meet human emotional needs (Nishimura 2026). I conclude by considering the future of kawaii robots outside Japan. Will they take over the world—or capture our hearts instead?

Friday, November 7

Parallel Sessions

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Abstracts appear as originally submitted by the author. Any spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors are those of the author.

09:00-10:40 | Room A (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC2025 | Visual Culture and Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Lisa Li

09:00-09:25

96794 | Nüshu as Subversive Visual Culture: Collaborative Methodologies and Feminist Counter-Archives in Jiangyong County So Yin Tam, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

This paper examines Nüshu, a syllabic script developed and used by Han and Yao women in Jiangyong County, as a visual-material counter-archive resisting patriarchal epistemologies through its aesthetic forms and communal rituals. Traditionally interpreted as a vernacular text system for transcribing Xiangnan Tuhua, Nüshu’s embroidery-like rhomboid glyphs and performative use in lamentations (sukelian), woven textiles, and sanshaoshu wedding documents are reimagined here as feminist art practices. The script fostered social cohesion among sworn sisterhoods (jiebai), creating binding codes of behaviour and emotional solidarity through letters, songs, and autobiographies exchanged by marginalised Han and Yao women. Drawing on Eve Tuck’s theory of refusal and Elizabeth DeMarrais’ relational ontologies, the essay critiques art history’s privileging of institutionalised artefacts over ephemeral, gendered visualities. It argues how Nüshu’s embroidery-like script and textile-inscribed documents constitute a subversive visual lexicon in tandem with their performative elements and explores how textual biases in traditional archaeological methods risk flattening Nüshu’s subversive potential. Methodologically, Alison Wylie’s pluralist framework guides the reconstruction of Nüshu’s performative dimensions as embodied art through descendant community knowledge resistant to institutional co- option. By centring collaborative methodologies, this paper addresses archival gaps resulting from the systemic exclusion of women from historiography. It repositions Nüshu as an agentic force, where craft-based materiality and communal rituals like the “third-day letter” wedding tradition (sanshaoshu) fostered proto-feminist discourse. The synthesis of material culture and decolonial aesthetics demonstrates how alternative visual-material practices can amplify marginalised voices in art historical narratives, promoting a more inclusive approach to intangible heritage.

09:25-09:50

94315 | Buhay Estero: Memories and Lived Experiences of Estuary-Dwellers Along Tripa De Gallina

Linber Allan Eugenio, University of Makati, Philippines

Estero de Tripa de Gallina, an integral tributary of the Pasig River system connecting River Pasig to Manila Bay, spans approximately 7.6 kilometers. This estuary is the longest creek in Metro Manila, Philippines traversing the cities of Manila, Makati, Pasay, and Parañaque. Once a thriving fluvial highway, the rapid pace of industrialization has transformed it into a floodway, housing Metro Manila’s largest pumping station. Despite rehabilitation efforts, pollution pervades its waters while communities along its banks endure challenging conditions. This study documents people’s memories and experiences related to the estuary, describing how they conduct their lives along the estuary and exploring how homemaking dynamics are influenced by the waterway. It used archival research to establish historical context complemented with onsite observations and interviews with estuary-dwellers from three Makati Barangays – San Isidro, Palanan, and Bangkal – through which Tripa de Gallina flows. Consequently, this investigation revealed peoples’ profound sense of home along the estuary, shaped by collective memories, shared spaces, and meaningful relationships. This sense of home serves as a crucial anchor for the residents as they navigate the challenges of urbanization. The paper hopes to inform the development of sustainable programs that can enhance the quality of life for those residing along the banks of Estero de Tripa de Gallina while also addressing the pressing environmental concerns in the area.

09:50-10:15

97900 | Fostering Kapatiran: The Role of the El Shaddai Movement in Filipino Spiritual Communities Joven Makiling, University of Makati, Philippines

This study examines the role of seven rituals of the El Shaddai Catholic Charismatic Movement, founded in the Philippines in 1984, in deepening members’ spiritual lives and fostering kapatiran (spiritual brotherhood). Drawing on James Carey’s Ritual Communication Theory and employing empirical phenomenology within Sikolohiyang Pilipino, the research highlights how collective practices—praise singing, testimony sharing, communal prayer, mass participation, proclamation, offering, and blessing rituals—serve as conduits for faith formation, spiritual discipline, and communal solidarity by providing shared symbolic actions that reinforce commitment and belonging. These rituals, central to El Shaddai gatherings, were chosen for their significance in sustaining spiritual practices and communal ties. Data were gathered through pakikipagkuwentuhan and pakikipagpalagayang-loob with 15 long-term members, ensuring culturally grounded insights into their lived experiences. Findings reveal that these rituals are not merely personal acts of devotion but collective expressions of faith that actively cultivate kapatiran, strengthen communal resilience, and sustain a shared spiritual mission. Members experience a sense of belonging and mutual care while embodying Filipino values of kapwa (shared identity) and communal responsibility. By framing ritual as a communicative process that builds and sustains kapatiran, this study contributes to discussions on Filipino spirituality, ritual communication, and the socio-cultural dimensions of faith-based communities. It demonstrates how localized ritual practices uniquely cultivate kapatiran within Filipino spirituality, underscoring the significance of ritual as a vital site for faith transmission and communal identity formation in Philippine cultural contexts.

10:15-10:40

96367 | Life Narratives of Modern Tibetan Women

Lisa Li, J. F. Oberlin University, Japan

Academic research on women’s history and oral history has produced significant studies globally. However, women in many parts of the world, such as Tibet, have made only minimum presence in this field. This research intends to fill this gap through a comparative analysis of Canyon Sam’s Sky Train: Tibetan Women on the Edge of History (2009), and Lily Xiao Hong Lee’s Oral Histories of Tibetan Women: Whispers from the Roof of the World (2021). Combined both books offer valuable resources about Twentieth-century Tibetan women coming from various social, cultural, and economic background. Although Sam’s book is categorized as a lyrical memoir, it originated as an oral history project she started twenty years before its publication. This presentation investigates how these books provide insight into modern Tibet in its struggle to maintain its political independence, sustain its cultural heritage and its spiritual practices, as well as the methodology and the process of interviews employed for the completion of the writing. More than simply seeking to recall memories for preservation these books intersect the memories of the past with the participating of history in the current moment, enabling a vivid sense of urgency. Major themes often foregrounded in women’s life narratives, such as memory, identity and agency, have received much attention in a wide range of academic fields. The same issues prove to be highly central to the life experiences of modern Tibetan women. The relevance of these women’s lives is made visible by these two books.

09:00-10:40 | Room B (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 1

MediAsia2025 | Critical Cultural Studies in Gender and Communication

Session Chair: Samriddhi Nandi

09:00-09:25

94735 | Representation and Othering of Domestic Female Migrant Workers on Social Media: A Case Study on Taiwanese Employers’ Facebook Group

Hsiaochi Kao, National Chengchi University, Taiwan

Tingyu Kang, National Chengchi University, Taiwan

This research delved upon the current representation and othering phenomenon of domestic migrant workers (DMWs) by social media users in an open Taiwanese Facebook group – [I am an employer] Migrant Employers Exchange Forum (MEEF, 【我是雇主】移工雇主交流園 地). By adopting a mixed method approach containing slightly the techniques from content analysis to decipher coding categories and the connotation from textual analysis to analyze the chosen texts. By also referring to the research framework of Ladegaard (2022), this research presented to the academia with a refined research framework in which both topics discussed and representation strategies used by potential or current employers of DMWs in this group were displayed. One of the most significant findings of this research can be attributed to the intersectionality between different strategies that were adopted by users in a single post or thread, which is something that past research has failed to present. The intersectional characteristic of the discourse also implied that important players such as gender, sexuality, race, and capital in the realm of DMWs were often intertwined and inseparable from each other when this kind of discourse was built.

09:25-09:50

100477 | Planetary Futures in Crisis: Rethinking Civilizational Ethics Through the Three-Body Problem

Sevda Kaya Kitınur, Izmir University of Economics, Turkey

This paper examines The Three-Body Problem through the conceptual framework of planetary futures, arguing that the narrative dramatizes a civilizational crisis that demands an ethical reorientation beyond the human. Drawing on Dipesh Chakrabarty’s theorization of planetary history, Rosi Braidotti’s posthuman ethics, and Claire Colebrook’s reflections on extinction and temporality, the study investigates how the novel and its Netflix adaptation depict the fragility of human civilization within a cosmic order where extinction is not a catastrophe, but a structural possibility. The narrative’s depiction of the Trisolaran system, the “dark forest” hypothesis, and the Wallfacer program collectively foreground the limits of liberal humanist ethics when confronted with planetary-scale dilemmas. Ye Wenjie’s disillusionment, the manipulation of planetary knowledge, and the suspension of individual agency point to a shift in ethical thinking, moving away from human autonomy and toward species-scale decision-making. Through comparative narrative analysis, the paper explores how the adaptation transforms these speculative and philosophical concerns into affective and geopolitical forms. By doing so, The Three-Body Problem becomes a critical site for reimagining planetary responsibility and civilizational ethics in an age where the future itself appears unstable, contingent, and profoundly relational.

09:50-10:15

96971 | Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Mogaveera Fisherwomen in Udupi Through Digital Literacy

Samriddhi Nandi, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India

Padmakumar K, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India

This study explores the relationship between digital literacy and the socio-economic empowerment of the Mogaveera fisherwomen in Udupi, in the southwestern Indian state(?) of Karnataka. They are marginalized in India’s growing digital landscape, despite their vital role in the fishing economy and cultural preservation, and this in turn exacerbates existing gender inequalities. Factors like ageism and hierarchical roles in the community will also be shown to affect technology usage. Among the key challenges are low digital literacy, financial constraints, restrictive social norms, and limited access to technology, which hinder their participation in digital transformation efforts. Patriarchal and communal structures further limit their ability to adopt technology and access critical resources. This research highlights the need for targeted interventions, such as enhancing digital literacy, fostering inclusive digital ecosystems, and strengthening cooperative societies. This paper will further show that these measures can unlock economic opportunities, enhance agency, and promote autonomy within their community. Only by addressing these unique socio-cultural dynamics amongst the Mogaveeras can digital literacy serve as a transformative tool for sustainable development and gender equity among Udupi’s fisherwomen.

09:00-10:40 |

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC2025 | Gender, Sexuality, and Culture

Session Chair: Bianca Yin-ki Cheung

09:00-09:25

100486 | The Roles and Meanings of a “Safer Space” for Queer People – with a Special Focus on Independent Bookstores

Chiharu Ito, Tsuda University, Japan

This presentation aims to explore the meaning of a space being considered “safer” for queer individuals, placing particular emphasis on the complex relationship between spatial configurations and the subjective experience of safety. I argue that the concept of safety goes beyond merely providing a physical location; it is deeply intertwined with opportunities for social inclusion, community building, and the free expression of diverse identities. Drawing on interviews conducted by the author with independent bookshop owners in Japan and the United Kingdom, as well as detailed analyses of zines and other privately published materials, this study investigates how bookshops serve as dynamic cultural spaces that foster expression and connection. Through practices such as zine production, community event organization, and the thoughtful curation of books and displays, these spaces cultivate a sense of comfort, accessibility, and belonging for queer individuals who may otherwise feel marginalized. By examining these interactions, I seek to clarify the specific conditions under which spaces are perceived as welcoming and affirming by queer communities. Furthermore, I discuss the broader socio-cultural significance of spaces intentionally designed to support queer presence, visibility, and well-being—not only in terms of their physical aspects but also through their roles in facilitating social interaction and emotional resonance.

09:25-09:50

96776 | Evangelical Fight Club Ministries and the Omission of Homophobia in Christian Articulations of Hypermasculinity

Jason Bartashius, Independent Scholar, Japan

This paper (re)examines the rhetoric of Evangelical pastors that reference David Fincher’s film Fight Club (1999) with a focus on their views of sexuality and proximity to White Christian Nationalism. Previous research on these figures does not probe at the ministers anti-gay rights religio-politics (Hays, Parker, Werse 2015; Hays and Werse 2017) that reflect the film’s heteronormative conclusion (Westerfelhaus and Brookey 2004). I argue that this research might be better understood as reflective of internal Christian turn of the century discussions on the meaning of complementarianism: on the one hand, symbolic “soft patriarchy” and on the other the extreme hypermasculine theologies of present day White Christian Nationalists.

09:50-10:15

98269 | Beyond the Gender Line: Public Insights on Legal Protection for Male Victims of Domestic Violence

Eduard Riparip, University of Makati, Philippines

In the Philippines, domestic violence has always been perceived as a women’s and children’s issue. However, there is a slowly growing number of cases involving male victims that remain underexamined and often undocumented. This study explores public perceptions of domestic violence against men (DVAM) and whether there is a need for legislation that criminalizes such abuse in the country. Using the qualitative sociological approach, the study surveyed eighty-seven (n=87) participants from various sectors, selected via snowball sampling. Data were gathered through open-ended and semi-structured online questionnaire and analyzed using Braun & Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. Findings reveal varied perspectives of DVAM by the participants, which are categorized in three major thematic categories: legal, cultural, and psychological perspectives. Legally, participants stressed the absence of protective measures for male victims, the need for gender-neutral laws, and DVAM as a human rights issue. Culturally, machismo construct, gender stereotypes, and social stigma contribute to the silencing of male victims, influenced by complicated power dynamics in relationships. Psychologically, responses point to emotional and mental abuse for male victims, lack of awareness and underreporting of DVAM, and personal witness accounts of violence. Further, participants also expressed mixed reactions to the proposed law criminalizing domestic violence against men – from strong support to skepticism. Legislative recommendations drawn from public insights are offered, emphasizing the need to recognize and protect all DVAM victims regardless of gender. These findings aim to provide insights to policy discourse, promote inclusivity in law, and challenge culturally embedded gender norms in the Philippines.

10:15-10:40

100397 | New Women and the (In)visible Men: Gender and Modernity in Republican China as Seen in the Film “New Women” (1935) Bianca Yin-ki Cheung, Lingnan University, Hong Kong

The film “New Women” (1935), directed by Cai Chusheng and starring Ruan Lingyu, explores gender and modernity in Republican China through the heroine, Wei Ming. Despite her modern education and middle-class status, Wei Ming’s struggle against societal oppression and sexual harassment reveals the challenges faced by “new women.” The film does not define “new women” clearly but portrays typical features through various female characters, reflecting different trends in their marriage status and roles as professionals or housewives. Wei Ming, an educated and fashionable secondary school music teacher, faces sexual harassment from Dr. Wang, the school director, and struggles with financial hardship while supporting her sick daughter. In contrast, her friend A Ying, another educator, teaches progressive songs to female factory workers, embodying a more proletarian aspect of the “new woman.” The film juxtaposes these two figures, questioning who should be the ideal “new woman.” Men’s roles, often neglected due to the focus on “new women,” are crucial in shaping gender relations and defining modernity. From patriarchal father to abusive school director and journalist, to unreliable male comrade and lover, men’s oppressive and/or unreliable actions significantly influence the struggles of new women. These interactions reveal the complexity of gender dynamics in Republican China. Through this analysis, I argue that while the film centers on “new women,” it subtly underscores the significant impact of men in shaping gender relations and defining modernity. This nuanced portrayal invites reflection on societal structures that continue to influence female empowerment and gender equality.

09:00-10:40 | Room E (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 1

KAMC/MediAsia2025 | Education/Pedagogy

Session Chair: Rattanun Jariyavilaskul

09:00-09:25

100581 | Bridging Disciplines and Cultures: A Unique Project-Based Model in Tertiary Performing Arts Education

Michael North, Unitec, New Zealand

Project-based learning (PBL) is recognized as a powerful pedagogical model for developing agency, collaboration, and professional capability in arts education (Kolb, 1984; Blumenfeld et al., 1991). This case study examines the implementation of PBL within the Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts at Unitec in Auckland, New Zealand. The programme is conservatory-style and offers majors in Acting for Screen and Theatre, Screen Arts, and Contemporary Dance. The curriculum combines discipline-specific projects with interdisciplinary productions, providing students with authentic and varied learning experiences across a large and diverse cohort. Although elements of project-based and interdisciplinary training can be found in leading international conservatories, the formal integration of curriculumembedded collaboration across acting, screen production, and contemporary dance, grounded in indigenous values and focused on equity outcomes, is distinctive to this programme. Guided by Te Noho Kotahitanga, a unique treaty-based foundation, Māori values and decolonizing principles are embedded throughout the student journey, supporting a culturally responsive environment (Smith, 2012). Informal analysis of student and staff reflections indicates high levels of engagement and success, particularly among Māori and Pacific students. The study discusses how this PBL model nurtures creativity, teamwork, and graduate readiness for the creative industries, and considers implications for curriculum design in tertiary arts education.

09:25-09:50

97832 | Generative AI and Communication Theory in English Education: Junior High School Teachers’ Practices and Perceptions

Mamiko Orii, Waseda University, Japan

Kyoko Oga, Hokkaido University of Education, Japan

Grounded in communicative theory and Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, this study investigates the pedagogical relevance of generative AI (GenAI) and outlines theory-informed pathways for its meaningful integration into English language teaching, with a particular focus on teacher training. As GenAI gain visibility in educational contexts, their potential to support speaking instruction and lesson planning has attracted increasing academic and practical interest. While prior research (e.g., Kaya, 2023; Yoshida, 2024) emphasizes benefits such as personalized feedback and reduced teacher workload, empirical investigations into classroom implementation at the secondary level remain limited. This study conceptualizes GenAI as a scaffold that supports learner development through interactive dialogue, co-construction of meaning, and enhanced autonomy in language use and revision. The triadic relationship among teacher, student, and AI signals a pedagogical shift away from one-way instruction toward a more interactive and learner-centered classroom environment that fosters learner autonomy. A 2024 survey conducted by Sendai University involving approximately 500 junior high school teachers reported that only 17.4% had used GenAI —primarily for lesson preparation—with most using it less than once a week. To explore barriers to adoption, this study conducted an exploratory survey of 12 junior high school English teachers regarding their use of AI in lesson planning and instruction, perceived benefits and concerns, and professional support needs. Reflections shared by teachers during workshops were also analyzed. Preliminary results indicate cautious interest among teachers, moderated by concerns over curriculum alignment and ethical implications. The study offers context-sensitive recommendations for professional development and curriculum design.

09:50-10:15

100424 | From Fans to Unofficial Translators: Exploring Thai Fan-Subtitle Creators in Japanese Drama in the Digital Age Rattanun Jariyavilaskul, Bangkok University, Thailand

Japanese media are constantly the victims of copyright infringement. Despite being favoured by global fans, it still encountered challenges of delay and limited distribution in reaching audiences worldwide. It led to a movement called Fan-Subtitle, in which fans perform the role of translating content and distributing it illegally on video-sharing platforms, without original creator’s consent. This study examines Thai fan-subtitle creators of Japanese drama, focusing on their motives and practices of fan-subtitling, including challenges that official copyrighters are struggling with in exporting to the global market and meeting latent audience demand.” A qualitative method will be adopted, conducted through in-depth interviews with 10 Thai fan-subtitle creators and three official copyrighters. A grounded theory with thematic analysis to discover the insights and examine the rationales behind the phenomenon. This research examines motivations, work practices, and challenges in distributing Japanese drama to the international market. Initial findings revealed that 1) the fan-subtitle group is a global phenomenon that emerged from latent demand and the advancement of technology. 2) Compared with past studies, the practice is similar to that of the past decades. 3) Japanese filmmakers and platform providers encountered challenges in global distribution. The further discussion is: 1) developing new business models or practices that compromise the fan-subtitling and copyright, 2) comparing fan-subtitling with fair use, and 3) will AI disrupt the fansub industry in the future? A quantitative study is required to identify the market’s potential for Japanese drama distributors and mitigate damage from copyright infringement in the future.

09:00-10:40 | Room G (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 1

MediAsia2025 | Communication Theory and Methodology

Session Chair: Djamil Kerrouche

09:00-09:25

97138 | Digital Activism Through #JulidFiSabililah on Social Media X, the Unity of Netizens Fighting Against the Zionist Israeli Army

Dwi Annisa Pratiwi, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Digital activism is a form of social movement that utilizes digital media. In this article, the researcher specifically analyzes one of the digital activisms through social media X related to the spread of social issues. This study aims to analyze how the #JulidFiSabilillah movement was developed through the @erlanishere and @greschinov accounts, and how the digital dynamics of activism in building public opinion. The method used is descriptive qualitative with primary data collection through content observation and interaction on both @erlanishere and @greschinov accounts as well as semi-structured interviews. The analysis was conducted using Vincent Mosco’s political economy theory of media, focusing on aspects of commodification, spatialization, and structuration. The research findings show that the commodification of the #JulidFiSabilillah Movement is a form of mass mobilization and increases global awareness of the conflict. Spatialization, indicated by the acceleration of digital distribution through social media X and organizing digital activism, as a communication space and a means of fighting between ideologies. Meanwhile, the X social media accounts @erlanishere and @ greschinov successfully led the digital activism of netizens, which had an impact on the virality of #JulidFiSabilillah and became the main form of structuring patterns in activism. This study also emphasizes the need for anticipation in interpreting its influence on external parties outside the digital community.

09:25-09:50

96945 | Audience Characteristics in the Dominance of Celebrity Political Podcast in Indonesia

Utari Fatma Dewi, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Elmariestya Ardelia, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Audiences in the digital ecosystem become active actors in public discussions by providing engagement, expressiveness, and collaboration in the digital space. Audiences play a crucial role in shaping algorithms based on their consumption patterns and information needs. Digital media commodifies audiences by utilizing attention as a commodity. In addition, Audiences indirectly work by receiving and distributing content in digital media, including podcast content. Podcasts are an alternative digital media that provides freedom of discussion in the digital space. In Indonesia, podcasts are often dominated by political information from celebrities, especially on YouTube. Celebrities upload political podcasts on YouTube based on consumption patterns that match the characteristics of the audience. This article aims to examine how the characteristics of the audience contribute to giving space for public discussion, which is now dominated by political celebrities in podcast media. This study adopts the theory of audience labor by Fisher (2015), focusing on the audience as a commodity that works under the influence of media algorithms and as gatekeepers. This research uses a phenomenological method to investigate the characteristics of the audience. The findings indicate that the audience tends to have characteristics of consuming viral and sensational content. This characteristic is a form of audience labour that is commodified by political celebrities. Furthermore, the audience works as a gatekeeper in controlling information flows. It’s caused, political celebrities have come to dominate YouTube podcasts, thereby displacing the original purpose of the podcast as an alternative digital media.

09:50-10:15

98207 | Quirky to Cannes: The Works and Production Practices of Director Marius Talampas

Lorraine Shekinah Valdez, University of the Philippines - Diliman, Philippines

This paper explores the creative and collaborative dynamics within advertising production, focusing on the directorial style of Marius Talampas, an award-winning Filipino director known for viral commercials. Through interviews and analysis, the study investigates how Talampas balances his artistic vision with the collaborative contributions of his production team and the demands of agencies and clients. The research delves into Talampas’ strategies for fostering a collaborative environment, his approach to creative control, and how he communicates his vision to his team. It examines the interplay between the director’s initial concept and the input of production staff, highlighting instances where team members’ ideas significantly improved the final product. The study also addresses the challenges of balancing artistic integrity with the commercial objectives of advertising. Ultimately, this study aims to provide insights into the creative production techniques employed in the advertising industry, offering valuable information for practitioners and scholars. By documenting and analyzing Talampas’ collaborative processes, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to the success of advertising campaigns in the Philippines and beyond.

10:15-10:40

97711 | Artificial Intelligence and Newsroom Cultures: a Sociology of News Perspective on Use, Perceptions, and Constraints in Doha’s Newsrooms

Djamil Kerrouche, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar

This study investigates the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within three of Doha’s leading media outlets -Al Jazeera, Al Araby TV, and The Peninsula- using qualitative semi-structured interviews with six journalists from these outlets. The findings show the limited but growing integration of AI into news production, primarily in routine tasks such as transcription, translation, and research assistance. Although many journalists perceive AI as a useful productivity tool, they express concerns regarding job security and strongly emphasize the necessity of human oversight to maintain news credibility. Constraints such as unclear policies, lack of training, unequal resources, and ethical considerations emerge as significant barriers influencing AI integration. This study maintains that the sociology of news provides a useful lens for examining how newsrooms adapt to new developments in technology and the transformations they bring.

