Historical Setting Research Articles

Epilogue

Abstract In this text, we discuss the challenges of researching historical methods of teaching science and we emphasize the importance of scientific materials held in academic collections as sources for understanding past teaching practices. As a case study, the text presents the scientific exchange between Germany and Russia in the nineteenth century, in which scientific instruments played a crucial role in communicating research practices across language boundaries. Because it is impossible to access scientific materials in their historical contexts and written sources rarely describe them, we advocate an interactive approach, convinced that engaging with scientific materials opens deeper insights into historical learning settings. With this approach, we take up the central role of materiality in knowledge creation, which has become established in recent decades and has driven a shift from text-based studies to material-based studies in the history of science. We propose to incorporate this change into the practice of teaching history of science.

Comparative Study of Essential Religious Practices under Secularism in India, France, and the USA

This paper compares and contrasts the idea of fundamental religious practices under secularism in France, India, and the US, examining how each nation strikes a balance between religious liberty and official impartiality. A positive secularism approach exists in India, where the state interacts with religion to guarantee equality while courts decide what "essential religious practices" are worthy of constitutional protection. France adheres to a more rigorous form of secularism called laïcité, which emphasizes a clear separation between religion and state, frequently limiting religious expression in the sake of maintaining governmental neutrality, particularly with regard to Islam. Under the First Amendment, the United States employs a separationist approach that guarantees both the free exercise of religion and its non-establishment. However, there are obstacles in balancing religious liberty with public policy and anti-discrimination laws. The study comes to the conclusion that although all three nations strive to maintain secularism, there are differences in how different historical, cultural, and legal settings are interpreted, making it difficult to accommodate religious practices.

The curious case of the Dana platypus and what it can teach us about how lead shotgun pellets behave in fluid preserved museum specimens and may limit their scientific value.

Fluid preserved animal specimens in the collections of natural history museums constitute an invaluable archive of past and present animal diversity. Well-preserved specimens have a shelf-life spanning centuries and are widely used for e.g. anatomical, taxonomical and genetic studies. The way specimens were collected depended on the type of animal and the historical setting. As many small mammals and birds were historically collected by shooting, large quantities of heavy metal residues, primarily lead, may have been introduced into the sample in the form of lead shot pellets. Over time, these pellets may react with tissue fluids and/or the fixation and preservation agents and corrode into lead salts. As these chemicals are toxic, they could constitute a health issue to collection staff. Additionally, heavy element chemicals interfere with several imaging technologies increasingly used for non-invasive studies, and may confound anatomical and pathological investigations on affected specimens. Here we present a case-study based on platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and other small mammals containing lead pellets from the collection of The Natural History Museum of Denmark.

Comparative study of outdoor thermal comfort: Residents vs. tourists at Xi'an Ming Dynasty Ancient city wall scenic area

This study explores the thermal perceptions and comfort of residents and tourists at the Xi'an Ming Dynasty Ancient City Wall Scenic Area, addressing a gap in comparative outdoor thermal comfort studies in historical settings. Meteorological measurements and questionnaires collected between July 2019 and March 2021 analyze physical, individual, social, and psychological factors influencing thermal sensation, comfort, and acceptability across seasons. The RayMan model calculates Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), with data analyzed using SPSS 27.0. Results show Neutral PET (NPET) values of 17.1 °C for residents and 18.6 °C for tourists, and Preferred PET (PPET) values of 18.4 °C and 20.8 °C, respectively. Thermal Acceptability Ranges (TAR) are 13.5 °C–26.7 °C for residents and 15 °C–24.1 °C for tourists. Whether the measurement space contains water sources significantly affects temperature and humidity, while vegetation impacts wind speed. Physical factors predominantly affect perceptions, with individual factors becoming more important for tourists in winter. The findings provide insights for optimizing the thermal environment in scenic open spaces to enhance the comfort of both residents and tourists.

