Cultural Perspective Research Articles

Behind–the–scenes: Aspects of a film reception. The case of The Independence of Romania (Aristide Demetriade, Grigore Brezeanu, 1912) and The Rest is Silence (Nae Caranfil, 2007)

The foreign reader and viewer can find nothing better -or faster, given the exigencies of modern life- than the film as an introduction to the character, history, identity of a nation. With the awards garnered by directors like Cristian Mungiu and Nae Caranfil, new interest has been focused on Romania’s film, community, and history. That is why, an investigation regarding the Romanian early cinema would be necessary in the field of improving education from abroad. The purpose of this paper is to analyze a number of aspects, such as the importance of incorporating a course on cinema in foreign language teaching, one of the major goals being the opportunity to educate the students in the field of movies and thus offering them distinct cultural perspectives. However, this article does not plea for the need of a pedagogy of media studies in higher education, given the complexity of the topic. It rather aims to focus on the history of two Romanian movies: The Independence of Romania (1912) and The Rest is Silence (2007) and highlight the reasons why an urban icon of the city of Tampere is called “Plevna”. This paper sets out to analyze the two mentioned Romanian films who proved to be interesting for Finnish students since they depict an episode of our common history, the 1877 War of Independence (The Russo-Turkish War). At the same time, the paper aims to familiarize them with the allure of the event when Romanian and Finnish soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder on the same front, at Plevna. The Romanian film, The Independence of Romania shot in 1911-1912, was the first feature film to be kept almost entirely in the Romanian National Film Archive; the other one, The Rest Is Silence directed by Nae Caranfil (and representing Romania’s first entry into the 2009 Oscars) and inspired by The Independence of Romania wanted to show the real story of our first full-length filmmaking. Therefore, this latter film contains like a palimpsest an older mute movie, discovered in Romanian Movie Archive. The current article draws upon the insights provided by the Finnish students after watching the two films and summarizes their conclusions. In other words, these lines provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what they learned and discovered. The films were met with positive reviews, and we tried to follow the students’ spontaneous reactions and emotions. An important part of our work was to put in perspective the two inspiring patriotic marches which are commemorating the departure of the Romanian and Finnish soldiers at Plevna in the Balkan’s theater of War: Drum bun! (farewell song composed by Ştefan Nosievich to the lyrics of Romanian patriot Vasile Alecsandri) and Kauan on Kärsitty / Long have suffered, a well-known patriotic song of the Finnish Guard (Suomen kaarti). This article tangentially discusses the role of perception in educational activity, which is presented under two correlated aspects, namely: the activity carried out in this sense by the teacher and by the students and the role of cinema in creating cultural memory from a general perspective, in a way that transforms the manner we think of film and its social importance. This article starts from a very particular point of view, as we discovered by pure chance the name of Plevna building in Tampere, and goes to a more general aspect, which is the battle of Plevna, one of the most important episodes from Romania’s modern history.

The Impact of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation on the World: Taking the Belt and Road Initiative as an Example

As China emerges in global affairs, the rise of China and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation have become one of the focal points on the international stage today. This paper takes the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as an example and deeply explores the impact of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the international community. The theory of the Thucydides Trap and the international attention sparked by China's rise are focused, and a combination of strategic research and literature review is employed to systematically analyze the initiative's performance from both strategic and cultural perspectives. The study finds that the BRI reflects China's multiple roles as a global economic participant and an advocate for international cooperation; meanwhile, it also triggers potential challenges of geopolitical competition and the Thucydides Trap. The conclusion emphasizes a profound understanding of the positive impact of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the world, providing wise references for the cooperation and stability of the international community. This research provides an in-depth and comprehensive perspective on the evolution of China's role in global perception.

