Identification Of Expression Research Articles

‘Tomorrowland’: identity construction and expression through flags and costumes in a music festival

ABSTRACT Tomorrowland is a unique electronic music festival where most attendees are showing up with flags, accessories, and costumes. This research investigates consumers’ identity construction and expression through the experience of such a festival, focusing on the material possessions that are used there. Through a naturalistic interpretive approach, using interviews, observations and projective material and following a grounded theory analysis, we propose a typology of seven profiles of festivalgoers based on their external appearance and behaviours. We also describe seven functions fulfiled by the material possessions of festivalgoers. Finally, we discuss our findings along four interpretive dimensions related to the (re)creation and expression of private and collective selves and we provide some implications for festival and event managers.

Broadening Perspectives and Possibilities: Learners’ Pathways to Digital Multimodal Composition (DMC) in ESL Context

In this paper, we delve into the experiences of 60 English as a Second Language (ESL) undergraduate learners who actively participated in distinct multimodal instructional units within their writing curriculum. Drawing upon a qualitative analysis encompassing design interviews, written reflections, and video observations, this research elucidates the principal themes that emerged from the learners' perspectives related to the potential of Digital Multimodal Composition (DMC) in the ESL context. These themes encompassed the exceptional opportunities afforded by this approach, which included the capacity to conceptualise ideas through the incorporation of visuals and auditory elements, the ability to communicate in novel and inventive manners, the platform it provided for the authentic expression of personal identities, and its effectiveness in the contextualising topic within their learning journey. Furthermore, this research highlights the primary challenges and constraints voiced by the learners, which encompassed a gamut of technical issues and the quest for the most suitable mode of expression within the multimodal framework. Leveraging these insights, the study culminates in a discussion of implications for both research and practice, particularly about the integration of digital multimodal composition in the multilingual classroom setting.

The Role of Souvenirs in Enhancing Local Cultural Sustainability: A Systematic Literature Review

Souvenirs can facilitate the dissemination and promotion of culture, and culture gives souvenirs unique characteristics and cultural connotations. With the increasingly competitive academic environment, an in-depth understanding of the relationship between souvenirs and local culture is crucial to the theory and practice of souvenir and local culture-development research. The main purpose of this study is to review the previous literature that articulates the dynamic relationship of interdependence and development between souvenirs and local culture. Based on a systematic literature review, the data for this study came from a review of 35 documents between 2019 and 2024. The documents were then analysed individually using the ATLAS.ti 24 program. The analysis revealed five central themes: (1) sustainability and innovation; (2) authenticity and experience; (3) economic and community impact; (4) cultural identity expression; and (5) consumer behaviour and technology. These themes illuminate that souvenirs are not only cultural ambassadors, but also play a critical role in economic development, cultural preservation, and consumer engagement. The findings provide new directions for future research and actionable insights for practitioners, researchers, and designers who enhance the sustainability of local culture through souvenirs. This review contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic interactions between souvenirs and local cultures and proposes a framework for the sustainable development of souvenirs.

(Re)discovering Ukrainianness: Hutsul folk culture and Ukrainian identity in Soviet film, 1939–1941

ABSTRACT This article examines the Soviet encounter with the Hutsul highlanders of the Eastern Carpathian mountains following the Soviet annexation of eastern Poland in 1939. It demonstrates that the period from September 1939 to June 1941 saw a wave of interest in Hutsul traditional practices across the Soviet cultural sphere that influenced expressions of Ukrainian identity in the USSR. Hutsul folk customs, clothing and handicrafts are displayed in detail in the two most prominent documentaries propagating the Soviet takeover of the Ukrainian west, Oleksandr Dovzhenko’s The Liberation and Iuliia Solntseva’s Bukovyna is a Ukrainian Land (both 1940). Through close analysis of the Carpathian sequences of these films and an examination of the attention given to the highlanders elsewhere in Soviet media, the article reveals how Soviet cultural practitioners view the Hutsuls through an ethnographic gaze that emphasises both their exoticism and their fundamental Ukrainianness. Drawing off a variety of precedents (both Soviet and non-Soviet), the films and other sources depicting Hutsul life contribute to a vision of Ukrainian identity defined by pre-modern culture and an absence of modernity, simultaneously furthering Ukrainian patriotism within the USSR and perpetuating imperialist perceptions of a civilisational gap between Ukraine and the Soviet centre.

