Parallel Worlds Research Articles

Rafael Acevedo’s Cynical Voice in Literature: Finding Words Beyond Neoliberal Numbing

This essay examines the possibly subversive functions of cynical enunciations as found in Puerto Rican author Rafael Acevedo’s 2014 novel Al otro lado del muro hay carne fresca (There’s Fresh Meat on the Other Side of the Wall). It asks how the relocation of the cynical figure from a factual context into the world of dystopian fiction and metafiction may challenge a passive stance and allude to alternative enunciations beyond the reaffirmation of an extant neoliberal power structure. Through the stubborn insistence on the continuity of cynical discourse, as ambiguous and ever self-scrutinizing wavering motion among levels of enunciation, Acevedo’s narrator explores and discusses counter-narratives and reflections in the parallel world of fiction.

Interactive Digital Poetry and Experimental Prospects: A Study of the Works of Digital Poet Mushtaq Abbas Ma'an

Interactive digital literature offers parallel worlds between linguistic text based on the eloquence of letters, their energy, and digital interactive text based on visual, kinetic, chromatic, and auditory elements, enriched by the participation of the receiver who becomes an explorer. This literature is the product of significant cognitive developments. In this research, we aim to examine experimentation in the works of digital poet Mushtaq Abbas Ma'an and the evolution of his tools, starting with his first collection, "Digital Verses of Some of Which Are Blue," through his second collection, "The Infinite Fire Wall," to his latest collection, “Ancient pain with enduring echoes.” which combines printed text and interactive digital work in a pioneering and remarkable experiment within its field. We will focus on the key foundations of both works, noting the poet's openness to experimentation. We will delve deeper into the study of the last collection, which encapsulates the creative process, to analyze the evolution of the poet's perspective on interactive digital poetry, the development of his tools, and his digital experience. To achieve this goal, the research will follow the following plan: Phase One: Digital Verses of Some of Which Are Blue and the Experimentation Adventure. Phase Two: The Infinite Fire Wall and Continuation After a Break. Phase Three: Ancient pain with enduring echoes and the Completion of the Digital Experiment.

Parallel Worlds? The Partisan Effects of COVID-19 on Real Estate

Parallel Worlds? The Partisan Effects of COVID-19 on Real Estate

Hard Spirits: Architectural Apparitions in Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away

AbstractFilm has a long history of spectral association, from the possibilities of projection, the dancing image that hangs in the air, to the translucence of the media itself. Taking inspiration from a Japanese animation, Michael Chapman, Professor and Chair of Architecture and Industrial Design at Western Sydney University, has created a series of works that seek to fill in the haunted blanks and uncanny parallaxes that exist between the space we view and perceive in the filmic sequence and an ‘objective’ reality of that architecture. He uses some of the compositional protocols of the traditional scroll and machinery to produce his proposal – a parallel world that haunts the absences and holes within the original.

The ways of forming possible worlds of literary text characters: A cognitive linguistic aspect (a study of the novel “Treasure Island” by R.L. Stevenson”)

The article aims to expose various ways along which possible worlds of the characters’ images in the novel “Treasure Island” by R.L. Stevenson are formed. The methodological toolset leveraged in the paper combines the contemporary techniques of cognitive linguistics (namely, semantics of lingual networks) with the basic tenets of the possible worlds theory. The characteristics of the central protagonists of the novel Jim Hawkins and John Silver were analyzed with the help of basic propositional schemas. The characters exist in the novel in several possible worlds which are identified on the basis of the evaluation of the protagonists’ features, the change of the main characters’ location, and the dynamics of their axiology. As the analysis manifested, possible worlds of Jim Hawkins are formed according to the sequential model when the character matures with the unraveling of the plot, transforming from a Child into a Teenager and then into an Adult. A timid and dreamy boy gives way to a somewhat reckless and impulsive youth who finally turns into a courageous man. This maturation enables him to help his friends find the treasure and capture without anybody’s assistance the ship which they use to return home. The image of John Silver has a more complicated architecture since he features in two parallel possible worlds simultaneously as the Ringleader of pirates (nicknamed Barbecue) and Ship’s cook. He shuttles between these two epitomes during the development of the narration trying to achieve his goals. John Silver can wear a disguise of an amiable and hard-working member of the ship’s crew and then suddenly change into a cruel and greedy buccaneer who in cold blood murders people, starts a mutiny, and sticks at nothing to get his share of the treasure. When the mutiny fails, Silver feigns loyalty and obedience by betraying his cronies, but once the ship arrives in England his criminal self surfaces again.

