Loss Of Authenticity Research Articles

Kitsch as a Mirror of Pop Culture in the Era of Hyper-Reality

The purpose of the study is to define the features of kitsch in the context of its application in contemporary pop culture. To investigate the relationship between kitsch and hyperreality using Baudrillard's philosophical theory of hyperreality. The research methodology includes general scientific principles of systematisation and generalisation of the problem under study, which made it possible to identify and scientifically substantiate existing theories, conceptual approaches to understanding the content of the concepts of “kitsch”, “hyperreality”, “grassroots” and “high” culture. The following methods were used: analytical, historical, and comparative. The historical method helped to find the origins of kitsch and establish the chronology of its development. The comparative method was used to identify and search for properties and characteristics based on the collected information. The use of the analytical research method helped to analyse the data and form hypotheses based on it. The scientific novelty is a comprehensive consideration of kitsch in the context of its application in the modern era of hyperreality. On this basis, the specific features of kitsch were synthesised, namely: hyperbole, idealisation, commercialisation, loss of authenticity, superficiality, vulgarity, template, imitation (parody), mass and emotional manipulation. Conclusions. Contemporary pop culture is heavily influenced by the processes of globalisation and digitalisation, which have radically affected and continue to influence the development of culture in general. The result of these processes is the emergence and rapid development of kitsch. Its characteristic features are hyperbole, idealisation, commercialisation, loss of authenticity, superficiality, vulgarity, template, imitation (parody), mass appeal, and emotional manipulation. These are the main features inherent in kitsch, and they allow us to unmistakably identify the presence of kitsch in a particular work of art. It is important to note that the specificity of contemporary pop culture is also dictated by the general context of its existence in the era of hyperreality. Most often, this is expressed in the hyperbolisation of the images conveyed. These and other features give kitsch a special status of an important part of pop culture, and also influence its formation by creating new standards. Accordingly, kitsch should be seen as a means of analysing contemporary cultural trends. After all, these trends are in a constant stage of formation and development, which require vigilance and frequent attention from contemporary scholars.

Commercialization of Hip-Hop Culture and the Evolution of Youth Consumption Patterns from Symbols of Rebellion to Fashion Trends

This paper explores the commercialization of hip-hop culture and its profound influence on fashion and youth consumption patterns. Originally a symbol of rebellion and a voice for marginalized communities, hip-hop has evolved into a mainstream cultural force, reshaping global fashion trends. The transition from underground streetwear to luxury fashion is analyzed through key moments in hip-hop’s history, including collaborations with major brands like Adidas, Nike, and Gucci. The rise of streetwear brands such as Supreme, Off-White, and Yeezy exemplifies how hip-hop’s commercial success has transformed it into a powerful influence on youth identity and social status. However, this commercialization presents a double-edged sword, raising concerns about the loss of authenticity and cultural roots. The paper examines how social media and digital platforms have amplified hip-hop’s reach and discusses the ongoing tension between its original rebellious spirit and its role as a commercial enterprise. The study also highlights the global impact of hip-hop on consumption behaviors, focusing on the rise of exclusive product drops and the commodification of streetwear.

Places and Non-Places, Being and Non-Being: Main Ideas Developed from the German Idealism

German Idealism profoundly impacted various fields, including philosophy, politics, and aesthetics. Its ideas influenced subsequent philosophical movements, such as existentialism and phenomenology. In philosophical discourse, one finds many perspectives that delve into the intricate relationship between human existence and the spaces we inhabit. Among these renowned thinkers, two voices emerge: Martin Heidegger and Marc Augé’s who share parallel ideas concerning the absence of meaning, disorientation, loss of authenticity, and the impact of modernity on human experience. Both perspectives invite us to reflect on our existence, our spaces, and the deeper connections we seek in a rapidly changing world.

