Cultural Interpretation Research Articles

USE OF ABUSE: THEMATIZATION OF VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HISTORICAL MASTER NARRATIVE OF LATVIA

The purpose of the article is to trace the development of the victims vs. perpetrators discourse as an integral part of the historical master narrative of Latvia since the end of the 19th century till nowadays. The narrative of abuse plays an essential role in historical master narratives of many modern national communities, as their integrity is strongly dependent on defining themselves via binary opposi- tions. According to Anthony Smith, in this self-identification process of a nation culture, mass communication and education play a particular role [Smith, 1991]. Maurice Halbwachs has specified that school textbooks, media and cultural production actually do not care much about the ‘real history’ – what is being implemented, refers to ‘collective memory’, adapted to the requirements of the actual presence [Halbwachs 1980]. The research paper analyses how this collective memory pattern has been shaped throughout time in the historical master narrative of Latvia as reflected in literature, media and school textbooks. The research focuses on the ‘official’ master narrative, as the research objective was to reveal how the past has been adjusted to present under changes of political regimes and social developments. However, in the context of the second half of the 20th century contrasting voices have been included in order to suggest the presence of the multiplicity of narratives and to pose a series of questions to the current cultural and socio-political interpretation of the past of Latvia.

VERBALISATION OF THE CONCEPTUAL SPHERE ‘WIND’ IN ENGLISH PHRASEOLOGY AND PAREMIOLOGY

This paper examines different views on phraseology and paremiology as conveyors of relevant cultural ideas and interpretations, reflecting and forming the cultural identity of each nation. Phraseological units as the object of research in linguocultural studies provide valuable and important information in the analysis of language. In particular, the paper examines linguistic means of verbalizing the conceptual sphere 'wind' in the contemporary period of English society. Classifications are proposed according to the meanings expressed in the excerpted material from accessible lexicographical sources.

Clinically encountered growth phenotypes of tuberculosis-causing bacilli and their in vitro study: A review.

The clinical manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) vary widely in severity, site of infection, and outcomes of treatment-leading to simultaneous efforts to individualize therapy safely and to search for shorter regimens that can be successfully used across the clinical spectrum. In these endeavors, clinicians and researchers alike employ mycobacterial culture in rich media. However, even within the same patient, individual bacilli among the population can exhibit substantial variability in their culturability. Bacilli in vitro also demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in replication rate and cultivation requirements, as well as susceptibility to killing by antimicrobials. Understanding parallels in clinical, ex vivo and in vitro growth phenotype diversity may be key to identifying those phenotypes responsible for treatment failure, relapse, and the reactivation of bacilli that progresses TB infection to disease. This review briefly summarizes the current role of mycobacterial culture in the care of patients with TB and the ex vivo evidence of variability in TB culturability. We then discuss current advances in in vitro models that study heterogenous subpopulations within a genetically identical bulk culture, with an emphasis on the effect of oxidative stress on bacillary cultivation requirements. The review highlights the complexity that heterogeneity in mycobacterial growth brings to the interpretation of culture in clinical settings and research. It also underscores the intricacies present in the interplay between growth phenotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility. Better understanding of population dynamics and growth requirements over time and space promises to aid both the attempts to individualize TB treatment and to find uniformly effective therapies.

Evaluation of Ordering Practices, Microbial Yield, and Clinical Utility of Urinary Stone Cultures

