Dominant Culture Research Articles

Dakwah Transformasional : Merespon Tren Sekulerisme Di Kalangan Gen Z

In the modern era, which is increasingly influenced by dominant secular culture, Generation Z faces significant challenges in maintaining and developing their spiritual and religious values. In this context, transformative preaching emerges as a promising approach to respond to this secular trend in a relevant and meaningful way. This research aims to explore the potential of transformative preaching in responding to the secular trend among Generation Z. We seek to understand how transformative preaching can assist Generation Z in finding meaning, depth, and spiritual direction in their lives, which are saturated with secular influences. The research methodology employed is qualitative, involving in-depth interviews and participatory observation with a sample group of Generation Z actively engaged in transformative preaching activities. Data analysis is conducted using an inductive approach to identify patterns and key findings. The main findings indicate that transformative preaching holds great potential in helping Generation Z overcome the challenges of secularism. The inclusive and open approach of transformative preaching creates a supportive environment for Generation Z to explore and deepen their understanding of spirituality. Additionally, the development of moral values and the utilization of social media and digital technology have proven effective in forming inclusive and supportive communities. This research makes a significant contribution to understanding the role of transformative preaching in responding to secular trends among Generation Z. These findings can aid in the development of more effective and relevant preaching programs to guide Generation Z in their search for meaning and spiritual direction in their complex lives.

Using Sundanese Musical Instrument and Audacity Software to Learn About Sound Waves

Integrating local culture into classes can build meaningful experiences for the students. Suling is a musical instrument originating from West Java’s dominant Sundanese culture and can be an alternative learning medium for teaching sound wave subjects. Using technology can facilitate understanding concepts for students. The Audacity software can help students analyze the spectrum and frequency of the sound produced by Suling. This study aimed to investigate the measurement of the frequency and spectrum of Suling with four and six holes and to analyze the potential for integrating local culture and technology in science learning. The type of research was descriptive to provide an overview of a symptom, event, and actual situation. We used a microphone and Audacity on the computer and each musical instrument in Suling. The study’s results showed that spectrum analysis has a similar pattern in Suling four and six holes and almost had similar frequencies. Local culture has the potential to be implemented in science learning, and technology facilitates students’ understanding of concepts. Suling and Audacity can be used as a learning media for a junior high school practicum on a sound wave subject. Keywords: Sundanese Musical, Instrument and Audacity Software, Sound Waves

The true colors of the chameleon: identities of Bosnian youth in the United States

ABSTRACT Developing a stable adult identity is a key process during youth, which unfolds in ongoing interaction between the individual and their environment. For immigrant youth, this process also includes the formation of an ethnic identity, which is complicated by potential differences between the young person's culture of origin and the dominant culture. But we currently know little about the ethnic and self-identification of White immigrant youth in new immigrant destinations in the United States. The case of Bosnian second-generation youth in St. Louis addresses this gap in the literature on ethnic identity and immigrant incorporation. The analysis shows considerable context-specific variation in how Bosnian youth self-identify. The ability to pass as members of the dominant racial group also indicates that the ethnic boundary between Bosnian youth and native St. Louisians is rooted in a set of shared histories and experiences and a resulting sense of knowing that governs within and between group interactions. The discussion section arrays implications for future research.

Developing a predictive science of the biosphere requires the integration of scientific cultures

Increasing the speed of scientific progress is urgently needed to address the many challenges associated with the biosphere in the Anthropocene. Consequently, the critical question becomes: How can science most rapidly progress to address large, complex global problems? We suggest that the lag in the development of a more predictive science of the biosphere is not only because the biosphere is so much more complex, or because we do not have enough data, or are not doing enough experiments, but, in large part, because of unresolved tension between the three dominant scientific cultures that pervade the research community. We introduce and explain the concept of the three scientific cultures and present a novel analysis of their characteristics, supported by examples and a formal mathematical definition/representation of what this means and implies. The three cultures operate, to varying degrees, across all of science. However, within the biosciences, and in contrast to some of the other sciences, they remain relatively more separated, and their lack of integration has hindered their potential power and insight. Our solution to accelerating a broader, predictive science of the biosphere is to enhance integration of scientific cultures. The process of integration—Scientific Transculturalism—recognizes that the push for interdisciplinary research, in general, is just not enough. Unless these cultures of science are formally appreciated and their thinking iteratively integrated into scientific discovery and advancement, there will continue to be numerous significant challenges that will increasingly limit forecasting and prediction efforts.

