Participatory Culture Research Articles

PARTICIPATION OF SENIORS IN CULTURE IN VIEW OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

The article presents the results of research on seniors' participation in culture, which are part of cross-sectional research on the style and quality of life of people aged 60+, conducted in 2024. The article discusses the results regarding individual participation in culture and participation in organized cultural activities at the local level. It discusses the level of activity of seniors, institutional and non-institutional actors organizing the cultural life of seniors, the roles played by older people in cultural events and their expectations.

The role of arts-based methods in supporting safe and participatory research addressing sexual violence with young people

Background: The use of participatory visual methods in humanities, health, education and social science research to study ‘sensitive’ subject matter with children and young people is growing. Such approaches have been widely – though sometimes uncritically – celebrated for contributing to safe data elicitation, promoting participant influence and strengthening research dissemination and impact. Some authors have pointed to their political contributions – challenging the traditional politics of representation and fostering critical consciousness and thinking. Methods: This article explores these claims, reflecting on a study using creative and participatory methods to explore the concept of ‘resistance’ among young people affected by sexual violence. It begins by outlining the background, rationale and use of creative methods in the project, moving from plans to utilise ‘Photovoice’ methods to a more diverse and responsive set of creative methods. Findings: The paper presents evidence for the contribution of such methods to creating safety and fostering participation while developing new conceptual thinking among researchers and participants. Conclusion: In this project, the success of creative methods is rooted in the dynamics of what we term spaciousness and playfulness which support dialogical practice. These dynamics are critical to enabling a safe participatory culture that bridges divides between stakeholders of different status, identity and ownership.

Bringing #LinaBell to life online: A case study in the creative and collaborative dynamics of Chinese online fandom

This article delves into the dynamics of online fandom in China through the lens of LinaBell, a pink fox character introduced as a mascot by Shanghai Disneyland in September 2021. Unlike traditional Disney characters, LinaBell lacks an official backstory or media presence. Yet she has rapidly gained immense popularity among Chinese Disney fans, largely through social media platforms like Weibo. Our study centers on the LinaBell Super Topic Community on Weibo, consisting of over 543,000 members known as “LinaBell’s moms.” Employing qualitative content analysis of posts and comments, this research examines fans’ creative work, including videos, fanfiction, and memes around LinaBell, in order to understand the collective dynamics of Chinese online fandom. Our findings revealed two main themes: the collective personification of LinaBell through fan work, and the formation of a parakin bond with the character. The findings highlight the transformative role of social media in contemporary Chinese fandom as well as unveil a diverse landscape of participation, creativity, and community in Chinese culture through the prism of platforms like Weibo.

Analysis of Family Wealth and Participation in Commercial Insurance Behavior within the Influence of Confucian Culture

Based on the data samples from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) in 2017 and 2019, this study delves into the intrinsic relationship between Confucian culture, family wealth, and household participation in commercial insurance. The research findings indicate that Confucian culture positively promotes household participation in commercial insurance; an increase in family wealth significantly enhances households' willingness to participate in commercial insurance. Further analysis reveals that family satisfaction plays a crucial intermediary role between Confucian culture and household participation in commercial insurance. Additionally, the impact of Confucian culture on household commercial insurance participation behavior exhibits significant regional differences.

Sustainable development strategy for cultural heritage conservation of Hengshan cliff carving in Hunan province, people's republic of China

