Web Series Research Articles

Powerful Women in Anggy Umbara’s Web Series: Layangan Putus

Layangan Putus is a web series adapted from a novel by Drh. Eka Nur Prasetya. In this article, I am analyzing this series because there is a hidden gem in these five female characters, which shows their power to fight for their rights and happiness. For that, I am interested in analyzing their power and what consequences they receive. In my analysis, I use the girl power theory based on the descriptions by Zaslow (2017), Inness (2004), and Bettis & Addams (2005) on girl power, which is independent, smart, and assertive. I analyze the way these five female characters exercise their power by being independent, smart, and assertive. As the consequences of exercising their power, they experience positive and negative results. For the positive result, they get what they want in life such as individual freedom, and for the negative one, they have to sacrifice important things such as their feelings, and personal relationships. In conclusion, in exercising their power, they gain self-growth and self-discovery.

Representation Of LGBTQIA+ People in Selected Indian Web Series: A Study

LGBTQIA+ is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual. These terms describe the gender identity of those who do not come into the male and female categories. Before 2018 homosexual act between adults was unconstitutional in India under section 377 but on 6th September 2018 Indian supreme court neglected this and their sexual activities or homosexuality became a legal act in India. In the whole world, the media plays a very important and fascinating role to represent any controversy. Now our media like television, OTTs, and cinema also represent the content that discusses the idea of LGBT people. Nowadays the younger generation is moving or shifting towards OTT platforms. On the OTT platform, presenting this kind of content is becoming useful. OTTS is becoming the most trending and easy to represent the difficulties, trauma, depression, raising questions for identities, gender trouble, and the bitterness of life lived by LGBTQIA+. The aim of this article is to drill the concept of representation and acceptance of third-gender people in Indian society through OTT platforms and also it will put light on myths regarding third gender. It has been more than five years since the LGBT+ community and homosexuality are becoming a legal act in India but it has given only legal acceptance. In our society and especially in a small town their acceptance and their sexual acts are still unacceptable and odd. So, media and screens have the power to bring both positive and negative change in the stereotype myths regarding queer people. This research will focus on ‘Mismatched season 2’, ‘Four More Shots Please’ ‘Made in Heaven’, and ‘His Storyy’.

Soft Road to Trans-national Encompassment- Analyzing Role of Soft Power in Shaping the Contours of India-japan Relations

The 21st century has witnessed the emerging dominance of Asian countries with the shift of the global economic and strategic epicenter from west to east. As all the major powers intersect in the Asia Pacific region in this pursuit, influence is destined to be a stronger word than power. And this is the point where Soft Power critically interjects. Strategically placed between South East and West Asia, SAARC has been a significant global platform for deepening transnational integration and cooperation. While ethno-religious differences have kept the South Asian association disintegrated, Japan stood untouched by power contention, rather re-shaping its foreign policy outlook standing synonymous with a ‘cultural and economic powerhouse.’ The trust Japan has built over decades in developing Indo-Japan diplomacy through cultural appeal now stands exemplary for South Asian countries to look to these two nations for inspiration. In doing so, the role of Japan’s popular culture, along with the contemporary Japanese web series broadcasted to South Asian countries, has contributed significantly to the mass commercialization of Japanese culture, engendering an attraction toward a benign image of the Japanese state. While depicting Japan's refined lifestyle, modern yet very eastern, the J-dramas have penetrated young generations, creating a wave of Japan-ness in their minds and motivating them to learn the language. The National Education Policy of India 2020, too, has boosted the learning of Japanese among foreign languages right from the secondary level of education, and the JENESYS program has been continuously adding to the number of learners in India. From classic literary narratives to traditional arts- Kabuki, Bharatnatyam, sushi, sake, curry, and anime to kawaii culture, Bollywood, Yoga, and Zen, Japan has been binding the Indian community for decades. In the present era of intensified economic globalization, Soft Power's window allows Japan to maximize peaceful cooperation with her neighbors, particularly India.

