non-Western Research Articles

Landscape between Representation and Performativity

This article explores the concept of landscape through the lens of performativity, challenging the traditional visual-centric understanding rooted in Western art and culture but without denying the visual and representational character of landscape. It examines the evolution of landscape representation, from its origins in linear perspective and Cartesian dualism to contemporary approaches that integrate performative practices. The analysis highlights the dialectical tension between visual representation and immersive, multisensory experiences, arguing for a more integrated view that acknowledges the performative aspects of the visual. By re-evaluating the role of distance, vision, and representation, the article advocates for a nuanced understanding of landscape that balances the visual with embodied practices, ultimately proposing that landscape should be seen as a dynamic interplay between seeing and performing.

Analysis of Similarities and Discrepancies Between Chinese and Western Hermits Based on Tao Yuanming and Thoreau

Throughout history, the word “hermit” has been a universal concept in both Chinese and western cultures. Chinese and western hermits keep harmony in diversity. To some extent, in terms of some core values, they step on the same paths. At the same time, differences also make them shine uniquely. In ancient societies and modern world, their simple lifestyle and unshakable pursuit of inner purification have inspired people to seek for the real themselves. Their great minds, unique attitudes towards life and extraordinary contributions have significantly promoted the fields of literature, arts and philosophy. This thesis takes Tao Yuanming and Henry David Thoreau, who were typical figures of hermits as main examples, uses a comparative analysis approach, shedding light on the similarities and discrepancies between Chinese and western hermits. Additionally, it provides suggestions on how to live peacefully and easily. In our modern society full of involution and competition, it is of great significance to learn, inherit and internalize the precious spirits, thoughts and ideas from hermits.

Analysis and Research on the Turning Points in the Development of Chinese and Western Civilizations

The 17th century was a significant stage in global history, with the West ushering in the Scientific Revolution and the rise of Enlightenment thinking, and China experiencing the transformations of the Ming and Qing dynasties. These advances have had a profound impact on the development of contemporary society. However, most of the existing studies focus on a single civilization, and there are fewer comprehensive studies on the interaction between Chinese and Western civilizations. The study examines the development of civilisation in ancient China and the West (Europe) through the analysis of existing historical data on China and the West and compares the performance of civilisation in China in the 17th century with that of the West during the same period through a horizontal comparison of the historical processes of the Middle Ages, including the change of polity, the development of the economic system, and the way of education. The results show that China's level of civilisation was higher than that of the West before the 17th century, but the West's civilisation gradually surpassed China's after that. Despite the different paths and speeds of development between China and the West, the turning point in the 17th century had a profound impact on the course of world history (turning point: the 17th century, when China's civilisational development gradually lagged behind that of the West, i.e. the West's entry into a capitalist society).

'A good ending but not the end': Exploring family preparations surrounding a relative's death and the Afterlife - A qualitative study.

Adequate death preparation positively influences families' experience before death and during bereavement. However, how to prepare families in non-Western cultures has received scant attention. To explore family caregivers' experiences in preparing for a relative's death in specialist palliative care in Taiwan. A qualitative study employing reflexive thematic analysis of data collected from semi-structured interviews was conducted. Twenty-two family caregivers from seven hospitals participated. The overarching theme was 'getting everything right to have no regrets between the dead and the living'. We developed two themes to explain preparations for the time surrounding and after the death, including the deceased' afterlife: (1) 'having a good ending but not the end of the relationship', which addresses preparations for the death itself, the funeral, the afterlife and maintaining connections and (2) 'using religious beliefs and cultural norms to guide preparation', which explores perceptions of a good death, including refrain from strong emotions before and after the death. Funeral arrangements, enhancing the deceased's afterlife and maintaining connections to the deceased are crucial for families' experiences which can be impacted by actions they take as they prepare for the death. A culturally appropriate death is beneficial for the dying relative which includes preparing to not show strong emotions during and after the death. These insights inform the importance of the cultural context in death preparation in Taiwan and provide perspectives for palliative care beyond Western culture, potentially benefiting Chinese populations, predominantly East Asian and Buddhist societies.

