Cultural Representations Research Articles

Cultural Representation in Chinese University English Language Teaching Textbooks

Globalization enhances communication among people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. As cultural artifacts, English language teaching textbooks are crucial media for learners’ intercultural education, especially under the concept of English as a lingua franca. This study investigated the cultural elements in Chinese university English textbooks via the approach of content analysis. Specifically, a set of Chinese English language teaching textbooks was selected as the sample and the audio and video materials were transcribed into texts as the data. The results were displayed by the counts of cultural elements. The data revealed that international cultures and source cultures were highlighted, and the textbooks were not oriented toward native-speakers’ English. Moreover, the distribution of cultural categories across the textbooks remains imbalanced, with cultural products occupying the largest proportion, and cultural perspectives displayed the least. This is mainly attributed to the fact that cultural perspectives are implicit cultures under the surface of the iceberg, and notably, they are sporadically reflected by the cultural products, practices, and persons. The findings provide suggestions that writers include balanced cultural elements in compiling English language teaching textbooks, and teachers scrutinize cultural representation and design intercultural activities.

Analysis of Word Formation in ‘Made You Look’ Song Lyrics by Meghan Trainor

This study examines word formation trends in contemporary popular music through an analysis of Meghan Trainor’s song “Made You Look.” The aim is to explore how linguistic creativity in pop lyrics contributes to emotional expression and social interaction. Utilizing a qualitative approach, specifically discourse analysis, the research investigates how word formation processes shape cultural identity and audience engagement. The study relies on theories from Levitin (2006), Lieber (2009), and Yule (2010) to understand the cognitive, morphological, and structural aspects of language in music. Findings indicate that the lyrics of “Made You Look” incorporate various word formation processes, particularly clipping (3), coinage (1), derivation (1), compounding (4), and conversion (2). Examples such as “nothin’” (clipping), “Gucci” (coinage), and “‘bout” (clipping) reflect the informal, conversational tone characteristic of pop music. These linguistic choices enhance relatability, reinforce cultural identity, and contribute to the song’s rhythmic appeal. Additionally, the study highlights how Trainor’s use of word formation aligns with sociolinguistic trends in informal speech, particularly within African American Vernacular English (AAVE). The study concludes that word formation in pop lyrics is not merely stylistic but also serves as a strategic linguistic tool for self-expression, audience connection, and cultural representation. This research contributes to the broader understanding of language evolution in media and popular culture.

The unthinkable e-waste: uncover the dual narrative of the afterlife of electronic devices in China

ABSTRACT The global crisis of e-waste is intensifying, yet existing studies often remain confined within human-centered frameworks of e-waste management, overlooking the vast, complex, and sometimes “unthinkable” environmental and social impacts that extend beyond conventional environmental management narratives. This essay fills that gap by examining the ideology within media narratives surrounding the e-waste crisis in contemporary China. Through comparative critical discourse analysis, this study reevaluates the media representation of e-waste industry’s embedded ideology of technological solutionism. Drawing on Timothy Morton’s insight into the unthinkable nature of ecological crises, this paper introduces the concept of “Unthinkable e-waste” to reveal the complex eco-social dynamics of e-waste in China. Focusing on the dual narratives of Guiyu and Huaqiangbei in Guangdong Province—Guiyu as an e-waste dumping ground and Huaqiangbei as a center for the second-hand electronics market—this study explores two dimensions. First, it examines how early twenty-first-century activist documentaries portrayed Guiyu’s informal e-waste industry as a “grey space” of environmental degradation. Second, it analyzes the evolution of official narratives in Huaqiangbei, which frame China’s second-hand electronics industry within a “bright space” that emphasizes economic growth and innovation. By critically analyzing those visual and cultural representations of seemingly contradictory narrative, this research reveals the risks inherent in ideological reliance on technological solutionism. Ultimately, it underscores the need to critically engage with the contradictions in China’s e-waste narratives, encouraging a reimagining of e-waste as an ambiguous material and fostering a deeper sense of kinship with it.

Future cities imagined by ChatGPT-4o: human evaluation using importance-performance analysis

Despite the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into human society, a significant gap remains in understanding how AI can use its database-driven imagination to enhance urban planning and aesthetics effectively. This study explores ChatGPT-4o’s potential in generating future urban designs by incorporating human evaluations. Using a mixed-methods design, the study identified key indicators for evaluating AI-generated urban design images and then applied Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to measure participants’ evaluations of these indicators. Results showed that creativity was the most critical indicator needing improvement, while technological sense received high performance. Surprisingly, indicators like traffic rationality, environmental greening, public space utilization and cultural representation were deemed less important. These findings suggest that participants prefer AI to focus more on bold, imaginative aspects. This study constructs a framework for evaluating AI-generated urban design images and offers valuable insights for improving AI applications in urban planning and image generation.

