ABSTRACT This article investigates the concept of cultural value in the context of the German cultural sector. Cultural value is a well-established term in certain cultural policy environments, where an emphasis is placed on publicly funded cultural institutions and activities to evidence their value to society and individuals. No comparable discourse exists within the German sector. The purpose of this article is to examine this topic within the German cultural policy landscape, specifically concentrating on expressions of cultural value within state-funded cultural institutions via a qualitative research study. Cultural institutions in Germany believe it their responsibility to create value for the public and offer artistic experiences that can be considered as relevant to the public’s interests. To achieve this will require cultural policy makers to move beyond symbolic areas of cultural policy and towards an activating cultural policy that is cognisant of its value-creating ability.

In Oregon, the incidence of Pancreatic Cancer is 2-times higher among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities than among the rest of the population nationwide. We wanted to know if we could adapt the Research in Oregon Communities' Review System (ROCRS) to investigate this disparity while upholding tribal sovereignty. We partnered with The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs with the goal of adapting the ROCR System to address the pancreatic cancer disparity with a culturally responsive approach. One-on-one interviews with community members were conducted at the annual Pi-Ume-Sha Health Fair in 2023. Cancer-related data were requested from the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. Barriers to healthcare access were identified and categorized using PESTLE analysis. A Tribal liaison combined this analysis with cancer-related data to create a cultural landscape. This was done in accordance with ROCRS. This culturally responsive approach fosters trust and engagement in pancreatic cancer research and creates actionable insights for researchers while maintaining tribal sovereignty. The success of this model demonstrates the potential of tribally tailored research systems to improve participation and long-term collaborations with this underrepresented population.

This contribution explores the possibility that cultural landscapes can move and what the consequences of this might be for (our thinking about) borders, in particular the borders between nation states. Mainstream landscape research assumes that each cultural landscape has a unique, exclusive and inalienable relationship with a specific area. However, since the 1980s, with the increasing influence of humanistic and new cultural geographies in landscape research, this assumption has been regularly questioned. If cultural landscapes are understood not only as physical manifestations of human ecosystems and cultures, but also as “ways of seeing” and “landscape ideas”, then people also carry landscapes with them in their minds and hearts and can physically realise them elsewhere. In the following review paper, both views are explored through a series of case studies. The relationships between (moving) cultural landscapes and borders receive special attention.

The Neoproterozoic Aswan granites constitute a major post-collisional intrusive complex within the Egyptian Nubian Shield and represent one of Egypt's most significant geological, geomorphological, and cultural landscapes. Integrated remote-sensing and radiological data are used to characterize their geological, geomorphological, and environmental attributes. Four granite suites are recognized in the Aswan area: greyish-black tonalites-granodiorites, coarse pink monzogranites-syenogranites, medium- to coarse-grained High Dam granites, and fine-grained granites. These lithologies exert a strong control on regional geomorphology, with structural fabrics-dominated by N-S and NE-SW joint sets and locally developed NE-trending shear zones-governing drainage patterns, landscape evolution, quarrying potential, and the distribution of radioelements. Integrated geomorphological and remote sensing analyses demonstrate that lithology and structural framework exert primary control on the Nile's course and on the development of characteristic granite landforms, including inselbergs, exfoliation domes, joint-controlled valleys, steep canyons, and granitic island chains. PRISMA hyperspectral data further enhanced this framework by differentiating the rock units, delineating shear zones, and clearly identifying quarrying scars and associated landscape degradation. All remote-sensing interpretations were validated through detailed geological field investigations, ensuring accurate characterization of the granitic rocks and their modification by human activities. The granites show progressive differentiation from greyish-black granodiorites to coarse pink and fine-grained types, with U-Th-K enrichment and mean activities of 238U (77.23Bq/kg), 226Ra (41.93Bq/kg), 232Th (73.07Bq/kg), and 40K (1281.3Bq/kg), exceeding global averages. Radiological parameters record mean values of 131.35 nGy/h (absorbed dose), 0.16mSv/y (annual effective dose), 275.82Bq/kg (radium equivalent), hazard indices of 0.74 and 0.95, and a gamma index of 2.07. Fine-grained granites locally exceed indoor-use limits, High-Dam granites show moderate Th-K enrichment due to deformation, whereas greyish-black and most coarse pink granites (including Fila) remain within safety limits and are most suitable for quarrying. Overall, lithology and structural architecture-rather than external environmental factors-control mechanical behavior, landscape evolution, quarrying suitability, and radiological distribution across the Aswan granite province. Despite generally safe radiological levels, unregulated quarrying and rapid urban expansion have altered terrain and disrupted geomorphic integrity. These findings provide a framework for sustainable resource management, radiological safety evaluation, geomorphology-informed land-use planning, and preservation of Aswan's unique geological and cultural heritage.

Gazi Street, located in the historic Sur district of Diyarbakır, has served as the centre of the city's commercial and social life for many years. This study examines the street's historical development, spatial design, and the renovation and transformation processes that have shaped its contemporary identity. The main objective of the research is to determine analytical criteria that can be applied to street rehabilitation in historical areas and to evaluate the applicability of these criteria using the example of Gazi Street. Due to its historical and cultural values, Diyarbakır was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015 under the title ‘Diyarbakır Castle and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape’. In this context, the conservation of areas such as Gazi Street is not limited to the conservation of physical fabric; it also encompasses the sustainability of the social, cultural, and economic dynamics that constitute the city's living heritage. In this regard, the research prioritises the conservation of architectural authenticity and the development of pedestrian-oriented spatial arrangements. Methodologically, the study utilized literature review, archival document analysis, and GIS-based spatial and functional assessments. The findings reveal that the Gazi Street renewal initiative exemplifies a context-sensitive conservation approach based on balancing the conservation of historical identity with the adaptable requirements of contemporary urban life.

The research was carried out in 2024 in southern part of Poland, and concerned analysis of changes related to deagrarisation process, while focusing on selected transitional areas, called ecotones. These were grasslands, with estimated potential for ruminant grazing. The aim of the study was to assess some indicators and stimulants characterizing agricultural production space, in the aspect of cultural landcape management. The analysed stimulants were the average length and width of the ecotone zones, size of the fields immediately surrounding such zones, types of crops cultivated, and intensity of these crops. For the rational management of cultural landscape, there have been also considered factors such as the extent of abandonment of agricultural land use around the ecotone, and presence of not-native species, especially invasive ones. Research results show that fields of small sizes were beneficial from the point of view of the agricultural production space's condition, as they averagelly promoted the increase of the local biodiversity. In terms of the diversity of cultivated crop species, the presence of a larger number of such plant species has both environmental and cultural landscape values. For the both analysed municipalities, the transformation in agricultural production space and its impact on the biodiversity was assessed as average.

Francisco Amighetti was a Costa Rican artist who illustrated educational and literary works, both his own and those of other writers and intellectuals, thereby forging a symbiosis between visual art and the written word. This essay examines how his artistic vision was not limited to accompanying texts, but instead created an imaginary that transcended them, inspiring multiple generations of readers. His work, imbued with social and aesthetic sensitivity, stimulated ­—through the theories of the ideo-visual method— the development of creativity in readers, thus marking a turning point in Costa Rica’s cultural landscape.

This scoping review maps the cultural landscape of research on loneliness among international students. Drawing from 60 studies, including peer-reviewed articles and gray-literature sources, the review examines the cultural distribution of host contexts, patterns of cultural alignment between students’ home and host societies, the extent to which international students are analytically differentiated from each other and with domestic peers, and how cultural frameworks are used to conceptualize loneliness. The findings reveal a strong concentration of studies in Western and individualistic contexts, a limited number of international–domestic comparisons, and a predominant tendency to treat international students as a homogeneous group despite diverse cultural origins. In addition, while culture is frequently acknowledged as relevant, explicit theoretical engagement with cultural frameworks remains uneven.

Depopulation threatens livelihoods, services, and cultural landscapes. In the scientific literature, tourism is frequently discussed as a potential lever in depopulation contexts, yet reported demographic outcomes vary widely across settings. We conducted a PRISMA-informed systematic review of Web of Science and Scopus (1993–2025), identifying 268 articles that were coded using a hybrid bibliometric–narrative approach into thematic axes and reported effect directions (positive, neutral, negative). Reported outcomes are heterogeneous and conditional rather than uniform. Tourism is associated with positive demographic trajectories, primarily where it is embedded in diversified local economies, supported by strong social capital, and integrated into coordinated governance and planning frameworks; negative or neutral outcomes recur under tourism monoculture, strong seasonality, housing pressure, and weak territorial regulation. Keyword co-occurrence and narrative analyses identify three dominant thematic clusters (rural development, spatial–cultural transformation, and sustainability) structured around depopulation as the central conceptual node. The geography of knowledge production further indicates a strong European concentration, particularly in Southern Europe, where tourism is explicitly framed as a policy response to demographic decline, while non-European research adopts more analytical and sectoral perspectives. Overall, this review shows that tourism functions as a contingent territorial lever rather than a universal remedy: its demographic associations depend on institutional, spatial, and socio-economic configurations. By systematically organizing fragmented evidence, the study clarifies when tourism is reported to support demographic stabilization, and when it is reported to have no effect or to coincide with continued decline, providing a clearer analytical basis for future comparative research and context-sensitive territorial policy design.

Using the case of two proposed large-scale redevelopments in Richmond, Virginia over the past four decades, we examine how cultural landscapes were used as a base of resistance to top-down decision-making, a means of determining who had the right to be at the table and a mechanism for defining the future. Through extensive archival research, network analysis, and key informant interviews, we examine the interaction between cultural landscapes, process, and outcome in planning. We argue that planning must understand the value of cultural landscapes as more than just a particular outcome or degree of engagement in the process. Instead, cultural landscapes should be understood in planning as a mechanism for setting an agenda of who, how, and to what end we engage in a place.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming digital, clinical, and cultural landscapes in ways that hold significant implications for body image and eating disorder (ED) prevention. This article outlines how traditional and generative AI technologies influence societal appearance ideals as well as digital environments, including online mental health tools. While AI offers opportunities for early detection, personalized and scalable prevention, and the promotion of more inclusive representation, it also poses ethical and psychological risks, including amplification of harmful appearance ideals, algorithmic bias, and overreliance on technology. This article identifies key research priorities relevant to body image spanning macro-level impacts, emerging use cases, ethics and safety, equity and representation in datasets, public perceptions, and the need for interdisciplinary and participatory governance. As AI becomes embedded in everyday life, its responsible and safe use will be critical to ensuring it does not exacerbate body image concerns or increase ED risk.

The Solana saltworks in Croatia constitute a contemporary example of the redefinition of a traditional productive landscape into a center of health, therapeutic experience, and wellness tourism. This study examines the transition from mono-functional salt production to a multidimensional model that integrates natural salt production with halotherapy, wellness practices, and entrepreneurial activities. Particular emphasis is placed on the distinctive characteristics of high-purity salt and its incorporation into mild therapeutic applications. At the same time, the role of the saltworks as cultural and ecological landscapes is highlighted, where the therapeutic experience is closely linked to the natural environment and local identity. The research demonstrates that the integration of health, wellness, and entrepreneurship at the Solana saltworks constitutes a sustainable development model with positive social and economic impacts on local communities.

This article explores the cinematic representations of gender reversal and masculinity in the 2021 Chinese romantic comedy B for Busy, examining how the film’s depiction of its protagonist, Mr. B, illuminates the affective politics of happiness in the cultural landscape of contemporary China. Though Mr. B, a divorced 50-year-old Shanghai man, falls short of conventional markers of success in China’s dominant socio-gender norms, he is portrayed as caring, gentle, and deeply attuned to a refined taste for life. The film centres on his relationships with three women: Miss Li, a divorced single mother and career woman whom Mr. B is in love with; Gloria, a wealthy married woman who expresses sexual interest in him; and Beibei, Mr. B’s ex-wife, who cheated on him during their marriage. Sophisticated humour arises through Mr. B’s dialogistic interactions with these women. By positioning a middle-aged man, rather than women, as the primary seeker and recipient of happiness through romantic love, the film makes this gender reversal explicit. We suggest that B for Busy offers a popular cultural portrayal of ‘elastic masculinity’, in which masculine traits are softened, reconfigured, and selectively retained in response to shifting gender dynamics in contemporary Chinese society. Taking a critical feminist lens, we argue that although Mr. B challenges certain masculine norms to an extent, he is ultimately rewarded with happiness as he places his hope in socially sanctioned ideals—namely, heteronormative love and a stable, middle-class life in which dominant patriarchal structures remain intact.

