Digital Commons Network^™

Reinventing Indigenous West African Fabric Design For Contemporary Commercial Application, Richard Acquaye, Naa Omai Sawyerr, Raphael Kanyire Seidu

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study explores and reflects on the potential of global commercial application of indigenous West African fabric design in the middle to high-end interior textiles and surfaces. The study adopts design theory which encourages innovation and creativity in concepts for effective solutions. Theoretically, ideas have been utilized as a method of bringing to light the veiled aspects of practice in indigenous West African fabric production alongside its diverse and complex cultural connections. There is a practical component of the study utilizes a series of ‘collaborations’ with technology, new textile materials, color resources and global trends to generate forms or visual …

Talent & Tagging In Harmony : A Study Of Graffiti Art As Subculture And Aesthetic Expression Of Urbanization In Malaysia, Stephen T. F. Poon

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The purpose of this paper is to discuss contemporary perspectives of street art by examining its influence on urban society and culture. Its research aims to understand social perceptions and awareness towards graffiti art, and how graffiti artists develop a youth subculture through building relationships between street art and the targeted audiences for graffiti. Primary research included interviews with Malaysian graffiti artists. Findings suggest that graffiti art in Malaysia is increasingly accepted as modern representation of cultural idealism through appropriation of local inspirational elements. However, the legitimacy of graffiti art in urban beautification projects is still an unsettled debate, unless …

Contemporaneity Decolonizing Knowledge & Independency, Jay Koh

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This article discusses the platform and selected texts from Journal of Urban Culture Research (JUCR), in relation to contemporary turns from the 60s on participation and diversity in responses to the making of an open society to the 80s on decolonization of knowledge from the enlightenment trajectory. Only lately, these ideas of ’decolonization’ has gained traction in our regions and we need to be careful not to mix the meaning of this term with the fight for independence after the WWII by colonized nations or criticism of the concept of orientalism and the construction of racial stereotypes. Discussed turns on …

Iii.G.2 Public Memory, Buried Histories, And Narratives Of Black Spartanburg, Kim Rostan, Bria Harper, Rhiannon Leebrick Ph.D., Miles Havard

Crafting Democratic Futures

The document explores how public memory shapes collective understanding of Black history in Spartanburg, emphasizing its role in challenging official narratives and fostering identity through community-driven projects. It highlights recent initiatives such as walking tours, cultural monuments, festivals, and exhibits that commemorate the Black community’s contributions and experiences, illustrating ongoing efforts to reclaim and celebrate buried histories.

University Of Southern Maine Commencement Program 2023, University Of Southern Maine

Commencement Programs

University of Southern Maine Commencement Program 2023

The Complications Of People In Diplomacy, Kiner Kwok

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

In the late 18th century and early 19th century, European embassies eagerly interacted with Qing China (1644–1912). In 1792, Lord George Macartney (1737–1806) led the first British mission to Qing China. During this mission, even though Lord Macartney met with the Qianlong emperor (r. 1735–1796), his goal of establishing free trade and diplomatic relations with the Qing court was rejected. A few years later, in 1795, a mission, sent out by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), arrived at the Qing court to congratulate the Qianlong emperor’s 60th anniversary of his governance. Then again, in 1805, a Russian mission, led …

Can Anyone Withhold The Water...?, Brandon Keith Lacey Sr

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Abstract

Thesis

Contextualization and indigenization have always been necessary and expected components of establishing Christian communities of faith and practice. Failed or obsolete attempts at contextualization and indigenization in evangelism and missions continue to harm the development of the African American Church. This results in the development of spiritually marginalized communities alienated from the very relationship with God that such communities need. Preventing such spiritual marginalization in communities requires a training curriculum that combines a working theology on appropriate contextualization and indigenization with a framework for practical implementation. The outcome would decrease the tendency to replicate non-contextual religious practice and …

Front Matter

The Gettysburg College Journal of the Civil War Era

No abstract provided.

Editor’S Note, Deepak Shimkhada

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

This special issue of Monsoon is dedicated to the studies honoring the goddess traditions in South Asia. The onset of the Monsoon Season in South Asia typically commences in June and continues until late August and early September. The publication of this issue, therefore, has been strategically timed to coincide with that season, which is a vital source of sustenance for millions of individuals in this part of the world. This anthology consisting of five papers—written by scholars with expertise in the field of goddess and women studies—speak unequivocally about the goddesses or women for their strength, beauty, wisdom, and …

Constructing Jain Goddess Padmavātī In Gujarati Literature, Venu Mehta

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

Worship of the goddess Padmāvatī emerged more than a thousand years ago. This article explores three songs about her in Gujarati by Paṇḍit Vīrvijayajī (1773-1852). By analyzing the style and form of his work, one learns a great deal about devotional liturgies that commemorate goddess Padmāvatī’s protection of the Jina Pārśvanātha and, in turn, his protection of her.

