Cultural Life Research Articles

Paws and Reflect: The Role of Strays in Istanbul’s Cultural Life

Paws and Reflect: The Role of Strays in Istanbul’s Cultural Life

Ideological Representation in Turkish Cinema and Turkish Cinema During the AK Party Era

Cinema has long been recognized by governments for its societal influence, and Turkey is no exception. During the early years of the Republic, while all fine arts flourished under state protection, cinema did not receive the same level of support. However, Turkish cinema evolved in line with the Republic's official ideology, emphasizing values such as modernization and secularism. As the government acknowledged cinema's power, it began directing the industry to align with state interests, promoting a "Western" worldview. Following the rise of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in 2002, Turkey underwent a shift toward conservatism, with religious values influencing cultural and social life. This article examines how the AK Party's conservative and religious agenda has shaped Turkish cinema, focusing on whether the 20 highest-grossing films of the AK Party era contributed to a new cultural hegemony and whether Turkish cinema has become more religiously oriented in this period.

On the 120th Anniversary of Daniil Kharms’s Birth (review of memoir sources)

The article provides an overview of memoir literature about Daniil Kharms (1905–1942). The subject of this study is memoir sources containing biographical information about the writer, which were uncovered by the authors in the process of working on the volume “Literary Life of the USSR” of the retrospective annotated bibliographic index “Soviet Society in Memories and Diaries” and the index “History of Russia and the USSR in Memories and Diaries”, the part of a series of indexes on native memoirs created by employees of the Russian State Library, the Russian National Library and the State Historical Public Library. The review uses not a biographical, but a chronological approach to the study and presentation of the material, based on the time of publication of the sources to analyze the dynamics of the appearance of memoir publications and their dependence on the events of political and cultural life, from the first rare mentions of Kharms in the memoirs of the early 1960s.

C2C Startup Model of Balinese Ceremony Ticketing System in Ubud Bali

Ubud is one of the tourist destinations in Bali. Ubud combines natural attractions, culture, and spiritual life harmoniously. One of the elements of cultural attraction in Ubud is the implementation of traditional and religious ceremonies that uphold ancestral customs. With this potential, Ubud can be a tourist destination supporting Balinese cultural tourism's progress. Currently, information regarding the implementation of traditional and religious ceremonies in Ubud is limited to tourists. Tourists can witness the traditional and religious ceremonies held through information from tour guides, who are ceremony organizers. The availability of a ceremony ticketing system that connects tourists with traditional village/banjar communities can directly address the problem of access to information and services for the implementation of traditional and religious ceremonies in Ubud. This study aims to develop a C2C e-commerce model that involves klian adat and tourists directly selling tickets for traditional and religious ceremonies in Singakerta Village, Ubud District. Given the limited time for system development, the RAD software development method was selected as the system development method. The user experience test's Likert scale results showed that the system's quality reached 84.13% for tourist satisfaction and 84.19% for klian adat satisfaction. This indicates that the system is at an excellent level based on the user.

Theatrical Guests of the Occupied Capital: Istanbul Tour of Azerbaijan Turkish Drama-Operetta Troupe

The research subject of this article is the Istanbul tour of Azerbaijan Turkish Drama-Operetta Troupe during the 1919 play season. As a result of the investigation of the cast, it was understood that the touring troupe consisted of artists from the Turkish Theatre of Tbilisi. Istanbul’s cultural and artistic circles who regarded the touring troupe as the theatre of the sister country, did not question the troupe’s affiliation at all. The troupe’s repertoire, which was performed on various Istanbul stages during the tour, mainly consisted of plays written by Azerbaijani dramatists. Turkish theatre critics, who evaluated the content of the repertoire as being oriental, appreciated the simplicity and national elements of Azerbaijani theatre. The organisation of the Azerbaijani troupe was a fresh breath for the Istanbul theatre audience, whose cultural and artistic life had been disrupted due to the occupation of Entente forces, while the actors of the touring troupe gained a great artistic experience.

