This research examines how nationalism is embedded in China's entertainment industry, where celebrities become vehicles for political messaging. Through archival research, industry interviews, and audience surveys, it shows that nationalism persists through everyday normalisation rather than belief, offering broader insights into the growing intersection of politics, popular culture, and identity.

This research examines how race and gender shaped tap dance performance during Hollywood’s Golden Age through the careers of Eleanor Powell and Jeni Le Gon. The thesis reveals how MGM appropriated Black performance traditions while suppressing Black performers themselves, demonstrating that dance and performance are deeply political cultural practices.