Molecular marker-assisted genetic diversity analysis in soybean cultivars from Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India

‘Bhat’ is the soybean variety highly valued in the traditional food and therapeutic system of Uttarakhand state in the Indian Himalayan region. It is available in diverse colors, shapes, and sizes, often linked to their nutritional parameters. The present investigation was conducted to assess the diversity and genetic relatedness in ‘bhat’ genotype indigenous to the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. 25 polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers were used to determine the genetic diversity and varietal identification among the 45 genotypes collected from the different villages of Uttarakhand. Out of the different markers assessed only 13 primers showed amplification with the maximum of 2–4 alleles obtained with each primer with the molecular weight ranging between 80 and 400 kb. The highest band amplification was observed in Satt 257 and Satt 197. The allelic frequencies of amplified primers ranged from 0.5 to 0.833 with a mean value of 0.645 and the mean gene diversity and PIC value was found to be 0.43 and 0.33. Satt 183, Satt 288, and Satt 389 showed the highest polymorphism, while Satt257 and Satt245 exhibited the presence of unique alleles in some samples. The phylogenetic analysis grouped the genotypes into 4 major clusters having visually distinct phenotypes in each group, indicating the mixing of population and loss of authenticity also confirming that phenotypic attributes are not indicative of genetic relatedness among the genotype under study. The results indicate the need for the development of novel ‘bhat’ specific markers for more accurate genetic identification of the nutritionally rich indigenous soybean variety.

GLOBALIZATION AND METAL REPOUSSÉ CRAFT OF VARANASI: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Varanasi, on the Ganges River in India, is recognized for its old crafts and culture. Metal repoussé is one of several art forms that reference millennia-old aesthetics and methods. Varanasi metal repoussé had problems and possibilities with globalisation. This abstract explores Varanasi's metal repoussé craft's complex relationship with globalisation, its problems, and potential for sustainable expansion. Globalisation has benefited and hurt Varanasi crafts like metal repoussé. Artists may present their work abroad with greater connection and market access, boosting economic and cultural interchange. Globalisation causes loss of authenticity, mass-produced replacements, and artisan exploitation for profit. Metal repoussé artists in Varanasi battle to preserve their skills and creations despite progress. Globalisation might destroy ancient traditions. Customers want quicker, cheaper goods; therefore, craftspeople must decrease their quality and authenticity requirements to compete. Globalisation has commercialized craft, turning it into commodities. Commercialization devalues each piece's work, ability, and cultural relevance, exploiting artists who are already suffering. Despite these constraints, globalisation may reinvigorate Varanasi's metal repoussé craft. One solution is using digital networks and technology to reach more people while retaining creative expression. Handicrafts are respected more because internet markets and social media allow craftspeople to exhibit their work, engage with buyers, and share their story. Collaborations with cultural organisations, historians, and designers may modernize and experiment with methods. Craftspeople may attract more customers and stay up with the market by incorporating new ideas and design features while keeping their trade. Varanasi craftsmen may benefit on the rising demand for environmentally and ethically manufactured goods by presenting their products as cultural heritage and sustainability. Craftspeople may attract socially conscious clients by emphasising local resources, eco-friendly processes, and fair trade. In today's globalized world, the Varanasi metal repoussé craft has many obstacles but also many potentials for development and creativity. Collaboration, technology, and historical preservation help craftspeople participate in the global market.

Algorithmic Information Theory for the Precise Engineering of Flexible Material Mechanics

The structure of fibrous assemblies is highly complex, being both random and regular at the same time, which leads to the complexity of its mechanical behaviour. Using algorithms such as machine learning to process complex mechanical property data requires consideration and understanding of its information principles. There are many different methods and instruments for measuring flexible material mechanics, and many different mechanics models exist. There is a need for an evaluation method to determine how close the results they obtain are to the real material mechanical behaviours. This paper considers and investigates measurements, data, models and simulations of fabric’s low-stress mechanics from an information perspective. The simplification of measurements and models will lead to a loss of information and, ultimately, a loss of authenticity in the results. Kolmogorov complexity is used as a tool to analyse and evaluate the algorithmic information content of multivariate nonlinear relationships of fabric stress and strain. The loss of algorithmic information content resulting from simplified approaches to various material measurements, models and simulations is also evaluated. For example, ignoring the friction hysteresis component in the material mechanical data can cause the model and simulation to lose more than 50% of the algorithm information, whilst the average loss of information using uniaxial measurement data can be as high as 75%. The results of this evaluation can be used to determine the authenticity of measurements and models and to identify the direction for new measurement instrument development and material mechanics modelling. It has been shown that a vast number of models, which use unary relationships to describe fabric behaviour and ignore the presence of frictional hysteresis, are inaccurate because they hold less than 12% of real fabric mechanics data. The paper also explores the possibility of compressing the measurement data of fabric mechanical properties.