The Influence of Western Fantasy Fiction on Contemporary Bengali OTT and TV Series

The publication of the Lord of the Rings trilogy marks a significant watershed moment in the literary history of the twentieth century. After the publication of this seminal text, it was “translated into numerous languages”(Manlove 156) and it also began to weave its influence into the various literary and cultural traditions of the world. Though the state of West Bengal possessed a powerful and rich literary and cultural background, in terms of supernatural or fantastic literature, the Bengali cultural field also started to take the colour of Tolkien’s magnum opus. Subsequently, the Harry Potter phenomenon in the 1990s, and the widely watched Peter Jackson film adaptations of the Lord of the Rings, added to the popularity of Western fantasy in West Bengal. This can be traced in a number of articles in Bengali magazines, journals, and blogs, such as “Angti Niye Abar Lorai,” “Dorja Jure Bisal Sap Er Murti! Khoj Millo,” which reveal the investment of Bengali audiences in the genre. Gradually, as this paper will argue in some detail, some of the newly emergent Bengali OTT and TV series, coming out in the post 2010s - were also coloured by the cultural expansion of Western fantasy. This paper will particularly demonstrate the influence of Western fantasy on Bengali OTT and TV Series with a special emphasis on the features of Western fantasy like the evocation of wonder through specific devices, mythopoeic tendencies, the dynamics of wish fulfilment, and the like. Side by side, the resemblance of scenes, actions, and ideas of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Harry Potter series in Bengali OTT and TV Series will also be depicted in this paper. The primary texts that will be studied, include one web series and two serials: Rudrabinar Obhishaap, Kiranmala, and Saat Bhai Champa.

Trans*(gressive) Failures: Cis-heteronormative Gaze in OTT Media

This study offers a critical textual analysis of trans* representation in two popular Hindi web series Sacred Games (Luegenbiehl & Motwane (Executive Producers), 2018–2019, Sacred Games [TV series]) and Paatal Lok (Sharma et al. (Executive Producers), 2020–Present, Paatal Lok [TV series]). We probe how trans* representations function to maintain normative agendas in a heteropatriarchal nation-state. Further, we examine their potential to reify dominant stereotypes in popular media. Our analysis reveals discourses surrounding hegemonic heterosexuality (Yep, 2003, Journal of Homosexuality, 45(2–4), 11–59), transnormativisation (Puar, 2015, Social Text, 33(3 (124)), 45–73) and homohindunationalism (Upadhyay, 2020, Interventions, 22(4), 464–480) based on two trans* characters—Kukkoo and Cheeni. We argue that the characters are conceptualised through a cis-heteropatriarchal imagination in a right-wing nation-state achieved through gendered and racialised othering. We uncover several mediated failures. First, how persistent male gaze functions to centre cis-heteronormative tropes that marginalise trans*ness and the trans* characters. Second, the dual pressures of Puar’s theorisation of ‘passing’ and ‘piecing’ create normativised trans* bodies that are unable to break out of the gender binary. Lastly, we argue that the Hindu-nationalist state works to co-opt and nullify progressive portrayals of trans* characters through its legal and biopolitical machinery.

Hit like, please subscribe: OnlyFans, camming, and new directions in Indian erotic performance cultures

This article explores camming practices in India where performers like Oasi Das utilize platforms such as Instagram to invite subscription to their OnlyFans profiles. Focusing on the intersection between Instagram reels, OnlyFans, and escort services, the article locates the varied entrepreneurial modes used by such adult performers. This marks a distinct shift in the Indian adult media ecology that also includes web series and adult OTT platforms catering to a digital desi viewership.

Analysis of the Main Female Characters in the Melur for Firdaus Web Series and Their Implementation in Learning

This study aims to describe the analysis of the main female character in the web series Melur untuk Firdaus and its implementation in learning at SMP Negeri 23 Pontianak. The methods and forms of research used are descriptive methods and qualitative research forms, and use a feminist approach. The data in this study are in the form of words and quotes that contain the roles and positions of women, gender injustice, and women's struggles in the web series. The data source used in this study is the Melur web series for Firdaus which aired on Slot Lestary TV3 on May 27 2022 with a total of 28 episodes. Data collection techniques used in this research are documentary study techniques and observational techniques. The data collection tool used by the researchers themselves as the main instrument and data card and assisted by observation guidelines. The data analysis technique used is content analysis technique. The results of the analysis obtained from this research are the role and position of women as children and also wives, gender injustice in the form of marginalization, stereotypes, and violence, as well as women's struggles in maintaining their household and its implementation in learning at SMP Negeri 23 Pontianak. The roles and positions in Melur's web series for Firdaus are divided into two. First, it describes the role and position of women as children who carry out their obligations to help with household chores, respect and care for their parents. Second, the role and position of women as wives who carry out their obligations, namely respecting, caring for, fulfilling and serving the needs of their husbands. There are three forms of gender injustice, namely marginalization that women are considered insignificant in making decisions and are only used as sex slaves, stereotypes limiting women from interfering and labeling in the form of insults, as well as physical and non-physical violence and its implementation in learning at SMP Negeri 23 Pontianak.