Islam In Everyday Culture And “Wandering Mullahs” In Kazakhstan in the 1950s–1960s

This article explores the role of Islam in the daily culture of the Muslim communities in Soviet Kazakhstan during the 1950s and 1960s. Drawing from a diverse range of materials, including memos, reports, secret communications of party officials, and accounts from commissioners of the Council for Religious Cults, the research sheds light on various facets of religious life among the local population. These documents, compiled from firsthand observations during official trips, consistently underscore the profound impact of Islam on the everyday culture of the faithful in Kazakhstan. The authors highlight a noteworthy discrepancy in the influence of Islam, emphasizing its markedly greater sway on the daily culture of Tatars, Uzbeks, Chechens, and Ingush as compared to Kazakhs. The findings suggest a discernible shift of Islam from mainstream cultural life into a “parallel world,” where pre-Islamic rituals and practices persist in society. Notable among these are fortune-telling based on the Quran and healing rituals performed by “wandering mullahs” employing ushyktau, ushkyru, and the recitation of Quranic surahs. Despite the inherent ideological bias and partiality evident in official documents, the authors argue that these sources remain invaluable for comprehending the impact of Islam on the everyday culture of the Soviet Kazakh population during the 1950s–1960s.

Genie in a Cola Bottle: The Multiple Worlds (and Genres) of G. Willow Wilson's Alif the Unseen (2012)

Abstract: Winner of the 2013 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, G. Willow Wilson's Alif the Unseen brings some new perspectives into the fantasy genre with its Middle Eastern setting and its basis in Islamic mythologies. It generates additional energies by mixing its fantastic elements with elements from other (very Western) genres (including cyberpunk science fiction and the technothriller). At the same time, it makes extensive use of the motif of parallel worlds, which has long been a staple in fantasy fiction. The parallel worlds of Alif the Unseen are particularly interesting in the way they converge, intersect, and bleed into one another at various points, just as the novel also collapses the boundaries between genres. Ultimately, the collapsing boundaries of Alif the Unseen deconstruct Orientalist polar oppositions between East and West by allowing worlds that might be associated with one or the other to meet and interact as equals within the novel.

Jane Austen’s Will – and Those of the Two Cassandras

ABSTRACT As a follow-up to my (linguistic) close-reading of Jane Austen’s Will, this paper analyses the Wills of her mother and sister, Cassandra Austen-Leigh and Cassandra Elizabeth Austen. The dates of these Wills as well as their contents demonstrate the particular concerns of these two testators, both in drawing up legally valid documents and to make sure that their – eventually – not inconsiderable possessions would go to the right legatees. In doing so, the (invalid but nevertheless officially proved) Will of their famous family member set an important example. At the same time, the contents of the Wills, and especially the one by Cassandra, show consideration with the needs of unmarried – or otherwise husbandless – women that were part of their social network, friends as well as dependants. This consideration reveals awareness of the existence of a parallel social world to that described by Jane Austen in her novels, where women who would not or could not marry gained some financial security through their relatives’ Wills. Following up references to people mentioned in the Will, such as the daughter of Henry Austen’s housekeeper, Mary Perigord, moreover, demonstrates the importance of Late Modern English Wills as an insufficiently explored text type.