The First Time I Called Myself a ‘Witch’ Was the Most Magical Moment of My Life: Unmasking the Influence of Christianity in the Persecution of Witches Through Cultural Hegemony

Whereas Christianity and biblical narratives continue to constructively form human, theological, spiritual, and social existence, it cannot be downplayed that these two central components sometimes lead to destructive perceptions, actions, and behaviours. This is because Christianity and the Bible have continually influenced the comprehension of humanity and spirituality for centuries. With particular reference to witchcraft, particularly in the South African context, this article aims to unmask and scrutinise the influence of Christianity in the persecution of witches. To do this, this article elicits three biblical pieces of textual evidence from the Bible as one of the historical Christian narratives. To unmask and address the phenomenon of interest, cultural hegemony as a theoretical framework is applied to these three biblical pieces of textual evidence. As a result of this endeavour, this article makes three notable findings. First, as Christianity could be appreciated for constructively shaping social perceptions, actions, and behaviours, it should be implicated in certain immoralities. Second, some of the historical injustices, such as witch-hunts and the killing of witches, have, in large part, been propagated by Christian and biblical ideologies. Third (last), Christianity, as a dominant culture of its time, ought to be unmasked within the contemporary contexts for the very reason that it continues to (re)shape contemporary societies, and it is undoubtedly patent that it may continue to (re)shape future generational societies. This article’s recommendations and closing remarks underscore the necessity to examine Christianity alongside its biblical voices recurrently.

Extravagance amidst Extreme Poverty? A Focus on ‘New Religious Movements’ within the Development Discourse in Zimbabwe.

During the early 80s, Zimbabwe witnessed a rapid growth of the Third Wave Religious Right Movement (TWRRM), commonly known as New Religious Movements (NRMs). These movements pride themselves on the premise that the gospel of prosperity is its central maxim. The article investigates the theological and developmental contribution of the gospel of prosperity towards its adherents' existential necessities and needs. It is on this premise that these churches have registered considerable success and popularity. This article thus seeks to provide empirical evidence on the contribution of three Charismatic churches and specifically highlight the benefits produced by this type of ‘gospel’ to the basic existential needs of Zimbabweans. The article will further explore whether or not this type of ‘gospel’ contributes to community development. In exploring the contributions of the gospel of prosperity and community development, the study will use a phenomenological approach by E. Husserl as a framework. The term means fundamentalist independent groups which often consider themselves as ‘Bible Christians, born again and charismatic, not as Pentecostals (Kalu 2008, 8). The third wave implies there was the first wave, which was the missionary evangelicalism of the 19th century. The second wave of response was in the 1920s with a “pneumatic challenge with white theology” (Kalu 2008: 8, Mpofu 2014). This African initiative in Christianity thrived on communality and incorporation of facets of primal religion and culture (Ethiopianism and Zionism). The third wave of response gave birth to charismatic Christianity, a movement of revival and renewal, a third response to white cultural domination and power (Anderson 2001). This third wave differs from Pentecostals, deriving from Pentecost with a focus on the gift of the holy spirit. Founders or pastors of this third response are central to lifestyle choices based on religious discourse. The founder leader is understood as the voice and message of God.

No Women's Land: Australian Women Veterans' Experiences of the Culture of Military Service and Transition.

Women's experiences of military service and transition occur within a highly dominant masculinized culture. The vast majority of research on military veterans reflects men's experiences and needs. Women veterans' experiences, and therefore their transition support needs, are largely invisible. This study sought to understand the role and impact of gender in the context of the dominant masculinized culture on women veterans' experiences of military service and transition to civilian life. In-depth qualitative interviews with 22 Australian women veterans elicited four themes: (1) Fitting in a managing identity with the military; (2) Gender-based challenges in conforming to a masculinized culture-proving worthiness, assimilation, and survival strategies within that culture; (3) Women are valued less than men-consequences for women veterans, including misogyny, sexual harassment and assault, and system failures to recognize women's specific health needs and role as mothers; and (4) Separation and transition: being invisible as a woman veteran in the civilian world. Gendered military experiences can have long-term negative impacts on women veterans' mental and physical health, relationships, and identity due to a pervasive masculinized culture in which they remain largely invisible. This can create significant gender-based barriers to services and support for women veterans during their service, and it can also impede their transition support needs.

