22 May 2026
As the repertoires and aesthetics of contemporary protest movements evolve, elements of East Asian popular culture come into focus. The episode examines how pop culture is assigned political significance, embraced as a pro-democracy symbol, and transforms the landscape of global political activism.
This episode is hosted by Ms Earn Asanasak, in conversation with Ms Ratu Ayu Asih Kusuma Putri.
Ratu Ayu Asih Kusuma Putri is a PhD candidate and a 2025 Law Academic Associate at the Asian Law Centre, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne. Her research interests focus on forced migration, migrant activism, and human rights in Southeast Asia.
Recommended further reading:
- East Asia’s Pop Culture in an Age of Protest
https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/east-asias-pop-culture-in-an-age-of-protest/
- Gen Z Protesters are Uniting Behind a Manga Pirate Flag
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/19/asia/one-piece-flag-indonesia-nepal-protesters-intl-hnk-dst
- The Aesthetics of Global Protest: Visual Culture and Communication
https://cris.brighton.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/7777839/1006541_1_.pdf