Embracing inclusiveness: A discourse analysis of cultural representation in Indonesian EFL textbook

In Indonesia, it is a national priority for students to develop the ability to interact and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. Consequently, English as Foreign Language (EFL) textbooks play a crucial role in embedding this value. While previous studies have extensively explored multiculturalism in Indonesian EFL textbooks, little attention has been given to textbooks published internationally. This study addresses this gap by examining English in Mind Second Edition, an internationally published EFL textbook used by Indonesian junior high school students learning English. Employing a critical discourse analysis approach, this study investigates the inclusivity values portrayed in the textbook. The analysis reveals that the textbook demonstrates a strong commitment to promoting inclusivity. However, caution is advised when relying solely on this textbook to foster an inclusive educational environment in Indonesia. The use of foreign-published textbooks, while potentially controversial, offers a valuable opportunity to cultivate inclusivity.

Surf Rock

In the late 1950s and the first half of the 1960s, America was introduced to one of the most well-known subcultures of any coastal region, the surf culture of southern California. For a brief time, this distinct and entirely American phenomenon held the fantasy of endless summer days and permanent vacations across the United States through film, literature, and most popularly, music. This genre of music, known as surf rock, was an amalgamation of influences and ideas that, when put together and finally realized in its distinct geographic settings and local culture, created a form of American music which had not really been heard before and that would have impacts long past its era. Surf Rock is a distinct representation of Californian coastal life and culture, containing a deep and multi-faceted history in both American art and music, as well as beach and coastal culture.

Interview with Maryam Naʿūm

This interview with Egyptian screenwriter Maryam Naʿūm offers insight into her creative approach to scripting crime within Arab television drama. Known for her socially engaged narratives, Naʿūm discusses the narrative role of crime, evolving audience expectations, and the cultural and institutional constraints shaping representations of justice across the Arab region. She reflects on regional variations in crime storytelling, the rise of platform-driven content, and the challenges of adapting international formats. Drawing on her own body of work and her mentorship of emerging writers, Naʿūm articulates a vision of crime drama that prioritizes emotional depth and character complexity over formulaic resolution. Maryam Naʿūm is an acclaimed Egyptian screenwriter known for her socially conscious storytelling and compelling female characters. A graduate of the Cairo Higher Institute of Cinema, she gained recognition with Wāḥid-ṣifr (2009) and solidified her reputation through collaborations with director Kāmla Abū Ḏikrī on works like Bin ismahā Ḏāt (2013) and Siǧn al-nisā (2014). Naʿūm’s scripts often tackle issues like gender inequality, class struggles, and personal freedom. Her nuanced writing and focus on marginalised voices have made her a key figure in contemporary Arab cinema, contributing to a new wave of realist and feminist storytelling in the region. Naʿūm is also the founder of Sard, a screenwriting workshop that mentors emerging talents.

Holloway Prison: Representations and Realities in the History of a Women’s Prison, 1902 to 1955

This article explores the media and cultural representations of HMP Holloway, London, England between 1902 and 1955 and contrasts this with the realities of the day-to-day female population and experience in the institution. Drawing on extensive historical analysis, the research examines how representations of the prison, and the women held within it, both titillated the public and reinforced existing or prevailing popular stereotypes about women’s criminality and imprisonment in the first half of the twentieth century. These representations contributed to a distinctive and ferocious reputation, that cemented Holloway’s notoriety in the popular imagination notwithstanding the contrasting realities of the institution.

Artificial Intelligence in Arabic-English Literary Translation: Technological Innovations, Linguistic Accuracy, and Ethical Implications