Organizational culture of Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas: npiut to institutional policies

This study aimed to identify current organizational culture in Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas so that congruent institutional policies may be developed. Using Cameron and Quinn (2011) Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI), the dominant culture was determined. The study adopted descriptive design with a statistical sample of 55 employees on the College. It was found out that the dominant culture of the institution is the Clan Culture which is characterized by values flexibility and internal control. It is an employee-focused culture driven by collaboration, support, and trust. The Adhocracy culture is the least manifested culture, which is characterized by innovation, adaptive and flexible. The study found no significant difference on profile variables with Hierarchy and Market Culture. Conversely, Clan Culture and Adhocracy Culture was found significantly different in terms of gender and age, respectively. The findings and recommendations of this study may be used as a basis when revisiting the college’s institutional policies.

Critical ethnography: implications for medical education research and scholarship.

Medical education (ME) must rethink the dominant culture's fundamental assumptions and unintended consequences on less advantaged groups and society at large. Doing so, however, requires a robust understanding of what we are teaching, regardless of our intentions, and what is being learned across the multiple settings that our learners find themselves in, from classrooms to clinical spaces and beyond. Gaining such understandings and fully exploring the extent to which we are rising to the challenges of today's society in authentic ways require robust methodologies. In this research approaches paper, we introduce unfamiliar readers to one such methodology-critical ethnography. By doing so, we hope to demonstrate its potential for helping ME both identify and gain novel insight into necessary solutions for many of today's educational challenges regarding healthcare disparities and inequities. The readers of this paper will gain novel insights into how critical ethnographers see the world and ask questions, thereby changing the way they (the reader) see the world. At its heart, critical ethnography is about thinking differently and that is something that should be accessible to all. Doing so may also enhance our ability to both question dominant ways of thinking and, ultimately, to enact positive change in training and practices to enhance inclusivity and fairness for all regardless of their gender, race and status.

When Less Is More: The Semiotic Privilege of Status Downplay

Why do affluent people drive used cars, elite chefs praise basic ingredients, and upper‐middle couples arrange backyard weddings? What makes senior professors feel comfortable dressing down and allows men to bring their kids into the office? This article takes a formal sociological approach to explore the cultural phenomenon of “Status Downplay”—a paradoxical type of status display, where more social status is signaled through a subtraction of status symbols. The trans‐contextual analysis of diverse manifestations of status downplay uncovers the inverted cultural presumptions of “doing” and “being” and the hierarchical classifications underlying such parodical presentation of self. The proposed semiotic model articulates the social privilege of unmarked actors' performative flexibility: the social license of those considered “normals” to deviate from the performative norm. Under this asymmetrical structure, status underdoings are revealed as markers of cultural dominance.

Regional players as antagonists: forms of irredentism and "phantom pains" of neighbors in different types of contemporary civilizations

The article shows the evolution in the interpretation of antagonists in science, the flexibility and changeability of antagonists on the world stage, the competition between neighbors of the first order and the possibility of alliances with neighbors of the second order, errors in determining possible allies in France. The historical vectors of different forms of irredentism, the factors of degradation of irredentism and its transformation from legitimate and fair to illegal and unfair are divorced. The differences in the definition of antagonists and the degree of aggressiveness of Retro-, Pirahan- and Forthcoming civilizations are revealed. It is proved that retro-civilizations engaged in the revision of historical memory and based on a retrograde, revanchist orientation live at the expense of "phantom pains", in Russia's neighbors – thanks to irrational Russophobia. Their aggressiveness is capable of reaching a high intensity, but does not rely on the necessary resources. The Pirahan-civilization is also unstable – due to the gap between the hedonism of the dominant culture and the propaganda of the "progressors"-motives. Among the forthcoming-civilizations, there are both peaceful progressive options and expansionist reactionary variants.

Historicizing Socially Disabling Experiences of Chinese Adoptees in the United States in the Late One-child Policy Era

Abstract This article explores how the model minority trope impacts the “conditional inclusion” of Chinese adoptees from 1991 to 2015 when mainland China initiated legal overseas Chinese adoption. Intertwined with state-prescribed and sometimes adoptive family's expectation of “a good Asian adoptee,” the model minority trope simultaneously reconnects Chinese adoptees to their Asianness, and yet alienates them at the same time among Asian Americans due to their unique status as migrants through adoption. Utilizing an ethnographic approach to narrate Chinese adoptees’ stories, I draw on oral history interviews with Chinese adoptees, adoptive parents, and adoption facilitators to elucidate how the model minority trope and lucky one rhetoric complicated Chinese adoptees’ lived experiences as adopted Chinese in the United States and their understanding of their ever-evolving identities. Through highlighting the voices of both able-bodied and disable-bodied Chinese adoptees, this article argues that as “non-immigrant immigrants,” Chinese adoptees’ identities are caught between socially disabling biologism and adoptivism, and Chinese-ness and Americanness. Being physically Chinese and culturally (white) American, Chinese adoptees are culturally alienated from within their adoptive family as well as the outside world due to tenuous Sino-American relations and dominant white culture.

