"Leave the thorn, enjoy the rose" identity formation of people with aphasia in the early rehabilitation phase.

Abstract: Bolpur-Santiniketan is synonymous with Rabindranath Tagore. The urbanism of this town is quite different from that of other urban areas in India, as the Santiniketan ashram dwellers have close ties with nature in every aspect of life, influenced by the life & livelihood of Tagore & his philosophy. This tradition has a ripple effect, which either exists in the present-day Santiniketan or not, is the main question of this research. Literature surveys, observations, and visual ethnography helped in this context to find the answer. The output of this search is that the ecourban legacy of Tagore’s Bhramacharyashram still persists in a few pockets in Patha Bhavan & the core area of the ashram campus. Ashram as well as newly built-up area also bear the main ecourban tradition of Tagore, i.e., green architecture to some extent & also foster ecotourism.

This paper explores the use of visual ethnographic methods as a transformative tool, facilitating a dynamic interaction between researchers, policymakers and citizens. Reflecting on the use of visual ethnographic methods as both a way of knowing and a means of communicating, the paper draws from the author’s experience producing a short visual ethnographic documentary about a community garden. Through this case, the paper explores how visual ethnographic methodologies can enable researchers to reshape relations and direct attention through multimodality, invite active engagement through opening new imaginaries, and empower citizens as active participants in policymaking processes. The study shows that visual ethnographic work can be a co-constitutive force for organizations, an interventional practice that reshapes what policymakers notice, how they feel about an issue, and what they consider possible regarding solutions. It can create new epistemological entry points, grounded in embodied, affective, and relational experiences. The paper concludes with reflections on the methodological and institutional challenges of integrating visual work into public administration research and offers practical considerations for doing so.

The present study examines the development of small-scale fishing as a fundamental economic pillar for coastal communities along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast during the extended period of the Middle Ages and the subsequent post-mediaeval period. The topic goes far beyond the simple study of economic activity, revealing the resilience and adaptability of local populations in the face of dynamic historical change. The key to a full understanding of this tradition lies in the application of a multidisciplinary approach that skillfully combines archaeological, historical and ethnographic data. The article examines the significance of fishing as a vital economic sector for coastal communities. Archaeozoological bone material from mediaeval sites such as Durankulak, Kastritsi, Petrich Kale and Akra, spanning residential levels from the 5th–6th centuries to the early 15th century, provides direct evidence of the types of fish that were caught and consumed. Ancient and mediaeval written historical sources complete the picture, offering context for the trade and regulation of fishing. Post-mediaeval graffiti and wall paintings from Nessebar serve as a visual ethnography, illustrating boats, fishing techniques and the daily lives of fishermen. This rich source material allows the study to analyze the importance of fishing as a key economic sector that provided not only a livelihood but also a basis for trade with the interior of the country and beyond. The study reveals the remarkable continuity and sustainability of traditional methods passed down through generations. Local communities have developed effective strategies for the exploitation of marine resources, which underlines the intensive and constant use of the sea as a source of livelihood. Particular attention is paid to the rational economic chain of the past. Back then, fishermen and their families were directly involved in the entire process – from catching to processing and selling the final product. The results of the study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the daily life and economic activity of the population along the Bulgarian coast during these historical eras. They demonstrated that the identity of the local West Pontic community is closely intertwined with the sea. Based on historical models, a rational economic chain is proposed for reconstruction in the present day. Through more in-depth studies based on archaeological and ethnographic data, the connections between people and the sea can not only be better understood but also serve as a model for the sustainable development of modern small-scale fishing, which is essential for preserving the cultural identity of coastal areas.

This photo essay foregrounds the mangroves as a metaphor, grounded in its materiality, to explore how communities in the Indian Sundarbans inhabit environmental precarity and negotiate risk. It employs “witnessing” through the metaphor of mangroves, engaging critically with the socioecological complexities of the Sundarbans. Drawing upon frameworks from the environmental humanities, this photo essay positions mangroves as paradigms of ecological adaptation, resilience, and relationality. By embodying flexibility, frugality, and fluidity, mangroves challenge anthropocentric notions of stability and control, serving as material and semiotic figures of “thinking with” for adaptive and survival practices. “ Witnessing like mangroves ” is the methodological operationalisation of this epistemic orientation: a field practice that draws directly on mangrove traits to guide how we comprehend and describe island life. Using visual documentation from the Kumirmari island village located at the Gosaba Block of the Indian Sundarbans, this article interrogates the reductive “risk space” discourse perpetuated by climate change frameworks, which advocate for “managed” and “strategic retreat” from the delta. Instead, this essay foregrounds the nuanced, situated adaptive resilience of local communities, whose intergenerational knowledge and socioecological ingenuity resist linear narratives of crisis and displacement. By navigating the entangled thresholds of land and water, the islanders exemplify a situated engagement with the volatile and hybrid ecologies of the delta that can be explored and captured through visual ethno-graphy techniques.

Purpose This paper aims to examine the significance of focusing on object movement in visual ethnography to enhance our understanding of object circulation. Design/methodology/approach This paper is grounded in the theoretical framework of the mobility turn proposed by the sociologist Urry (2007) and anchored in post-human ontology. Findings Concentrating on object circulation provides novel insights in consumer research, with the need for visual ethnography centered more on the movement of objects in consumers’ personal spaces. A qualitative research protocol is discussed. Originality/value The contribution is both methodological and theoretical. It stresses the relevance of adopting an approach focused on object movement in visual ethnography and provides conceptual insights into the mobility turn based on a different framework than previously used in sociocultural research. Tracking the movement of objects in public and private, multisited and multitemporal settings can elucidate specific aspects of object circulation and complement more human-centric methods.

The present visual ethnographic essay interacts with the photographs as part of the ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2020 and 2024 in Telangana, India's Adilabad and Asifabad districts. The essay reflects on the socio-cultural expressions of the indigenous dance festival known as ‘Dandari–Gusadi’ performed by Telangana's Gonds and Kolams communities. The essay provides insights into the importance of various artefacts and rituals associated with the festival. The emphasis is on the holistic idea of the indigenous cultural heritage beyond the binary of tangible and intangible.

This essay analyses Blasphemous, a Spanish independent digital game that recontextualises Catholic iconography and medievalist visual cultures in pixel-art form and ritualised play. Drawing on Andalusian Catholic traditions, the game constructs a symbolic world characterised by the figurations of guilt, penance, and redemption. Taking on sacred and profane models, social imaginaries, and myth, the study delves into how Blasphemous combines theology and mechanics to create a digitally bodied penance. Methodologically, the research brings visual semiotic analysis, digital game analysis, and visual ethnography together in an attempt to see how sacred space, relics, and ritual forms function narratively and interactively. The analysis suggests how Blasphemous constructs a form of ludic theology that enacts spiritual suffering by repetition, cycles of death and resurrection, and acts of confession. It also comments on the fact that the high cultural specificity of the game coexists with its global popularity, and

ABSTRACT This study explores the role of ethnographic research in understanding the relationship between rice and tourism in the Delta de l’Ebre, Catalonia, north-eastern Spain. Based on a combination of techniques such as participant observation, in-depth interviews and visual ethnography, the research investigates how rice production and consumption shape local cultural identity, supports community livelihoods and fosters sustainable tourism. The study highlights the importance of the incorporation of local voices and future environmental concerns in tourism planning and development, to align tourism practices with the values of the community. Results show the environmental challenges faced by the region, particularly the effects of climate change on rice fields, and emphasize the need for tourism models that contribute to ecological conservation. This paper provides insights into the role of ethnography to guide sustainable food tourism practices that respect both human and physical environment.

This study aims to analyze the needs of teachers and students for Visual Ethnography-based learning media in social studies learning in junior high schools. The Visual Ethnography approach offers a solution by presenting social and cultural data in an authentic and contextual visual form. The research method employed is a quantitative descriptive approach, supplemented by qualitative data. The research subjects consisted of 17 teachers and 211 junior high school students from nine schools in Sungai Lilin, Bayung Lencir, and Tungkal Jaya Districts, Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra Province. Data was collected through a needs questionnaire distributed using Google Forms, as well as interviews to obtain a more comprehensive picture of media needs. The results showed that students' needs for interactive, contextual, and visually based learning media related to local culture were in the high to very high category, with an average percentage of 86–93%. In contrast, the need for teachers in this aspect was in the range of 78–88%. The expected media include infographics, ethnographic videos, and visual narratives that are easy to understand and relevant to the student's learning experience. These findings confirm that Visual Ethnography-based media can increase learning engagement, understanding of social concepts, and appreciation of cultural diversity. The implications of this study highlight the need to develop innovative learning media based on Visual Ethnography to enhance social studies learning that is more meaningful, contextual, and aligned with the characteristics of junior high school students.

Thousands of Ogoh-Ogoh (towering giant effigies) are paraded across Bali to welcome the arrival of the Saka New Year (Nyepi Day), which falls every March or April. This article examines the evolving aesthetics of these processions, tracing their shift from ritualistic giant figures meant to repel the destructive power of bhuta kala to contemporary hybrid mythic–popular forms that incorporate global pop-cultural icons and local socio-political characters. Employing qualitative methods such as visual ethnography, observation, and semiotic analysis, this study explores Ogoh-Ogoh production across Bali, where creative experimentation is especially vibrant. The findings reveal a significant aesthetic transformation driven by environmental regulations, competitive youth creativity, and the changing visual preferences of younger generations. Material innovations, including the use of LED lighting, have further intensified a performative orientation emphasizing spectacle and technical sophistication. Despite these shifts, ritual continuity endures, demonstrating that ogoh-ogoh remains a living, adaptive tradition in contemporary Balinese society.

This article analyzes Akita Prefecture's role in rural revitalization through affective and visual strategies, concentrating on the exhibition "People Captivated by Akita" (秋田にハマった人々展) and its corresponding website www.a-iju.jp. Utilizing Actor–Network Theory (ANT), visual ethnography, and discourse analysis, the study conceptualizes these media not solely as promotional instruments but as performative infrastructures that convert demographic policy into emotional experiences. Through direct field observation of the exhibition at JR Akita Station (December 2024–January 2025) and qualitative analysis of eight highlighted migrant profiles, the paper delineates the collaboration of governmental entities, digital platforms, and emotional narratives in the creation of an “ideal migrant assemblage.” Akita's campaign exemplifies affective governance by integrating digital and physical representations to evoke emotion, imagery, and storytelling, thereby making migration appealing. But this visibility also hides structural weaknesses like aging, gendered labor, and inequality between regions. By examining the interaction of both visible and invisible entities, such as policy institutions, technologies, migrants, and affective publics, the article elucidates how rural revitalization in Japan functions as both a cultural spectacle and an administrative network. The research enhances a symmetrical sociology of rural policy, positing that revitalization should be perceived not merely as demographic intervention but as a continuous negotiation of emotion, representation, and agency that influences modern conceptions of rural belonging in Japan.

Abstract Introduction: In recent years, we have witnessed chronically difficult situations that lead to disorganization of everyday life. Early school students are affected by the phenomenon of growth with a crisis in the background. The research undertaken provides information on strategies for coping nine-year-old children with a crisis situation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic. Purpose of the Research: The aim of this text is to present our own research, which is an attempt to find answers to the questions: What strategies for coping with the crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic were used by nine-year-olds? How were coping strategies used in the crisis situation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic among nine-year-olds? Research Method: Twenty-two nine-year-olds participated in this study. Visual ethnography was used. A qualitative analysis was made of two types of data-drawings and oral statements by the authors of the works. Results: Students used various strategies to cope with crisis situations. Six studies observed that task-oriented strategies were dominant. They included: action aimed at solving the problem, searching for information about a difficult situation and analysing solutions. In the remaining sixteen cases, the use of avoidance and emotion- focused strategies was observed interchangeably. Denial, minimizing the problem, ridiculing the source of fear, and using emotionally charged language were noted. Conclusions: In the face of the changing reality and the crises affecting mental health, the need to provide assistance in this area and to set the direction for possible support at the institutional level was noticed.