Thinking outside of the (Western) Box: Cultural Psychology Perspectives on Creativity in Education

ABSTRACTThis paper expands upon the invitation to rethink how psychology has constructed knowledge, theories, and research while analyzing the epistemological foundations of educational practices in schools, especially those aimed at promoting creativity. Our goal is to critically explore the shortcomings of the traditional, Westernized individualistic, and mostly positivistic approach usually found in school contexts. To foster creativity, a more dialogical, socio‐cultural, and collaborative framework is suggested, involving multiple perspectives and possibility thinking to address current educational challenges. Through an examination of education and creativity, we analyze educational practices in Westernized societies and explore the possibilities that arise from non‐Western perspectives and dialogical approaches. The discussion is guided by the following questions: what kind of educational practices have been bolstered in Westernized societies? How do these relate to educating (with and for) creativity? A case study is included to provide concrete illustrations that substantiate our arguments. Incorporating decolonial frameworks into cultural and socio‐cultural perspectives, as well as in creativity research, would enrich the understanding of these fields. Decolonial approaches can offer valuable insights by addressing power relations inherent in knowledge construction and practice. Embracing these approaches enables these fields to contribute to a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of human phenomena.

Building a narcissism-based framework of picnics: An eastern culture perspective

Through the lens of narcissism theory, this study investigates and analyzes the recent trend of picnics in China with the following primary research objectives: (1) What are the patterns, attitudes, and motivations for picnics in China? (2) How the picnic experience shapes picnickers' attitudes and behaviors based on narcissism theory. A mixed-methods approach was conducted for this study, with 17 respondents participating in in-depth semi-structured interviews and 383 questionnaire respondents invited to participate. A theoretical framework was developed based on the findings of the qualitative phase and related literature. Subsequent quantitative results further verified that self-expression, self-presentation, and conspicuousness are three key narcissism-based motives for the picnic experience. Additionally, curiosity plays a moderating role that influences how self-expression, self-presentation, and conspicuousness drive perceived flow during picnics. The major contribution of this study is the construction of a theoretical framework that understands picnicking motives and processes as an overlooked tourism domain. Management implicationsThis study explored the picnic phenomenon in China and examined its implications from a management perspective. It was identified that picnicking in the Chinese context differs significantly from the western perspective. In Eastern cultures, picnics are conspicuous activities and lifestyles where the presentation of decorations and delicacies takes precedence over the picnic food itself. Therefore, destinations and stakeholders catering to Chinese picnickers should emphasize how they can assist picnickers in showcasing their uniqueness and self-presentation. This distinction has crucial management implications, highlighting the need to focus on the aesthetic and social aspects of picnicking to cater effectively to Chinese picnickers.

Examining the Influence of Gratitude on Sleep Quality Among Young Adult Population: A Scientific Exploration

The study investigates the intricate relationship between gratitude and sleep quality within the young adult population, delving into the realms of positive psychology, diverse cultural perspectives, and the physiological underpinnings of these phenomena. The study also uncovers the cross-cultural relevance of gratitude in influencing sleep quality among young adults. The methodology employed encompasses a mixed-methods approach, incorporating quantitative surveys to measure gratitude levels and sleep quality. The sample comprises a diverse group of young adults, ensuring the study's applicability across various demographic backgrounds. The results demonstrate the cross-cultural significance of gratitude in promoting well-being by showing a strong positive connection between gratitude and sleep quality. These results underscore the importance of fostering gratitude as a means to enhance sleep quality among young adults, irrespective of cultural backgrounds.

The discourse of ‘falling standards’ of English in Hong Kong

AbstractThe phenomenon of the ‘complaint tradition’, expressing the belief that language standards are deteriorating in some way, has had a long and vibrant existence in discussions of English in Hong Kong. The contribution of a Cultural Linguistics perspective here highlights the nature and significance of the cultural conceptualisations of language, for example, those that are revealed by the use of metaphor. The article begins with an overview of the discourse in Hong Kong, based on a corpus of media articles. The discourse structure and content of the articles, including their metaphorical aspects, are then analysed in more detail. To help understand the persistence of the discourse I draw on the insight that metaphors constitute ‘mini‐narratives’ which construct identities and identity boundaries. The discussion considers how the prevailing conceptualisations of English—some general, and others more culturally specific—serve to reproduce dominant, standardising views and inhibit the acceptance of local variation.

Structural and Cultural Othering: An Organizational Culture Perspective on Young People’s Participation in Decision-making in Sport Organizations

The purpose of this article is to examine the role played by organizational culture in young people’s continuing underrepresentation in decision-making bodies, despite structural changes, in the context of Norwegian sport organizations. Data is based on a questionnaire centred on the experiences of young people in sport governance ( n = 32 youth representatives) and semi-structured interviews with young (under 26 years) and older representatives of organizations affiliated with the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederations of Sports ( n = 10). Findings show that Norwegian sport organizations foster a cultural understanding of young people which takes its structural expression in the separation of elements that are ‘othering’ the youth. Youth have also limited access to resources of power as a result of a lack of trust in older leaders. Prevailing culture mirrors an adult society in which young people need to upgrade their level of professionalism through education before they are invited to decision-making processes.

