Consuming Pork, Parading the Virgin and Crafting Origami in Tel Aviv: Filipina Care Workers’ Aesthetic Formations in Israel

Teaching & Learning Guide for: Literature, Social Science, and the Development of American Migration Narratives in the Twentieth Century

Through overall developments and movements, migration has spread throughout the world, causing concurrence and amalgamation of heterogeneous and culturally different societies. Present day societies are culturally even more diverse: individuals live in numerous cultures, speak in various languages, and have different identities. Despite the fact that the movement of Armenians previously existed in Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and Armenians have made numerous networks around the world, the considerable flow of relocation and the modern term of the Armenian Diaspora has developed because of the First World War after the Armenian Genocide in 1915, more explicitly, it comprises mostly individuals who survived the Armenian Genocide. The current research investigates the lives of the Armenian Diaspora in Germany, more specifically, the ones that have moved to Germany from Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. Studying the lives of the Armenian ethnic group in a host society, it discusses the issues of living in heterogeneous societies and cultures, the role that religion plays in the migration and integration context, affiliation and attachment to various cultures, hybrid cultural, religious and social identities: how Armenians perceive themselves and different societies in Germany, what it feels like to be away from their homeland and live in various cultures simultaneously, to what cultures they have a sense of belonging, how they endeavour to retain their ethnic, religious, and cultural identities, what assists them in the integration process, and how they assess their lives in Germany. The research applies three methods: participant observation, semi-structured interview and Stefan Huber’s questionnaire “The Centrality of Religiosity Scale”. Religion plays a vital role in most of the interviewees’ lives, depending on various circumstances, such as a spiritual nourishment, a psychological support, closeness to one’s ethnicity or ethnic group, access to the host society, etc. According to the current research results, the Armenian interviewees in Germany perceive religion as an inseparable part of their culture, since their religious, ethnic, and cultural identities are intertwined and regarded as an inseparable unit: religious identity – Christian, ethnic identity – Armenian, cultural identity – customs and traditions. Christianity is perceived and practiced by the Armenian interviewees as a ‘cultural religion’ for the following reasons. They consider themselves to be Christians, but are not actively engaged in religious rituals or prayers. Christianity played an important role in the history of Armenians since it helped them preserve their ethnic identity and culture throughout history. Christianity has become an inseparable part of their culture since many Armenian customs and traditions are tightly connected to it and play an important role in their ethnic, national, cultural and religious identities. Interestingly enough, even those, who consider themselves to be atheists, conceive Christianity as an indispensable part of the Armenian culture and identity.

Multiculturalism policy in Serbia is an example of compromises made by monoculturalists between the issues surpassing the conservative paradigm of tolerance for ethnic and cultural differences and the normative protection of their identities. An unsystematised approach to shaping multiculturalism policy led to disregard or misinterpretation of demographic factors. Through the examples of how the rights to ethnic and cultural identities are obstructed for the Bosniak population in Priboj and Aromanians in Serbia, and the analysis of problems stemming from the centralist organisation of minority selfgovernments, the paper points to the weaknesses of the current multiculturalism policy and the need for introducing demographic criteria for it to be brought into line with the nature of multiethnicity in the country. The paper points to the issues and difficulties arising from this for the Roma national minority in the realisation of their rights. Despite of being a large national minority, its members are not able to enjoy full cultural autonomy because the realisation of rights is not in line with the demographic characteristics of the Roma. A reform of the multiculturalism policy would remove the existing obstacles and enable effective protection of ethnic, cultural and linguistic identities of minorities. Multiculturalism policy in Serbia is an example of compromises made by monoculturalists between the issues surpassing the conservative paradigm of tolerance for ethnic and cultural differences and the normative protection of their identities. An unsystematised approach to shaping multiculturalism policy led to disregard or misinterpretation of demographic factors. Through the examples of how the rights to ethnic and cultural identities are obstructed for the Bosniak population in Priboj and Aromanians in Serbia, and the analysis of problems stemming from the centralist organisation of minority selfgovernments, the paper points to the weaknesses of the current multiculturalism policy and the need for introducing demographic criteria for it to be brought into line with the nature of multiethnicity in the country. The paper points to the issues and difficulties arising from this for the Roma national minority in the realisation of their rights. Despite of being a large national minority, its members are not able to enjoy full cultural autonomy because the realisation of rights is not in line with the demographic characteristics of the Roma. A reform of the multiculturalism policy would remove the existing obstacles and enable effective protection of ethnic, cultural and linguistic identities of minorities. Multiculturalism policy in Serbia is an example of compromises made by monoculturalists between the issues surpassing the conservative paradigm of tolerance for ethnic and cultural differences and the normative protection of their identities. An unsystematised approach to shaping multiculturalism policy led to disregard or misinterpretation of demographic factors. Through the examples of how the rights to ethnic and cultural identities are obstructed for the Bosniak population in Priboj and Aromanians in Serbia, and the analysis of problems stemming from the centralist organisation of minority selfgovernments, the paper points to the weaknesses of the current multiculturalism policy and the need for introducing demographic criteria for it to be brought into line with the nature of multiethnicity in the country. The paper points to the issues and difficulties arising from this for the Roma national minority in the realisation of their rights. Despite of being a large national minority, its members are not able to enjoy full cultural autonomy because the realisation of rights is not in line with the demographic characteristics of the Roma. A reform of the multiculturalism policy would remove the existing obstacles and enable effective protection of ethnic, cultural and linguistic identities of minorities.

