Researcher
Asian Popular Culture -
Hallyu,
Soft masculinism & Gender performativity
Responsibilities
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Performed discourse analysis on 46 articles using NViVo to investigate the Vietnamese audience’s attitudes toward soft masculinity in K-dramas
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Demonstrated strong academic capabilities to comprehend and apply academic theories, as part of understanding the Vietnamese audience’s embrace of tender gender using Judith Butler's 'gender performativity'
Achievements
For the course
Exploring Asian Popular Culture
2022
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Earned a High Distinction (85/100)
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Selected for the RMIT VN Showcase 2023, awarded to the most outstanding assignments of each year
Project Summary
Problem
Popular Korean dramas, with their impeccably styled and emotionally available male characters or 'soft masculinism', are captivating Vietnamese audiences. This fascination presents a challenge to Vietnam's long-held patriarchal ideals of masculinity.
Findings
K-dramas open up a private world of fantasy, self-fulfilment, and self-awareness through the display of tender masculinities for Vietnamese viewers of both genders.
Concerns about cultural dominance are highlighted, followed by recommended actions by the government.