10:55-12:10 | Room A (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 2

MediAsia2025 | Visual Communication

Session Chair: Terry van Gevelt

10:55-11:20

96765 | The Wishing Well: Harnessing Bollywood’s Motivational Arc as a Framework for Participatory Design

Anisha Mane, Anisha Creatives, India

In India, few mediums shape public imagination as profoundly as Bollywood. Producing over 1,000 films and billions of views annually, it generates social scripts influencing how people dream, love, resist, and succeed. This study explores the intersection of visual communication, participatory design, and motivation by adapting Bollywood’s signature arc of triumph into an interactive public installation. A comparative analysis of ten iconic films was done to identify common narrative motivators such as self-discovery, activated desires, and visualized victories, that inspire protagonists to achieve goals. An attempt to induce these motivators in real-life scenarios was made through The Wishing Well, an interactive installation presented at the India Film Project, Mumbai. A six-foot cardboard well was erected, where participants wrote personal wishes on origami paper boats and released them into the well, symbolizing an external motivator event. This was followed by a digital questionnaire designed to introduce remaining motivators through guided self-reflection, prompting participants to reframe their passive ‘Wish’ as an active ‘Goal.’ To reinforce this transformation, a personalised Goal-book was sent to the participants. It consisted of psychological and behavioural frameworks, customised according to the participants responses, using AI. The installation engaged 450+ participants, with 40 interviewed based on completion/engagement criteria. Thematic analysis showed that 95% reported increased belief in their ability to fulfil their wish, and 87.5% gained a more actionable perspective of their Goal. The study demonstrates strong replicable potential by underscoring how culturally rooted media narratives can be harnessed to influence mindset and design behaviour change frameworks.

11:20-11:45

95789 | Bodies as a Meaning-Making Tool on Social Media: A Multimodal Analysis of Body Image Representation on Instagram

Hossam Elhamy, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates

Andrea Mayr, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates

This study aims to explore how bodies construct meaning on social media within Arab countries. While prior studies have explored body image representation on social media, especially in Western contexts, few have critically examined it in the Arab countries. Through a visual social semiotic analysis, the study looks at how the body helps create meaning, using Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis and Goffman’s idea of self-representation. A mixed-methods approach examined representational, interactive, compositional modes and denotational and connotational meanings. We operationalized body image representation as the visual and textual portrayal of bodyrelated content. A multi-step process guided the sample selection. Accounts were categorized as personal, influencers, and celebrities. Only accounts with publicly viewable content were considered. The most recent photo showing the account owner was chosen. Two hundred seventy-four images published in 2022 and 2023 were examined from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, KSA, Lebanon, Syria, and UAE. The analysis relied on the judgments of multiple coders. To ensure coding reliability, each image was analyzed by two coders. Findings revealed that social media photos are tools for constructing and promoting an idealistic self-image, highlighting a complex interaction between body representation, online identity construction, and socio-cultural dynamics. Individuals strategically use their bodies to construct and communicate a desired identity with a tendency for pragmatic instrumental employment. This involves crafting a virtual persona. Research limitations include limited cross-social media analysis, algorithms, and cultural geographic scope. However, ethical concerns regarding privacy and consent were addressed by limiting the analysis to publicly available accounts.

11:45-12:10

96899 | Visualising and Communicating Singapore’s Climate Futures Through Virtual Reality Terry van Gevelt, Singapore Management University, Singapore

Traditional methods of visualising and communicating future climate projections are largely ineffective, hindering proactive adaptation. Our research offers a novel solution by operationalising climate projections through dynamic climate storylines and visualising and communicating these storylines through immersive virtual reality. Focusing on Singapore, we use downward counterfactual modelling calibrated with high-resolution climate projections across three Shared Socio-economic Pathways to develop climate storylines from the present until 2100. These storylines specifically address critical risks from sea-level rise, pluvial flooding, and high-impact-lowlikelihood events and contextualize these risks for three key Singaporean locales: Marina Bay (a flagship area), Marine Parade (a highly residential area), and Changi Airport (critical infrastructure). Our detailed storylines communicate the probabilities of cascading and compounding risks, facilitating the identification of adaptation solutions and path dependencies. We visualize and communicate our storylines through an accessible, immersive and interactive virtual reality experience. In the experience, users are faced with climate hazards that dynamically evolve according to our set of climate storylines. Users make adaptation decisions that directly shape socioeconomic outcomes and future risk trajectories, with choices and their consequences unfolding along realistically embedded policy path dependencies. An intricate, balanced game mechanism provides real-time, multi-criteria feedback via a scoring system that assesses climate risk reduction, economic efficiency and social acceptability. Taken together, our approach presents a significant step forward in operationalising, visualising and communicating scientifically rigorous data on future climate projections to a diverse set of stakeholders.

10:55-12:10

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 2

KAMC2025 | Sociology

Session Chair: Vasundara Priyadarshini Mahadev

10:55-11:20

100646 | Visual Creation of the Front Page and Houphouëtiste Propaganda of Ivoirian General News Dailies N’guessan Djemis Jean Elvis Ghislain, University Felix Houphouët-Boigny, Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire)

The purpose of this paper is to study the dynamics of visual creation on the front page in Houphouëtist propaganda in Ivorian general news dailies. Data were collected using purposive sampling, thematic content analysis, and documentary review. The hypothesis adopted for this study is as follows: visual creation on the front pages of Ivorian general news dailies contributes to the ideological positioning of national political parties. To achieve this objective, this paper draws on the empirical results of an analysis of the front pages of six national daily newspapers over a five-week period between 2005 and 2019. These newspapers are: Le Nouveau Réveil, Le Patriote, Notre Voie, Le Temps, Fraternité Matin, and L’Expression. The data were processed using Bourdieu’s field theory and Max Weber’s comprehensive method. The results revealed the dynamics of visual creation around Houphouëtist propaganda on the front page, approaches to visual creation, and innovations related to visual creation in Houphouëtist propaganda in Ivorian general news dailies.

11:20-11:45

96580 | Meme Politricks: A Study on Representation of Nationalism Through Memes

Vasundara Priyadarshini Mahadev, Bangalore University, India

From Time immemorial politics has always garnered the attention of people. Political content in the form of ‘Meme’s’ has become a crucial element in influencing emotional, attitudinal and behavioural outcomes. The Recent Attacks of Pakistan on India was emotionally driven by excessive online content, one such content classification being meme’s. This study examines the role of memes on social media platforms like Instagram through content analysis and Interviews, focusing on the representation of nationalistic ideas on young minds through these memes. The Content analysis will investigate the recurring ideas of nationalism, explore how these ideas can reinforce unity in times of crisis, break the stereotypes and explore how these messages will reinforce or challenge the larger notion of nation and politics. The Findings highlight the persistent idea of the relationship that the two countries have shared over their seventy years of Independence. To compliment the content analysis interviews were conducted on young people between the age of 18-35 to explore their understanding of the crisis on hand and their idea of nationalism in this scenario. The Interviews reveal a growing consciousness in politics over the India-Pakistan conflict with many expressing their preference for peace over conflict. This research signifies the shifting of mindsets and understanding the political histories of these two nations. This demography reveals the growing interest of Indo-Pak relations and geo-politics from a Indian perspective. This paper discusses the ever evolving political scenario, Highlighting the need for more diverse and equitable representations of Nationalism among young Indians.

10:55-12:10 | Room C (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 2

KAMC2025 | Gender, Sexuality, and Culture

Session Chair: Han Sheng Wang

10:55-11:20

100227 | Exploring Socio-cultural Barriers to Reproductive Health Care Behaviors Among Ethnic Minority Adolescents in Viet Nam Thuy Truong, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam

Adolescent reproductive health care is a critical aspect of ensuring the well-being of human resource and empowering individuals to make informed choices about their bodies, health, and lives. In Viet Nam, adolescents are currently facing many reproductive health problems, including early sexual intercourse, unsafe sex, unwanted pregnancy, early marriage, etc. Nonetheless, adolescents often encounter significant barriers to reproductive health care behaviors, elevating their risks for unintended reproductive health issues, especially among disadvantaged groups, namely ethnic minority adolescents. This research seeks to identify and analyze some primary socio-cultural barriers hindering reproductive health care behaviors among ethnic minority adolescents in Viet Nam. This research takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining methods from both sociology and cutural anthropology. Specifically, a questionnaire survey of 350 Tay and Dao ethnic minority adolescents in a midland and mountainous province of Viet Nam, in addition to 22 in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with Tay and Dao ethnic adolescents, parents, local health officials, teachers, school leaders and local government representatives. The socio-cultural barriers include societal norms cultural beliefs and community influences leading ethnic minority adolescents’ feelings of shame and hindering access to reproductive health care due to fear of judgment or rumors. Furthermore, poor communication between parents and adolescents, parental attitudes and beliefs about adolescent sexuality and community stigma surrounding reproductive health issues, such as contraception, STIs, and utilizing reproductive health care services in adolescence further prevent adolescents from seeking necessary information and their willingness to utilize reproductive health services.

11:20-11:45

95493 | Exploring Gender Roles in Kannada Television: A Study of Representation and Stereotypes

Supriya M, Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education, India

Television is a powerful medium that shapes and reflects societal norms, including gender perceptions. In Karnataka, Kannada television programs play a significant role in influencing cultural attitudes towards gender roles. This study examines gender roles in Kannada television through content analysis and interviews, focusing on the representation of men and women in popular shows such as Bigg Boss Kannada, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Kannada, and serials like MuddhaMandaram and Radha Kalyana. The content analysis investigates recurring gender stereotypes, exploring how these portrayals either reinforce or challenge societal norms. The findings highlight the persistence of traditional gender roles, with women often depicted in passive, domestic roles and men shown as authoritative, active figures. To complement the content analysis, interviews were conducted with millennials and Gen Z viewers to explore their awareness of these portrayals and how they perceive their impact on societal perceptions of gender. The interviews reveal a growing consciousness of gender inequality among younger audiences, with many expressing a preference for more balanced and progressive representations in media. This research emphasizes the importance of diversifying gender portrayals in Kannada television to align with shifting societal values and promote gender equality.This demographic shows a growing awareness of gender inequality and expresses a preference for more progressive, balanced representations in media. The paper discusses the implications of these evolving perceptions, highlighting the need for more diverse and equitable representations in Kannada television to better align with changing societal values.

11:45-12:10

100283 | Echoes of the Speculum: Felt Knowledge, Black Women’s Bodies, and the His-tory of Modern Medicine in Bettina Judd’s Patient Poems

Han Sheng Wang, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

As Bettina Judd says, “Gynecology was built on the backs of Black women anyway” (Feelin 166). The traumatic past regarding how Black female bodies were initially exploited and dehumanized as objects of medical research and voyeuristic curiosity in the nineteenth century is thus evoked by the speculum in Judd’s 2014 Patient, a collection of poems triggered by anger. Registering not only scientific achievement but also medical racism, the speculum is re-appropriated by Judd as a medium that unfolds the physical and emotional experience of those previously unknown Black women patients, whose treatment as non-humans can still be unequivocally felt in their descendants of contemporary America. Thus said, this paper wants to examine the unheard voices and the affective knowledge derived from the reflections on Black women’s physical and mental exploitation in Judd’s Patient and its interrogation of an intersectional suppression that aligns the ghosts of nineteenth-century Black women patients with those of contemporary Black women patients received in the hospital.

10:55-12:10 | Room E (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 2

KAMC2025 | Education/Pedagogy

Session Chair: Joon K. Kim

10:55-11:20

96613 | Development and Delivery of an Economics Undergraduate Course in a Singapore University

Khay Boon Tan, Singapore Institute of Management Global Education, Singapore

This paper shares the experiences on the development and delivery of an economics course, offered to working adults in the evening and undergraduates in the daytime in a Singapore university. The course delivery consists of either 6 physical or 6 online seminars. The course development starts with a suitable textbook with content divided into 6 study units for the 6 seminars. To bridge the gap with the textbook, the course developer writes a study guide which summarize the major concepts, work examples and formative discussion questions with guide to answers for each study unit. The course developer also develops chunk videos for independent learning. Students are encouraged to access the chunk videos prior to the seminars. The Course Leader prepares the 6 seminar materials, consisting of major concepts, additional discussion questions, participation activities and a summary. During the seminars, the lecturer briefly summarizes major concepts but focuses on solving discussion questions, clarifies doubts with the students and encourages students’ presentation using the discussion forum. The main challenge is to provide suitable content in the course that encourages learning. The content needs to be progressive in difficulty level, with avenue for student’s consultation and activities with feedback to test understanding and encourage learning. The chunk video is insufficient to meet learning requirements. High technology with fanciful delivery style is less important. Students appreciate the 6 seminars provided and request to have more seminars. Proper guidance and suitable contents can assist students to overcome the anxiety of learning difficult university course.

11:20-11:45

98067 | Identity Negotiations of First-generation University Students at a South African University

Diana Breshears, University of the Free State, South Africa

Luzelle Naudé, University of the Free State, South Africa

While all university students experience identity development, first-generation students (FGS) must also negotiate an identity that is unique in their family context. Building on our prior findings that FGS experience relational tensions due to their evolving identities (Authors, 2024), this study aimed to better understand how FGS experience and negotiate these challenges. Communication Theory of Identity (CTI), which places communication at the centre of identity formation (Jung & Hecht, 2004), guided the study. CTI posits that there are four layers of identity: personal (i.e., self-concept), enacted (i.e., the performed self), relational (i.e., relational roles and expectations), and communal (i.e., group memberships; Hecht, 1993). When these layers of identity conflict with one another, identity gaps occur, which individuals must negotiate. Four focus groups with 22 students (17 women; five men) explored how becoming a university student influenced their experiences of personal, enacted, relational, and communal identities. Thematic analysis revealed 7 distinct identity gaps: Clash of home and university cultures; Cultural tensions regarding gender; Questioning religious beliefs; Community opinions; Strained family relationships; Strained friendships; and Gaps for growth. Two negotiation strategies emerged: Identity silencing, and Resistance/Advocacy. Findings underscore the uniqueness and complexity of FGS identity, and offer insights for educators and institutions who wish to better support FGS in their transition to and experiences of university.

11:45-12:10

94668 | Beyond Governance: Addressing Structural Inequities in Korea’s Multicultural Education

Joon K. Kim, Seoul National University, South Korea

The increasing diversity of South Korea’s student population presents profound challenges for its education system, necessitating a shift from governance-oriented reforms to a broader focus on structural equity. While educational policy debates often emphasize decentralization as a mechanism for improving policy responsiveness, such structural adjustments fail to fully address the entrenched inequities experienced by immigrant-background students. Existing discourse on multicultural education governance in Korea overlooks critical dimensions, including the socio-economic precarity of immigrant communities, the widening educational disparities between Korean and immigrant-background students—even among those born in Korea—and a broader societal indifference toward their long-term integration and prospects. This paper moves beyond governance-centric analyses to investigate how systemic educational structures continue to disadvantage multicultural students, despite reforms aimed at increasing local autonomy. Drawing from interviews with janghaksas (educational supervisors), who operate at the intersection of centralized policy and localized implementation, this study identifies fundamental gaps in Korea’s approach to multicultural education. While decentralization, network governance, and distributed leadership provide useful analytical lenses, they fail to address the root causes of educational inequality. In response, this paper advances the concept of “structural equity governance,” which integrates systemic policy mandates, targeted resource allocation, institutional accountability, and immigrant community participation. By reframing governance as a component of broader structural reform, this research proposes a model that can enhance Korea’s capacity to equitably integrate multicultural students while also offering valuable lessons for other nations experiencing similar demographic shifts.

10:55-12:10 | Room G

(4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 2

MediAsia2025 | Journalism, Media, and Education

Session Chair: Cebisa Khwebulana

10:55-11:20

96108 | Designing a Work-study Programme for Working Journalists

Wei Sun Leong, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore

The rise of digital platforms and social media has significantly reshaped the skill set required of journalists. This presentation explores how journalism education has evolved to meet these changes and identifies the key competencies needed for journalists to succeed in today’s media landscape. Drawing on in-depth interviews with media employers and an analysis of job advertisements, this study highlights the skills and attributes most sought after in hiring practices. Additionally, it incorporates insights from the Skills Framework for Media, which categorizes essential industry competencies and emerging skills critical for media professionals. Based on these findings, the presentation proposes a work-study degree programme designed for full-time journalists seeking to enhance their qualifications while maintaining their careers. This part-time programme integrates academic learning with on-the-job training, addressing both the theoretical and practical needs of journalists. By aligning the curriculum with industry demands, the programme ensures that graduates are equipped with the up-todate skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing media environment. The presentation will discuss the challenges and opportunities in designing such a programme and offer insights into how journalism education can better respond to evolving professional needs.

11:20-11:45

96966 | Algorithmic Accountability in Media Systems: A Framework for Ethical Implementation in Digital News Environments

Alem Febri Sonni, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia

Vinanda Cinta Cendekia Putri, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia

This paper examines algorithmic accountability challenges within contemporary media systems, focusing on news recommendation algorithms and content moderation frameworks. As digital platforms increasingly mediate public discourse through automated systems, transparency, fairness, and democratic oversight have become critical concerns for communication scholars and media practitioners. Methodology: Through systematic literature review and analysis of case studies from major digital news platforms operating in Indonesia—including Detik.com, Kompas.com, Tribunnews.com, and localized versions of global platforms (Google News Indonesia, Facebook News Feed)—this research develops an integrated framework for ethical algorithmic implementation. Data collection involved platform interface audits, policy document analysis, and semi-structured interviews with 12 Indonesian media executives and 25 digital journalism professionals to ensure representativeness across Indonesia’s diverse media landscape and regulatory context. Framework: The study identifies four key dimensions of algorithmic accountability: transparency (algorithmic auditing mechanisms), fairness (bias detection and mitigation), user agency (customization controls), and regulatory oversight (compliance frameworks). Findings: Results reveal that balanced algorithmic systems must navigate tensions between personalization and diversity, automation and human oversight, and commercial interests and public service values. Analysis of Indonesian digital media platforms demonstrates unique challenges including multilingual content curation, regional diversity considerations, and compliance with Indonesia’s digital governance regulations. Implications: The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for Indonesian media policy, professional practice guidelines, and establishes research priorities for communication science in algorithmic governance within the Southeast Asian context.

11:45-12:10

96503 | Enhancing Journalistic Writing Skills with ChatGPT: A Qualitative Inquiry

Cebisa Khwebulana, University of Zululand, South Africa

Writing and storytelling are central to journalism, and South African journalism students undergo rigorous training to develop these skills, often with an emphasis on capturing diverse voices and social contexts. Despite this training, editors remain essential in refining content before publication. This study explores how ChatGPT can support South African journalists in enhancing their writing, particularly under the pressures of digital newsrooms that prioritise speed over linguistic accuracy. South African newsrooms face unique challenges, including resource constraints and shrinking editorial teams, making tools like ChatGPT increasingly relevant. With its ability to produce grammatically sound and coherent text, ChatGPT may assist journalists in meeting tight deadlines without compromising basic language quality. The study argues that integrating ChatGPT into newsroom workflows can free editors to focus on enriching content and narrative depth, rather than correcting mechanical errors. Using the framework of technological determinism and a qualitative methodology, this research analyses existing literature and case studies relevant to South African journalism. Provisional findings suggest that ChatGPT can enhance clarity and coherence in journalistic writing, particularly for early-career reporters and student journalists. However, concerns about over-reliance, potential erosion of journalistic voice, and ethical risks remain significant. Preliminary insights point to the importance of AI literacy in journalism education. Training programmes must equip future journalists to use AI tools like ChatGPT ethically and effectively, ensuring storytelling remains grounded in the country’s complex social realities. This research offers a framework for integrating AI into South African journalism while maintaining editorial integrity and storytelling excellence.

13:10-14:50 | Room A (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Kristine Adalla

13:10-13:35

96337 | Reproducing Authenticity: Seoul Station and the Intercultural Remaking of Postcolonial Memory in Korea Seri Yoon, Waseda University, Japan

Once a colonial-era structure, Seoul Station has today been transformed into a symbolic exit sanctuary for global tourists, a place where foreign visitors consume Korean culture before departure, turning memory into merchandise. This striking transformation reflects a broader cultural shift in South Korea, as the nation moves from erasing traces of colonization to strategically reframing them within a globalized, postcolonial identity. This study investigates how Seoul Station has been culturally reproduced through a multi-layered process of reinterpretation, reframing, and global tourism. Adopting a qualitative research approach, the analysis draws on urban policy documents, architectural modifications, and consumer practices to explore how the station evolved into a hybrid cultural landmark. The research is guided by a three-part analytical framework that integrates Griswold’s Cultural Diamond to map the relationships between cultural objects, producers, receivers, and their social world; Elizabeth L. Krause’s conceptualization of authenticity as a culturally situated practice shaped by emotional resonance, ethical considerations, and lived vulnerability; and Pierre Nora’s theory of lieux de mémoire to interpret Seoul Station as a layered site of national memory and identity. This integrated perspective enables a critical examination of how authenticity is not fixed or preserved, but actively reproduced through spatial storytelling, affective engagement, and intercultural reinterpretation. These findings offer broader implications for postcolonial societies navigating the transformation of colonial-era infrastructures into intercultural memory sites. This research contributes to the field of cultural and memory studies by demonstrating how postcolonial heritage spaces can be reframed as sites of intercultural convergence and global identity reformulation.

13:35-14:00

97036 | Enajenacion Mental: Madness, Colonial Power, and Cultural Meaning in 19th Century Philippines Jasper Christian Gambito, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippines

This paper seeks to explore the cultural construction of mental illness in the 19th century colonial Philippines by reframing “madness” (or enajenacion mental in Spanish), not as a mere medical or legal category, but as a contested cultural signifier that is embedded in colonial discourses of law and order, othering, and societal control. Although recent scholarship has begun to consider mental health as a contemporary social concern, its historical and cultural roots in the Philippines remain critically underexplored. By utilizing primary sources, including but not limited to ecclesiastical texts, medical reports, and legal accounts, this study aims to investigate how representations of madness were employed to signify deviance, otherness, or spiritual disturbance, often in ways that reflect a broader colonial civilizing mission. Using frameworks on postcolonial and cultural studies, this study interrogates how colonial power operated not only through institutions like mental asylums, hospices, or the Church, but also through symbolic structures that categorized and determined who was to be considered as rational, moral, or sane. This study attempts to shed light on the shifting boundaries between illness, identity, and colonial ideology. It argues that madness served as a powerful cultural tool to discipline behavior, pathologize resistance, and reinforce colonial hierarchies.

14:00-14:25

100507 | Measuring the Benefits of Cultural Capital Management: An SROI Perspective

Chadrudee Sirilamduan, Ubon Ratchthani University, Thailand

Wasin Komut, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand

This study investigates the ex-post Social Return on Investment (SROI) evaluation of cultural management research projects in Thailand, funded by PMU-A in the 2021 and 2022 fiscal year. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the evaluation assesses the outcomes, impacts, and contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across six cultural capital management projects. The SROI was calculated over a five-year period (2021–2025) with a 2022 base year and a 3.5% discount rate, resulting in a present value of benefits at $ 1,447,593.07 and costs at $ 378,771.64, yielding an SROI ratio of 1:3.82.

Economic impacts comprised 74.09%, driven by increased income in cultural enterprises. Social impacts contributed 23.98%, reflecting community ownership, social cohesion, cultural preservation, and capacity development. Environmental impacts accounted for 1.93%, notably through waste reduction and wetland conservation. These projects support several SDGs: social outcomes (SDGs 4, 11, 16), economic outcomes (SDGs 1, 8), and environmental outcomes (SDGs 6, 11). Overall, the findings demonstrate meaningful socioeconomic and environmental value, emphasizing their contribution to sustainable community development.

14:25-14:50

93489 | The Barong Tagalog as Material Culture and Site of Lived Experiences

Kristine Adalla, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

The barong tagalog was crucial in transforming Lumban, Laguna embroidery from a cottage industry to a labor-intensive industry. As a product of tradition and culture, it has evolved and served as the symbol of colonialism and at the same time, patriotism. Meaningful discoveries can surface by examining the interaction and relations that are connected in the production of the barong. The study aims to explore how the barong, as material culture, reflects gendered roles and lived experiences of traditional hand embroiderers. Using narrative inquiry and performance of everyday life as framework for the study, fourteen women hand embroiderers from Lumban, Laguna participated in the study. Interviews, group discussions, and a creative workshop reveal manifestations of social gender in the embroidery industry in Lumban, Laguna. The study reveals how embroidery is interlaced with the women’s experiences and are embedded in each embroidered product such as the barong. Results show that the barong is an extension of the female embroiderer’s life as it carries an imprint of not only her dexterity in embroidery but also her personal experiences, memories, and beliefs. A man wearing the barong dons the life of the woman embroiderer embedded in it. Her femininity and sense of power is projected in the maleness of the barong. Wearing the barong transforms the man — in the way that he is treated with respect — because of the sense of authority the garment projects. However, this power is invisible because it is completely disregarded once the barong is worn.

