Historical Dimensions Research Articles

The Enigma of Ownership of the Balkan Epic

The Balkans, characterized by complex historical, political and cultural dimensions, presents a rich and diverse ethnic, cultural and social picture. This complexity is explored in Adela Peeva's documentary Who Is This Song?, which investigates the contested origins of a folk song claimed by many Balkan nations. The documentary is a truth about the cultural diversity in the Balkans and the difficulty to identify the belonging of almost every cultural product that belongs to the folklore of these parts. This study focuses on Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian, and Macedonian folklore, using phenomenological and comparative methods to uncover common motifs, themes, and narrative structures, as well as differences. The study highlights the rich cultural heritage of the region shaped by various historical influences and contributes to a deeper understanding of the cultural identity of the Balkans. From this research it is concluded that the peoples living in this geographical space have exchanged among themselves over the centuries, so that in modern times, the folklore contents that we have analyzed are so close in terms of theme, motif and narrative structure that if they are not shown in the different language it would be difficult to understand that they belong to some nations. Received: 14 September 2024 / Accepted: 28 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

Culture and Social Movements: The Example of South Africa in the Post-Apartheid Period

This paper explores the intricate relationship between culture and social movements in post-apartheid South Africa through a critical phenomenological approach. This method focuses on the lived experiences and societal impacts of these movements, revealing how cultural symbols, narratives, religious frameworks, sports, media, and identity have shaped and sustained the struggles for justice and equality. The analysis begins by defining social movements and culture, emphasizing their interplay within the South African context. Using a phenomenological approach developed by Husserl and expanded by Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre, this study undertakes steps such as phenomenological reduction, description, essence identification, and structural analysis. These steps are further enriched by combining critical theory with phenomenology, highlighting social, historical, and political dimensions. This approach allows for an in-depth understanding of how culture, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and moral components, influences the formation, strategies, and sustainability of social movements. Key findings illustrate that cultural elements have served as sources of resistance, empowerment, and solidarity, playing an essential role in shaping collective identities and actions. Ultimately, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic interplay between culture and social movements in South Africa, underscoring the importance of cultural resources in driving social change.

Ontological and Axiological Foundations of the Meaning of Human Life in Nicolai Hartmann's Philosophy

The subject of this article is Nicolai Hartmann's conception of the ontological and axiological foundations of the meaning of human life. Referring to both Hartmann's major and minor, I analyze his conception of human meaning in the dimension of individual life and in the historical dimension. I begin my discussion with a brief overview of Hartmann's relation to the earlier metaphysics of meaning. Then, I focus on identifying the ontological foundations of meaning. In this section, I specifically present Hartmann’s understanding of the laws of real being, his critique of ontological monism, and, of particular importance, his critique of teleological monism. I also reconstruct the most important elements of Hartmann’s conception of man as a spiritual being, comprising the personal spirit of the objective spirit and the objectified spirit. Another point of consideration is the question of the axiological basis of meaning. For Hartmann, humans construct their specific position in the world by introducing axiological criteria and axiological points of view into the real world. As Hartmann argues, man is the intermediary between ideal values and the real world. The final point of consideration is the problem of historical meaning.

The Framework of Modeling Buddhist Head in 3D with Semantic Information

Abstract. Buddhist statues hold profound spiritual and cultural significance, yet their comprehensive analysis and identification remain largely reliant on manual annotation and expert scrutiny. Despite advancements in 3D modeling, the nuanced representation of these statues, essential for automated analysis, remains elusive. Integrating semantic information such as symbolic and cultural elements poses a further challenge. There currently exists no standardized method for modeling Buddhist heads in 3D with semantic information. This paper proposes a framework for the component-based analysis of Buddhist statues, particularly focusing on their heads, to bridge this gap. Drawing from diverse disciplines including archaeology, art history, and conservation, the framework leverages advancements in 3D reconstruction to provide a detailed depiction of intricate features. Building upon existing research outcomes, the framework facilitates the seamless integration of semantic information, capturing not only the physical attributes but also the cultural, historical, and spiritual dimensions of these sculptures. This approach aids in overcoming challenges in automated analysis and virtual restoration, providing a dynamic tool for exploration, preservation, and interpretation of cultural heritage. By enabling interdisciplinary synergy, the framework emerges as a dynamic tool for exploring, preserving, and interpreting the profound heritage of Buddhist art with unprecedented depth and clarity.