Women’S Voices From History: Gond Rani Durgawati And Rani Lakshmibhai, Nandini Sengupta, Moupia Basu

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

Two strong women are compared and contrasted in this article. Gond Rani Durgawati (1524-1564) led a resistance movement in Jabalpur against the Mughal rule of Akbar. Rani Lakshmibai (1828-1858) organized the people of Jhansi against Sir Hugh Rose, an officer defending the interests of the British East India Company. Both women continue to be remembered for their bravery and their loyalty to the people they ruled.

Mai Bhago And Amrita Devi Bishnoi: Women Of Strength, Sowmya Ayyar

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

Mai Bhago (1670-1720), also known as Bhag Kaur, distinguished herself on the battlefield to defend the Sikh faith. Amrita Devi Bishnoi (d. 1730) is said to have sacrificed her life with 362 others to protect the Khejari trees in the Rajasthan desert. Both women continue to inspire social justice and ecological activism.

An Examination Of Gandhian Economic And Political Thought And Its Relevance To The Empowerment Of Women, Purnima Mehta Bhatt

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) sought to alleviate poverty and empower women. His commitment to nonviolence and the economic ideal of “small is beautiful” continue to inspire grassroots movements around the globe. This article discusses the Chipko movement of northern India, the protection of rain forests in Kerala’s Silent Valley, the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and Medha Patkar’s valiant though ultimately futile attempt to save the Narmada River from a massive government damming project. The ongoing legacy of these movements can be found in AWAG, the Ahmedabad Women’s Action Group and Women’s Shanti Sena (Peace Force).

Indigenous Stitch-Arts Of India: Tradition And Revival In A Global Age, Punam Madhok

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

Stitch art allows for the creative expression and economic support of countless women throughout India. This article examines four notable styles: chikankari, flora and fauna stitched in white thread on fine white cotton, rabari, the stitching of mirrors into colorful cloth, phulkari, resplendent flowery motifs sewn into shawls in Punjab, and kantha, Bengali patch work yielding quilts and seating mats. In addition to describing each technique, this article discusses how women have been economically empowered through this art by such organizations as Self-Help Enterprise (SHE) in Kolkata and Adithi, a women’s cooperative, in Bihar.

Characterization And The Aesthetic Representation Of Violence In The Graphic Novel "Esperaré Siempre Tu Regreso", By Jordi Peidro, Deirdre Kelly

Books/Book Chapters

The graphic novel, Esperaré siempre tu regreso (2016, Desfiladero Ediciones) by the author and illustrator, Jordi Peidro (Alcoy, 1965), is a biographical and historical text that centres on the life in exile of Francisco Aura Boronat (or Paco Aura, Alcoy, 1918-2018), a Spanish communist and Republican who survived the horrors of the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. Drawing on comics studies and memory studies, the analysis will discuss how Peidro navigates ethical and aesthetic issues when representing traumatic and violent memories related to the Spanish experience of Civil War, exile and deportation to a Nazi concentration camp. Firstly, it will …

Bloody Sunday: Death & Press, Joseph Gaffney

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project is a historical paper on Bloody Sunday, a day of violence in Dublin during the Irish War for Independence on November 21, 1920, analyzing primary and secondary sources centered on the subject to answer specific historiographical research questions. The primary objective of this research project is to understand the immediate social and political ramifications of Bloody Sunday in Ireland and England as reflected in the spread of information via the written press. The goal of the written analysis will be to answer a series of historical research questions. How were both the IRA’s killings and the subsequent reprisal …

Childhood: The Hidden Side, Arcelia Gómez

MA Projects

Childhood has been typically perceived as the sweet, candid, innocent, harmless, naïve phase of the human existence. However, is it possible that behind this kind façade there are hidden the cruelest, most frightening and most devastating monsters of humankind? The current state of humanity, as a species, is constructed on constant movement, continually changing, perpetually evolving. This is a natural behavior, dating back to the very origins of civilization, in its earliest days. This characteristic detail is stored in the ability of the human brain to collect information and learn from situations experienced by the individual. In other words, the …