This research investigates the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Arabic-English literary translation, examining the complex intersection of technological capabilities, linguistic challenges, and ethical considerations. The study employs a mixed-methods approach combining computational analysis of translator-AI interactions, comparative assessment of machine and human translations, and qualitative interviews with professional translators and literary experts. Analysis of a diverse corpus of Arabic literary texts reveals that while neural machine translation (NMT) systems have made significant advances in handling basic linguistic structures, they continue to struggle with the cultural nuances, stylistic features, and contextual depth that characterize literary texts. The research identifies specific challenges in translating Arabic literary devices, metaphorical expressions, and culturally embedded concepts, while proposing targeted enhancements to existing NMT architectures. These include the development of specialized cultural knowledge modules, improved handling of Arabic morphological complexity, and hybrid human-AI workflows that leverage the strengths of both machine efficiency and human cultural interpretation. The study also addresses the ethical implications of AI integration in literary translation, examining issues of authorial voice preservation, translator agency, and cultural representation. The findings suggest that while AI can serve as a valuable assistive tool in the translation process, the translation of literary texts continues to require human oversight to ensure cultural authenticity, stylistic integrity, and ethical representation. This research contributes to the evolving understanding of AI's role in translation studies and offers practical frameworks for the responsible integration of technology in preserving the art of literary translation.

An Anthropological Linguistic Study of The Novel Man’en Gannen No. Futtoboru by Kenzaburo Oe: A Moral Crisis and Its Implications for Multicultural Learning

This study examines the moral crisis depicted in Kenzaburo Oe's Man'en Gannen no Futtoboru and its implications for multicultural learning using an anthropological linguistic approach. Through the moral conflicts experienced by his characters, Oe shows the tension between tradition, modernity, and social change in post-war Japanese society. This study aims to explore how the moral and social discourses in the novel reflect intercultural dynamics, as well as how anthropological linguistic analysis can be used in an educational context to enhance students' understanding of multicultural awareness. This research uses a qualitative approach with critical discourse analysis to explore the narratives depicting moral crises and cultural representations in the novel. The results show that anthropological linguistics-based learning can help students understand the role of language in uncovering and mediating moral conflicts in multicultural societies.

Reflections on the reconstruction of architectural heritage in China: a case study of Suzhou

ABSTRACT The reconstruction of architectural heritage is a highly controversial topic, primarily due to the varying perspectives on its purpose and implications. While it serves as a tribute to demolished buildings, reflecting society’s attachment to their memories and values, this intention often ignites debates regarding authenticity and cultural representation. In 1994, the Nara Conference introduced the concept of cultural relativism, a key aspect of Cultural Anthropology, into the new international conservation doctrine. This approach recognized and respected diverse cultures, prompting a reevaluation of the foundational authenticity theories. This study takes Suzhou as a case example, selecting typical architectural heritage reconstruction cases from around 1980 to the present. It analyzes the historical processes of reconstruction cases in China and summarize the characteristics of conservation theory within the Chinese context. Furthermore, it explores the multiple cultural influences and inherent ethics associated with terms such as authenticity and integrity in the Chinese context, represented by Suzhou.

The challenge of local culture representation in the movie "Welcome to Jogja"

The Special Region of Yogyakarta is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and historical significance in Indonesia. It is also a source of inspiration for numerous cinematic works. Despite the abundance of films depicting Yogyakarta, previous studies have not thoroughly elucidated its cultural significance. This research employs a qualitative methodology to examine the cultural elements of Yogyakarta as portrayed in the film "Welcome to Jogja." The objective of this study is to explore the cultural values of Yogyakarta as implied in the film. The data collection methods included observation, documentation, and a literature review of prior research. This study identifies and analyzes the representation of Yogyakarta's cultural values as reflected in the film "Welcome to Jogja." The findings indicate that the film offers a comprehensive depiction of Mataraman Javanese culture through visual and symbolic elements such as lurik clothing, dance, jemparingan, Labuhan Parangkusumo rituals, karawitan, and batik. These cultural icons are presented through props and courtyard designs. The film not only showcases the aesthetic beauty of Javanese culture but also invites the audience to comprehend the profound meanings underlying it all. Consequently, this research contributes to the understanding and appreciation of Yogyakarta's cultural richness and promotes regional cultural heritage in the film industry context. Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta merupakan salah satu kota di Indonesia yang terkenal dengan kekayaan budaya dan sejarahnya. Yogyakarta juga diketahui sebagai kota yang menjadi sumber inspirasi berbagai karya film. Oleh karena banyaknya film mengenai Yogyakarta pada beberapa kajian sebelumnya tidak secara kompherensif menjelaskan budaya Yogyakarta. Melalui pendekatan kulaitatif, penelitian ini akan menguraikan mengenai beberapa budaya di Yogyakarta yang ada pada Film “Welcome to Jogja”. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menggali nilai budaya Yogyakarta yang tersirat dalam film tersebut. Dengan pengumpulan data melalui observasi, dokumentasi dan studi literatur berdasar penelitian terdahulu, penelitian ini mengidentifikasi dan menganalisis representasi nilai budaya Yogyakarta yang tercermin dalam film "Welcome to Jogja". Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa film ini menghadirkan representasi budaya Jawa Mataraman yang kaya melalui elemen visual dan simbolis seperti baju lurik, tari, jemparingan dan ritual Labuhan Parangkusumo, karawitan, membatik. Ikon visual tersebut muncul dalam bentuk properti dan desain pelatarannya. Film ini tidak hanya memperlihatkan keindahan budaya Jawa, tetapi juga mengajak penonton untuk memahami makna mendalam di baliknya. Dengan demikian, penelitian ini memberikan kontribusi dalam memahami dan menghargai kekayaan budaya Yogyakarta, serta mempromosikan warisan budaya daerah dalam konteks industri perfilman.