General Background Contemporary Iraqi painting has evolved through continuous dialogue between inherited artistic traditions and modern aesthetic discourses shaped by social and cultural change. Specific Background Iraqi artists employ form, symbolism, and compositional structures to negotiate identity, modernity, and visual expression within a shifting historical context. Knowledge Gap Despite extensive discussions on Iraqi modern art, limited studies have systematically examined aesthetic form as a central interpretative axis connecting visual structure and cultural meaning. Aims This study aims to analyze aesthetic form in contemporary Iraqi painting and interpret its role in articulating modern artistic identity. Results The findings demonstrate that aesthetic form functions not merely as a visual arrangement but as a symbolic system reflecting social realities, cultural memory, and artistic adaptation. Novelty This research offers an integrated interpretative perspective that positions aesthetic form as a key mediator between tradition and modernity in Iraqi painting. Implications The study contributes theoretically to modern art discourse and provides a contextual framework for future analyses of contemporary Arab visual art. Keywords: Contemporary Iraqi Art, Aesthetic Form, Modern Painting, Visual Symbolism, Cultural Identity Key Findings Highlights: Aesthetic form represents cultural adaptation within contemporary Iraqi painting Visual structures embody dialogue between tradition and modern artistic expression Symbolic forms reflect social and historical realities in Iraqi modern art

In the last three decades, across the world, there have emerged mass movements, uprisings and revolts targeting neo-liberal global capitalism and its radical reorganization of urban hierarchies. As a result, cities have become the central stage for sociopolitical struggles. While the scholarship on new social movements has recognized the aesthetic potential of political organizing since the beginning of the anti-globalization movement in 1999, new approaches are needed to understand the aesthetic dissensus of contemporary activism within the urban space. This article theorizes aesthetics as a potentially radicalizing force in proposing a democratic citizenship in the city. Indebted to the theories of Henri Lefebvre, David Harvey, James Holston, Mark Purcell and Jacques Rancière, it discusses the new synthesis of political and aesthetic forms, action and experience in urban social movement praxis. Taking Gezi Park resistance in Turkey (2013) as a case study, it seeks to understand the relationship of activist aesthetics to changing practices and conceptions of citizenship.

The manifestation of ethnic identity in philosophy is a multifaceted subject that intersects with various academic disciplines and cultural discourses. Stock provides a specific example of this intersection by discussing the emergence of “ethnic minority philosophy” in China, which integrates ethnic and cultural identity into philosophical discourse. This discipline reflects the broader issues of national, ethnic, cultural, and philosophical identity, highlighting the role of “culture” in redefining minoritarian traditions as philosophy. Similarly, Siegel (notes the historical significance of philosophy of education and its potential to address vital philosophical questions, including those related to ethnic identity, suggesting a need for philosophy to reconnect with its broader applications, potentially including the exploration of ethnic identity. Contradictions or interesting facts emerge when considering the relationship between ethnic identity and philosophy. For instance, Stock’s concept of “hierarchical inclusion” suggests a power dynamic in the recognition and integration of minority philosophies into the broader philosophical canon. This contrasts with the more egalitarian and developmental perspectives on ethnic identity found in psychological research, as seen in, and which focus on the development and validation of ethnic identity measures and their implications for minority group members. In summary, the specifics of the manifestation of ethnic identity in philosophy can be seen in the integration of ethnic and cultural considerations into philosophical discourse, as well as in the recognition of the power dynamics involved in the inclusion of minority philosophies. The literature suggests that ethnic identity plays a significant role in shaping philosophical thought and discourse, particularly in non-Western contexts and in relation to educational philosophy. Further exploration of these dynamics is warranted to understand the full impact of ethnic identity on philosophical inquiry.

