Cultural Patterns Research Articles

DIGITAL REDESIGN OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE TEXTILE PATTERNS: A SYNTHESIS OF NATIONAL TRADITIONS AND INNOVATIONS

Purpose: the study explores the complexity of digitally transforming ancient Chinese textile patterns and allows identifying the stages of its digital redesign, blending national tradition craftsmanship with contemporary intellect. Methodology. A Systematic Exploration of Digital Redesign for Traditional Chinese Textile Patterns presents a methodical approach to investigating the potential of digitally redesigning traditional Chinese textiles. Using the method of historical and retrospective analysis provides a study of the history and origin of cultural references to traditional patterns. Art historical analysis of traditional ancient patterns requires researchers to make full use of previous records from history, literature, and visual works in order to understand the corresponding culture, social condition, and artistic world related to these patterns. Methods Archival research, Stylistic analysis, and Iconographic analysis and methods of digital redesign allow to outline ways of integrating traditional motifs into design practices, demonstrate their adaptability and ability to rethink their use in a digital environment. Forecasting method demonstrates the universal appeal of Chinese textile patterns in fostering creative bridges that uphold culture and promote good designs without boundaries. Results. It is proved in the work that traditional Chinese textile patterns have undergone changes over time, yet they have not entirely vanished in their transformation. This study outlines the author's approach to manufacturing innovation, which involves a structured, holistic process for producing contemporary designs using traditional national textile motifs, based on a redraft of cultural patterns. Five key stages of redesign of Chinese textile patterns are highlighted, such as Traditional Inspirations, Adaptation and Simplifications, Integration into Design Practices, Digital Transformation and Cross-Cultural Fusion. These stages extend beyond Chinese textiles, serving as a universal model for product development that incorporates traditional elements of national heritage. It ensures a seamless fusion of tradition and contemporary design. It also underscores the strength and durability of Chinese textile heritage, which illustrates its capability to pass down creativity for new forms in a world that is rapidly changing. The results highlight the importance of maintaining heritage while using modern technology. Scientific novelty. This work describes an original method of digital re-design for traditional textile patterns, based on a five-phased model. The research links each stage with its core and talks about how their commonality has significance to the more general conversation of cultural heritage preservation in contemporary design. It was proved for the first time that they serve as the foundation for a universal redesign protocol, equipping designers worldwide with knowledge and tools that enhance both cultural and digital design studies.

Five lessons from a mid-level health manager intervention to increase uptake of tuberculosis prevention therapy in Uganda: ‘it is a completely different thing to implement what you know.’

ABSTRACT Background Leadership skills are essential for middle-level healthcare manager efficacy. Capacity-building efforts may attempt behavioural change by filling ‘knowledge gaps’ while neglecting a sustainable application of that knowledge. Sustainable application of that knowledge, or implementation know-how, must resonate with local cultural patterns. When it is neglected, root issues like unclear decision-making space and local authority to interpret policy during implementation remain unaddressed. Particularly in decentralized healthcare systems, the impact can appear in implementation challenges, subjective decision-making, poor teamwork, and an absence of disseminating best practices. Objectives The SEARCH-IPT trial led a series of mini-collaborative meetings, which provided business leadership and management training for an intervention group of mid-level healthcare system managers in rural Eastern, East-Central, and Southwestern Uganda to see whether this would increase uptake of isoniazid-prevention therapy (IPT) for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in intervention districts. IPT is known to reduce active tuberculosis (TB), a leading cause of death among PLHIV, by 40–60%. Methods We performed a thematic analysis of six focus-group discussions from this intervention (held in May 2019, January 2020, September 2021) and 23 key informant interviews with control group participants (between February and August 2019 and September and December 2020). Results Analysis revealed five implementation skill sets District Health Officers (DHOs) and District Tuberculosis and Leprosy Supervisors (DTLSs) deployed to achieve sustainable implementation and realize their decision-making space. The five practices were as follows: data-based decision-making, root-cause analysis, quality assurance, evidence-based empowerment, and sharing best practices with colleagues. Conclusion These practices reached beyond outcome measures to address root problems around the DHO’s range of authority and elicit buy-in from district health workers. For successful capacity building at the mid-manager level, focusing on core practices as part of competency is objectively implementable and measurable at the system level and does not rely on DHO self-assessments.