Understanding Ourselves and Our World from the Multiplicity of World-Views: Perspectives in African Epistemological Relationality

The importance of epistemological relationality in understanding ourselves and our world has been the focus of recent attention in global academic scholarship. In times past, this has been monopolized by one or some cultures over others. However, the components of this relationality have not been exhaustively theorized from different philosophical perspectives, allowing specific Western philosophical conceptions to dominate the dimension of discuss in literatures on this subject. The impact of this has been cultural supremacy, racial relegation and deprivation. This research offers a theoretical analysis of the global connection and ontological background that informs various conceptualizations of ourselves and our world from African, Western and Eastern world-views and unloads its implication for a value driven and harmonious coexistence. It aims at broadening this conception in Western and Eastern traditions, while showing what precedes this reflection and highlighting with analysis, the multiple relational process of knowing this African ontological value. This research therefore adopts the hermeneutics and critical analysis methods. It argues that multiplicity of world-views is a reflection of relationality in the unique ways we conceptualize reality from cultural events even though in diverse and informal forms. It concludes that this multiplicity in learning and understanding ourselves and our world forms the rational foundation for a complementary interrelation and mutual respect in the world and Africa in particular. Keywords: African, Philosophy, Multiplicity, World-views, Epistemological, Relationality, Understanding ourselves, Complementary, Relation and Mutual Respect.

CHINA'S CULTURAL SOFT POWER IN BANGLADESH: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES (2000-2020).

ABSTRACT
 Cultural dominance is one of the most significant aspects of soft power strategy in global politics. The most influential countries employ cultural soft power to consolidate their positions on international platforms to enhance national interests. This study explores China's cultural soft power strategies in Bangladesh by examining its achievements and challenges. It identifies that China has extended its cultural dynamics to considerable levels in Bangladesh, including arranging cultural programs and festivals, exchange programs, support for higher education, cultural institutes, media, availability of cultural content, and infrastructure development. However, China faces several challenges in achieving its soft power objectives due to cultural barriers, political manipulation, and proper management of facilities. This study recommends that China should develop initiatives to reduce the challenges in the country. This study followed a qualitative research method, based on secondary sources. This study fills a crucial gap in the understanding of China's efficacy in Bangladesh. A comprehensive insight into China's cultural soft power will help policymakers in enhancing bilateral relations as well as contribute to academia such as international relations, diplomacy and other intellectual horizons related to Bangladesh studies.
 
 
 
 Keyword: Cultural Soft Power, goals, China, Bangladesh

Mixed reviews on diversity initiatives: toward an institutional change model for Black faculty in engineering and computing

IntroductionUniversities across the United States have implemented initiatives to enhance diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, focusing on improving outcomes for racially minoritized students. While many diversity initiatives target undergraduate programs, there is a gap in support for STEM graduate students. Recognizing the persistent underrepresentation of racially diverse populations in STEM, the Biden-Harris Administration launched the “Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students” initiative, aiming to bolster STEM education nationwide. Foundations like the Sloan Foundation have developed pathways programs for STEM students, extending support into graduate school and the professoriate. The success of diversity initiatives often hinges on the participation and endorsement of underrepresented STEM faculty.MethodsThis study investigates the perspectives of twenty-nine Black engineering and computing faculty regarding diversity initiatives within their respective departments. Grounded theory methodology guided the qualitative analysis, enabling a deeper understanding of the racialized diversity management framework. Drawing on institutional racism perspectives, the study aimed to develop a theoretical framework elucidating institutional engagement with and implementation of diversity initiatives in engineering education.ResultsThe participants’ perspectives on diversity initiatives reflected features of organizational change. Three types of organizational environments emerged: 1) stagnant, characterized by aspirational commitments to diversity; 2) moderate, where underrepresented populations are recruited but expected to assimilate into the dominant culture; and 3) transformational, representing organizations taking significant steps towards creating equitable environments. The narratives of the study participants shed light on the varying effectiveness of efforts to increase the representation of successful Black students and faculty in engineering academia.DiscussionThe findings underscore the importance of understanding organizational contexts and dynamics in shaping the outcomes of diversity initiatives. By delineating the racialized diversity management framework, this study provides insights into the complexities of institutional engagement with diversity in engineering education. Addressing the challenges identified, particularly in environments characterized as stagnant or moderate, is crucial for advancing equity and inclusion in STEM fields. Effective diversity initiatives must go beyond recruitment efforts to create transformative, equitable environments conducive to the success of racially minoritized students and faculty in engineering academia.