Abstract Urinary stones are a global problem. While it has been established that microorganisms can be associated with urinary stone formation, data on best practices for microbial culture and clinical interpretation of microbial culture of urinary stone specimens are limited. Our objective was to investigate the microorganisms present in urinary stone cultures (usc) and companion urine cultures. We conducted a retrospective study at a tertiry hospital examining cultures submitted between October 2018 and October 2021. We collected data from electronic medical records of patients who had at least at least one usc performed. As part of routine clinical workup, all urinary stone specimens submitted for culture were ground using a disposable tissue grinder and inoculated on a tryptic soy agar with 5% sheep blood agar plate (BAP), a chocolate agar plate (CHOC), and a MacConkey agar plate (MAC), streaked for isolation and incubated in 5% CO2 at 35°C for up to three days. Urine cultures were performed using the Kiestra TLA system with 10 µL of inoculum onto each of a BAP and MAC, and plates were examined at 16 and 24 hours of incubation. For urine specimens submitted from a straight or “in and out” catheter, 10,000 CFU/mL was the threshold for workup. From clean-voided, midstream, ileostomy, nephrostomy, or indwelling/Foley catheter specimens, 100,000 CFU/mL was the threshold for workup. The final clinical significance of cultures is determined by evaluating the culture result in light of the patient’s clinical presentation. For usc and urine cultures, clinically insignificant growth was considered no growth or when no pathogens were recovered in culture. Urine cultures with more than 3 species over threshold were considered contaminated. A total of 1,049 usc were performed from 854 patients (55.3% female). The median patient age was 61 years (IQR 49-70). The most frequent microorganisms reported in usc cultures were Proteus mirabilis (N=98), Enterococcus faecalis (N=75), and Escherichia coli (N=73). No pathogen was identified from 57% of usc. 441 usc were performed in a context of urine culture (+/-2 days) in 336 (39.3%) patients. In addition, 138 patients (16.1%) had more than 1 usc, being the maximum as 11 usc performed in one patient. The most common urine/USC concordant result was no growth in 165 of 441 cultures (37.4%), followed by coagulase negative Staphylococcus. Cohen’s kappa obtained from usc and urine culture results was 0.45, which is not the minimum acceptable agreement. A pathogen was identified from usc in 43% of cases. Usc and urine cultures rarely resulted in concordant results, but the most common concordant result was no growth in culture. Additional studies are warranted to evaluate the impact of usc results on patient care, including antimicrobial use and correlation of microbes isolated with stone chemical composition.

Cultural relationship between rural soundscape and space in Hmong villages in Guizhou

The Hmong is one of the oldest ethnic groups in south-western China, and sound plays an important role in their culture. According to the general classification of landscape science, the rural soundscape of Hmong villages is divided into three types: a point soundscape dominated by a single sound source, a line soundscape with a typical Hmong rural village alley space as the sound field interface, and an area soundscape with the Bronze-drum Square, the only open public space of Hmong nationality, as the field. Combined with a sound collection and field test during field investigation, we obtained the characteristics of various rural soundscapes and evaluated the acoustic environment. The results showed that the “point” soundscape of medium- and low-frequency powder shotgun and wooden drum sounds in the unclosed Hmong villages exceed the transmission distance and sound durability. The “line” soundscape utilizes the turning point and envelope of different spaces to increase the acoustic reflection surface and create reverberation, increasing the propagation time and distance of the sound, and emphasizing the directivity of the sound through a long and narrow space. The “surface” soundscape includes the richest medium- and high-frequency-based human voice and music sounds and medium- and low-frequency musical instrument sounds, among others. The values of T30, EDT, and C80 in the sound field, all changed significantly because of the lack of acoustic reflection from the ceiling, through the top opening. Finally, the study reveals the cultural association between rural soundscape and space, which is reflected in the Hmong's “defensive” function and “group” culture. Thus, the Bronze-drum Square sound field does not meet the requirements of the current specification of cultural interpretation, and it is in the participatory Hmong performance mode, centered on drum club group structure.

The Comedy of Cancel Culture in a Post-Carlin United States: On the Politics of Cultural Interpretation

The Comedy of Cancel Culture in a Post-Carlin United States: On the Politics of Cultural Interpretation

Ethno-Cultural Codes of the Ukrainian Traditional Costume in the Reflection of the World of High Fashion

The purpose of the work is to find out the variability of the reflection of the ethno-cultural codes of the traditional Ukrainian costume in the couture creations of the world of high fashion. The research methodology is based on the application of a systemic approach, as well as a set of such scientific methods as analytical, comparative, cultural, art history, and semiotic, which makes it possible to comprehensively consider the given issue and formulate well-founded conclusions. Scientific novelty is characterised by a systematic generalisation of the problem of the interaction of ethnic components of culture (at the level of ethno-cultural codes and semantic series) with modern cultural and artistic visions in the dimension of the world of high fashion. It has been found that the specificity of the interaction of fashion and ethnic culture is manifested in the borrowing of folk symbols by fashion, but their embodiment is subject to the sign-symbolic code of modernity, this process actually takes place along the local-global line. Conclusions. Summarising, we note that fashion as a socio-cultural phenomenon is a formed semiosphere, which is a moving structure mediated both by the general cultural trends of its time, and by the ideals and values of society, its preferences. The art of high fashion Haute couture embodies author's samples-concepts, which are endowed with a number of meanings and connotations, relaying them in general. Fashion acts as an open system of cultural interpretations, citations, variability, forming a new semiotic space. The use of ethnic components and ethnocultural codes in high fashion works not only adds to them "depth of sound” and polystylism, but is also included in the artistic postmodern game and exchange of meanings, signs in the symbolic/imaginary/real system, forming new cultural texts. Ukrainian ethno-cultural codes in the practice of high fashion were repeatedly included in the creation of collections of world fashion trends, giving the samples original variability and color. At the same time, the world of high fashion actualises the levels of cultural perception of ethnicity, tradition, updating and expanding the artistic language of modern culture.
 Key words: ethnocultural codes, high fashion, couture products, Ukrainian traditional costume, ethnic culture, global, local.