The Ultimate Difference: Interpreting and Using “Culture” in Comparisons of Crime and Justice

Abstract This article examines culture, an ambiguous yet prevalent concept in comparisons of crime and justice. It investigates the extent to which culture’s application and meaning across research reflects Western-centric bias in criminological knowledge-production despite it being a concept meant to advance understanding on different groups and places beyond the “Western” worldview. The article extends the discussion on Western-centric bias but also on culture in criminology by tracing the use of this concept on East Asian populations and by identifying patterns of application and meaning in international and comparative research through a scoping review of 230 journal publications. The findings address patterns of culture’s appearance in criminology journals in the past two decades and its meaning. Similar to previous scholarship on Western-centrism in criminology, the article finds that this bias does, too, exist in uses of culture but also shows how culture’s conceptual ambiguity is conducive to this bias, in that some groups and places are given one meaning of culture while others receive another.

The Design and Development of Dabujiang Patchwork Embroidery for Modern Bags

Background and Aim: Dabujiang patchwork embroidery, an intangible cultural handicraft with the longest heritage in southern Hunan, has garnered increasing attention in recent years due to its unique characteristics. However, these products are facing a situation of decline because they cannot meet the needs of modern people. The objective of this research article is to design and develop modern bags featuring Dabujiang patchwork embroidery patterns for women in contemporary society. Materials and Methods: This research is a combination of qualitative research and quantitative research. The qualitative research method was used to study the color, pattern, and meaning of characteristics from 54 pieces of 6 theme categories of Dabujiang product pictures. Interview intangible cultural inheritors, designers, bag shop owners, and women consumers to understand modern women's design needs for women's bags. Combining the characteristics of the Dabujiang pattern characteristics with the needs of modern women, the design and development of six new Dabujiang women's bags based on 6 theme categories. Through 424 questionnaires for women to assess the women's favorite new bags and analyze the reasons women like and find out the future trend of women's bag development. Results: The results of the research revealed: 1) The patterns based on the six categories have different symbolic meanings respectively and they are mainly bionic and geometric patterns. The lines are curves, and the layout is generally symmetrical and balanced. 2) There are 11 kinds of common colors and mainly based on the five orthodox colors of Chinese tradition. The main colors are red, blue, yellow, black, and white, representing the five traditional Chinese elements, which extend different meanings. 3) Through interviews find out young women prefer large bags of bag 1 style, the Morandi color scheme, and meanings of happiness, love, career success, luck, wealth, and beauty. Consequently, the researcher designed six bag styles based on bag 1 style and six theme categories to meet the needs of modern women associated with these six meanings. Questionnaire responses from 424 young women showed that 23.58% favored the Phoenix pattern bag style, making it the most preferred among the six new bag designs. This style showcases a phoenix motif in blue, white, and black colors, symbolizing career success. Conclusion: The findings indicate that modern women highly value career success and self-worth, prioritizing independence over traditional roles. This conclusion mainly stems from the transformation of modern women's roles and the awakening of self-awareness. In addition to assuming the role of mother in the family, modern women also play the role of professional women in society, and more and more women regard career success as their pursuit goal. In the context of the changing identity and goals of modern women, the products should be designed that meet the needs of modern women based on their needs, combined with the symbolic meaning of cultural patterns. For future product development, incorporating symbolic patterns that align with the career aspirations of modern young women is recommended.

Decoding the Strands of Women Oppression in Fiction of North Eastern Women Writers: A Study of Temsula Ao’s The Night (2005), Easterine Kire’s A Terrible Matriarchy (2007) and Jahnavi Barua’s Rebirth (2010)

India had long come out of the shadows of otherisation by the West, but ironically, it had constructed its own facets of misinterpretation and otherisation of its diverse indigenous groups within the subcontinent. Northeast India is one such geographical region that have always been viewed as exotic, backward owing to the distinct cultural and traditional patterns of its numerous tribes, castes and groups, of which very little is explored by the mainstream society and hence deemed as rooted in backwardness. The region has always been entangled in the web of national, ethnic, regional identities as it seems to exist in isolation from mainland India and grapples with insurgency and the inability to accommodate long term cultural and indigenous diversity. Additionally, the cultural, ethnic ethos and norms of each indigenous group acts as an influential factor in shaping the identities of the North East Indian people. In such contexts, the women question becomes a case of double marginalisation owing to unbalanced power relations as well as patriarchal customs and rules of various indigenous groups and the perpetual militarisation and regional identity crisis in the area. The research aims to investigate the factors moulding the identity of north eastern woman from the lens of gendered subalternity, through some strong, vivid narratives with passive-strong female characters. It is an attempt to understand how the multiple social ideologies of region, ethnicity, race, gender, nation, identity overlap to delineate to hierarchal disparities in the society contributing to victimisation of women.