Historical Memories in Chen Kaige’s Films and their Cultural Reflections

Chen Kaige is a leading figure of the Fifth Generation and one of the country’s most internationally influential directors. The uniqueness of his films lies in their allegorical expression of national concerns, using specific historical or contemporary settings for personal lyricism. While his films vary in theme and style, they consistently reflect on national spirit and cultural traditions, explore life and fate of the people, question trust and betrayal, and showcase a distinctive artistic perspective and profound humanistic thinking. His works have deepened the artistic exploration of Chinese cinema. The cultural and philosophical depth embodied in his films has not only elevated the quality of Chinese cinema but also promoted dialogue and exchange between Chinese cinema and the world.

Spatial Dynamics in African Literature: Analyzing Rural and Urban Representations in Colonial and Postcolonial Contexts

This paper explores the interplay between colonial and postcolonial spatial dynamics in African literature, focusing on both urban and rural landscapes. It investigates how Anglophone and Francophone African writers portray the intersection of historical and fictional settings, highlighting the influence of colonialism on African topography. By analyzing literary depictions of traditional versus dominant cultures, the study assesses the enduring colonial impact on African landscapes and its reflection in modern and contemporary sub-Saharan fiction.

Unlocking the Symbolic Tapestry: Exploring Symbolism in Ahmed Ardalan's The Gardener of Baghdad

Using Roland Barthes' semiotic theory, this study article explores the symbolic aspects of Ahmed Ardalan's 2014 novel, The Gardener of Baghdad. The research seeks to reveal the several layers of meaning inside the text by examining the book using the ideas of signifier and signified, as well as denotative and connotative meanings. This analysis demonstrates how Ardalan's use of symbols enriches the storyline, mirroring profound cultural, historical, and emotional settings. The results demonstrate the intricate interaction of symbols in the book, providing a more profound comprehension of its themes and emotional intensity. This study examines how carefully Ahmed Ardalan uses symbolism in The Gardener of Baghdad, paying particular attention to the garden, the red rose, and the glorious city of Baghdad. Ardalan explores deep issues of love, grief, and culture via these symbols, weaving a story with a wealth of nuance and complexity. The garden is a haven and a symbol of optimism because it demonstrates that love can flourish even in the face of adversity. The red rose symbolizes the beauty and fragility of love, as well as the unescapable suffering that comes with losing someone. The portrayal of Baghdad as a historically and culturally significant city embodies the people's tenacity and enduring spirit. This study reveals how these symbols are more than just literary devices—rather, they are crucial components that raise the novel's thematic depth. By unraveling this symbolic tapestry, the research provides a better understanding of Ardalan's reflection on the human condition, demonstrating the enduring significance of his writing.

Multiplicities and fluidity in the networked relationships of migrant academics in Britain

AbstractIncreasing internationalization and marketization of higher education, global research collaboration, and staff mobility place academics' networking practices at the centre of higher education systems. Migrant academics are conceptualized with different network types including personal, local and transnational family and friendship networks. However, this research aims to understand the boundaries between different types of participants' networked relationships. The data of this paper comes from a larger research project on transnational family relationships of migrant academics conducted between 2018 and 2022. Life story interviews with 45 migrant academics from 27 different national backgrounds working at British universities were conducted. Additionally, sociogram maps are used as embedded in qualitative interviews. Migration background (as European or non‐European countries); gender; age; the length of the stay in the UK; academic position/contract type; annual income level and marital/relationship status were considered while forming the sample. The findings reveal that network forms and structures do not determine the resources and benefits of relationships; rather, individuals' actions over a time period and the meanings they attribute shape the positions of an alter (other actors that the focal person have connection with) within the personal network structure. As such, actions and meanings regarding those actions can bring one forward or backward in the personal network hierarchy. The boundaries regarding the content of these networks are usually blurred in relation to time, relationality and human agency attributing specific sets of meanings to certain relationships. The findings of this research translate into specific contributions to the discussions in migration and social network research. That is, research findings emphasized that different types of networks shaping participants' lives and migratory experiences are far from being stable and fixed, rather, they are characterized by being transmissive and dynamic. It is revealed that none of the network categories are homogenous, stable and fixed in terms of the content of the relationships. This adds to Emirbayer and Goodwin's (1994) discussions around the ‘form’ and the ‘content’ of networks. This paper underscores the significance of the historical settings, dynamism and the content of each relationship in understanding individual networks.

