Cultural Homogeneity Research Articles

An Analytic Account of The Phenomenon of Modernity with Specific Reference To The Way in Which The Acknowledgement of Multiple or Alternative Modernities Impacts The Comprehension of The Phenomenon

The term modernity refers generally to an amalgamation of historically unprecedented practices and institutional forms, organizational and knowledge advances, breaking away from one’s obsolescent predecessors, simultaneously. The European traditions such as Renaissance and Enlightenment are referred to specifically as this breaking point. Some basic features of modernity can be described as- a general stress on the application of rational scientific approach to problems and the pursuit of material and economic well being. Accompanied by the values like, instrumental rationality, objectivity, liberty and equality. The theories of modernity have generally been classified into two broad categories, cultural and acultural. Among these two views of modernity, the acultural view is dominant. This acultural theory and its dominance is the point of contention here, as it views modernity to be a culture neutral phenomenon, which has the same trajectory everywhere. This, the essay shows, is a distorted understanding of the phenomenon of modernity and has quite problematic implications, as the belief that modernity comes from one single universally applicable operation served as the basis and justification for the western colonizers’ practices of domination and cultural homogenization. This essay argues that a) modernity is not something that only the west has been blessed with, rather there are multiple modernities. b) It highlights how an exclusive reliance on the acultural theory deprives us of and unfits for understanding and identifying alternative modernities that are different from and that challenge the dominant western conception of modernity.

Majority and Immigrant Students’ Positionings towards Refugees as Represented in Media Texts

The recent immigrants’ and refugees’ movements towards western nation-states undermine symbolic national boundaries. Such movements are perceived as a threat to linguistic and cultural homogeneity, and reinforce the reproduction of national discourse. The present study focuses on how majority and immigrant students attending a Greek elementary school position themselves towards the Greek national discourse concerning refugees. Using analytical tools from Critical Discourse Analysis, we demonstrate that both majority and immigrant students reinforce Greek national discourse which takes the form of either racist or humanitarian discourse.

Unity in Diversity: Navigating the Path towards UCC in India

Adopting a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for all Indian citizens has once again gained prominence in national political discourse. On the surface, the idea of enforcing a uniform code in matters of marriage, property inheritance, and guardianship of children appears entirely consistent with the ideals of equality and India's constitutional philosophy. However, its implementation is fraught with many challenges. This paper aims to highlight the complexities surrounding the proposed implementation of the UCC in India. If successful, it will be a transformative legal initiative that will replace varied personal laws based on religious tenets with a unified legal system. This paper employs doctrinal research methodology and analytical and critical legal research tools. Through doctrinal analysis, the paper uncovers the multiple implications of adopting UCC, ranging from balancing constitutional ideals of equality to preserving the socio-cultural diversity of the Indian populace. The findings indicate that although the adoption of UCC could raise serious concerns about cultural homogenization and the violation of religious freedoms, particularly concerning India's religious minorities, it also offers potential benefits in terms of national integration, gender equality, and the simplification of the legal framework. In order to reconcile these competing interests, the paper concludes with the observation that implementing the UCC in India would require a sensitive and inclusive approach that respects the country's religious and cultural diversity while striving toward the constitutional promise of equality and justice for all citizens

Azolla pinnata redefines its importance in rice fields as it alleviates aluminum toxicity and low pH stress

Monoculture of rice seedlings or Azolla pinnata was challenged with different aluminum stress conditions, and both species showed significantly reduced total biomass, chlorophyll, root, and leaf length. Mixed cultures showed no stress phenotypes and notably enhanced growth parameters under low and moderate aluminum stress (10 and 30 μM). Discretely, Azolla plants failed to survive when grown at >30 μM aluminum treatment (pH 4.75) but sustained well when grown with rice plants. Importantly, both species accumulated less aluminum and more root exudates in mixed cultures of Azolla and rice plants. Furthermore, expression of Sensitive To Proton rhizotoxicity1 (ApSTOP1 and OsART1) in both species declined significantly in mixed cultures than in monocultures. Ammonium transporter 1 (ApAMT1 and OsAMT1.1) expressed significantly more in heterogeneous cultures, indicating that ammonium transport is unaffected. Our observations conclude that aluminum accumulation and stress effects significantly decreased in heterogeneous cultures when compared with homogenous cultures.

