All for the Winner: An Analysis of the Characterization of Male Gamblers in Hong Kong Movies with Gambling Theme

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Chan, Chi Chuen and Ohtsuka, Keis (2011) All for the Winner: An Analysis of the Characterization of Male Gamblers in Hong Kong Movies with Gambling Theme. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 9 (2). pp. 208-218. ISSN 1557-1874

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the characterization of male gamblers in popular Hong Kong movies in the past 50 years. A total of nine Hong Kong films with gambling themes were selected for analysis. The criteria for selection of the films were as follows: the movies in which the protagonists are portrayed by well known Hong Kong actors that attracted a wide spectrum of the audience in the community. Out of such criteria, six male actors, each representing a legend at their times, were selected in the current analysis. Psychological analysis of the characters portrayed in the Hong Kong movies suggests a shift of the emphasis from the moral integrity and social responsibility to the individual pursuit of monetary gains as the dominant theme of the movie and a component of the characterization of the protagonists. Further, the particular cultural and social conditions of Hong Kong society in each decade may have significant bearings on cultural characterization of male heroes. We argue that the male characterization of gamblers in the Hong Kong movies might as well be a crystallization of public fantasies and wishes.

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Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/16013
DOI 10.1007/s11469-010-9274-5
Official URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11469-010-9274-5
Subjects Historical > RFCD Classification > 380000 Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences
Historical > RFCD Classification > 220000 Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts-General
Historical > FOR Classification > 1701 Psychology
Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > School of Social Sciences and Psychology
Keywords ResPubID21312. characterization of gamblers in movies, Hong Kong movies, gambling, portrayal of gamblers in media
Citations in Scopus 8 - View on Scopus
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