Is she still angry? Intact learning but no updating of facial expressions priors in autism.

Autistic people exhibit atypical use of prior information when processing simple perceptual stimuli; yet, it remains unclear whether and how these difficulties in using priors extend to complex social stimuli. Here, we compared autistic people without accompanying intellectual disability and nonautistic people in their ability to acquire an "emotional prior" of a facial expression and update this prior to a different facial expression of the same identity. Participants performed a two-interval same/different discrimination task between two facial expressions. To study the acquisition of the prior, we examined how discrimination was modified by the contraction of the perceived facial expressions toward the average of presented stimuli (i.e., regression to the mean). At first, facial expressions surrounded one average emotional prior (mostly sad or angry), and then the average switched (to mostly angry or sad, accordingly). Autistic people exhibited challenges in facial discrimination, and yet acquired the first prior, demonstrating typical regression-to-the-mean effects. However, unlike nonautistic people, autistic people did not update their perception to the second prior, suggesting they are less flexible in updating an acquired prior of emotional expressions. Our findings shed light on the perception of emotional expressions, one of the most pressing challenges in autism.

R/The_Donald Had a Forum: How Socialization in Far-Right Social Media Communities Shapes Identity and Spreads Extreme Rhetoric

Can engagement with far-right social media communities socialize users into a new political identity? This study addresses concerns about the spread of far-right groups on mainstream social media platforms by examining how newcomers are affected by their engagement with these groups. I theorize that changes in social identity expression indicative of socialization will be measurable in the language users use to express themselves on social media, and that the magnitude of this linguistic change will intensify with more frequent far-right engagement. I develop a custom dictionary of far-right-relevant terms sourced from communities like The Daily Stormer and Stormfront. Using an original dataset of Reddit user posting histories from 2015–2017, I test for increases in the frequency of this far-right vocabulary. I find that users who engage often with a far-right community like r/The_Donald begin to sound more like white nationalists within three months. Socialized users also use far-right vocabulary more frequently in other spaces on their platform, contributing to the spread and normalization of far-right rhetoric.

Pushing the Boundaries of Reflection

This article presents a correspondence project completed during the 2019-2020 academic year. To encourage reflection and create divergent modes of expression, teaching staff paired undergraduate students across modules and gave them a blank postcard each week. The students’ brief was an open one - to reflect on their educational experience surrounding the modules with textual and visual representations. The emotionality and expressions of identity that flowed through the postcards were striking. This lent itself to a personally impassioned criticality, meaningful dialogue and more holistic observations on how learning took place.

Black body representation in Get Out (2017) and Us (2019) by Jordan Peele

Black characters soon appeared in Hollywood films such as The Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance (1916). They are recognised as criminals, not conceded as human rights. African-American directors created films to change the image of black people. Jordan Peele inherits the efforts of his predecessors and takes the story of black people in cinema to a new level with identity clarification. That is clearly shown in the movies Get Out (2017) and Us (2019). The research aims to identify the black body representation in the above two films by Jordan Peele as an expression of identity. Body denial is the root cause of violence among African Americans. This acts as a form of identity tracing. The research combines the use of cinematic narrative and semiotic approaches with interdisciplinary research methods such as culturology and anthropology. The basic principle of the position of the research is the theory of ethnic identity. The use of comparison, collation, analysis and synthesis will be applied in the process of developing theses.