We utilized qualitative methods to explore ethnic and cultural identity among urban Southwestern American Indian youth, parents, and elders. Twenty-four respondents ranging in age from approximately 13 to 90 years were interviewed in focus groups divided by age. Six major themes and seventeen sub-themes related to tribal and pan-American Indian ethnic identity were identified. Two important findings emerging from our study were that common ethnic identity constructs can be validated and new identity constructs discovered through qualitative methods. These and other findings suggest the importance of qualitative methods in better understanding cultural and ethnic identity. Of particular significance was the notion that the most salient and relevant identity constructs can be learned from the voices and perspectives of ethnic identity members themselves across generations, age, tribal groups, gender, and reservation and urban residence.

Background: Due to disparities in the use of genetic services, there has been growing interest in examining beliefs and attitudes related to genetic testing for breast and/or ovarian cancer risk among women of African descent. However, to date, few studies have addressed critical cultural variations among this minority group and their influence on such beliefs and attitudes. Methods: We assessed ethnic, racial and cultural identity and examined their relationships with perceived benefits and barriers related to genetic testing for cancer risk in a sample of 160 women of African descent (49% self-identified African American, 39% Black-West Indian/Caribbean, 12% Black-Other) who met genetic risk criteria and were participating in a larger longitudinal study including the opportunity for free genetic counseling and testing in New York City. All participants completed the following previously validated measures: (a) the multi-group ethnic identity measure (including ethnic search and affirmation subscales) and other-group orientation for ethnic identity, (b) centrality to assess racial identity, and (c) Africentrism to measure cultural identity. Perceived benefits and barriers related to genetic testing included: (1) pros/advantages (including family-related pros), (2) cons/disadvantages (including family-related cons, stigma and confidentiality concerns), and (3) concerns about abuses of genetic testing. Results: In multivariate analyses, several ethnic identity elements showed significant, largely positive relationships to perceived benefits about genetic testing for breast and/or ovarian cancer risk, the exception being ethnic search, which was positively associated with cons/disadvantages, in general, and family-related cons/disadvantages. Racial identity (centrality) showed a significant association with confidentiality concerns. Cultural identity (Africentrism) was not related to perceived benefits and/or barriers. Conclusions: Ethnic and racial identity may influence perceived benefits and barriers related to genetic testing for breast and/or ovarian cancer risk among at-risk women of African descent. Genetic counseling services may want to take into account these factors in the creation of culturally-appropriate services which best meet the needs of this heterogenous population.

A recent wave of research across several fields has emphasized the seriality of print media like journals and periodicals, especially for the late 19th and 20th centuries, when such formats were essentially the New Media of their day. Previous studies, like Benedict Anderson’s now classical thesis on post-colonial nationalism in Imagined Communities (1983) have born out the powers of novel forms and circuits of communication to create and promote association, companionship, and social cohesion, especially for the larger constellation of national boundaries, cultural identities, and confessional divisions that still determine today’s world. This special issue investigates the same formative potential, but concerning the periphery of the Islamicate Middle East, as it were, namely in relation to either diaspora networks and minority communities or to other seemingly marginal cases far away from the symbolic centers of the Muslim World. Viewed before the background of the regional and confessional patterns of book culture, early print history, and mediated community formation prior to the large-scale adoption of printing since the second half of the 19th century, the contexts and dynamics under study here reveal developments with a pronounced translocal and entangled character. Drawing on the methodological approach of Periodical Studies, the role and effect of print periodicals for communities on the Islamicate periphery are conceptualized along the lines of Birgit Meyer’s Aesthetic Formations (2009).

In this paper we are concerned to outline a set of perspectives, methods, and theories with which to approach the seriality of digital games and game cultures – i.e. the aesthetic forms and cultural practices of game-related serialization, which we see unfolding against (and, in fact, as a privileged mediator of) the broader background of medial and socio-cultural transformations taking place in the wake of popular media culture’s digitalization. Seriality, we contend, is a central and multifaceted but largely neglected dimension of popular computer and video games. Seriality is a factor not only in explicitly marked game series (with their sequels, prequels, remakes, and other types of continuation), but also within games themselves (e.g. in their formal-structural constitution as an iterative series of “levels” or “worlds”) as well as on the level of transmedial relations between games and other media (e.g. expansive serializations of narrative worlds across the media of comics, film, television, and games, etc.). Particularly with respect to processes of temporal “collapse” or “synchronization” that, in the current age of digitization and media convergence, are challenging the temporal dimensions and developmental logics of pre-digital seriality (e.g. because once successively appearing series installments are increasingly available now for immediate, repeated, and non-linear consumption), computer games are eminently suited for an exemplary investigation of a specifically digital type of seriality. In the following, we look at serialization processes in digital games and game series and seek to understand how they relate to digital-era transformations of temporally-serially structured experiences and identifications on the part of historically situated actors. These transformations range from the microtemporal scale of individual players’ encounters with algorithmic computation processes (the speed of which escapes direct human perception and is measurable only by technological means) all the way up to the macrotemporal (more properly “historical”) level of collective brokerings of political, cultural, and social identities in the digital age. To account for this multi-layered complexity, we argue for a decidedly interdisciplinary approach, combining media-aesthetic and media-philosophical perspectives with the resources of discourse analysis and cultural history. We approach the seriality of digital games both in terms of textual and aesthetic forms as well as in the broader context of serialized game cultures and popular culture at large.