Exploring Relationships Among Cultural Ecosystem Service Values, Spiritual Well-Being, and Life Satisfaction: Implications for the Postpandemic Era

Cultural ecosystem services significantly affected human well-being in the COVID-19 era. This study investigates visitors’ cultural ecosystem service values at Saguaro National Park (US) and how those values affect tourists’ spiritual well-being and life satisfaction in the postpandemic era with an exploratory mixed-methods approach. In a qualitative phase using a netnographic analysis of Instagram data (N = 449), seven themes emerged: national environment, learning, socialization, escape and solitude, mental well-being, outdoor recreation during COVID-19, and tourism during COVID-19. Subsequently, these themes were used to develop and test the proposed hypotheses on data collected from 316 participants of an online survey using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results disclosed that cultural ecosystem service values can significantly affect different dimensions of spiritual well-being. This study emphasizes the mediating role of personal and communal spiritual well-being between cultural ecosystem service values and life satisfaction. Further, it bridges the application of real-time social media surveillance with a content analysis of text and images and a quantitative analysis of qualitative results. The managerial implications provide suggestions for promoting small/medium national parks in the postpandemic era.

Персуазивные средства в проповедническом дискурсе современной Испании

The purpose of the study is to identify the means of speech influence of preachers on the target audience. The scientific novelty of this work lies in the fact that for the first time the research focuses on the use of invasive means in modern Spanish preaching. The article reflects the centuries-old history of the development of preaching discourse, which originated in the first centuries of Christianity and was particularly developed in Spain during the reign of Catholic kings. Currently, in Spain, preaching acts as an important social practice involving a large audience, as evidenced by the regular publication of special manuals on homiletics as the art of preaching. Preaching is defined as a type of public speaking characterized by persistence, that is, the influence of the addressee on the recipient in order to change his mental and behavioral attitudes, which involves the use of special linguistic techniques. As a result of the research, it was found that in the preaching of the Seven Words, a significant event in the cultural life of Spain, such aggressive means as modal verbs and periphrases, metaphor, rhetorical question, antithesis, emotive vocabulary, as well as techniques of detachment and intimatization play an important role.

Moral Socialism and Liberal Citizenship

The current crisis of liberal democracy has led to a reconsideration of the idea of socialism. This article seeks to critically compare three different approaches to socialism, all of which draw on specifically moral criteria. The first is a form of liberal socialism that has a long history in critical theory and has most recently been re-imagined by Axel Honneth through a theory of recognition. The second is a conservative version of socialism, which encourages citizens to return to native traditions that can restrain the destructive individualism of liberalism. Finally, I look at a more materialist version of socialism that can be associated with the writing of Marx. In the concluding section, I argue that the return to a materialist vision of moral socialism is long overdue; this is especially the case in the context of the impoverished cultural life of neoliberal capitalism, and the ongoing ecological crisis.

A Comparative Study of The Northern and Southern Styles of Zhuang Opera in the Guangxi Zhuang Aotonomous Region, China

Zhuang Opera is deeply rooted in the traditions, beliefs, and lifestyles of the Zhuang people, yet it faces numerous challenges in the context of globalization and modernization. In 2006, Zhuang Opera was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage of China, offering an opportunity for its preservation. However, it continues to struggle with issues such as talent shortages, regional fragmentation, and the erosion of traditional practices. This study compares the two primary regional styles of Zhuang Opera—Northern and Southern—analyzing differences in dialects, musical styles, vocal techniques, instrumentation, and performance practices. Through fieldwork, interviews with practitioners, and detailed comparative musical analysis, the study reveals how these stylistic variations reflect the cultural values of the Northern and Southern traditions of Zhuang Opera. It also provides guidelines for the future development of Zhuang Opera, aiming to contribute to its preservation and revitalization while ensuring its continued significance in the cultural life of the Zhuang people.