Negotiating Danish identity with(in) Copenhagen's postcolonial landscape of commemoration

The paper investigates changes to Copenhagen's landscape of commemoration concerning its former colony, the Danish West Indies (DWI), prompted by the 2017 centennial anniversary of the Islands' sale to the US. It argues that Denmark, like other European nations, navigates a postcolonial identity crisis and that the landscape of commemoration plays a significant role within it. The paper advances our understanding of postcolonial Europe's identity crisis not only by shedding light on the under-explored case of Denmark, but also by emphasizing the role of the landscape of commemoration in this crisis. In addition to demonstrating how landscapes function as ‘arenas’ for negotiating expressions of hegemonic identity and territorial claims, it argues that the commemorative landscape is pivotal in tackling the construction of ‘Europe’ as a detached, self-made entity rather than a space (re)produced through connections with other (ed) places and people. It underscores that Europe's allegedly monochromatic historical fabric is woven from diverse global threads. Re-membering Europe with the people and regions vital to its (re)production re-writes them into European history and re-locates detached Europe (with)in the world.

Dressed to Kill

Recent trends in contemporary horror TV present queer women as Western media’s latest anti-hero, foregrounding presentations of hyper-femininity as central to queer women’s violence. I examine how representations of ‘violent lesbians’ are used by viewers to aid in shaping and understanding their own identities. Drawing on fashion theory as well as Barbara Creed’s concept of the ‘monstrous feminine’ to examine the role depictions of hyper-femininity play in both highlighting and undermining women’s power, I present a textual analysis of two queer horror shows – Ratched (2020–) and Killing Eve (2018–2022) – alongside discussions with fans via focus groups and interviews. I examine how these shows represent queerness and femininity in relation to violent women, and how women and non-binary individuals collectively create meaning out of these representations. I argue that while these shows present viewers with alternative images of femininity, they also reinforce certain gender norms, supporting dominant power structures that present a restrained image of queer women’s deviancy, and one that is not available to all bodies. Viewers critically engage with this material, utilising these shows to expand their own understandings and expressions of identity, while also challenging the shows’ limitations.

Koloniale Laster

Abstract In this article, Carlos Pereda introduces the concept of “colonial reason” and explores how philosophical practices and modes of thought are entwined with colonial political structures of exploitation, exclusion, and oppression. Pereda argues that philosophy in Latin America risks perpetuating and reinforcing the colonial gesture, either by turning to the European centers of thought (thus pursuing debates that always take place elsewhere) or by isolating itself and idealising the “own.” According to Pereda, both approaches fail to dismantle colonial violence within philosophy. In his alternative approach, Pereda outlines principles and methodological criteria for the decolonisation of reason and philosophy. He emphasises the importance of methodological prudence that discerns between innocent, paralysing, and strategic uses of identity expressions and advocates for modes of reading and argumentation that conceive philosophy as an inclusive and ongoing dialogue. In Pereda’s terminology, this entails fostering “permeable reason” that manifests itself through “nomadic thinking,” a form of thinking that is capable of questioning itself and being questioned.

The Role of Fashion Illustration as a Communicative Tool in Design

This qualitative study investigates fashion illustration's role as a conceptual communication tool within Ghana's developing design education landscape through interviewing 5 fashion lecturers and 10 undergraduate students. The thematic analysis uncovers multifaceted pedagogical and socio-cultural functions of illustration in nurturing students' cultural visual literacies, critical perspectives, and creative confidence during early design stages. Perspectives highlight persistent challenges balancing mainstream global aesthetics and meaningful representations of local cultural traditions and identities across the curriculum. Findings provide empirically grounded, localized insights on leveraging this visual medium to bridge modernity and tradition at the intersection of Ghana's emerging formal fashion infrastructures and dynamic transnational design flows. Foregrounding Ghanaian voices shape the understanding of how hybridity manifests through selectively integrating foreign illustration techniques to nurture local relevance. Interpretations posit illustration's capacity to strengthen pluralistic communication and identity expression anchored in indigenous visual culture yet resonating globally. This exploratory study constitutes an early step toward decolonizing African design pedagogies by elevating Ghanaian standpoints and creative-educational priorities to enrich conceptual communication functionality. Wider survey and comparative research can further generalize and contextualize findings toward this long-term goal.