Stone carving is unique to the People's Republic of China (PRC) and has a long history of use. Therefore, it is the focus of research on sustainable development strategy for Hengshan Cliff Conservation carving cultural heritage calligraphy in Hunan Province, People's Republic of China. The objectives of this research are (1) to study and analyze the conservation status of the cultural heritage of the Hengshan cliff carving. (2) Analyze and synthesize sustainable calligraphy cultural heritage development strategies for the conservation of the Hengshan cliff carvings. (3) Evaluate a strategy for the development of sustainable calligraphy cultural heritage for the conservation of Hengshan cliff carvings. This study uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative research uses literature reviews related to cultural heritage conservation and sustainable development and interviews with stakeholders. Quantitative research uses survey methods distributed to experts in the field of Hengshan cliff carving calligraphy and to site visitors. The results showed that: (1) the preservation of Hengshan cliff carving calligraphy cultural heritage today has challenges and opportunities that have significant strengths and weaknesses. (2) The analysis and synthesis of sustainable development strategies on the key issues of environmental protection, preservation of cultural values, community participation, and policy support are important for the formulation of effective conservation strategies. (3) A sustainable development strategy is formulated and evaluated based on the indicators identified in the strategic area, including recommendations for improving conservation practices. However, from the questionnaires and 404 sets of samples collected, as well as interviews with experts and related parties, it can be summarized in an overview of various dimensions. The strength dimension was determined to be the average and standard deviation (4.480.43). The weak dimension has an average and standard deviation (4.480.44). The second-highest opportunity dimension was averaged and the standard deviation (4.400.44). The threat dimension was at the lowest level, with average and standard deviations (4.300.52). This indicates that respondents generally believe that the cultural heritage of Hengshan Cliff calligraphy is balanced in terms of strengths and weaknesses and that there are still opportunities for improvement, but the threats faced should not be ignored.

Life satisfaction and the variety and intensity of cultural participation in Italy: disentangling the individual and regional dimensions

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a novel approach to explore the relation between cultural participation and subjective well-being, and to dig into the relation between the individual and regional dimensions. Using the Italian Multipurpose survey, we derive major cultural consumer profiles that combine the variety and intensity of engagement through latent class analysis. We then investigate how heterogeneity in cultural profiles at the national and regional levels relates to overall life satisfaction and relevant domains (leisure and friendship relationships). The results indicate a positive relation with diversity in consumption becoming more significant in specific domains. At the same time, we find patterns of regional variation in the relation, which is only partly explained by indicators of cultural supply at the regional level. The findings shed light on the role of habits of cultural consumption in individual well-being and inform the policy debate on culture-led interventions.

Present absence: when cultural participation goes digital

ABSTRACT Physical and spatial presence has been regarded as a prerequisite in cultural participation and art mediation, vital for both the authentic art experience and for learning. The digital turn has challenged these truths. This article investigates the challenges and possibilities of participation and mediation when artists and art teachers, who normally meet their young audiences face-to-face in physical venues, reorient themselves and move to digital spaces. Using empirical data from Norway, and the concepts of emotional energy, present absence and liveness, it pursues how participation and mediation take place, and perhaps change, when cultural participation and art experiences move from their traditional physical moorings, and into various digital formats and platforms. Thus, it investigates both what is lost when cultural participation goes digital, what (new) possibilities arise, and how the cultural values associated with participation and mediation are transferred or challenged by digital formats and platforms.

Off the books, away from the market: Clan culture and female labor force participation

This study examines the persistent impact of historical Chinese clan culture on contemporary female labor force participation. Using the hand-collected genealogy data from China, we find that traditional clan-based gender biases significantly suppress women's employment, with the husband's clan heritage strongly influencing the wife's work decisions. The gender bias embedded in Chinese clan culture is the primary driver linking clan heritage to reduced female labor force participation. While women from clan-oriented backgrounds exhibit labor market advantages, these are primarily driven by self-selection into the workforce rather than direct causal effects.

Classic Maya deity concurrence: Brides, gods, and inter-dynastic ritual exchange

The Classic Maya (250–900 CE) lowlands of Mesoamerica were home to dozens of interconnected polities whose elites shared an intellectual and material culture. They also sustained common sociopolitical institutions like divine kingship, which relied in part on ritual performance to legitimate dynastic rule. This article suggests that exogamous marriage was an important context for maintaining this shared culture through inter-dynastic exchange. Using the example of deity concurrence or impersonation, I argue that noblewomen who married into another polity brought with them cultural knowledge that included ritual practices with which members of the royal family negotiated their dynastic identity. By performing deity concurrence and sharing their understanding of the ritual with their partners and offspring, foreign queens contributed to development of local dynastic tradition and to ongoing maintenance of a regional elite culture. This consideration of exogamous marriage recasts Classic Maya exogamous brides as cultural actors who shaped the identity and ritual tradition of the dynastic communities into which they married.

