Asian Journal of Media and Culture

From State Monopoly to Battlefield: A Historical Analysis of Media, Power, and Conflict in Libya (1952–Present)

Ibrahim Ali Omer — 2026-07-07

The evolution of Libyan media from a state-controlled system to a weaponized landscape in the post-2011 period reflects the broader transformation of political power in the country, yet existing scholarship has largely failed to provide a comprehensive historical analysis connecting media development to dynamics of state control, conflict, and external intervention. This study aims to analyze how political power and social conflict have shaped the evolution of media in Libya from independence in 1952 to the present. Employing a qualitative historical-analytical approach with thematic analysis of academic literature, historical documents, and media reports, the study traces media transformation across three political eras: the Monarchy, the Gaddafi regime, and the post-2011 period. The findings reveal that Libyan media evolved from a state-controlled instrument under authoritarian rule to a fragmented and weaponized environment where various TV channels serve as propaganda tools for warring factions, as evidenced by 1,070 documented ethical violations across 12 channels. The study concludes that media in Libya have never been autonomous but have always mirrored the power structures underlying them, and that sustainable media reform requires the establishment of independent regulatory bodies, protection of journalists, and integration with broader political stabilization efforts.

From Nollywood to New Media: The Transformation of Cultural Narratives in Nigeria’s Digital Communication Landscape

Kenneth Uyi Abudu — 2026-07-09

The digital transformation of Nigeria’s Nollywood industry reflects significant changes in how cultural narratives are produced, distributed, and interpreted, yet existing scholarship has largely failed to provide a comprehensive analysis of how digital media reshapes cultural narratives, power relations, and identity in the Nigerian context. This study aims to analyze how digital media reshapes cultural narratives as well as power relations and identity within Nigerian society. Employing a qualitative thematic literature review, the study synthesizes scholarly works, reports, and digital campaigns related to cultural narratives in Nigeria’s digital landscape. Theoretically, this study adopts Stuart Hall’s encoding/decoding framework (1980; 1990) to explain that meaning is not fixed but actively negotiated between producers and audiences within diverse socio-cultural contexts. Three main findings emerge. First, Nollywood’s digital transformation occurs through processes of adaptation, resistance, and reinterpretation of local values. Second, digitalization expands the space for expression and global distribution while reinforcing digital inequalities and the dominance of global platforms. Third, digital cultural narratives become dynamic arenas of meaning contestation, where local values interact with global influences through encoding and decoding practices. The study concludes that the integration of technology, digital literacy, and local values is key to building an inclusive and sustainable digital cultural ecosystem in Nigeria, with implications for policymakers, cultural practitioners, and platform developers.

Encoding Control, Decoding Resistance: State Power, Digital Media, and Identity Negotiation in Contemporary China

Bambang Dwi Waluyo — 2026-07-10

China’s rapid digital transformation has created a media ecosystem where technological innovation is closely intertwined with state governance and ideological regulation. This study examines how digital media, state power, and audience agency interact to shape identity construction in China’s digital public sphere. Employing a qualitative literature review with thematic analysis, the research synthesizes recent scholarship on digital governance, platform regulation, and audience reception. The analysis draws on Stuart Hall’s Encoding/Decoding model, Michel Foucault’s concept of governmentality, and Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony. The findings reveal that China’s digital infrastructure simultaneously expands communication while reinforcing state oversight through algorithms, platform governance, and content moderation. Audience responses are not homogeneous but include hegemonic, negotiated, and oppositional readings shaped by social and cultural contexts. The study concludes that China’s digital media environment is a dynamic arena where state institutions, platforms, and users continuously negotiate meaning and identity, extending debates on digital authoritarianism, media power, and political communication.

Streaming Hallyu, Negotiating Values: Digital Platforms, Social Inequality, and Cultural Reception in Southeast Asia

Darynaufal Mulyaman — 2026-07-10

The rapid growth of digital streaming platforms has accelerated the circulation of the Korean Wave (Hallyu) across Southeast Asia, yet its reception cannot be understood as a linear process of cultural diffusion. This study aims to examine how cross-border cultural flows are mediated by digital platforms and interpreted within diverse socio-cultural contexts across the region. Employing a qualitative literature review with thematic analysis, the research synthesizes scholarly works on media globalization, streaming platforms, and cultural reception in Southeast Asia. The findings reveal that Hallyu reception is shaped by three interrelated factors: digital infrastructure and platform algorithms that expand access and shape preferences; social inequalities that differentiate consumption patterns across class, education, and geography; and local cultural values, particularly religious norms and identities, that drive processes of adaptation, resistance, and hybridization. Audiences selectively adopt, adapt, or resist cultural elements, producing diverse forms of cultural hybridity that indicate globalization fosters differentiation rather than uniformity. The study concludes that cultural globalization in the digital era is multidimensional, requiring integrated analysis across technological, social, and cultural domains. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening local cultural resilience and offer valuable lessons for developing creative industries capable of competing globally while preserving unique cultural identities in Southeast Asia.

Digital Humanities and the Decolonization of Knowledge in Nigeria: Media Studies, Postcolonial Theory, and African Epistemologies

Adekunle Ayodeji Ogunwola — 2026-07-11

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has fundamentally transformed media ecosystems, knowledge production, and cultural authority across the Global South, yet existing scholarship on Digital Humanities (DH) has largely been framed through Western-centric perspectives that obscure epistemic diversity and local practices. This study aims to examine how DH reconfigures knowledge production in Nigeria by analyzing the intersection of digital media, postcolonial theory, and African epistemological traditions. Employing a qualitative literature-based approach with thematic analysis of scholarly works, policy reports, and theoretical texts on DH, media studies, and decolonization, the study synthesizes sources to construct an integrative framework. The findings reveal three key insights: first, DH expands knowledge production through digitization, computational analysis, and digital archives; second, it redistributes authority through transparency, participation, and open scholarship; and third, it democratizes distribution through open access and interoperable infrastructures. The study concludes that African philosophical frameworks, particularly Omoluabi and Ubuntu, provide crucial resources for developing culturally grounded DH approaches that resist digital colonialism. By extending DH scholarship beyond Euro-American contexts, this study contributes to contemporary debates in media and cultural studies on epistemic pluralism, digital sovereignty, and the decolonization of knowledge in an interconnected Global South.