Tingting Hu, "Victims, Perpetrators and Professionals: The Representation of Women in Chinese Crime Films" (Liverpool UP, 2021)
Sep 9, 2023
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Tingting Hu, author of 'Victims, Perpetrators and Professionals,' discusses the representation of women in Chinese crime films and the emergence of Chinese Boy's Love culture. She explores the societal pressure on women, the portrayal of female victims and professionals in crime films, and the use of violence as an aesthetic strategy. Hu also discusses the application of Western feminist theories to Chinese subjects of study and her current research projects on gender and sexuality.
The representation of female victims in Chinese crime films often objectifies women and reinforces male dominance, while the portrayal of female perpetrators highlights their forced use of violence or tragic ends.
Chinese boys love (BL) audio dramas provide a countercultural space for inclusive representations of relationships and gender expression, challenging mainstream norms and bridging the gap between the female-led BL subculture and the larger queer community in China.
Deep dives
Representation of Women in Chinese Crime Films
In this podcast episode, Ting Ting Hu discusses her book, 'Victims, Habitrators and Professionals: The Representation of Women in Chinese Crime Films.' She explores the different types of female characters typically depicted in these films, including victims, perpetrators, and professionals. Hu argues that the representation of female victims in Chinese crime films often objectifies women and reinforces male dominance. She also examines the portrayal of female perpetrators, highlighting how they are either portrayed as forced to use violence or face tragic ends. Additionally, Hu discusses the representation of female professionals, such as police women, who are portrayed as competent but ultimately constrained by male authority. Through her research, Hu reveals the influence of traditional Chinese values and social expectations on the portrayal of women in Chinese crime films.
Chinese Boys Love Audio Dramas
In this episode, Ting Ting Hu also discusses her research on Chinese boys love (BL) audio dramas. She explains that BL stories originated from Japanese manga in the 1970s and have since developed a unique identity in China. BL culture in China encompasses a wide range of media formats, including online literature, manga, anime, games, and audio dramas. Hu highlights that BL audio dramas offer diverse and non-traditional representations of relationships and gender expression, challenging mainstream norms. She discusses the countercultural aspect of BL audio dramas, as they provide a space for inclusivity and acceptance of diverse gender and sexual identities. Despite censorship challenges, BL audio dramas continue to thrive and bridge the gap between the female-led BL subculture and the larger queer community in China.
Applying Western Feminist Theories to Chinese Media
Ting Ting Hu also addresses the application of Western feminist theories to her research on Chinese media. She argues that many gender issues, such as gender-based violence and limited opportunities for women, are universal and can resonate with Chinese women. Hu emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in analyzing the impact of gender issues in the Chinese context. Moreover, she highlights the relevance of Western feminist theories in critiquing and challenging stereotypical portrayals of women in Chinese media. However, she also stresses the need to adapt these theories to align with local cultural norms and values. Hu believes that finding a balance between shared concerns and local perspectives is crucial for addressing gender inequality effectively.
Tingting Hu is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Media and Communication, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University. Her research interest lies in the articulation of film, media and cultural studies with feminist theories, and transmedia studies in various social and cultural contexts. You can connect with Tingting at tingting.hu_academic@hotmail.com.
Victims, Perpetrators and Professionals examines the representation of women in relation to violence in Chinese crime films made on the mainland, and in Hong Kong and Taiwan. It introduces a new trajectory in the investigation of the cinematic representation of female figures in relation to gender issues by interweaving Western feminist and postfeminist critiques with traditional Chinese sociocultural discourse.
The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS) based at the University of Copenhagen, along with our academic partners: the Centre for East Asian Studies at the University of Turku, Asianettverket at the University of Oslo, and the Stockholm Centre for Global Asia at Stockholm University. We aim to produce timely, topical, and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia.