Cultural Practices Research Articles

Exploring family dynamics in living funerals: Rituals to relationships

AbstractThis study aims to analyse how internal family relationships and dynamics are manifested during funeral ceremonies in Chinese society. As an emerging farewell practice, living funerals in Chinese societies depart from traditional death rituals, challenging established funeral paradigms and providing a platform to scrutinise the inner family dynamic and experiences. The study utilises a multidimensional data collection approach, including interviews with the living funeral holders and attending family members, detailed field notes during the living funeral and whole video recordings of the event. Employing narrative analysis, it delves into the family's life experiences as narrated during the funeral, providing insight into the emotional and relational shifts that occur. The findings suggest that while living funerals allow for exploring family roles and emotional landscapes, they also highlight the complex interplay of cultural practices and familial relationships. The study contributes to understanding how traditional taboos around death may be navigated through contemporary practices. Findings underscore the profound exploration of living funerals on family dynamics within Chinese culture. The practice provides a vital lens for examining the interconnectedness and emotional underpinnings of family relationships. Participation engages families in a process of navigating collective and individual histories, aiding reconciliation and affirming familial identities. Research highlights how living funerals powerfully express love, regrets and unspoken words, fostering deeper understanding and continuing bonds before death. Living funerals represent a meaningful contemporary practice, challenging traditional death taboos and offering therapeutic benefits for family therapy and end‐of‐life care. The paper contributes to the literature by addressing a crucial gap regarding living funerals within Chinese culture and expanding family perspectives on death. By examining how these ceremonies influence familial interactions, the study offers new insights into emotional and cultural dynamics, enhancing understanding of the practice and broader death‐related family issues.

Yoruba Oral Traditions and Communal Aesthetics in Olu Obafemi’s Selected Drama

The history of African oral literature is located in oral tradition which is tied to communal living. African oral literature is a conglomerate of communal traditions that reflect African culture, experiences, and societies. Studies affirmed that Olu Obafemi’s ideological stance and investigation of the society is revolutionary and is geared towards seminal social change. This paper examines the aesthetics of oral literature, and explores the society through the prism of Olu Obafemi’s Naira Has No Gender and Scapegoats and Sacredcows by highlighting the different explication of oral forms portrayed by the dramatist. The paper reveals the writer's ideological disposition and vision as informed by his discursive engagement of larger issues through various oratory means. The placement of Nigerian songs and dance, proverbs, role-play technique, and audience participation are identified as signposts of Nigerian oral literature. The paper adopts Cultural Studies theory as its theoretical paradigm for its capacity to analyse and provides an assessment of the contributions that cultural practices and artifacts make to the society. This study reveals how African oral literature combines traditional and modern theatrical techniques to sustain communal living and cultural practices such as veneration, education, and moral instruction.

Integrating Local Wisdom And Modern Technology To Address Society 5.0 Era Challenges In Culture

The Society 5.0 era presents significant challenges for the preservation of local culture in the midst of the rapid flow of modern technology. Cultural institutions are required to reorient their role in integrating local wisdom with technology to answer the needs of the digital community. This research aims to analyze the adaptation and transformation strategies of cultural institutions in the face of digital disruption, as well as identify effective integration models between traditional values and technological innovation. Using qualitative-descriptive research methods with a phenomenological approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and documentation studies from five indigenous communities in Indonesia that have successfully integrated technology in their cultural practices. The results of the study show three main findings: cultural digitalization strengthens people's cultural identity through wider access and revitalization of traditional values, technology adoption increases community socio-economic resilience through the creation of new jobs and market expansion, and the integration of traditional ecological knowledge with modern technology creates an effective sustainable development model. However, challenges such as the digital divide, cultural resistance, and intellectual property rights protection still need to be addressed. The implications of this study include the need for policies that support cultural digitalization by respecting indigenous rights, increasing digital literacy, and a cross-sectoral collaborative approach to ensure the successful integration of technology with local cultures. This research makes a strategic contribution in building a harmonious framework between cultural preservation and technological advancement, as well as supporting the creation of an adaptive society without losing its cultural identity.

Medycyna i misje protestanckie w przedrewolucyjnym Iranie. Narracja fotograficzna

The article aims to show the significance of photography in studying the history of the Protestant medical missions in Iran. It focuses on the mission initiatives carried out by the Presbyterians, Anglicans and a small missionary enterprise launched by the Lutheran Orient Mission addressed to Kurds in Iran. The article attempts to cover the period from the 1880s when the first mission hospital run by a Presbyterian missionary Joseph Plumb Cochran was established in Urmia to the eve of the Islamic Republic in 1979 when the last Christian Hospital in Qorve was shut down. However, the article is not intended to present the whole history of medical missions, rather it seeks to reveal various contexts in which photography appeared and was used by missionaries, donors, supporters, or more generally by individuals and institutions. Moreover, the article tries to determine possibilities that the photography research brings to understanding the medical missions conducted by Protestants in Iran, presuming that the study of photography 1) leads to understanding the bureaucratic structure of a given mission; 2) gives an idea of how photography in the mission filed became a cultural practice; 3) is the key to missionary imagination.