Implicating Communication: An Analysis of the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's Investigative Report of the Boeing 737 MAX Crises

ABSTRACTThe Boeing 737 MAX crisis, which started in 2018 and continued in 2019, has drawn researchers to investigate the events preceding and after the deadly crashes. The two accidents involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airways Flight 302 raised safety concerns over one of Boeing's flagship airplanes, the 737 MAX, occasioning a global grounding of the famous airplane. This study delves into the investigative report produced by the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure concerning the design, certification, and manufacturing of the 737 MAX. The study utilized qualitative analysis to examine the implicit yet impacting communicative elements embedded in the report. Through the analysis, the study identified patterns of organizational culture, corporate power or hegemony, and capitalism as emerging themes that may have contributed to the catastrophic accidents in 2018 and 2019. Implications for the Trans‐MOC model of organizational culture are discussed.

Community-based development and indigenous evaluation in Africa: insights from Ghana

ABSTRACT Community-based development (CBD) evaluation is often rooted in mainstream evaluation theories and methods to the detriment of Afrocentric evaluation philosophies and practices. Afrocentric values, grounded in cultural ideals and relational patterns, are the foundation of the search for new knowledge. The notion is that indigenous evaluation values and assumptions could aid in developing alternative concepts, approaches, and practices for assessing CBD initiatives. Employing a thematic analysis approach rooted in indigenously responsive evaluation (IRE), this paper identified tangible and intangible notions such as social networks, relational stakeholders, social accountability, mutual respect, community participation, community spirit, relational feedback, and consensus building as some of the key concepts embedded in social and development activities that have the potential for effective CBD and evaluation activities. This paper outlined cultural evaluation components that Ghana and Africa at large may effectively include in contemporary evaluation frameworks to ensure the sustainability of CBD and evaluation initiatives.

Innovation amnesia: Technology as a substitute for politics

This paper outlines a theory of amnesia in the face of innovation: when apparent technological innovations occasion the disregard of preexisting cultural, legal, and infrastructural norms. Innovation amnesia depends on cultural patterns that appear to be increasingly widespread: the valorization of technological innovation and the sensation of limited political space for reforming social arrangements. The resulting amnesia is by default an extension of existing structural inequalities. If innovations arise through deploying concentrated private wealth, the amnesia will likely target institutions that facilitate collective power among less powerful people. Up and down social hierarchies, however, achieving amnesia through innovation can bear irresistible allure. When other paths for structural change become mired in inertia or gridlock, amnesia may appear to be the only available pathway to reform. The purpose of a theory of amnesia is to assist affected communities in noticing it when it occurs and wielding it to their advantage, particularly through mobilizing self-governance around moments of innovation.

The eMoney revolution: how culture and technology drive adoption and use?

Purpose The use of electronic money (eMoney) as a noncash payment method is gaining popularity globally. However, the usages of eMoney are culturally influenced and can vary within a country. These cultural disparities can result in divergent patterns of eMoney adoption and use. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing the adoption and use of eMoney in Indonesia. This study integrated the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model with Hofstede’s cultural dimensions to develop a framework examining both technological and cultural perspectives. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected through an online survey of 484 Indonesians and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The results showed that the constructs of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model, namely, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions, all had a significant impact on behavioral intention to adopt eMoney as well as actual usage. However, not all of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions moderated these relationships as hypothesized. Surprisingly, masculinity/femininity and power distance emerged as important moderators of eMoney usage. Practical implications This integrated model provides valuable insights into how to consider cultural influences when designing strategies to promote new payment technologies in Indonesia. The findings point to both technological and cultural factors shaping patterns of adoption and use of eMoney in the country. Originality/value Although many research has looked at how culture affects the acceptability of technology in banking, few studies have looked at how culture affects the use of mobile money. This study offers a valuable contribution by investigating how Indonesian culture moderates the relationship between behavioral intentions and actual use of eMoney. The findings provide guidance for practitioners seeking to facilitate eMoney services in developing markets by elucidating the cultural factors that most influence customer adoption. As such, this research fills an important gap regarding the understudied domain of mobile money and its intersection with national culture.