A Brief Inquiry into the History of Everyday Aesthetic Ideas. Care of the Home in the Thought of Socrates and Xenophon

Emerged as a new philosophical trend, Everyday Aesthetics shifts focus from Arts to daily practices and objects. However, its historical dimension remains relatively unexplored. Adopting a historical approach inspired by Tatarkiewicz, this paper addresses this gap by examining the notions of home care in the thoughts of Greek philosophers Socrates and Xenophon. Analyzing Xenophon’s works reveals how ancient concepts of order and beauty apply to daily life, enriching contemporary Everyday Aesthetics discussions on cleanliness and domestic care.

The Haunted Theatre: Mark Ravenhill’s The Haunting of Susan A

Different art forms such as music, light, sound, digital art, dance, painting, sculpture, ritual, and film can be part of the theatre. Through these components, theatre might be used to stage human existence, behaviours, places, historical dimensions, cultural history, emotions, passions, fears, and various narratives and experiences in the social dimension. Mark Ravenhill, focusing on the history of the King’s Head pub, famous people’s stories over ale, and the possibilities of what once could have happened in the room where the audiences are gathered, represents cultural history, passions, and fears and portrays a ghost story using light and sound techniques and various narratives related to the King’s Head Theatre in London. Ravenhill portrays a distinctive ghost and haunted story in his newest play, The Haunting of Susan A (2022). The ghost takes place in the world of Susan, and a private trauma is witnessed when Susan mentions the ghost or feels the ghost during the performance. This paper seeks to study the impact of Ravenhill’s play, which centres on the theatre’s past and, using Suzanne Ahmet’s ghost story, tries to activate audiences’ memories and fear and observe uncanny feelings in audiences. This study will explore the performance at King’s Head and the history of the pub, along with the theoretical approach of hauntology, envisaging which celebrities stopped by for an ale in the King’s Head history and Susan’s story (Suzanne Ahmet), an actress before, a real story (Susan insists) in The Haunting of Susan A.

Government-Business Relations in Policymaking During the New Order Indonesia

Government–business relations have been central to general discussions on policymaking in democratic states. This study analyzes government–business relations in policymaking during economic booms and crises in New Order Indonesia (March 1966–May 1998). The analysis is based on pluralist, state autonomy, and capacity theories, and critical discourse analysis is applied to textual sources to reveal the historical dimensions of policymaking during the economic booms and downturns under the New Order Indonesia. The findings show that policymaking during these periods was characterized by complex, dialectical, and dynamic relations between the government and businesses.

Decentring the West? Civilizational solidarity and (de)colonization in theories of the Russia-Ukraine War

ABSTRACT Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a growing literature promoting the Ukrainian national cause, framed in decolonial terms, has influenced public discourse about the Russia-Ukraine War in the West. Filtered through the activist interpretation of cultural epistemologies, with their emphasis on the centring and decentring of knowledges, the war has been imagined primarily as a colonial emanation of a Russian narrative. We argue that the heavily moralized notion of epistemological and mental decolonization has impeded critical investigation into the degree of responsibility for, and the NATO powers’ involvement in, the Russia-Ukraine War. In order to attain a rigorous analysis of all actors’ motives and rationalities, we argue for the need to understand the conflict's structural and historical dimensions, and thus to draw from the classical, structural approaches to analysing imperial power that predate the cultural turn.

