Cultural Memory Research Articles

Is AI heritage tourism interpretations better at deepening your cultural memory?

Is AI heritage tourism interpretations better at deepening your cultural memory?

Construction of digital dissemination effects evaluation indicator system of traditional techniques of intangible cultural heritage

Traditional techniques of intangible cultural heritage, as carriers of community wisdom and cultural memory, are vital manifestations of cultural diversity and identity. This has made their digital preservation and dissemination a prominent topic in current research. However, the analysis and assessment of the digital dissemination effect remain insufficient. Therefore, this study examines the globally acclaimed Shu brocade weaving technique as a case study and conducts a preliminary identification of evaluation indicators through semi-structured interviews with stakeholders. The Delphi and Analytic Hierarchy Process methods were used to determine the evaluation indicator system and its respective weights. The results indicate that digital dissemination effect indicators of traditional techniques are shifting from primarily technology-oriented to focusing on the authenticity and integrity of cultural connotation and skill transmission. This research provides a more reliable, innovative, and systematic evaluation method for the digital dissemination of ICH, thereby promoting the sustainable development of cultural heritage.

Symbolic Construction and Emotional Encoding in the Musical Language of "Forever Ultraman"

As a Chinese commemorative pop song, "Forever Ultraman" carries the symbolic imagery of heroes and the intergenerational memory within the Tokusatsu cultural tradition. Drawing on methods of modern music analysis, this article systematically explores the symbolic construction mechanisms of the piece through lyrical semantics, melodic structure, rhythmic organization, and emotional expression. It reveals how the work encodes collective sentiment and heroic narratives through musical elements, establishing a representative "cultural memory ballad" structure. The study offers insights into both popular culture research and the narrative strategies of music.

Responsible Testimony: The Memory of Fascism in Carlo Lucarelli’s Inspector De Luca Series (1990-2020) Between Complicity and Implication

This article examines the memory of Fascism in Carlo Lucarelli’s Inspector De Luca series (1990–2020), exploring how these popular crime fiction novels address themes of complicity and implication. By tracing the ethical dilemmas and evolving self-awareness of De Luca—a detective navigating Italy’s transition from dictatorship to democracy—the series provides a compelling reflection on the dynamics of complicity and personal involvement in Fascist violence. Through detailed literary analysis, the article demonstrates how Lucarelli’s works resist uncritical or redemptive narratives by foregrounding the protagonist’s shared responsibility for Fascist crimes and his entanglement in structural violence. Drawing on theories of complicity, implication, and perpetrator testimony, it argues that the series performs an act of ‘responsible testimony’, challenging dominant mnemonic frameworks in Italian culture that have historically minimised complicity. The study underscores the value of contemporary literary fiction in reshaping Italian cultural memory by foregrounding complicit voices that compel readers to confront uncomfortable ethical questions about the interplay between individual agency and systemic oppression.

Memories of indenture: An analysis of representations of indentured labour at the Aapravasi Ghat and the 1860 heritage centre

Museums, memorials and interpretation centres increasingly address histories of exploitation and oppression as part of their efforts to commemorate past traumas through memory work. This article examines how the Aapravasi Ghat in Mauritius and the 1860 Heritage Centre in South Africa produce memories of indenture. Indentured labour was a particular form of contract labour that spread African, Chinese, European and Indian populations and others across four continents. This article analyses these sites as opportunities for connective memory through a transnational oceanic framework. The article’s focus is a comparative analysis of the exhibition content at both centres, showing how current exhibitions foreground memory narratives tied to the formation of democratic and postcolonial nation-states and considers the possibilities for viewing new diasporic memory networks across the Indian Ocean. This includes the network of connections due to colonial practices and machinery, a focus on the cultural memories of diasporic networks and the possibilities of contemporary interpretations of historical materials. Taking a transnational oceanic perspective adds a layer to interpreting the possible representations of memories of indenture and how we can imagine these connections differently. This layer of transnational memory of indenture is already evident in other scholarly and artistic instances where indenture is represented. The article proposes that museums should begin to engage with the implications and possibilities for their exhibitions and practice to consider representing memories of indenture differently.

地標、記憶與家國———宋王臺的文學書寫（1911-1960）

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English. 香港九龍地區的宋王臺是南宋末年帝昰、帝昺曾經駐蹕的地方。以前清翰林陳伯陶爲代表的遺民于民國前後避居香港，對宋王臺進行考證、書寫，將其打造成在港遺民懷念故國的象徵性地標。之後的半個多世紀裏，居港文人接受並傳承先人的記憶，圍繞宋王臺進行書寫，體現出鮮明的時代特徵，戰争期間爲拯救民族危亡而發揚民族團結精神，文學成爲凝聚民族團結的力量。戰後發懷古之幽思和動亂之感，文人們對家國的熱愛始終如一。其中，居港遺民關於宋王臺的唱和詩詞體現出群體意識，包括首唱者的領袖意識、群體成員的從服意識、唱和諸人的主動參與意識以及傳播、彰顯本群體的意識。“臺”承載著歷史記憶，詩題“宋王臺”與典故“西臺”的使用均體現出文化傳承。宋王臺承載了幾代人的家國情懷，文人通過對宋王臺的書寫構建起飽含文化記憶和自我經驗的心靈世界。 Sung Wong Toi, located in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong, is where Emperor Shi and Emperor Bing, the last two emperors of Southern Song, escaped for a short time at the end of the dynasty. This historical site has not attracted the world’s attention for hundreds of years. The terrace has long disappeared, leaving only a giant stone with the three characters “Sung Wong Toi” written on it. When the Qing loyalists, represented by former Imperial Academician Chen Botao, emigrated to Hong Kong around 1911, they researched and wrote poetry about Sung Wong Toi, making it a symbolic landmark for the Qing loyalists in Hong Kong to commemorate the former dynasty and their homeland. For more than half a century afterward, literati living in Hong Kong accepted and inherited the memories of the Qing loyalists, wrote poems around Sung Wong Toi, reflecting the characteristics of the times and cultural connotations. During the war, they carried forward the spirit of national unity to save the nation from peril, and after the war, they expressed nostalgia and emotional response to the turmoil. Poems about Sung Wong Toi written by Qing loyalists residing in Hong Kong reflect the group’s collective consciousness, including Chen Botao and Su Jidong’s sense of leadership, the members’ obedience, and their active participation in promoting and disseminating their group. Their use of classical images such as “Yashan,” “Cai Soup Thatched House,” “West Terrace,” “Xi She” and “holly” in their poetry reflects the local characteristics, symbolism and historical heritage of Guangdong. The literati constructed a spiritual world full of cultural memory and individual experience through the writing of Sung Wong Toi. Sung Wong Toi carries the patriotism of several generations.

A Study on the Paradigm of Biographical Films Based on Intermedia Theory

Biographical films, as an intersection of art, society, and media, hold significant value in both historical representation and contemporary cultural narratives. Media transitions shape the evolution of biographical films by influencing their creation processes, modes of dissemination, and patterns of audience engagement. Using analytical and comparative methods, the study examines how shifts in media influence narrative techniques, protagonist selection, and audience reception. Traditional biographical films often focused on elite figures and innate genius, while modern works emphasize personalized and diverse portrayals, reflecting contemporary media trends. In the digital age, biographical films incorporate interactivity and audience participation, evolving into active cultural memory nodes. These findings highlight the genre’s adaptability, its ability to construct immersive storyworlds, and its engagement with fragmented, decentralized audiences. Biographical films balance historical authenticity with intermedia innovation, redefining the relationship between media, history, and cultural production.

Vintana: uma plataforma para publicação de acervos de rádios

AbstractSince its invention, radio has stood out as a means of communicationwith a wide reach, promoting interactivity and influencingopinions. In Brazil, its educational function has always been oneof its central pillars, providing both entertainment and knowledge.However, many of the historical collections of Brazilian educationalradios remain inaccessible to the public due to a lack of proper digitizationand preservation. It is in this context that the Vintanaproject arises, with the aim of making these collections availableand democratizing access to them by creating an intuitive andeasy-to-navigate digital platform. Focused on researchers, students,and those interested in cultural collections, the platform aims topreserve and value the audiovisual heritage of educational radios,promoting broader and more organized access. Vintana stands outfor its proposal to provide an accessible experience, gathering historicalcontent that can be explored efficiently and practically. Witha software engineering structure divided into six stages, the projectensures that the entire development process is carried out with afocus on preserving and disseminating content. In this way, it ishoped that the platform will contribute not only to the preservationof the cultural memory of educational radios but also to the disseminationof knowledge and culture, strengthening the importanceof educational broadcasting in Brazil and ensuring its legacy forfuture generations.