Techno-Concepts for the Cultural Field: n-Dimensional Space and Its Conceptual Constellation

This paper advocates an epistemological turn in the field of digital art history and cultural heritage studies. This epistemological turn is understood as the elaboration of a new (or renewed) epistemic apparatus that allows us to understand and interpret cultural phenomena from the perspective of a different order of thought. This epistemological labor is conceived of as an «epistemological technical practice», which means integrating epistemological reflection and production into technical making and design. Within this framework of discussion, this paper introduces the idea of a techno-concept, which is defined as a co-production between the machine rationale and the human thought/imagination. As particular cases, this paper argues that the mathematical concepts of n-dimensional, vector and latent spaces constitute examples of techno-concepts that can be reappropriated and reworked for cultural analysis and interpretation. This paper offers a preliminary inquiry, in which certain epistemological propositions are exposed as open gates for further discussions.

The ‘Madrasien’: on the trail of a terminology in Indian prehistory

ABSTRACTArchaeological nomenclature influences the classification of cultural phases, objects and related behavioural interpretations. The term ‘Madrasien’, synonymous with the Acheulian, was a key concept in early studies of Indian prehistory, encompassing notions of geographical/administrative boundaries, tool types, cultural identities and migrations. Madrasien was coined in 1931 by the Austrian prehistorian Oswald Menghin and established in South Asian prehistory by V.D. Krishnaswami. Here, the authors trace the evolution of the term, situating it within the wider discourses in Indian prehistory and examining its role in shaping ideas on South Asian Palaeolithic nomenclatures. The Madrasien was gradually replaced by the current medley of African, European and Southeast Asian terminologies.

A retrospective study exploring how South African newspapers framed Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders over an 11-year period (2004–2014)

Background:The way schizophrenia is portrayed in the media contributes to the dissemination of misinformation about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of mental disorders and has the potential to perpetuate or mitigate the stigmatization of schizophrenia. While research on the news media’s role in exacerbating or mitigating the stigmatization of schizophrenia has been conducted widely in other contexts, our search did not yield any study on media framing of schizophrenia in South Africa. Therefore, this study used the framing theory to examine the media framing of schizophrenia following the enactment of two mental health policies in South Africa.Methods:We examined 216 news stories that covered the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders from 20 South African newspapers retrieved from the SABINET – SA Media online archive over an 11-year period (2004–2014). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the news stories.Results:The findings show that most of the news stories had problems as their main frame. These were followed by stories framed to diagnose the causes of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; and stories that made moral judgements about issues around the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. Stories that were classified as suggesting remedies were relatively less frequent. A common thread in the news stories was the misperceptions about schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Media framing of the cultural interpretations of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders tended to be derogatory and therefore stigmatising. Most news stories framed schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders as mainly caused by using psychoactive drugs/substance with Cannabis as the most frequently mentioned psychoactive drug.Conclusion:The study underscores the role of media analyses in framing schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders following the development of major mental health policies. The study showed that the media framing of schizophrenia could perpetuate stigmatisation, discrimination and social rejection of people with lived experiences of the condition. Our findings highlight the need for collaboration between researchers and the media to enhance opportunities for improved and more nuanced reporting of mental health issues.

Study on the Service Design of Ouyue Cultural Tourism based on the Concept of Heritage Interpretation

Heritage interpretation is an important element in enhancing Ouyue cultural tourism services. Based on the perspective of heritage interpretation, this study explores the design ideas and models of Ouyue cultural tourism services, and ultimately realizes design support for its tourism service development. After exploring the tangible nature of cultural heritage and the intangible nature of experience in tourism services, and combining with relevant research on heritage interpretation and service design, this study review the process of heritage interpretation experience design in existing Ouyue cultural tourism services. Finally, design model of tourism services is constructed based on the perspective of heritage interpretation. The effectiveness of the design model was verified. The design practice has been practically verified using the example of the miner's village in Fude Bay, Wenzhou. According to the three stages of research and analysis, design planning, as well as verification and evaluation, this study analyzes and reconstructs the interpretation connotation, medium and content in the model, as well as continuously improves the manifestation of Ouyue cultural heritage, which help to not only better present the historical information and humanistic connotation of Ouyue culture but also realize the orderly development of Ouyue cultural heritage interpretation. Therefore, this study concludes design points of the heritage interpretation experience with service as the core.