Community and Manipulation in the “Parallel Worlds” of Tim Crouch

Abstract This article closely examines two recent works for the stage by British conceptualist theatre-maker Tim Crouch, Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation (2019) and Truth’s a Dog Must to Kennel (2022), discussing in particular the manipulative aspects of community formation accentuated in the former and the slight shift in emphasis towards the collective experience of live theatre apparent in the latter, his first play to be staged after the COVID-19 pandemic. The essay argues that by presenting “parallel worlds” to be measured against the present world of crisis, Crouch’s complex metatheatrical work may be seen to explore in practice the ideas of emancipated spectatorship theorised by Jacques Rancière on the one hand and to engage with the influential ideas on community elaborated by Jean-Luc Nancy on the other. Crouch’s recent work thus highlights the essential link of community to finitude while maintaining a strong emphasis on imagination being exercised by the individual.

Co-evolutionary digital twins: A multidimensional dynamic approach to digital engineering

Digital Engineering (DE) must be able to maximize efficiency and update dynamically in order to keep up with the wave of global interconnection. The evolution of the Digital Twin (DT) plays a significant role in DE as it enables autonomous optimization and an iterative cycle. However, the intricacy of real-world settings renders conventional evolutionary investigations of a solitary DT inadequate in tackling intricate systems at a comprehensive lifecycle magnitude. To address this, this paper presents the Co-evolutionary DTs (CoEDT), which has several key characteristics. (1) CoEDT study the evolutionary behavior of interconnected multi-DT. (2) CoEDT use a co-evolutionary distributed system architecture and is a DT technology that integrate MBSE. (3) CoEDT offers detailed dynamic models for the complex interactions and co-evolution among multi-DT throughout the lifecycle. It also supports real time measurement of multi-DT behavior to detect system anomalies. The significance of CoEDT lies in providing a more comprehensive insight for future product development by constructing a parallel world that simulates the lifecycle. In the CoEDT, we tackle the behavioral identification and structure of these evolving multi-DT throughout product lifecycle through the following approaches. Initially, drawing inspiration from biological cytology, we have conceived a concept of Collective DTs (CollDTs) to observing a collective behavioral of multi-DT. Subsequently, we further developed CoEDT to depict co-evolutionary behavior patterns and established a co-evolution architecture for all DT throughout the lifecycle by fusing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). Then, dynamic expressions and algorithm that can measure the co-evolution of every DT are inferred using information theory. Finally, the viability of the proposed CoEDT framework is demonstrated through the development of a solid rocket engine, which promotes the application of DT in the DE.

Legacies of the parallel worlds of Rutherford and Kamerlingh-Onnes, 1908

Legacies of the parallel worlds of Rutherford and Kamerlingh-Onnes, 1908

Emissaries of Parallel Worlds: How a German, a Jew and an Old WomanNuminously Infl ected the Reality of Neighbourhood

The article demonstrates the constructive and numinous nature of the neighbourhood of categoriesof people stereotypically considered mutually hostile or superior/inferior, as well as of peopleand nature to which they belong although they do not pay attention to it on a daily basis. The readingof three selected prose works published at the turn of 21st century – by P. Huelle, S. Chwin, andO. Tokarczuk – highlights previously overlooked aspects of neighbourly relations, a peculiar interpretationof which in 2015–2023 came to the fore in Polish public discourse on neighbourhoods thatare unwanted or cause problems.

Views of The Scholar-Polymath Beruni on The Secrets of The Universe

Objectives: This section outlines the specific goals and aims of the article, focusing on the exploration of Beruni's profound insights and philosophical perspectives regarding the secrets of the universe. It highlights the scholar-polymath's contributions to various fields, emphasizing the overarching objective of delving into his unique perspectives on the nature of the cosmos, its origins, and its underlying principles.
 
 Methods: Here, the article discusses the approach taken to achieve the stated objectives. It details the methods employed to analyze Beruni's extensive research and writings, providing a framework for examining his contributions to astronomy, physics, mathematics, and philosophy. The methods section establishes the groundwork for the subsequent exploration of Beruni's thoughts on celestial bodies, planetary motion, and the interconnectedness of the universe.
 
