iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Late post, but so glad I managed to snag the last few tickets to The Odyssey at the BFI IMAX before I left London. So beautifully shot, and it brought back memories of reading about Odysseus as a child.

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

A great pleasure to host the Trans-Asian Transcultural Fandom @transasianfan.bsky.social symposium at NUS yesterday; generously supported by @cnmnus.bsky.social. So many interesting projects being done in the field of #transculturalfandom! We need to continue the conversation! #FanStudies

Pink poster with the words Trans-Asian Transcultural Fandom

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

This came from SOS/Emergency alert due to the insurance from UoS, who funded my trip to China. It's 'hilarious' that all the warnings are about Asia, and this is literally a music fest. In a country that doesn't allow protest! Unless you have a permit! Hello, imperialism. 🙄

Announcement on music fest in KL on 1-3 May long weekend

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

In Suzhou, China for the next few days as a discussant for the Gender, Celebrity and Fandoms in Contemporary China PhD workshop at the courtesy of University of Sydney. #FanStudies

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

If you’re 18 or older, and have purchased makeup or beauty products based on your fandom (e.g licensed tie-ins or fan-run brands, small businesses, etc), my friend and colleague, Suzanne Scott is looking for you to answer a short survey with an opt-in for a follow up interview.

QR code to be scanned with a question: “Do you own fandom-related makeup or beauty products

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

We begin today’s session of the East Asian Pop Culture workshop at NUS with an introductory address by Prof Chua Beng Huat.

Prof Chua in front of a screen with words East Asian Pop Culture

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

The programme for the East Asian Pop Culture workshop, documenting 30 years of transformation is now out. It features @tbaudinette.bsky.social as the keynote speaker this coming Sept @ NUS, Singapore. ari.nus.edu.sg/events/east-... #EastAsianPopCulture #FanStudies #AsianStudies

Hand holding chopsticks with a disco ball at its end. With the words “East Asian Pop Culture: 30 Years of Transformation”

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

But! It’s not like Malaysian public universities are the bastion of diversity for locals either. Please don’t try and emulate American politics; Malaysian politics is toxic enough without tone deaf politicians trying to get soundbites.

Screen cap of Malaysian news portal Malaysiakini with headlines reading “MCA demands uni admission data amid foreign student concerns”

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Omg Netflix, no. I’m not getting sucked back into this. I LOVE the series, it took me ages to get out of the headspace it put me in and nothing I watched afterward was good enough. 😅

A TV console, with Netflix on and a poster and description of the Korean series, Mr Sunshine

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Prime and Paramount, encouraging piracy.

Screencap of Amazon Prime interface for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, with a button saying “this video is currently unavailable”

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

It begins! Registered, and here’s to the first conference for 2025. #IAMCR2025

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Prepping for #IAMCR2025 presentation — what I’d call my first foray into Korean pop culture — as my focus is totally on the fandom surrounding the pandas in Everland theme park. Exploring whether this is a potential small-ish research project…

Screencap of a PowerPoint presentation cover page with a picture of the panda “Fubao” under the directions to Zootopia with Korean writing on the left hand side of the screen. On the right, is the presentation title: “My Dearest Fubao: panda fandom and the culture of cute”

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

One more week to submit your abstracts for the East Asian pop culture workshop happening at NUS, Singapore, this September! Hit the link for details on abstract submission! ari.nus.edu.sg/events/east-...

Image of a hand holding a pair of chopsticks. At the end of the chopsticks is a small disco ball. The words “Easy Asian Pop Culture: 30 Years of Transformation” is at the bottom left. On the top left are the words: “Call for Papers; deadline 23 May 2025”. On the top right are the dates for the event: 18-19 September.

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

I realised I should have included a photo of said cat. Here’s 3!

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

You've been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who is coming to save you? 😅😅

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Recalibrating the brain back into academic mode today.

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Drop your lockscreen Jiji, named after Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service. She crossed the rainbow bridge in 2021

iPhone Lock Screen featuring a black and white tuxedo cat

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Bluesky academics, let’s get to know each other! Quote this & tell me 1) a procrastination activity you indulge in instead of writing & 2) your favourite food to stress eat 1) Watching panda videos on YouTube (esp the ones from Everland, Korea) 2) Toss-up between Walker's Salt & Vinegar crisps & 👇

Pic of Nongshim prawn crackers, a Korean snack that is popular across Asia

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

In the 4 months since I’ve moved to Singapore, this is the heaviest rain I’ve encountered so far.