Towards more culturally aware teaching of ‘scientific practices’: Understanding science as a social-historical human endeavour

‘Scientific practices’ are included as a core element in Norway’s new science curriculum as of 2020. In dialogue with international research on the teaching and learning of scientific practices, Haug et al. (2021) have identified and operationalised eight central scientific practices to support a shared understanding within science education. We are responding to Haug et al.'s invitation to contribute to the discussion about how we can understand and work with practices as they are described in the science curriculum in Norway. We supplement their approach, by enriching the eight practices identified by: (a) recognising the social and historical dimensions of science, (b) appreciating a plurality of knowledge-making practices beyond scientific inquiry, (c) connecting teaching to actual science practices. We further introduce a ninth practice we call “Doing science together”. This supplementary work is aimed at foregrounding the relationship between science practices and the nature of science. Implications for use are discussed, including suggestions for learning outcome areas for preservice and in-service science teachers.

Reclaiming Klungkung's Cultural Heritage: Navigating the Complexities of Repatriation in Post-Colonial Bali

This article examines the complexities of repatriating objects from Bali's Klungkung Court seized by Dutch forces in 1908. It argues that repatriation, often conducted as restitution between nations, fails to fully consider local communities' needs. Through a case study of five artifacts, the article explores historical, cultural, and ethical dimensions, highlighting repatriation challenges. It emphasizes engaging local stakeholders for an equitable process. Returning these artifacts can rectify historical injustices, uphold cultural sovereignty, and foster reconciliation between the Netherlands and Indonesia, despite challenges like provenance research and ownership disputes. Repatriation remains vital for addressing colonial legacies and promoting cultural justice by acknowledging wrongs, aiding healing, empowering descendants, and sustaining cultural practices. The study concludes that repatriation is a continual, complex process requiring commitment to justice, reconciliation, and cultural autonomy, focusing on the perspectives of communities from which objects were taken.

Research on the Innovation of Traditional Music Cultural Inheritance

Traditional music is an important source of Chinese civilization and has a profound impact on the origin, enrichment, leap forward, and sublimation of Chinese culture. Starting from the three dimensions of history, people, and integration, it is important to inherit, carry forward, and spread the contemporary value of traditional music culture. We should focus on the inheritance of historical dimension, reposition the unique function of traditional music culture, strengthen the ecological protection of traditional music culture, and advocate excavation protection, purification protection, and promotion protection. Additionally, we focus on the development of the people dimension, adhere to the people-centered creative orientation, grasp the needs of the people, reflect their aspirations, and strive to enhance the timeliness and attraction of national music. We also focus on the communication of integration dimension, leverage the characteristic advantages of emerging media communication, promote the cross-border integration of the traditional music industry and related fields, respond to the focus and interaction of music audience services, and promote the construction of a modern three-dimensional communication system of traditional music.

Reconnecting genealogies of criminal justice and excise tax enforcement

Although various state and non-state agencies are central to criminal justice, our understandings of criminal justice's past remain dominated by histories of public police and modern prisons. Inspired by Braithwaite's call to reconnect genealogies of criminal justice and business regulation, this article presents an original historical study of the Excise as a criminal justice agency. It illustrates that criminal justice has historically involved a shifting ensemble of regulatory actors whose remits and functions have converged, diverged or been transferred over time. Importantly, this perspective illuminates the usually hidden offending of more privileged or powerful social actors, adding a significant historical dimension to wider efforts to rebalance criminology away from ‘crimes of the streets’ and towards ‘crimes of the suites’.

Introduction

Abstract The Third International Süleymaniye Symposium explored the Köprülü Era (1656-1710) in Ottoman history, emphasizing new sources and approaches. Scholars from Turkey, Europe, and the U.S. convened to examine the Köprülü grand viziers’ careers and times. In the current special focus section, Yasir Yılmaz, Halef Cevrioğlu, Elizabeth Lobenwein, Georg B. Michels, and Christopher Whitehead offer innovative perspectives, drawing on brand new archival material. We advocate for a comparative approach to the Ottoman grand vizierate, highlight the significance of Habsburg archives in Ottomanist scholarship, debunk new short-term and long-term historical dimensions in the making of the family, and ask new questions about how we should interpret the Köprülü expansionism.