13:10-14:50

| Room B (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 3

MediAsia/KAMC2025 | Sociology

Session Chair: Kotaro Kikuchi

13:10-13:35

100242 | Swiss Œnotourisme, a New Sustainable Perspective on World Heritage and Winemaking Takako Inoue, Wakayama University, Japan

This study examines how the concept of the “common good” (Sgard, 2022) promotes group cohesion that helps regional communities pass on their traditions related to regional traditional industry, and how tourism could enhance such quality and provide further opportunities. Specifically, wine tourism or œnotourisme in Switzerland is examined in the context of 'Swisstainable’, 12-indicator national sustainable tourism guideline developed and promoted by the Switzerland Tourism since 2021. The study examines the Lavaux region of Vaud, whose history of wine production over 10 centuries is recognized by ICOMOS and as well as the World Heritage registration list under the name of ‘Lavaux, vineyard terraces‘. Interviews were conducted in 2024 with winemakers, the Lavaux heritage management secretariat and the viticultural festival secretariat. The result shows a continued strong public-private partnership between the wine industry and tourism, which ensures the upmost use of local resources while minimizing environmental impact, which implies that in Switzerland regional industries, including wine industry, are strongly influenced by the residents’ consciousness ‛Save Lavaux’ driven by agricultural policies that promotes biodiversity and maintains heritage landscapes especially since 1977. With such tourism development, heritage management in Lavaux is finding a new role such as training of resident tourist guides, which strengthens the regional identity while generating economic benefits. New social opportunities, such as wine festivals, are also generated, which further demonstrates the importance of tourism. At the same time, involving younger generations, including international migrants, presents a challenge for future development of the industry.

13:35-14:00

95125 | Sacred to Sold: The Market Transformation of Indigenous Thangka Art

Karma Norbu Bhutia, University of Delhi, India

Thangka painting has long served as a vital expression of Tibetan Buddhist spirituality and cultural identity, traditionally crafted in monastic settings using natural pigments and ritualized techniques. This paper examines how these sacred visual traditions are being reshaped in contemporary Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, under the influence of tourism, digital marketplaces, and institutionalized art education. Based on twelve months of ethnographic fieldwork (2025) in Dharamshala, including interviews with Thangka artists, monastics, and instructors at traditional art schools, the study employs symbolic anthropology and Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital to explore how notions of ‘authenticity’ are negotiated among artisans, religious authorities, and commercial actors. Findings reveal that while commodification has created new economic avenues, it has also introduced conflicts over materials, iconographic fidelity, and the role of spiritual intent. In response, some artists are developing hybrid practices that balance traditional techniques with market responsiveness. The paper proposes a grounded, pluralistic framework for cultural preservation that centers artisanal agency, accommodates diverse definitions of authenticity, and sustains both spiritual and economic dimensions of Thangka art.

14:00-14:25

100537 | Formation and Development of the Early Internet Music Scene in Japan in the 1990s Kotaro Kikuchi, The University of Osaka, Japan

A music scene is a cultural space created by the interaction of diverse musical practices, and media plays an important role in its diffusion and reception. While online music scenes expanded rapidly in the 2000s and now exert a substantial influence on Japanese popular music, media-historical analysis remains limited. This study addresses this gap and investigates how music media for discourse, distribution, and listening were constructed within early Internet culture, situating these developments within media history and demonstrating continuity with magazine culture. I analyze frameworks drawn from fan culture and publishing studies. Methodologically, Music Programming (called “DTM”= Desktop Music in Japan) magazines and archived web pages are qualitatively analyzed from early 2025. It focuses on three DTM specialty magazines launched in the early 1990s when the term DTM gained currency: Computer Music Magazine, DTM Magazine, and PC music. These magazines serialized editor–reader and reader–reader exchanges through track contests and reader columns. It is believed that this culture of submission fostered fan communities that were later connected to online communities. It became clear that early Internet music culture developed as a discussion-based culture influenced by magazine submissions and fanzines. It gradually expanded as a communication space with the introduction of the PC communication culture. Subsequently, advances in communication technology and increased users enabled the release of audio files on personal websites, which evolved into nonprofit record labels for producing music online. Online practices extended magazine communities, reshaping Japan’s music media ecology into an enduring digital infrastructure.

14:25-14:50

98205 | Structural Roots of Bullying: Ijime, Educational Design, and Cultural Norms in Japanese Junior High Schools

Kenji Kaneko, Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Japan

This theoretical and conceptual paper reexamines ijime (school bullying) in Japanese junior high schools as a structural outcome of institutional design, rather than a product of cultural norms or individual pathology. While previous studies have emphasized Japan’s group-oriented values or the limitations of moral education, this paper draws on social comparison theory, structural functionalism, and group dynamics to argue that ijime is embedded in the educational system’s organization of peer relationships. Age-based homogeneity, fixed classroom groupings, academic competition, and limited peer mobility collectively foster an environment where exclusion and scapegoating become normalized social practices. Recent government data reporting nearly 160,000 bullying cases in junior high schools underscores the urgency of this structural issue. To illuminate this dynamic, the paper compares Japanese schooling structures with alternative educational models—particularly Montessori education and project-based learning (PBL)—which emphasize multi-age collaboration, flexible grouping, and student agency. These models serve as structural counterpoints, demonstrating how peer diversity, cooperative learning, and role fluidity may reduce the conditions that give rise to bullying. The paper concludes with policy recommendations and calls for reform that address the architecture of schooling itself. Reframing ijime through a structural lens, this study contributes a fresh perspective to educational sociology and bullying discourse.

13:10-14:50 | Room C (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC/MediAsia2025 | Media and Identity

Session Chair: Moreal Camba

13:10-13:35

95997 | Narratives of Nationhood: Imagining Civic Identity Through Hindi Cinema and National Discourse Ravi Sehrawat, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India

Sachin Bharti, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India

This study explores how Hindi cinema contributes to India’s evolving nationhood by shaping citizen consciousness in a rapidly transforming cultural and democratic landscape. Drawing on Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Benedict Anderson’s theory of Imagined Communities, it analyzes five thematically significant films—Swades (2004), Rang De Basanti (2006), 3 Idiots (2009), Dangal (2016), and Raazi (2018)—selected for their basis in real events and emphasis on education, gender empowerment, ethical decisionmaking, and civic responsibility. These films collectively redefine patriotism as ethical engagement, emotional courage, and participatory citizenship, rather than state-centered nationalism. The unit of analysis includes narrative structure, symbolic visuals, and ideologically charged dialogues. Using Fairclough’s three-dimensional CDA model, the study uncovers how cinema operates as a cultural discourse that fosters civic reflection and inclusion. This study shows that these films construct a symbolic vocabulary through which diverse audiences—across region, class, and language—can imagine themselves as active agents in shaping the nation. They present national identity as evolving, inclusive, and morally grounded. By extending Anderson’s framework to the realm of visual culture, the study demonstrates how popular cinema mediates civic imagination in complex, multilingual societies. CDA proves essential in linking narrative form with ideological meaning. As India moves toward a more equitable and globally visible future, this research underscores cinema’s power to shape national values and actively participates in shaping the ethos of an emerging, democratic nation.

In doing so, it affirms cinema’s enduring role in how India sees itself—and how the world may come to understand India anew.

13:35-14:00

96733 | An Engagement in Tibetan Media History Through Critical Discourse Analysis of Mirror of News from Various Regions of the World Barun Roy, University of North Bengal, India

This study examines the foundational phase of Tibetan media history by examining the role of Yul phyogs so so’i gsar ‘gyur me long, or the “Mirror of News from Various Regions of the World,” and Kalimpong, a town in West Bengal. The ‘Mirror of News’, published from 1925 to 1963, was one of the most successful Tibetan-language newspapers, existing continuously for 38 years. The researcher uses Critical Discourse Analysis of editorials, opinion columns, essays, and news reports from the 1,853-page archives to trace how the newspaper rose as a forum for complex discourses. Babu Tharchin, a Tibetan Christian convert, transformed the newspaper into an agent of persuasion and solidarity for Tibetans in Tibet, connecting Tibet to the rest of the world and championing the cause of Tibetan Freedom and unmasking atrocities committed in Tibet after its occupation by Communist China. The research also highlights the influence of Indians of Tibetan origin, such as Gergan Dorjee Tharchin - the journalist, editor, publisher, and owner of the first commercial Tibetan printing press, ‘Tibet Mirror Press’. The discourses of the ‘Mirror of News’ offer valuable insights into how Tibet as a nation-state was imagined and how Tibetan as a literary language and Tibetan journalism evolved.

14:00-14:25

100453 | Guerrilla as a Political Ally: Campaigning for a Political Agenda on Screen Afroza Bulbul, Erasmus University, The Netherlands

Produced with the promise to acknowledge the contributions of female combatants in the Liberation War of Bangladesh, Guerrilla (2011, director Nasiruddin Yousuff) is found to be operating as a strategic campaign for the then-ruling Awami League (AL) government. This paper examines the politics of representation that Guerrilla—a blockbuster and the highest nationally awarded movie in Bangladesh—employs while ostensibly resisting patriarchal nationalist discourse by uplifting the role of female combatants, which has been strategically suppressed since independence. Drawing on Stuart Hall’s cultural representation theory and employing the visual analysis methods, this examination focuses on the strategic techniques of constructing the Other by identifying what is included and excluded, what is highlighted, what is obscured, and whether any hierarchy is constructed, finding the dissonance. This paper identifies explicit and subtle frames used in the film that position it as a political ally of the AL government, contributing to the legitimisation of state-driven policy initiatives, particularly the war crimes trials, criticised by some as a politicised agenda lacking procedural fairness. While war crimes trials targeted alleged war criminals— many of whom were affiliated with the political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)—Guerrilla also portrayed JI as a brutal, inhuman entity responsible for war crimes. The film allocates nearly one-third of its screen time to repeated depictions of violent wartime atrocities, explicitly naming JI as perpetrators. By foregrounding these representations, Guerrilla employs a postmemorial public motivation mechanism directed against JI, which in turn operates to emotionally validate the government’s controversial war crimes trial project.

14:25-14:50

96317 | The 1913 Far Eastern Olympiad in the Manila Carnival: Filipino and Japanese Athletes in Selected Newspaper Photographs and Narratives

Moreal Camba, University of Asia and the Pacific, Philippines

This study explores the intricate power relation and negotiation between sports and colonial power by examining the 1913 Far Eastern Olympiad, a key spectacle within the Manila Carnival. Drawing upon Gerald Gem’s (2006) work on sports in colonial contexts, this research paper analyzes how this Olympiad functioned as a stage for projecting colonial power and shaping perceptions. The Manila Carnival, with its carefully crafted narratives and visual displays, operated as a stage for producing “imaginations” that reinforced American colonial ideologies like Manifest Destiny, White Man’s Burden, and Benevolent Assimilation. Drawing on Guy Debord (1994), the Olympiad within the Manila Carnival was integral in presenting a colonial vision of progress, modernity, and identity. Re-examining newspaper photographs and narratives from 1912-1913, this paper explores the unfolding of the 1913 Far Eastern Olympiad. While these primary sources reveal colonialist representations, they also allow reconstructions and negotiations of (colonized) identities. Filipino athletes were often exoticized and marginalized, reinforcing racial hierarchies. Conversely, the presence of Japanese athletes highlighted the complexities of inter-Asian relations within the context of Western imperialism and regional aspirations. Employing Alice Guillermo’s (2001) critical framework on the “language” of images and Roland Barthes’s (1988) semiotic approach to decode denotative and connotative meanings, this study aims to discourse the complex ways power, race, and identity were constructed, reconstructed, and negotiated in the 1913 Far Eastern Olympiad within the sociopolitical context of the Manila Carnival.

13:10-14:50 | Room E (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Education/Pedagogy

Session Chair: Phillip Rowles

13:10-13:35

96706 | Improving Academic Processing Systems to Support Outcome-Based Education Module (OBEM) Implementation at KMUTT Nichapa Ratanaurai, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand Methawadee Vijitjaroenwatana, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand Surat Chumjit, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) has promoted outcome-based education (OBE) across all levels of study. This approach emphasizes flexibility in learning design, with courses developed as modular learning units under the Outcome-Based Education Module (OBEM) framework. The objective is to create flexible learning experiences that allow students to develop their abilities through modularized learning pathways. To achieve this educational initiative, KMUTT recognized the need to enhance its academic information system, known as the New Academic Information System (New ACIS), to fully support registration, grading, and academic processing aligned with modular course structures. As a result, the OBEM Grading System—referred to as AVATAR—was developed to integrate with the Learning Environment version B2 (LEB2) and the New ACIS. This enabled the management of learning outcomes, grading, academic status tracking, Buffer Class administration, and reassessment processes. The implementation showed that the system could support OBEM-based grading and processing with 90% accuracy, compared to the 100% target. However, limitations remain, particularly in system integration, real-time data synchronization, and flexibility in updating “In Progress” (I) grades, which may impact students’ academic progress. Recommendations for system improvements include developing a seamless and fully integrated OBEM platform, enhancing risk-tracking functions for at-risk students, and creating a Credit Bank system to store all forms of learning outcomes. These efforts aim to improve administrative efficiency, ensure accurate assessments, and provide timely academic feedback aligned with students’ actual learning achievements.

13:35-14:00

97970 | Feedback Is the Assessment: Ending Academic Ghosting in Large Classes

Rentia du Plessis, University of the Free State, South Africa

Large class (500+) assessment in South African higher education is often disconnected. While feedback may be provided, it is frequently vague, generic and poorly timed . As a result, many students do not read their feedback, or if they do, they are unsure how to use it. At the center of this issue is feedback literacy – the ability to understand, value and act on feedback. This study argues that poor lecturer feedback amounts to academic ghosting, contributing to poor student feedback literacy, and ultimately undermining learning. This study explores feedback practices in a first-year communication science module, Introduction to Interpersonal Communication, taught to 1200 students across three campuses. A multi-layered feedback approach was implemented to foster engagement and cultivate feedback literacy, which included detailed rubrics and personalized feedback via Turnitin, followed by “feedback classes”. These classes addressed common mistakes, unpacked strong examples and encouraged reflection. Additionally, a structured remark request form guided students to engage with their feedback before contesting marks. A post-course survey (n = 154) revealed student recognition of feedback as actionable insight (Buckingham et al, 2023), not merely grade justification. Responses reflected increased understanding of using feedback to guide future work. This project draws on a critical understanding of feedback literacy as a socio-political and cultural phenomenon (Nieminen & Carless, 2023). When embedded with care and intention, feedback is not an add-on – it is the assessment. These findings offer insights to improve feedback engagement in large classes and contribute to literature on feedback literacy in resource-constrained environments

14:00-14:25

96699 | "Micro Project – Small Plants, Big Discoveries" – AI-driven Exploration

Su-Chu Hsu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Yu-Hsuan Chang, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Cheng-Hao Chang, Taipei YouHua High School, Taiwan

Shih-Ta Liu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

To fulfill the USR goals prioritized by Taiwanese universities, we adopted the global Design for Change (DFC) model by Kiran Bir Sethi to develop the Place Change Maker (PCM) strategy. This strategy integrates place exploration, design thinking and making, and place-based change practices. Using PCM, we carried out social service projects at four rural primary schools—each with over 80 years of history and fewer than 50 students—which are at risk of closure. Through digital fabrication, we developed a “Maker Microscope” and led the Micro Project –Small Plants, Big Discovery: AI-driven Exploration workshops. In these workshops, students built and customized their own microscopes, using them to explore the microscopic ecology of characteristic campus plants. We also utilized the AI tool ComfyUI to create a plant feature recognition procedure. This enabled students to connect microscopic plant features with real-world landscapes. For example, they observed that the nodal structures of bamboo leaves resembled the bamboo plant itself. Using AI-assisted image recognition, they found aerial photos of car factories arranged in a pattern similar to that of bamboo leaves. Similarly, the umbrella-like structure of pennywort leaves under the microscope resembled the layout of parks in Paris when viewed from above. This innovative exploration not only enhanced students’ digital literacy but also broadened their global perspective. Our initiative reimagined the value of rural schools and supported the Sustainable Development Goals of “Quality Education” and “Reduced Inequalities,” advocating against the closure of schools in remote areas.

14:25-14:50

100634 | Incorporating Arts into Educational Assessment

Phillip Rowles, Tokyo University of Science, Japan

Assessment of education for research and innovation can incorporate using artistic skills to meet challenges. A key obstacle to overcome is understanding “measurement” as a concept. Measuring is a fundamental first step to gaining knowledge of these domains. Making useful assessment instruments for testing skills and surveying attitudes is a skill that researchers can develop to advance for their own professional development. Meaningful measurement analyses can be carried out using a computer and free or affordable software. Rasch model analyses are a simple yet innovative measurement methodology. Assessing measurement levels assists researchers in facing an uncertain future. Rasch measurement achieves this by using a probabilistic mathematical model to make predictions about future outcomes. The inferences enabled via these mathematical transformations today facilitate a view into our unknown tomorrow. Researchers are encouraged to face research challenges by not relying on traditional descriptive and deterministic approaches to so-called outdated versions of “measurement”. Instead, the future can be faced by applying the modern prescriptive and probabilistic approach of Rasch measurement. The benefits of adopting Rasch model measurement methodology and philosophy can be explored in a practical way for researchers. The goal is to enhance measurement assessment literacy to better equip researchers in their own professional development journeys.

13:10-14:50

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 3

MediAsia/KAMC2025 | Law, Policy, and Media Ethics

Session Chair: Rattaakkhatee Akkharateerathitiphum

13:10-13:35

98570 | Navigating Legal Lacunae and Sociocultural Tensions: Deepfake Pornography as Gendered Digital Violence in Japan Maari Sugawara, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

This paper critically examines the proliferation of deepfake pornography in Japan, positioning it within the country’s entrenched technopatriarchal structures that enable gendered digital violence. Recent data rank Japan third globally in consumption of AI-generated sexual deepfakes, with over 18 million annual site visits (Yomiuri Shimbun, 2024). Victims—over 99% female and often minors—are targeted through non-consensual appropriation of images sourced from social media and school yearbooks (Security Hero via NHK News, 2024). Deepfakes magnify harm by leveraging scale, anonymity, and permanence, compounding psychological trauma and social stigmatization amid a sociocultural context marked by pervasive victim-blaming and sexual repression. Situated in a historical continuum of mediated misogyny, voyeurism, and commodification of women’s bodies, deepfake pornography constitutes a digitally reconfigured extension of gendered violence. Japan’s legal framework, while criminalizing child pornography and distribution of authentic non-consensual imagery, remains ambiguous regarding synthetic sexual content, creating a critical regulatory gap that leaves victims vulnerable. This legal ambiguity reflects broader cultural tensions: puritanical anxieties around sexuality coexist with the urgent need to regulate emergent digital harms. Drawing on van der Nagel’s (2020) theorization of deepfake pornography as gendered digital violence transforming women’s images into consumable commodities, this study analyzes media discourse and institutional responses to expose competing logics—a moral panic over alleged sexual “corruption” that paradoxically obscures victim-centered legal reform. Addressing this crisis requires multifaceted, intersectional interventions that transcend technological detection to enact legal clarity, provide survivor support, and evolve frameworks of agency and consent within Japan’s complex socio-technical gender regime.

13:35-14:00

96657 | Vulnerability of Child Domestic Workers in Abi Daré’s The Girl with the Louding Voice

Chia-Chen Kuo, Tamkang University, Taiwan

This paper discusses the precarious conditions faced by child laborers, who are among the modern-day slaves. I will begin with the reallife situation of child laborers in Nigeria, where the story is set. I argue that dire poverty, gender inequality, frequent wars, low school enrollment rates, and the cultural practice of early marriage have led to the trafficking of many children into labor markets, most of them into the worst forms of labor that should be banned. I will further examine how Abi Daré’s The Girl with the Louding Voice reflects these issues by analyzing the experiences of the main character, Adunni, a 14-year-old girl who is first sold into marriage and then into domestic servitude. In contrast to other girls who have forsaken their dreams, as a trafficked victim, Adunni never gives up the hope of attending school and becoming a teacher, although she, too, has experienced physical, verbal, mental, and sexual abuse. The novel’s ending, in which Adunni receives a scholarship and is set to attend school, underscores the importance of education and echoes the position of the International Labor Organization: that only education can enable social mobility.

14:00-14:25

95389 | Bridging the Digital Divide: Enhancing Elderly Legal Literacy for Digital Crime Prevention in Urban Communities

Rattaakkhatee Akkhateerathitiphum, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand

Chaiwatchara Promjittiphong, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand

Saichol Panyachit, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand

Phoobade Wanitchanon, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand

Jiranuwat Khamplew, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand

As technology rapidly advances, older adults face increasing risks of online fraud due to their limited digital literacy and lack of awareness about legal protections. This study examines the legal knowledge gap among elderly individuals in urban communities, focusing on their understanding of digital rights, cybersecurity laws, and fraud prevention. It draws on two key frameworks: Digital Literacy and Legal Awareness, which stresses the importance of knowing online rights, and Community Participation, which emphasizes the role of collective efforts in closing this gap. The research explores the experiences of elderly residents in Misu Wann 2 and Krang Sapan Khlong Tan communities in Watthana District, Bangkok, assessing their awareness of cyber fraud, identity theft, and scams. Surveys and interviews reveal that while many elderly individuals use digital platforms for communication and financial transactions, they lack awareness of cybersecurity laws, data protection policies, and official reporting channels. This makes them highly susceptible to scams and online exploitation. To address this issue, the study proposes a community-driven strategy combining legal education with digital skills training. Initiatives include accessible literacy programs, partnerships between public and private sectors, and community-based cybersecurity awareness campaigns. Policymakers, media professionals, and local leaders must collaborate to develop tailored educational initiatives that help elderly individuals safeguard themselves online. By fostering a strong legal-literacy network, this approach can empower older adults to navigate the digital world safely, reduce cyber risks, and ensure they can fully exercise their legal rights in an increasingly digital society.

15:15-16:55 | Room A (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 4

KAMC2025 | Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Yoko Nishioka

15:15-15:40

96477 | Cultural Map Thailand: Data Quality Control Towards Collective Cultural Scenario Exploration

Warong Naivinit, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand

Sutat Gammanee, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand

Sureewan Jangjit, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand

Chanakit Mitsongkore, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand

This paper explores novel approaches to enhancing data quality within the Cultural Map Thailand project, focusing on the integration of diverse methodologies. By combining PHP-based filtering, geographic information systems, artificial intelligence, participatory cultural mapping, and social validation, we have developed a comprehensive framework for assessing data integrity from multiple perspectives. The process is mapped through a UML sequence diagram, capturing the flow from initial data collection to advanced spatial analysis, ensuring that cultural assets are represented authentically and that the system remains adaptable. This approach not only strengthens data reliability but also contributes to local economic development and community involvement. Additionally, we discuss the creation of a prototype simulation model for scenario exploration and propose future developments, including gamification and immersive technologies, to enrich cultural engagement. The study highlights the crucial role of Thai academic institutions in maintaining rigorous cultural data, which is essential for leveraging Thailand’s cultural heritage as a strategic asset.

15:40-16:05

96322 | Urbanization and Heritagization: Makati City’s Initiatives in Restoring Identity Along with Sustainable Development Edesa Grama, University of Makati, Philippines

Makati City, one of the most highly urbanized areas in the Philippines, serves as a hub for the country’s major economic activities. Defined by a fast-paced lifestyle and rapid modernization, much of the city’s space has been transformed for commercial use. As contemporary structures and developments continue to rise, the cultural identity of its residents has been increasingly overshadowed. This rapid urbanization has presented significant challenges in identifying and preserving the city’s cultural heritage, with many historically significant sites being neglected or forgotten—issues that this study seeks to address. Anchored in Muñoz-Viñas’ Cultural Heritage Theory—which highlights the intangible meanings embedded in tangible heritage—this research explores the strategies employed to identify and conserve heritage assets in Makati through urban cultural mapping as a qualitative framework. It also examines the challenges of reconciling past identities with present urban realities. Using archival research, key informant interviews, and participatory mapping, the study investigates how cultural heritage can be thoughtfully integrated into Makati’s ongoing urban development. Additionally, it explores how the city’s cultural blueprint contributes to sustainable development through adaptive reuse, local history education, identity-building, and the application of augmented reality (AR) to visualize lost or inaccessible heritage sites for future generations.

16:05-16:30

100362 | Cultural Capital as Structural Leverage: Rethinking University-Community Collaboration for Area-Based Cultural Transformation in Thailand

Siriwit Issaro, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand

Wasin Komut, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand

Panida Phatikomet, Thaksin University, Thailand

Isara Guntang, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Thailand

This study explores how cultural capital contributes to sustainable local economic development and the strengthening of community identity in the Thai context through university engagement. It synthesizes findings from 16 university–community collaborative projects conducted under Thailand’s 2023 national research initiative on cultural capital. Based on project reports, field observations, and evaluation data, the study identifies key mechanisms through which cultural assets were mobilized to support inclusive and area-based development. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach that combined cultural mapping, participatory storytelling, and targeted capacity building. These methods helped revitalize both tangible and intangible cultural assets. As a result, the projects led to the cocreation of more than 200 new cultural products and services, the emergence of over 300 cultural entrepreneurs and artists, and a 15 percent average increase in income across participating communities. More importantly, the initiatives enabled local actors to shift from passive recipients to active co-creators of cultural value. The study also piloted tools such as digital cultural capital databases and local cultural incubators to improve the connection between cultural resources and local governance. The findings show that partnerships between universities and communities provide a practical and flexible model for managing cultural capital. The study concludes that integrated and systemic management across economic, identity, and policy dimensions is essential for achieving inclusive and sustainable outcomes in diverse local settings.

