3. Levers of Influence: Projecting Power in Asia and Abroad

For our third and penultimate publication of this year, Asiatic Affairs writers have dissected the influence of imagery, whether physical or abstract, on social and political life. We invite readers to consider the relationship between image and audience, whether that be motifs of Japanese colonisation still present in Taiwanese society, the projection of Malaysian cuisine as a diplomatic tool, or the non-verbal resistance of Afghan women through revolutionary art. In Levers of Influence: Projecting Power, writers take the representations in front of us and scrutinise their origins and impact, further diving into the existence of North Korea as we perceive it, an analysis of East Asian beauty standards, and the business practices underlying the K-Pop industry. We welcome you to examine all of these topics and more, accessible below!

2. Redefining Storytelling: Narratives Unwound

To round out the first semester, Asiatic Affairs presents its second publication, Redefining Storytelling: Narratives Unwound. In this latest issue, writers explore prevailing myths of nation, identity, and conflict, peeling back their histories and present realities. We examine sports media and nation-building in Taiwan, social reflections on Japan’s JDM scene, and perceptions of the legacy of WW2 in East Asia. Each article breaks down overarching social and political assumptions, searching for truth in their existence. Continuing this insightful reframing, new lenses are brought to the Ukraine conflict and emerging consumer trends in Asia. We welcome you to enjoy the aforementioned works and more from the Asiatic Affairs writers below!

Beyond Legacy: New Dynamics in Asian Societies

In our first publication of the year, we explore contemporary values and attitudes towards different cultural and political traditions. From deep-diving into the efficacy of the feminist movement in South Korea to the new narcotics trade in Afghanistan, Beyond Legacy holds a candle to present socio-cultural dynamics and the factors that shape them.

Read the Asiatic Affairs Journal #1

An anthology of our team’s favourite works from the 2023-2024 academic year.
Available
here.