The festival of singing love songs with fairies of the Bố Y ethnic group in Vietnam

The detailed study explores a festival of the Bố Y people in Vietnam, where fairies from the moon are invited to the earthly realm to sing serenades. The research identifies that despite the influence and homogenization of the Han culture on the language of this ethnic group, they still retain and express many traditional cultural values through the festival. This serves as evidence for the significant role of the festival in preserving cultural heritage and coping with the strong influence from the Han culture. Our aim is to provide a profound insight into the important role of the festival in cultural preservation and propose directions for policymakers to promote and conserve the cultural identity of ethnic minorities.

CULTURAL CAPITALISM AND TODAY’S GLOBALIZED SOCIETY: AN ANALYSIS

The phenomena of cultural capitalism emerged from the complex junction of culture and capitalism in today's worldwide society. This abstract investigates the workings of cultural capitalism in the context of modern, globalized society, looking at its effects and implications. First, it explores the idea of cultural capitalism, explaining how the market shapes and commercializes cultural identities, practices, and expressions. It looks into how cultural symbols, stories, and experiences are appropriated for profit, emphasizing how the media, advertising, and consumerism contribute to this practice. The abstract also discusses how cultural capitalism affects societies all around the world. It talks on how the dominance of Western capitalist ideas leads to cultural imperialism and homogenization, which threatens cultural variety, authenticity, and the preservation of cultural heritage. It also closely examines how cultural capitalism exacerbates social differences, marginalizes particular groups, and maintains inequality. n conclusion, this abstract highlights the complexities of cultural capitalism in today's globalized society, emphasizing the need for critical inquiry and proactive measures to mitigate its negative impacts and foster more equitable, inclusive cultural environments.

Lines of research related to the impact of gentrification on local development

Gentrification is an urban phenomenon that involves the transformation of neighborhoods, often characterized by their cultural and economic diversity, through the arrival of new residents with higher incomes, which can generate profound effects on local development. The objective is to analyze lines of research related to the impact of gentrification on local development. The research paradigm was quantitative, based on a descriptive, retrospective and bibliometric study, during the period from 1990 to 2024. A “.RIS” file format was downloaded and analyzed in the EndNote X8 bibliographic manager by two researchers independently. The behavior was heterogeneous, but towards an increase, with a maximum peak of 15 research papers. Research articles in the area of social sciences predominated. The most productive country was the United States with 82 research papers. A word co-occurrence analysis was carried out where six scientific research lines were identified. The maximum peak of citations was in 2010 with more than 500 citations. Gentrification, while it can bring about improvements in infrastructure and services, presents significant challenges for local development by causing the displacement of low-income communities and the cultural and economic homogenization of neighborhoods. This phenomenon highlights the need to implement local development approaches that are inclusive and equitable, ensuring that the benefits of urban development are distributed fairly among all sectors of the population

Reflection of Late Imperial Discussions on Education of “Foreigners” in The Practice of National Construction of Soviet Russia (1918—1925, on the Example of the Orenburg Region)

The author traces the continuity between the projects of integration of “foreigners” into the imperial space by means of an education system without the rigid conditions of linguistic and cultural homogenization of Muslims, dating back to the late imperial period, and the first decrees of the Soviet authorities on the “free national development” of representatives of all ethnicities and nationalities of the Soviet Republic. This right was realized especially visibly in the construction of a new system of education. The work shows the steps of the People's Commissariat of the Kazakh Autonomous Republic (KASSR) to create a unified labor school, to train teaching staff, including for Kazakh schools, to organize the publication of new textbooks and manuals on the history of the Kyrgyz Republic in both Russian and Kazakh languages.