A Systematic Review on the Reinforcement Loop in Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery: The Interplay of Social Media, Self-Perception, and Repeat Procedures.

This systematic review delves into the impact of social media on self-perception and the escalating interest in clinical aesthetic procedures, proposing that social media significantly influences beauty standards and increases demand for aesthetic enhancements. Following PRISMA guidelines, a mixed-method analysis of 34 articles was conducted, sourced from various databases, focusing on social media's psychological effects on clinical aesthetics decisions. The studies encompassed a broad spectrum, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodologies, reflecting diverse geographical and cultural perspectives. The quantitative analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between social media usage and the consideration of aesthetic procedures (r=0.45, p<0.001), indicating a significant impact. Specific findings included a large effect size (Cohen's d=0.8) for the relationship between time spent on social media and the desire for aesthetic enhancements. Individuals spending more than 3 hours per day on social media platforms were twice as likely to consider aesthetic procedures compared to those with less usage, with a 95% confidence interval indicating robustness in these findings. Confirming the reinforcing effect of social media on aesthetic decision-making, this study highlights the complex interplay between digital media exposure, altered self-perception, and the increased inclination towards aesthetic procedures. It suggests a critical need for practitioners to carefully navigate the digital influence on patient's desires, reinforcing the significance of understanding psychological motivations and societal pressures in clinical aesthetics. This comprehensive analysis offers pivotal insights for clinical practice and ongoing research into social media's role in contemporary beauty standards. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Confucianism culture and green innovation: Evidence from Chinese industrial firms

AbstractThis study contributes to the existing literature on green innovation by examining the impact of Confucianism culture on green innovation. Drawing on a culture perspective, we argue that Confucianism culture is significantly positively associated with green innovation. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms in the industrial sector from 2007 to 2019, we provide strong evidence to show that corporate green innovation projects are significantly more prevalent for firms surrounded by a strong Confucianism atmosphere compared to those in a weak Confucianism atmosphere. Additionally, we investigate the mediating roles of CEO myopia and employee‐related CSR, revealing that Confucianism culture, through both CEO myopia and employee‐related CSR mechanisms, influences green innovation. Our study contributes to the extant literature by shedding light into the black box of the positive role of Confucianism in green behavior.

Cultural Tourism Prospects of Bhaleswor Mahadev of Chandragiri Area, Kathmandu

This paper makes an attempt to examine prospects of cultural tourism of Bhaleswor Mahadev in Chandragiri area of Kathmandu by applying cultural heritage studies perspectives. It is a cultural study of completely qualitative nature. Throughout the world, the tourism industry has been an economic generator including conserving the heritage sites. The study area is Chandragiri municipality - 4 and the major historical and religious sites in the foothill of Mahabharat hill range of Chandragiri. Bhaleswor Mahadev temple is situated on the top of the Chandragiri hill in the southwest of Kathmandu valley in 13 km. The shape of the hill looks like a Bhale (rooster) and Nilkantha Mahadev stayed in this hill for some time and at that time heard the sound of rooster so this Mahadev is called Bhaleswor Mahadev. Due to this temple, pilgrims and tourists are increasing day by day to go to Chandragiri hill through cable car. Bhaleswor Mahadev temple and Chandragiri cable car add more benefit in promotion of cultural tourism of Chandragiri area. One can easily go to worship Bhaleswor Mahadev through cable car within twelve minutes. One can observe spectacular view of the Himalayan range of Annapurna range, Langtang range, Everest and other mountains like Cho Oyu, Gaurisankhar etc from the top of the hill. Chandragiri cable car is the second commercial cable car of Nepal. Chandragiri area is very important from historical, cultural and archaeological point of view. The other major historical and religious sites of Chandragiri area in the foothill of Mahabharat hill range are Mahalaxmi Temple, Chandanvarateswor Mahadev, Matatirtha and Machchhe Narayan. These sites give more importance in the development of cultural tourism of Chandragiri area. Despite these studies, there is still hardly found scholarship of cultural tourism prospects of Bhaleswor Mahadev in Chandragiri area, Kathmandu. Therefore, this paper aims to address the gap of cultural tourism of Chandragiri area.