International students’ acculturation: online cultural participation, cultural self-awareness, and cultural identity clarity

International students’ acculturation: online cultural participation, cultural self-awareness, and cultural identity clarity

Research on Non-heritage Cultural Innovation and Inheritance Based on AI Visual Technology in the Perspective of New Quality Productivity

Under the new quality productivity perspective, artificial intelligence (AI) visual technology provides new opportunities for the innovation and inheritance of non-heritage culture. The Grass Dragon of Lizhuang, as a unique cultural treasure of Lizhuang Town, Cuiping District, Yibin City, not only carries a profound historical and cultural heritage, but also shows the traditional wisdom and creativity of the Chinese nation with its unique art form and production process. In this paper, we will take the Grass Dragon dance of Lizhuang Town, Cuiping District, Yibin City as an example to explore how to use AI visual technology to promote the digital transformation and dissemination of non-heritage culture. The study first analyses the current situation of the innovative inheritance of non-heritage culture in the case of the Grass Dragon in Lizhuang, and then introduces the significance of the innovative inheritance of non-heritage culture based on AI visual technology in the perspective of the new quality productivity, as well as the measures of the innovative inheritance of non-heritage culture based on AI visual technology. Through case studies, the paper shows how these technologies can enhance public awareness and participation in NRH culture, thus promoting the protection and inheritance of NRH culture. Finally, the study points out the challenges faced in practical application and proposes corresponding solutions, emphasising the importance of the deep integration of technology and culture in the innovation of non-heritage culture. The study provides new perspectives and practical paths for promoting the combination of traditional culture and modern technology.

The Final Solution: Reimagining Sherlock Holmes through Michael Chabon’s Fan Fiction

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective has become a primary point for reinterpretation and innovation within fan communities, where both amateur and professional writers engage in reshaping established narratives. Michael Chabon’s (1963-) portrayal of an aging Sherlock Holmes, struggling with the hardships of old age and a complex, unresolved mystery in his novel, The Final Solution (2004), diverges from the traditional image of a relentlessly sharp and flawless detective. This nuanced portrayal not only challenges the conventional narrative but also highlights the vibrant and adaptive nature of fan communities as they reimagine iconic characters. This trend reflects a broader phenomenon in the works of fans, known as fan fiction, where creators push the boundaries of canonical texts, explore the limits and possibilities of iconic characters and offer fresh, inventive narratives. Through their collective intelligence and collaborative efforts, fan-authors transform original works, creating a dynamic interplay between established texts and new interpretations. As fan fiction evolves, it exemplifies how this collaborative creativity can influence literary traditions, expand the boundaries of established narratives, and redefine the role of readers. The evolving portrayal of the detective illustrates how fan fiction can transform passive readers into active creators, enriching the literary landscape with diverse insights and voices. In that sense, by presenting Sherlock Holmes in a state of vulnerability and limitation, Chabon not only challenges the conventional detective narrative but also highlights the transformative nature of fan fiction. Therefore, this article aims to explore how Sherlock Holmes has evolved within the realm of fan fiction through the analysis of Chabon’s The Final Solution, revealing the ongoing dialogue and creative interaction among writers and works within the participatory culture of Sherlock Holmes fandom.