16:30-16:55

100604 | Creative Revitalization in Kyoto: The Role of Contemporary Art and Cultural Initiatives in Shaping Urban Space and Community

Yoko Nishioka, Komazawa University, Japan

Kyoto, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and historic cityscape, faces contemporary challenges of urban vitality, demographic aging, and spatial disparities. In recent years, the city has incorporated contemporary art and cultural initiatives into its revitalization efforts. Representative examples by district include the transformation of Nishijin—a district famous for its textile traditions—through machiya townhouse renovations and the development of new galleries and art spaces; community-based initiatives and collaborative projects in the Okazaki area, home to major cultural institutions and green spaces; and the relocation of Kyoto City University of Arts, together with the forthcoming opening of teamLab Biovortex scheduled for October 2025, catalyzing the emergence of a new “creative zone” in the Kyoto Station east-south area. This research examines how the significance of art and cultural activities in urban regeneration is changing, presenting an overview of current initiatives in Kyoto. Through document analysis, field observation and preliminary interviews, the study highlights the distinctive features of projects and the sites where they occur in each district, as well as relevant institutional and policy frameworks. Special attention is paid to the layering of tradition and contemporary creativity, and to the emerging challenges as Kyoto seeks to position itself as a city of arts and culture. By mapping current developments and describing observable collaborations, the study provides exploratory insights into how creativity, art, and community engagement are shaping urban spaces and local identities in Kyoto.

15:15-16:55 | Room B (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 4

KAMC2025 | Language and Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Sifiso Sibanda

15:15-15:40

98663 | The Collapse of Empire of Signs Under Neoliberalism: From Tokyo-Ga (1985) to Perfect Days (2023) Bowei Tang, Waseda University, Japan

This study examines Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days (2023) in dialogue with his documentary Tokyo-Ga (1985). The latter, I argue, visually reifies Roland Barthes’ Empire of Signs. Barthes abstracts “Japan” from socio-historical context, as a fictional realm governed by signifier to resist Western logocentrism. Yet under Wenders’ romantic lens, life in Tokyo appears to realistically offer a utopian mode of experience based on pure form without meaning. In Perfect Days, however, when the mode of formal enjoyment is woven into the lived experience of a local subject, its fragility becomes apparent. The protagonist Hirayama’s pursuit of form is not rootless, but stems from evading his traumatic past; his pleasure derives less from the surface of experience than from distance to fixed narratives, offering imaginative space while avoiding pain. In this sense, Hirayama’s formal enjoyment is not self-sufficient, but a residual structure after meaning is suppressed, which reveals the underlying socio-historical impetus of Barthes’ mythic “Japan”. Drawing on Giorgio Agamben, this study further examines how Hirayama’s life, though seemingly detached from the circuits of neoliberal capitalism through immersing in pre-digital activities, supports its operation. Hirayama’s highly ordered, introverted life does not embody Agamban’s autonomous “form-of-life”, not subordinated to biological life or standardized role; rather, it erases his social presence and brings him closer to the marginalized “bare life”. His hermit life, though appealing, risk aligning with the control society under neoliberalism, in which the subject is voluntarily exploited as human capital.

15:40-16:05

96753 | Translating Anoirol: A Socio Cultural Perspective

Dayananda Taorem, Indian Institute of Information Technology Senapati, India

Akoijam Malemnganbi, Indian Institute of Information Technology Senapati, India

Potshangbam Linthoingambi Chanu, Indian Institute of Information Technology Senapati, India

The Meitei community of Manipur, one of the oldest ethno-cultural groups in Northeast India, maintains a rich indigenous belief system rooted in animism and shamanistic practices, notably the worship of Umang Lai (forest deities). A central cultural expression is Lai Haraoba, a ritual festival that celebrates divine creation and cosmic harmony. Integral to this festival is Anoirol, a sacred hymn performed by Pena Khongba (traditional lutenists), which narrates the origin of the universe, genealogies of deities, and metaphysical themes that connect the human and divine realms. This paper explores the first documented English translation of Anoirol, undertaken in collaboration with renowned Pena performer Oja Pena RK Surjit of JN Dance Academy Manipur. The translation process employed ethnopoetic strategies, cultural annotation for untranslatable concepts, and back-translation to preserve semantic integrity. For instance, the phrase “Leitai thoklaba Leima” is translated as “the mist-borne goddess,” retaining both lyrical quality and symbolic resonance. The abstract also discusses how the translated hymn will be contextualised through analysis of ritual performance, intertextual comparison with other Meitei oral narratives, and its function within the community’s worldview. This approach enhances understanding of Meitei cosmology while contributing to broader discussions in folklore studies, ethnolinguistics, and heritage translation. By preserving and interpreting Anoirol, this work safeguards a deeply spiritual oral tradition and opens it to intercultural dialogue and academic inquiry.

16:05-16:30

96152 | Reevaluation of Wagashi’s Characteristics – How Heian Period Literature Influenced Edo Period Wagashi Nunnita Lathifah Azhar, Kyoto University, Japan

This research examines the influence of Edo period wagashi (和菓子)(Japanese confections) and Heian literature. For the study, I have selected the "Kashifu (菓子譜） ", a document that preserves information about wagashi from the Edo period. The ‘Kashifu’ provides clear illustrations and names of wagashi, making it suitable for this research. The study explores the connection between the names and designs of wagashi and their intended links to literary history. Previous research on the scholarly aspect has discussed the influence of particular poetic forms on wagashi, but the influence of prose has been questioned. Therefore, this research considers poetry and prose when examining the connections between the names and designs of wagashi. The results suggest a direct and indirect relationship between the names and designs of wagashi and the poetic and prose works of Heian literature. The direct relationship indicates a connection described in the texts of the Heian period. In contrast, the indirect relationship is evident from references in literary works created after the Heian period, demonstrating that these works are incomplete without references to Heian literature.

16:30-16:55

96622 | A Recipe for Economic Disaster: Exploring Marxist Ideology in Chinodya’s Harvest of Thorns and Child of War

Sifiso Sibanda, North-West University, South Africa

This article critically examines the core tenets of Marxism as the ideological foundation underpinning the liberation struggle in preindependence Zimbabwe. The guerrilla warfare waged by liberation fighters aimed to dismantle colonial rule and establish a government committed to representing the interests of the majority. The primary objective of the insurrection, as articulated by the guerrillas, was to overthrow the white minority regime, which had been widely condemned for perpetuating racial inequality, social injustice, and the expropriation of indigenous land. These structural injustices served as the main catalysts for the armed struggle. Prior to independence, the freedom fighters envisioned a society founded on equality, communism, and peace—marked by equitable land redistribution and the prudent management of national resources by a people-centered government. This article argues that the revolutionary ideals championed by the guerrillas were ultimately unfulfilled. The decolonial process, characterized by violent conflict and widespread destruction of infrastructure, failed to deliver the transformative outcomes it promised. Employing Marxist theory as its principal analytical framework, and drawing extensively on Shimmer Chinodya’s Harvest of Thorns and Child of War, the article challenges the narrative that the aspirations of the liberation struggle were realized.

15:15-16:55 | Room C (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 4

KAMC2025 | Gender, Sexuality, and Culture

Session Chair: Manyatsa Vilakazi

15:15-15:40

96275 | From Gandrung Lanang to Female Performers: Gender Transformation and Cultural Meaning in Banyuwangi’s Gandrung Dance Defrimont Era, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

Novi Kurnia, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

Mutia Nurul Makhfirah, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

Banyuwangi is known for its rich heritage of traditional arts and culture. One of the cultural art icons that has endured since the colonial era is the Gandrung dance. In the early 20th century, men performed this in a tradition known as Gandrung Lanang. Initially, the dance served as a gathering space for anti-colonial fighters. However, over time, due to evolving social dynamics, the dance began to be performed by women and became an integral part of ceremonies, rituals, and annual cultural festivals. This study examines the gender transformation in Gandrung dance, focusing on interpreting visual signs such as the dancer’s body, costume, expression, and movement within the cultural context. A qualitative method was employed, using Roland Barthes’ semiotic analysis to examine the denotative, connotative, and mythological meanings embedded in the gender role shift. Data were collected through triangulation techniques, including in-depth interviews with two local cultural actors, document analysis, and video observation. The findings reveal that the feminization of Gandrung dancers is not merely a practical change but carries ideological meaning, reflecting the interplay between tradition and modernity. The female body on the Gandrung stage has become a symbolic medium, rich in identity construction and aesthetic expectations, while also adapting to the demands of cultural tourism and the global market. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of gender dynamics in traditional performing arts as a space for the dynamic production of meaning in response to social change.

15:40-16:05

100402 | Gender Roles and Women’s Power in the Suman (Rice Cake) Industry of Baler, Aurora, Philippines

Melissa Grace Nacino, Aurora State College of Technology, Philippines

This qualitative research explores implications of gender mainstreaming and highlights the roles of women in the suman (traditional Filipino rice cake) industry, which has been largely overlooked in academic literature. The study delves into understanding women’s contributions to suman production, investigates the reversal of traditional gender norms, and sheds light on how the industry constructs an alternative societal image centered around women. Data were collected through a focus group discussion involving 21 SMB members, demonstration-participation, key informant interview, personal communications, document analysis, and consultations with local government agencies. Employing feminist critical discourse analysis, including Zimmerman’s Theory of Empowerment and feminist theory on agency and “power within,” the research reveals that the suman industry in Baler is predominantly female-led. Women actively engage in pre-production, production, and post-production processes, while men support their entrepreneurial endeavors. Consequently, the suman business has become a primary source of family income. The study identifies three levels of women’s empowerment—individual, organizational, and community—evident in their agency and critical consciousness. This research underscores the significance of recognizing women’s roles in traditional industries and highlights the potential for challenging conventional gender norms. By understanding how women wield power within the suman industry, society can cultivate greater gender equity and inclusivity across various domains. This research contributes to the wider discourse on gender roles, empowerment, and women’s agency in the Philippines, particularly in traditional industries like rice cake production.

16:05-16:30

96791 | Sexuality Narrative in Food Review: Audience Reception Study of @wiki_etika Content on TikTok Rezika Ardia Dinda Arrini, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

TikTok social media has become a popular digital space for sharing information, interacting, and expressing self-identity. The TikTok account @wiki_etika is one example of a user who delivers food reviews with a distinctive delivery style, which often contains implicit or explicit sexual narratives and symbolism. This style elicits various responses from the audience, especially regarding communication ethics and interpretation of sexuality issues in the digital public space. This study uses a qualitative approach with a reception study method based on Stuart Hall’s encoding/decoding theory to analyze how the audience interprets messages in the TikTok content @wiki_ etika. In this study, data was collected through in-depth interviews with 5 respondents who met the criteria. In addition, documentation of user comments was carried out in collecting data. The results of the study showed differences in the reception of meaning. One informant was in a dominant-hegemonic position, four others were in a negotiated reading position, and no informants occupied an oppositional reading position. These findings reveal that even though sexual narratives are not conveyed explicitly, the audience still reads them with a variety of gender, cultural, and moral value lenses. The study also noted that understanding digital sexuality and commenting ethics remains a challenge, especially amidst the lack of audience awareness of the legal and social consequences of speech on social media.

16:30-16:55

96453 | Black Women’s Curation of Home as Archive and Exhibition in South African Townships

Manyatsa Vilakazi, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa

This research examines Black women’s critical yet often unacknowledged role in shaping South Africa’s visual and cultural history as curators of familial memory and as photographic practitioners. Dominant historical narratives have largely foregrounded male perspectives, thereby marginalising the subtle but significant ways in which Black women have actively constructed and preserved personal and communal histories within domestic spheres. Black women have long performed curatorial labour in the home, positioning themselves as custodians of the family archive. Through arranging photographs on walls and within albums, they have engaged in acts of visual authorship, shaping narratives of identity, lineage, and cultural memory. These everyday archival practices challenge institutional modes of memory-making and affirm the home as a critical site of resistance and remembrance. This research also foregrounds the contributions of Black women who have taken up the camera, particularly those working before 1994, thereby inscribing their perspectives into the visual record. Drawing on insights from my MA research and ongoing qualitative fieldwork, the paper repositions everyday curatorial labour in the home as a powerful archival intervention. It also engages the photographers and their families in processes of archiving and storytelling and explores how these practices might inform academic, curatorial, and pedagogical frameworks. As part of this presentation, a short trailer from a documentary film currently in production, which emerges from this broader research will be shared. The journal article forms one element of this wider study, which seeks to honour Black women’s authorship in shaping family and community memory through photography.

15:15-16:55 | Room E (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 4

KAMC2025 | Education/Pedagogy

Session Chair: Forrest Parker

15:15-15:40

96713 | Strategizing Knowledge Management for Higher Education in the Era of Digital Transformation

Surat Chumjit, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

Sakorn Inwangsuk, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

Wanna Temsiripoj, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

Higher Education institutions have rapidly transformed due to the evolution of digital technologies. This has made it necessary to utilize knowledge management (KM) strategies to enhance institutional capabilities and efficiency. The study aimed to explore strategic approaches to implementing KM in higher education institutions, specifically focusing on how digital transformation drives the development of a KM culture. Using King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) as an example of digital adaptation in higher education, one can see where technology has been integrated into KM Practices with digital tools. Data were collected through indepth interviews with professors and staff who were involved with KM activities. They were asked to discuss organizational culture, digital tools, and strategies. The findings indicated that KMUTT has integrated a KM framework into university strategies, leading to initiatives such as KM Day, sharing events, and Communities of Practice (CoPs), to promote collaboration. A digital platform, Learning Environment (LEB2), was developed to facilitate knowledge sharing. The study emphasized that organizational culture was a crucial factor in the development of a systematic knowledge management approach. A culture blending Clan and Adhocracy values fostered the highest levels of knowledge sharing. Together, these elements—policy support, regular activities, and leadership engagement—reflect a sustainable KM culture aligned with the university’s long-term development goals. Areas for improvement include evaluating the effectiveness of strategies, assessing learning outcomes, and aligning with institutional goals. However, challenges remain in digital literacy (LEB2), culture and organizational structure.

15:40-16:05

96756 | AIoT Anthropomorphic Little Monster Interactive System

Cheng-Hao Chang, Taipei You Hua High School, Taiwan

Su-Chu Hsu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Shih-Ta Liu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

To attract children’s attention, this study utilizes anthropomorphic little monsters with traits such as timidity, gluttony, playfulness, and adventurousness. These cute, approachable characters help children project their emotions and imagination onto them. Our research integrates AI, the Internet of Things, and interactive design to develop the AIoT Anthropomorphic Monster Interaction System, planned for implementation at Science Theme Park during Halloween. We designed a “palm monster generator box” that lets children insert their hands into a black box. The AI program then generates a unique, cute monster based on the shape and posture of the child’s palm. The system projects a nighttime forest scene onto the wall. Children can use a mobile phone installed with the corresponding app to walk in front of the nighttime forest wall and shake the phone to awaken the monster they created, and play and interact with it. They can also take their little monster home through a “scoop-up” action using the mobile phone and share it on social media. Through the development and implementation of this system, we aim to explore the emotional impact of Kawaii Theory on children—specifically, whether anthropomorphic monster design enhances joy and engagement. Additionally, we aim to examine whether our interactive design can provide children with a “safe sense of adventure.” Monsters usually symbolize the “unknown,” “adventure,” or “a world different from reality.” When anthropomorphized, this adventure becomes “controllable” and “cute,” allowing children to experience adventure and challenges in a safe environment.

16:05-16:30

No presentation scheduled

16:30-16:55

97754 | Fading Fluency: Investigating the Decline of Soft Skills Among Pre-Service Education Majors in American Universities

Forrest Parker, Valdosta State University, United States

J. T. Cox, Valdosta State University, United States

Pre-service teachers in American universities are expected to enter the workforce with strong interpersonal, communication, and problemsolving skills—yet mounting evidence suggests a troubling decline in these essential soft skills (Hart Research Associates, 2018; Robles, 2012). This presentation reports findings from a quantitative study conducted with undergraduate education majors enrolled in a communications course, utilizing a validated soft skills inventory to assess competencies in areas such as teamwork, adaptability, professional demeanor, and oral communication. Statistical analysis revealed deficits in initiative-taking, conflict resolution, and audience awareness—skills that are critical for effective classroom management and student engagement (Rosenberg, Heimler, & Morote, 2012; Collie et al., 2012). Observational data and reflective student narratives further suggest that education programs often emphasize technical knowledge over interpersonal development. Rooted in social-emotional learning theory and career readiness frameworks (Zins et al., 2004; NACE, 2023), this session offers concrete strategies for embedding soft skill instruction into educator preparation programs and calls for renewed attention to holistic teacher development in a post-pandemic landscape.

15:15-16:55 | Room G (4F)

Friday Onsite Parallel Session 4

MediAsia2025 | Digital Media, Communication, and Advertisement Session Chair: Hsin-Lun Li

15:15-15:40

97061 | The Dominance of Celebrities as Media Actors in Indonesian Political Podcasts

Elmariestya Ardelia, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Utari Fatma Dewi, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Podcasts are an alternative digital media that complement the limitations of conventional radio and become the latest version of audio concept media, by offering flexibility, personalization, and interactivity. Podcasts aim to express the voices of marginalized communities that remain underrepresented in mainstream media. Among Indonesian audiences, YouTube has become the most favored platform for podcasts. The types of podcasts used by Indonesian creators are interview podcasts, solo podcasts, and multi-host podcasts. Interestingly, celebrities have also become podcast creators by constructing audience segments in discussions that prioritize political trends. Celebrities upload political podcasts on YouTube based on trending societal issues. Celebrities become media actors who pursue their interests as opinion leaders and agenda setters. This article aims to analyze the phenomenon of celebrities as media actors who dominate political podcasts in Indonesia. This research uses the structuration theory by Anthony Giddens (1984), which emphasizes duality, agency, and structure. Giddens’s structuration theory helps us see the complexity of the interaction between podcast structure and celebrity as agents. The method used in this study is qualitative research with a descriptive approach. The results of the study indicate that celebrity dominance is the result of the structuration process. The political podcasts trend becomes output of social structure from celebrity behavior as agency, thereby becoming input for reproduction in creating the next homogeneous content. Thus, celebrities are producing virality, popularity, and entertainment content, hence strengthening the position of celebrities as dominant actors.

15:40-16:05

100431 | Symbolic Processes of Communication and Meanings Attached to a Single-Use Plastic-Free Environment by Public Market Vendors in Libmanan, Philippines

Jewel Cabrera, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

Liza Cabrera, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

Sustainability measures affect everyday people’s lives, particularly those whose livelihoods and practices are directly impacted by environmental policies such as a local plastic regulation ordinance. Through a socio-cultural lens, this study analyzed the symbolic processes of communication and the meanings attached to a single-use plastic-free environment by public market vendors to understand their behavior toward plastic use and their perspectives on the local plastic policy. Often overlooked in policy discussions, symbolic interactions can influence behavior and acceptance of plastic policies. Interviews were conducted with public market vendors who are members of five identified public market associations based on the commodities they sell. Participant observation during market days documented vendor-vendor, vendor-buyer, and vendor-local government interactions. The local plastic policy in Libmanan has raised awareness about alternatives to single-use plastics and brought the issue into people’s conversations. Plastic consumption practices in Libmanan Public Market include default use of plastic bags, bring-your-own systems, shifting to non-plastic alternatives, and continued preference for plastic. The vendors attach complex meanings to plastics—convenient yet harmful, necessary yet avoidable, and tied to feelings of climate anxiety. A plastic-free environment was associated with a clean environment, future generation, safety, and also inconvenience. These reflect recognition of both the benefits and consequences of continued plastic use. The study recommends clearer communication and stricter policy enforcement, making cheaper and durable alternatives accessible, addressing the plastic problem at its source, and having participatory engagement of vendors in policy design and implementation.

16:05-16:30

96630 | Collaborative Leadership in Disaster Communication Management at Yogyakarta International Airport

Intan Agisti Nila Sari, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Disaster communication management requires cross-stakeholder collaboration to ensure effective mitigation processes capable of saving many lives. However, cases of mitigation failures in Indonesia highlight insufficient collaboration and communication, resulting in a lack of essential information among communities during evacuation scenarios. This situation underscores that effective communication is a crucial prerequisite for any managerial activity, as disaster mitigation decisions only become meaningful when clearly communicated to all relevant stakeholders. This research aims to explore collaborative leadership practices in disaster communication management at Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA). YIA was chosen due to its position as a national strategic infrastructure vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, thus necessitating reliable and collaborative communication management. Employing a qualitative approach and data triangulation through documentation studies, in-depth interviews, and direct observations of stakeholder agencies at YIA, this study reveals effective collaboration among leaders throughout all stages of disaster communication management, from pre-disaster to recovery. These findings contribute as a reference model to strengthen collaborative disaster mitigation communication management and enhance preparedness among other airports in Indonesia.

16:30-16:55

95283 | The Multilayer Garbage Disposal Game

Hsin-Lun Li, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan

The multilayer garbage disposal game extends the classical garbage disposal game to multilayer social networks. Each layer represents a distinct type of social relationship among a fixed set of individuals. At each time step, agents redistribute a quantity called “garbage” by averaging their current amount and offloading equal proportions to their neighbors in each layer. The game models a decentralized and non-strategic system: agents act uniformly across time and layers without strategic optimization. We analyze this model from a mathematical rather than game-theoretic perspective. Our focus is on the case where all agents follow the same averaging rule across connected social graphs, each with at least three nodes. Under these conditions, we prove that the amount of garbage held by each agent in each layer converges to the initial global average—defined as the average garbage across all agents and layers at time zero. This convergence result reveals that simple local averaging and redistribution mechanisms can produce stable and predictable outcomes in decentralized, multilayer settings. Furthermore, agents whose initial total garbage exceeds the global average retain a long-term advantage, highlighting the role of initial conditions in shaping persistent disparities. This model offers a framework for studying how information, influence, or other transferable quantities spread and stabilize across overlapping social structures. It opens the door to further investigations into how network topology, redistribution rules, or initial heterogeneity affect long-term system behavior.

Saturday, November 8

Online Parallel Sessions

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Abstracts appear as originally submitted by the author. Any spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors are those of the author.

11:00-12:40 |

Saturday Online Parallel Session 1

KAMC/MediAsia2025 | Visual Communication

Session Chair: Heni Indrayani

11:00-11:25

98456 | The Literacy of Absurdity: Meaning Construction in Paradoxical and Ironic Internet Memes Xingman Cheng, Keio University, Japan

Our contemporary digital communication faces a critical literacy crisis as traditional media frameworks struggle to adapt to the complexity of modern environments. A new media form has instead emerged as the dominant mode of global discourse—internet memes. They circulate virally due to their capacity to be easily modified, compressed, and transcoded across contexts. Such viral circulation inevitably shapes their discursive dynamics, particularly for those memes that center on paradoxical and ironic rhetoric. Their complex interpretive mechanisms remain largely unexplored. A systematic investigation of meaning interpretation from such deliberately ambiguous, self-contradictory, and absurdist content is therefore indispensable. As paradoxical and ironic memes become highly influential in public discourse, political communication, and cross-cultural understanding, such investigation becomes increasingly crucial. This research undertakes this investigation through an innovative application of Roland Barthes’s semiotics. It develops a three-stage literacy framework—encoding, decoding, and understanding—to investigate the meaning construction in paradoxical and ironic memes that resist conventional interpretation. By revealing how memes function as meaningful artifacts for cultural commentary and social critique, this study examines the new meaning interpretation mechanisms within contemporary digital communication environments. This research seeks not only to reveal the ideologies behind paradox and irony, but also the inner workings of meme culture as a vital component of our communication culture. The findings of this research contribute to critical media literacy studies and offer practical applications for various disciplines, including digital marketing and cross-cultural communication strategies. Furthermore, it responds to the urgent concerns about misinformation and digital discourse quality in global media environments.

11:25-11:50

100515 | Power, Transparency, and Social Impact in Leadership Communication Within State-Owned Enterprises: A Critical Analysis of Perum BULOG During the COVID-19 Benny Butarbutar, LSPR Institute of Communication and Business, Indonesia

The COVID-19 pandemic created a global crisis that tested the leadership capacity of governments and institutions, particularly stateowned enterprises (SOEs) tasked with public service delivery. In Indonesia, Perum BULOG—a state-owned logistics enterprise—was assigned a critical role in stabilizing food supply and ensuring national food security during the crisis. This study offers a critical analysis of BULOG’s leadership communication practices during the pandemic period from 2020 to 2023, focusing on the dynamics of power, transparency, and social impact. Drawing from the critical paradigm, this research applies Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine the narratives, rhetoric, and communicative strategies found in BULOG’s official statements, public reports, and crisis responses. The study explores how leadership discourse was constructed to manage public expectations, maintain institutional legitimacy, and navigate complex power relations amidst social and political pressure. Key findings highlight the performative function of crisis communication in shaping public perception, negotiating authority, and reinforcing the strategic positioning of SOEs during national emergencies. Furthermore, the study reveals that transparency in communication—when integrated with coherent messaging and responsiveness— serves not only as a governance tool but also as a catalyst for building social trust. This analysis contributes to the growing discourse on crisis leadership in the public sector, offering insights into how communication serves as both a site of power negotiation and a mechanism for social resilience. The case of BULOG underscores the vital role of communication in bridging institutional mandates with public expectations during periods of systemic disruption.