STRATEGIES FOR NET ZERO CARBON IN SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION PRACTICES FOR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS IN MALAYSIA

Heritage buildings have always been essential in improving the quality of the city’s life, especially for the communities living in historical settings. They play a vital part in representing historical, architectural, cultural, political, spiritual, and symbolic values that are passed down to generations. Historical buildings are often considered dilapidated, and due to society's neglect of these, the historical buildings positioned within the oldest parts of the city have deteriorated. Heritage buildings in Malaysia are defined as historical buildings that are protected under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645) to preserve tangible cultural heritage. This study intends to identify the Strategies contributing to Net Zero Carbon in Sustainable Conservation Practices for Historical Buildings in Malaysia. The research primarily focused on Conservation Architects and Heritage Professionals, with data being collected through semi-structured interviews and subsequently subjected to Thematic Analysis Matrix. The objective was to propose a set of recommendations for sustainable practices in the conservation of heritage buildings in Malaysia, aimed at achieving net zero carbon emissions. This endeavour was aimed at advancing the discourse on Net Zero Carbon in Historical Buildings and fostering public awareness regarding the significance of these architectural treasures.

Linguistic Analysis on the Musical Hamilton: Functions of Puns and Repetitions

Hamilton: The Musical, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, has quickly become globally popular after its premiere in 2015. As a hip-hop musical with quick rapping, the lyrics and language in the songs prove to be a huge part in the play. This article explores this successful musical from a linguistics perspective. Texts and lyrics in the play are analyzed here based on linguistic theories with a qualitative research method. It is found that puns and repetitions are key elements of the language used in the play. Exact puns, near puns, reprises of songs, and repetitions of words and lines are used to establish the American historical setting, portray characters, refine plot development, and deliver emotion to the audience.

THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE AND HERITAGE ON ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Institute of Najaf Technical,Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Al-Najaf 31001, IraqCultural and historical settings play a significant role in shaping architectural design. This article delves into the relationship between cultural heritage, architecture, and cultural narratives, looking at how physical environments reflect and shape social practices, historical traditions, and cultural practices. The study emphasizes how architects integrate indigenous materials, cultural symbols, and historical allusions into their designs by comparing and contrasting diverse architectural styles and movements across different areas and eras. A hybrid architectural language incorporating multiple cultural aspects is also addressed in the article, delving into the impact of globalization in this regard. Modern design approaches emphasize cultural sustainability and heritage protection, as seen in case studies from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, demonstrating the interconnected nature of culture, history, and architecture. To promote a more sophisticated and context-sensitive method of design that pays tribute to and breathes new life into cultural heritage, the results stress the significance of cultural literacy in architectural training and practice.

Gastrofeminism

Gastrofeminism traces the centrality of food within diverse feminist narratives of agency and resistance. This manifesto introduces the theoretical, pedagogical, and methodological scope of Gastrofeminism to rethink feminist genealogies, legacies, and new embodiments of a radical future. It calls for a reckoning of both established and emerging feminist engagements with food, consumption, and culinary practices. This introduction underscores conjunctures where feminist methodology and pedagogy intersect in variegated social, cultural, and historical settings to engender dialogues on food, eating, and culinary practices. It emphasizes everyday acts of negotiating feminist boundaries and subverting dominant perceptions of food. Furthermore, it contests the practices whereby food is used to reproduce social norms and hierarchies. Gastrofeminism remaps the boundaries of gendered relations through food practices in sites of conflict as well as everyday resistance to gendered norms of domesticity through technological innovations around cooking, eating, and representation of food. This manifesto assembles feminist scholarship and pedagogies committed to pushing the boundaries of traditional food studies and taking it into new, inclusive directions. Gastrofeminism spans across disciplines and praxis to engage with sensory documentation of food, gendered forms of intimacy, appetites and embodiments, food memories, affects, and nostalgia, new feminist pedagogies, foodways, ecosystems and sustainability, and food access, conflict, and social justice.