Unearthing lights-induced epilithic bacteria community assembly and associated function potentials in historical relics

Microbial biodeterioration causes a considerable loss of authenticity and aesthetic value of historical relics worldwide. However, we know very little about the ecology of the environmental microbiomes of these fragile ecosystems, impeding their long-term conservation. Towards an essential understanding, we explored the highly interactive triangle among community assembly process, composition and biodeterioration functional potentials of dominant epilithic bacteria community in a 1060-year stone relics-the Two Mausoleums of the Southern Tang Dynasty in China. Microbial assembly processes were evaluated using statistical null models and then associated with taxonomic and biodeterioration functional diversities along successional chronosequences. Results showed that stochasticity was a persistent force structuring the assembly of the epilithic bacterial community, creating a succession characterized with diverse heterotrophic colonizers but with reduced prevalence of Cyanobacteria. Along with the succession, potential functional diversity significantly increased, which may in turn induce severe biodeterioration to historical relics. To benefit reservation management, we speculate that it is critical for a scheme to interfere with the ongoing stochasticity. In total, a systematic perspective linking community assembly, taxonomic and functional compositions is key to understanding ecological mechanisms underlying microbial biodeterioration of cultural relics and supporting preventive conservation for future generations.

UNESCO world heritage branding: learning from some cases in Asia

UNESCO World Heritage listing is often misunderstood as branding to promote mass tourism or as a vehicle for economic development by a city or the state party. The reflection is aimed to shed light on the fundamental principles that underlie the listing and the integration of the World Heritage scheme with the Sustainable Development Policy. The reflection is done through the case study method of a specific real-life phenomenon in Asia to gain insights into complex and intricate situations and highlight the common misunderstanding through several cases. The study found the policy bias towards investment and tourism agenda and not towards the fulfilment of public welfare, often without ethics applying the top-down policy. The study also found evidence of irreversible damages to tangible and intangible aspects of cultural and natural heritage due to gentrification, commodification, decreasing carrying capacity, and loss of authenticity. The study aims to understand better the four pillars of integrating the World Heritage and Sustainable Development policy in achieving environmental sustainability, inclusive social development, inclusive economic development, and fostering peace and security.

PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF MEDICAL STUDENT AT THE STAGE OF CHOOSING THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY

Abstract. The current realities exacerbate the crisis of adaptation of the individual, especially the adolescent, who is acutely experiencing an intense sense of anxiety due to the ever-increasing impact of the emotional factors, such as fear for their own safety due to the current military realities of our country. This can cause a loss of authenticity and a sense of psychological well-being. Therefore, the article analyzes in detail the concepts of “mental health”, “psychological health”, “psycho-emotional health”, identifies common and distinctive characteristics. Attention is focused on the psycho-emotional health of a student of a higher medical institution when choosing a future profession under stressful conditions. The key factors influencing the psychoemotional health of a medical student are determined. It is established that emotions play a motivating and semantic role in the choice of future professional activity, because they generate and mobilize the perception, thinking and actions of a medical student. Taking into account a number of studies, it is stated that psycho-emotional health is a guarantor of active action of the future medical specialist, aimed at realizing the need and possibility of self-realization. In addition, it is stipulated that vitality and stress resistance are of great importance in the context of understanding the psychological health of the individual at the stage of his professional development. Generally speaking, it is about the protective and compensatory parameters of personality resources throughout life, which directly or indirectly affect the components of psychological health. It is noted that each component of psycho-emotional health in this complex structural formation performs a corresponding function. Instead, it is inappropriate to consider the independent and independent role of the components. The psycho-emotional health of a student determines his ability to self-regulate behavior, activate his own vital resources, comprehend his life position, choose a future profession and assert himself in society.

THE HEROIC PERIOD OF ARCHITECTURE IN UKRAINE

This article is devoted to the search for answers to several burning questions: what is the uniqueness of the industrial, civil and residential architecture of Ukraine in the 1920s - early 1930s? Does it need to be preserved? Why did foreign architectural criticism call these years the “heroic period of architecture”, yet the early Modernism of that time is still not appreciated at its true worth in its homeland? What was ‘heroic’ in the architecture of Ukraine and its first capital, Kharkiv? A brief analysis of the political and economic situation in which the newly-born independent Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic found itself is given. The most striking examples of modernist architecture in Ukraine are selected for argumentation. These are industrial giants such as Dniproges and Kharkiv Turbine Plant, the new cities of Zaporizhzhia and New Kharkiv, grandiose metropolitan projects: the ensemble of Svoboda Square—the largest square in Europe, as well as other examples of avant-garde architecture built or developed in those years are presented in the article. The reasons for their loss of authenticity in subsequent decades are revealed. Finally, the problem of preserving the heritage of Modernism in Ukraine in the conditions of a new war is touched upon.