Posthuman Encounters in Heritage Tourism: Digital Mediation and Cultural Memory in Siak Sri Indrapura

This article examines how digitally mediated encounters at heritage tourism sites reconfigure cultural memory, tourist subjectivity, and sustainable development through a posthumanist lens. Focusing on Siak Sri Indrapura in Indonesia, the study draws from key posthuman thinkers including Haraway, Braidotti, Hayles, and Ferrando to analyze how tourists become relational nodes within networks of bodies, machines, and affect. Using critical posthuman cartography and digital ethnography, the research reveals how augmented reality, algorithms, and multisensory environments destabilize traditional notions of authenticity and cultural preservation. The paper argues for an ethical, inclusive, and distributed rethinking of tourism practice in the posthuman era.

BOOK REVIEW: BEYOND HOSTILE LANDS. THE PACIFIC WAR IN AMERICAN AND NEW ZEALAND FICTION WRITING

Daniel McKay’s contribution to comparative literary studies and war literature is more than significant in Beyond Hostile Lands. The Pacific War in American and New Zealand Fiction Writing as it opens up new lines of inquiry that may reconsider the broader implications of the Pacific War in literature outside the scope of Eurocentric or American-centric frameworks. Hence, the author’s comparative approach enriches the reader’s understanding of the literature of countries as disparate as New Zealand and the United States and provides a unique perspective on the legacy of this conflict in our cultural memory. This book might be thought-provoking for those with previous knowledge of the field, especially in the intersections between literature and war. However, it is also an excellent book for graduate and postgraduate students willing to delve into the literary canon of the Pacific War.

Rome’s Religious Diversity: Cultural Memory, Mnemosyne, and Urban Heritage

Rome, historically regarded as a monumental center of Catholic Christendom, now stands as a multi-layered environment shaped by diverse religious communities whose overlapping architectures, rites, and narratives expand the city’s cultural memory. This article employs Warburg’s Mnemosyne methodology to investigate how symbolic motifs, architectural forms, and intangible practices—from Eastern Orthodox iconography to the Great Mosque of Rome’s transnational design—migrate, adapt, and reconfigure within Rome’s urban fabric. Drawing on interdisciplinary approaches from cultural memory studies, religious studies, and urban geography, it reveals how minority communities—Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox Christian, Protestant, Methodist, and Scientology—act as “memory agents”, negotiating visibility and introducing new heritage layers that challenge monolithic perceptions of Rome’s identity. The analysis underscores that intangible heritage, such as chanting, prayer, and interfaith festivals, is equally central to understanding how collective memory is produced and transmitted. Tensions arise when key stakeholders do not validate these emerging cultural forms or question their “authenticity”, reflecting the contested nature of heritage-making. Ultimately, Rome’s religious plurality, shaped by migration and historical transformations, emerges as a dynamic memoryscape. By recognizing the vital role of minority faiths in heritage-making, this study contributes to broader debates on cultural pluralism, super-diversity, and the evolving definitions of religious and cultural heritage in contemporary global cities.

THE SEMANTICS OF THE CONCEPTS OF FRIENDSHIP AND ENMITY IN LITERARY TEXTS (BASED ON ENGLISH AND UZBEK FOLK PROVERBS)