The Narrative Strategy of Health Qigong as a Health Media

The issue of elderly care resulting from the aging population in East Asia has garnered significant attention, with a growing emphasis on disease prevention over treatment. The integration of health Qigong with traditional Chinese medicine and exercise offers long-term benefits for the physical form and function of middle-aged and elderly individuals. Due to its distinctive philosophy and aesthetic characteristics, health Qigong has gained prominence both domestically and internationally, serving as a medium for promoting health communication and enhancing population health levels. In an aging society, incorporating culture into the communication process of health Qigong along with narrative content is an effective approach to foster health communication. By integrating aesthetic principles into research, this study analyzes three dimensions: 1) physical health; 2) cultural aspects; 3) kung fu philosophy. Consequently, it proposes an aesthetic narrative strategy for health communication that encompasses embracing one's age, appreciating cultural perspectives, and valuing simplicity.

Editorial: Multidisciplinary approach in health: new strategies from the perspective of education, management, culture and gender

Editorial: Multidisciplinary approach in health: new strategies from the perspective of education, management, culture and gender

Contraception: Exploring social, cultural and medical perspectives

Contraception: Exploring social, cultural and medical perspectives

‘Refuse Dump, Hurry Up!’: A Cognitive Onomastic and Cultural Metaphor Perspective of Nzema Death-Prevention Names

‘Refuse Dump, Hurry Up!’: A Cognitive Onomastic and Cultural Metaphor Perspective of Nzema Death-Prevention Names

An Exploration of Realism in Death Narratives in Contemporary Chinese and Korean New Youth Films from a Global Cultural Perspective

With the advent of economic globalization leading to cultural globalization, countries are integrating and innovating their indigenous cultures while absorbing and borrowing from the film cultures of other nations. Chinese and Korean New Youth Films employ a multi-genre narrative mode combining "youth" with realism. This paper conducts a comparative study of Chinese new youth film Better Days and the Korean new youth film Next Sohee, exploring the influence of global cultural perspectives on Chinese and Korean New Youth Films from the perspective of death narratives, the realistic application of death narratives in Chinese and Korean New Youth Films, as well as the differentiated narrative strategies of Chinese and Korean New Youth Films. This study further extends to the real significance and value of death imagery in youth films.

Defining well-being for the inhabitants of Mexico City

Studied worldwide, well-being is an important principle for the modern societies and needs to reflect the local cultures of the targeted populations. Semantic networks and graph theory address this issue: a definition of well-being comes directly from a sample of the targeted population. The stage one (N = 201, 52% female and 48% male, volunteers—informed consent provided—, 20 years and older, mean = 39.97 years, S.D. = 13.56 years) semantic networks defined well-being. In stage two the networks were the foundation to construct two scales which were validated (sample N = 427, 55% female and 45% male, volunteers—informed consent provided— 20 years and older, mean = 37.75 years, S.D. = 12.54 years). Analyzed with graph theory, well-being resulted in a social complex system (non-linearity, small world phenomenon, emergency), and showed the main elements to define well-being (affect and cognitive components). Its subgraphs were arranged into three main domains with subdomains: health (physical and psychological), relationships (family, friends, community) and resources (personal, material, time). The scale of satisfaction with well-being (α = .912) and the scale of experiences of well-being (α = .969) showed a good fit and obtained adequate values. Semantic networks proved to be a good resource to help in the construction of a questionnaire to study well-being with a cultural perspective.

Exploring Community Perceptions on Underreporting of Suicide in Indian Rural settings from Psychosocial and Cultural Perspective