The spectacle of non-violence: deactivating territorial stigmatization in favela representations in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Opening Ceremonies

ABSTRACT Sport Mega-Events (SMEs) have been widely used as opportunities to promote and (re)brand host cities to domestic and international audiences. Perhaps unsurprisingly, therefore, marginalized or stigmatized urban places do not feature heavily in urban representations during SME opening ceremonies despite the complex relationship between SMEs, redevelopment and urban marginality. However, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro marked a departure from this trend. While the Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC) aimed to present the city as vibrant, colorful and safe, they also incorporated marginalized urban spaces – the city’s favelas – into event-related promotions. We introduce the concept of deactivation to analyze the representations of favelas during the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony. We suggest that the complexity of urban marginality and territorial stigmatization is erased through cultural representations that foreground empowerment and challenges to socio-spatial stigmas. In doing so, the favela is (re)imagined as a romanticized spectacle for external consumption that works to make them legible for capital accumulation, pacification, and the displacement of their inhabitants.

Reclaiming Nudity: Feminism, Commodification, and the Male Gaze in Nxde

With the growing popularity of the Girl Crush concept, an increasing number of K-pop productions incorporate feminist elements. This study examines the Girl Crush style through the lens of postfeminism and commodified feminism, analyzing how it navigates the tension between female empowerment and the male gaze within the highly commercialized K-pop industry. Existing studies rarely provide a detailed account of how feminist symbols in K-pop are constructed and deconstructed. This study fills this gap by conducting a systematic semiotic analysis to uncover the layered meanings of these symbols. Through a semiotic analysis of the visual elements in (G)I-DLE’s Nxde music video, this study examines how symbols of nudity, performance, and objectification engage with feminist discourses. Findings indicate that while Nxde challenges media-driven sexualization by reframing nudity as a symbol of self-expression, it simultaneously conforms to mainstream beauty standards and commercialized aesthetics. This commercialization of feminist ideals paradoxically reinforces the male gaze, highlighting a core tension within postfeminist media culture. The MV oscillates between resisting objectification and reinforcing the very structures it seeks to critique, exemplifying the paradox of postfeminist media representation. This study contributes to the discourse on female representation in East Asian popular culture by emphasizing the performative nature of feminist imagery in K-pop.

A Qualitative Inquiry Into Decisions to Leave Engineering Among Korean Women With Engineering Degrees

The longstanding underrepresentation of women in engineering fields is a global issue. The present study explores the experiences of 15 Korean women who earned engineering degrees and then changed their careers to non-engineering fields. Participants completed semi-structured interviews, and qualitative data from these interviews were analyzed using consensual qualitative research methods. Five domains emerged from the data: psychosocial struggles, anticipated difficulties in engineering, systemic gender marginalization, perceived lack of support, and deciding to leave. These findings reveal the underlying dynamics of environmental, socio-cognitive, and affective factors that not only influence non-persistence but also shape women’s experiences of leaving engineering and navigating alternative career paths. Participants’ decisions to leave were influenced by structural and cultural barriers, such as gender discrimination, anticipated challenges as women, and limited opportunities for advancement. The results highlight the need for gender-inclusive culture, supportive environments, and meaningful representation to improve retention and equity for women in engineering. This study offers important implications for practice and research in supporting women in engineering and advancing gender diversity within the field.