11:50-12:15

96688 | Relational Play: Games as Critical Pedagogies for Sustainable Ecological Futures Udbela Escanero, Independent Scholar, Mexico

This presentation examines video games as relational climate pedagogies that challenge dominant narratives grounded in anthropocentric, colonial, and technocratic logics. Through close hermeneutic readings of Endling: Extinction is Forever (Herobeat Studios, 2022) and In Other Waters (Jump Over The Age, 2020), the analysis explores how these games frame climate imaginaries as sites of critical unlearning, subverting existing discourses on human-environment relations. In particular, it focuses on both an affective analysis of ludic design elements, such as failure and asymmetrical agency within the games’ narrative, aesthetics, and mechanics, as well as an overview of player engagement through their online discourse. These close readings highlight how extractivist paradigms, common in mainstream games such as Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft, 2013) and Animal Crossing (Nintendo, 2020), can be overturned through ecological reconfigurations of affective, multispecies, and post-anthropocentric play. While Endling materialises ecological grief, for example, through permadeath mechanics, and In Other Waters resists colonial incursions through a disembodied interface, both games challenge the player toward more holistic epistemologies and relationalities which foreground interdependence, vulnerability, and uncertainty. This presentation is significant as it makes relevant contributions to ecocritical and existential game studies, as well as ecopedagogy, offering design insights for pedagogical tools in literature and environmental humanities learning spaces, as well as providing game developers with insights towards improving existential game play within the current ecological and social climate. It also identifies productive avenues for future research, particularly the underexplored ecocritical potential of oceanic game environments, which may foster alternative post-anthropocentric ecological imaginaries.

11:00-12:40

| Live-Stream Room 1

Saturday Online Parallel Session 1

KAMC/MediAsia2025 | Visual Communication

Session Chair: Heni Indrayani

12:15-12:40

100633 | Communication Intervention: From Civil Society Diplomacy to Sustainable Business Growth

Heni Indrayani, Universitas Dian Nuswantoro, Indonesia

Candra Yudha Satriya, Universitas Dian Nuswantoro, Indonesia

Nadia Itona Siregar, Universitas Dian Nuswantoro, Indonesia

Nico Aditia, Ministry of Finance, Indonesia

Ibrahim Harriadi, Ministry of Finance, Indonesia

Fitri Susanti, Ministry of Finance, Indonesia

This paper explores various forms of communication intervention employed by corporations and government institutions to address strategic issues and foster constructive relationships with the public and key stakeholders. The interventions include civil society diplomacy, which highlights the active role of digital communities in influencing public discourse and institutional reputation; event-based approaches aimed at education and engagement; normative approaches rooted in institutional governance and formal procedures; and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies as structured expressions of social commitment. This study adopts a qualitative research method with a case study approach, analyzing the practices of entities such as BCA, Telkomsel, Djarum Foundation, Kitabisa, and government bodies like the Ministry of Finance. The outcomes of these interventions (societal impact, public recognition, and investment flows, to publicity, ecosystem development, legitimacy, and business growth) are examined to understand how communication strategies contribute to organizational effectiveness. The findings demonstrate that strategic communication is not merely a tool for crisis mitigation but also a key instrument for advancing long-term social and economic sustainability. Well-planned, participatory, and transparent communication interventions have been shown to strengthen legitimacy, build resilient ecosystems, and drive sustainable business development.

11:00-12:40

|

Room 2

Saturday Online Parallel Session 1

KAMC/MediAsia2025 | Film, Literature, and Cultural

Studies

Session Chair: Carolyn Fitzgerald

11:00-11:25

95689 | Interplay of Institutional Pathways and Queer Identities in BL Media in the Philippines and Thailand Erwin James dela Cruz, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines

Boys’ love (BL) media, a genre centered on male-male romance, has emerged as a global media phenomenon, yet its transnationalization across Southeast Asia highlights stark contrasts shaped by institutional and cultural disparities. This thesis compares the Philippines and Thailand through the lenses of Historical Institutionalism and Queer Theory, examining how government participation, private sector, and viewing public interplay with queer identities in shaping BL media. By analyzing government and corporate documents, Pinoy and Thai BL series, and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, and writers, the study reveals the factors accounting to the diverging outcomes of BL media in both countries. In the Philippines, weak institutional pathways—marred by state censorship anchored on moral policing, reluctant and homophobic media industry, and divided viewing public lacking BL literacy—relegated Pinoy BL media into the periphery of the industry, exposing its precarity. In Thailand, its conducive institutional pathways, especially through investments from media companies, enabled the mainstreaming of BL in Thai media but commodified queerness in favor of marketable, masculine gay images. These findings highlight a contradiction: BL media’s potential to challenge heteronormativity is often co-opted by institutional forces that prioritize profitability. The thesis concludes with a challenge to reimagine BL not as a genre controlled by market logic but as a platform for genuine queer representation.

11:25-11:50

100347 | Werner Pfennig’s Selfishness in Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See (2014) Shevane Sonthar Lingam, Sunway College, Malaysia

All the Light We Cannot See (2014), a novel by Anthony Doerr, is a Pulitzer Prize–winning work of fiction, awarded in 2015. The narrative deals with the moral dilemmas faced by its protagonist, Werner Pfennig. Werner Pfennig is an eighteen-year-old German orphan serving the Nazi regime. Scholarly studies on the text thus far portray Werner as a victim of circumstance, in navigating the harrowing wartime challenges on his own. However, this study argues that his actions are primarily driven by rational selfish motives. This study therefore examines the rational selfish acts of Werner, highlighting his choices and decisions in relation to his self-sacrifices. Following that, the discussion centers on his relationships with and treatment towards other characters within the text. The reading of the novel is enlightened through the concept of rational selfishness proposed by Peter Schwartz in his book, In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice is Unjust and Destructive (2015). The textual analysis of the selected text aims to contribute to the broader discussion of Doerr’s novel and war literature. Additionally, it explores the applicability of Schwartz’s framework to further the understanding and appreciation of literary works. The findings of the study reveal that Werner displays more irrational selfishness than rational selfishness. Moreover, even in instances where Werner displays no selfishness, they result in destructive consequences. In conclusion, the study highlights the moral dilemma experienced by the protagonist from the selected text, and the implications of his rational and irrational selfishness during the war.

11:50-12:15

96587 | From Cherry Blossoms to Broken Hearts: Life and Love in Japanese Films Released in Thailand Supamonta Supanan, Bangkok University, Thailand

Love is still a cornerstone of storytelling in films worldwide. Likewise, Japanese films contain their charismas and reflect the images of Japanese society from various perspectives, particularly about life, love, and delicate as well as meaningful relationships. A number of these films have been screened in Thailand, and have attracted Thai viewers. Thus, this study focuses on the analysis of 9 Japanese films that have been released in Thailand i.e., Tomorrow I Will Date With Yesterday’s You (2016), I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018), Last Letter (2020), The Last 10 Years (2022), Insomniacs after school (2023), April Come, She Will (2024), 52-Hertz Whales (2024), Worlds Apart (2024), and At the Bench (2025). The analysis is grounded in semiotics, A Lover’s Discourse by Roland Barthes, and Japanese philosophical perspectives on life. The findings revealed that Japanese films give the meanings of life and love through stepping over changes, love coming with pain, separation, loss, loneliness, and solitude. These refer to the storytelling of love and sadness with insights into the beauty of love. The stories are narrated through symbols, e.g., letters, flowers, stars, sea, whales, camera, parallel universe, etc. Love presented through Japanese films does not show pictures of fighting over love or hurting someone to possess their loved ones. In contrast, the films often depict characters facing uncontrollable external circumstances and inner emotional landscapes. The feeling of love mixed with loneliness, simplicity, tenderness, and broken hearts so as to grow further for living their valuable life again.

12:15-12:40

95056 | Essayisation and the Chinese Novel: New Trends in Fiction during the War of Resistance (1931-1945) and Civil War (1945-1949) Carolyn FitzGerald, Auburn University, United States

While the Republican era (1912-1949) was dominated largely by the short story and essay, China’s War of Resistance against Japan (1931-1945) and Civil War (1945-1949) witnessed an outpouring of mid- to long-length works by authors such as Lu Ling 路翎 (1923-94), Fei Ming 废名 (1901-1967), Feng Zhi 冯至 (1905-1993), Shen Congwen 沈从文, Eileen Chang 张爱玲 (1920-1995), and many others, a trend reflecting writers’ desire to understand the self within the larger context of the war and national collective. Yet, works from this period, in particular from the latter years of war, often feature unclear and unfinished plots and experiment with a variety of divergent narrative perspectives and temporal frames. Moreover, they are characterized by what I have referred to in my study on wartime culture (FitzGerald 2013) as the ‘essayisation’ (sanwenhua 散文化) of fiction, or the effort to incorporate elements of the essay and other genres into fiction. In this paper, I will examine examples of wartime long-length works with loose cross-generic forms, split narrative perspectives, and unfinished plots, which I argue convey wartime authors’ uncertainties about the direction of history. In doing so, I shed light on previously understudied trends in wartime literature and on the development of the Chinese novel.

11:00-12:40

Saturday Online Parallel Session 1

KAMC/MediAsia2025 | Media Studies

Session Chair: Dame Avelino

11:00-11:25

100419 | Challenging Fake News: The Role of Discourse Analysis in Media Literacy

Manal Belahcen, University Mohammed First, Morocco

This article examines the critical role of media in spreading fake news and misleading information, particularly in an era dominated by digital platforms where credibility is increasingly questionable. This study explores how media narratives shape public opinion, often discouraging independent critical thinking. Using a quantitative research design, the study gathered data through an online questionnaire administered to students in the Excellence Track in Translation and Digital Communication at Mohammed First University in Oujda. The questionnaire measured their ability to identify features of fake news, assessed their critical reading skills, and evaluated their media literacy practices. Statistical analysis was used to identify correlations between exposure to discourse analysis and improved media literacy competencies. The findings suggest that discourse analysis serves as a practical tool for fostering a more discerning engagement with media content. Participants with a higher sensitivity to discourse analysis features, such as manipulative language and persuasive techniques, displayed a stronger critical reading ability. This indicates that discourse analysis not only contributes to a theoretical understanding of how language shapes meaning but also equips learners with practical strategies for identifying misleading information. This study recommends that discourse analysis be integrated into media literacy programs to enhance learners’ critical thinking and to combat the spread of disinformation.

11:25-11:50

100524 | Visualizing Authoritarian Soft Power: UAE English-Language Media and the Aesthetics of Control on Instagram

Daniela Patornilho, NOVA-FCSH, United Arab Emirates

In an era where authoritarian regimes increasingly shape digital content, this study examines how four leading English-language newspapers in the United Arab Emirates—Khaleej Times, Gulf News, The National, and Gulf Today—use their own Instagram accounts to manufacture state-aligned soft power narratives between January and March 2025. Through qualitative content analysis, the research decodes how these outlets construct a curated national identity, foregrounding themes such as leadership, innovation, and tolerance while systematically erasing labour critiques, dissent, and structural inequality. Using a targeted coding framework, posts were analysed for narrative themes, dominant visual motifs (e.g., flags, megaprojects, leadership imagery), and rhetorical patterns, with additional attention to hashtag strategy and engagement metrics. This methodological approach captures how the platforms operate not merely as promotional spaces but as tools of ideological scripting. Findings reveal that the UAE media do not simply project a benign national image—they enforce a regime of visibility through aesthetic repetition, algorithmic amplification, and symbolic saturation. Instagram’s “tolerance” narratives celebrate diversity while excluding marginalised voices, exposing the paradoxes of authoritarian branding. The result is a form of soft coercion, where the limits of acceptable discourse are shaped not by censorship alone, but through visual overexposure and curated silence. By reframing Instagram as a site of ideological conditioning rather than mere communication, the paper argues that these official newspaper accounts function as armatures of visual diplomacy—staging patriotism as a continuous geopolitical performance and rendering dissent optically invisible through a spectacle of repetition, symbolism, and selective storytelling.

11:50-12:15

97014 | Netflix and the Future of TV

Aara Kreishan, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

The digital technology revolution has significantly transformed various industries, most notably the television industry. The emergence of Overthe-Top (OTT) platforms has reshaped content consumption patterns, disrupted traditional broadcasting models, and influenced content production and distribution strategies. Understanding how OTT services such as Netflix and Shahid are redefining the TV landscape is vital for stakeholders across the media ecosystem, particularly in regions experiencing rapid digital growth like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This study examines the influence of Netflix on the television industry, with a focus on industry challenges, Netflix’s operational model, and its broader impact. Employing qualitative research methods, the study analyzes statistical reports and industry data related to original content viewership, financial investments, and advertising revenues. A comparative approach is used to evaluate the dynamics between OTT platforms and traditional television, specifically focusing on Saudi Arabia as a regional case study. By aligning these findings with previous studies, the research highlights significant global trends, including audience fragmentation, binge-watching habits, and the rise of personalized content recommendations. However, the study is limited by the lack of direct content analysis and the absence of usercentered qualitative data. Future research should include a deeper examination of Netflix and Shahid’s content to understand what makes them appealing, along with surveys and interviews to gather insights into user preferences and satisfaction. Such research would offer a more comprehensive understanding of the evolving digital viewing experience and the factors driving engagement in culturally diverse contexts.

12:15-12:40

96761 | 잠잠잠잠잠잠잠잠잠잠잠: "Pump Up the Volume" as Co-creation Between Virtual Idol Group PLAVE and Its Fandom PLLI Allison Anne Atis, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines Dame Avelino, Angeles University Foundation, Philippines

The song “Pump Up The Volume!” was developed and released by the South Korean virtual idol group PLAVE in 2024. This song can serve as an example of how the group underscores the human touch in their rather virtual connections, given that it is a product of a live entertainment content interaction. Apart from demonstrating their songwriting skills, this co-creative process involved fans as the group brainstormed with them. In this work-in-progress paper, we ask: what are the co-creative dynamics between PLAVE and its fandom PLLI? Guided by the tenets of digimodernism and media practice, we further explore the facets of the song as a digimodernist text and inquire how varied practices of both parties contribute creatively and pragmatically in realizing this specific text. We look into the song, the process, and all relevant interactions as a case study of co-creation, as we emphasize how PLAVE operates as a virtual group – relying on livestreams and online platforms to nurture and engage with fans, therefore providing a space for PLLI to communicate directly with them. During the song’s composition, PLAVE solicited ideas from the viewers through livechat – with fans suggesting lyrics and themes that the members can use for the demonstration. In several accounts, the group actively mentioned that they co-created the song with the fandom. By critically analyzing the texts involved in this co-creative process, we attempt in this exploratory study to understand the varying themes that would aid in realizing emerging mediated dynamics within inherently virtual instances.

12:50-14:30 | Live-Stream Room 1

Saturday Online Parallel Session 2

KAMC2025 | Aesthetics, Design, and Art Practices

Session Chair: Chih-Yung Aaron Chiu

12:50-13:15

100484 | The Dual Edges of AI in Design: Roles, Impacts, and Methodological Validity Across Design Practice

Yihui Hua, Arizona State University, United States Haonan Chen, Columbia University, United States

This study examines the innovation position of Artificial Intelligence (AI) implemented in design practice, investigating both the positive and negative effects, as well as the methodological implications, across the design industry. While AI tools accelerate ideation, automate routine tasks, and generate data-driven variations, they remain fundamentally incapable of replicating the human capacities essential for culturally resonant, ethical, and deeply innovative design. This is a quantitative research study comparing AI-generated works with those of human professionals and analyzing users’ preferences. Professionals’ creations are often limited by algorithmic constraints, prioritizing pattern replication over true originality and lacking authentic narrative. Furthermore, AI failed to translate empathy, emotions, cultural contexts, and user cues that are essential to meaningful design. Most significantly, unsupervised AI poses ethical blind spots, risking bias amplification, accessibility compromises, and optimization for engagement over human well-being. Our findings demonstrate that the indispensable value of human designers lies in their unique creative intuition for framing wicked problems beyond the confines of datasets. Their capacity for making design decisions that balance business and societal needs, and their deep cultural fluency, which embeds locality, heritage, and emotional resonance into experiences. Consequently, we argue that AI functions most effectively not as a replacement, but as a “co-pilot” that enhances efficiency. This study concludes that human designers are irreplaceable in creating strategic visions, generating empathetic insights, and fostering ethical understanding. At the same time, AI supports execution, empowering humans to lead the creation of meaningful and responsible innovation.

13:15-13:40

96682 | AI and the Future of Photography: Insights into Contemporary Turkish Artists

Fulya Ertem Başkaya, Izmir Institute of Technology, Turkey

In the 19th century, when photography was first invented, there was a debate about its value as an artistic representation, as the camera was seen as a mechanical tool of reproduction, devoid of any individual expression. Today, in the 21st century, a parallel debate emerges with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), compelling us to reassess the ontology of the photographic image, as AI can generate images that mimic photography without any reliance on light, lenses, or physical referents. This paper examines the impact of AI on the art of photography through the work of four contemporary Turkish artists: Can Büyükberber, Alper Yeşiltaş, Refik Anadol, and Sarp Kerem Yavuz. Through diverse approaches, these artists reveal how the concept of photography is transformed through a generative, data-driven medium. Büyükberber constructs immersive environments that dissolve the boundaries between real and virtual space, engaging viewers in imaginary perceptual fields. Yeşiltaş creates AI-generated portraits that meditate on temporality, remembrance, and imagined afterlives. Anadol’s work transforms raw data into aesthetic experience, situating machine learning as a tool for expanded visuality. Yavuz mobilizes AI alongside analog processes, foregrounding tensions between authenticity, heritage, and digital manipulation. Through close analysis of selected works, this paper argues that these artistic approaches challenge traditional definitions of photography and contribute to its redefinition in the age of AI. In doing so, they offer critical insights into how visual culture is being reshaped by artificial intelligence while raising questions about reality, identity, and the nature of creativity.

13:40-14:05

96005 | When the Aura Appears Again? An Aesthetic Study of the Intersection Between Artificial Intelligence and Art from Algorithms to Creativity

Chih-Yung Aaron Chiu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

This research investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) intersects with human creativity and aesthetic judgment in the practice and reception of AI-generated art. Framing AI art as a socio-technical phenomenon, the study examines how cultural value and creative agency are negotiated between artists, machines, and audiences. Drawing on Margaret Boden’s typology of computational creativity— combinational, exploratory, and transformational—the research analyzes how these modes are expressed or challenged in contemporary AI art practices. Phenomenological methodology is drawn from discourse analysis with practicing AI artists, along with close readings of selected artworks, to explore how creators conceptualize authorship, intention, and innovation in collaboration with algorithmic systems. The research also engages with Simone Natale and Leah Henrickson’s concept of the “Lovelace Effect,” shifting the analytical focus from ontological debates about intelligent agent to the interpretive role of human perception in recognizing creativity. Additionally, the concept of Aura, as theorized by Walter Benjamin, is revisited to assess how computational creativity and intelligent agent’s authorship impact the uniqueness and authenticity traditionally associated with artistic works. By integrating these contemporary theoretical perspectives, the study proposes a new framework for comprehending AI art not as a byproduct of technological novelty, but as a situated cultural expression that redefines authorship, value, and aesthetic experience in the age of intelligent systems.

12:50-14:30

| Live-Stream Room 2

Saturday Online Parallel Session 2

MediAsia2025 | Critical Cultural Studies in Gender and Communication

Session Chair: Utsha Sarkar

12:50-13:15

100364 | From Song to Novel: an Intermedial and Transmedial Analysis of Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami and the Beatles Giuseppe Pantano, Université de Lorraine, France

This contribution presents a multidisciplinary and cross-boundary analysis of the transmedial connections between Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood (1987) and its homonymous Beatles classic. Grounded in a performative intermedial analysis (Pantano, 2023), it investigates the articulation between lyrics and music in the Beatles’ song and how its verbal and sonic elements resonate throughout Murakami’s novel—through structural analogies, verbal music (Scher, 1970), and intra- and extra-compositional intermediality (Wolf, 2002). The novel’s opening scene, where the protagonist hears an orchestral cover of “Norwegian Wood,” ignites a journey into selfhood (Womack, 2019), mirroring his inner turmoil. The Beatles’ lyrics are reflected in the dynamic, sexual, and emotional transitions experienced by Toru as he reaches adulthood, in stark contrast with his best friend Kizuki, who inexplicably committed suicide without undergoing such transformation (Cruz, 2019), unfolding a narrative of the self—a process instrumental in the construction of selfhood (Bruner, 1986, 1990). Murakami’s fiction transliterates musical genres—jazz, pop-rock, classical—into prose, enacting a form of translation that, alongside linguistic mediation, renders his work globally resonant (Auster, 2007). His narrative style, described as “magical realism,” bridges East and West, the conscious and the unconscious (Strecher, 2002), capturing the spirit of the 1960s–70s generation while anticipating our globalised and transcultural age (Juen, 2017). Framed by the idea of “everyday cosmopolitanism” (Wakatsuki, 2018), this contribution advances a model of global citizenship, guiding the reader into a labyrinth of references that constitute “obligatory and optional intertextualities” (Fitzsimmons, 2013), explored through musical and literary modes of analysis.

13:15-13:40

96401 | Blurred Nostalgias: The Filtered Past in Korean Dramas

Gary Calcagno, Independent Scholar, United States

While Korean television often uses the past – chiefly the dynastic period – as settings for narratives of love, comedy, or drama, the recent past of post-war Korea has only more recently been the stage for contemporary Korean dramas. When coupled with nostalgia, Korea’s past becomes a medium to process post-colonial experiences of Korea’s rapid change in the past several decades. When Life Gives You Tangerines (잠잠잠잠잠잠) is the most recent popularly acclaimed series to use nostalgia as a mode of presenting the post-war vestiges embedded in Korean life. Traversing decades from Jeju Island to Seoul – Oh Ae-sun deals with the death of her mother while striving for her goal of becoming a poet in Seoul. Ae-sun’s critique and later use of nostalgia prompts inquiry into the tenderness of emotional scars and how generational traumas mend or re-open such wounds. Similarly, the Reply anthology (2012; 2013; 2015) sparked cultural popularity for its focus on the late-80s and 90s, using nods to historical moments that frame an idealized but unforgotten past. This paper unpacks the role of nostalgia as a thematic device within Korean dramas to process Korea’s compressed modernity through familial dynamics, gendered expectations, and class struggles against historical backdrops and political upheaval. Through visual staging in costume, setting, and cultural cues this paper makes use of multiple methodologies to broach an understudied area of Korean visual and popular culture.

13:40-14:05

96663 | Cinematic Othering: Korean-Chinese Representation and Social Identity in South Korean Film Hyungkwon Choi, University of Arizona, United States

As the number of Korean-Chinese individuals—ethnic Koreans residing in China and recognized as one of China’s ethnic minority groups— continues to grow in South Korea, Korean cinema still exhibits a persistent issue of misrepresenting this population. Investigating media portrayals of Korean-Chinese is crucial, as films, functioning as cultural artifacts, have the capacity to reach broad audiences and shape intergroup dynamics by reinforcing or challenging negative stereotypes. This study explores how Otherness is constructed through the representation of Korean-Chinese in contemporary Korean films via a critical film analysis. The cinematic history of Korean-Chinese representation in South Korea is relatively recent, beginning with Failan (2001), the first film to feature a Korean-Chinese character. Focusing on mainstream Korean films released between 2001 and 2025, this research identifies portrayals that either reproduce or resist stereotypical depictions of Korean-Chinese individuals, while examining the rhetorical strategies used in these representations. The analysis considers several aspects of characterization, including role type (e.g., lead vs. supporting), occupational status and legality, involvement in criminal activity, and the thematic content of dialogue. Characters are coded into four categories: stereotype-producing, stereotype-resisting, ambivalent, and not applicable. The findings reveal a recurrent pattern in which stereotype-producing representations persistently generalize Korean-Chinese traits as backward and uncivilized, ultimately framing them as a societal problem. These portrayals are contextualized within broader discourses of social identity construction.

14:05-14:30

97818 | Deciphering the Private Eye: Reconstruction of Bengali Masculinity Through Byomkesh Bakshi Films Post-2010

Utsha Sarkar, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India

With the emergence of Critical Masculinity Studies in India from early 1980s, many scholars have noted that masculinity and the position of men in India’s society have been in a state of flux. The colonial understanding of masculinity was presented by Mrinalini Sinha contrasting the Bengali “effeminate babus” and the “manly Englishman”. Joseph Alter espoused the ideals of semen retention, celibacy and Brahmacharya as an existing way of life in North India while the performativity of gender was Butler’s theorisation of gender identity. Although many perspectives have been accounted for, very little has been written on the rise of a nouveau form of masculinity in Bengal. Film texts are utilised as a historical and social document to chart the trajectory of this construction. Through a critical enquiry of contemporary Byomkesh Bakshi films post 2010, this paper tries to structure a discourse of the new Bengali man rising from the ashes of its colonial restraints. Textual analysis coupled with Critical Theory related to masculinity studies and detective cinema, are a few methodological structures applied in this paper. Through a close reading of the multiple texts, I argue that Byomkesh Bakshi, as a sociocultural icon, is being reconstructed on the silver screen to give rise to a new Bengali masculine identity. The traditionalisation of marital domesticity, dialectical structuring of the Bengali detective against the other men on screen and the final performance of the morally staunch detective in the unmasking of the criminal are some key motifs I investigate in this paper.