BackgroundThe Indian rural population is recognised as one of the vulnerable segments of the society in terms of reporting suicide. Inconsistencies in the reporting of suicide impede the real suicide case, that in turn hinders efforts to prevent suicide. There are differences in suicide motives in rural areas due to the clear cultural and social borders, that could affect reporting. Very few studies have examined these psychological and sociocultural variables in rural context. Thus, the main goal of the current investigation is to comprehend these aspects and recommend strategies accordingly. MethodThe present study employed in-depth interviewing using focus group discussions on a sample of 93 participants. Through purposive sampling 12 areas were shortlisted from four districts from Bihar State, India. Only those areas were selected, where suicide had occurred in the last one year. All the twelve discussions were finally transcribed and using the thematic analysis approach qualitative data were analysed. ResultsThree themes appeared followed by their subthemes. First theme was apprehensions and fears and the subtheme emerged were society's reaction towards suicide and legal procedure. Second theme was religious belief related to suicide and the subthemes were, soul wandering, unfulfilled desire of the soul, and life after death. Third theme was females were more underreported and subtheme emerged i.e., protecting the honour of the family, and laws related to women social issues. ConclusionFindings of this study suggest that psychosocial and cultural factors serve as barrier in reporting and hinders suicide prevention process. This finding indicates that formulating multisectoral approach in reducing community attitude and stigma of rural population towards suicide.

STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AS A STRATEGY TO LEARN ABOUT CULTURES

This study explored EFL students’ perceptions of merging the project-based learning strategy (PjBL) and the three-part cultural framework (products, practices, and perspectives = the 3Ps) to learn about cultures. Shortly after having been exposed to twenty-four-week lessons on their home and English-speaking cultures using the PjBL strategy and the 3Ps framework, thirty-four research participants completed questionnaires and were interviewed. Data analysis indicated that the participants held highly favorable opinions in regard to combining PjBL and the 3Ps as an effective strategy for culture learning in EFL classrooms. Students acknowledged that they gained a deeper understanding of American, British, and their home cultures, specifically in relation to the five thematic units they explored systematically. Despite challenges militating against its implementation, the amalgamation of PjBL and the 3Ps framework was reported to have offered multiple learning opportunities to autonomously bolster the research participants’ knowledge of cultural practices, products, and perspectives.

Critique and expansion of conceptions of control

AbstractNeil Fligstein's Conceptions of control have multiple theoretical origins in the institutional, political, and cultural perspectives of the new economic sociology. However, conceptions of control as a key concept of market structure have not systematically been formulated in Fligstein's works, remaining insightfully but relatively fragmentally. This paper summarizes the normative, power, and cognitive dimensions of conceptions of control, respectively corresponding to market agreement, dominant relationship and common understanding. On this basis, this paper provides a clear definition of conceptions of control. Additionally, this paper summarizes the formation of the conceptions of control and its change, distinguishes the differences between conceptions of control and other related concepts, and presents the evolution of the concept that has taken place in subsequent studies, as well as the criticisms to which it has been subjected. This paper suggests that this concept needs to be expanded in terms of the connotation of market actors, the role of government, and the forms of existence. Conceptions of control provide a concise conceptual tool for analyzing market transformation. We believe that the market changes triggered by the new business formats in the digital economy era will be more frequent, and conception of control will have a broader application prospect.

Service quality assessment in a Greek teacher training program: a cultural perspective

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relationship between prospective teachers’ cultural profiles and service quality expectations in a pedagogical training program in Greece. Design/methodology/approach Using the EppekQual scale and an alternative Hofstede’s cultural scale, 113 prospective teachers in a Greek training program were surveyed. The study uses descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple regression, validating measurements through confirmatory factor analysis. Findings Prospective teachers exhibit a low-power orientation and a preference for feminine values. Rejecting hierarchy correlates with quality expectations, especially in the curriculum dimension, emphasizing student-centric education. A positive correlation with acceptance/avoidance of uncertainty is observed, notably in learning outcomes and administrative services. The cultural aversion to ambiguity shapes individuals’ prioritization of all quality dimensions. A realistic long-term perspective correlates positively with expectations in learning outcomes, aligning with Greek culture’s emphasis on security. Contrary to expectations, a predilection for feminine values positively impacts service quality expectations, particularly in curriculum, learning outcomes and academic staff dimensions. The hypothesis related to individualism/collectivism is not substantiated, indicating a negative association with the curriculum dimension. Practical implications Tailoring program designs to embrace student-centric and collaborative learning environments is recommended. Acknowledging cultural aversions to uncertainty, program flexibility and clarity are essential. Integrating career planning and mentorship aligns with realistic long-term perspectives. The need for a balanced approach to personal and intellectual development is also suggested. Originality/value This study uncovers specific cultural dimensions that shape quality expectations within a Greek teacher training context.