МІЖДИСЦИПЛІНАРНА СИНТЕЗІЯ КОНВЕНЦІЙ ТА ПАТЕРНІВ СУЧАСНОЇ ПОПУЛЯРНОЇ КУЛЬТУРИ США

This article offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis of contemporary popular culture in the United States, with a focus on its development over the past two decades. The research encompasses various theoretical approaches, including philosophical, economic, sociological, psychological, historical, and anthropological perspectives, aiming to provide a nuanced understanding of the complex and multifaceted phenomenon of popular culture within the context of globalization and digital transformation. Attention is given to the impact of recommendation algorithms on popular culture, particularly their role in fostering cultural homogenization, personalizing cultural experiences, and shaping new cultural trends. The issues of cultural hybridization, the ritualization of social practices, and the significance of collective memory in the context of popular culture are also explored. Historical analysis reveals the periodization and evolution of cultural institutions, while the socio-anthropological approach highlights the importance of symbolic structures in the formation of cultural narratives. The philosophical lens emphasizes the postmodern characteristics of contemporary popular culture, including the deconstruction of traditional cultural patterns, and analyzes the dynamics of metaphysical concepts, particularly the idea of presence within the conditions of hyperreality. Sociological methodologies assist in addressing the structuration of cultural practices and adaptive processes of socialization through social networks and other digital platforms, which are emerging as new spaces for the construction of social identities. The psychological analysis focuses on the cognitive and emotional effects induced by popular culture, including cognitive disintegration caused by excessive media consumption, and the impact of social comparison on self-esteem and the psychological well-being of individuals. It is emphasized that popular culture products can be designed to appeal to unconscious desires and internalized norms, shaping motivational structures and social behavior patterns. The economic perspective highlights the processes of commodification of cultural products and the monetization of cultural industries. The article underscores the necessity of integrating these approaches to gain a deeper understanding of how contemporary popular culture in the United States influences global cultural processes and shapes the future directions of cultural practices and social structures. The conclusions emphasize the importance of an interdisciplinary approach that allows for a comprehensive consideration of the impact of popular culture on society, its cultural norms, identities, and social dynamics.

Globalization and Local Cultures: A Complex Coexistence

This review examines the multifaceted relationship between globalization and local cultures, exploring the dynamic interplay that either challenges or nurtures traditional cultural identities. The article dissects the impacts of economic globalization through multinational corporate expansion and tourism on local economies and cultural practices. Additionally, the article explores the social and technological realms, assessing how media and technological advancements facilitate cultural exchange and potentially lead to cultural homogenization or hybridization. The article also presents case studies that illustrate both positive and negative outcomes of these interactions, highlighting scenarios where local cultures have successfully integrated global influences without losing their essence and others where they have suffered erosion. Through a comprehensive analysis, the review offers insights into strategies for balancing globalization with cultural preservation, emphasizing the role of policy interventions and community initiatives in maintaining cultural uniqueness in a globalized world.

Модели противодействия сегрегации этноконфессиональных иммигрантских районов в Дании и Швеции

The article explores the immigration and integration strategies of Denmark and Sweden while assessing their efficacy. The two countries, sharing historical, cultural, social and economic similarities, face a common challenge: the formation of ethnoreligious enclaves primarily inhabited by individuals with a Muslim background. Due to the recent European migrant crises, there has been a notable increase in the number of migrants, leading to stricter integration policies in the Scandinavian countries. Yet, governmental approaches to address the segregation of immigrant areas vary between Denmark and Sweden. Denmark has adopted a stringent immigration policy promoting cultural assimilation of immigrants from non-Western countries, whilst Sweden follows a liberal approach advocating cultural and ethnic diversity within society. The evolution of immigration and integration initiatives in Denmark and Sweden has been reconstructed through the analysis of official documents and critical examination of political discourses. It is noted that Swedish authorities are increasingly incorporating Denmark’s more radical approaches to address migration issues within their political programmes. Despite the results of Denmark’s anti-immigration policies and the reduction in the number of segregated immigrant areas, a myriad of issues persist due to EU immigration policies. The problem of forging a new civic identity rooted in the linguistic, religious and cultural homogeneity of Danish society amidst its multiculturalism remains relevant. Thus, Sweden is formulating its own anti-segregation programme, taking into account both the successes and shortcomings of Danish immigration and integration policies. Another important conclusion is that these nations have started to pay special attention to ethnic and religious criteria when identifying ‘parallel societies’.