Towards an Inclusive Creative Economy

Reog Ponorogo, a traditional Indonesian art form, plays a significant role in shaping the creative economy and cultural identity of the Ponorogo Regency. Despite their cultural importance and economic potential, the distribution of economic benefits among stakeholders remains unequal, leaving many artists economically vulnerable. This study explores the application of John Rawls’s principles of economic justice to address income disparities and foster an inclusive creative economy in the Reog Ponorogo ecosystem. Through a qualitative phenomenological approach, this research examines the lives of art actors and stakeholders, as well as the creative economic empowerment strategies implemented by the local government. The findings reveal a significant income gap between performers, who earn a modest income of 50,000–300,000 rupiah per performance, and entrepreneurs dealing with Reog attributes and souvenirs, who can generate a turnover of up to 100 million rupiah per month. Applying Rawls' principles of equal basic freedom and the difference principle, this study proposes policy recommendations and strategies to ensure fair access to opportunities, the equitable distribution of income, education and capacity building, market expansion, and policy support. By aligning these elements with Rawls' principles, the creative economy can celebrate cultural heritage, while promoting economic growth and social equality. This study bridges the gaps in the existing literature by integrating cultural preservation with economic empowerment, offering valuable insights for policymakers, cultural practitioners, and scholars in fostering an inclusive and sustainable creative economy.

Shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers at rural health facilities in Eastern Uganda: an exploratory qualitative study

BackgroundShared decision-making in healthcare is a collaborative process where patients are supported to make informed decisions according to their preferences. Healthcare decisions affect patients' lives which necessitates patients to participate in decisions concerning their health. This study explored experiences and ethical issues related to shared decision-making in a rural healthcare setting.MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted at Budumba Health Centre III and Butaleja Health Centre III in rural Eastern Uganda. In this study, 23 in-depth interviews were conducted among 12 healthcare providers and 11 patients. Data was analyzed thematically using NVivo-12 plus software.ResultsFour themes emerged which included: Paternalistic cultures of care, challenges, strategies for improvement, and ethical issues. Patients at both facilities expressed the need to be involved in decision-making processes. However, many stressed that they are not engaged in decision-making about their health. Many healthcare providers noted that shared decision-making could improve patient prognosis but are faced with challenges related to low male involvement and the influence of cultural and religious practices, including myths and patriarchal attitudes which impact effective patient engagement.Ethical issues identified include concerns about informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, deception, and harm.ConclusionsThis study highlighted the need for better sensitization of patients and comprehensive training for healthcare providers to minimize and resolve ethical issues that emerge during shared decision-making processes. Therefore, targeted interventions are needed to enhance decision-making processes in rural healthcare including but not limited to developing shared decision-making manual and continuous training of healthcare providers to ethically engage patients. Further research is needed to explore larger facilities with a bigger scope including patients under 18 years of age and and their surrogates.

Epigenetic Mechanisms Driving Human Evolutionary Changes

A crucial aspect of our comprehension of human evolution is epigenetics, the study of heritable modifications in gene function that do not include modifications in the DNA sequence. This intriguing field of study emphasises on how reversible and environmental-sensitive mechanisms, such as histone, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNA activity, control gene expression and support phenotypic variation. These techniques allow animals to adapt to changing environments without experiencing permanent genetic changes, providing a flexible basis for evolutionary processes. Understanding human evolution now heavily relies on epigenetics. Since animals can adapt to changing environments without enduring permanent genetic changes, evolutionary processes have a flexible basis. Epigenetic modifications have closely linked characteristics such as immune system function and brain development throughout human evolution. Epigenetic patterns have been impacted by environmental factors like diet, illness, and climate, which has allowed organisms to flourish and procreate in a variety of ecological niches. With an emphasis on their function in human evolution, this study explores the molecular mechanisms underlying epigenetic control and how epigenetics allows humans to display amazing phenotypic plasticity. The ramifications of epigenetic studies in anthropology are also examined, with a focus on how modern humans differ from their hominid ancestors and how epigenetics influences cultural and social practices. This review further highlights the revolutionary potential of epigenetics in deciphering the intricacies of human evolution by fusing knowledge from genetics, anthropology, and environmental studies.

A flagella-dependent Burkholderia jumbo phage controls rice seedling rot and steers Burkholderia glumae toward reduced virulence in rice seedlings.

Bacteriophages (phages) are being investigated as potential biocontrol agents for the suppression of bacterial diseases in cultivated crops. Jumbo bacteriophages, which possess genomic DNA larger than 200 kbp, generally have a broader host range than other phages and therefore would be useful as biocontrol agents against a wide range of bacterial strains. Thus, the characterization of novel jumbo phages specific for agricultural pathogens would be of importance for the development of phage biocontrol strategies. Herein, we demonstrate that phage S13 requires Burkholderia glumae flagella for its attachment and infection and that loss of B. glumae flagella prevents S13 cellular lysis. As flagella is a known virulence factor, loss of flagella results in a surviving population of B. glumae with reduced virulence. Further experimentation demonstrates that phage S13 can protect rice plants from B. glumae-sponsored destruction in a rice seedling model of infection.IMPORTANCEBacterial plant pathogens threaten many major food crops and inflict large agricultural losses worldwide. B. glumae is a bacterial plant pathogen that causes diseases such as rot, wilt, and blight in several food major crops including rice, tomato, hot pepper, and eggplant. B. glumae infects rice during all developmental stages, causing diseases such as rice seedling rot and bacterial panicle blight (BPB). The B. glumae incidence of rice plant infection is predicted to increase with warming global temperatures, and several different control strategies targeting B. glumae are being explored. These include chemical and antibiotic soil amendment, microbiome manipulation, and the use of partially resistant rice cultivars. However, despite rice growth amelioration, the treatment options for B. glumae plant infections remain limited to cultural practices. Alternatively, phage biocontrol represents a promising new method for eliminating B. glumae from crop soils and improving rice yields.

Gender Dynamics in Educational Leadership: Challenges Faced by Female School Principals

Women are breaking the social norm of being led by men, due to persistence of stereotypical cultural practices, socialization and biases against women that may explain the poor representation of women in leadership roles. The objectives of the study were to determine: challenges faced by female administrators and strategies used to resolve the challenges. The study adopted the interpretivist paradigm and used a sequential exploratory design through a qualitative research approach. A purposive and convenience sampling strategy was employed to select 12 female administrators for participation in semi-structured interviews. This study employed thematic analysis to uncover recurring patterns and themes within the interview data. This study explored the challenges faced by female school administrators, who battle gender stereotypes, a confidence gap, and opposition from some teachers. Despite these hurdles, female leaders can persevere through hard work, clear vision, and emotional intelligence. The research also identified strategies like adhering to guidelines, achieving academic results, and maintaining composure to further empower female administrators. Additionally, open communication, collaboration, and a strong track record can help build trust with teachers and pave the way for aspiring female leaders. This research recommend that clear Ministry guidelines, leadership development programs, and a deeper understanding of gender bias are crucial to creating a more equitable and supportive environment for female school administrators.

Posthumanist Approach to the Cultural Heritage of Tuhu Chinese Musical Instruments

This study explores the preservation of the Tuhu, a traditional bowed string instrument of the Zhuang people in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, through a posthumanist perspective. The Tuhu represents the community's cultural identity and is vital to Zhuang opera and folk music. However, modernization and a decreasing number of skilled players pose significant threats to its transmission. Employing qualitative methods such as ethnographic fieldwork, in-depth interviews, and participant observation in Debao County and Jingxi City regions with rich Zhuang musical traditions, the research engaged five key informants, including local musicians, cultural practitioners, and educators. Thematic analysis revealed the instrumental agency of the Tuhu, environmental influences, and the role of digital technologies in cultural transmission. Findings indicate that preserving the Tuhu necessitates its integration into educational curricula, improved accessibility through digital platforms, and collaboration between cultural practitioners and academic institutions, fostering younger generations' engagement with traditional practices.

“Slaves of the Gods” - Vulnerability to Trafficking: Labor and Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls Among the Ewe Communities in Ghana

This contribution explores how cultural religious beliefs and practices of the Trokosi institution engender vulnerability to the recruitment of girls into bonded life, sexual and labor exploitation, and trafficking in Ghana. Here, trafficking and exploitation are conceptualized at three levels: (a) the family level where young girls are taken away from home through deception, false promises, abduction, threats, or coercion and moved elsewhere (e.g., from rural areas to towns); (b) intra and inter-community transfers; and (c) moving women and girls through marriage arrangements organized within the Trokosi (“slaves of the gods”) practice. The girls are often deceived about the destination, or their transfers are carried out through forced marriage arrangements. The above practice of transferring girls from one place to another and their sexual and labor exploitation fall within the UN Palermo Protocol definition of human trafficking and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 29, respectively. This study therefore aims to enhance our understanding of how the underlying patriarchal power relations and violence against women, underpinned by traditional religious beliefs and practices in the Trokosi institution, perpetuate bondage, labor, and sexual exploitation and aid trafficking of children and young women among the Ewe communities of Ghana.

Exploring Gastronomy Tourism: Opportunity in the State of Sikkim

Gastronomy tourism is an emerging trend that allows travellers to explore destinations through their culinary offerings, cultural practices, and traditional cuisines. Sikkim, known for its organic farming and ethnic diversity, offers a unique opportunity to promote gastronomy tourism. This article investigates the potential of Sikkim’s culinary legacy, which includes indigenous foods, drinks, and organic practices, as a significant tourism destination. It outlines significant prospects such as farm-to-table experiences, culinary festivals, and homestay food tourism, as well as difficulties such as infrastructure development and the need to improve skills in local culinary industries. The findings emphasise the need for clear communication and community engagement in improving the culinary tourist experience. Sikkim might establish itself as a premier destination in the global gourmet tourist sector.

The Environmentally Friendly Practices to Fight Plants’ Diseases: Scope Review

Plant diseases reduce the production and affect the food security. The use of synthetic chemicals affects the environment and individual health quality. The environmentally friendly practices were found the solution to minimize the side effects of pesticides and herbicides. This review aims to investigate the impact of environmentally friendly practices on plant disease protection. The results showed that environmentally friendly practices are very effective in controlling plant diseases and the same time reducing the environmental impacts and the individual’s health. These practices were found to be effective in improving the plant product and maximizing the economic profitability of the agricultural practices. These practices will increase the sustainability of the agricultural processes. Keywords: Environmentally friendly practices, plant diseases, cultural practices, biocontrol practices, economic profitability

Phenology, biological and cultural control of the new almond pest Eurytoma amygdali (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae) in Spain

Aim of study: Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), the almond wasp, is a new pest detected in Spain. Although the insect is present in Europe, in Spain no damage was detected until 2016, increasing substantially in the following years. The phenology of almond wasp and the natural enemies complex were investigated and the results of the parasitism rate and cultural control measures were analyzed. Area of study: Five Spanish provinces, important regions for almond production where E. amygdali causes serious harvest losses. Material and methods: Samples of different almond varieties were taken from ecological almond plots in the Spanish provinces of Valencia, Alicante, Albacete, Murcia and Cuenca. Main results: The first almond wasp eggs were observed at the beginning of May and completely developed larvae, early in July. Wasp flight occurred from mid-March to late May. Two natural enemies were associated with the pest, Pyemotes amygdali Çobanoğlu & Doğanlar (Acari, Pyemotidae), and Opilo domesticus (Sturm) (Coleoptera, Cleridae). Pyemotes amygdali parasitized wasp larvae, adult females and males, and Opilio domesticus fed on wasp larvae. O. domesticus was very scarce, unlike P. amygdali. In the plots with parasitized wasps, the parasitism rate ranged from 0.6% to 44% for P. amygdali. Our results suggest that sanitation measure was an important cultural pest control practice, because in the plantations where mummified almonds were removed, 96% of edible almonds were harvested, compared to 18% if mummified almonds were not removed from trees. Research highlights: Cultural control could be an important measure to control the almond wasp, because it allows biological conservation control, by preserving natural enemies present in the environment and avoid the negative effect of insecticides.

Does suicide in New Zealand follow a semi-lunar rhythm?

The hypothesis that lunar cycles influence human behaviour, particularly incidents recorded by police or coroners, has been a topic of public and media interest around the world for decades. While connections between lunar cycles and numerous cultural practices are well-documented, claims that lunar cycles influence crime or suicide statistics have not been consistently supported. There have been recent media claims that suicide rates in New Zealand follow a lunar cycle, correlating with the Māori Maramataka lunar calendar. Building on prior research, this study scrutinises the postulated association between lunar phases and suicide rates, for general and Māori populations. Utilising 2 decades (2000-2022) of data from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) and the New Zealand Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora, the study employs Poisson regression models and cosine curve analyses. Results reveal no significant correlation between lunar phases and suicide rates for the overall population or the Māori sub-group. The absence of a lunar effect persists across univariate and multivariate analyses, incorporating annual, seasonal and day-of-the-week variations. Contrary to claims linking lunar phases to Māori suicide rates, this study provides a robust analysis of comprehensive suicide data. While acknowledging potential limitations, such as the diversity among Maramataka systems and unaccounted external factors, this study emphasises the need for evidence-based practices in mental health interventions. Further research is warranted to explore potential lunar influences on less severe mental health indicators and to substantiate claims supporting traditional Māori Maramataka-based treatments.