 Results: This section presents the findings and insights derived from the analysis of Beruni's works. It discusses the scholar's exploration of celestial bodies, planetary motion, and the interplay between celestial phenomena and earthly events. Additionally, it elucidates Beruni's perspectives on the interconnectedness of the universe, the concept of time, and the existence of parallel worlds. The results section aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the key ideas and discoveries uncovered through the examination of Beruni's intellectual pursuits.
 
 Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the key findings and discusses their significance in the context of contemporary scientific and philosophical discourse. It reflects on the enduring relevance of Beruni's ideas and the impact of his contributions to our understanding of the secrets of the universe. This section serves as a culmination of the article, summarizing the insights gained from exploring Beruni's profound perspectives and acknowledging their broader implications.

Identifying and estimating causal effects of bridge failures from observational data

This paper presents a causal analysis aimed at identifying and estimating causal effects with regard to bridge failures under extreme events. Observational data on about 299 bridge incidents were used to conduct this causal investigation and examine bridges’ performance. As causal investigations can also deliver counterfactual assessments of parallel worlds, a causal analysis can serve as a high-merit methodology to evaluate the performance of critical bridges. Our findings quantify the causal impacts of various factors spanning the characteristics of bridges, traffic demands, and incident type (i.e., fire, high wind, scour/flood, earthquake, and impact/collision). More specifically, our analysis reveals high causal effects related to the used structural system, construction materials, and demand served.

Informational support and information-seeking during transition to parenthood: Baby Buddy Forward's focus groups with pregnant women and new mothers in Cyprus.

Relevant and accurate information during the transition to parenthood is vital for active participation in decision-making. The aim of the study was to gain an in-depth understanding of informational support and information-seeking practices among women in Cyprus during the transition to parenthood with a focus on the use of the internet and informed decision making. Qualitative descriptive exploratory design of 12 focus groups with 64 participants representing different language-cultural groups served by the Baby Buddy Cyprus app. A topic guide covering expectations, experiences and practices guided the discussions. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Seven themes and several subthemes emerged. In an 'unsupportive system', 'void' of informational support, pregnant women strive to have a 'confident voice'. They find themselves 'self-navigating in parallel worlds' of formal and informal information, where the internet holds a prominent place. 'Supplementing and filtering', instinctively and selectively, results in a state of 'doubt and faith' towards the trustworthiness of the information but also healthcare providers. Effective communication with providers is needed to break the cycle, but seems dependent on the self-efficacy of the women themselves ('art of communication'). Women 'deconstruct and reimagine' their experiences, often assigning responsibility on themselves for not having been better prepared. Women want control over decisions affecting their pregnancy. While the internet is a prevalent source of information, they value communication with healthcare providers and want direction. A shift is needed from current practices of unguided information-searching. Maternity healthcare professionals need to recognize this phenomenon, offer appropriate guidance, and support active participation in informed decision-making.

Videogames as Interactive Cinema - New Perspectives

The concept of interactive cinema has been explored in depth since the first incipient manifestations of (non-interactive) cinema. If our first attempts at creating interactive experiences out of narrative, linear film objects have been notoriously clunky and awkward, with the birth of videogames new attempts have been made, bringing fresh ideas and possibilities unto the table. Interactive works that include films as objects are common today. However, interactive cinema as a concept appears to have been abandoned.Cinema continues to be largely non interactive, this dimension seemingly relegated to videogames, apps and websites. We consider that some videogames can be considered interactive cinema. The Last of Us is an example that set the trend of mostly linear, narrative games. Other games have explored this model, achieving better and worse results. We propose that these games could be categorized as interactive cinema.In this paper we aim to continue an exploration of this idea - that there can be interesting, elegantly implemented creations we can name interactive cinema - distinguishing them from video games. We analyze two video games in this light, ‘Pentiment and Everything, trying to understand how they relate to, and differ from, classic cinema and the classic video game experience. We will also discuss the exhibition “Mundos Paralelos” (Parallel Worlds), on display at the the 25th edition of the Avanca Film Festival, to understand the cinematic characteristics of the artworks presented. We conclude by proposing that, perhaps, closed categories might not serve us when creating new objects, and that hybridization is beneficial, creative, and should occur.