Web series “Tiba-Tiba NgeGUIDE” As a Media Promotion for Tourist Destination in Jakarta

Film-induced tourism refers to the phenomenon of people visiting places because they were featured in popular movies or TV shows. The power of cinema to inspire travel has been recognized by the tourism industry for many years, and it has become a significant source of income for many destinations around the world. The concept of film-induced tourism has gained momentum with the rise of social media and the internet, which have made it easier for travelers to research and plan their trips based on the locations they have seen on screen. The impact of film-induced tourism can be significant for both the destinations and the film industry. For destinations, it can create jobs, boost local businesses, and promote the local culture and heritage. For the film industry, it can generate additional revenue and increase exposure for their productions. The concept of film-induced tourism has gained momentum with the rise of social media and the internet, which makes it easier for travelers to research and plan their trips based on the locations they have seen on screens. This is what the Tourism and Creative Economy Service is trying to take advantage of by launching the web series 'Tiba-Tiba NgeGUIDE'. There are two main factors that are discussed in depth, namely the process of making films including pre- production, production and post-production and also the web series itself which is a medium for promoting Jakarta tourism. Literature study, observation, and documentation try to be optimized to collect the required data. In conclusion, the web series Tiba-Tiba NgeGUIDE has succeeded in becoming a media/tool that promotes Jakarta tourism and increases audience awareness of Jakarta's tourist destinations.

Study of 'Don't Hug Me I'm Scared' Web Series Storytelling For IP Design Regarding Safe Viewing Content For Children

In 2022 the internet was getting more advanced, and every age can use it. For a long time, the mass media has become a tool used in children's socialization. The easiest way to teach children is via the internet, specifically through child-friendly shows. The shows are usually educational, such as learning about colors, letters, numbers, social teachings, etc. They can imitate or learn the teachings they watch in everyday life. This children's content has positive and negative impacts, but one of the problems is the delivery of indecent content such as violence, pornography, or wrong teachings inserted into the spectacle.
 Apart from problems with YouTube's algorithm, irresponsible adults make children who watch it participate in acts of violence or are traumatized by watching it. This does not mean that all children's viewing of content is terrible, but that there needs to be discretion and initiative on the part of parents. This case could create a big scandal in the internet world. This research aims to dissect and analyze a well-known web series on YouTube, 'Don't Hug Me I'm Scared' by Joseph Pelling, Baker Terry, and Rebecca Sloan, in terms of storytelling and create an Intellectual Property (IP) to create safe content for children. One of the theories circulating about this animation is the problem of children's content being deviated due to the actions of adults and their criticism, making this series suitable as the main foundation for research.

Deplatforming sex education on Meta: sex, power, and content moderation

Public health research has heralded social media as a space where sex education can be delivered to young people. However, sexual health organisations are increasingly concerned that restrictive content moderation practices impede their ability to distribute sex education content on social media platforms. To better understand these experiences, this article uses an autoethnographic case study of my experience navigating Meta's content moderation policies and practices when I promoted the Bits and Bods sex education web series. Using conjunctural analysis, I contextualise Bits and Bods's two experiences of content moderation (when our account was deleted from Instagram and advertising was rejected by Facebook) through policy analysis of Meta's content moderation policies. I then conclude by questioning whether public health practitioners should still be conceiving Meta's platforms as a space where they can deliver sex education to young people.

REPRESENTASI KOMODIFIKASI AGAMA PADA IKLAN WEBSERIES MIRACLE OF HIJRAH OLEH PRIMALAND

Developments in technology and information bring changes to the pattern of product marketing. Marketing advertisements undergo various transformations, from print advertisements to ads in the form of videos, from short videos to videos in the form of web series. In its development, too, sharia-based products are increasingly familiar to the public. One form of Sharia product is Sharia-based housing. This residence offers religious facilities such as a prayer room and an archery field. In addition, Sharia housing also uses non-usury payments using an in-house scheme. It is undeniable that the commodification of religion accompanies the advertisements being promoted. Through residential advertisements in the form of web series, Primaland markets its various Sharia residential products. Various commodifications of faith are found in this advertisement. Three forms of commodification were found: Islamic iconography (description of identity), the use of figures with Muslim influencer backgrounds, and the existence of advertising texts or religious messages conveyed through dialogues in web series.