Leveraging EU non-discrimination law to make the cultural and creative sectors more inclusive of professionals with disabilities: socio-legal perspectives

ABSTRACT Working in the cultural and creative sectors is often seen as an atypical exercise, which differs from mainstream practices in the labour market and operates outside the standard regulatory framework. In this context, the situation of cultural and creative professionals with disabilities and the applicable EU legislation can be overlooked, both in research and in practice. Following a socio-legal approach, this article associates desk-based legal research and empirical research, and considers how the participation of cultural and creative professionals with disabilities could be fostered within the current EU regulatory framework. It identifies gaps and potential in EU cultural policy, disability law and labour law, and, supported by the findings from a qualitative study with EU cultural stakeholders, it discusses the challenges that cultural and creative professionals experience, including those with disabilities. Contributing valuable insights into the participation of persons with disabilities in cultural life, the article argues that the Employment Equality Directive, a pillar of EU labour law and non-discrimination law, can play a key role in making those sectors more inclusive.

An Italian among the Chinese elite, a Chinese library among Lucanian mountains: Ludovico Luigi Nicola di Giura (1868–1947) and his personal library

Abstract Ludovico Luigi Nicola di Giura (1868–1947) was an Italian doctor who lived in Beijing from 1900 to 1931. In addition to his medical practice, di Giura actively engaged with the local elite, developed a profound interest in Chinese literature, and contributed to introducing Chinese reality and culture into Italy through journalistic, literary, and translation works. Upon his return to Italy, he constructed a ‘Chinese library’ at his family estate in Chiaromonte, located in the Basilicata region. This article adopts the ‘Heraclitean approach’ proposed by Weingarten (2022) to examine di Giura's personal library, analysing the evolution of both individual and communal cultural longings reflected by his collection and marginalia within the books spanning different periods. Drawing upon the primary sources recently discovered and catalogued from the library, along with archival and bibliographical materials from both Italian and Chinese sources, the paper not only aims to reveal di Giura's intellectual profile, but also aims to utilise his individual experiences as a lens for observing the social and cultural life of Italians in China during the early twentieth century.

Cultural heritage, the environment and climate change: cultural damage from environmental deterioration in San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia

ABSTRACT The manuscript analyzes the damage to tangible and intangible cultural assets due to climate change and the deterioration of practices and traditions derived from the ancestral knowledge of local communities about their territory. These assets are threatened by several factors, such as an increase in sea level and in the frequency and severity of droughts. This study, conducted using a qualitative and ethno-methodological approach, analyzes the case of San Basilio de Palenque in Colombia, declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. According to the Ministry of Culture, the territory of San Basilio de Palenque is synonymous with freedom, as anyone who became part of it was automatically free. This territory was originally populated by Maroons or African slaves who escaped from the slavery regime during the colonial period. Today, it is the only one that preserves its ancestral traditions and identity. The results show how environmental deterioration resulting from activities carried out by the community itself, together with intense periods of drought and other adverse effects of climate change, compromise the enjoyment of the cultural life of the palenqueros, put at risk the worldview that the inhabitants associate with the Melchor stream, and restricts the exercise of the freedoms of the community and its capabilities to obtain basic economic means that guarantee their well-being.

Herb and Social Context in Anguo City: Integration Health and Traditional Medicine Part of Cultural Life

Background and Aim: Chinese herbal medicine culture is an important part of the excellent culture of the Chinese nation, represents the core concepts and values of Chinese civilization, and embodies the wisdom of Chinese philosophy and the essence of Chinese civilization. The development path of Chinese herbal culture in Anguo since the Song Dynasty is a microcosm of the development of Chinese herbal culture. By studying the historical background and current situation of Anguo's Chinese herbal culture, analyzing the impact of changes in traditional Chinese culture on Anguo's Chinese herbal culture, promoting Anguo's Chinese herbal culture and social life, and providing support and assistance for further research on the future development of Anguo's Chinese herbal culture. Materials and Methods: This study will use the literature review method for research. The aim is to understand the development path of Angulo's traditional Chinese medicine culture through a literature review and to explore the reasons and foundations for its development through induction and organization. Results: The Chinese herbal medicine culture in Anguo bloomed its unique charm under the precipitation of history, which is the reflection of the real life of Anguo's traditional culture. Zhu “yaofang”, chi“yaoshan”, Guang “yaoyuan”, and kan “yaoxi” have become the daily life, which is the concentrated embodiment of the typical "Chinese lifestyle". Studying its development path is conducive to discovering its value and connotation, and laying a good foundation for in-depth study of Anguo's Chinese herbal medicine culture. Conclusion: Regional culture is one of the sources of culture, and health and well-being are important components of sustainable human development. The natural integration of Anguo Traditional Chinese Medicine culture has been fully integrated into daily life. Living culture provides a broader space for future development, further elucidating the value and significance of its research.