A Line In The Sand: The Acceptance Of Changes To Folk Traditions Observed In The Activities Of Folksong Collector, Creative Participant, Performer, And Festival Organizer Bascom Lamar Lunsford (1882-1973), Zachary R. Ray

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Bascom Lamar Lunsford (1882-1973) was a folksong collector, performer, recording artist, festival organizer. Lunsford was at once a mountaineer (a member of the Appalachian culture he collected from) and a college educated outsider. This duality complicates analysis of his views and activities, which exist along a continuum from efforts at near-exactness (preserving folksong repertory and performance practices as exactly as possible) to creative participation (actively making changes to folksong style or repertoire). Lunsford’s views often contradicted other folksong collectors, American and European, during the early 20th century. This includes his apparent assertion that folksong is a living tradition – it …

The Annual Report Of The University South Caroliniana Society Incorporating The South Caroliniana Library Report Of Acquisitions For 2023, South Caroliniana Library--University Of South Carolina

University South Caroliniana Society - Annual Report of Gifts

No abstract provided.

Creative Musical Art For Supporting Society : Music And Meditation, Sasi Pongsarayuth

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This article discusses research intended to create music conducive to support a meditative state with the aim of reducing the problem of violence in society. Music is an art form that use sounds to convey emotions. A composition is a combination of instrument sounds and musical elements can be utilized to support sustained attention while reducing affective hostility and aggressive behavior. Ten instrumental compositions developed under the “Creative Musical Art for Supporting Society” program as part of the “Music and Meditation” project are discussed. Experimental compositions with certain musical patterns; ex. slower tempos and low-to-moderate volume levels to induce a …

Preserving Traditional Clothing Identity : An Overview Of The Past And Present Uses Of Aso-Oke By The Ondo People Of Southwest, Nigeria, Evelyn Omotunde Adepeko, Michael Abiodun Oyinloye, Adesimi Oluwa Adepeko, Adebayo Abiodun Adeloye

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Hand-woven fabrics such as aso-oke were the major clothing items especially for the commemoration of traditional ceremonies and festivals in Ondo land before the colonial era in Nigeria. Art historian review methods were adopted for this study by reviewing related literature. Data was gathered from both online sources and physical libraries. The population of the study include the inhabitants in Ondo town, Southwest, Nigeria. The study also used interview for data collection and the data collected was analyzed using the narrative method. This study surveyed the types of traditional aso-oke used by the Ondo people in the past and present …

Revenge Concept As Manifested In Drawings And Narratives Of Ultra-Orthodox Vs. Secular Israeli Jews, Rachel Lev-Wiesel, Iris Manor Binyamini, Michal Divon Schreiber, Gideon Biran, Zohar Estrin, Gal Goldstein, Nir Yosef Shmerts, Shahar Nov, Tali Beja, Maya Gallor, Odeya Landesman Sofer, Lital Miran, Bussakorn Binson, Nisara Jaroenkajornkij

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The current study investigates the revenge concept of ultra-orthodox and secular Israeli Jews, manifesting in drawings and narratives. The convenient sample consisted of thirty-three participants aged 23-61 (12 ultra-orthodox and 21 seculars). This mix-methodology study included the qualitative part, which are two sets of drawings and narratives – “draw an unjust event you experienced” and “draw what you would prefer to happen to the person who unjustly treated you;” and the quantitative part included a self-report questionnaire of the following measures: demographics, history of traumatic events, and feelings of injustice. Comparison between the two groups revealed no differences in the …

From Schleswig To Anschluss: The Plebiscites And Referendums Of Interwar Germany, Matthew J. Rocha

Honors Theses

This paper aims to bridge the gap between the plebiscites following the First World War and the referendums of the Third Reich. To this point, the literatures on these sets of votes have remained completely separate. No scholars have considered the NSDAP’s votes in the context of the postwar votes. By comparing and contrasting these groups of plebiscites for the first time, this paper will shed light on the democratic backsliding of interwar Germany.