Decolonising Australian Gold Rush Narratives with Critical Geopolitics

Abstract Settler-colonial futurity and colonial onto-epistemology are embedded across mainstream Australian public education institutions and schooling. While Country is central to Indigenous being, knowledges and pedagogy, Australian public and school education and curricula regularly fail to engage with Country and place in its historical, political, institutional, more-than-human, and relational dimensions. This paper investigates how colonial discourse and narratives permeate public and schooling education resources about mining and the Australian gold rush, including those presented in local Victorian gold rush museums. These support an influential story of Australia’s past/present that erases First Nations1 custodial relations with Country, strengthens settler-colonial futurity and celebrates and legitimises its colonising and extractive relations between people, Country, and ecologies. The paper presents an argument for attending to critical, relational geopolitics in education and environmental education to destabilise and shift these ways of understanding. It considers opportunities and challenges presented by Australian curricula in terms of their capacity to develop geopolitical understandings of past/present/future social and ecological in/justice, and to support new political understandings and sense of connection and belonging with Country.

Historical and cultural dimensions of the philosophy of the future: globalisation and identity

The purpose of the research is to highlight the prospects for the influence of philosophy in the context of the socio-cultural dichotomy associated with the confrontation between the principles of globalisation and identity. The turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries was marked by a focus on the synergistic potential in the worldview paradigm, which corresponded to the meanings of global character. At the same time, the dialectical component of society's development has retained its influence, expressing the desire of a person or community to preserve identity. The purpose of the article is to identify the specifics of philosophical thought within the two dominant dimensions of socio-cultural progress - interaction and confrontation. Achieving a balance between these two tendencies is the key to harmonising the world picture and avoiding destructive manifestations of a socio-cultural nature. The methodological basis of the study is focused on the analysis of philosophical ideas on the historical and cultural status of man, society and civilisation. The analysis of scientific and philosophical works was carried out within the framework of a variation sample, which allowed to use both philosophical and dialectical, as well as synergistic methodological potential. The results of the study point to the levelling of the positions of the philosophical interpretation of globalisation and identity in the socio-cultural discourse. The analysis of 50 philosophical works published over the past five years has demonstrated approximately equal indicators in the cultural and historical characteristics of social activity. This indicates that the worldview paradigm of our time is at the stage of choosing a strategy for civilisational development, considering the two most popular ways of development: globalisation and identity. The research perspectives are focused on the role of philosophical interpretation of the prospects for socio-cultural development. Strategic thinking is an advantage of the philosophical potential in terms of forming a strategy for civilisational progress. Conclusion. Contemporary philosophical discourse is at the stage of determining the dominant strategy for the development of a person, community and humanity. Globalisation and identity reflect the principles of two fundamental worldviews - dialectics and synergy. The role of philosophy involves a thorough description of these two socio-cultural dimensions in order to determine a favourable scenario for the development of society.

Massacre – Bodies the Matter: the mapping of queer violence in Sydney, Australia between 1970 and 2010

ABSTRACT Between the 1970s and early 2000s, before the surge in queer visibility in Sydney, non-normative gender and sexual communities formed connections at hidden queer sites to navigate heteropatriarchal constraints. These sites, once vital hubs for queer life, became targets of violent acts leading to 88 tragic murders. This article, informed by Vinicius Almeida's [2022. Representing the perception of violence in São Paulo, Brazil in mental maps: Queer cartography as a theoretical and methodological approach. In M. Blidon, & S. D. Brunn (Eds.), Mapping LGBTQ spaces and places (pp. 31–44). Springer International Publishing.] concept of queer cartography, examines the series of ongoing artworks titled Massacre – Bodies That Matter, 2018/2024 spotlighting the violence faced by marginalised queers seeking acknowledgement, where societal condemnation and institutional neglect led to acts of violence. This inquiry contributes to understanding the historical and spatial dimensions of violence against LGBTQI+ individuals, calling for a rethink of modernist mapping conventions to reveal the complexities of identity and sexuality.