Hybridity in a Western Siberian Bear Ceremony

Abstract Hybridity is often discussed in connection with the postcolonial condition. The cultural revival of the Khanty bear ceremony in Western Siberia could be a perfect example. It is on one hand a key representation of local Indigenous ontology and on the other has become a token in cultural heritage preservation by state actors and a cultural commodity for local tourism and media outlets. Indigenous activists struggle against the loss of authenticity with ideas of purism and scholars identifying the amalgamation of Indigenous ritual elements with Christian ideas and inventions of tradition on the other hand. I argue that the perception of original purity of elements that develop into hybrid forms in the colonial and postcolonial context is somewhat misleading. Instead, I propose that we look at hybridity and purity as intertwined dialectical aspects of cultural politics with a multiplicity of voices and perspectives and negotiated relations at several levels.

Staging Depth: Eugene O’Neill and the Politics of Psychological Discourse

Staging Depth: Eugene O’Neill and the Politics of Psychological Discourse

Istanbul as a "City of Design"

Istanbul as a "City of Design"

A data-driven analysis of experience in urban historic districts

This paper implements a context-based text mining approach in online reviews of three European historic city districts, to assess the data-driven projection of experiences and major determinants of traveler satisfaction. Bivariate analyses, semantic networks of experience concepts, and word association statistics are used. Results are interpreted in contrast to experience deterioration issues caused by the loss of authenticity, as argued by recent literature. Overtourism signs are a powerful determinant of unfavorable evaluations, but images formed by reviewers are predominantly positive. Nonetheless, although references to authenticity and local identity are not common, destinations failing to project non-touristified aspects are less favored. Overall, evaluations are driven by gratification from offered products and services, as well as passive esthetic consumption of surroundings.

Juxtaposing inside and outside: façadism as a strategy for building adaptation

Façadism is usually described as the practice of preserving historical façades and the construction of new buildings behind them. While it became a frequently used strategy for urban conservation in the 1960s, it was strongly criticised as an architecture of poor quality that also led to a loss of authenticity in building. This article questions this predominantly negative perception of the practice of façadism to demonstrate its potential for contemporary architectural practice, especially in the field of adaptive reuse. As such, it does not strive to justify all forms of façadism, nor does it evaluate its compatibility with local legal frameworks regarding conservation and planning. The article rather seeks to launch a more nuanced discussion of various forms of façadism, based on a conceptual analysis of the subject to elaborate on its potential beyond its merely economic or pragmatic aspects. The article starts with a literature review to offer an overview of the definitions and interpretations of façadism. It then illustrates how four different forms of façadism (façade retention; refronting existing buildings; functional upgrading through façade intervention; and the creation of a coherent streetscape) are implemented in contemporary architectural practice. The ensuing conclusion is that façadism has the potential to become a valuable design strategy.

Evidence-Based Medicine and the Potential for Inclusion of Non-Biomedical Health Systems: The Case for Taijiquan.

Many traditional and complementary and alternative healthcare systems or practices, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, taijiquan, or acupuncture, are easily found in many North American and European cities. For the most part these practices are not accredited, and their validation remains limited. This is primarily the result of the lack of modern scientific research. Additionally, the studies that are performed rely on evidence and research designs that often negate the true features of these practices with a loss of authenticity. Is it possible or even desirable for these systems to acquire accreditation and inclusion? If so, given the apparent, subjective nature of these practices, can a pluralistic approach to healthcare that retains the Western values of science and medicine be developed that yet respects the diversity of different concepts about life, health and services while permitting these practices to maintain their authenticity? And is it possible to develop a regulatory framework that practitioners can use? The current paper examines questions concerning the uses of non-Western healthcare practices without the loss of their authentic nature. The process of integration is here examined using the inclusion of taijiquan as a health-promoting martial art as the model.