Chinese poetry is rich in cultural landscapes, and the cultural spirit in poetry imbues these landscapes with profound meaning and value. Exploring and integrating the cultural landscape resources in poetry offers a novel approach for the planning and development of national cultural parks (NCPs). In this study, the Yangtze River NCP in Hubei Province is chosen as the case study area, owing to its deep historical heritage in poetic literature and its wealth of poetic works. The temporal–spatial evolution and formation mechanisms of cultural landscapes in poetry (CLP) from the Pre-Qin period to the Republic of China period are examined by using the landscape index, ArcGIS spatial analysis methods, Geodetector, and cultural ecology theory. This study contributes to research on CLP in two key ways: (1) The landscape index is used to evaluate the cultural value of CLP and is subsequently incorporated as a weighting factor in spatial analysis. It enables more precise identification of the spatial patterns of CLP and highlight the most iconic and culturally significant landscapes. This supports the optimization and integration of Chinese poetic cultural resources. (2) Drawing on cultural ecology theory, Geodetector is applied to examine the influencing factors and underlying mechanisms shaping the temporal–spatial evolution of CLP. It offers theoretical insights into the formation mechanisms of spatial distribution in other forms of cultural heritage. Overall, this study broadens the perspective on cultural landscapes in Chinese poetry and provides practical guidance for the planning and construction of the Yangtze River NCP in Hubei Province.

ABSTRACT As an exploratory and critical study examining what seems to have been overlooked regarding the Chalo India diaspora campaign’s roots and characteristics, the article highlights the campaign’s potent formation within the populist nationalist habitus of Hindutva politics. Put it differently, the article casts light on the granularity of the ways in which the populist Hindu nationalist politics has shaped and been embedded in the campaign. It contends that the Chalo India campaign must be understood as an assemblage within the practice of the spatialization of the Hindutva narrative, a practice for which India’s tourism and cultural landscapes have recently become a key site. In doing so, the article contributes to the body of work on right-wing populism by analyzing how regimes employ diaspora, tourism, and heritage collectively to govern and manage the inclusion and exclusion of ‘others’ based on cultural, religious, and ethnic markers as part of their populist political projects. It also contributes to the literature on right-wing heritage policy that remains largely underexplored.

This study analyzes the feasibility of tourism projects from economic, social, and cultural perspectives, based on This article aims to analyze the Salinópolis Lighthouse, located on the northeastern coast of Pará, highlighting its historical trajectory, architectural structure, and cultural and tourist relevance for the municipality of Salinópolis. The study was based on bibliographic and documentary research, complemented by field observation, to understand the lighthouse’s role in the urban, economic, and symbolic dynamics of the region. The findings indicate that, beyond its original function as a navigational aid, the lighthouse has become one of the main identity symbols of the municipality, exerting a strong influence on local tourism and the collective memory of its residents. It is concluded that its preservation is essential not only as a historical heritage but also as a structural element of Pará’s coastal cultural landscape.