12:50-14:30 | Live-Stream Room

3

Saturday Online Parallel Session 2

KAMC2025 | Education/Pedagogy

Session Chair: Karen Fujii

12:50-13:15

96416 | Progress and Problems of Mathematics in South African Schools During 30 Years of Democracy: The Failed Transformation Dudu Ka Ruth Mkhize, South African Youth into Engineering Programme, South Africa

Thirty years ago, the advent of democracy initiated the transformation of excluding millions from mathematics learning. According to the apartheid architect, teaching Natives mathematics was absurd since they would not use it in practice. This was based on the Job Reservation Act which barred the South African Natives from mathematical professions such as engineering. Hence, the demise of apartheid came with the birth of transforming the exclusion of the masses from mathematics education which would enable provide access to professions requiring mathematical proficiency. This paper will track the progress that has been made to facilitate the transformation of mathematics education in schools. The main facilitator is the South African Constitution whose aim is to improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person. Statistics on the trends of the blatant failure to free the mathematical potential for each person in the country which is manifested in the persistent poor mathematics participation in schools. Justifying this failure, the mainstream mathematics education research has fabricated mathematics misconceptions held by learners. However, grades 7, 8 and 9 national mathematics curriculum is fraught with errors such as confusing algebraic expressions are confused with algebraic equations. Yet, distinguishing between the two is central to mastering algebra. The paper concludes based on both theory and the reality in schools that mathematics education in South Africa has failed to transform from its dark and sad history. Contemporary mathematics education research is actively and creatively sustaining the past.

13:15-13:40

100521 | The Power of CARE²: Exploratory Mixed-methods Study Examining an Instructional Design Framework to Support International Student Performance

Karen Fujii, Niels Brock Copenhagen Business College, Denmark

Natalie Perez, University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States

Sonia Caroline Baptista, University of South Denmark, Denmark

This study focused on first-year international students engaging in support sessions at a private business college in Denmark. The study aimed to examine how an instructional framework might aid and enhance student performance. The support session objective focused on two areas: to comprehend and apply key concepts from module-specific themes and to develop research skills. The study sessions were implemented across two courses focused on Management and Marketing, and while different, both courses covered overlapping content, including PowerPoint presentations and individual reports/essays that utilized the same theories and models. This study examined the effects of the CARE² Model, a comprehensive framework that integrates principles from culturally responsive pedagogy, self-regulated learning, and instructional design. The eight constructs are Culture, Collaboration, Agency, Agility, Relevance, Repetition, Engagement, and Evaluation. The CARE² Model was used to explore the relevance of its eight factors via control and treatment groups. This study uses a triangulation mixed-methods research design, collecting and combining qualitative and quantitative data to illustrate the experiences and performance of international students. Limitations include challenges in asynchronous settings, as the module was tested in an entirely in-person environment. Further research is needed to explore the model’s applicability across different educational contexts. The findings illustrate practical strategies to support future instructors, trainers, or presenters in integrating and applying the CARE² Model across various learning contexts, learners, and experiences.

14:40-16:20 |

Saturday Online Parallel Session 3

MediAsia2025 | Film and Visual Communication

Session Chair: Belinda Chen

14:40-15:05

100554 | G. Aravindan: Myth, Metaphor, and Malayalam Cinema

Ashik M E, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India

Mriganka Madhukaillya, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India

Imon Shyam, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India

This paper examines the cinematic artistic styles of G. Aravindan, a celebrated Malayalam filmmaker and cartoonist, focusing on his unique storytelling approach that blends myth, folklore, and social realism. Through an analysis of key films such as Kummatty (1979), which uses a bogeyman tale to explore themes of freedom, Esthappan (1980), which keen into human perception through a mystic figure, and Kanchana Sita (1977), a humanized retelling of the ‘Ramayana’ with nature as metaphor and Thampu (1978) is discussed for its symbolic use of a circus tent as a miniature of this world. Aravindan’s minimalist, visually driven narratives, marked by long takes, natural settings, the use of non-professional actors, and poetic silence, reveal his unique cinematic language and representation of existential and societal themes. This paper highlights his contribution to Indian parallel cinema as a filmmaker who seamlessly merges myth and reality, creating works of philosophical and aesthetic depth.

15:05-15:30

100340 | Colonial and Post-Colonial Narratives in Indian Cinema: A Comparative Study of Gandhi and Swatantrya Veer Savarkar

Bristi Gogoi, The Assam Royal Global University, India

Abhilash Boruah, Dibrugarh University , India

Through the lens of cinema, this paper examines the construction and contestation of colonial and post-colonial narratives in Indian public memory through a comparative analysis of Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi (1982) and Randeep Hooda’s Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (2024). These biographical films portray two contrasting ideologies of the Indian freedom struggle: Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and moral resistance versus Savarkar’s vision of armed revolution and Hindu nationalism. Grounded in post-colonial theory and film studies, the analysis explores how each film contributes to historical memory, mediates national identity and reflects dominant ideological currents of their production contexts. Drawing on Edward Said, Homi Bhabha, Ashis Nandy, Benedict Anderson and Sumita S. Chakravarty, this study also engages with visual culture, masculinity, nationhood and myth-making in cinema. Through the usage of scene-level analysis, this paper argues that while Gandhi globalizes India’s colonial experience through liberal humanist tropes, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar reclaims history through a filter of militant nationalism and post-colonial revisionism thus showing that cinema serves as an active agent in reframing political imaginaries within contemporary India’s polarized cultural landscape.

15:30-15:55

95463 | Starting Point: Theorising Studio Ghibli’s Evolving Approach to Adaptation Zoe Crombie, Lancaster University, United Kingdom

Since their inception in 1985, adaptation has been a core idea at the heart of Studio Ghibli’s creative practice. Going beyond the novel/film binary that has historically been theorised in the field of adaptation studies, the studio draws upon materials like manga, children’s stories, folktales and newspaper serials when crafting their features and TV works. However, this frequently goes unnoticed and undiscussed by viewers, as their adaptational practices are often not blatant in the aesthetics, narratives, and even marketing of their work. Drawing upon theories from scholars like Linda Hutcheon and Marc Steinberg, this paper investigates how Studio Ghibli operates on the cutting edge of what is typically considered adaptation in both academic and non-academic circles. Using the primary case studies of Ponyo, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, and The Boy and the Heron, I will discuss how the studio takes unusual routes when adapting all kinds of literary works, and how their practice has arguably become more abstract as the studio has matured into its current form. Building upon and feeding into the discourses of the upcoming book Studio Ghibli Animation as Adaptations, the paper will utilise a mixture of formal analysis and adaptation and transnational theory to illuminate Ghibli’s unique mode of animation, how it has contributed to their brand, and what creatives and academics could learn from these approaches.

15:55-16:20

100514 | Visualizing Sound: Animation as Artistic Dialogue with Charles Koechlin’s Music

Belinda Chen, Bilkent University, Turkey

Fulten Larlar, Bilkent University, Turkey

Artistic innovation often begins with dialogue, whether between sound and image, movement and word, past and present. French composer Charles Koechlin (1867-1950) envisioned many of his piano miniatures as inherently cinematic, composing them in the early 20th-century to accompany imagined films. Although this vision was never realized during his lifetime, it reflects a rich tradition of intermedial exchange in which music and visual narrative directly engage with one another. This project reimagines Koechlin’s vision through a contemporary lens, situating his work within a broader lineage of cross-disciplinary artistic correspondence, continuing the dialogue begun by Alexander Scriabin’s (1872-1915) synesthetic compositions to the “visual music” of Hans Richter (1888-1976), Walther Ruttman (1887-1941), and Oskar Fischinger (1900-1976). Portrait of Daisy Hamilton for Piano and Animation is an academic collaboration developed at Bilkent University, pairing live piano performance with original animations created in direct response to the music. The animations emerged from an interpretive dialogue: the pianist shared how tempo, dynamics, and phrasing shaped narrative, while the animator translated these cues into visual sequences that echoed and expanded the musical ideas. By centering mutual artistic interpretation, the project foregrounded visual language as an active, narrative force that was shaped in dialogue with musical expression. The collaboration blurs the lines between sound and image, performer and animator. Ultimately, the project demonstrates how music and image can function in correspondence, not only as expressive counterparts but as collaborative tools for communicating narrative and meaning.

14:40-16:20

| Live-Stream Room 2

Saturday Online Parallel Session 3

KAMC2025 | Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Alberto M. Albuquerque

14:40-15:05

97342 | Beyond Borders: Rethinking Global Citizenship Through Common Land, Collective Belonging, and the Politics of Ecological Participation

Aanchal Seth, Panjab University, India

Can global citizenship be fully understood without grounding it in land, access, and shared belonging? Contemporary conversations often frame citizenship in terms of mobility, rights, and global ethics—but tend to overlook the material and ecological foundations that shape how people live and participate in the world. This paper argues that common lands—such as forests, pastures, and water bodies—are not just resources but political spaces where citizenship is negotiated and lived. Drawing on political theory and historical struggles over access and autonomy, the paper reframes citizenship as a practice rooted in place, ecology, and collective responsibility. It challenges the assumption that global citizenship must be disembedded and universal, instead highlighting how deeply local practices of stewardship, mutual obligation, and land-based identity offer alternative models of participation and justice. The paper also reflects on how leadership over commons often resists formal state authority, emerging through customary norms, dialogue, and shared use. By focusing on land as both a right and a relationship, this work contributes to reimagining citizenship in a time of ecological uncertainty and political fragmentation. It invites a rethinking of what it means to belong, to lead, and to act collectively in a shared world.

15:05-15:30

96787 | GAMUT: The Spatial and Generational Mapping of Trees and Vegetation of the Solon House Kathleen Solon-Villaneza, Global Educators Network, Inc., Thailand

GAMUT identifies and explores the trees and vegetation at the Solon House post-World War II. The Solon House refers to family, architecture, and estate deeply rooted in Mabolo, a village in Cebu City, the Philippines. Maps (historical, DENR cadastral, and subdivision survey plans), legal documents, and old photographs help locate and support the study. The Quantum GIS application is utilized to map the trees and vegetation across generations. Rooted in autoethnography and phenomenology, the researcher’s own experiences, together with the lived experience narratives of family members, are collected and thematically coded to extract recurring vegetal metaphors. Trees and vegetation are active participants in memory and meaning-making. For example, a dakit tree planted sometime in the 1940s as a boundary marker kept alive the folklore of ada (engkanto) from the ancestors to descendants’ own lived experiences. The paper also explores the Cebuano word gamut, its metaphorical essence, and relationships with words in Filipino and English, informing the significance of vernacular language heritage. Apart from serving as one of four vital articles for the family’s second book project, the paper also informs Filipino notions of kinship and place, as well as Plant Humanities in Southeast Asia.

15:30-15:55

96655 | A Perfect Prelude: The Cultural Significance of Wagashi Alexandre Avdulov, Saint Mary’s University, Canada

The term wagashi refers to a traditional Japanese confectionary often connected with Chanoyu, commonly known as the Japanese tea ceremony. In a formal tea gathering it is served about half-an-hour before the tea is offered and its function is to prepare one’s pallet for the slightly bitter taste of matcha, served in the form of thick tea, koicha, where powdered tea is blended by a bamboo whisk with a small amount of hot water. This tea, shared between a small number of guests, is the pinnacle of a chaji – a formal tea gathering, which includes serving of a kaiseki meal, the laying of two fires and the serving of two different kinds of tea preceded by two different types of okashi. This paper will focus on the history and cultural significance of wagashi in the context of Chanoyu, their seasonal poetic names and the art, practice and business of okashi making. Wagashi are not so much about taste as they are works of art. Meant to be consumed shortly after being made, they possess both historical and cultural significance that goes beyond their taste. Not a dessert at the end of a meal but rather a prelude to another experience, wagashi are a cultural universe in the form of edible sculptures. They are part of a tradition carefully passed from generation to generation, which is still very much alive in Japan today.

15:55-16:20

100311 | Truth and Performance: Interpreting Honne and Tatemae Through Intercultural Communication Alberto De Melo Albuquerque, Yamanashi Gakuin University, Japan

This presentation explores the Japanese concepts of honne (true feelings) and tatemae (public facade) as cultural mechanisms for navigating social harmony and identity. Rather than viewing these terms as a binary of truth versus deceit, the session reinterprets them as part of a broader communicative choreography embedded in high-context societies. Drawing on intercultural communication theory, cultural semiotics, and symbolic interactionism, this conceptual analysis compares Japanese communication norms with similar dynamics in Brazilian and South American contexts—such as jeitinho, simpatia, and vergonha. These cultural scripts of “truth-masking” challenge Western ideals of transparency and raise important questions about how truth, tact, and authenticity are constructed across cultures. Through cross-cultural comparisons and reflective storytelling, the presentation will explore how culturally sanctioned deception can serve prosocial, pedagogical, and organizational functions. Attendees will be invited to rethink intercultural misunderstandings not as ethical failures but as misalignments in communication logics. Key theoretical frameworks include Hall’s high vs. low-context communication, Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity, and Ting-Toomey’s face-negotiation theory. Designed for educators and professionals, this session offers insights into how communication styles are shaped by cultural norms rather than personality traits, and provides practical implications for teaching, training, and leadership in diverse environments. Ultimately, it invites a shift from judgment to interpretation, recognizing tatemae not as hypocrisy, but as a culturally meaningful form of relational performance.

14:40-16:20 | Live-Stream Room 3

Saturday Online Parallel Session 3

KAMC/MediAsia2025

| Digital Humanities and Cultural Studies

Session Chair: Asiye Nisa Kartal

14:40-15:05

96634 | From Cultur Al Space to Consumption Stage: A Critical View of Shanghai’s Urban Policies and Independent Music Practice

Yuqing Xu, University of Warwick, United Kingdom

This thesis offers a critical analysis of Shanghai’s urban policies and their impact on independent music practices within China’s nationalled cultural governance. Examining schemes such as the “Performing Arts New Spaces” initiative under the 14th FiveYear Plan, it contends that Shanghai’s drive to establish itself as a “culturally strong” global metropolis privileges commercial viability and spatial regulation, thereby marginalising grassroots music communities. Utilising Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital alongside Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space, the study uncovers entrenched disparities in venue allocation: highend, stateendorsed sites concentrate in central districts, while experimental genres (for example, punk and postrock) are confined to informal or unstable locales. A comparative case study of Berlin illuminates a contrasting approach, where legal safeguards and community governance uphold cultural autonomy, especially evident in clubs like SO36, which benefit from “nighttime institution” status. By contrast, Shanghai’s independent venues confront censorship, gentrification and administrative hurdles, pressing subcultural groups into makeshift or transient spaces. The thesis concludes that although Shanghai’s policies purport to democratise cultural participation, they in fact reinforce hierarchical access by favouring economically secure and ideologically neutral expressions. Achieving genuine spatial justice, it argues, demands a reimagining of urban governance that embraces diversity, grassroots involvement and noncommercial cultural forms.

15:05-15:30

100204 | AI as a Medium for Cultural Resonance: Reflections and Practice on Co-creativeness with Generative AI

Hans Rall, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Alice Osinska, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Each technological advancement does not come without constraints. It is the job of a creator to extract the creativity of a subject rather than recoil from its existence. In the midst of the wide-ranging debate on artificial intelligence in creative practice, we employ GenAI to elaborate on Shakespearean theatrical narratives, advocating for co-creativity rather than a complete rejection of artificial intelligence. The works of Shakespeare transcend their time with themes deeply related to the human experience. Adapted globally, Shakespeare serves as a case study to visualise culture-rich scenes shifting traditional theatre narratives towards AI-generated short animated sequences. Moreover, the concept of this project in utilising the visual cultures such as Chinese paper-cutting and shadow puppetry or Greek blackfigured style that emphasises the idea of Shakespeare being irrespective of cultural context. Therefore, once guided by human, AI is a valuable tool in creative practice without diminishing authorship. The study proposes a mixed-method that combines a review of currently available GenAI models by carefully evaluating three key aspects of: visual culture resonance, narrative fidelity to Shakespeare and quality of animation, as well as a practice-led approach engaging AI and manual art intervention to achieve a specific animated outcome. The indicators gather the presence of recognised cultural motifs, ornamentation or symbolism, accuracy in narrative, as well as stylistic distortion. The outcome is presented in the form of animated scenes, involving Shakespeare narrative, AI cultural generation and human intervention by explicit art-guidance. Consequently, the project addresses narrative culture and artistic multiculturalism and AI advancements.

15:30-15:55

94416 | Artificial Intelligence in Museum Experiences: the Sensory Dimensions of Museum Environments for People with Disabilities

Asiye Nisa Kartal, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Turkey

Kerem Rizvanoglu, Galatasaray University, Turkey

Hamdi Serhat Guney, Galatasaray University, Turkey

Artificial intelligence may significantly contribute to the design of user-centred, sustainable and accessible museum environments. Still, studies have ignored the sensory dimensions of artificial intelligence-based museum exhibitions. The dramatic increase in artificial intelligence-based tools and the influence on museum design in Istanbul motivated us to examine museum exhibitions’ sensory opportunities focusing on people with disabilities. We followed the questions of how people with disabilities experience and identify the sensory characteristics of museums through artificial intelligence. We use a humanistic, mobile and creative approach based on ‘sensewalking’ to examine the sensory dimensions of museum exhibitions. In three museum environments in Besiktas, Istanbul, artificial intelligence-based exhibition tools are investigated. The sensewalking technique helps us understand how people with disabilities sense the museum environments with their bodies and visual, auditory, olfactory, and haptic museum-visiting experiences. We see artificial intelligence-based tools in the exhibitions change visual-haptic experiences, and complex spatial usage of the interfaces makes it challenging to perceive the olfactory characteristics of the museums. Artificial intelligence allows people with disabilities to personalise their museum experiences. By artificial intelligence-based tools, people with disabilities customise their individual-identified auditory experiences. Artificial intelligence applications may optimise the multi-sensory features of the museum exhibition’s theme. The study’s detections help promote the multi-sensory dimensions of the museum environments by addressing people with disabilities in design, research, and practice.

Virtual Poster Presentations

Read Virtual Poster Presentations & Watch Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Abstracts appear as originally submitted by the author. Any spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors are those of the author.

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KAMC2025 Virtual Poster Presentations

Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations

95655 | Marketing Strategy for Female Fitness Centre Chains in Taiwan

Kuei-Lun Chang, Ming Chuan University, Taiwan

In contemporary society, individuals possess greater leisure time and are increasingly conscious of health and wellness. This shift has increased the emphasis on adopting a healthy and active lifestyle. Recently, the proportion of the population engaging in physical activity has continued to rise, fostering the rapid development of Taiwan’s leisure and sports-related industries. With the growing number of women participating in sports, the female demographic has emerged as a significant potential market and a new target consumer segment. In order to remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic and highly competitive environment, adopting innovative marketing strategies has become a crucial trend in developing the female fitness market. Business models encounter new opportunities and unprecedented challenges in the evolving digital era. We utilized in-depth interviews with managers from female fitness center chains to explore the marketing strategies and challenges they encounter in the process. The interview questions were based on the concept of the service triangle. Three franchise owners (operate six branches) and two marketing managers were already interviewed. The key findings are summarised as follows: 1. Internal Marketing – Regularly provides coaches with interpersonal communication training. 2. External Marketing – Traditional marketing primarily relies on direct mail. Word-of-mouth marketing has proven to be more effective. Facebook advertising is the core promotional strategy. Celebrity endorsements are perceived to be more effective than collaborations with internet influencers. 3. Interactive Marketing – Use of smart wristbands to assist coaches in monitoring physical conditions and offering tailored training recommendations.

Media Studies

96872 | From “Objectivity” to “Ubuntu”: Reassessing the GJA Code of Ethics

Phylix Asilevi, Marquette University, United States

Journalists in Ghana are guided by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Code of Ethics in the delivery of their duties to society. The GJA Code of Ethics, first developed in 1994 by the Ghana Journalists Association Board in conjunction with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung organization—a German non-governmental organization—stresses the need for Ghanaian journalists to be objective in their reportage. This is reflected in Guideline Two of the code, which states that a journalist must report the truth at all times. The GJA further operates under the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which promotes universal principles of journalism such as truth-telling and objectivity. However, Ghanaian field reporters who follow these principles to the letter often face physical assaults from community members they report on, as they portray these individuals as subjects of the news rather than as humans who need to be understood. This paper, therefore, seeks to argue for the African principle of Ubuntu to be immersed in the GJA Code of Ethics to curb physical assaults on field reporters. The African principle of Ubuntu calls for inclusive reporting and promotes solidarity, compassion, and interconnectedness when dealing with subjects of news. This study adds to the body of knowledge on decolonizing communication and media ethics.

Sociology

96702 | Visual Ethnography on the Transition Experiences of Long-term Evacuees from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident: Methodological Considerations

Kana Ohashi, Tokyo Keizai University, Japan

The accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant following the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011 resulted in the surrounding areas being designated as evacuation zones, forcing residents to evacuate to areas both within and outside Fukushima Prefecture. Fourteen years have passed since the accident, and while the lifting of evacuation orders has progressed, as of February 2025, 24,644 people remain evacuated1). While ‘major reconstruction’ centred on infrastructure restoration and the construction of ‘hard infrastructure’ has been promoted, ‘minor reconstruction’ encompassing the lives and psychological well-being of individual disaster victims and evacuees has yet to be realised, according to urban sociologist Naoki Yoshihara, who has continued research on-site2). In such a situation, an important research topic is to understand the ‘transitions (changes from one state to another)’ that the evacuation caused by the nuclear accident has brought about in people’s life courses, and to study the transition experiences of those who have been evacuated for over 10 years. Based on this background, I have planned a four-year visual ethnographic study (from 2024 to 2027) to attempt to understand in detail the transitional experiences brought about by the evacuation due to the nuclear accident. In this paper, we describe how we selected the research participants, how we considered the research methods, and report on the progress of the first year of the study and future prospects.

mediasia.iafor.org/programme

MediAsia2025 Virtual Poster Presentations

Social Media and Communication Technology

100527 | The Artificial Wave: the Phenomenon of AI Influencers, Cultural Virality, and the Marisa Maiô Case Guilherme Pessina, Instituto Brasileiro de Ensino, Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa, Brazil Lucia Fernandes, Instituto Brasileiro de Ensino, Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa, Brazil

This study investigates the emerging phenomenon of digital influencers generated by artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on the Brazilian case “Marisa Maiô” — a hyper-realistic avatar created by Raony Phillips using Google’s Veo 3 platform. The research explores the convergence of generative technology, narrative strategies, and cultural marketing, offering a critical analysis of how synthetic personas are reshaping the digital communication ecosystem. AI influencers are contextualized as a strategic response to the limitations of human influencers, offering advantages such as narrative control, predictability, and 24/7 availability. Methodologically, the paper employs a case study and discursive analysis centered on the aesthetics, narrative structure, and public reception of the audiovisual content. “Marisa Maiô” is examined as a sophisticated satire of Brazilian “trash TV”, whose virality stems from a combination of media nostalgia, ontological ambiguity, and creative ingenuity. The study also provides a comparative overview of global AI influencers, discusses ethical risks in their adoption, and proposes strategic guidelines for brands and creators. The findings suggest that the success of such avatars lies not in mimicking human authenticity, but in narrative consistency and loyalty to their fictional personas. This work contributes to broader discussions on platformization of culture, emerging audiovisual languages, and the evolving boundaries between human and synthetic in contemporary marketing.

Virtual Presentations

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Abstracts appear as originally submitted by the author. Any spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors are those of the author.

KAMC2025 Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations

97731 | Social Media Marketing Strategies of Contemporary Art Museums in South Korea: the Case of #helloMMCA

Daniela Otoni Pereira Miranda, Hongik University, South Korea

The contemporary art museum is increasingly operate a digital scene where audience engagement has shifted from passive reception to active participation. This paper investigates the social media marketing strategies of The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in South Korea, a nation characterized by high digital connectivity and a dynamic arts scene. Focusing on the innovative #helloMMCA program, this study analyzes how the museum create interactive strategies to achieve its marketing and educational objectives. Utilizing a qualitative case study methodology, the research draws on semi-structured interviews with the museum marketing team and the program participants and a thorough document analysis of program guidelines. Data is analyzed through thematic analysis to identify key strategies and their outcomes. This paper addresses the critical role of user-generated content (UGC) in fostering a sense of community and enhancing audience interaction, moving beyond traditional one-way communication models. Findings illuminate how tailored digital strategies can address the unique challenges faced by art institutions, offering a deeper understanding of audience engagement in the digital era. The research provides actionable recommendations for museum professionals on optimizing social media presence, and for marketing practitioners on effectively engaging audiences with art and culture online. Ultimately, this study contributes crucial insights into building dynamic, participatory online communities that enrich the museum experience.