Healthcare professionals’ experiences of delivering pain science education to adults from ethnically minoritised groups

BackgroundPain Science Education (PSE) seeks to increase patients understanding of their pain, to improve clinical outcomes. It has been primarily developed and tested within western cultures. There is a lack of research exploring its use with people from ethnically minoritised groups. ObjectiveTo explore Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) experiences of delivering PSE to people with persistent pain from ethnically minoritised groups. MethodsIn this qualitative study semi-structured interviews were carried out with a convenience sample of 14 HCPs who routinely deliver PSE to patients from ethnically minoritised groups. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsThree themes were identified: 1) Biomedical model or disengagement, 2) Pain is a taboo topic, and 3) The importance of cultural competence. Participants believed that people from ethnically minoritised groups disengaged with PSE sooner in comparison to non-ethnically minoritised groups and this was rooted in a strong biomedical understanding of pain and preference for biomedical treatments. Addressing patients’ beliefs was deemed difficult as participants felt that pain was considered a taboo amongst some ethnically minoritised groups and HCPs lacked sufficient training in cultural competency to confidently address their pain-related misconceptions. ConclusionsOverall, HCPs found that many people from ethnically minoritised groups held strongly biomedical views and/or a cultural reluctance to discuss pain. These factors made pain discussions challenging leading to disengagement from PSE and a preference for passive care. Cultural competency training and access to culturally competent PSE resources may facilitate engagement with PSE for people from ethnically minoritised background.

Childhood, Migration and the Pursuit of Happiness in MIDDLE‐CLASS EAST ASIA

ABSTRACTThis special issue explores the shifting landscape of global middle‐class migration within and from East Asia by taking the relationship between mobility, parenting ideals and changing educational desires as its focus. Contributions explore how East Asian middle‐class families balance the emergent emphasis on their children's well‐being with the demands of global competitiveness as these often‐antagonistic desires are projected onto old and new migration destinations against the background of global geopolitical and economic power shifts. Instead of reifying the simplistic binary of hierarchical, achievement‐oriented East Asian ‘Confucian educational norms’ versus democratic, well‐being‐focussed Western ideals, the contributions offer a nuanced understanding of how these educational ideals coexist within the social, cultural, political and economic contexts of families. By carefully assessing the dialectically entwined intimate experiences of parents and children, the articles collected here set out to broaden our understanding of how middle‐class families in Singapore, South Korea, Japan and China attempt to negotiate the tension between prioritizing children's happiness and maintaining global competitiveness result in a variety of strategies from migrating to less obvious international destinations to crafting domestic alternatives. Taken together, the articles reveal consistent patterns of middle‐class migration and child‐rearing decisions that contest and reshape conventional notions of success, attesting to a shift in global middle‐class migration trends and to the importance of child‐rearing in migratory decisions.

Renewal of Modern Arabic Poetry: The Culture-Creativity Controversy

The present research raises critical issues regarding modern Arabic poetry, wondering about the limits of creativity starting from awareness about poetry writing to its reading prospects. It observes how the Arab poet is torn between focusing on the depth of culture (with what it imposes in terms of conforming to the prevailing poetic model) and between the temptations of creativity, which requires a level audacity and aspiration to different and renewed written models. The research disassembles the structure of poetry as a cultural system rooted in the Arab memory and discusses the question of identity in its relationship to creativity. It stresses the centrality of the traditional Arab poetic model while pointing to attempts at transcending such model. The most prominent of these attempts was that accomplished by the Arab poetic modernity movement in the forties and fifties of the last century (free poetry and prose poem). The research explores the rationale behind this decisive shift in the history of Arabic poetry at the levels of its creative and cultural foundations. In this regard, the research raised the question of leadership, the call for renewal, and defense of the pioneering poets of their innovative achievement against the successive creative booms. The research also discussed the controversy over tradition versus creativity, the question of dialogue in texts, the prospects for critical poetry reading with its scientific and cultural transformations, and the distribution of its theoretical and methodological references between Arab heritage and Western culture.

The Art of Madness in Literature: Exploration of Shakespeare’s Hamlet

In this article, I will examine the significance of madness in world literature. There are both positive and negative impact of madness in literature, but Shakespeare does not share his own view in the text or in the interview outside of text. Hamlet, in his instance, constructed an other universe for himself, refusing to acknowledge the actual truth that confronted him. Hamlet maintains his connection to the tangible and pragmatic world throughout, with the exception of a brief and fleeting episode of hallucination. His strategic presentation of the play to validate his scepticism, clever evasion from the acts of murder and utilising Ophelia as a tool for vengeance are executed in a highly distorted manner. Apparently, one may consider Hamlet as a foolish man , but in reality, he is an intelligent person having his personal philosophy of life. In Western culture, lunacy has consistently emerged from many sources, creating a pattern that gradually transforms from one manifestation to another, potentially concealing a mysterious reality. The meaning here is consistently fragmented, and Shakespeare shows his creativity and his mastery in using psychological analysis in his depictions of madness.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Utrecht Grief Rumination Scale.