Intercultural Competence of Chinese College English Teachers: A Comprehensive Study

This study investigates Chinese college English teachers’ intercultural competence (IC) through mixed-methods research involving 69 survey respondents and four interviews. Findings reveal systemic challenges in integrating cultural instruction, including teachers’ self-perceived knowledge gaps (39%), pedagogical skill deficiencies (36%), and curricular misalignment with policy mandates. While national reforms emphasize IC development, classroom practices remain constrained by exam-oriented priorities, limited training (only 26% received in-service IC training), and textbook biases favoring Anglo-American cultures. Quantitative analysis shows teachers’ confidence negatively correlates with teaching experience, but positively with education level, suggesting advanced academic training enhances IC integration capabilities. Qualitative data highlight tensions between ideological-political curriculum requirements and authentic intercultural pedagogy, with teachers creatively adapting content to balance cultural perspectives. The research identifies two critical gaps: (1) policy-implementation disconnect in cultural education, and (2) insufficient professional development despite training demands. Recommendations emphasize holistic reforms: expanding workshop-based teacher training, redesigning textbooks with balanced cultural representations, and aligning assessment systems with IC objectives. This study underscores the necessity of addressing both institutional barriers (time constraints, testing systems) and individual competencies to bridge China’s intercultural education aspirations and classroom realities.

Kankanta: Unlocking The Cultural and Educational Significance of Ilocano Folksongs

Purpose of the study: The subjects of this study were the Ilocano folksongs. This study aimed to collect Ilocano songs, know the worldviews of each song, identify the themes, and determine the different values that are embedded in the songs. Methodology: The researchers aimed to provide a diverse representation of Ilocano culture by collecting 10 Ilocano folksongs specifically songs about relationship. The data were collected online as they were accessible and easy to find. After gathering the necessary data, the researchers sought for English translations of each Ilocano folksong and determined the themes, values, and worldviews in the folksongs. Main Findings: Results showed that Ilocano folksongs contain themes such as love songs, courtship songs, death songs, unrequited love, sorrow, relationship, longing, admiration, and decision-making. Also the results showed that most of the values that are embedded in the songs are about reassurance, loyalty, sincerity, compatibility, thoughtfulness, vulnerability, being considerate, and being meticulous. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study would be a help to various stakeholders of the educational system as well as to the students taking up language and literature related courses for they would benefit and become well-informed of the analyzation of themes, values, and worldviews embedded in the Ilocano folksongs.

On a slim epiphany. Fatness, queerness, animality and death in The Whale (Darren Aronofsky, 2022)

ABSTRACT Cinema is a cultural domain with significant social influence. The representations on screen shape our perception and imagination regarding bodies, sexualities, relational models, moral values, health, and spirituality, among other aspects. Given its widespread cinematic recognition, popularity, and critical acclaim, Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale (2022) is a contemporary film rich in symbolic content that immerses the audience in the life and suffering of a fat character, Charlie, in a way that is difficult to ignore. We have conducted a close reading analysis of the text, form, and style of The Whale. This filmic analysis methodology has been widely used in cultural studies and the audiovisual representation of popular culture and is particularly useful for providing a critical commentary in dialogue with social and media discourses. Our analysis explores the relationship between fatness, illness, and death in relation to the film’s temporal aspects, exposes the aesthetic-ideological construction of the fat body as monstrous and animalized, and ultimately highlights the somatophobic foundations of the rejection of fatness and queerness. This rejection is in tension with ascetic religious discourses surrounding carnal sin, both dietary and sexual.

Cultural Representations of the Second Wife: Literature, Stage, and Screen Cultural Representations of the Second Wife: Literature, Stage, and Screen, edited by ParnellJo. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2023. 201 pp. $95.00 cloth. ISBN: 9781666932843.

Cultural Representations of the Second Wife: Literature, Stage, and Screen Cultural Representations of the Second Wife: Literature, Stage, and Screen, edited by ParnellJo. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2023. 201 pp. $95.00 cloth. ISBN: 9781666932843.

‘Grief vessels’: An exploration of therapeutic work in contexts of complex pregnancy loss using art-based inquiry

This article offers an art-based exploration of the author’s therapeutic work in contexts of pregnancy loss, focusing on the experience of those who make the profoundly difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy for medical reasons (TFMR). The existing literature points to high levels of psychological distress in this group, against a backdrop of polarized debates on abortion care. There are gaps in cultural representations of the TFMR experience across the arts, as well as a dearth of exploration in the psychotherapeutic domain. The author sets out to represent these complex experiences and to delineate key therapeutic tasks using art-based self-inquiry. The methodology incorporates image-making and reflections on clinical practice, taking as a starting point the word ‘vessel’, which evokes associations to pregnancy and the therapeutic process. The incorporation of hand-stitching within the image-making process echoes the endeavour of textile artists in other contexts to capture marginalized experiences.