Narrative as a Form of Applied History

Abstract Narrative is a fundamental form of historical thinking. As such, narrative is a representational framework through which real events can be ordered into simplified temporal sequences unfolding within historical settings, driven by the interaction of historical personages or collective entities such as nations or classes. These insights, however, are yet to be fully incorporated within the field of applied history, which could profit from a closer consideration of narrative as a concrete manifestation of what has been termed genealogical or processual history. Like the historical analogy, which has been the focus of much research, narrative has the potential to fruitfully make connections between past and present events, but also to misapply history for propagandistic purposes. To address these issues, this article presents a methodological model whose usefulness is demonstrated in two case studies, together with guidelines for how a narrative perspective could inspire future applied history research.

Wine and Gastronomic Tourism in the Drama Region

Drama is a wine region in northern Greece with a local economy based on agricultural production. Despite its historical and geographical setting, the wine tourism industry is not very well developed in the wine-growing region of Drama. Although the sustainability of territorial development is often linked to local food and wine heritage, it seems that the implicated parties are not totally convinced. For this qualitative case study, we first conducted interviews with the management of the local wineries to determine the reason behind the low number of wine tourists in the area. Then, a workshop was organized, and all relevant parties were invited to increase awareness through education while also attempting to find mutually agreeable solutions through working group table discussions and the presentation of findings. Taking advantage of and preserving the cultural heritage through the cooperation of the related regional businesses, regional/central authorities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) was concluded to be an important tool for organizing new initiatives that will boost wine tourism.

Recent Contact-Induced Morphosyntactic Changes in the Lower Kolyma Region

Abstract The paper deals with recent contact-induced changes in the grammar of two languages of the Lower Kolyma tundra, Tundra Yukaghir (TY) and Lower Kolyma Even (LKE). The morphosyntax of these languages has undergone a rather strong influence from Sakha in the course of the 20th century. The investigation focusses on the structural copying of Sakha patterns into TY and LKE, which resulted in the emergence of several new categories, in particular, the future imperative, the necessitive based on the future participle with or without proprietive marking, evaluative morphology, and contrastive markers deriving from the converbs of the copula verb. In addition, the TY system of differential object marking has changed under the influence of Sakha. These phenomena are interpreted against their historical and sociolinguistic settings, specifically, the types of multilingual situations in the region. The ramifications of the findings for the theory of language contact are also discussed.

Wilful ignorance at Waterloo: public housing quality and political stigma in Sydney's largest estate renewal

ABSTRACT Sydney's Waterloo estate is one of Australia's largest and most concentrated areas of public housing. There has been an almost two-decade-long effort to renew the estate, with successive governments persistently making the case that the demolition and mixed-tenure redevelopment must happen. In the process, the quality of the housing on the estate has been denigrated and misrepresented. This paper combines a detailed examination of the architectural qualities of the Waterloo estate with a critical analysis of historical and contemporary policy settings and political decisions driving the redevelopment project. It identifies the phases of development at Waterloo since the first buildings were constructed in 1948, describing the key characteristics of the dwellings that were part of each phase and situating them within in the wider story of public housing in NSW. It then evaluates the qualities identified in the buildings on the estate against the government's own guidelines for new apartment development. This evaluation reveals the extent to which the state government has avoided a good-faith assessment of the architectural quality of the estate. The paper concludes by reviewing planning and policy objectives and highlighting that tenant interests and housing quality have been obscured through the stigmatzation of the estate.

True Story & Fictional Protagonist as a Bestseller

Thirty years after the collapse of communism, film productions with historical thematic references to the former GDR take up the horrors of the GDR regime with its perfidious surveillance system, reunification and the Wende period as an important historical event in fictional or documentary form and are popular internationally. GDR film and TV series, i.e. embedding the plot in a historical setting, are well received by international audiences. The article captures the potential of the film character Kleo Straub, the protagonist of the successful eight-part Netflix series Kleo (2022), for the storyline and in doing so also questions the credibility of the "true story" that did not "really [happen]" (prologue).