Navigating Stereotypes: Portrayal of Hinduism in OTT Web Series, 2018-2020

OTT or “over-the-top” platforms, which facilitate the distribution of film and TV content over the internet, have gained tremendous popularity in India in the last few years. In addition to streaming pre-existing films and TV shows, they produce new original content in the form of web series and other newer formats. Given that the OTT segment is not subject to governmental regulations, content creators can offer varied and innovative content tailored to distinct audience demographics. In addition to entertainment, Indian web series makers also focus on social issues likes patriarchy, racism, inter-religious conflicts, sexuality among others, and portray their stories against the backdrop of certain religious symbolisms, customs and markers. Often, however, in their zeal to locate social evils in the prevalent social milieu, they end up negatively stereotyping Hindus. Through a critical analysis of three popular web series between 2018-2020, this paper investigates the representations of different dimensions of Dharmic religions, especially Hinduism. Using a structural film theoretic approach, the paper specifically attempts to explore to what degree the portrayal of Hindu symbolism and motifs reinforce or dispel specific negative stereotypes against Hindus. The analysis uncovers a consistent trend of negative portrayal of Hinduism in terms of structural elements like camera composition, facial expressions, body language, rituals, and other elements. While absence of regulation allows for greater creative freedom in the OTT space, it also opens the door to content that can be offensive to certain communities, and hence there is a need for responsible content creation by web series developers.

Hollywood comes to Pakistan: Churails’ appropriation of Hollywood detective genre

This research study employs Bordwell, Thompson, and Staiger’s classical Hollywood narrative framework to investigate how the Pakistani web series Churails appropriates and redefines the conventions of the traditional Hollywood detective genre by incorporating local cultural and social contexts. The study’s findings provide significant insights into the emergence of new narratives in Pakistani media that draw inspiration from global genres while also reflecting local realities. The analysis contributes to the larger discourse on the global impact of the genre on contemporary media and has the potential to inform and influence media production and consumption practices, both in Pakistan and beyond.

Never Have I Ever: A Critical Analysis on the Role of Netflix in Promoting Multiculturalism

Netflix, a pioneering streaming platform in the era of the rise of OTT platforms’ popularity, has established itself as an advocate of multiculturalism unlike any other contemporary in its time. It thrives by producing and featuring a diversity of content that includes stories, cast, and characters from various cultural backgrounds. Through its method of narrating stories, Netflix represents the cultural inclusivity, appreciation, and mutual understanding of cultures in the United States of America, representing it as a salad bowl. This research essay critically examines the web series Never Have I Ever that on one hand, underscores the role of Netflix in promoting multiculturalism, and on the other hand, it highlights the United States of America as a multicultural society. By close examination of the cast, storytelling, and themes of the web series, this article identifies the United States of America as a salad bowl wherein every culture is allowed to retain its individualistic identity while being a part of the community instead of a melting pot wherein all the cultures get dissolved into the American culture. With the showcasing of a cast from various backgrounds who face complex issues such as identity crisis and cultural assimilation, Never Have I Ever efficiently challenges the stereotypes and elicits empathy from the audience along with building an all-embracing society with unique identities.

The Production of Web Series: Amateurs Vs. Professionals

ABSTRACT Due to the novelty of the format, web series have been little studied. To address this gap, this research identifies and compares the nature, experiences, and practices of professional and amateur web series filmmakers. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with Colombian professionals (15) and amateurs (15) covering 1) their training and experience; 2) their working practices and routines; 3) their creative processes; and 4) the financial aspects of their productions (salaries and budgets). The main findings suggest that web series production is similar for both types of filmmakers in most of these aspects and has evolved from both television practices and media industry logics. Moreover, both groups of filmmakers only innovate in terms of the technological possibilities and distribution of their web series, and their creativity is regulated and dependent on the approval of influential social and industry actors.

The Power of Qing: The Guardian Web Series and Queer Worldmaking in Chinese Danmei

This article examines the web series Guardian (dir. Zhou Yuanzhou, 2018) as exemplary cultural texts of Chinese danmei, which portrays homoeroticism and male queerness in postsocialist China within the contexts of increasing institutional and political homophobia. The textual evidence shows that Guardian constructs queer subtexts and brings out the queer potentialities of the seemingly nonhomosexual media production via the following strategic negotiations: first, by creating a bricolage of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero genres to contest the homophobic social reality; second, by portraying qing, a powerful emotional bonding in queer relationships, and magnifying same sex intimacy as normal, natural, and moral; and last but not least, by interrogating queer stereotypes through deconstructing essentialized gender boundaries and further transcending stereotypical gong-shou aesthetics in danmei. Its commercial values notwithstanding, Guardian exemplifies a critical representational terrain that envisions alternative, imaginative ways to reconfigure gender and sexual identities, rearticulate queer desires, and disrupt insidious gender politics and homophobic discourse. Importantly, Guardian signifies the danmei genre’s disruptive potential to offer abundant space for queer worldmaking, thereby challenging censored representations of homosexuality.

