Proceedings of ADVED 2016 2nd International Conference on Advances in Education and Social Sciences 10-12 October 2016- Istanbul, Turkey ISBN: 978-605-64453-8-5 588 POPULAR TV FICTION, MEDIASCAPE, AND MALAY CULTURAL IDENTITIES Mohd Muzhafar Idrus 1 *, Ruzy Suliza Hashim 2 , Raihanah M. M 3 , Harison Mohd Sidek 4 , Hazleena Baharun 5 , Noor Saazai Mat Saad 6 , Yurni Emilia Abdul Hamid 7 , Suzanah Selamat 8 1 Dr. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, muzhafar.idrus@gmail.com 2 Prof. Dr. Universiti Kebangaan Malaysia, MALAYSIA, ruzy@ukm.edu.my 3 Associate Prof. Dr. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, MALAYSIA, raihanah@ukm.edu.my 4 Associate Prof. Dr. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, harison@usim.edu.my 5 Dr. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, hazleena@usim.edu.my 6 Dr. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, noorsaazai@usim.edu.my 7 Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, yurniemilia@usim.edu.my 8 Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, MALAYSIA, suzanah@usim.edu.my *corresponding author Abstract In Malaysia, a number of issues have transpired concerning the proliferation of TV fiction. Many of these complications include, but are not limited to concerns regarding feminism, patriarchy, economic imbalance, equity, power, social inequity, and religion. In this paper, we aim to locate TV fiction and Malay cultural identities across mediascape. Two primary objectives are central; firstly, this review embodies contextualization of TV fiction through examining some trajectories in which many popular TV fiction have been established. Secondly, this paper places Malay cultural identities in relation to the development and progress of mediascape. By examining these two central questions, we explore some of the many possibilities in which Malay cultural identities are explored, preserved, contested, and blurred in times of changing and challenging realities of Malaysian mediascape. Keywords: Popular culture, postcolonial literature, Malayness, media, TV fiction 1 INTRODUCTION The flourishing industry of popular TV fiction relies heavily on the roles of media (Mosco, 2009). Mediascape in Malaysia has evolved throughout the years and this paper, then, serves to consolidate and place this study within the context of TV fiction and Malay cultural identities. It begins by exploring the periods within which media and TV fiction intersect. It then places Malay cultural identities in view of this development. By examining these two lines of inquiries, exploration of the some of the many possibilities in which Malay cultural identities are explored, preserved, and contested can be illustrated.