This study evaluates the Persian version of the Utrecht Grief Rumination Scale (UGRS), developed to assess grief-related rumination. The UGRS, originally validated in Western and Eastern cultures, had not been examined in a Iranian context. The research involved translating the UGRS into Persian, followed by a thorough psychometric evaluation involving 325 bereaved Persian-speaking adults. The Persian UGRS demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's ω = 0.92) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.85). Confirmatory factor analyses supported a second-order hierarchical model of grief rumination. Concurrent validity was affirmed through significant correlations with depression, anxiety, prolonged grief, and PTSD. Known-groups validity highlighted higher rumination levels among individuals with lower education, those who lost close family members, and women. These findings underscore the Persian UGRS's reliability and validity, offering a robust tool for assessing grief-related rumination in the Iranian population.

Assessing mental health professionals’ attitudes toward routine outcome monitoring across Eastern and Western cultures: an examination of invariance and latent mean differences†

Objective To investigate the attitudes of mental health professionals towards Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) in Eastern and Western cultures. Method Two samples of American (N = 455) and Chinese (N = 505) mental health professionals completed the prevalent Monitoring and Feedback Attitudes Scale (MFA). We tested the measure’s psychometric characteristics, measurement invariance, and latent mean difference across cultures. Results Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) found a two-factor structure of the MFA within both cohorts. The MFA subscales showed excellent internal consistency in both the Chinese and American samples. The MFA demonstrated partial scalar invariance between the two cultural groups, supporting the comparison of latent means among Chinese and American professionals. Chinese professionals perceived greater harm from ROM than their American counterparts. Conclusions The findings show that the MFA is a valid tool to evaluate and compare the US and Chinese mental health professionals’ attitudes toward ROM, suggesting that the measure may be useful in both Eastern and Western cultures.

Enhancing EFL Chinese Learners’ Awareness of Cultural Exchange Through Curricula from the Perspective of International Communication

Enhancing EFL Chinese learners’ awareness of cultural exchange is of great significance in foreign language teaching and learning, which can help deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese culture, and thus bringing about national pride and building cultural confidence. This study explores the guidelines and practices of cultural confidence cultivation by focusing on the multidimensional connotations, the teaching philosophies as well as the exact cultivating paths. Specific teaching cases are demonstrated to provide reference for how to cultivate college students with good morals and national identity, in order to better implement the fundamental task of moral education and enhance cultural exchange in the Chinese and Western civilizations from foreign language education in the new era.

Haruki Murakami: A Global Literary Journey from Japan to the World

In a world increasingly shaped by globalization, the migration of literature across borders has become more fluid and pervasive than ever before. This phenomenon extends beyond literature to encompass music, film, and other forms of art, facilitated by advancements in technology that grant simple access to global audiences. Haruki Murakami, one of the most important figures of modern Japanese literature, emerges as one of the prime examples of writers who have transcended national boundaries to earn international acclaim. Understanding Murakami's ascent to prominence requires acknowledging the Westernization of Japanese literature following the Meiji period. This era marked Japan's transition from an isolated feudal society to a modernized nation influenced by Western ideals. The societal shift towards Westernization, driven by aspirations of military and economic strength, altered the reception of Japanese writers in Western literary circles. Murakami's immersion in Western culture, coupled with his experiences living abroad and his deliberate incorporation of Western motifs into his works, distinguishes him from his contemporaries in the Japanese literary scene. While critics may scrutinize his portrayal of Japan and find it lacking authenticity, Murakami's global appeal lies in his ability to capture universal themes of isolation, identity, and existential angst that resonate with readers worldwide. Murakami's journey from a local Japanese author to a global literary icon exemplifies the transformative power of literature in an increasingly interconnected world. By bridging cultural divides and transcending linguistic boundaries, Murakami's works serve as a testament to the enduring impact of storytelling in uniting humanity across the vast tapestry of human experience. In this context, this study aims to discuss Murakami's journey from his origins in the Japanese literary market to his recognition on the global stage.