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 03/10/2024

Lol, I’m so late to this 10 million users thing. Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #150,909!

A virtual certificate with text "Celebrating 10M users on Bluesky, #150,909, Dr Bertha Chin ‪@berthac.bsky.social‬, joined on Jun 23, 2023"

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 29/06/2024

In Amsterdam for #CelebrityStudies conference (after a monster queue for passport control). Waiting for @memorieschild.bsky.social to get through the queue now. 😅

Boring airport arrivals hall. Schiphol, Amsterdam

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 15/05/2024

I don’t know what to do with the pic of Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller for season 2 of The Last of Us that just dropped. So here you go.

Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller in season 2 for The Last of Us

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 18/12/2023

Only in bloody Malaysia. Every other made up title, except for Dr 🙄🙄

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 27/11/2023

First face to face conference since 2019

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 14/10/2023

Delighted to be speaking at the Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre Partnership Seminar on Thursday, 26 October, 3-4pm AEST on the topic of transcultural fandom. It’s open to all, and you can join via Zoom on bitly.ws/WBAk (or via meeting ID 815 0802 5866)

Event poster saying “Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre) with details on seminar

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 06/09/2023

We were supposed to swap offices before the start of the semester. The person in this room only informed me they’ve moved on the Friday evening before semester starts. I move in this week to a room with ONLY A DESK. This is why I always forget I work for a university.

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 22/08/2023

Call for Papers for Digital Transactions in Asia V, happening 21-23rd February 2024 in Vietnam.

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 17/08/2023

Talk on BL media in Thailand by Dr Thomas Baudinette. Thursday 31 August, 1:30pm-3:30pm (AEST) @ Burwood Corporate Centre & Zoom Join Zoom Meeting deakin.zoom.us/j/87810190622?pwd=S0…

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 10/08/2023

In the age of streaming, you rarely see this 3 dreaded words at the end of a TV season. And now with yet-to-be-resolved writers and actors strikes hampering production, this is doubly frustrating! Strange New Worlds has been stellar this season! Pay your creatives, Hollywood!

TV screen with the words “To be continued…”

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 08/08/2023

The Editors are pleased to welcome the new Editorial Board for Popular Communication along with revised Aims & Scope that reflect our vision for the journal. @augustaquarius.bsky.social @drrossgarner.bsky.social @memorieschild.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/journals/hppc20

We are especially interested in work that both questions the meanings of the concepts of both 'the popular' and
'communication', research that explores the notion of 'unpopular communication', and work that offers innovative forms of research method.

If you're working in the following areas, do consider submitting your work to us:
• Local, national & global forms of political communication, both popular & unpopular
• Transcultural/transnational and transmedia flows of legacy media & new media

• Conspiracy theories,
mis/disinformation & power in on and offline spaces
• Media representations, & the problematics of communicating these
• Fan & audiences' use of modes of communication

• Emergent digital spatialised media, e.g. VR, AR, and the Metaverse
• Popular communication & media, ethics, & sustainability
• Communication, media industries & issues of labour

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 25/07/2023

What does it say about university leadership if they’re sending emails at 9pm or midnight berating people for not doing their jobs? My head keeps flashing to Cassian Andor’s analysis on fascism

Cassian Andor with the classic line: “Power? Power doesn’t panic”

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 23/07/2023

I stand in solidarity with the writers & actors who are striking for a fair deal & better pay in the age of streaming & business people who think AI & ChatGPT can replace the work of creatives. That if one is a fan of a media text, it doesn’t matter if it’s written by an AI or a human. It matters.

Equity rally, London, with a demonstrator holding a placard that says “Can we replace Bob Iger with AI? And give US his $27 million instead?”

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 24/06/2023

Arrived in London just in time for peony season

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Bertha Chin (she/her) @berthac.bsky.social · 23/06/2023

“Importing” introductory posts over from Mastodon. This one on discovering TV shows I’m pretty sure I’ll love for the rest of my life.

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