This work is devoted to clarifying the theoretical, methodological and terminological issues around the problem “people and (linguistic) landscapes” and to the practical study of linguistic landscape in one of the cities underinvestigated in this respect — Ulaan­baatar. The research is based on a mixed methodology: visual ethnography, questionnaires, interviews, and ethnographic observation. The material for the analysis includes 945 linguistic landscape signs, 100 questionnaires and 6 oral interviews, as well as informal conversations, media and social media materials. Results. From a theoretical and methodological point of view, the article examines the role of ethnography in linguistic landscape research, and comments on several terms used in ethnographically oriented sociolinguistic works: voices, language ideologies, language attitudes. The authors argue that the problem “people and (linguistic) landscapes” is broader than the problem “agency and (linguistic) landscapes”. It is also argued that addressing people directly, their language ideologies will help overcome one-sided researcher’s interpretation. The empirical analysis is based on the theoretical principles described above, also considering the broad geopolitical, economic and other contexts that influence language preferen­ces and visibility of languages in the public space of the Mongolian capital. The analysis showed a certain polarization of society in relation to the “dominance” of three most “active” foreign languages in the linguistic landscape of Ulaanbaatar — English, Korean and Chinese. Awareness of their necessity in the globalized world is combined with a fear of loss of national identity and culture. These common ideologemes have additional specific connotations in the case of each of the aforementioned languages. If English has a global value in the eyes of Ulaanbaatar residents, the value of Korean is due to the attractiveness of the economic “role model” of South Korea and the soft power of Korean pop culture. Attitudes towards Chinese vary the most on a scale from rejection to realization of its necessity. So, by examining the Ulaanbaatar’s case and methodological approaches, the paper argues that ethno­graphy enriches linguistic landscape studies by uncovering the lived experiences and contextual meanings behind linguistic signs.

Rejang Inyeng is a sacred dance preserved in Tiyingan Village, Petang District, Badung Regency. Performed by young girls before menstruation during the Purnama Kapat and Purnama Kedasa ceremonies, the dance functions as a ritual to welcome deities. However, its continuity faces challenges due to limited academic documentation and a hiatus during the pandemic. This study aims to represent the symbolic meaning of Rejang Inyeng through documentary film as a cultural preservation strategy. The research employed a qualitative approach by combining Ferdinand de Saussure’s semiotics, visual ethnography, and the Save the Cat narrative model. Data were collected through observation, interviews, questionnaires, literature studies, and documentation, while information tracing was guided by the concept of Catur Guru and the Glass Box method. Analysis was conducted by linking signifiers, such as dance movements and performers, with signifieds such as purity, sanctity, and cultural regeneration, further deepened through the concept of Dasa Aksara. The findings indicate that the documentary effectively represents the symbolism of Rejang Inyeng in a communicative way, serving not only as a visual archive but also as an educational and cultural transmission medium. The novelty of this research lies in the integration of Saussurean semiotics with Dasa Aksara, the application of Catur Guru in data exploration, and the adaptation of Save the Cat within a sacred documentary.

Rapid socio-spatial change in China’s traditional villages threatens living heritage and weakens locally grounded identity. This paper theorizes place identity as a dynamic, embodied and performative ecology and examines it in Dali Dong Village across four dimensions, emotional attachment, symbolic meaning, continuity and behavioural commitment, using a triangulated qualitative design that integrates interviews, spatial observation and visual ethnography. Findings show that identity is enacted around ritual architectures and everyday settings, particularly the Drum Tower, Flower Bridge, and Sa altar. Emotional attachment and symbolic meaning are expressed consistently across sources, whereas continuity and behavioural commitment are uneven, shaped by ritual fatigue (compressed rehearsal windows), symbolic commodification under tourism, and selective continuity in intergenerational transmission. These mechanisms identify where the identity fabric is most fragile and where intervention leverage lies. Conceptually, the study relocates place identity from cognition-centred, urban models to ritualized rural lifeworlds. Practically, it offers a portable framework for community-anchored stewardship that can be adapted to similar settlements and aligned with policy aims for safeguarding living heritage.