Arts Practices

96729 | A Method to Create Audible Glitch Art Noriki Amano, Notre Dame Seishin University, Japan

Glitch art is art that uses errors (glitches) in images, videos, and sounds that are intentionally created by destroying digital data or physically manipulating electronic devices. Glitch art is interesting in that it expresses unpredictable, accidental beauty. We have been exploring the production methods and effects of glitch art, and as part of that, in this study, we explored the production and methods of glitch art that can be heard by the ears. Specifically, we first used the image processing software Photoshop to generate multi-layer data that mixed image data and audio data as separate layers. Next, we confirmed that glitch art can be created by loading it into the audio processing software Audacity and applying audio processing to the image data portion without affecting the audio data. The method in this study is an extension of a method we have previously used, but the previous method was not able to generate glitch art; instead, it created glitch sounds. Moreover, this mixed unbearable noise sounds into the audio data, and could not be said to be a work that could be enjoyed by the ears. In contrast, in this study, we demonstrated a method that allows not only to enjoy glitch art visually, but also to enjoy it as music by ear. This is a unique research project that simultaneously makes glitches visible and audible, and can be said to create a new type of art that brings about a shift in aesthetic sensibilities.

Ageing Studies

100475 | Addressing Depression in Older Adults: Interior Design Strategies for Nursing Home Environments

Rana Bazaid, Taif University, Saudi Arabia

Rawan Al-Thabeti, Taif University, Saudi Arabia

Manar Al-Maliki, Taif University, Saudi Arabia

This study explores the role of interior design in addressing depression among older adults residing in care homes, a growing concern as this population segment continues to expand. Depression is among the most common mental health challenges in this context, often linked to social isolation, loneliness, and a diminished sense of purpose (Zahran, 1985; Maali, 2015; Morley, 2020). The research investigates how interior design can serve as a supportive tool for enhancing psychological well-being and reducing depressive symptoms. It applies a descriptive-analytical approach based on a review of relevant literature, with a focus on Third Place Theory and Place Attachment Theory to examine how environmental factors influence emotional health. Findings suggest that poorly designed care environments can increase feelings of alienation, while thoughtfully designed spaces can improve mood, support social interaction, and foster a sense of belonging. Key design strategies include providing private rooms, creating communal spaces, integrating natural elements, and allowing for personalization of living areas. Sensory stimulation through the built environment also plays a crucial role in enhancing mood and reducing emotional emptiness. The study concludes that interior design can significantly support mental health in care settings when it considers the psychological and social needs of older adults. This approach is particularly vital in Arab societies, where the older population is steadily increasing, highlighting the importance of creating supportive, engaging, and emotionally responsive environments in nursing homes.

kyoto-amc.iafor.org/programme KAMC2025 Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Cultural Studies

100337 | Matching Negative Emotions to Recovery-Focused Tourism Destinations

Lucita Adelan, Cebu Institute of Technology University, Philippines

Mark Leo Vidal, Cebu Institute of Technology University, Philippines

Rodolfo Joesph Johannes Tecarro, Cebu Institute of Technology University, Philippines

Ronaldo Puzon, Cebu Institute of Technology University, Philippines

Tourism has become an important way for emotional recovery, with travelers looking for places that support their mental well-being. This study examines the link between negative emotions, such as stress, burnout, anxiety, and loneliness, and tourists’ preferences for destinations focused on recovery. Using a descriptive quantitative research design, we collected data from 300 leisure travelers through a structured questionnaire that assessed emotional experiences, destination features, and recovery-oriented preferences. The findings show that negative emotions have a significant impact on destination choices, with nature-based settings like quiet beaches, mountain retreats, and wellness-focused areas being the most liked for emotional healing. Additionally, social interaction and calmness were identified as key factors in the recovery process, varying with individual emotional needs. The study emphasizes the need to connect tourism experiences with emotional states to improve tourist satisfaction and promote mental health. Practical suggestions include creating emotion-based travel packages, adding mental wellness services, and marketing destinations based on emotional benefits. In the changing world of post-pandemic travel, tourism is not just a leisure activity but also a way to heal emotionally and renew oneself.

96182 | The Influence of Age Groups on Fan Consumption Behaviors and Support Patterns: A Case Study of Taiwan

Tzu Chi Lien, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan

Tzu Ling Ma, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan

Hsiu-Ju Yang, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan

This study examines fan consumption behaviors across age groups and analyzes the impact of popular culture and idol attributes. Prior research has primarily focused on younger populations, with limited attention to differences in consumption choices, idol nationality preferences, and cultural influences among various age cohorts. A survey conducted in Taiwan yielded 273 valid responses. The analysis encompassed variables such as age, expenditure, idol nationality appeal, product preferences, and behavior types. Results indicate that fans aged 21–25 exhibit the highest purchasing power, favoring official merchandise and participation in events; those aged 26–30 prefer physical support such as concert attendance; while fans aged 31 and above, constrained by economic pressure and product relevance, show lower consumption intentions. Fan behavior is also shaped by the evolution of popular culture, shifting from Hong Kong influences to Japanese trends and the Korean Wave, driving changes in consumption preferences and support forms. These findings provide valuable insights for businesses aiming to develop product strategies aligned with the preferences of different age groups and cultural orientations.

96485 | Associations Between Reading Habits and “Big Five” Personality Traits in Adults

Eugen Zaretsky, Marburg University, Germany

Benjamin P. Lange, IU International University, Germany

Reading habits vary across nations, continents, and social strata. They depend on educational level, biological sex, and many other individual characteristics. In the current study, reading habits were analysed regarding their associations with personality traits of test subjects irrespective of their national background. A total of 935 German-, Russian-, and English-speaking adults filled out online questionnaires on their reading habits. The “BFI-10 Personality Questionnaire” was utilized to assess personality traits of the test subjects: extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness. BFI-10 questionnaire scores were correlated with numerous items regarding preferred genres, possession of books, attitude to reading books and other literature etc. The most important personality traits were scrutinized by classification trees. People who believe to be conscientious, i.e. to do a thorough job, read more because they have to read at/for work. People with an active imagination (openness) possess, buy and read more books, would like to write or have already written a book, and describe themselves as well-read. People who consider themselves as extraverts (i.e., outgoing and social) tend to possess and read less books, but prefer audiobooks. Most BFI-10 items showed very few statistically significant correlations. All correlations were low. Personality traits documented in the BFI-10 questionnaire are weakly associated with reading habits. However, people who describe themselves as those who usually do a thorough job (conscientiousness) and have an active imagination (openness) read more. People who consider themselves sociable (extraversion) read less. Neuroticism and agreeableness showed almost no links to reading habits.

kyoto-amc.iafor.org/programme KAMC2025 Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

96928 | An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Healers Among the Kalanguya of Tinoc, Ifugao

Dante Masto Miguel, Benguet State University, Philippines

Leonora Javonillo, Benguet State University, Philippines

Agustin Jr David, Benguet State University, Philippines

Albert Jr Bolcio, Benguet State University, Philippines

This ethnographic study, conducted in the Philippines, explores the current practices of traditional healers among the Kalanguya indigenous community in Tinoc, Ifugao. It aims to document healers who remain active, describe their areas of specialization, examine how their knowledge and skills are acquired and transmitted, and identify the informal qualifications for becoming a healer. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and community-based consultations. Nine traditional healers were included in the study: six mabaki (ritual specialists), two maktum (ritual and cultural facilitators), and one mapha-ak (herbal practitioner), along with five relatives who served as knowledgeable informants. The healers were found to specialize in spiritual diagnosis (ma-anap), traditional massage (hilot), protective charm-making (himek), and counseling. While some believed their healing abilities developed through personal spiritual experiences, most traced their learning to oral transmission, familial lineage, or apprenticeship under elder practitioners. No formal educational qualifications were required, but commitment, moral integrity, and strong community trust were regarded as essential. Despite the decreasing number of practitioners, traditional healing continues to play a vital role in Kalanguya cultural and spiritual life, particularly through baki or ritual offerings. The findings highlight the importance of sustaining indigenous knowledge systems and suggest that apprenticeship-based models be incorporated into Indigenous Peoples Education (IPE) programs in the Philippines to support cultural preservation and intergenerational transmission of healing traditions.

Difference/Identity/Ethnicity

100246 | Navigating Psychological Frontiers: A Comparative Literature Review of Mental Health Challenges Among International Students in Japan and Erasmus+ Countries

Hoang-Nam Tran, Tokushima University, Japan

The rapid internationalization of higher education has increased global student mobility, bringing both academic opportunities and challenges. Among these, mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and cultural adjustment difficulties are increasingly reported by international students during their time abroad. Japan and the Erasmus+ countries, comprising key European higher education destinations, offer different sociocultural, linguistic, and institutional environments for students. Despite growing scholarly interest, comparative research on how these regional contexts shape the mental health outcomes of international students remains limited. This literature review synthesizes existing research on the mental health challenges faced by international students in Japan and Erasmus+ countries. Focusing on key themes such as acculturative stress, language barriers, academic pressure, social integration, and access to mental health services, the paper highlights both shared difficulties and context-specific patterns. By drawing cross-regional comparisons, this review contributes to a deeper understanding of how educational and sociocultural systems influence student wellbeing and points to implications for policy and institutional support systems.

Education / Pedagogy

100210 | Paglalayag at Pagdaong: Revisiting and (Re)Designing a Lifelong Language and Cultural Education for Migrant Filipino Children Ernesto II Carandang, De La Salle University, Philippines

Christopher Bryan Concha, De La Salle University, Philippines

This paper presents the Manunggul Jar Project (MJP) as a service-learning model, that can be adapted globally to support migrant communities in preserving their linguistic and cultural heritage. Developed by De La Salle University in the Philippines and implemented in the Filipino-Italian community of Venice, the MJP offers a replicable framework for heritage and language education rooted in community engagement, intergenerational collaboration, and values-based pedagogy. This project integrates language instruction with cultural appreciation, identity-building, and digital innovation. The project has served as a model of sustainable diaspora education for over three years, blending modular lessons with art-based activities, children’s literature appreciation, peer mentoring, and parental involvement. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project expanded into online modalities, revealing opportunities and to build transnational virtual classrooms and interactive learning environments. Based on these experiences, this paper outlines a flexible formula for multilingual and multicultural education adaptable to various contexts and learning platforms. The framework aligns with the UN’s goals for inclusive education and cultural sustainability, and can inform and share innovative pedagogical practices for educators, researchers, and community leaders working with diasporic communities worldwide. By highlighting the MJP as both an educational and cultural intervention, this study invites international dialogue on how heritage language learning can foster belonging, continuity, and empowerment in migrant populations. It aims to contribute to the development of globally adaptable models that preserve linguistic identity while cultivating intercultural competence.

Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Gender, Sexuality and Culture

96155 | Identity Categorization in Taiwanese Gay Users’ Pride Parade IG Posts

Ting-Yu Liu, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Chin-Hui Chen, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Following the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan, LGBTQ+ issues have become more visible in public discourse. This study explores how Taiwanese gay men construct sexual identity through Instagram posts during the Taiwan Pride Parade. Grounded in social identity theory, the research analyzes 125 posts collected via snowball sampling, using a grounded theory approach to uncover identityconstruction strategies. Two main textual strategies emerged. First, hashtag framing (e.g., #LoveWins, #同志驕傲 [#GayPride]) functions as a clear form of self-identification and community affiliation. Second, the use of community-specific jargon (e.g., “女神” [goddess], “熊” [bear], “姊妹” [sister]) reflects subcultural belonging and sexual orientation through implicit, coded language. These strategies illustrate how users negotiate visibility, express solidarity, and perform identity within digital queer spaces. The findings emphasize the fluid, performative nature of LGBTQ+ identity on social media and offer insights into queer self-representation and community practices in contemporary Taiwan.

98243 | Visual Analysis of Self-Presentation on Dating Apps: A Comparison Between Taiwanese Heterosexual Female and Male Users

Shan-Shan Lee, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan Chin-Hui Chen, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

This study explores gendered visual self-presentation on dating applications through a sociolinguistic. Using content analysis,200Tinder profiles (100 male and 100 female) were examined to identify how users visually construct gendered identities. Six visual variables were coded, included sexualization, partial physical features, emoji use, number of uploaded photos, selfie angle, and photo distance. Statistical analysis revealed that female users were significantly more likely to engage in sexualized imagery and preferred close-up, high-angle selfies, suggesting a tendency toward emotional accessibility and visual intimacy. In contrast, male users more often emphasized body parts and used medium-distance or low-angle photos, reflecting traditional masculine ideals such as dominance and height. While the number of photos and emoji use did not differ significantly, female users displayed slightly more expressive visual behaviors. These results suggest that self-presentation on dating apps continues to reflect conventional gender norms. Even within self-curated digital spaces, visual choices are strategically aligned with social expectations. This study contributes to sociolinguistic understandings of gender performance in online contexts and offers insight into the visual discourse strategies individuals employ to attract potential partners.

Language and Cultural Studies

95513 | Mirroring as a Linguistic Strategy of Discrediting the Opponent

Simona Fraštíková, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia

The study analyzes the language strategy employed by conspiracy theorists, specifically the concept of “mirroring”. This involves adopting the linguistic strategies of their opponents to explain events, while usually reversing the key positions. Such attacks serve both as a form of counteroffensive and as an attempt to focus attention on the opponent while reinforcing the credibility of their own shared content. This linguistic strategy is examined in German and Slovak conspiracy discourse, using examples from digital journalistic texts and (multimodal) texts disseminated online. The aim is to highlight a strategy that contributes to the growing popularity and spread of conspiracy theories, thereby fostering greater polarization in society. Methodologically, the study draws on corpus linguistics tools while also integrating a contextual approach necessary for understanding the strategy and interpreting its content.

97119 | Geolinguistic Correlates of Preschoolers’ German Language Skills in Germany

Eugen Zaretsky, Marburg University, Germany Christiane Hey, Marburg University Hospital, Germany

The development of children’s German language skills can be influenced not only by sociodemographic and medical characteristics of their families (e.g., predisposition for language impairments) but also by geolinguistic characteristics of their neighborhood (e.g., educational level, percentage of migrants). In the current study, German language competence of German preschoolers was scrutinized under consideration of geolinguistic characteristics of the regions or districts where they lived. A total of 525 five- to six-year-old children underwent a school enrolment examination in the German states of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. Their German language skills were quantified by the test SOPESS (“Social pediatric screening of developmental status for school entry”) in public health departments. Ordinal results of the linguistic subtest (from 1 “insufficient” to 5 “excellent”) were correlated with 66 geolinguistic variables, that is, sociodemographic characteristics of the regions or districts where these children lived. Among other things, children with better German language skills resided in the regions/districts with a lower percentage of migrants and foreigners, less persons living under conditions of poverty, less unemployed, more living area per person, more households with a high income, more children attending kindergartens and prestigious grammar schools. Children with better German language skills lived in the regions/districts with a comparatively high income, high educational level, and high percentage of non-migrants. Consequently, they received German language input of a comparatively high quality from their peers and adults. The quantity of the German language input was also high due to the attendance of kindergartens.

Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Literature, Literary Studies and Theory

98318 | Ecofeminism in the Poems of Alice Tan-Gonzales Clarece Benjamin, Central Philippine University, Philippines

Ecofeminism is a multifaceted and interdisciplinary field of study which made its way into academia, activism and inclusivity through its different proponents. Climate change has intensified the call for pragmatic approaches in dealing with arising and worsening problems which lead to the pursuance of this study. The study aims to analyze the interdependence of literature, nature and culture from the selected poems of Alice Tan-Gonzales through the ecofeminist lens of Francoise d’Eaubonne and Rosemary Radford . Specifically, the study analyzes the person-addressee, local and symbolism, sociocultural themes and ecological issues and mounts a podcast in accordance. Further theoretical support is provided via Roman Jakobson’s Formalism, Erich Auerbach and Judith Butler’s Mimesis, and Louise Rosenblatt and Stanley Fish’s Reader Response. The analysis reveals that each poem has a woman persona addressed to different addressees and exhibits various local colors and symbolisms. Sociocultural themes include physical and psychological suffering. There are numerous ecological issues enumerated including nature as source of strength and suffering, nature as healer, Diseases brought by industrialization or modernization, Degradation of nature, male-dominated ecological devastation, agricultural imbalance, nature as a source of basic needs; nature as impediment to success, nature as the “other”; subordinate class, nature as a source of suffering, villainizing nature, and the rights of nature. It concludes then that the poems in Alice Tan-Gonzales’ Ilongga: Manifold Faces, manifests an interdependence of literature, culture, nature, and gender with ecofeminist perspectives. It is recommended that aligned studies and projects be pursued to strengthen this study.

96562 | Transnational Girlhood in the Malaysian Cosplay Scene: Combining Islamic Identity and Japanese Cosplay

Hannah Jie Hui Kuah, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Malaysia

Girlhood in Malaysia visibly intersects with Japanese popular culture through cosplay, particularly among Muslim girls who creatively integrate hijabs into their costumes. Japanese culture, especially the anime/manga sphere, has been widely embraced by Malaysians across gender and race. Yet for Muslim girls, choosing to cosplay in hijab often provokes mixed reactions within both cosplay communities and broader society, where norms of modesty remain closely tied to religious and social expectations. Prior research has examined hijabi cosplayers in Indonesia, but the embodied negotiation of Islamic practice, social upbringing, and Japanese media in the Malaysian context requires further exploration. This study asks: How does a Malaysian Muslim girl negotiate her identity at the intersection of Japanese cosplay culture and the religious and social rules of Malaysia? How does she portray these negotiations in practice? Data were collected through interviews with six Malaysian hijabi cosplayers, selected for their active participation in online cosplay networks. Critical discourse analysis was employed to examine how participants articulate identity, authenticity, and creative practice, with coding procedures grounded in established theories of transnational girlhood and cultural negotiation. Findings show that rather than pursuing precise replication, participants emphasise religious considerations, engaging in creative reinterpretations that reflect both Islamic values and Japanese aesthetic forms. The physical embodiment through cosplay is crucial here to understand how one translates their identity into the material world. Their experiences highlight ongoing debates within the hijabi cosplay community concerning physical representation, identity, and religious boundaries.

96287 | Mediating Intimacy: The K-pop Industry’s Commercialization of Parasocial Relationship Between Adolescent Filipino Fans and Their Male Idols Via Weverse Application

Christopher Bryan Concha, De La Salle University, Philippines

Anna Francesca Sauz, De La Salle University, Philippines

Julia Adamos, De La Salle University, Philippines

Clara Antonette Nicdao, De La Salle University, Philippines

Ma. Francheska Quia, De La Salle University, Philippines

The prevalence of the K-pop industry’s globalization has risen over the years, using the digital age as a way to expand its business presence in the market. Understanding the factors that influence the consumption patterns and parasocial relationships fans experience will bring awareness to the danger and possible causes of being overly invested in the K-pop industry’s capitalization. However, research about the Weverse app as a medium for capitalizing on parasocial relationships among adolescent Filipino K-pop fans is limited. The main objective of this study is to investigate the perception of adolescent Filipino K-pop fans on parasocial relationships and how it influences consumption in the Weverse app. Data were gathered through a Focus Group Discussion and analyzed by identifying recurring themes among the participants’ answers guided by Parasocial Theory, Affective Economies, and three domains of the Consumer Culture Theory. Findings revealed exclusive content, fan-idol interactions, and membership benefits influence fans’ emotional and financial investments. Fan service applications such as the Weverse app can foster and capitalize on parasocial relationships. While some fans acknowledge that fan-idol interactions are an idol’s work, their emotional attachment remains a significant motivator for app consumption. Additionally, fans’ perspectives on parasocial relationships varied from full one-sided relationships to a belief of mutual acknowledgment through fandom identity. The findings suggest that the exclusivity the Weverse app offers impacts consumer behavior, affecting fans’ willingness to consume from the app. Thus, to be financially responsible consumers, fans should be aware of the extent of their emotional investment towards idols.

Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Performing Arts Practices: Theater, Dance, Music

100553 | “The Unspoken Story of Gilbert”: An Intermedial Performance of Sound, Movement, and Collective Imagination Monika Karwaszewska, Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, Poland

The Untold Story of Gilbert’ is an intermedial project examining the process of creation, embodiment, and interpretation of Gilbert, a ten meters long wooden whale skeleton constructed by the Polish artist Olgierd Chmielewski. The work functions simultaneously as a kinetic sculpture, an experimental sound instrument, and a performative presence. The project adopts an interdisciplinary perspective, positioning Gilbert at the intersection of visual and performing arts, sound studies, and audience participation.

The musical dimension of the work consists of an experimental soundscape generated by twelve wooden pipes (based on C overtones), played by an organist using twelve manual levers and traditionally operated bellows. During the performance, Gilbert “swims” through space its kinetic movements and musical improvisation merge into a unified artistic experience.

The presentation will include documentation of the live performance, scenic actions, improvisations on the prototype organ-like instrument, and the creative process, accompanied by critical commentary. The analysis of the work is framed by soundscape theory (R. Murray Schafer), performance theories addressing space and relational movement (Richard Schechner, Erika Fischer-Lichte), and intermedial relationships examined through Dick Higgins’ framework of intermedia. Additionally, spectral analysis of the sound signals produced by the instrument and structural analysis of the musical work, emerging and transforming before the audience during the performance, will be conducted.

The presentation demonstrates that the performance can serve not only as a metaphorical journey but also as a laboratory for investigating intermedial relationships between sound, movement, and space.

mediasia.iafor.org/programme

MediAsia2025

Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations

100584 | The Impact of Digital Marketing, Service Marketing, and Service Delivery Factors Towards Consumer Buying Behavior in the Local E-commerce Industry

M Zayed Sakif, Bangkok University, Thailand

Papob Puttimanoradeekul, Bangkok University, Thailand

The primary objective of this study is to determine the impact of digital marketing, service marketing and service delivery factors on consumer buying behavior in the local e-commerce industry in Bangladesh. The research captivates on identifying how the three independent variables affect purchasing decisions, satisfaction and loyalty among online buyers. The research methodology used was quantitative for this study. The data was collected via online structured questionnaire using Google Forms, targeting 408 respondents who are active e-commerce users in Bangladesh. The date was then analyzed using statistical software to determine the strength and significance of the relationships between the independent and dependent variables. The findings showed that all three independent variables have a statistically significant impact on consumer buying behavior. However, the sub-variable brand communication (service marketing) was found to be insignificant. This study can contribute to the e-commerce industry in Bangladesh by highlighting the need to focus on operational efficiency, CRM systems and digital visibility. Policymakers of the country can also use this study to design consumer protection regulations and digital infrastructure strategies. It can also contribute academically to existing literature by offering localized insights into consumer behavior in emerging digital markets.

Critical and Cultural Studies, Gender and Communication

100294 | Soft Power Influences of Selected Thai Boys’ Love (BL) Movies

Christian Darnel David, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam

This study investigates the soft power influence of Thai Boys’ Love (BL) movies on Filipino viewers, which are Water Boyy: The Movie (2015), Dew the Movie (2019), and 2gether: The Movie (2021). Boys’ Love (BL), a genre that originated in Japan, highlights sexual and romantic relationships between men; Thailand is currently a prominent global producer of BL series and films. Soft power, defined as a country’s ability to subtly shape other nations’ preferences through its culture, requires further exploration. The study specifically examines the influences of literary elements (plot, characters, themes, symbolism), cinematic elements (lighting, costume and makeup, props, official soundtracks), and sociocultural implications (fashion, music, food, LGBTQIA+ empowerment, and product consumption). Supported by Meyer Howard Abrams’ Reader-response Theory, Rudolf Arnheim’s Formalist Film Theory, and Joseph Nye’s Soft Power Theory, this qualitative research used content analysis for the literary portion and thematic analysis for interviews with Filipino BL viewers. The findings of the study reveal that the literary and cinematic elements of these films influence viewers on empowerment, gender roles, inclusivity, LGBTQIA+ relationships, safe spaces, self-expression, stereotypes, validation, and values. Moreover, literary elements also have an additional influence on the viewer’s perspectives. For sociocultural implications, all three films contribute to LGBTQIA+ empowerment, but only 2gether: The Movie influenced Filipino viewers in all five facets: fashion, music, food, LGBTQIA+ empowerment, and product consumption. The study concludes that these three Thai BL movies have soft power influences on Filipino viewers, embedded within their literary elements, cinematic elements, and sociocultural implications.