To the translators from the French, from a friend of good Italian

ABSTRACT The most important democratic newspaper of the Cisalpine Republic, the Termometro politico della Lombardia, published in March 1798 an anonymous article entitled ‘To the translators from French, a friend of the good Italian language’. It was a particularly critical moment in Milan's political life, as the treaty of alliance imposed by the Paris Directory had caused much discontent in democratic circles. The article certainly arises also from this situation; in fact it condemns the will of the French authorities to impose their language in political, cultural and social life and criticizes those who corrupted the purity of the Italian language by using in their translations a language modelled on French both in terms of vocabulary and syntax. The author gives in particular the example of the translation of Diderot's Religieuse published in Milan in 1797 by the Genoese Gaspare Sauli. The patriots, determined to create a unitary republic in the peninsula, despite their democratic background took sides against French politics, which were not favourable to Italian unity. Their political programme was defeated, but they passed on to the age of the Risorgimento the cult of language as the main foundation of national consciousness.

The Role of the Russian Language as a Means of Conveying Thoughts and Communication

The article explores the development of the Russian language as a complex and multifaceted process, encompassing not only the establishment of grammatical and lexical norms but also the crucial role of language in thinking and communication. Language is viewed as a tool for conveying thoughts and facilitating communication, contributing to the development of cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and logical thinking. The influence of cultural, social, and historical factors on speech development is emphasized, alongside the interaction of language with mass media, the internet, and modern culture. The article highlights the importance of education in developing speech skills and fostering critical thinking. Technology is seen as a complement to traditional teaching methods, enhancing the effectiveness of the educational process. Ultimately, the Russian language is presented as a dynamic system that plays a key role in social and cultural life.

Al-Qur’an dan Worldview Keagamaan Baru (Holistik, Rekonsiliatif, dan Mediatif)

The Qur'an, as the last revelation revealed to the Prophet Muhammad SAW, has a very wide role in the lives of Muslims. Apart from being a guideline for worship, the Qur'an also serves as a source of law, ethics, and guidance in living social, political, and cultural life. Along with the development of the times and the complexity of global problems, there is a need to understand the Qur'an through a new religious worldview that is more holistic, reconciliatory, and mediating. A holistic approach integrates the teachings of the Qur'an in all aspects of life, including morality, social, political, and ecological. The reconciliation approach aims to promote peace and conflict resolution both between individuals and between religious communities, prioritizing the values of tolerance and harmony. Meanwhile, the mediation approach directs the Qur'an as a bridge that connects differences, both in the internal context of Muslims and in dialogue between religious communities. This research aims to explore and analyze these three approaches in order to provide new insights in interpreting the teachings of the Qur'an in the era of globalization and plurality. With this approach, it is hoped that the Qur'an can contribute to creating a more peaceful, just, and harmonious world, as well as relevant in facing the challenges of the times.

Matsayin Sarki a Idon Bahaushe: Tsokaci Daga Wasu Waƙoƙin Baka (The Status of Sovereigns in the Eyes of the Hausas: Insights from Selected Oral Songs)

“In ka ji Tambura sai Sarki,” meaning “Drums of war are only beaten for sovereigns,” encapsulates the unique position of sovereigns in Hausa culture. Sovereigns are distinguished by specific roles, behaviors, and attributes that set them apart from the “talaka” (ordinary folk), who cannot claim these qualities. As captured in the words of a praise singer, “Don ba a yin gasa da Sarki” (“No one can compete with the sovereign”), Hausa oral traditions consistently exalt sovereigns while reserving negative traits exclusively for their adversaries. This study examines Hausa oral songs to explore these cultural perceptions of sovereigns, employing Gusau’s (2015) Waƙar Baka Bahaushiya (WBB) as a framework. Primary data were collected through transcription and analysis of oral songs from memory cards, CDs, and both published and unpublished sources. Additionally, insights were gathered through consultations with courtiers and discussions with common folk in Hausa towns and cities to understand popular views on sovereignty. The findings reveal that Hausas attribute extraordinary qualities and powers to their sovereigns, perceiving them as reflective of the community’s own identity and status. This reverence explains the cultural norm of avoiding negative characterizations of sovereigns, highlighting their central role in Hausa sociopolitical and cultural life.