Exploring Amahubo Akwazulu: Bridging Past, Present, and Future through Indigenous Zulu Music

This article delves into the cultural significance of Zulu war chants, known as amahubo, and their transformative power. These chants embody ideals crucial to Zulu identity, such as unity, patriotism, loyalty, and dignity, making them profound musical expressions. They represent the vibrant cultural, social, and historical dimensions of the Zulu personality. Through qualitative content analysis and a review of existing literature, this article uncovers the rich tapestry of amahubo. Drawing on communicative theory, it argues that preserving cultural elements is vital for societal vibrancy. The article analyses how traditions, values, and practices are transmitted across generations, ensuring cultural continuity. It highlights the dynamic evolution of amahubo, showing their pivotal role in shaping Zulu cultural identity, especially among the youth. Beyond their historical function, these war chants serve as platforms for addressing contemporary social issues, becoming vehicles for social commentary and engagement. The article presents three examples of amahubo sung on different occasions, demonstrating their diverse roles. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of amahubo as dynamic expressions of cultural continuity and agency within the Zulu community, bridging the past, present, and future as vibrant carriers of Zulu cultural heritage.

Uncertainty and existential thinking

ABSTRACT The main question of the study is whether our existential problems are changing historically and, if so, what is specific to our era. The paper first distinguishes three main types of existential problems (external, internal and structural), secondly presents the historical dimension of existential experiences. In the third step, it argues that not only do existential experiences change with age, but most probably the form of the subject is exposed to historical transformation. The final part of the paper analyses the uncertainty of our present existential condition from the perspective of the concept of the contemporary subject. I try to argue throughout the paper that a clearly articulated set of concepts of existential thinking can be useful for qualitative psychological research.

Behaviour settings, situated action and complexity theory.

In spite of the fact that Roger Barker's groundbreaking research was acclaimed sixty years ago by his contemporaries, it has all been but forgotten among recent generations of psychologists. However, in the wake of developments in dynamical systems and complexity theory, its value for understanding psychological processes in everyday life should be recognized anew. Barker's naturalistic studies of children's daily behaviours in their community revealed that their actions which initially seemed only marginally predictable at the level of individual interaction were, in fact, reliably context-dependent. These results led to the discovery that there are nested structures operating in human habitats as there are throughout the natural world. Barker's discovery of emergent eco-psychological structures, behaviour settings, that are generated from interdependent actions among individuals in the course of everyday life has yet to be fully appreciated because of the continuing dominance of linear, mechanistic models. His recognition of nested systems operating in human habitats is finally coming into its own with the current metatheoretical shift in psychology embracing dynamical models. Additionally, new understanding arises from the consideration of convergent individual developmental histories of situated action and their role in maintaining the historical dimensions of behaviour settings. This article is part of the theme issue 'People, places, things and communities: expanding behaviour settings theory in the twenty-first century'.

Localized Canal Development Model Based on Titled Landscapes on the Grand Canal, Hangzhou Section, China

After the decline of water transportation along the Grand Canal, the integration of urban development and the preservation of cultural heritage along the canal has become imperative. This paper takes the titled landscape as its research perspective and investigates the cultural significance of the canal through its historical, spatial, artistic, and spiritual dimensions, identifying the “Ten Canal Scenes” (TCS) that encapsulate both the canal’s heritage and the unique characteristics of Hangzhou, with the aim of establishing notable urban cultural landmarks. Archival analysis, average nearest neighbor (ANN) analysis, nuclear density analysis, and clustering of resource sites are first used to identify cultural landscape features. Evaluation and decision-making techniques are then used to comprehensively assess and categorize the conservation and utilization value for the TCS based on the value evaluation framework. Finally, it proposes strategies for enhancing the comprehensive values of titled landscapes and addressing socio-economic and cultural dimensions. These efforts seek to reconcile the preservation of the canal’s cultural heritage with the ongoing regeneration and development of the city and propose references for a localized canal development model based on titled landscapes.