In the course Cross-Cultural Theory Seminar, students delivered research presentations on “Remake Studies,” comparing film remakes produced in various countries and analyzing how these works transform across cultures.
At the beginning of the class, Professor Hyun Mooam of the Graduate School of Media and Communication stated:
“We are living in an era of intense competition for content. In pursuit of high-quality material, countries are increasingly remaking successful works for their domestic audiences.”
The course began in October with ten first-year master’s students (seven first-years, one second-year, and two exchange students) from the Graduate School of International Communication, Media, and Tourism. Although the course is conducted in Japanese, most of the students are international.
In November, they were divided into three groups to select and research their chosen works, and on January 26, each group presented their findings in a 25‑minute session.
Professor Hyun explained the academic significance of the project:
“When a work is remade, the social meanings embedded in the original work are reshaped. Uncovering these transformations is at the heart of ‘Remake Studies.’”
The three groups compared the following sets of works:
- The Chinese movie remake of YOLO and the Japanese film 100 Yen Love
- The Chinese drama remake of Imperfect Love and the Japanese drama Mother
- The Thai and Japanese versions of the Boys Over Flowers drama
Students examined the works from their own perspectives, identifying changes influenced by cultural context and creators’ intentions. They analyzed how these alterations shaped the messages conveyed and how audiences in each country received them.
After the presentations, Professor Hyun offered words of encouragement to his students:
“Each of you brought a unique perspective to your analysis. These could grow into compelling research themes. Through ‘Remake Studies,’ I hope we can continue exploring how to create stories that resonate across borders.”
Photos by Miriam Arfani, PRC