Cultivation, Differentiation, and Lentiviral Transduction of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (hiPSC)-Derived Glutamatergic Neurons for Studying Human Tau.

Tau pathology is a major hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases summarized under the term tauopathies. In most of these disorders,such as Alzheimer's disease, the neuronal axonal microtubule-binding Tau protein becomes mislocalized to the somatodendritic compartment. In human disease, this missorting of Tau is accompanied by an abnormally high phosphorylation state of the Tau protein, and several downstream pathological consequences (e.g., loss of microtubules, degradation of postsynaptic spines, impaired synaptic transmission, neuronal death). While some mechanisms of Tau sorting, missorting, and associated pathologies have been addressed in rodent models, few studies have addressed human Tau in physiological disease-relevant human neurons. Thus, suitable human-derived in vitro models are necessary. This protocol provides a simple step-by-step protocol for generating homogeneous cultures of cortical glutamatergic neurons using an engineered Ngn2 transgene-carrying WTC11 iPSC line. We further demonstrate strategies to improve neuronal maturity, that is, synapse formation, Tau isoform expression, and neuronal activity by co-culturing hiPSC-derived glutamatergic neurons with mouse-derived astrocytes. Finally, we describe a simple protocol for high-efficiency lentiviral transduction of hiPSC-derived neurons at almost all stages of differentiation.

Protein Expression via Transient Transfection of Mammalian Cells in a WAVE Bioreactor.

Large culture volumes are often required when expression constructs are particularly low-yielding or when end uses require significant amounts of material. In these cases, a single homogeneous culture is usually more convenient, in terms of both consistency of expression and labor/resource requirements, than multiple parallel cultures. Using a WAVE Bioreactor culture, volumes as high as 500L may be achieved in a single vessel. Here, we describe the transfection of Expi293F cells in a disposable 50L Cellbag on a WAVE Bioreactor platform to produce recombinant protein. The methods described herein may be adapted, with suitable optimizations, for other suspension-adapted mammalian cell lines.

Clinical, Pathological and Virological Outcomes of Tissue-Homogenate-Derived and Cell-Adapted Strains of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) in a Neonatal Pig Model.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and high mortality rates in neonatal piglets. Two distinct genogroups, S-INDEL (G1a, G1b) and non-S INDEL (G2a, G2b, and G2c), circulate worldwide and are characterized by varying degrees of virulence. Here, we compared the early pathogenesis of a PEDV S-INDEL strain obtained from intestine homogenate (CALAF-HOMOG) or adapted to cell culture by 22 passages (CALAF-ADAP) and a virulent non-S INDEL strain (PEDV-USA) in newborn piglets. After orogastric inoculation of PEDV strains, body weight, temperature and clinical signs were monitored for 48 hpi. Pathological studies were performed at 48 hpi and RNA extracts from jejunal content (at 48 hpi) and rectal swabs (at 0 and 48 hpi) were tested for the presence of PEDV RNA as well as sequenced and compared to the inoculum. Piglets inoculated with PEDV-USA and CALAF-HOMOG isolates showed more severe weight loss, diarrhea, villi fusion and atrophy compared to CALAF-ADAP inoculated piglets. The viral load of rectal swabs was higher in the PEDV-USA inoculated group, followed by CALAF-HOMOG and CALAF-ADAP isolates. Similarly, viral RNA load in jejunal content was comparable among PEDV-USA and CALAF-HOMOG inoculated piglets and higher than that of CALAF-ADAP ones. The comparison of three full PEDV sequences of the inocula with the corresponding ones of pigs after 48 hpi yielded a nucleotide identity >99.9%. This study highlights variations in virulence among S-INDEL and non-S INDEL strains and between S-INDEL isolates obtained from homogenate and cell culture.

