Fula-Fula I - Minchí
In the first instalment of his column exploring the impact of Portuguese colonialism through food, William Anderton-Pithers examines the history behind minchí, a staple dish in Macau.
On Coming Out to my Hong Kong Mother: A Letter
In a heartfelt, personal epistolary piece, staff writer Solomon Tsai reflects on his experience of coming out to his mother and on being gay in Hong Kong.
Uncovering Inyeon in Celine Song’s “Past Lives”
In her review of Past Lives, Jasmine Eden Gray reflects on the concept of ‘inyeon’ as explored within the film, taking a closer look at the choices behind Celine Song’s directorial debut.
Decision to Leave: A Hypnotic Romantic Thriller Amongst the Best of 2022
One of the top rated films of last year, Decision to Leave captured the hearts and minds of viewers from around the world. In this article, Asma Ibrahim analyses the significance of the recurring backdrops of the mountain and the sea, as well as exploring how Tang-wei’s foreignness is artfully interwoven into the film’s plot.
The mystical punk fashion of Vivienne Westwood and NANA's homage to its style
In this article, Anja Gogo and Bethan Beddow examine the influence and significance of Vivienne Westwood’s iconic style in the manga ‘Nana’, reflecting on the relationship between the two protagonists through the medium of fashion.
A Gyopo Reads East III - ‘At Least We Can Apologize’ (II)
In this thoughtful piece of analysis, columnist Injae Lee builds on the first instalment of this two-part article to further delve into the themes of guilt and responsibility central to ‘At Least We Can Apologize’, and in doing so, reflects on their place within the heart of Korean society.
A Gyopo Reads East II - Lee Ki-ho’s ‘At Least We Can Apologize’ and its Depiction of Korea as a ‘Hell Joseon’ (I)
In the first instalment of this two-part reflection on Lee Ki-Ho’s novel ‘At Least We Can Apologise’, columnist Injae Lee muses over the intricacies of translation and examines the work’s satirical critique of contemporary Korean society, invoking the concept of a ‘Hell Joson.’
The Enduring Bitterness of Peppermint Candy (II): The Minefield of South-Korea’s Gender Wars
In the second instalment of her reflections on Peppermint Candy, Hannah Kang Wolter considers how we might apply the lessons of Lee Chang Dong’s film to the fraught landscape of South Korea’s gender politics.
The Symbolic Multilayers of Japanese Obento
Reflecting on the treatment of food and obento in the films of Studio Ghibli, Anja Gogo explores the significance the Japanese packed lunch in a wider social context, delving beyond its surface function as a vehicle of nutrition.
The Beginner’s Guide to City Pop: A Timely!! Genre
In this article, Romano Tucci looks at the birth and rise in popularity of city pop, a genre and audio-aesthetic that grew out of 1970s Japan, and shares with readers a few unmissable tracks to add to any city pop playlist.
The Many Legacies of the First Emperor (II)
In the second instalment of his article, Sam reflects on the rehabilitation and reassessments of the First Emperor in the 20th century, spearheaded by Mao Zedong and continuing on after his death into late 1990s cinema.
The Audioscapes of the Contemporary Chinese-Speaking World III - Sunset at West Lake (西湖)
In the third instalment of her column, Ella Eagle Davis focuses in on Chinese indie band Miserable Faith, reflecting on the transcendent and transportive quality of their song ‘West Lake.’
The Many Legacies of the First Emperor (I)
In this two-part article, Sam Meston explores the reasons behind the recent historiographical reevaluations of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, beginning with a deep-dive into how he earned his title.
The Scandalous Non-Existence of Xue Mili
In this article, staff writer Tabitha Rubens delves into the explosive phenomenon of the “Xue Mili” novels that appeared in China in the late 1980s, and examines how this scandal was reflective of the shifts in the landscape of contemporary Chinese literature.
The Audioscapes of the Contemporary Chinese-Speaking World II - Who Will the Wind Blow Next?
In the second instalment of her column, Ella Eagle Davies explores the emotional significance of setting in memory through the lens of Taiwanese indie-rock band No Party for Cao Dong, in particular their song “Simon Says”.
A Gyopo Reads East I - Pachinko and the Double-Orientalism of Korean Existence
In his first column, Injae Lee lays out his thoughts upon reading Pachinko, the novel by Korean-American author Min Jin Lee. He relates the novel to his own studies in Orientalism at university and the way Orientalism continues to influence perceptions of Korean culture, exposing a darker side to the Hallyu that is exposing the world to Korean culture—and Korean culture to the world.
The Enduring Bitterness of Peppermint Candy (I)
In this two-part article, Hannah Kang Wolter reviews Lee Chang Dong’s Peppermint Candy (2000), a masterful tale of disillusionment and loss of innocence told in reverse chronology.
The Audioscapes of the Contemporary Chinese-Speaking World I - The Mountain Tit (山雀) of Hebei
In this first instalment of her column, Ella Eagle Davies focuses in on the bluesy notes of environmental rock from Hebei province, China, and what they reveal about a landscape under siege.
A Picture of Paper
In this article, Tabitha Rubens considers Zhang Xu Zhan’s 2022 solo exhibition, Jungle Jungle, and the tussle between tradition and modernity in Taiwan's contemporary art scene.
On the Importance of Teaching Mandarin
In this highly relevant article, Joe Rowan discusses the importance of learning Mandarin in post-Brexit Britain, with a key focus on why learning the language is key to the future of Sino-British relations.