The Takiran Tradition in Sura Month as a Form of Cultural Diversity in Selanegara Village, Sumpiuh District

The Takiran tradition is still very familiar, we can find it in all corners of the village in Banyumas Regency, especially in Sumpiuh District. as an embodiment of gratitude to the creator. There is no definite provision regarding the day of the implementation of this Takiran, which is definitely still in the day of the month of Sura according to the agreement of the villagers with the village head. Usually it is taken on Sundays or holidays with the consideration that the implementation of this takiran can be enjoyed by many the community, especially those who work days. Before praying together and eating takir rice, usually the men work to clean the environment and public facilities, while the women/mothers prepare Nasi Takir complete with side dishes. This study uses theory Clifford Geertz's interpretation of culture is culture n is a pattern of meaning contained in various symbols. While the method used is a qualitative descriptive method with a phenomenological approach. The data collection technique used is a literature study by reading books and interviews with village heads and local elders. The purpose of this study is that we can find out the philosophical meanings contained in takir are very unique, namely "organized and thought" and "taqwa and dhikr" as well as knick-knacks in the takiran tradition. in the past until now, it's just that there are some villages that have combined the looks of more modern takiran. There are also those who still maintain the procedures and appearance of the takir rice, such as in the village of Selanegara which still uses banana leaves which are shaped takir as a place for rice and then on top put side dishes, vegetables and other accessories.

Theoretical Aspects of the Development of an Ethical Culture of Future Medical Workers in the Process of Teaching Professional Medical Disciplines

The relevance of the study is conditioned by the fact that, considering problems in the educational process of training students in institutions of higher medical education, researchers highlight ethical aspects, and the rules of morality of future medics. This indicates a significant role of ethical issues in the future profession of a doctor. However, the question of how the ethical culture of future doctors is formed in the process of mastering professional disciplines has not yet been described. And, since this competence is indicated in the curriculum, the issue requires separate scientific consideration. The purpose of the study is to analyse how the ethical culture of applicants for medical specialities is formed, and find effective ways to develop it. The analysis of recent papers on this issue is carried out, in particular, positions on the importance of ethical culture in the process of professional training of future nurses and doctors in various fields are considered. It is noted that there is no clear interpretation of ethical culture in the literature, but this concept is associated with rules of behaviour, ethical norms, and morality. Notably, it is difficult to monitor the mastery of ethical norms while working out professional disciplines, especially in the context of distance learning. Information technologies effectively ensure this process, namely: the use of the Moodle platform guarantees transparency and reduces the additional discomfort associated with Internet communication. To achieve these goals, the following methods were used: comparison, analysis, concretisation, generalisation of scientific literature; pedagogical observation and questionnaires; conversation, abstraction, business game, practical classes in healthcare institutions. As a result, it is noted that the development of an ethical culture for future medical professionals is an important element in the educational process, and regardless of the educational component, teachers must necessarily focus the attention of applicants for education on issues of ethical culture. The introduction of situational tasks in professional disciplines contributes to the development of ethical competence.

Memes, youth and memory institutions

ABSTRACT Through the collection of digital media and engagement with underrepresented groups, memory institutions aspire to preserve and interpret a range of contemporary perspectives on culture and identity. These institutions simultaneously seek to provide experiences that foster civic identities and cultural citizenship. This article explores the potential of collecting internet memes, a specific form of digital media, to further these institutional aims. Through an empirical study of a youth engagement program at a Norwegian folklore archive, we conclude that collecting and contextualizing image macros in collaboration with young people is an institutionally viable and inclusionary approach to documenting new expressions of culture and everyday life. The project further created a context in which young people could exercise competencies related to the development of a civic identity. These findings are relevant for cultural heritage institutions which aim to diversify the forms of digital media, knowledge practices and perspectives represented in their collections, and for cultural heritage professionals who aim to engage youth or marginalized communities. Extending recent research on internet memes as resources for meaning-making the study also underscores the value of participatory research methodologies which deliberately invite individuals’ interpretations of digital culture and analytical approaches that account for the richness of internet memes and image macros as semiotic resources for narrating identity.