Heroes or Villains? Memetic Communication of Politics in Poland in Times of COVID-19 Crisis

This study presents how politics was portrayed and narrated through memes in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings confirm that memes were indicators of opinions and an expression of a collective identity, which could contribute to sociopolitical polarization by creating “enemy” images of disliked politicians as “villains”.

Exploring Heteronormativity and the Illusion of the “Real Man”: A Case Study of Sivuyile (Siv) Ngesi

ABSTRACT In this paper, we aim to explore public reactions to non-normative expressions of masculinity within South African society. We argue that although society has become more accepting of such expressions, there still exists public criticism and heteronormative labelling of sexuality and gender. The case study of a local entertainment celebrity, Sivuyile Ngesi, is used to interrogate the illusion of the “real man” and the construction of heteronormative masculinities in the South African context. Ngesi’s personal portrayal of his masculine identity is unconventional and provides an example of an atypical expression of a Black African heterosexual identity. In the paper we draw on a range of local media sources, as well as an in-depth interview with Ngesi himself, to discuss an idiosyncratic vision of an alternative Black African masculine identity and the realities and implications around it.

Tindak Tutur Ekspresif dalam Komentar Youtube kanal Nihongo Mantappu episode “AKHIRNYA LULUS KULIAH! WISUDA WASEDA UNIVERSITY”

A study on expressive speech acts in YouTube channel comments can provide valuable insights into various aspects of online interactions, such as community formation, negotiation of meaning, and expression of identity. The objective of this study is to describe the different forms and functions of expressive speech acts in the comments section of the YouTube video entitled "AKHIRNYA LULUS WISUDA! WISUDA WASEDA UNIVERSITY" on the Nihongo Mantappu channel. This video was posted in April 2022. The study employed a qualitative research design with a pragmatic approach to analyze the comments and identify the different expressive speech acts utilized by netizens. Three primary forms of expressive speech acts were identified in the comment section of Nihongo Mantappu's YouTube account: praising or expressing admiration, offering congratulations, and expressing gratitude towards others for their contributions. Overall, the study concluded that expressive speech acts play a significant role in online interactions and contribute to the formation of virtual communities.

A Literature Review on the Identity Construction of the Simulacra Subject in Jean Genet’s The Balcony

Jean Genet's The Balcony explores the fundamental elements of subject identity construction and identification within a framework of double paradoxes. The reconfigurations of simulacra activities challenge the traditional political model of theater, redefining the nature and expression of the subject's identity and endowing theatrical representation with political potential. The subject of simulacra exists in a constant state of internal and external constitutive difference, emphasizing the essential incompleteness and antagonistic dimension of identity construction, which resonates with the political realm. The dual nature of the other renders the construction of the subject's identity an insurmountable task, while the perpetual opposition of the dual relationship converges into tertiary natures, exposing the failure point of impossibility and necessity in subject identity construction. The trinity mode of the subject continually replaces power relationships through negation, engendering space for reflection. This paper employs Deleuze's theory of in-itself difference and Mouffe and Laclau's theory of antagonism and hegemony to analyze the foundational structural strategy of subject identity construction and identification in The Balcony. It elucidates how this strategy establishes the necessary conditions for the autonomy of politics within Genet Theatre.

