No abstract

Chinese clan associations can be found in many parts of the world, due to the Chinese emigration from mainland China in the 1800s. This paper contextualises the study of Chinese clan associations within the Asian approach to cultural heritage preservation. In particular, it takes the case of Cantonese clan associations, a dialect group of the Chinese, whose clan associations have been studied less extensively in comparison to other dialects such as Hokkien and Hakka. The case study used is the Chan See Shu Yuen Clan Association Kuala Lumpur & Selangor (CSSY), which was originally set up by a founder of Cantonese origin, and now operates as a cultural centre as well as a tourist attraction in a strategic location in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur. Fieldwork consisted of participant observation which included photography, videography, and focus group discussions with the clan association’s board of trustees; and a content analysis of documents such as its yearbook, brochures, and the association’s website. We identified the condition of transnationalism as outlined by Vertovec (1997), in which the clan association had undergone an evolution of its original functions and therefore remained relevant.

No abstract

Recently, there has been an increase in the consumption and production of Japanese comics or manga in Malaysia, to the extent that Malaysians are producing their own homegrown manga titles. For example, Gempak Starz, a Malaysian comics and manga publisher, has been instrumental in spearheading the launch of many localised manga titles. Manga, which originates from Japan, has often been the topic of debate, regarding its depiction of characters, especially in terms of ethnicity. Iwabuchi (1998) used the term “culturally odorless” to describe the way in which many manga characters do not appear to belong to any particular ethnicity or culture. My research question is, how does Malaysian homegrown manga differ from the standard Japanese manga? For example, are there visual and thematic differences? Does it have potential for social critique and education? This paper analyses the way ethnicity and diversity are depicted in several selected manga titles from Gempak Starz’s most popular manga series, highlighting the ways in which ethnicity and culture are made recognisable. I comparatively analyse the dramaturgical approach in selected Japanese manga and selected Malaysian manga published and translated by Gempak Starz. I ultimately confirm that there is indeed a second wave of manga in Malaysia that transcends the initial “culturally odorless” appearance of traditional Japanese manga as outlined by Iwabuchi (Chan, 2018).

Canada’s official Multicultural policy is often perceived as a leader for its commitment to equality and diversity. The Canadian government has commitments to promoting diversity and fostering inclusive environments in public service, but personal experiences of discrimination continue. The purpose of this study is to interrogate the disjuncture between intended policy goals and lived manifestations of inequality. The existing literature demonstrates that racism persists in Canadian society. However, the scholars in this field have not adequately addressed the efficacy of such policies and their substantive impact. It is integral to interrogate this gap in knowledge because of its impact on the lived experience of minority populations. This study intends to see when and why some policy initiatives work and others do not. A genealogical analysis of Canada’s multiculturalism policy will be implemented to understand the context of diversity policy. This historical view will be contrasted with multiculturalism in practice with Service Ontario as a case study, using interviews with current staff and quantitative data from the 2014 Service Ontario employee survey. Furthermore, perspectives from the emerging field of the sociology of emotions will be employed, as emotion is a fundamental dimension of discrimination. It is argued that the existence of diversity policy and departments can paradoxically lead to oppression by hiding more covert manifestations of racism. The language of diversity is often injected into policy, which provides a veneer of commitment to diversity issues without achieving substantive change.