Технологии формирования культуры здоровья у взрослого населения

The paper focuses on the terms of health, health culture, and health-preserving technologies. It introduces different interpretations of health and health culture, as well as the factors that contribute to health and those that can harm it. The culture of health is the most important component of human psyche as it characterizes the level of personal development, education, and health promotion. The authors substantiate the necessity of preserving and strengthening health through systematic sports activities. They reviewed relevant publications to prove that only personal health culture can improve social environment and protect people against the negative factors of the modern world. The analysis of practice-oriented approaches to health preservation in adults resulted in a new technology of developing healthy lifestyle skills in women aged 40–60. The article describes the conditions and tools for its practical application and the results obtained with the help of the proposed technology. The authors substantiated the possibility of dissemination of the obtained experience by using this technology in sports clubs and fitness groups.

Fashion, Thresholds, and Borders

Fashion, Thresholds, and Borders

Chinese Culture and Cognitive Science

In the civilizations of the axial age, Chinese and Western cultures gave birth to different scientific traditions—the image sciences and the natural sciences—within the knowledge frameworks of the union of man and nature and of the subject–object dichotomy respectively. Therefore, there are inevitably insurmountable barriers to explaining the differences between Chinese and Western cultures in terms of a natural science concerned with “things.” However, human nature is universal, and it is possible to make direct comparisons and interpretations of the differences between Chinese and Western cultures in terms of the cognitive sciences dealing with the mind. One important way to compare and interpret Chinese culture and cognitive science is the mutual interpretation of Chinese and Western cultures. In view of this, we have integrated enactive cognition (the frontier of cognitive science) and the free energy principle to propose the predictive mind model of enactive cognition and have used this mutual interpretation to study the two cultures using this model of cognitive science as a truly unified cross-cultural paradigm for cognitive science. First, the theory of enaction embedded in Chinese culture is actually closely related to enactive cognition, the frontier of Western cognitive science. Laozi’s theory of universal enaction (cosmology) shows that Chinese culture has an ancient theory of enaction. He firmly planted in the minds of Chinese people a way of thinking dealing with union of man and nature. Western enactive cognition, as a modern theory, advocates continuity of life and mind and emphasizes that life is both autopoietic and cognitive, which is actually a scientific cognitive expression of the Chinese cultural idea of the harmony of man and nature. This is actually a scientific cognitive expression of Chinese culture’s idea of the harmony of man and nature. Second, the qi in Chinese culture is similar to the free energy in Western cognitive science. In terms of concept definition, qi is a mixture of matter, function and principles (information), while free energy is the synthesis of energy and information. From the point of view of the mode of operation, qi is the contradictory harmony between yin and yang, while free energy is the unity of top-down and bottom-up approaches. In terms of kinetic purpose, the kinetic purpose of qi is the doctrine of benevolence, while the kinetic purpose of free energy has gradually changed from representation of nature to construction of meaning. Through comparison and interpretation, we find that enactive cognition is closely related to Chinese culture on the cognitive science route, in what will be a practical path for the rejuvenation of Chinese culture. In addition, through the association of qi in Chinese culture and free energy in Western cognitive science, Chinese and Western cultures can be expected to be truly connected through cognitive science.

Searching For Sally

Searching For Sally

Movie Minorities: Transnational Rights Advocacy and South Korean Cinema

Movie Minorities: Transnational Rights Advocacy and South Korean Cinema

The Exploration of the History and Culture of Dali Based on Epography: Reviews on Zhu Annv

The ancient epigraphy literature of the Bai nationality had been often sorted out, but its comprehensive research is relatively rare. Zhu An’nlu’s academic work, which named cultural interpretation of the Bai nationality’s ancient epigraphy literature, had regarded epigraphy literature as a unique carrier of Bai nationality’s culture and carried out cultural interpretation and comprehensive interpretation based on Bai nationality’s ancient epigraphy literature, it was unique in the study of the historical traditions of ethnic minorities in Yunnan. This book seemed simple and unadorned, but in fact, it was carefully constructed based on the internal academic and objective reality. It not only enabled the Bai nationality’s epigraphy literature and common ancient literature complementary, but also integrated the perspectives of literature, history, philosophy and other disciplines to find cultural concealment, the relevant argumentation was close to the academic frontier, and fully demonstrated the research personality in following the trend. The author had long-term continuous attention to the Bai nationality’s epigraphy literature and was superior to an ordinary scholar in academic feelings and humanistic realm, and on the whole, she had shown a relatively rare academic concentration and research level.