LGBTQIA+ RIGHTS AND SEXUAL DIVERSITY IN MADE IN HEAVEN

LGBTQIA is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (ones sexual or gender identity), intersex, and asexual/aromantic/agender. These terms are used to describe a persons sexual orientation or gender identity. The term LGBT is in use since the 1990s, the term is an adaptation of the term LGB, which replaced the term gay in reference to the LGBT community beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s. Many activists believed that the term gay community did not accurately represent all those to whom it referred. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code is a section of the Indian Penal Code introduced in 1861 during the British rule of India. Modelled on the Buggery Act of 1533, it makes sexual activities against the order of nature illegal. On 6 September 2018, the Supreme Court of India ruled the decriminalisation of Section 377 which has led to the publics acknowledgement of the third gender in India. Time and again media have played role in creating awareness about the concerns related to the community. Many films, television shows, and OTT platforms have also shown content related to the LGBTQIA+. In recent times, majority of viewers have shifted to OTT platforms and one can witness that with benefits of OTT, it has become easy for content producers to highlight any topic of interest and relevance. Many series on famous OTT platforms are presenting LGBTQIA+ relations in an undisguised manner so that the society also recognises LGBTQIA+ communitiesall across the world, their rights, and their culture and that this be marked by a spirit of resistance and acceptance as opposed to an attitude of shameby creating an awareness in the mind of the viewers. The study aims to find out the representation of LGBTQIA+ on Amazon Prime Video and their influence on society. This is exploratory research. The content analysis of web series on Amazon Prime Video has been done to understand the type of content shown in web series and in-depth interviews have been conducted to understand the influence of such content on the LGBTQIA+ community members.

Islamic Lifestyle on Hijab Alila YouTube Shows (Episode Bts the Series)


 
 
 
 The development of information technology, closely related to globalization, is evident in the significant enthusiasm of the public towards K-Pop and the fading of culture, as exemplified in the content showcased in the web series "Hijab Alila" on YouTube. This research aims to discuss the aspect of signs using Ferdinand de Saussure's theory. In each scene, an analysis of the web series "Between Two Sides: BTS The Series" will be conducted based on the system of signs in Structural Semiotics. Based on the analysis, it is simultaneously developed with the interpretation of the aspects and scenes analyzed as a whole. The researcher adopts a constructivist paradigm with a qualitative approach, providing an insight into the constructed reality of Islamic lifestyle.
 
 
 

Unveiling the Silver Screen: Exploring the Impact of Movies on Criminal Cases from a Social Learning Perspective

Over the past hundred years, Bollywood has emerged as one of the most dominant and distinctive features of Indian culture. Indian cinema wields significant influence and power in addressing various social issues through its medium of screenplay. It stands as the world's largest film industry in terms of the number of films produced. Movies serve as a potent medium for addressing societal concerns, as they play a crucial role in motivating individuals and communities. While movies have a positive impact on society, it is essential to acknowledge their potential negative effects. This present study is a review of how psycho-thriller movies leave a negative impact on individuals and play a significant role in influencing crime. It is well-known that people are highly engrossed in movies, web series, and social media. This study compiles insights from various research studies and relevant articles in journals, magazines, and newspapers, shedding light on the detrimental consequences of psycho-thriller movies on individuals and their potential correlation with crime.

Pesan Dakwah Dalam Web Series

Web series is a serial viewing format that is broadcast via web-based internet technology such as YouTube and Vimeo. Web Series have a broadcast concept that is similar to television shows, but Web Series are shorter in duration, have clearer storylines and conflicts and are not long-winded. A strong story makes the audience understand and become more involved in the story, so this media is often used to convey preaching messages. Like one of the Web Series entitled "Story Of Dira" belonging to the B3E Production Youtube Channel. Various series that have been produced have achieved success, both in Indonesia and abroad. One of the achievements of the film When Hafidz Falls in Love was winning awards as favorite film and best director at ISMEFEST, 1st place at KUA Fest 2020, Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to find out what da'wah messages are contained in the Web Series Story Of Dira. The type of research used by the author in analyzing the Story Of Dira web series is library research using a qualitative approach. The data was analyzed using Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis. The research results show that the Web Series Story Of Dira contains a da'wah message, namely the message of the aqidah da'wah conveyed in this Web Series is about faith in Allah, faith in qhada and qhadar. The message of sharia da'wah is about prohibitions on dating, covering one's private parts, marriage, ta'aruf. The message of moral preaching is about telling the truth, forgiving, helping each other, inviting people to study and loving animals. Where the preaching message above is analyzed based on Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis approach, namely by examining signs or symbols with the meaning of denotation, connotation and myth.