Semi-solid-state fermentation of Polygonum cuspidatum roots by a novel endophytic fungus Penicillium rubens with capabilities of cell wall hydrolysis and polydatin deglycosylation to improve the yield of high-value resveratrol

Resveratrol (a high-value natural polyphenolic compound with numerous pharmacological activities) is predominantly present in the form of the glycoside polydatin in Polygonum cuspidatum roots. In this study, a novel endophytic fungus, Penicillium rubens, capable of producing both cellulase (0.71 ± 0.09 U/mL) and β-glucosidase (4.35 ± 0.38 U/mL) for cell wall hydrolysis and polydatin deglycosylation, was used to ferment P. cuspidatum roots to improve the yield of valuable resveratrol. Results showed that the semi-solid-state fermentation (SSSF) using the homogeneous cultures of P. rubens was the appropriate strategy to obtain a higher yield of resveratrol from P. cuspidatum roots. Under the optimal fermentation conditions (temperature 30 °C, inoculation dose 4.0 mL/g, and time 72 h), the yield of resveratrol (19.95 ± 0.83 mg/g DW) in P. cuspidatum roots fermented by P. rubens was 19.18-fold higher than that in the unfermented control (1.04 ± 0.47 mg/g DW). Moreover, the digestibility of P. cuspidatum roots by P. rubens in terms of dry matter weight and cellulose content was 40.04% and 21.91%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope observation indicated that P. rubens fermentation could effectively disrupt the cell walls of P. cuspidatum roots, thus contributing to the release of more polydatin for deglycosylation. In addition, the extracts of P. cuspidatum roots fermented by P. rubens exhibited higher antioxidant and antibacterial activities compared with those of the unfermented control. The economic analysis showed that the benefit of SSSF approach for resveratrol production was much greater than that of the unfermented control. Overall, this study proposed a cost-effective SSSF method using the novel P. rubens to obtain bioactive resveratrol from P. cuspidatum roots, which had promising potential in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Exploring inclusivity perceptions among residents: insights from rural tourism destinations

Rural destinations are experiencing a boom in demand from tourists. However, the sustainability of rural spaces as tourism destinations is also challenged by a lack of diversity, including cultural homogeneity, and discrimination against underrepresented groups. Addressing this gap, we used social identity theory to examine how residents’ social identities shape their perceptions of inclusivity in rural destinations. We employ a multimethod qualitative study that includes in-depth interviews with residents from four rural destinations. Supplementing these interviews, we ask rural tourists to answer an open-ended questionnaire about their perception of diversity at rural destinations. This study finds that the sustainability of rural destinations is adversely influenced by the processes of social categorization, expressed through intimidation and historical revisionism, and social comparison involving performative allyship that perpetuates covert racism. While linked identity, a crucial pathway within social identification, is vital for fostering inclusive rural tourism environments, complexity rises when residents navigate intragroup conflicts stemming from multiple group identities. This study’s originality lies in its in-depth focus on how destination residents construe and contest their rural identity regarding inclusivity and expand on fluidity and intragroup conflict within sustainable rural tourism.