Science Fiction in the Post-occupation Iraqi Short Story in English Translation

English translations of Arabic literary works have interacted with -and possibly influenced- the Western context of science fiction literature. This thesis investigates how the English translations of post-occupation Iraqi short stories possibly contributed to the evolution of the Western science fiction genre. The study seeks to explain the relationship between post-2003 Iraqi literary works -that are a diverse range of corpus- as well as the possible influence of their translations and their counterparts in Anglophone literary systems. The research particularly focuses on Iraq +100 and The Corpse Exhibition and Other Stories of Iraq by Hassan Blasim. Blasim’s edited anthology, Iraq +100, is a prominent element in this study as it is analyzed to illustrate the interrelation between Arabic science fiction and Western traditions of this genre of fiction. As the roles of this edited anthology and short story collection are addressed and discussed in terms of the interaction between Anglophone and Arab literary systems, the study discusses the science fiction theories of Thomas Lombardo (2006) and Darko Suvin (2010). The primary objective of this study is to analyze the two selected books as they are introduced to the Western world and scrutinize how these books can be considered as a response to the evolution of the science fiction genre. Moreover, the translated works of post-occupation Iraqi short stories deal with the political and social impacts of the situation in Iraq after 2003. This thesis follows up by proposing that the anthologized English translations of these Arabic post-occupation Iraqi texts have contributed to the making of a dialogue between Arab and Western cultural and literary canons as well as traditions. The study also analyzes the short stories of the Iraqi writers, as illustrative of a specific expression of post-2003 Iraqi fiction that depicts the terror of violence in Iraq by delivering scenes of excessive violence in their texts. All in all, this study appears as an interdisciplinary work as it engages with translation studies, literary studies, history, and in a way, political science.

A cultural comparison of children’s emotion knowledge: Data from two cultures

Knowing about emotions is vital for children’s school adjustment, well-being, and future social relationships. Whereas experiencing emotions is a universal psychological process at the biological level, how emotions are categorized and communicated is shaped by culture. Most studies have investigated cultural differences in emotion (knowledge) in Western and Eastern cultures. To compare emotion knowledge within Western countries, N = 585 children from Germany and N = 100 children from Israel in the two age groups preschool (42–71 months) and primary school (72–89 months) were interviewed with the Adaptive Test of Emotion Knowledge for Three- to Nine-Year-Olds (ATEM 3-9). Generalized linear models (GLMs) indicate that children from Israel showed higher levels of emotion knowledge in the total score and in all seven components of emotion knowledge than their agemates from Germany. These results highlight the importance of differences in family structure and values within Western countries. It is important to determine the various factors and the socialization in the family and in educational institutions that influence emotion knowledge in Germany and Israel.

Patchwork Gothic in Polish Vampire Films

The article explores the emergence of Gothic elements in Polish cinema, specifically in the realm of vampire films. Despite the Polish literary market being saturated with horror, Polish cinema has conspicuously shied away from the genre for decades. However, the popularity of Hollywood Gothic cinema has influenced the once-hermetic Polish film industry, leading to the inclusion of classic Gothic themes, characters, and visuals in Polish vampire films. The article delves into the history of Polish horror cinema, and its relation to Hollywood Gothic cinema, whilst focusing on the vampire aspect of horror. In addition, it highlights the concept of “patchwork Gothic”, which involves blending elements of western and Slavic cultures, aesthetics and characters. By analysing two Polish vampire films, I Like Bats (1985) and The Lullaby (2010), in reference to the notion of patchwork Gothic, the author argues that the combination of disparate cultural influences creates a unique and dynamic interpretation of the Gothic genre in Polish cinema.

Making of Contemporary Indian Philosophy and Dilemmas of Demanded Change: A Critical Study of Swaraj in Light of Neo-Vedanta

One of the legacies of Western philosophical thought has been its evolution through movements and slogans such as modernism, postmodernism, existentialism and analyticism. These popular intellectual standpoints have contributed to making Western culture more dialogical and progressive. However, in contrast, exploration of socio-philosophical movements within the Indian philosophical tradition, except for ancient times, remains relatively uncharted territory. Acknowledging this variance, the present article investigates the evolution of contemporary Indian philosophy during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It examines the core unifying principle that bound together eminent figures such as Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, K. C. Bhattacharyya and numerous others of their category, all classified as Neo-Vedantists. Precisely, the philosophy or movement under scrutiny is Swaraj, illuminated through the lens of Neo-Vedanta, presenting a distinctive perspective on human values and change.