Gender socialisation and perception of gender by non-heteronormative people

The submitted report focuses on the results of research carried out for a bachelor’s thesis titled “gender socialisation and perception of gender by non-heteronormative people”, in which the author focuses on gender socialisation of interviewees of non-heteronormative gender and/or sexual identity, their narrative about gender identity (in general, as well as personal sense) and gender expression, social roles expected of them as a result of their gender assigned at birth and restrictions they face in their daily life due to their gender identity. Social constructivism points out that masculinity and femininity are not constant but able-to-be-modified fluid products of everyday interactions. The process of constructing one’s gender connotates strictly with domineering discourse defining norms of masculine and feminine behaviour, which become overwhelmingly restrictive in regards to an individual’s thinking and actions. For this research, data was gathered from nine individual in-depth interviews supported by a script. During those interviews, interlocutors shared their personal stories about their gendered upbringing, explained what it means to identify with gender on a spectrum, indicated it through appearance and described their coming-out experiences.

Sexual Violence Against Men in Civil Conflict

Sexual violence against men in conflict settings is neither a rare nor recent phenomenon, yet its absence in academic scholarship and humanitarian initiatives remains glaring. Despite the advances in our understanding of the determinants of wartime sexual violence against women, surprisingly little empirical research exists on sexual violence against men in conflict. Acts of sexual violence are commonly enacted against men in war, yet because they do not fit more narrow definitions of rape, accounts of these experiences are often misclassified as “torture.” Moreover, in many countries experiencing pervasive conflict-related sexual violence, there exist restrictive laws regarding sodomy and homosexuality, reducing the chances that males will report their experiences. Using originally coded data on sexual and gender identity laws and reported incidents of sexual violence in civil conflict, I find that laws that outline the protection of sexual and gender identity expression including the decriminalization of same-sex activity are significantly associated with reports of acts of sexual violence against men. The results speak to the gap in the literature on male sexual violence with tangible consequences for the distribution of humanitarian aid, availability of medical and psychological services for victims, and aims of peacekeeping missions.

Empowerment of transgender people through intervention and food skill training

Gender is a term that is used when referring to social, cultural, and psychological characteristics that affect and pertain to stereotypes, norms, traits, and roles of men and women “Gender diversity exists in every culture and geographic context. Transgender people are people whose gender identity is different from the gender they were thought to be at birth. "Trans" is often used as a shorthand for transgender. Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity or gender expression differs from the sex they were designed at birth. Aim and Objectives: To empower the transgender through intervention and food processing training. To collect the socio-demographic profile of the transgender population. To provide the entrepreneurship skill training on food processing. To provide the intervention on reproductive health. Materials and Methods: In this study, 100 transgender persons were selected by a random method. Variables including age, anthropometric factors, food habits were recorded for each case. The socio-demographic variables, anthropometric, clinical assessment, dietary pattern, and associated factors of transgender are evaluated using an appropriate questionnaire. Statistical comparison of means among different groups was performed using SPSS version 17.0. Before and after without control design was adopted for this study, such as design a single test group or area is selected and the dependent variable is measured before the introduction of the treatment. The treatment is then introduced and the dependent variable is measured again after the treatment has been introduced. And provide skill training on food processing-malted foods, Vegetable preservation, and processing, Bakery products development. Results: There were significant differences in anthropometric factors including height, weight, and BMI among the literacy levels (p<0.01). And acquired knowledge on food processing skills, trained to prepare various food products, empowered to start self-employment, Improvement of transgender population living standard.

Give Your Life to the Economy: Death Management and Neoliberalism in the Brazil of the Pandemic – A Secondary Publication

This essay is a reflection on how the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has re-edited and updated the old mechanisms of neoliberalism and the management of death in Brazil. We discussed the imperatives and messages repeated since March 2020 in the media that transmit a false idea of freedom of choice concerning individual protection, while the State, reinforcing the neoliberal ideology and producing feelings of failure, guilt, and fear materially leaves a large part of the population unprotected. Then, we articulated notions about neoliberalism and the lack of social protection on how death management has been conducted during the pandemic. Finally, we reflected on the possibility of weather insurgency and promoted the idea that the established solidarity networks are expressions of solidarity and class identity based on what resembles us as humans.