This research aims to investigate and analyze data derived from literary, historical, and cultural evidence of Nakhon Sawan Province in various aspects, including its history, origins, ethnicity, and local foundational culture. The study seeks to foster understanding and awareness of the cultural identity about the local cultures based on Nakhon Sawan Province. It employs a qualitative descriptive - analytical approach based on documentary sources and relevant research studies. The research findings reveal that Nakhon Sawan is a city with a long and continuous historical development, dating back to prehistoric settlements and gaining significance since the Sukhothai period. Geographically, Nakhon Sawan is located in the lower northern region of Thailand, characterized by fertile lowlands along the Chao Phraya River, which are highly suitable for settlement and agricultural activities. This advantageous geography has fostered the coexistence of diverse ethnic groups, including Thai, Chinese, Lao, Mon, Muslim, and Vietnamese communities, leading to cultural interaction and exchange within the province’s historical and cultural landscape. The combination of geographical features and ethnic diversity has contributed to Nakhon Sawan’s distinctive cultural plurality. The local cultures based on Nakhon Sawan Province can be categorized into six aspects that shows clearly multicultural identity and local heritage. Therefore, the local cultures based on Nakhon Sawan Province reflects the rich cultural diversity that has been harmoniously shaped along the Chao Phraya River, forming a distinctive multicultural identity that represents the province’s unique cultural charm within Thailand.

Editorial: Voices across borders: navigating linguistic and cultural landscapes for LGBTQ+ migrants in host countries

The spatial distribution patterns and temporal evolution of ancient designed gardens provide critical insights into the interactive dynamics among regional human–environment relationships, institutional structures, and cultural transmission. Taking 420 ancient garden sites on Hainan Island from the Tang to Qing dynasties (618–1911 AD) as the study objects, this research constructs a spatial database based on historical documents and local gazetteers. It further applies kernel density analysis, spatial overlay, and administrative hierarchy normalization to investigate their spatiotemporal distribution patterns and evolution mechanisms. The results reveal that: (1) natural geographical constraints serve as the fundamental boundaries defining the spatial differentiation; (2) transport corridors serve as the structural curve directing the spatial expansion; (3) the administrative hierarchy serves as institutions shaping the distribution of garden types and the spatial stratification; (4) social and cultural factors serve as the endogenous driving force for the continuous evolution of the spatial distribution. The evolution mechanism implies an analytical framework, i.e., “natural geographical constraints, the organization of transportation corridors, the influence of administrative hierarchies, and the dynamics of socio-cultural diffusion”, offering a transferable approach for studying historical cultural landscapes in island and peripheral regions.

Amidst rapid urbanization and modernization, numerous traditional villages in China face severe challenges, including landscape homogenization and the erosion of their distinctive characteristics. Addressing this issue requires a method capable of systematically identifying, analyzing, and reconstructing both the landscape and its underlying cultural features. This study proposes a digital analytical approach that integrates multimodal artificial intelligence with landscape language theory to address the homogenization of cultural landscapes in traditional Chinese villages. Taking Xinye Village in Zhejiang Province as a case study, the research systematically decodes its landscape spatial narratives and underlying cultural genes. This framework systematically deconstructs village landscapes across four levels: “vocabulary, context, grammar, and semantics”. The village image database is first automatically recognized and statistically analyzed by computer vision technology, which extracts 31 core landscape vocabulary items from three main categories and nine subcategories. Second, Retrieval-augmented Generation technology is employed to synthesize from the constructed domain-specific corpus, a natural context structured around Yuhua Mountain and Daofeng Mountain, as well as a cultural context based on ancestral hall order, connected through folk activities, and idealized by farming and reading passed down through generations. Building on this framework, a multimodal model was used to examine the spatial composition and combinatorial laws of landscape features. Six essential dimensions—spatial layout, visual order, element combination, functional relationships, circulation layout, and scale correlations—revealed the spatial grammar of shuikou landscape. Lastly, the semantic values conveyed by the landscape vocabulary were thoroughly analyzed across three dimensions—form, function, and culture—by integrating a knowledge base. This work creates a landscape language atlas of Xinye Village by combining these studies and using a linguistic model of “character-word-sentence-paragraph”. By methodically deciphering the clan’s cultural code of “farming and reading passed down through generations”, this clearly reconstructs the spatial narrative logic from micro-elements to macro-patterns. This research not only advances the study of landscape language in traditional villages from qualitative description toward a systematic, digital, and interpretable paradigm but also provides an operational theoretical and methodological foundation for the in-depth interpretation, conservation, and transmission of traditional village cultural landscapes.