Ien Ang: An Introduction

Born in Java, 1954, Ien Ang was schooled in the Netherlands. She is a co-founder, and professor of Cultural studies at, the University of Western Sydney after receiving her doctorate in Social and Cultural Sciences from the University of Amsterdam in 1990. Her work in the field of Media studies has focussed largely on the nature of media audiences and theoretical issues of media consumptions. Her books such as “Desperately Seeking the Audience” have illustrated key cultural differences in media production and its impact on the respective audiences. For example; the differences in how European public service broadcasters and American commercial television companies value the respective audiences.

Ang has also written books concerning the issues of ethnicity and migration in the world of media – in particularly, Australia-Asian relations in contemporary media. “On not speaking Chinese” is an example of Ang’s research into the meaning of national identity in contemporary media. This book also looks at the differences between “Asian” and “Western” cultures and the “paradox” of the Australian “western-like” culture.  

In 2001, Ang was awarded the Centenary Medal for “service to Australian society and the humanities in cultural research”. She currently works as a cultural commentator in Australia and a Council member at the Australian Academy of the Humanities. She is considered one of the global leaders in cultural studies and media theory. For this reason, I will be analysing Ang’s research, her published theories, and ideas in an attempt to understand the ever changing, global media-audience relationship and what influence cultural identity can have on it.    

References:

Ang, I (1991) "Desperately seeking the audience", Routledge 

www.connect.in.com/ien-ang/biography-122579.html 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8431231-on-not-speaking-chinese