English and Theatre Program, School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne presents:

Pop Culture and ŒSoft Power: Competition in East Asia By Professor Chua Beng Huat, National University of Singapore Macgeorge Visiting Speaker

Monday 26th September 2011 6:30pm

Wood Lecture Theatre ­ Economic and Commerce Building University of Melbourne

Pop Culture is part of the export industry of every East Asia location - Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong. In every instance, except perhaps Hong Kong, the national government has been financially and institutionally supporting the local pop culture industry because the latter has come to see the pop culture industry as an instrument of 'soft power'. At stake is apparently not just financial returns from investments in pop culture production but also to positively 'influence' the attitudes of the audience in the target/importing countries. This is particularly significant against the backdrop of historical animosities between the East Asian nations, which continues to fuel public expressions of international antagonism on the ground, often with the complicity of the local government. This lecture will discuss the current state of competition among China, Japan and Korea.

Supported by the Macgeorge Bequest. Free admission, all welcome.

For further information please email: mhetzel@unimelb.edu.au