Reconstruction of the Old Castle of Hrodna

The Old Castle in Hrodna is the most important architectural monument for Belarus in terms of its historical value, since it is the only architectural object in the country where state institutions have functioned for more than seven centuries. Active reconstruction of the castle, which began in 2016, showed that the «revival» of this building is supported by a significant part of the Belarusian society and elites, also due to the fact that castles are perceived as important symbols in the Belarusian national narrative. At the same time, such heritage objects are quite convenient in terms of interpretation and, depending on the situation and needs, can be used as symbols of different ideas and concepts. The reconstruction of the Old Castle is the quintessence of the «romantic» approach to the restoration of architectural monuments, when the basis of the concept is the desire to restore the object for a certain narrow period «in all its greatness». The project for the reconstruction of this castle is characterized by the desire to increase the architectural volumes in height in order to create a more expressive image. At the same time, the works performed in 2017–2020 showed that a significant part of architects, officials and the Belarusian society are not embarrassed by the striking difference between the proposed image and how the castle looked according to historical sources. However, the implementation of this approach threatens the Old Castle with a loss of authenticity, which is the greatest value of this monument in the long term.

Divination and its Potential Futures: Sensation, Scripts, and the Virtual in South Korean Eight-character Fortune Telling

Horoscopic eight-character divination (saju p’alcha) flourishes both face-to-face and online in South Korea. Contrary to a face-to-face reading, however, the fortune teller is no longer necessary in digital divination. This article highlights some of the transitions and tensions between more conventional forms of divination and their digital counterparts. Rather than conceptualizing these transitions in relation to a loss of authenticity or material presence, this work examines the potentials of online mediations in regard to how they are not only consumed as knowledge, but also as phenomenological and affective experiences connected to the virtual. The virtual foundations of religion expand to include divination activity, which are key to understanding its proliferation across digital platforms.

Indigenous tourism in Australia: understanding the link between cultural heritage and intention to participate using the means-end chain theory

ABSTRACTTourism is often suggested as a development strategy for Indigenous people while protecting their cultural and natural heritage. However, without actual visitor participation, the good intentions of tourism cannot be achieved. By using the means-end chain theory and adopting a convergent mixed-methods approach using photographs, this study seeks to identify the link between visitor perceptions about Australian Indigenous tourism attributes and their intention to participate on this type of tourism. Two Australian Indigenous tourism activities (short tour and performance), portraying both traditional and contemporary culture, at Cairns, Queensland were tested with 209 visitors. The results reveal that the attributes ‘history/art/culture’ and ‘local’ are perceptions linked to Indigenous tourism. The findings support previous studies by identifying that some participants associated Indigenous tourism with a traditional past; however, the majority of participants expressed a contemporary perception of Indigenous culture. These findings highlight the need for Indigenous tourism stakeholders to monitor and protect their historical and evolving cultural heritage (in particular intangible heritage) when engaging in Indigenous tourism. Cultural heritage could be susceptible to commodification and loss of authenticity in order to accommodate visitor expectations.

Nutraceutical potentialities of Tunisian Argan oil based on its physicochemical properties and fatty acid content as assessed through Bayesian network analyses

BackgroundArgan oil is traditionally produced by cold pressing in South-western Morocco where rural population uses it as edible oil as well as for its therapeutic properties which give them in counterpart valuable income. Given the economical interest of this oil, several attempts of fraudulency have been registered in the world global market leading to loss of authenticity. Our purpose is to launch a program of Tunisian Argan oil valorization since trees from this species have been introduced sixty years ago in Tunisia. The first step was thus to characterize the physicochemical properties and determine the chemical composition of Tunisian Argan oil in order to assess its quality.MethodsPhysicochemical parameters of oil quality were determined according to the international standard protocols. Fatty acid content analysis of Argan oils was performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrophotometry. A comparative study was realized among Tunisian, Moroccan and Algerian samples differing also by their extraction procedure. The impact of geographical localisation on the fatty acids composition was studied by statistical and modeling Bayesian analyses.ResultsPhysicochemical parameters analysis showed interestingly that Tunisian Argan oil could be classified as extra virgin oil. Argan oil is mainly composed by unsaturated fatty acids (80%), mainly oleic and linoleic acid (linoleic acid was positively influenced by the geographical localization (r = 0.899, p = 0.038) and the P/S index (r = 0.987, p = 0.002)) followed by saturated fatty acids (20%) with other beneficial compounds from the unsaponifiable fraction like polyphenols and carotenoids. Together with fatty acid content, these minor components are likely to be responsible for its nutraceutical properties and beneficial effects.ConclusionTunisian Argan oil displayed valuable qualitative parameters proving its competitiveness in comparison with Moroccan and Algerian oils, and could be therefore considered as extra virgin edible oil for nutraceutical purposes as well as for cosmetic use.