This paper argues that when planning their referendums, the leaders of the Third Reich had the immediate postwar plebiscites in mind and were, in some cases, …

Merchants Of Blood And Gunpowder: The English Arms Trade In West Africa, Jaime K. Schneider

Honors Theses

The period between 1500 and 1650 saw the development of a transoceanic trade network, multiple European colonial empires in the Americas, and rapid developments in firearms technology. Combined, these factors laid the groundwork for two interrelated phenomena, the transatlantic slave trade, and the emergence of a global trade in arms. Examining the documents of the Royal African Company and assembling a broad selection of secondary sources, this paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing debate over the role of slavery in the development of modern capitalism. This paper argues that the transatlantic slave trade was vital for the development of …

Jewish Presence In The Venetian Empire: A Challenge To Venetian Mythology, Avery Rosensweig

Honors Theses

This paper attempts to explain the significance of Jewish presence in the Venetian Empire in the context of the myth of Venice. Jews were officially permitted to settle in Venice in 1516, but their connection with the Venetian Empire goes further back. Jews were important for the success of the Venetian Empire, particularly from the sixteenth century onward. The permanent settlement of the Jews in Venice directly impacted the very ideology of the Venetian Empire.

Although the phrase "myth of Venice" was developed by twentieth-century historians, Venetians perpetuated the myth and wove its ideals into the foundation of the Venetian …

Philippine Gabaldon Heritage School Buildings In The New Normal : Safety, Sustainability And Human Development Perspectives, Inero Ancho

Journal of Urban Culture Research

As the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted education, stakeholders find means to return to the New Normal through limited face-to-face learning. The Philippine Gabaldon School Buildings (GSBs) are seen as venues where this can happen. Built from 1908 –1915, GSBs were erected during the American colonial government. Republic Act 11194 mandates these buildings’ conservation. Due to its perceived astounding structure and cultural value, a qualitative study was conducted that delved into the existing publicly available documents related to the buildings, for in-depth analysis. The investigation highlights how GSBs potentially address the minimum health standards relevant to the pandemic and limited face-to-face …

Rasulan As A Javanese Slametan Tradition On Compromising The Changing Of Society, Sartini Sartini, Supartiningsih Supartiningsih, Sriyulita Pramulia Panani, Adita Nurdia Damayanti, Anwar Ibrahim Triyoga

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Rasulan is a tradition in Java; it's one form of Javanese Slametan (a ritual meal). This research aims to describe the Rasulan, explains the role of the worldview and how the elements of culture, religion and the spirit of the nationality are compromised and changed therein. This research is a mix of library and field studies, utilizing the theory of worldview. Results show that Rasulan is not a religious tradition, but a harvest celebration, taking the form of gratitude in the agrarian society. It consists of world views of space, time, causality and self-other relationships, which constructs how people …

“Hin Le Le” Folk Songs In Phitsanulok Province : Identity And Existence In Times Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sasinut Phongnil

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The objectives of this qualitative research were to investigate (1) the identity of folk songs in Phitsanulok province, Thailand (2) the forms, methods and existence of folk songs during the COVID-19 pandemic, using musicological methodology. The examination of the background, musical characteristics, components and forms at present revealed that the identity of Hin Le Le folk songs is “the songs that reflect the way of life of the locals in Phitsanulok province, keep up with ongoing events for all age groups and are created by the elderly in the community.” The examination of the forms and existence methods of folk …

Introducing Creative City Factors As A Solution In Sustainable Urban Development : A Case Study From Bushehr City In Iran, Pourbeh Tayebeh, Jafarinia Gholamreza, Shamsoddini Ali, Kamran Jafarpour Ghalehteimouri

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Bushehr city is located in one of the provinces rich in both oil and in historical sites with an international port on Persian Gulf. However, it has never been successful in terms of sustainable development and planning. Therefore, this study aims to identify the effective factors in constructing a creative city, as well as its relationship to Bushehr's sustainable urban development. The primary data was collected over the course of 18 years, and the Cochran formula was used to determine the exact size of the statistical population, which was 384 people. Pearson's correlation coefficient, path analysis, and regression analysis were …

Reinterpreting Performing Arts For The 21st Century In Reference To The Narai Avatara Performance, Naraphong Charassri

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This article aims to share insights gained about how traditional arts and heritage can be reinterpreted through creative performing arts to keep them vibrant in 21st century urban life. Drawn from a dissertation length piece of research: ‘Reinterpreting Performing Arts for the 21st Century in Reference to the Narai Avatara Performance.’ The practice-based research on which this article is based was conducted in the context of selected urban areas in Thailand, like Bangkok, by using six methods: research literature, personal experience, field study, media, symposium, and interviews. Data collection was carried out from December 1996 through April 2022. Interviews were …