The Mediating Effect of Charismatic Leadership on Teachers’ Engagement and Performance, Basis for Strategic Professional Program

The construction and development of first-class disciplines in universities not only require academic leaders with profound academic achievements, but also require school administrators to have excellent leadership abilities and play a crucial leadership role in university construction and teacher growth. This article is based on the concept of charismatic authoritative leadership proposed by German sociologist Max Weber, combined with numerous research results on the impact of charismatic leadership on organizational performance in Eastern and Western cultures. Using Chengdu University of Information Technology as the sampling institution, a sample survey was conducted on in-service teachers and staff. The exploration of "charismatic leadership" in universities can help guide organizations towards the right direction, lead scientific research and innovation in disciplines, and guide teachers to form a good team spirit. Through empirical research, we can find that charismatic leadership has a positive impact on job performance. The above research has certain guiding significance for improving employee job performance, reducing management costs, and enhancing employee happiness and satisfaction in the context of Chinese university management.

Eurocentrism, Afrocentrism, Postcolonialism and Hybridity in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and August Wilson’s Radio Golf

This paper is a thematic study dealing with a postcolonial critical view of Eurocentrism and Afrocentrism in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun (1959) and August Wilson’s Radio Golf (2005). In A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha views Western cultures as superior and she ultimately opts for Afrocentrism. The spirit of Beneatha will be analysed with a focus on Frantz Fanon’s arguments against ‘négritude’ and Eurocentrism. Hansberry, through the voice of Mama Lena, calls for a union between the African and the American selves, as well as between the Western and the non-Western cultures. The issue of the oscillation between Eurocentrism and Africanness is shared by August Wilson in his last contemporary play where he exposes different facets and layers of identity. Contemporary black citizens have achieved their American dreams of collecting lucre, but they are still grappling between keeping faithful to their African heritage and cultural repertoire or adopting the Western way of life and distance themselves from their roots. This dilemma is best exemplified through Harmond and his wife Mame Wilks. Unlike Wilks, who imitates the prestigious way of life and looks for appearances and social status, Harmond crosses the boundaries of Eurocentrism and Afrocentrism and he tries to find a space for intercultural communication between the Western and the African cultures. The discussion part will relate the two plays to the recent events surrounding Floyd’s murder during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The aim is to examine the critical situation of blacks during crisis and to demonstrate that they are disproportionally targeted. The rationale for choosing a modern African-American text that explores contemporary Eurocentrism, Afrocentrism, assimilation, nativism, and decolonization is to show that race is a universal issue. The goal is to suggest hybridity as the best alternative for establishing a more humanitarian society where different races can be interwoven.

1162 Years of Russian Statehood: An Essay on Historical Evolution

On September 21, 2024, the Russian statehood will be 1162 years old. This advanced age is conceptually linked to the modern understanding of the historical evolution from the past to the present as a result of the thesaurus of knowledge accumulated over a hundred years. Historically, Russian statehood originally came from Veliky Novgorod in 862, and not later from the southern Kiev suburbs, which is confirmed not only by well-known chronicles, the works of scientists, but also by modern archaeological data. The stable and independent Novgorod state education since the arrival of Prince Rurik in 862 has existed for a generally longer period in history than Kievan Rus. The historical past of Russian statehood is being actualized today during Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, in the process of global multivector confrontation between Russian and Western civilizations of the United States and Europe, sanctions against the Russian population.

Glaucoma in general population and steroid users

In recent years, several surveys have reported on the prevalence of glaucoma worldwide. One study has shown that financial stability in population has affected glaucoma. However, there have been differences in the reported prevalence rates due to methodological variations. In the Eastern part of the world, 7.8 million people had primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) with prevalence of about 2.51%. To estimate the number of people with glaucoma or at risk of the disease, they age and gender occurrence estimates have been used, along with population estimates. East Asians have more chances to have PACG than POAG compared to western people. Their analysis shows that about 11.2 million people of the age 40 years and older with glaucoma in South East Asia, with POAG in 6.48 million people and PACG affecting 2.54 million. Additionally, any primary angle-closure disease could affect around 27.6 million people. The majority of glaucoma patients in South East Asia go undiagnosed, which makes it difficult to discover and treat the condition. We consider different strategies to raise case detection rates across the nation while taking into account the limited resources and personnel at our disposal. Aim of this study was to understand prevalence of glaucoma in general populations and steroid users.