Digital Commons Network^™

Cultural Discount: Breakthrough Point Of China's Tv Drama Exports To Southeast Asia, Lingxing Li

International Review of Humanities Studies

Driven by China's "Going Global" strategy, the international influence of Chinese TV series continues to grow. As a key vehicle of China's cultural soft power, these TV series have significantly bolstered China's global cultural presence, particularly in Southeast Asia, by showcasing China's rich history and contemporary societal changes. Despite certain geographical and cultural similarities between China and Southeast Asia, cultural differences still present challenges to the dissemination of Chinese TV dramas, particularly in areas such as language, values, and religious beliefs. This paper not only analyzes effective strategies for mitigating "cultural discounts" but also challenges the traditional one-dimensional view of …

Understanding The Transmission Of Deepavali Culture In Malaysia From The Perspective Of The "Circuit Of Culture ", Su Zihua, Mochamad Aviandy

International Review of Humanities Studies

As an important traditional festival in India, Deepavali carries profound cultural and religious connotations and has spread widely across Southeast Asia. Malaysia has become a typical example for articleing the transmisi of Deepavali due to its large Indian population and diverse cultural circulation. This article adopts a qualitative research method, gathering data and literature from various platforms and deeply analyzing three aspects of Deepavali in Malaysia: representation and identity, production and consumption, and regulation.The article finds that its cultural symbols construct Indian identity, and the multicultural integration of elements promotes the identification of shared values. Various activities and advertisements during …

Towards Resolution: Comparative Lessons For Advancing Peace And Justice In Papua, Tagor Hutapea, Alexander Evan

International Review of Humanities Studies

The conflict in Papua represents a complex interplay of identity, sovereignty, and historical grievances, shaped by structural violence and socio-political exclusion. This study explores strategies for advancing peace-building and justice in Papua, drawing on Johan Galtung’s theory of peace and conflict and comparative lessons from the Aceh conflict in Indonesia and the Irish Republican Army’s (IRA) struggle in South Ireland. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing root causes such as historical injustices, economic inequality, and cultural exclusion. Inclusive governance and dialogues that respect ethnic diversity and local identities are critical to creating sustainable solutions. Case studies reveal that effective …

The Intricate Relationship Between Parents, Teachers And Media In Their Context Of Nation-Building, Emmanuel Olumuji

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study examines the intricate relationship between parents, teachers, and media in the context of nation-building, emphasizing their collective role in shaping societal values and fostering holistic development. Drawing insights from scholarly literature and empirical studies, the study considers the influence of parents, teachers, and media on child development, moral education, and civic engagement. The study underscores the pivotal role of educators in instilling moral values, critical thinking skills, and civic responsibility among students, thereby contributing significantly to the development of a nation's human capital. Moreover, the study highlights the media's potential as a catalyst for social change, advocating for …

Plurality Of Countable Nouns In Chinese And Indonesian: Morphological And Syntactic Perspectives With Pedagogical Implications, Hatmi Idris

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study investigates the plural meaning and expression of countable nouns in Chinese and Indonesian from morphological and syntactic perspectives and explores implications for language pedagogy. Although both languages encode plurality, they employ distinct mechanisms, which may pose challenges for Indonesian learners of Chinese. Using a qualitative, literature-based approach, data were drawn from scholarly studies, Chinese teaching materials, and reference sources such as dictionaries. Analysis focused on morphological markers, including affixation and reduplication, as well as syntactic structures, such as numeral–classifier phrases and quantifiers constructions. The findings show that Chinese expresses plurality through the suffix –men, classifier-based syntactic patterns, …

Impact Analysis Of China's Electric Vehicle Distribution On Cultural Identity Jakarta Society, Suci Kuswardani, Ike Iswary Lawanda

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study examines the impact of China's electric vehicle distribution on the cultural identity of Jakartans. With increasing air pollution and congestion in the capital city, electric vehicles have emerged as a sustainable transportation solution. This study uses a qualitative approach with data collection through interviews with 5 sources of information, namely Mr. Susanto, Mr. Robert, Mrs. Astrid, Mrs. Ratna and Mrs. Jeane. This was done to understand the adoption of electric vehicles affecting social values, cultural interactions, and community mobility patterns. The results of the study show that electric vehicles are not only an alternative transportation, but also a …

The Influence Of Meme Culture On The Perception Of Japanese Music: A Survey Of Dolphin In Town-Kingo Hamada, Salsabila Alfajri, Bambang Wibawarta

International Review of Humanities Studies

The research aims to explore the influence of meme culture on the perception of Japanese music in the digital era, specifically analyzing the impact of meme culture on the song "Dolphin in Town" by Kingo Hamada. This study utilized quantitative methods, with surveys as the main technique for data collection. The results showed that meme culture plays an important role in introducing songs and artists that may not have previously received attention. The study also highlights the diverse impacts of meme culture on the perception of Japanese music, including its influence on popularizing, accepting, and interpreting music in various ways. …

The Systematics Of Online Debt Collection Speech In Indonesian, Filia Filia Dr., Muhammad Rifqi Herjoko

