Research

Old Bridge in Mostar

I am a multi-method and multi-disciplinary researcher whose research focus evolves around mass media and popular culture. Particularly, I am interested in understanding the interplay between broadcast media and the ways in which they influence country image and national identity. Additional research interests include soft power, film, and nationalism. Much of my scholarly work has been focused on South-East Asia, however, my current works mostly involves the countries of former Yugoslavia. For example, my doctoral dissertation titled “Remembering the Yugoslav War in Contemporary Croatia and the Shaping of Croatian National Identity” explores how mass media event like Victory Day, affects cultural identities and values of people in Croatia, one of the newer democracies of post-Communist Eastern Europe. Another ongoing study, conducted in summer of 2015, explored the phenomenon of shared Yugoslav culture in the post-Yugoslavia environment. The research involving 453 survey participants sought to understand the turbo-folk fandom in Croatia and its effects on formation of national identity.

While working as a lecturer at City University of Hong Kong and preparing my dissertation, I have had two manuscripts accepted for publication. One is published in Journal of Fandom Studies and one is in Journal of Chinese Cinemas. My research has been presented at a number of international conferences such as the NCA's Annual Convention in Philadelphia,(USA), International Convention of Asia Scholars in Adelaide, (Australia), and Asian Conference on Media & Mass Communication in Osaka (Japan) among others.
In addition to research I also engage in creative work. I hold a terminal degree in acting and have organized a number of drama workshops. I am currently a head of Hong Kong drama group called ''Break a Leg" which organizes plays, drama classes and public lectures.

LINKS TO WRITING SAMPLES:

Lovric, B. (2015).“Soft Power”, Journal of Chinese Cinemas, doi: 10.1080/17508061.2016.1139798, issn: 1750-807X
Lovric, B. and Madrid-Morales, (2015). ‘“Transatlantic connection”: K-pop and K-drama fandom in Spain and Latin America’, Journal of Fandom Studies 3(1), pp. 23–41, doi: 10.1386/jfs.3.1.23_1

CONFERENCE PAPERS:
- April 2017, "Chinese Film Abroad: Orientalist Selections in International Film Festivals"; paper accepted for presentation at Ubiquitous Cinema - Education, Mobility, and Storytelling Conference; Beijing Film Academy (China)
- November 2016, "The Bitter Side of Sugar: Effects of Multimodality on Health Information Learning and Behavioral Changes"; NCA 102nd Annual Convention in Philadelphia,(USA)
- July 2015, "Hallyu goes to (Latin) America: a survey of K-pop and K-drama fandom in Spanish speaking countries" at The 9th International Convention of Asia Scholars in Adelaide, (Australia); Presented by Madrid Morales, Daniel
- November 2014, "Communicating Japan's Identity: Popular Films and Soft Power" at The Fifth Asian Conference on Media & Mass Communication 2014 (MediAsia2014) in Osaka (Japan)
- September 2014, "Harnessing the Soft Power: What Stories do Chinese Movies Tell about China?" at China's Media Go Global Conference in Tsinghua University, Beijing (China)