Research on the Current Situation and Innovative Development Patterns of Traditional Chinese Culture from the Perspective of Social Media

With the rapid development of social media, the development of the current situation and the innovative development of traditional Chinese Culture have become a common topic among people in all ages. It is significant to make good use of modern technology, and let more and more people expose themselves to traditional Chinese culture through innovative ways. The research is aimed to study how to empower the innovative development of traditional Chinese culture in the age of social media. Through using research methods such as case analysis and text analysis, it is discovered that social media greatly brings traditional Chinese culture back to life, but it may cause negative impacts, for instance, commercial problems as well. Based on the findings of the study, people should realize that it is crucial to combine new technology, such as short videos and digital products, with the core part of traditional Chinese culture. Thus, more people will be attracted by its historical background and cultural values

Biblical Principles of Marriage for Building Mutual Marital Relationships in Contemporary Africa with a Particular Reference to Hona Culture

Modern Africans, especially Hona people, have attitudes towards marriage that are more akin to those of the Europeans of the same generation than their parents or grandparents, especially regarding the start of a relationship. Although some antiquated practices, like polygamy and the bride price, are a reminder that contemporary Africans still make an effort to stay connected to their history despite how the world has changed. Despite this assertion, one can gradually see the sudden disappearance of the cultural marriage pattern among the Hona people. The discursive and analytical approach used in this research to close this existential gap typically refers to the use of language as a social practice and established methods of generating the meanings of phenomena, knowledge, and reality, as well as the networks connecting them. Through this method, the researcher examines how meanings are created in human contact about the biblical guidelines for marriage. Christianity (religion) in Africa is progressively starting to rule Hona and some parts of Africa; the argument made in this paper is that biblical standards for marriage must be accepted among all races on the continents. The study’s findings reveal that marriage is instituted and invented by God; attached is the manual on how it can be operated for the beneficiary’s benefit. This manual is the Bible, available in almost every Christian home. If strictly adhered to its teachings, there will be no incidences of malfunctioning. Christian homes and marriages are having issues because the Manufacturer’s prescription is not followed. Therefore, the study pitched its tent that if marital relationships work, there is a need to understand the concept of “Oneness” different from sameness. Finally, there is a need to understand how the mind is structured. For marriage to be sustained, the paper recommends that submissiveness and love are non-negotiable traits between couples.

Interpersonal symptoms in adolescence depression across Asian and European regions: a network approach

BackgroundMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD) poses a significant global health challenge, with symptom presentation potentially varying between adolescents and adults. Adolescence is a critical period marked by heightened vulnerability to interpersonal stresses, yet the impact of these stresses on the structure of depressive symptoms is not well understood. Recognizing the cultural nuances in how depression manifests among adolescents is crucial. To this end, this paper employs a network analysis approach, utilizing a comprehensive symptom checklist from the Multidimensional Depression Assessment Scale (MDAS). Our study investigates the role of interpersonal symptoms within the broader cluster of emotional, cognitive, and somatic symptoms and explores variations in adolescent groups in four Asian and European regions.MethodsWe recruited a diverse sample of 6,348 adolescents aged 12 to 18 from Hong Kong, Taiwan, the UK, China, and the Netherlands using the Qualtrics platform. Employing the Gaussian Graphical Model, we established a network model of depressive symptoms as measured by the MDAS, segregating the sample into Asian and European regions to examine the interconnections between them. The study focused on identifying central symptom nodes and comparing the network structures between the two groups.ResultsThe analysis identified feeling worthless, low energy, being a burden to others, and low mood as central symptoms of depression. Notably, there were significant differences in the connections between depressive symptoms among Asian (Hong Kong, China and Taiwan) and European (UK and the Netherlands) adolescents, highlighting cultural variations in how interpersonal symptoms interact with emotional, cognitive, and somatic symptoms.ConclusionThis study is pioneering in applying network analysis to include interpersonal symptoms in examining depression among a diverse adolescent population. It demonstrates that interpersonal symptoms are integral to the central features of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, our findings suggest that, compared to their UK and Dutch peers, interpersonal symptoms in Asian adolescents are uniquely connected to other symptom clusters, reflecting distinct cultural patterns. Limitations: The study engaged a broad community sample; however, future research could benefit from including a larger sample size to allow for a more detailed analysis of a greater number of symptom nodes.

