Theme
The twenty-first century has witnessed the phenomenal development of Asia as a major producer of popular culture and entertainment, particularly the proliferation of Asian TV drama series. Who have not found themselves hooked on Crash Landing on You (2019), The Untamed (2019), Waves of Life (Kluen Cheewit, 2017), FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (Brothers, 2015-2022), or the enduring anime series Naruto (2002-present)? These dramas stream on various local, regional, and global platforms with multilingual subtitles. Their generic diversity—from romcom to BL, from martial arts to time travel, from historical to science fiction—offers an array of delectable fares to stimulate the evolving palate of the global fans. Their cross-cultural appropriations and intersectionality are significant in enhancing community dialogues and a sense of global connectedness. For instance, the Taiwanese Meteor Garden (2001) and the Japanese Hana Yori Dango (2005), based on the shōjo manga series Hana Yori Dango, have spawned Asian equivalents such as Boys Over Flowers (South Korea, 2009), Meteor Garden (China, 2018), and F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers (2021). Wherein lies the audience’s fascination with and the value of such extended narratives on teenage romance and friendship, class conflicts, and intense family relations?
This conference-workshop is interested in investigating various themes, topics, and aspects of Asian TV dramas. The topics can cover, but are not limited to, themes and narrative contents, Asian dramatic forms and genres, socio-political issues (e.g., gender and sexuality, racism, ableism), adaptation and transcultural borrowings, the infrastructure of the entertainment industry, audience reception and fandom cultures in Southeast Asia.
We welcome varying perspectives, not limited to the critical praxes of cultural studies, but also the integration of theoretical concepts and frameworks from philosophy, history, political science, sociology, psychology, linguistics, theology and spirituality, business and entrepreneurship, law, and media and fandom studies, among others. Interdisciplinary approaches are appreciated.
Paper Presentations
The language medium is English. Abstract proposal (250-300 words) must provide: short description, objectives, and proposed framework or methodology. Submission should be accompanied by the author’s bio-note (250-300 words), with a list of published works, and contact information (email, mobile phone number). Proposals for panels are welcome. File format: Word (doc, docx). Submit to Abstract Submission Link. Deadline: March 16, 2024 (*Note: Submission is closed).
The selected participants are expected to submit their draft papers by May 6, 2024. After the conference-workshop, they are expected to revise their papers as research articles for publication (4000-6000 words) by November 2024. Citations and reference lists should follow the latest style prescribed by the Modern Language Association (MLA, 9th edition). All submitted articles will undergo a process of blind peer review.
Conference-workshop will be hybrid (in-person and online). Accepted participants should pay a registration fee of PHP500 (USD10). Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation and lodging.
Important Dates
| Submission of abstract proposals | March 16, 2024 |
| Notification of acceptance | April 2nd and 3rd weeks |
| Submission of draft papers | May 6, 2024 |
| Conference-Workshop Proper | May 20-22, 2024 |
| Submission of full papers for inclusion in published anthology | November 2024 |
The Organizers/Convenors
Asian TV Dramas Conference is organized by the College of Liberal Arts of De La Salle University (DLSU CLA), Manila, Philippines and the Faculty of Arts of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. The organizing team includes the DLSU CLA Public Humanities Cluster, DLSU Southeast Asian Research Center and Hub (SEARCH) and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI).
Team DLSU
Raymond Girard Tan, Vice President for Research and Innovation
Rhoderick Nuncio, Dean, College of Liberal Arts
CLA Public Humanities Cluster: Shirley Lua, CLA Assistant Dean for Research and Advanced Studies; Anne Frances Sangil, Chair, Department of Literature; Clarissa Militante, Director, Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center
Fernando Santiago, Jr., Director, Southeast Asian Research Center and Hub (SEARCH)
Team Chula
Suradech Chotiudompant, Dean, Faculty of Arts
Pasuree Luesakul, Associate Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Arts
Anderson Lopes da Silva, Vice Director, Center of Latin American Studies, Faculty of Arts
The DLSU Secretariat and Technical Team: Angela Salinas, Donna Mina, May Raquepo, Liza Pajo, Josh Sebastian Caluya, Cushaq Keith Esguerra, Amanda Sophia Magsaysay, AVSU
Asian TV Dramas Conference Posters designed by Adrian Ho, Angela Salinas
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Asian TV Dramas and the Popular Mind in Southeast Asia 