This study explores the semantic and conceptual representations of friendship and enmity as reflected in English and Uzbek folk proverbs and their artistic deployment in literary texts. Grounded in the frameworks of conceptual semantics and metaphor theory, the research examines how these emotionally and culturally charged concepts are constructed, moralized, and transmitted across generations. A comparative analysis of selected proverbs reveals shared universal values—such as loyalty, honesty, and caution—while also highlighting culturally specific metaphors and ethical nuances. English proverbs often emphasize individual psychology and strategic awareness, whereas Uzbek proverbs tend to foreground communal identity, spiritual restraint, and moral integrity. Through textual analysis of works by Shakespeare, Dickens, Kodiriy, and Hoshimov, the study demonstrates how literary authors embed proverbial wisdom to deepen narrative meaning and illuminate character dynamics. The findings underscore the role of proverbs not only as semantic units but also as literary tools that convey cultural memory, social values, and ethical frameworks. This research contributes to cross-cultural paremiology, cognitive linguistics, and the study of literature as a vessel for collective human understanding. Keywords: Friendship, Enmity, Proverbs, Semantics, Metaphor, English Literature, Uzbek Literature, Cognitive Linguistics, Cultural Values, Paremiology.

Architectural and astronomical heritage of Iran: a study of Chogha Zanbil and Radkan Tower

Abstract This study examines the architectural and astronomical significance of Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat and Radkan Tower, emphasizing their cultural, scientific, and engineering contributions. Built in distinct historical periods, these monuments demonstrate the evolution of ancient Iranian timekeeping and astronomical practices, transitioning from shadow-based solar observations to advanced solar tracking techniques. Chogha Zanbil (circa 1250 BC) functioned as both a ceremonial center and a rudimentary solar observatory, while Radkan Tower (660 AH/1262AD), attributed to Khwaja Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, was designed as a precise calendrical tool, aligned with cardinal directions and the Vernal Equinox. Using descriptive, interpretive, and comparative analyses, this study explores how celestial knowledge was embedded within architectural heritage, reinforcing these monuments' relevance in sustainable heritage conservation and cultural memory. The comparative analysis situates Chogha Zanbil and Radkan Tower within a broader scientific and architectural discourse, illustrating their contributions to global astronomical knowledge and engineering advancements. Additionally, this research aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, advocating for the preservation of historic observatories as vital components of cultural and scientific heritage.

Delta

Ode to the Bengal delta and to its poet, Rabindranath Tagore This poetic reflection honors the Bengal Delta and the enduring spirit of Rabindranath Tagore, weaving imagery of tide, silt, and song to evoke a landscape shaped by both nature and cultural memory. Through shifting voices and fluid metaphors, this definition of Delta explores themes of liminality, ecological identity, and the tension between presence and erosion. It is an ode to a place where poetry is inseparable from geography, and where the act of dwelling becomes both ephemeral and eternal.

CONSTITUTION AND CULTURE:

This study analyzes the challenges of food security in the Xokó indigenous community, located on the island of São Pedro and Caiçara, in Porto da Folha (SE), from the perspective of the Brazilian legal system. In general, the difficulties faced are related to dependence on processed foods, low self-sustainability and loss of traditional eating practices, issues that result in negative impacts on the health of the community and the preservation of its cultural memory. The central hypothesis is that “legal mechanisms, when applied effectively, can be powerful instruments for preserving memory and food sovereignty in the Xokó community”. The method used is qualitative, with an interdisciplinary focus, encompassing law, anthropology and public policies. The final considerations demonstrate how the application of legal tools, such as the Organic Law on Food and Nutrition Security (LOSAN), can strengthen food security, preserve cultural practices and promote food autonomy in the Xokó community.

Deep cognition of the metaphorical symbolism of crockery (cups, glasses, vases)

The article is devoted to the deep cognition of the metaphorical symbolism of crockery (cups, glasses, vases, etc.) in a psychosemiotic, cultural, and artistic context. The purpose of the research is to determine and analyze the symbolic meaning of these objects across different traditions, their role in shaping the collective unconscious, and their influence on psychological, literary, and artistic interpretations. The research also aims to explore how these symbols contribute to the construction of meaning in cultural narratives and human perception. The research methods include semantic analysis, a structural-semiotic approach, comparative analysis of cultural texts, and psychoanalytic interpretation of archetypes. Additionally, an interdisciplinary approach has been applied, incorporating elements of cultural studies, art criticism, and psychology to provide a comprehensive understanding of the metaphorical nature of crockery. The results obtained indicate that a cup, a glass, and a vase function as universal symbols of filling, emptiness, spiritual transformation, interaction, and harmony. These objects are deeply embedded in cultural memory and artistic thinking, often carrying associations with hospitality, sacrifice, containment, and emotional states. Their metaphorical nature is widely used not only in literature and visual arts but also in psychology, particularly in art therapy, psychodiagnostics, and psychocorrection. The study demonstrates that the symbolic representation of crockery reflects fundamental human experiences and can be a valuable tool for exploring unconscious processes and identity formation. The findings of this research can be applied in cultural studies, art history, psychology, literature, and therapy, offering new insights into the ways metaphorical symbolism shapes human perception and communication.