Participation in practice in child welfare: processes, benefits and challenges

ABSTRACT Internationally, there has been a significant focus in policy and practice on the participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them, underpinned by respect for their rights under Article 12 of the UNCRC. While children’s participation has become a core focus for practice improvement in child welfare services, there is a dearth of practical examples of how participation is implemented in organisations. In this paper, we provide a reflective case study of participation in practice in the Youth Advocate Programme (YAP) in Ireland, a large non-profit child welfare organisation. YAP Ireland works with young people who are considered ‘high risk’ using a strength-based approach in a wraparound service that is family-driven and youth-guided. Drawing on qualitative interviews and focus groups with young people, parents, advocates, and staff and management, we describe and critically analyse YAP’s approach to participation. Critical factors in practice include a commitment to participation in policy, practice and culture at all levels of the organisation and scaffolding of participation by staff. Challenges include ensuring that participation principles are upheld consistently across the organisation and resourcing participation.

Towards a history of parliamentary culture in the early modern world: concept, geopolitical scope, and method

ABSTRACT This article proposes an innovative approach to early modern representative institutions, from the later fifteenth century to the early eighteenth. It argues that only a transnational, interdisciplinary, and comparative study of such bodies can reveal their shared culture and prominence in contemporary political discourse, public memory, and cultural production. Central to this new approach is the concept of ‘parliamentary culture’, which sees representative assemblies as collective constructs and embodiments of a political community, and encompasses the transnational tradition of customs, ideas, and cultural expressions associated with them. The article aims to: (1) sketch out the institutional, geopolitical, and historical scope of our enquiry; (2) define parliamentary culture as a collection of practices of legitimation, negotiation, and debate in political assembly that are central to the life of a community; and (3) demonstrate that the distinctive institutional cultures of representative assemblies were an essential component of the public life and political thought of early modern countries; and that there was a common culture of representative assembly shared and recognized throughout Europe which was variously transplanted to and adapted in the overseas territories of the Iberian, Anglo-British, and Dutch empires, often through interaction with Indigenous traditions of assembly. The underlying argument is that only by looking at early modern representative bodies in this way can we appreciate the vitality and significance of this type of political organization.

Evaluating public and patient involvement in interventional research-A newly developed checklist (EPPIIC).

Public and patient involvement (PPI) has been identified as an increasingly desired and, often, required component of trial methodology-leading to higher quality, more accessible and relevant clinical research, alongside increased recruitment, funding success and insight into research impact. However, despite the great variety of frameworks and checklists available for assessing PPI, most are limited with respect to important features (e.g. applicable in specific contexts only, fail to clarify what should be assessed and reported, lack the necessary comprehensiveness or are biased in favour of researcher reporting). Thus, the current research aimed to address such limitations through the development of a new checklist, the EPPIIC, through review, thematic analysis and 'meta-evaluation' in conjunction with PPI engagement. Upon completion of the EPPIIC, three thematic 'sub-scales' emerged: (1) Policy & Practice, (2) Participatory Culture and (3) Influence & Impact. All findings are presented and discussed in light of theory and research. Notably, findings recommend EPPIIC as a useful means of assessing PPI in future trials.

Barriers to cultural participation by people with disabilities: a qualitative investigation about Lollapalooza Brazil (2022)

This study examines the inclusion of people with disabilities at Lollapalooza (2022) based on the perspectives of digital influencers with disabilities. Despite the festival’s professed commitment to inclusivity, it falls short in accommodating these influencers, highlighting mobility and autonomy challenges due to accessibility issues, hindering their full participation. This study emphasizes superficial measures in fostering genuine inclusion and advocates for substantive efforts to ensure the participation and enjoyment of all individuals in public events and spaces.