Parallel worlds and mixed economies: multi-proxy analysis reveals complex subsistence systems at the dawn of early farming in the northeast Baltic.

The transition from foraging to farming was a key turning point in ancient socio-economies. Yet, the complexities and regional variations of this transformation are still poorly understood. This multi-proxy study provides a new understanding of the introduction and spread of early farming, challenging the notions of hierarchical economies. The most extensive biological and biomolecular dietary overview, combining zooarchaeological, archaeobotanical, dietary stable isotope and pottery lipid residue analyses is presented, to unravel the nature and extent of early farming in the 3rd millennium cal BCE in the northeast Baltic. Farming was introduced by incoming Corded Ware cultural groups (CWC), but some dietary segregation existed within these communities, with some having more access to domesticates, others incorporating more wild resources into their diet. The CWC groups coexisted in parallel with local hunter-fisher-gatherers (HFG) without any indication of the adoption of domesticates. There was no transition from foraging to farming in the 3rd millennium cal BCE in the NE Baltic. Instead, we see a complex system of parallel worlds with local HFGs continuing forager lifeways, and incoming farmers practising mixed economies, with the continuation of these subsistence strategies for at least a millennium after the first encounter with domesticated animals.

To the Other Side with Bees

The mythical bee flies over and throughout human history, leaving traces of coexistence between insect and human cultures in numerous writings and artworks. Bees have been documented in multiple forms, evidencing the human fascination with their life. Today, people are facing the reality of semi-feral bees vanishing from their hives: the ever-living bee colonies featured in the literature of the past have gone extinct. The Other Side aural space is an artwork by Ulla Taipale that offers an opportunity to listen to a selection of literary excerpts associated with the honeybees' immortality and their ability to communicate across parallel worlds.

Medicine and the metaverse: current applications and future.

Innovative technologies such as the metaverse and chat GPT-4 (based on artificial intelligence) are present in the daily discourse of society; recently, they have been introduced into medical practice and are bringing about important changes. In the case of the metaverse ("beyond the universe"), various medical schools and departments around the world are beginning to use it as an innovative strategy for teaching subjects such as anatomy, histology, ophthalmology, and simulation in parallel (virtual) worlds for learning and supervision of surgeries, as well as for other applications in medical education and in the doctor-patient relationship. Although it should be regarded as an area of opportunity for the transformation of medicine, it is important to consider the various limitations and risks of the metaverse in medical practice, student training, and physicians' relationship with the health problems they have to deal with in their practice.

The Depiction of Human Nature through Allegory: An Analysis of Golding's Lord of the Flies

This article critically analyzes Golding's Lord of the Flies to investigate how human nature was allegorically depicted by constructing an almost parallel fictional world to his contemporary time. In this paper, I argued that Golding allegorically exhibited the basic human nature of his contemporary time by experimenting with the schoolboys on the Pacific Ocean, which unveiled the brutal and uncivilized nature of schoolboys, and that such activities as depicted in the novel resembled the brutal and savage nature of the men of his time. The methodology I employed in this study was a close analysis of the primary text to examine how Golding used allegory to uncover the basic nature of human beings, and I analyzed secondary resources related to the study to support my arguments. The analysis identified that Golding depicted savagery and animalistic human nature through allegory, which questioned the traditional understanding of human nature as civilized and moral, and his experience of involving himself in the war and working as a school teacher helped him in reflecting such brutal and uncivilized events of his time. He provided a wider space and various layers of secondary meanings for characters, setting, and events in the story, which resonated in many respects with the events of his contemporary time. In addition, this study unpacked the fact that savagery existed inside the human heart and manifested in a lack of guardianship and civilizational forces in human beings. This paper will be useful in exploring the novel for a better understanding of human nature.