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study examines the discourse systematics used in the online loan collection speeches in the Indonesian language. Online loans are one of the financial services that are widely used by the people nowadays. However, the efforts to collect these loans have raised issues within the community. This study aims to elaborate on the speech acts and systematics forming the discourse of online loan collection. This study is using 50 screenshots of online loan collection messages on Instagram accounts as the data source. Research data is in the form of speeches used by the creditors to collect debt from the debtors. …

Complexities Behind The Javanese Shrounds: Unraveling Textile Symbolism For The Dead Through Mikhail Bakhtin’S Heteroglossia, Asha Kun Nayla Faizin, Ganang Dwi Kartika

International Review of Humanities Studies

The shroud, a textile used to wrap and accompany humans in death, is far from a simple object. Within Islamic traditions, the white cloth applied to the deceased's body takes on various changes, modifications, and deeper meanings when individuals contextualize their own beliefs and experiences through it. This study focuses on the shroud's role in Islamic death rituals in Java, revealing a multiplicity of meanings as theorized by Mikhail Bakhtin's concept of heteroglossia. By employing a pragmatic semiotic approach, this research interprets and analyses the symbols that emerge from the contextualization of these textiles within Javanese death rituals. The study’s …

Ame's Rebranding Strategy To Build Brand Identity And Enhance Stronger Competitiveness, Michelle Adelia Sentosa, Aniendya Christianna

International Review of Humanities Studies

This research analyses AME's rebranding process to build a strong brand identity and increase competitiveness in the fashion industry. Using a descriptive qualitative method, data was collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation studies. The results showed that AME's rebranding involved visual design changes as well as adjustments to the brand's vision and mission. The new illustration and packaging elements successfully attracted consumers' attention and created a positive experience, which resulted in increased sales and positive responses from consumers. The findings provide valuable insights into rebranding strategies in the fashion industry and their implications for brand identity and business performance, …

Social Media Optimization Of Ramampa Resto & Bar As A Visual Strategy, Monique Pricilya Oei, Aniendya Christianna

International Review of Humanities Studies

In the digital era, social media has become an important marketing tool for businesses, including the culinary industry. This study examines the use of motion graphics to develop the social media presence of Rarampa Resto and Bar, a restaurant serving Manado cuisine and healthy MSG-free food, located in South Jakarta. Although the restaurant has a loyal customer base, particularly from the 40-60 age group, its social media content fails to attract younger audiences, especially millennials, who seek unique and authentic culinary experiences. This study suggests that Rarampa's social media content, which mainly focuses on event photography and the restaurant's ambiance, …

The Construction Of The Image Of The “Ideal Wife” In Intercultural Marriages: A Case Study On The Youtube Video “Younger Singapore Men Looking For Vietnam Brides, Li Jie

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study explores the process of constructing the image of the “ideal wife” in intercultural marriages, using the video Younger Singapore Men Looking for Vietnam Brides as a case study. It analyzes the economic and cultural motivations of Singaporean men in choosing Vietnamese wives. By applying Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity and Henri Tajfel’s social identity theory, the study examines how Vietnamese brides are symbolized as the “ideal partner” and how this phenomenon reflects modern gender role conflicts and identity reconstruction. Through an analysis of interviews in the video and relevant comments, the research reveals the dynamic interaction between …

China's Cultural Diplomacy And Its Engagement With The Peranakan Community In Malacca, Kotchaphop Kornphetcharat, Lee Yuen Thien

International Review of Humanities Studies

China's cultural diplomacy utilizes a range of strategies, including cultural exchange programs, media outreach, and people-to-people interactions, to further its national interests and enhance its international image. The primary aims are to foster a positive perception of China, build mutual understanding and trust with other nations, and expand China's cultural and economic influence. The overseas Chinese community in Southeast Asia has been recognized as a crucial conduit for advancing Chinese cultural policy globally. Recently, the Chinese government has conducted official visits to the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum in Malacca, Malaysia, exemplifying its efforts to engage with the local community. …

Exploring The Ontological Basis Of Law: Joseph Raz's Views On Normativity Within The Framework Of Legal Realism, Artha Debora Ads Silalahi, Rizal Mustansyir, Sindung Tjahyadi

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study explores the moral ontology of law within the framework of Legal Realism, contextualizing law as both a social institution and an institution of justice. Drawing on Joseph Raz's perspectives on practical reason, normativity, and the foundations of norms, the analysis examines how law, as a practical guide, inherently carries moral dimensions in regulating social interactions and pursuing justice. Legal Realism frames law as a dynamic product of human interaction within a social context, while Raz's philosophical insights illuminate the interplay between practical reasoning, normativity, and legal structures. By focusing on the moral underpinnings of legal norms, this paper …

“K-Pop In Public”: Vietnamese Youth Using Dance To Queer The Public Space, Ha Bich Dong, Thuy Bich Dong

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

In Vietnam, where public protests are criminalized (Kerkvliet, 2022), young people continue finding creative ways to advocate for their rights through different venues, particularly the arts. This research combines digital ethnography and duoethnography to examine K-pop dance covers in Vietnamese public spaces as a platform for youth to explore their gender identities, connect, and visibilize queerness.