Solemn and Cultural Events Organized by the Burgas City Municipality in the Period 1878–1912

Life in the newly liberated Bulgarian lands at the end of the 19th century was difficult and did not offer many opportunities for cultural events, and the funds available to the local government barely covered the most pressing needs of the city. Therefore, cultural events most often consisted of organizing citywide celebrations on various occasions, including the celebration of anniversaries of important events, religious holidays, welcoming higher persons, called in the protocols of the City Council “high guests“ and others. There were also other cultural events for entertainment or education of the citizens, but they were the work of private troupes or artists and the municipality even made a profit from them. At the end of the 19th century, it was impossible to talk about a real cultural life in Burgas, in the full sense of the word. The population of the city was small in number, and it had other, much more important problems related to its survival and nutrition. Therefore, the citizens and guests of the city were happy to join the few celebrations held by the municipality.

How age and culture impact the neural correlates of memory retrieval.

Culture can shape memory, but little research has investigated age effects. The present study examined the neural correlates of memory retrieval for old, new, and similar lures in younger and older Americans and Taiwanese. A total of 207 participants encoded pictures of objects and, during fMRI scanning, completed a surprise object recognition task testing discrimination of similar and new from old items. Results show that age and culture impact discrimination of old from new items. Taiwanese performed worse than Americans, with age effects more pronounced for Taiwanese. The cultural differences in the engagement of left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) in younger adults (i.e., greater activity for old [for Taiwanese] or new items [for Americans]) were eliminated with age. The results are interpreted as reflecting cultural differences in orientation to novelty versus familiarity for younger, but not older, adults, with the LIFG supporting interference resolution at retrieval. Support is not as strong for cultural differences in pattern separation processes. Although Americans had higher levels of memory discrimination than Taiwanese, neither cultural nor age differences were found in hippocampal activity, which is surprising given the region's role in pattern separation. The findings suggest ways in which cultural life experiences and concomitant information processing strategies can contribute to consistent effects of age across cultures or contribute to different trajectories with age in terms of memory.

Statutes of territorial communities as an integral foundation for the functioning of participatory democracy

Public democracy has become an integral part of modern democratic institutions, especially at the local level, serving as an indicator of their effectiveness. It is difficult to imagine a democratic society without local democracy, and therefore, without the functioning of local self-government institutions. It is worth noting the primary English slogan-principle, «Nothing About Us, Without Us,» introduced by the international movement of people with disabilities to highlight fundamental shifts towards their participation in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life. Over time, this slogan and its modifications («All That Is Without Us Is Not For Us,» «Do Not Act For Us Without Us,» «If It Is Without Us, It Is Not For Us») have become widely recognized as a symbol of the notion that no society can be considered democratic if it lacks mechanisms for participation in decision-making at both the national and local levels. Accordingly, Article 5 of the Constitution of Ukraine states: «The people are the bearer of sovereignty and the sole source of power in Ukraine». Thus, citizens have the right to influence power directly and through their representatives. When considering democratic values through the lens of participatory democracy, it is essential to provide residents with guarantees for exercising their rights at the local level. Sustainable development of a democratic society in the context of public participation depends on robust normative provisions in the form of territorial community statutes, which are the primary legal acts within their respective territories. The effectiveness of a territorial community statute lies in its ability to provide genuine resources, autonomy, and capacity to address local issues. This includes community participation in shaping urban policies, budgets, strategies, and development programs, receiving support from local authorities in resolving issues of local importance, and actively engaging in various international projects to develop infrastructure within any territorial community in Ukraine. Statutes serve as legal instruments that confirm autonomy, ensure independence in addressing specific issues, and emphasize the regional identity of each community.