Opportunities and Challenges: Hollywoodisation and Asian Cinema’s Ascent

With the drive towards globalisation, Hollywood has had a profound impact on Asian films, including their production methods, storytelling, and film presentation. This paper delves into the multilayered impact of Hollywood on Asian cinema, analysing its origins, consequences, and potential impact. In addition, this research examines the positive aspects of Hollywood's influence, such as raising the international profile of Asian cinema, fostering cross-cultural collaboration, and enriching global cinematic diversity. Simultaneously, it also discusses potential challenges, including the risk of cultural homogenisation and the impact of Hollywood's commercial hegemony on the local film industry. In short, the development of the Asian film industry under the influence of Hollywood is a complex story of opportunities and challenges. By actively embracing openness, innovation, and cultural diversity, Asian cinema can continue to play a unique role on the global stage, presenting engaging and diverse cinematic experiences.

«La ferrovia e il telegrafo muteranno le sorti del mondo» I progetti per gli affreschi della prima stazione di Genova di Francesco Gandolfi (1860)

The drawings preserved in the collection of the Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe di Palazzo Rosso in Genoa include three sketches concerning the involvement of Francesco Gandolfi (1824‑73) in the pictorial decoration of Genoa’s first railway station between 1859 and 1860. Except for the medallion under the entrance porch, these frescoes have been considered lost since the early 20th century. This research is grounded in the stylistic and cultural homogeneity that these drawings express, as well as in the remarkable evidence they provide about an iconographic scheme intended for a novel public space in the 19th-century city. The aim of this paper is also to outline the artistic and social environment of Genoa at the time when it became the first commercial centre of the Kingdom.

A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF GLOBALISATION IN BOOM OF ENTREPRENEURS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO INDIA

In an era defined by rapid advancements in technology, communication, and trade, the phenomenon of globalisation has emerged as a transformative force shaping economies, societies, and individual aspirations worldwide. This study delves into a captivating aspect of this global landscape, focusing on the dynamic relationship between globalisation and the burgeoning community of entrepreneurs, with a specific lens on the Indian context. Using SPSS analysis on this research paper, it aims to contribute to a broader dialogue on how nations can effectively harness the forces of globalisation to foster a thriving ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship. Empirical research method was used in this study. The researcher has used the convenient sampling method and the sample size was 200. A comprehensive google form containing a questionnaire related to the study was prepared. The sampling frame was set within the geographical limits of India. The dependent variables are the level of awareness about globalisation, various beneficial impacts of globalisation on entrepreneurs, various benefits of the nation due to increase in entrepreneurs, various ways to promote entrepreneurship and the independent variables are age, gender, educational qualification, salary, place of residence and occupation. The research tools used here are graphical representations (Bar diagrams). The research concludes that the potential for resource exploitation, cultural homogenization, and unequal access to benefits within local communities are concerns that demand careful consideration. In the Indian context, policymakers, business leaders, and academia must collaboratively address these challenges to ensure that the entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to thrive sustainably.

Media Memory Construction and Cultural Sustainability

The sustainable development of culture is often regarded as the core of cultural security and uniqueness. The homogenization of culture brought about by globalization poses a threat to cultural diversity and sustainability as well as to the uniqueness of national cultures to varying degrees. In this context, pan-Asian countries have taken various measures to protect their cultural identity and avoid the breaking in cultural intergenerational inheritance. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea in 1992 and the establishment of South Korea’s “Building up the Nation with Culture” strategy in 1998, Korean culture has developed Hallyu, or the “Korean wave”, in China and other countries via K-dramas, K-pop, and K-movies, establishing a significant recognition of K-culture worldwide. Although memory can be both personal and social, shared cultural memory is a core element for integrating individuals. Compared with individual memory, media memory has more advantages in continuity and stability, and is almost naturally endowed with social and cultural significance. Therefore, constructing media memory to achieve sustainable cultural development is a feasible and reasonable method. This paper reviews the influence and evolution of K-culture in China, and takes K-content media and its acceptance in China as an example to explore the logic and significance of media memory construction of culture and enhancement of cultural influence, especially on foreign audiences. In addition, from the perspective of media memory construction, the paper examines the reasons for the gradual decline of K-culture’s influence in China, and argues that media memory construction is a practical way to sustain cultural influence, so as to form common experiences that relevant parties can learn from.