K-pop is a music genre, pop culture, and cultural phenomenon that emerged in South Korea and has gained significant popularity and influence around the world (Aini, 2020). We, two researchers (one is a K-pop dancer), began the research by using digital ethnography (Zorn, & …

Understanding The Nexus Between Food Insecurity And School Readiness: A Comprehensive Analysis In Ghana, Michael Atuahene Djan, Emmanuel Yeboah, Isaac Sarfo, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Abraham Okrah, Desmond Nii Ayitey Mettle-Nunoo, Ben Emunah Aikins, Asante Vincent Antwi, Clement Issaka Anaba, Clement Kwang

School of Global Integrative Studies: Faculty Publications

This study delves into the multifaceted challenges of food insecurity and its profound impact on school readiness among children in Ghana. Utilizing data from the Ghana Statistical Service and the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis, and employing ArcGIS for spatial analysis, the research maps high food insecurity areas and overlays population density to prioritize interventions. Findings reveal a stark concentration of food insecurity in northern Ghana, worsened by adverse weather conditions, underscoring the urgency for targeted interventions. The study highlights how food insecurity extends beyond nutritional deficits, affecting socio-economic structures and family dynamics. Children in food-insecure households face significant …

Asian American Navigation In Higher Education: Do We Belong At Colby College?, Amanda Rose Alpert

Honors Theses

This thesis explores how Asian American students navigate their belonging at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI), specifically a case study at the higher educational institution Colby College. In understanding how Asian American students navigate the spaces around them, this thesis dives into the history of Asian immigration to the U.S., the Asian American politicized label, and the different diasporas and cultural nuances Asian Americans experience that make up the complicated, diverse, and misunderstood label. Through exploring global racializations of Asian bodies and legacies of Western imperialism and colonialism, this gives a basis of how Asian Americans understand themselves as persons living …

The Media Framing Of India’S Nuclear Weapons Discourse, Sitakanta Mishra, Hely Desai

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The Indian media has had an immense role in framing public perceptions of nuclear weapons within the Indian subcontinent. Examining the largely nationalistic tone of news coverage helps analyze how the media has shaped India’s idea of its status as a nuclear weapon state. Examining the sociocultural discourse around the bomb, this paper analyzes the major influence that the Indian media has in information distribution and how that influence translates to the formation of the atomic attitudes of the masses. In situating the Indian media’s approach to nuclear weapons at large, this work studied the framing of domestic nuclear weapons …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

The Black-Market Commodification Of Human Organs And Bones: A Marxist Perspective, Erik Schulz

Nebraska Anthropologist

The trade and treatment of human remains, while seemingly straightforward, have increasingly become subjects of ethical and moral debate. Over time and in light of recent events, questions have emerged regarding the appropriateness of how human remains are handled and exchanged. This paper examines these issues through the lens of Marxist framework and the perspective of forensic anthropology. The objective is to provide contextual understanding and encourage a reevaluation of current practices, particularly within academic settings, to ensure that human morals, dignity and ethical standards are upheld.

Land Back To Right Of Return: Proposing Paths Forward In Palestine, Melanie Kallah

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis presents a parallel case study of the settler colonial histories of Canada and Palestine. The Land Back Movement was first analyzed to determine what conditions enabled the success of Indigenous land restitution in Canada. Subsequently, a cross-analysis with Palestine was conducted to ascertain whether the same enabling conditions could facilitate Palestinian land restitution, known as the Right of Return.

A Comparative Case Study Of Face-To-Face Vs Virtual Fortune Telling In Bangkok In The Aftermath Of Covid-19 : Relevance And Adaptation, Jade Evalyn Di Donato

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study explores the adaptation of Thai fortune telling practices, specifically astrology and tarot card reading, in response to increasing digitization and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the practice has been traditionally rooted in face-to-face interactions, it has transformed in recent years with the growing prevalence of online consultations. Utilizing Catherine Bell's theory of ritualization alongside the Transfer of Ritual theory, this research analyzes how the ritual meaning and symbolism of Thai fortune telling are preserved across digital and physical spaces, especially in a post-pandemic world. Relying on a comparative case study of two female fortune tellers—one who …

Religion And Culinary Practices In Thailand : From Buddhist And Islamic Dietary Restrictions To Social Hierarchy And Identity, Gao Yaxuan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study adopts the analytical framework of "food as a moral economy" to explore how the dietary practices of Buddhism and Islam in Thailand constitute two parallel yet complementary religious ethical systems, and further shape social relations and cultural identities. The research holds that in the social environment of Thailand, "eating" and "giving food" are not only the satisfaction of physiological needs, but also important ways for religious values to be practiced, expressed and negotiated in daily life. The Buddhist mechanism of almsgiving and accumulating virtue emphasizes the establishment of emotional networks and social reciprocity through diet. The halal dietary …

Statement From The Indiana Academy Of The Social Sciences And Board Of Directors

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Mission And Editorial Policy

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

In Memoriam: Bruce Bigelow, 1943 - 2025, Kenneth Colburn

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Author Biographical Notes

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Editor-In-Chief's Note, Surekha Rao

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Reviewers And Referees

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

George C. Roberts Award Recipients

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.