Postmemory and documentary aesthetics in the digital age: Two Doors (2012) and Kim-Gun (2018)

This article delves into the exploration of two recent South Korean independent documentary films focused on historical trauma and their aesthetics, raising important questions about the cultural logic of memory-making in the digital era. Documentaries, as truth-claims, play a significant role in shaping postmemory for both current and future generations. Furthermore, it is crucial to understand memory-making in the age of algorithms that promote the production of post-truth, which, although not a new phenomenon, has been intensified by the prevalence of digital technologies. Contemporary post-truth seeks objectivity through data science while leveraging negative emotions such as anger and hatred. Through an analysis of the South Korean documentaries, Two Doors and Kim-Gun , this article argues that documentary, as a form of postmemory, disrupt post-truths about historical narratives in a digital society, extending beyond merely working through trauma. By expressing their digital mediation, these films also expose how documentaries create a space for critically examining prevailing post-truths within digital culture. Post-memory-making does not promise an absolute truth. Instead, it highlights the interplay between digital technologies and memory, encouraging us to question competing narratives and engage in memory activism. Thus, this case study underscores the role of documentary filmmaking as a form of post-memory-making, addressing the complexities of truth and the data-driven culture of memory in today’s digital landscape.

The Phenomenon of Ostalgie in Czech and German Television Series

Ostalgia – a nostalgic longing for aspects of life in former socialist regimes – permeates various domains of social and cultural life, including fashion, consumer goods, music, and popular media. This study explores ostalgia on the cultural level, focusing in particular on contemporary television series. The theoretical framework draws on concepts of collective memory and the culture of remembrance, with special attention to the material dimension of memory. Ostalgic narratives frequently foreground everyday objects, evoking a sense of temporal dislocation wherein the past can only be accessed through selective remembrance. This phenomenon is discussed in relation to the notion of the 'memory of things', as formulated by Jan Assmann and further developed by Arjun Appadurai. Material artefacts from the socialist era serve as vessels of memory, enabling individuals to retrieve personal and collective pasts. The analysis centres on two Czech series – Vyprávěj (Tell Me About It) and Svět pod hlavou (World Under the Head) – and two German productions – Ku'damm (Kurfürstendamm) and Deutschland 83 (Germany 83) – offering a comparative perspective on how ostalgia is represented and mediated through televised storytelling in post-socialist contexts.

The Phenomenon of Ostalgie in Czech and German Television Series

Ostalgia – a nostalgic longing for aspects of life in former socialist regimes – permeates various domains of social and cultural life, including fashion, consumer goods, music, and popular media. This study explores ostalgia on the cultural level, focusing in particular on contemporary television series. The theoretical framework draws on concepts of collective memory and the culture of remembrance, with special attention to the material dimension of memory. Ostalgic narratives frequently foreground everyday objects, evoking a sense of temporal dislocation wherein the past can only be accessed through selective remembrance. This phenomenon is discussed in relation to the notion of the 'memory of things', as formulated by Jan Assmann and further developed by Arjun Appadurai. Material artefacts from the socialist era serve as vessels of memory, enabling individuals to retrieve personal and collective pasts. The analysis centres on two Czech series – Vyprávěj (Tell Me About It) and Svět pod hlavou (World Under the Head) – and two German productions – Ku'damm (Kurfürstendamm) and Deutschland 83 (Germany 83) – offering a comparative perspective on how ostalgia is represented and mediated through televised storytelling in post-socialist contexts.

Political and cultural memory in urban space: Public naming practices in Northern Cyprus

Political and cultural memory in urban space: Public naming practices in Northern Cyprus