Novel Shocks argues that the political and cultural origins of neoliberalism lie in the battles over suburban and urban space in the 1950s and early 1960s. At the end of World War II, Harry Truman’s administration launched a national program of urban renewal that sought to create a new and distinctly American modernity, which would underpin US global hegemony. The program’s effects in Manhattan were particularly notable: throughout the 1950s and 1960s, New York bulldozed vast areas of land deemed “slums” or “blighted” to make way for freeways, public and private housing projects, medical centers, skyscrapers, and even the new United Nations headquarters. Taken together, these processes dramatically transformed New York’s metropolitan region, creating the segregated landscape of prosperous white suburbs and poor black cities, and with it new cultural forms and subjectivities. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, novelists such as Ralph Ellison, Patricia Highsmith, Ayn Rand, William Burroughs, Sylvia Plath, and Warren Miller all depicted and responded to these new urban spaces as forms of traumatic “shock” that required new aesthetic forms and political structures. These novels rejected older shock-based modernisms such as Surrealism and naturalism and, like the urbanization projects they depicted, forged a new kind of modernism, one that transformed shock from a traumatic and disruptive effect of urban modernity into a therapeutic force that helps strengthen and shape a more flexible, self-reliant, and resilient subject that would nourish the roots of neoliberalism.

The concepts of power, aesthetics, and fear beyond the boundaries of art reveals tangible and intangible existence through urban space, and public space stands as the centre of attention due to its transforming meaning and spatiality reflecting the global-local thresholds of economic, political, and social compositions of different time periods. The research aims to unfold the layers of ‘power' that are capable of manifesting through built environment using state apparatuses, that is, urban planning, land-use changes, architecture, securitization, and pacification of symbolic and socially constructed meanings and connotations of particular urban spaces, each of which upholds its own aesthetic formation that is unstable, sensational, and perceptual. Turkey is chosen for its rich and yet complex social and political history as the case concentrating on Kızılay Square in Ankara due to its potential of reflecting a rich historical passage starting with a modernisation implication of a new capital to tyranny of forms of institutional, political, and representational power at display.

Utilizing the integrative theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation, the present study sought to examine the extent to which the length of study-abroad programs affects individuals' ethnic and cultural identification, willingness to engage in intercultural communication, intercultural communication competence, and cultural adaptation. The results of the study indicate that while length of study-abroad programs was not correlated to cultural adaptation, length of program was associated with changes in cultural and ethnic identification. Moreover, willingness to communicate with members of the host culture was associated with cultural identification as well as intercultural communication competence.

Introduction: The research aims to elucidate the role of the media and the media market in the contemporary geopolitical landscape, both at the global and national levels. This will be achieved by examining the media’s potential to contribute to conflict within ethnic and cultural identity patterns and the formation and persistence of these patterns.Methods: The foundation of research consists of hypotheses, notions, concepts, and terminology devised in the field of globalisation and geopolitics and inseparable from national-cultural identity. Moreover, systemic, synergetic, dialectical, comparative, socio-cultural, and civilisational approaches constitute the methodological apparatus of the research.Results: Findings demonstrate that media products, as well as the media market itself, represent a resource considerably contributing to ethnic conflict mobilisation. In mass communication, social actors put all efforts into presenting their peace/conflict projects as beneficial ones to society. The findings also suggest that today, studies in media, journalism, and contemporary do not pay much attention to critical assessment of the role of news media in propaganda production and distribution on the basement of narratives within the domain of ethnic and cultural identity. Thus, the evident need for filling this research gap is stressed.Conclusions: In the current conditions, the media market has grown and transformed into a full-blown and inherent constituent of postclassical geopolitics. The issue concerning how culture’s symbolic capital functions in the information/media realm is increasingly becoming more than just an abstract theoretical one; it is becoming strategically important from a geopolitical standpoint.

This paper provides theoretical reviews on the urban ethnic studies from the social anthro-pological perspective ． It also provides the possible directions and the methods on the urban ethnic studies.This paper points out that there are at least three kinds of studying areas on the urban ethnic studies in China ． One is the representing study of overseas Chinese ethnic identity，cultural identity and national identity in Chinese cities; another is the representing study of minority ethnic groups，cultural and social identities after their blending in the big cities; and the third is the study of regional ethnic identities after the new migrants entering the cities.The author thinks that in research ， we should pay attention to all these problems of primordialism，ethnogenesis， rational choice of ethnic identity and the function of historic memory in construct．