Bacterial Profile in Urine Culture and Amikacin Sensitivity and Emergence of Carbapenem-Resistant Pathogens in Tertiary Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common encounters both in the outpatient department and inpatient department. It is important to know the bacteriological etiology according to urine culture and to know the antibiotic sensitivity. Objective: Our study was carried out to observe the urine culture and sensitivity pattern to commonly used injectable antibiotics such as amikacin and to look for the emergence of carbapenem-resistant uropathogens.Materials and methods: A total of 150 patients of UTI being culture-positive were isolated and identified by random selection. Samples were collected throughout January 2022 to March 2022. Standard microbiological techniques were used to identify the bacteria and test for susceptibility to various antibiotics. Data were entered into MS Office Excel 2016 for analysis and visualization.Results: The most common urine culture positive was E. coli, 108 (72%) followed by Pseudomonas sp., 16 (11%) and staphylococcus saprophyticus, 15 (10%). The rest of 7% urine culture was positive were other bacterial species. Around 90% of the total cultured E. coli was sensitive to amikacin. Staphylococcus saprophyticus 8 cases (53%), E. coli 15 cases (14%) and Pseudomonas sp. single cases (6%) were resistant to carbapenem. Resistance to vancomycin was common among most of the pathogens, with 88 cases (81%) of E. coli and 12 cases (75%) of Pseudomonas sp. being resistant. In contrast, Staphylococcus saprophyticus had a higher sensitivity to vancomycin, with only 3 cases (20%) being resistant and 12 cases (80%) being sensitive.Conclusion: The study focused on the commonest uropathogens causing UTI and antibiotic resistance in urine isolates may be useful guidelines for clinicians initiating empirical antibiotic therapy as well as help in the formulation of antibiotic therapy strategy. KYAMC Journal Volume: 15, No: 01, April 2024: 16-19.

Factors influencing wildmeat trade in Guyana and expected changes in the context of the oil-related development prospects

The recent offshore oil discovery in the Guiana Shield is expected to bring about significant changes to the area, such as increased GDP per capita, infrastructure development, and urbanization. The potential impact on the wild meat trade depends on factors influencing its demand and provision. Through interviews and group discussions with trade chain stakeholders in all towns of Guyana, we evaluate wildmeat trade sector and explored predicted changes on it in 2033 with the prospects for short term oil-related development. The most traded species in Guyana included paca, white-lipped peccary, deer, tapir and capybara and a total of 38.46 % (5 out of 13) of the taxa being traded is classified as threatened of extinction. Regions with higher population size and GDP per capita, are the main trade hubs for wildmeat. Access to improved preservation methods (e.g. freezers) and motorized transportation options (eg.: boat with engines and vehicles) significantly influence higher volumes of wildmeat traded. The economic growth anticipated in Guyana is expected to boost population growth and, by the same time, wildmeat demand in urban areas. Concomitantly, with improved infrastructure and increased access to electricity, wildmeat provision will be facilitated across a wider catchment area. Based on the assumption that cultural patterns shaping wildmeat demand and environmental regulations will likely not change at the same rapid path as economic growth in the next ten years, we predict wildmeat trade volumes to increase to 10,280 tons/year by 2033. We identify three main opportunities to ensure a sustainable wildmeat sector in the context of the economic boom: First, the sector requires to be well regulated through a licensing and a quota system that can be adequately enforced. Second, efforts to curve demand on the Coast need to be strengthened based on well designed and culturally adapted behaviour change campaigns. Third, local communities and indigenous people need to be empowered to protect and conserve their territories and wildlife resources, in particular with the authority to exclude illegal hunters.

A Topic Modeling Approach Towards Understanding the Discourse between Religion and Videogames on Reddit

Today's videogames are often intertwined with profound religious narratives, content, characters, and artifacts - but how do player communities understand the role of religion in games, and what is the impression of believers on the use, portrayal, and representation of the religion they practice? This paper dives deep into this confluence by rigorously analyzing discussions from religion and videogame subreddits that often depict the most popular communication channel for their communities. Following topic modeling, we cluster posts and comments from the three major religious groups and the most popular related videogame subreddits, bringing forth representative cultural sentiments and patterns of players and religious stakeholders. Through this, we discovered 22 distinct sub-themes, further categorized into the three overarching themes of (a) Blasphemous Elements of Videogames, (b) Religion as a Design Space for Videogames, and (c) Videogames for Religious Education and Community Forming.