Trends and directions in acculturation research

With rapid globalisation, cultural exchanges have increased and geographical boundaries have become porous. In this time of global connectivity, acculturation has been researched to understand cultural assimilation and identity formation. The outcome of cultural exposure on individual identity, group identity and the effect on cultural practices has been widely debated. The primary aim of the article is to review the conceptualizations on acculturation and the factors influencing it. It reviews critical perspectives on Berry’s model (1997) of immigration, acculturation and adaptation and presents alternative ideas on identity formation as people move between cultures. The article also provides few future directions for theory building.

Constructing a Sustainable Evaluation Framework for AIGC Technology in Yixing Zisha Pottery: Balancing Heritage Preservation and Innovation

This study develops a sustainable evaluation framework for Yixing Zisha pottery design schemes generated by Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) technology, emphasizing the integration of cultural heritage preservation with innovation. As a traditional Chinese craft and a recognized element of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), Yixing Zisha pottery is celebrated for its cultural depth and unique design techniques. Guided by emotional design theory, the framework assesses aesthetic, functional, and emotional dimensions through hierarchical analysis. Using the Delphi method and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), primary and secondary indicators were identified and weighted based on expert consensus. AIGC technology, underpinned by advanced AI algorithms, generates culturally authentic yet innovative design solutions, striking a balance between tradition and modernity. The findings reveal that this approach enhances design diversity, functionality, and efficiency while fostering global cultural awareness. By providing practical guidance for integrating AIGC technology into traditional craftsmanship, the research offers a replicable model for other traditional crafts and contributes to the theoretical advancement of sustainable cultural heritage practices. By bridging the gap between digital innovation and heritage preservation, this study addresses the critical need for sustainable strategies in the creative industries.

The Historical and Cultural Traditions that Influenced the Establishment and Evolution of the Anthroponymic System in the Contemporary Karakalpak Language

This study explores the anthropogenic system of the contemporary Karakalpak language, focusing on personal names and surnames. Through a comprehensive analysis spanning from historical-linguistic to statistical and sociolinguistic assessments, it examines the evolution and structural dynamics of Karakalpak anthroponymy. Drawing on a wide range of sources including historical archives and ethnographic data, the research categorizes and interprets the lexico-semantic and word-formation characteristics of Karakalpak names within the broader context of Turkic anthroponymy. The findings highlight the cultural and linguistic influences shaping Karakalpak naming practices amidst socio-political changes in Karakalpakstan.

Michelia alba: A Review on Its Biological Profile and Ethnobotany in Java

Michelia alba DC (white champaca) is an ornamental, flowering, and aromatic plant that grows widely in tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia. This plant has long been known as a medicinal plant in several regions in Southeast Asia. However, this plant is still not widely known by people in various parts of the world, the number of studies that examine this plant is still relatively small, and ethnobotanical discussions about this plant are difficult to find. This study aims to provide a review of the current ethnobotanical status of Michelia alba in Java, Indonesia, which includes its biological profile, role in Javanese customs, related myths, and scientific review in terms of its pharmacological activity. The results of the ethnobotanical study revealed that this plant is fairly unique because it is often associated with magical things and is very closely related to various cultural practices of the Javanese indigenous people (kejawen). Scientifically, the results of research prove that the M. alba plant does contain various chemical constituents that have many benefits. The pharmacological activities of M. alba reported include anti-cancer, antistress, anti-fungal, antioxidant, skin protection, and effective in killing Trypanosoma parasites.

Learning (Not) to Know: Examining How White Ignorance Manifests and Functions in White Adolescents' Racial Identity Narratives.

In critical approaches to the study of whiteness, white ignorance refers to systematic and intentional ways of (not) knowing that function to perpetuate racism. The current critical qualitative analysis examines how white ignorance surfaces in the racial identity narratives of white adolescents (N = 69, Mage = 15.91, SD = 0.49, data collected 2017-2019). Using semi-structured interview data, we identified three manifestations of accommodation to white ignorance: constructing white as disadvantaged, framing race(ism) as unimportant and elsewhere, and the active refusal to know or imagine racial oppression. Alongside this accommodation we also observed a less common but important thread of resistance to white ignorance: seeing (and naming) systemic racism. The findings reveal how white ignorance as a macrosystemic cultural practice becomes embedded in, and strengthened through, the micro-level racial identities of white adolescents. Implications for conceptualizing and contextualizing white racial identity in developmental science are discussed.