Hoi-yan Yau

This book charts the development of Hong Kong identity from the Second World War to the present. It argues that understanding popular culture is key to understanding how Hong Kong identity has evolved, and it discusses how, in the post-war period, popular culture has gone through various phases where particular aspects of popular culture dominated, for example tourism, television dramas and popular music in the 1970s, shopping culture in the 1980s, and sex culture in the 1990s. The book examines how the consumption of popular culture has been related to the changing geopolitical situation, to the politics of economic transformation, and to community building. It shows how behind all these aspects of popular culture lies the essential "in-between-ness" of Hong Kong, neither Eastern/traditional/conservative nor Western/modern/liberal.

Although Taiwan and Hong Kong are both Chinese societies previously subjected to colonial rule, the identity formation of the two peoples differs significantly, with Taiwan’s modern consciousness underpinned by nationalism and Chinese-ness whereas Hong Kong’s identity is characterised by the “in-between-ness” between Eastern/traditional/conservative and Western/modern/liberal outlooks and lifestyles. This book examines how these different identities came about. It considers the impact of Japanese and British colonial rule, explores the cultural policies implemented both in colonial times and after, and discusses fully the nature of present day identity and consciousness in the two places, including an assessment of how far governments’ cultural policies are embraced and embedded.

This book, based on extensive original research, explores the formation of sexual identity and the sexual self of Taiwanese individuals. Including the findings of in-depth interview research, the book considers individuals with a range of different sexual orientations and partnership situations, and relates sexual identity to other components of identity, including national, moral, religious, ethnic and occupational factors. Throughout, the book relates the sexual identities discussed to social and cultural theories.

This book explores censorship, particularly film and video censorship, in Japan in modern times. It shows how most censorship has been the film and video industry exercising self-censorship and how this system has been problematic in that it has allowed dominant players in the industry to impose their own standards and exclude independent filmmakers. It outlines notable obscenity cases and discusses how industry self-censorship bodies have been undermined both by industry outsiders setting up their own alternative regimes and by the industry self-censorship bodies themselves being prosecuted for obscenity. The book also examines the conflict between the obscenity law, introduced in Meiji times when Japan was importing Western models, and the freedom of speech law, which was put in place by the US occupation administration after World War II. The book concludes by assessing the current state of censorship in Japan and likely future developments.

This book explores censorship, particularly film and video censorship, in Japan in modern times. It shows how most censorship has been the film and video industry exercising self-censorship and how this system has been problematic in that it has allowed dominant players in the industry to impose their own standards and exclude independent filmmakers. It outlines notable obscenity cases and discusses how industry self-censorship bodies have been undermined both by industry outsiders setting up their own alternative regimes and by the industry self-censorship bodies themselves being prosecuted for obscenity. The book also examines the conflict between the obscenity law, introduced in Meiji times when Japan was importing Western models, and the freedom of speech law, which was put in place by the US occupation administration after World War II. The book concludes by assessing the current state of censorship in Japan and likely future developments.

Unlike many other books on pornography which concentrate on arguments about restricting or not restricting pornography, this book focuses on the production of adult videos. It outlines and examines the industrial dynamics of the industry, its strategies, technological capabilities and organisational structure. It discusses the socialisation of those who participate in the industry, the role of censorship, the nature of markets and the wider cultural impact of the industry.

This book explores the debate between those who argue that globalisation is leading to worldwide cultural homogeneity, with American cultural good predominating, and those who argue that cultural goods are always adapted and contextualised in the particular setting in which they are used. Based on extensive original research on how Japanese adult videos are consumed in Taiwan, it presents a rich picture of how Japanese adult videos are transformed into something Taiwanese, and how they are incorporated into both male and female Taiwanese sexual culture.

Unlike many other books on pornography which concentrate on arguments about restricting or not restricting pornography, this book focuses on the production of adult videos. It outlines and examines the industrial dynamics of the industry, its strategies, technological capabilities and organisational structure. It discusses the socialisation of those who participate in the industry, the role of censorship, the nature of markets and the wider cultural impact of the industry.

This book explores the debate between those who argue that globalisation is leading to worldwide cultural homogeneity, with American cultural good predominating, and those who argue that cultural goods are always adapted and contextualised in the particular setting in which they are used. Based on extensive original research on how Japanese adult videos are consumed in Taiwan, it presents a rich picture of how Japanese adult videos are transformed into something Taiwanese, and how they are incorporated into both male and female Taiwanese sexual culture.