Usage of Social Media and Cultural Identity in Chitral: An Exploration through Mix-Method Approach

Social media is a fast-expanding platform, and considered as a hallmark of 21st century communication and cultural patterns. Rapidly changing cultural trends are observable as the ways of communication and patterns of interaction through social media are playing a pivotal role and its profound impact on cultural identity is evident. Framed under mix-method design, the aim of this study was to investigate the usage of social media and its impact on cultural identity in Chitral, Pakistan. A multifaceted sampling approach was utilized by using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. A well-structured interview schedule for quantitative information and semi- structured interview guide for qualitative information were utilized. The data was analyzed statistically and thematically. Findings shows that social media has a significant impact on cultural patterns and cultural identity in Chitral as the social media has provided an environment with enhanced information and communication means. It facilitated sharing opinions, perceptions, digital images, photographs, and knowledge on various issues of human life including but not limited to academic, social- cultural, spiritual, and business and tourism. On the contrary, acculturation and loss of cultural identity has been found at significant level. Moreover, physical interaction in terms of social isolation has caused considerable impact on psychological wellbeing of people. Qualitative explorations are further required to know about micro level cultural impacts of social media on Chitrali culture.

The intermix of affect, perception and familism in African American financial well-being

PurposeGiven that African Americans are at the bottom of household income, understanding how individuals can improve their financial well-being is critical. Cultural background influences family financial socialization processes, with cultural values shaping family roles and communication patterns. This study explores African Americans’ financial well-being by examining how the intermix of affect, perception and familism influences financial intentions.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzes the value–attitude–behavior hierarchy, the impact of subjective financial knowledge on financial behaviors and perceived behavioral control among African Americans. The research sample comprised 346 African Americans of a broad range of ages. A partial least squares structural equation model (SmartPLS 3) was used for the analysis.FindingsThe study found a positive and significant influence of the cultural value of familism on financial attitudes, consistent with previous studies. The influence of the cultural value of familism on financial well-being through financial attitudes without further mediation was found to be positive but insignificant. The influence of the cultural value of familism on perceived control was shown to have an insignificant impact on financial well-being, which is inconsistent with previous literature on the value–attitude–behavior hierarchy; this is particularly relevant among African Americans.Originality/valueThe findings illustrate the importance of the positive impact of interpersonal family relationships on actual financial behaviors (intentions), allowing individuals to improve their financial situations. However, subjective financial knowledge lacks significance when mediated through the influence of financial intentions on financial well-being.

Exploring trends and patterns in traffic safety culture of pedestrians: a bibliometric analysis

Exploring trends and patterns in traffic safety culture of pedestrians: a bibliometric analysis

Re-visiting copyright: is there a way to tackle selective enforcement and non-contextual algorithmic takedowns? A discussion through the lens of internet meme culture

ABSTRACT Internet memes, a bourgeoning form of communication, resemble accessory elements of language. However, internet memes are conceptually complex. Their collective re-creative process relies heavily on copying underlying works, usually without asking for prior-permission from their rightsholders. Internet memes challenge core copyright assumptions on reasons of re-creation and modes of exploitation. Without a fundamental rethink of this mismatch, internet meme culture may be threatened. Going forward, copyright reforms should be holistic and distinguish between traditional and newer forms of re-creative processes. This article proposes that existing copyright can be flexibly interpreted to limit private property rights of underlying works and meme variations when they are used as internet memes, so as to facilitate their adaptation and support socio-cultural discourse. This article proposes a two-step holistic interpretation: copyright can conceptualise and confer limited rights for underlying works and meme variations when they are copied and re-used as internet memes. Copyright can also conceptualise a narrower scope of property rights by flexibly interpreting a combination of fundamental notions, including joint authorship, fair dealing, idea-expression, or user rights. This holistic approach sits comfortably with user-creators and their blurry cultural production-consumption patterns, alongside their nuanced (non)economic use of internet memes.

Colonial shadows: Exploring coloniality of being among Puerto Rican immigrants in the United States.

Coloniality, or the enduring legacy of domination and White supremacy stemming from colonization, manifests across power dynamics, knowledge systems, and personal identity. This study investigated the coloniality of being of 12 Puerto Rican adults living in the United States. We explored their perceptions of the self, other Puerto Ricans, Puerto Rican cultural patterns, and self-aspirations. Using consensual qualitative research, six domains emerged from the data, including (a) self-identity, (b) Puerto Rican pride, (c) other Puerto Ricans, (d) Puerto Rican dependency, (e) Puerto Ricans and work, and (f) reasons for migrating or staying in Puerto Rico. Results portrayed colonial power dynamics' profound and complicated mark on different aspects of the participants' individual and collective selves. Participants' language and narratives also conveyed ruptures between participants and other Puerto Ricans. Findings from our study help expand our understanding of Puerto Ricans' lived experiences of colonization, a group that still experiences the occupation and domination of its land and people. Our article also discusses the clinical and theoretical implications of this work, particularly as it pertains to Puerto Rican identity formation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).