The Digital Superhero: Conspiracy and Convergence

ABSTRACT The superhero is a popular figure in contemporary media: not just single characters, plots and movies, but entire universes and ‘phases’ spread across multiple protagonists, narrative arcs, devices, mediums and formats, from films and television shows to video games and books. Across much content, a reliance on conspiracy is evident: to motivate characters, link together plots, and move them across time and space. This article articulates paranoia and conspiracy as an emergent aesthetic bound up with the affordances of digital technology. It thus articulates these aesthetic impulses as the outcome of a cultural logic of convergence embodied in the affordances and demands of digital technologies and ecosystems. Considering the three aspects of convergence culture identified by Henry Jenkins (technology, culture, participation), and how they operate within superhero media under the aegis of digitization, this article discusses their penumbra: conspiratorial technology, conspiratorial culture, and conspiratorial participation.

Exploring Culture and Sustainability: Community Participation in Indigenous Tourism in Malaysia

Nowadays, Indigenous tourism contributes to the conservation of cultural heritage and further supports sustainable development for Indigenous communities, which ultimately increases socio-economic well-being. By providing unique cultural experiences, Indigenous tourism gives greater recognition and respect for the culture while also economically benefiting. This paper aims to examine how such dynamics operate in the context of Indigenous tourism from the viewpoint and experiences of Indigenous community members who participated in tourism initiatives. Identifying culture as one of the crucial parameters that determine successful outcomes in this field, this study intends to explore how people participate in sustainable development through tourism and close important gaps using a cultural lens. Numerous databases containing scholarly research, including the Emerald Insights, Science Direct, and Web of Science, have been used in this study. As a response to the ever-growing call for inclusive and respectful tourism, this study aims to contribute valuable insights and geographical relevance to defining policy change, practice modifications, or academic pursuits of Indigenous tourism. The result of this study will fill crucial empirical research gaps in terms of how cultural restoration, tourism management, and community participation can be optimized for sustainable development with nuanced voices that are necessary to drive policy change as well as practice modifications.

Engaging the everyday: the concept and practice of ‘everyday heritage’

ABSTRACT In this paper, we explore what it means to link heritage to the everyday, how this has been framed in the field of heritage studies to date and how engagement with the everyday might generate future opportunities for heritage practice. We highlight distinctive aspects of everyday heritage, including its post-representative nature, the importance of urban activism, digital and historical forms of cultural participation, as well as its aesthetic re-framing of the ordinary. We conclude that while the term is often used to describe a non-hegemonic, unofficial form of heritage, everyday heritage tends to merge the authorised and the unauthorised. We finish by distilling our findings into a working manifesto for everyday heritage as a provocation for future discussion and debate on this topic.

Divine Medicine: Healing and Charity Through Spirit-Writing in China

This study traces the evolution of religious healing practices associated with divine presence in China, from pre-modern traditions to the modern use of spirit-writing for obtaining divine prescriptions. It examines the continuity and transformation of these practices from the late imperial period to contemporary times. It argues that healing through divine prescriptions obtained via spirit-writing challenges the perceived dichotomy between religion and science, demonstrating that they have complementary roles, rather than being strictly opposing categories. For members of Jishenghui 濟生會, a lay Buddhist charity devoted to the Buddhist god Jigong 濟公 in Republican China, religion and scientific medical practice were integrated as complementary elements of daily life, combining doctrinal beliefs, ritual practices, and moral self-cultivation. This study examines how Jishenghui used spirit-writing to obtain and distribute divine prescriptions and medicines, demonstrating that the organization’s philanthropic activities and social standing were enhanced by the integration of religious beliefs with medical and charitable practices during the Republican period. This study bridges existing research on the histories of spirit-writing and Chinese medicine, and the distinctions made between “Buddhist medicine” and “Daoist medicine”. The article contends that, for ordinary people, no strict distinction existed between Buddhist and Daoist healing practices; instead, a shared religious culture regarding illness and healing was predominant. By contextualizing key analytical concepts such as “divine medicine”, especially “divine prescriptions” (jifang 乩方 and xianfang 仙方) within the broader history of Chinese medicine and religious practices, this article demonstrates the social significance of spirit-writing as a ritual technique to provide healing and charity by lay Buddhists in Republican China, and its enduring relevance in contemporary Chinese societies.