The phenomenon of Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV) has now become a global issue, along with the development of internet-based communication technology that provides easy access for many people. This condition often causes women to frequently become targets, resulting in losses in the form of physical, sexual, and psychological violence. These threats include acts of arbitrary deprivation of liberty in the public and private spheres. This study explores online gender-based violence and the impact of digital communication using Roland Barthes' semiotic model and qualitative visual ethnography. Key findings include: First, the video highlights direct messages received by the celebrity, including harassment and inappropriate content. Second, it reveals behaviours such as stereotypes, objectification of women, unwanted sexual advances, and the sharing of indecent images. Third, the underlying patriarchal culture reinforces the sexual objectification of women. This study aims to enhance understanding of online gender-based violence and contribute to semiotics and visual ethnography in this area.

This article explores how Afro-Colombian rural communities in the Caribbean region reclaim their territorial rights through the social construction of habitat. Drawing on four years of participatory action research with the Ma-Majarí Community Council in El Níspero, Montes de María, the study analyzes how traditional housing practices—rooted in ancestral knowledge, oral traditions, and collective memory—function as tools of cultural affirmation, political resistance, and re-peasantization in a post-conflict context. The research highlights the strategic role of Life Plans (Planes de Vida) as instruments of self-governance and territorial justice, challenging extractive development models and institutional neglect. Through visual ethnography, architectural surveys, and community-led housing initiatives, the study reveals how Afro-rural architecture embodies autonomy, resilience, and the right to remain in territory. Housing is not merely a physical structure but a living system of identity, memory, and future-making. This work contributes to broader debates on rural social movements, ethnodevelopment, and post-conflict reconstruction, proposing an architecture of recognition that centers cultural specificity and community agency.

Global brand communication has undergone a significant transformation in response to global health crises, shifting toward more empathetic, socially responsible, and visually driven strategies. This paper examines how five leading transnational brands—McDonald's, Nike, Burger King, Coca-Cola, and IKEA—have adapted their advertising messages to encourage social distancing, promote unity, and reflect shifting consumer values. Using a qualitative visual ethnographic method, the study analyses key advertisements as cultural artifacts that convey shared social meanings. Visual messages of both brands are examined by logo variation, narrative copy, and campaign tactics that negotiate global consistency and local cultural sensitivity. Results are complemented by expert insights from journalists, marketing communication practitioners, and visual designers offering more in-depth explanations of how advertisements function in times of crisis. The study employs semiotic theory, symbolic interactionism, and the concept of glocalization to examine how visual branding conveys values such as resilience, care, and community. Findings reveal that brands not only reinforced health messages but also cultivated consumer trust through emotionally resonant visuals and symbolic storytelling. These efforts were instrumental in maintaining consumer allegiance and public engagement, even in the face of disruptions to everyday life and commercial operations. This research contributes to the literature on the evolving role of advertising in the global landscape by illustrating how brands serve as both market leaders and cultural mediators in times of crisis. Keywords: Advertisement, brand loyalty, global brands, visual ethnography, consumer behaviour.

Dry stone constructions, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, face increasing challenges due to abandonment and environmental degradation. This article explores how collaborative visual ethnography can contribute to the documentation and revitalization of endangered practices associated with dry stone construction in Catalonia. Through photographic interventions and interdisciplinary collaboration with dry stone experts and artists, this research showcases alternative ways of engaging with cultural memory and landscape transformation in the geohumanities field. The study presents visual outcomes from four photography interventions, and discusses their implications for the documentation and revitalization of heritage from a geocreativity perspective. The research contributes to shared knowledge on how visual ethnography, grounded in interdisciplinary collaboration, offers a transformative approach to rethinking and revitalizing cultural landscapes.