100472 | Queer Realities Online: Digital Media and LGBTQ+ Identity Formation in Contemporary India Darshana Chakrabarty, Queen’s University, Canada

The paper investigates the formation and evolution of virtual social identities, politics, and cultures, of Indian queer individuals and communities within the domains of Indian digital media and contemporary Indian Indie cinema. It explores how advancements in Internet technologies, digitalization, and cyberspace in India have provided LGBTQ+ individuals with unprecedented opportunities to challenge homo/transphobia, express and embrace their non-binary gender and sexual identities and create awareness about gender and sexual fluidity. The research will delve into how queer individuals and communities expand their acts of resistance against homo/ transphobia in cyberspace, particularly focusing on contemporary digital media. Digital platforms serve as critical online spaces for queer self-expression, identity formation, and form connections with others who share similar experiences and perspectives. These virtual spaces facilitate the exploration and affirmation of diverse sexual and gender identities that might be marginalized or outright rejected in offline contexts. The emergence of these virtual spaces poses significant challenges to traditional notions of Indianness, which are often steeped in heteronormative and patriarchal values. By creating and participating in online queer communities, individuals challenge and renegotiate these norms, fostering a more inclusive understanding of what it means to be Indian. This digital activism encourages a reassessment of national and local identities, pushing the boundaries of cultural and social acceptability. This research is a timely and significant exploration of the digital landscapes that are transforming queer identities in India. By bridging the gap between online and offline worlds, digital platforms play a crucial role in fostering acceptance and activism.

mediasia.iafor.org/programme

MediAsia2025

Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

94532 | Talking Dalit Women Through Their Own Voice: A Case Study of ‘Khabar Lahariya’ Chandrakant Kamble, Amity School of Communication, India

This research examines the empowerment and self-expression of Dalit women through the lens of the pioneering grassroots newspaper ‘Khabar Lahariya.’ With a focus on the Northern regions of India, the study delves into the unique and transformative role that this media outlet plays in amplifying the voices of Dalit women. In India, several caste issue-oriented newspapers focused on Dalit concerns are run by Dalit men. This is particularly true in regional languages such as Marathi, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi, with publications like Samrat, and Bhim Patrika, among others. This study examines Dalit women’s newspapers using the purposeful sampling method within the qualitative research approach. ‘Khabar Lahariya’ stands out as one of the pioneering newspapers run by subaltern Dalit women who are raising their voices from their unique perspectives. Through a combination of content analysis and in-depth interviews with journalists and readers, this case study uncovers how ‘Khabar Lahariya’ fosters community engagement, challenges stereotypes, and contributes to the sociopolitical agency of Dalit women. The findings underscore the importance of community-driven media platforms in promoting inclusivity, representation, and the preservation of marginalized voices.

96366 | Algorithmic Mediation in Global Digital Journeys: A Comparative Study Across Three Cities Fernando Thompson, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal

This paper investigates how algorithms asymmetrically influence the digital journeys of users across different cities and platforms. Building upon Pariser’s (2011) framework advocating for research that incorporates geolocation, cross-platform analysis, and non-loggedin user experiences, this study adopts a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data was gathered from 705 anonymous participants in São Paulo, Lisbon, and New York, with 457 valid responses (64.8% response rate), an 8% margin of error, and a 95% confidence level. Qualitative insights were drawn from semi-structured interviews coded in NVivo. Findings indicate contextual differences in algorithmic mediation. São Paulo users reported greater difficulty escaping algorithmic filter bubbles, while New York participants demonstrated fluid cross-platform navigation. Lisbon users expressed stronger critical awareness of automated curation. Platforms like YouTube, with continuous recommendation systems, were found to amplify informational echo chambers and confirmation biases, particularly among São Paulo users. Conversely, search-based tools such as Google were perceived as more neutral; however, quantitative analysis revealed latent personalization mechanisms operating even in non-logged-in sessions—suggesting invisible algorithmic steering. By integrating technical, cultural, and territorial dimensions, this research expands the concept of the “digital journey” as a contextually situated and unevenly mediated experience. It contributes to the growing interdisciplinary field of algorithmic governance by shedding light on the sociotechnical dynamics affecting user autonomy and perception across diverse urban environments.

96500 | Communication Strategies for Promoting Silver Tourism on Thai Travel Agency Websites

Chin-Hui Chen, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Rungrot Taikitkoson, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Sunattra Wongsuriya, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Sarinee Bolankun, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Supapat Tonjan, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Narachen Buatarach, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

As the global population ages, silver tourism has emerged as a significant market segment, particularly in destinations like Thailand, which is increasingly catering to senior travelers. This study explores the communication strategies employed by Thai travel agencies in promoting silver tourism through their websites. By analyzing the visual and textual marketing messages on five Thai travel agency websites in March, 2025, the research identifies how these agencies target senior consumers, the language and imagery they use, and how they address the needs and preferences of older travelers. The study examines the balance between portraying seniors as active, independent travelers while also acknowledging the comfort and accessibility needs associated with aging. The findings suggest that while some agencies employ empowering language and age-inclusive marketing techniques, others rely on traditional representations that may unintentionally reinforce negative perceptions of aging. This research provides insights into effective communication practices that can help travel agencies better serve the silver tourism market, while also increasing awareness of ageist representations of older adults in silver tourism marketing in Thailand.

Documentary History

94844 | Intercultural Relations and Educational Development: A Focus on Nigeria and China

David Clement, Adeleke University, Nigeria

Ojima Abuh, Adeleke University, Nigeria

The inter-cultural relations between Nigeria and China have significantly shaped institutional collaborations and educational developments over the last two decades. These relations, driven by economic partnerships and diplomatic engagements, have facilitated knowledge exchange through cultural centers and academic institutions. However, concerns arise regarding educational dependency, cultural authenticity, and the preservation of local educational values. This study employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing primary and secondary sources to examine Nigeria-China educational collaborations from 2000 to 2020. Oral interviews with scholars provide firsthand insights, while secondary sources offer scholarly perspectives. The research evaluates these exchanges’ motivations, challenges, and outcomes, assessing their impact on educational development. Findings indicate that integrating Chinese language and culture into Nigerian education has expanded academic opportunities and enhanced technical literacy. The establishment of cultural centers and academic exchange programs fosters cross-cultural understanding. However, concerns persist about Nigeria’s reliance on Chinese educational models, raising questions about the sustainability of its indigenous frameworks. To address these issues, the study recommends safeguarding Nigeria’s cultural identity while promoting educational innovation. Policymakers should ensure collaborations incorporate local content, protect indigenous knowledge, and align with Nigeria’s developmental goals to foster equitable and sustainable educational growth.

mediasia.iafor.org/programme

MediAsia2025 Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Film Criticism and Theory

96718 | Hong Kong in Frame: Social Narratives and Cinematic Genres in Hong Kong Film Awards Best Film Nominees (2014–2024)

Ka Yan Chung, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

This study investigates how Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA) Best Film nominees (2014–2024) serve as cultural narratives, reflecting societal shifts through social identity themes and genre dynamics, analyzed through a film criticism and theoretical lens. Utilizing a dataset of 50 films, including 24 adaptations, it explores how cinematic narratives and genre choices articulate Hong Kong’s evolving social landscape. Employing manual coding, the research identifies themes such as local identity, community, and mobility from plot summaries, while examining genres like drama, biography, and crime to assess their theoretical significance. The analysis also compares adapted and non-adapted films, probing differences in thematic and genre preferences. Visualizations map trends across the decade, offering a theoretical framework to interpret cinema’s role in societal reflection. The study draws on critical theories to position films as mirrors of cultural change. This research contributes to film studies by illuminating how HKFA nominees navigate identity and societal dynamics, providing insights into Hong Kong’s cinematic landscape. It emphasizes how important adaptations and genre changes become in expressing shared experiences. This can help form a base for viewing a movie as a reflection of culture during a time of change.

Films and Digital Distribution (use of the internet and video sharing)

98591 | Fan’s Intervention in Affective Transmission of Media Texts: A Case Study of Wanda Vision Yao Xiao, North China Electric Power University, China

With the prevalence of film and television media and the rise of fan translators, the mode of media consumption and translation has evolved into interactive and cooperative. Inspired by Henry Jenkins’ “participatory culture” and Mark Deuze’s “media love”, this study aims to explore how fans’ new translation pattern on China’s new media platforms such as bilibili affect the interrelationships among audiovisual media, public emotions and popular culture. Focusing on fan translation of the Marvel TV series “Wanda Vision”, this article starts from quantitative analysis of fan activities and their revenue by chart. Based on it, the paper concentrates on qualitative content analysis around works by a sample fan translator to discuss how he influences artistic design and emotional theme of the media text as well as their value on social issues and cultural phenomena in China. Through three dimensions including the cultural image of “magic” and its philosophical implication, design of five main characters and their connections with the text’s emotional theme, artistic tension by the tragic life experience of superhero, this article finally clarifies the decisive role of fan translators in emotional resonance, cultural transmission and aesthetic value of the media text, demonstrating innovation in intervention intensity, dominant power, and cultural status of the emerging translator group.

Film and Literature

96469 | From Ethnographic Film to Cinema: The Availability and Accessibility of Indigenous Films in Taiwan Yuan Hsun Chuang, China University of Technology, Taiwan

Historically marginalized and stereotyped, Taiwan’s Indigenous communities have increasingly asserted their identity through ethnic media platforms such as Taiwan Indigenous Television (TITV) and the Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival (TIEFF). This study explores the evolving landscape of Indigenous cinema in Taiwan, emphasizing the crucial concepts of availability and accessibility. Employing the theoretical framework of “Fourth Cinema”, articulated by Māori filmmaker Barry Barclay, this research examines whether Taiwan’s Indigenous films align with Barclay’s vision—a cinema fully controlled by Indigenous creators, expressing authentic cultural identities, and fostering mutual understanding both within Indigenous communities and broader audiences. To illustrate the transformation of Taiwanese Indigenous cinema from ethnographic documentaries to critically acclaimed feature films, this paper analyzes works by prominent Indigenous filmmakers such as Pilin Yapu, Mayaw Biho, and Laha Mebow. Despite substantial advancements in media technology enhancing film availability and accessibility, Indigenous filmmakers still encounter significant challenges regarding authentic representation and narrative autonomy within mainstream media. Drawing insights from focus group discussions involving both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants, the study emphasizes the critical roles of sincere intent, comprehensive community engagement, and culturally sensitive storytelling practices. The findings highlight the necessity of Indigenous control throughout media production, distribution, and exhibition processes, aligning closely with the core principles of Barclay’s “Fourth Cinema.” Ultimately, this research concludes that while Taiwanese Indigenous cinema has made remarkable progress toward authentic representation, sustained efforts and continuous dialogue remain essential to ensure these narratives are genuinely portrayed and broadly appreciated.

mediasia.iafor.org/programme

MediAsia2025 Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Mass Communication

100300 | Campus-based Radio Stations and Community Development in South Africa: an Evaluative Study

Oluyinka Osunkunle, University of Fort Hare, South Africa

This study evaluates the impact of campus-based radio stations as agents of community development in South Africa. While the activities of some selected campus-based radio stations were briefly discussed for insight, this paper will use Forte FM, a campus-based community radio station that broadcasts from the University of Fort Hare, South Africa as a case study. The study adopts qualitative research method and to effectively have a clear understanding of the activities and impact of Forte FM, focus group discussions were conducted among selected members of the station’s radio listening club. The aim was to ascertain the views of the participants on how the station contributes to community development in Alice. Other vital issues that were critically evaluated include programming, listenership and community involvement. The findings revealed that even though Forte FM is a campus-based radio station, it engages in a broader community development initiative in Alice, where it is situated. The findings further showed that the station’s involvement of listeners in its broadcasting activities helps it to have programmes that are continuously aimed at ensuring listener and community development.

97874 | Intersection of Urbanity and Rurality in Indian OTT Narratives – a Study of ‘Panchayat’

Mrinal Singh, Christ University, India

Jyoti Prakash Pujari, Christ University, India

In a dramatic scene from Panchayat (premiered in 2020 on Amazon Prime), Abhishek, the protagonist, urges Rinky, a talented village girl from the village where he was stationed, to study for an MBA, insisting, ‘You have the potential to do so much; let this village not hold you back.’ This scene is an example of the conflict between urban aspirations and rural constraints and how OTT platforms are a narrative terrain for examining these conflicting realities. This paper explores how Panchayat illustrates the continuing tensions of a rapidly urbanizing India in a backdrop of rurality. The show highlights the competing pulls of urban advancement, symbolized by education and mobility, against the deeply ingrained values and opportunities tied to rural life. As small towns and villages increasingly become part of India’s “hidden urbanization,” these spaces navigate distinctive forms of “subaltern urbanization,” blurring the binary of ‘urban’ and ‘rural’ as theorized by Denis and Zérah (2017). Employing qualitative content analysis, this paper unpacks themes related to class disparities, gendered expectations, and shifting community dynamics within the broader context of India’s evolving socio-economic status. Drawing from the context of authors like Harriss-White (2002) and Pradhan (2017), the analysis also emphasizes how such narratives depict both structural barriers and transformative potentials embedded in small settlements. Through this study of Panchayat, this paper seeks to probe into how India’s small towns and villages, often accredited to the periphery of urban-centric discourse, are emerging as debatable yet vital spaces of cultural negotiation and socio-political change.

Media Disaster Coverage

94581 | Photography as an Act of Crime Scene Investigation Murat Germen, Sabanci University, Turkey

The urban transformation before and after the great earthquake of Kahramanmaras in Turkey is proceeding with very serious wounds, culturally flattening the places it touches and lacking the vision to apply the same formula to different places. This oxymoronically destructive construction activity leads to the partial loss of many components classified as tangible and intangible heritage. In this context, the investigation of the sites where some urban-scale criminal acts have taken place and the collection of photographic evidence is an important, unavoidable and essential action to convey the gravity of the problems to present and future generations. In this presentation, the presenter will analyse what kind of professional, technical and technological photographic documentation he has carried out in Antakya, one of the most valuable multicultural settlements and the most earthquake-affected city in Turkey, with the many photographs he has taken during various visits over the past two years.

Newspapers & Magazines as Print/Digital Media

94531 | The Cognitive Aspect of Indonesian and Polish Press Death Notices: An Analysis from the Perspective of Comparative Genre Studies Przemyslaw Wiatrowski, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland

This article presents a qualitative analysis of genre patterns in Indonesian and Polish press death notices. The corpus consists of 2,789 Indonesian obituaries from “Pikiran Rakyat” and “Kompas” (2015–2018), collected during an academic stay in Indonesia, and 13,297 Polish notices from “Gazeta Pomorska” and “Głos Wielkopolski” (2019–2020), gathered upon returning to Poland. Due to the limited availability of Indonesian obituaries, older issues were included, whereas the Polish corpus was restricted to two years due to the abundance of material. The study applies Maria Wojtak’s genre pattern concept, which examines structural, pragmatic, and stylistic organization, as well as cognitive aspects such as topic selection, perspective, value hierarchy, and worldview. The analysis explores how both cultures present information about the deceased, their relationships, and funeral details, shedding light on cultural influences in shaping this genre. While clear structural and stylistic differences exist, cognitive distinctions are less pronounced, as obituaries universally focus on the deceased. However, cultural factors shape key elements, particularly in references to death and religious customs—reflecting Indonesia’s Muslim majority and Poland’s Catholic tradition. A key difference lies in the portrayal of the deceased: Polish obituaries emphasize achievements, character, and personality, whereas Indonesian notices typically mention only age and workplace, with minimal personal details. Beyond its theoretical contributions to genre analysis and cultural studies, this research has practical applications in foreign language teaching (developing genre competence) and translation studies, offering insights into crosscultural textual conventions and the role of obituaries in collective memory and identity construction.

mediasia.iafor.org/programme

MediAsia2025 Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

Social Media and Communication Technology

96668 | Lent in the Time of Livestreams Authenticity and Mediated Devotion in a Digital World Susana Dalmao-Dimatira, National University Manila, Philippines

This study explores how Filipino Roman Catholic devotees negotiate authenticity in digitally mediated Lenten practices that emerged and endured following the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditionally embodied and communal rituals such as the Pasyon, Senákulo, and Alay Lakad were forced into digital spaces via livestreams on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms. Drawing on Patrick Eisenlohr’s concept of “mediacy” and Charles Taylor’s notion of “authenticity,” this research investigates how spiritual presence is reconfigured through technological mediation. Using participant observation and digital ethnography, the study reveals that online participation does not necessarily diminish devotional sincerity. Instead, digital platforms foster new forms of ritual intimacy and communitas seen in real-time comment engagement, shared prayer, and the persistence of devotional memory through social media algorithms. Livestreamed rituals become valid and meaningful spaces of religious expression, particularly for devotees constrained by distance, mobility, or work. While concerns over “pakitang-tao” or performative piety remain, many participants view digital engagement as a sincere extension of faith. Ultimately, the study argues that Filipino Lenten devotion in the digital age is not a departure from tradition but its dynamic reconfiguration where authenticity is affirmed through mediated presence, shared affect, and evolving ritual practice.

98236 | Adaptive Performances of Gay Identity on Tinder and Grindr: A Comparative Study of Self-Presentation Strategies

Chin-Hui Chen, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

En-Hui Yu, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

This study examines how Taiwanese gay men adapt their self-presentation strategies on two major dating platforms, Tinder and Grindr, using content analysis of profile bios and images. Drawing on 165 user profiles (67 from Tinder, 98 from Grindr), the study investigates differences in visual and textual self-presentation in terms of three variables: biography word count, use of body-focused imagery, and inclusion of coded language. Statistical analysis reveals that Grindr users are significantly more likely to include body-centered images and coded sexual language (e.g., “top”, “discreet”), reinforcing the app’s association with fast-paced, desire-oriented interactions. In contrast, Tinder users generally employ less sexualized visual content and exhibit slightly longer bios, suggesting a more narrativeoriented or relational self-presentation style, even though the difference in word count was not statistically significant. These findings highlight how digital platforms shape gay identity performances through both technical affordances and community expectations. By contextualizing these patterns within Taiwanese gay culture and sociolinguistic frameworks, the study demonstrates that online dating profiles are dynamic, adaptive performances shaped by both user intention and platform design. It contributes to digital queer studies by emphasizing how self-presentation practices respond to differing cultural (gay culture) and technological norms.

Visual Communication

94595 | Effects of Cultural Literacy on Students’ Learning Interest and Design Performance in 3D Design Education

Shih-chieh Hung, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

This study explores the integration of cultural literacy into a 3D design course through a University Social Responsibility (USR) program, using Tainan’s Shennong Street as a contextual case. A total of 88 students with foundational design training participated. Utilizing quantitative methods and PLS-SEM analysis, the findings reveal that cultural literacy enhances students’ interest in 3D design but may negatively affect their practical skills due to an overemphasis on recreational elements. However, increased learning interest mediates this effect and ultimately promotes better implementation performance. The study recommends adopting innovative strategies such as Project-based Learning (PjBL) and creating supportive, low-pressure learning environments to sustain engagement. Beyond the case context, these findings suggest broader applicability in culturally rich educational settings, where integrating local cultural assets into course content can deepen student motivation and foster holistic design competencies. This research highlights the importance of balancing cultural immersion with technical rigor to optimize learning outcomes in design education.

Reviewers

IAFOR depends on the assistance of a large number of international academics and practitioners who contribute in a variety of ways to our shared mission of promoting international exchange, facilitating intercultural awareness, encouraging interdisciplinary discussion, and generating and sharing new knowledge. Our academic events would not be what they are without a commitment to ensuring that international norms of peer review are observed for our presentation abstracts. With thousands of abstracts submitted each year for presentation at our conferences, IAFOR relies on academics around the world to ensure a fair and timely peer review process in keeping with established international norms of double-blind peer review.

We are grateful for the time, effort, and expertise donated by all our contributors.

KAMC2025 Review Committee

Dr Rattaakkhatee Akkhateerathitiphum, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand

Dr Suffian Hadi Ayub, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Professor Kuei-lun Chang, Ming Chuan University, Taiwan

Dr Chin-hui Chen, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Dr Malektaj Khosravi, Islamic Azad University, Iran

Dr Ho Keat Leng, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Dr Supriya M, The Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education, India

Dr Alisa Nutley, Chiang Mai University, Thailand

Dr Evgeny Pyshkin, University of Aizu, Japan

Dr D. Christina Sagaya Mary, Loyola College, Chennai, India

Dr Paul Spicer, Hokkaido University, Japan

KAMC2025 Senior Reviewers

Dr Mathew Martin Poothullil, University of Mumbai, India

Dr Surat Chumjit, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

Dr Rana Bazaid, Taif University, Saudi Arabia

Dr Glen Mangali, Marikina Polytechnic College, Philippines

Dr Saranya Thaloor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, India

Dr Lucita Adelan, Cebu Institute of Technology-University, Philippines

Dr Karen Fujii, Niels Brock Copenhagen Business College, Denmark

Dr Dr Vasundara Priyadarshini Mahadev, Bangalore University, India

Dr Suraya Md Nasir, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia

Dr Elizabeth Swift, University of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Dr Hoang-nam Tran, Tokushima University, Japan

Professor Akiko Takei, Chukyo University, Japan

Dr Lynda Fatmawaty, Jenderal Soedirman, Indonesia

Dr Dren Gerguri, University of Prishtina, Albania

Dr Preechaya Kittipaisalsilpa, ASEAN-Japan Centre, Japan

Dr Eugen Zaretsky, Marburg University, Germany

KAMC2025 Reviewers

Dr Puneet Kumar Gupta, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India

Dr Olga Roshchupkina, American University of Armenia, Armenia

Dr Supamonta Supanan, Bangkok University, Thailand

Dr Masoud Kianpour, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada

Dr Evgeny Pyshkin, University of Aizu, Japan

Dr Terezie Sedlinska, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Dr Khawla Almulla, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia

Dr John Erwin Bañez, University of the Philippines - Diliman, Philippines

Dr Diana Breshears, University of the Free State, South Africa

Dr Ernesto Ii Carandang, De La Salle University, Philippines

Dr Kar Yue Chan, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong

Dr Chih-fang Chiu, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, Taiwan

Dr Jonathan Dimond, Melbourne Polytechnic, Australia

Dr Fulya Ertem Başkaya, Izmir Institute of Technology, Turkey

Dr Hanae Ikeshita, Sagami Women's University, Japan

Dr Kenji Kaneko, Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Japan

Dr Joann Koh-Baker, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, United States

Dr Punam Madhok, East Carolina University, United States

Dr Long Nguyen, RMIT University Vietnam, Australia

Dr Lester Kyle Paes, Cebu Normal University, Philippines

Dr Jaseel Parambil, NIT Calicut, India

Dr Forrest Parker, Valdosta State University, United States

Dr Warapat Ratanapanich, Kasetsart University, Thailand

Dr Sifiso Sibanda, North-West University, South Africa

Dr Kathleen Solon-Villaneza, Global Educators Network, Inc., Thailand

Dr Jea Agnes Taduran-Buera, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

Dr Khay Boon Tan, Singapore Institute of Management Global Education, Singapore

Dr Jack Tsao, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Professor Su-chu Hsu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Dr Siriwit Issaro, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand

Dr Ken Mizusawa, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Dr Tony Nguyen, RMIT University Vietnam, Vietnam

Dr Chadrudee Sirilamduan, Ubon Ratchthani University, Thailand

Dr Freya Terryn, UCLouvain, Belgium

MediAsia2025 Review Committee

Professor Azza Ahmed, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates

Professor Carla Cadete, Lusófona University, Portugal

Dr Christine Anne Cox, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines

Professor Basma Fouda, The Higher Colleges of Technology, United Arab Emirates

Professor William Kunz, University of Washington Tacoma, United States

Dr Michael Ogden, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates

Professor Oluyinka Osunkunle, University of Fort Hare, South Africa

Dr Keshav Patel, University of Delhi, India

Dr Paul Spicer, Hokkaido University, Japan

MediAsia2025 Senior Reviewers

Dr Sunardi Sunardi, Mulawarman University, Indonesia

Dr Lei Hao, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, China

Professor Hsin-lun Li, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan

Dr Rijita Mukherjee, Christ (deemed to be) University, India

Dr Jun Wu, Fudan University, China

Professor Jabulani Gilford Kheswa, University of Fort Hare, South Africa

Dr Charles Meadows, East Carolina University, United States

Dr Barun Roy, University of North Bengal, India

MediAsia2025 Reviewers

Dr Hiu Ting Chan, Saint Francis University, Hong Kong

Dr Debjani Halder, Manipal Institute of Communication, India

Professor Edson Tandoc, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Professor Abdulhameed Agboola, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

Dr Moreal Camba, University of Asia and the Pacific, Philippines

Dr Sun Hee Choi, Korea University, South Korea

Professor Hsuan-yi Chou, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan

Dr Zoe Crombie, Lancaster University, United Kingdom

Dr Hossam Elhamy, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates

Dr Aniekie Motloutsi, University of Zululand, South Africa

Dr Mamiko Orii, Waseda University, Japan

Dr Paul Rossener Regonia, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines

Dr Manjula Venkataraghavan, Manipal Institute of Communication, MAHE, India

Professor Yu-li Wang, Chinese Culture University, Taiwan

Professor Yie Jing Yang, Shih Hsin University, Taiwan

Dr Chandrakant Kamble, Amity School of Communication, India

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