The Factors of Religious Architecture Influencing Students' Perception of Beauty and Art: Evidence from Hanoi, Vietnam

This study explores the impact of religious architecture on the aesthetic perceptions of elementary school students in Hanoi, Vietnam, focusing on students majoring in fine arts. Employing regression analysis, the research assesses the influence of six key dimensions: architectural design and details, cultural and historical context, spiritual symbolism, emotional impact, context and setting, and students' perceptions of beauty and art. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire developed from a thorough literature review and expert consultations and administered to a randomly selected sample during Vietnam's Lunar New Year in January 2024. The results revealed that each dimension significantly contributes to students' perceptions of beauty, with context and setting having the most pronounced effect. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed via Cronbach's alpha, indicating high internal consistency across all scales. The regression analysis validated the theoretical framework, establishing that religious buildings' architectural and contextual elements significantly shape students' aesthetic judgments. These findings underscore the importance of integrating architectural aesthetics into educational curricula, highlighting how environmental and cultural contexts influence educational outcomes in art and aesthetics. This research contributes to filling a significant gap in understanding the academic impact of cultural heritage, offering significant implications for educational practices and policies in culturally diverse settings.

Cultrure Acculturation among Vietnamese Catholics: A Survey of the Trắc Drum Set in Bắc Ninh Diocese

Cultural acculturation unfolds through a process of exchange, prolonged contact, reception, and transformation among diverse cultures. This phenomenon finds its most conspicuous manifestation in various forms of thought, culture, and art, particularly in the realm of musical performance. The symbiotic relationship between culture and religion is also an embodiment of acculturation, as the imperative to assimilate and innovate within distinct cultural and religious contexts consistently arises to align with the demands of each culture and religion within specific historical settings. A notable illustration of this phenomenon can be found in the realm of Catholicism, which serves as the focal point of certain research endeavors. Introduced to Vietnam during the early 16th century, Catholicism has exerted a substantial influence on Vietnamese culture, despite encountering resistance stemming from cultural and ideological disparities. In essence, the prolonged interaction with Vietnamese culture has engendered various unique art forms, including Catholic music, which have organically integrated into the fabric of Vietnamese Catholic cultural life. This article adopts a theoretical perspective on acculturation and the theory of cultural-religious relations to expound on pertinent subjects derived from investigations into the Trắc Drum instrument set employed in Catholic Masses within the Bắc Ninh Diocese of Vietnam. The analysis encompasses the instrument set’s origins, notational system, traditional aspects, and scholarly components. Furthermore, this study delves into the impact of this orchestra on the cultural and artistic landscape of the contemporary non-Catholic populace.

Italia tra storia e storiografia. In cerca dell'identità nazionale

Starting from the fundamental studies of the historian Giuseppe Galasso and in the context of a close confrontation with the most experienced European historiography on these topics, the essay reconstructs some issues of the italian national identity through the different guidelines of the historiographical debate from the nineteenth century to today in a comparative and historical setting of european modernity. The centuries-old duration of the events related to the process of formation of the Italian identity, from the tradition of the Roman Empire to the Risorgimento and national independence, passing through the long domination of foreign powers, finally ended with the unification of the peninsula and the state-building in 1861. The most significant terms of the identity discourse are thus affirmed: territory and nation, whose underlying grounds, however, still struggle to find shared reasons for a unitary understanding of the national historical framework. In this respect the category of national identity starts its construction at the time of the Romantic ferments and remains intimately linked to those anthropological traits that would have provided to found in the mid-nineteenth century the community of Italians, finally rejoined under the frame of a new State. Not a single identity, therefore, but a multiplicity of references to the rich, centuries-old Italian cultural heritage, rethought in the light of a decisive season for national destinies.