Transposition of the Segregationist Colonial System on Social Housing: Case of the Diar El Mahçoul-Algiers City

The French colonial system in Algeria was a political system based on the establishment of political, economic, social and cultural domination of the colonists over the colonized people (G.Pervillie, 1975). In concrete terms, it resulted in the establishment of a set of discriminatory norms tending to grant privileges to European settlers to the detriment of Algerians in all areas of social life. This organized discrimination was at the origin of a visible social inequality that materialized through spatial segregation aimed at separating Algerians from settlers (T.Guillope, 2020). In fact, the European districts benefited from infrastructures that almost systematically included public services in a high quality designed urban environment. While the Algerian neighbourhoods benefited from very little public investment. The juxtaposition of this discriminatory notion on the architectural and urban design of the district of Diar El Mahçoul is a perfect illustration of this, which makes it an ideal case to be examined in this article.

Selection of robust starters from household dahi and assessment of their sensitivity to bacteriophage isolated from dairy effluents

Identifying the predominant strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in dahi that are resistant to bacteriophages is essential for developing robust starter cultures. Dahi samples from two agroecological zones of Kerala were collected for isolation of LAB. Limosilactobacillus fermentum emerged as the dominant starter culture species based on sequence‐based identification and technological property characterisation. Dairy effluents were screened for phages targeting L. fermentum, and 10 of 11 strains of L. fermentum showed resistance to one lytic phage isolated as part of this study. The strain ADMT 15 showed sensitivity to the phage and on subsequent genome sequencing the phage revealed its close relationship to members of the Herelleviridae phage family.

Freedom as cultural-discursive resource

Humanity has never suffered so much from racial repression, social division and cultural domination as in the contemporary world. Freedom is under the severest attack the mankind has ever seen. Erno and Birk timely seize the issue of human freedom and contend that psychologists must turn their attention to it from a practical, political and interdisciplinary perspective, thereby opening up new avenues to human flourishing and self-actualization. And yet this proposal has given still insufficient heed to the cultural nature of freedom. It is the objective of this essay to argue for and sketch out a cultural-discursive approach that purports to provide not just a systematic and precise account of freedom but also a methodological framework for its research.

The Gauchos as possible heirs of the Moriscos: the case of the Argentine asado

ABSTRACT Asados, Argentine cook-outs or barbecues, to this day have a prestigious reputation within Argentine identity often due to its lasting association with the Gauchos—rural Argentine cowboys—who flourished in the nineteenth century shortly after the country’s independence from Spain. However, what is less known is how this quintessential dish, especially the well-done slow-cooked nature of the meat, is a rarely explored window to the past. I stipulate that the transatlantic, transcultural, and even transtemporal importance of this dish preserved by the Gauchos since the nineteenth century places them and their descendants as the hidden heirs of clandestine Moriscos—mostly crypto-Muslims forcedly converted to Christianity in the Iberian Peninsula—who settled in the least monitored area of Spain’s American colonies in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Moriscos knew how to mask certain actions while still holding strong to some former cultural and culinary practices. So too did the Gauchos as they were originally coined rebellious outlaws who did not want to fully conform and assimilate to the dominant culture. Perhaps in viewing their shared cooking styles we can see the often ignored history of Andalusi influence via Morisco practices in the Southern Cone.

Effective communication in postgraduate supervision: Shaping experiences and overcoming challenges

Although postgraduate supervision relies on effective communication, it has become increasingly challenging due to various factors, including the cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds of both the supervisors and supervisees. As a result, institutions of higher learning are struggling to attract and retain these students. In addition, students often feel frustrated by the pressure to balance their academic and social lives during their studies. Therefore, this study explores the impact of effective communication on postgraduate supervision in higher learning institutions in Lesotho and South Africa. The study adopts an interpretive paradigm and uses a qualitative approach rooted in a case study design. Face-to-face interviews were employed as the data collection tool, and latent thematic analysis was used to analyse emergent themes. The findings reveal several factors that hinder effective communication in postgraduate supervision, including cultural dominance, lack of mutual respect, insufficient training, and a lack of professionalism, among others. Based on these findings, the study recommends that experienced supervisors be assigned to students and that there be a focus on two-way communication and training to develop the necessary skills for a respectful supervisor-student relationship.