Digital Commons Network^™

Saunders Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, And The Place Of Magic In Fantasy, Alexander Retakh

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Welsh writer Saunders Lewis was, just as his almost exact contemporary J.R.R.Tolkien, a politically conservative Catholic with a deep interest in medieval myths. Both authors wrote fantasy based on Celtic tales, such as Lewis's play Blodeuwedd and Tolkien's poem The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun. While the latter follows the dicta of Tolkien's own "On Fairy-stories," Lewis created a more modernist work. Despite biographical and ideological similarities, the two approached their sources differently. Tolkien looked for unifying aesthetic principles that he called "unhazy unromantic momentariness," while Lewis used the traditional material to escape the constraints of romantic and realistic …

From The Editors, Thomas A. Guiler, Susan Love Brown, Heather Van Wormer, Cheryl Coulthard

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

Constructing Community: Building Design, Infrastructure, And Ecological Habitus At Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Zach Rubin, Joshua Lockyer

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

The Marketplace, Migration, And Material Culture: Origins Of Distinction In Kentucky Shaker Furniture, Marc A. Rhorer

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

Pawns In The Power Struggle: Navigating Creative Labor Precarity Across Mcns, Platforms, And State Regulation In China, Qingyue Sun

Interdisciplinary Studies

This study examines how digital creators navigate the precarious Chinese digital creative industries (DCCIs), shaped by multi-channel networks (MCNs), platform logic, and intensifying state intervention. Drawing on interviews with 34 creators, I identified three challenges facing Chinese creators: (1) dual exploitation by volatile platforms and capricious MCN management; (2) erosion of creative autonomy under MCN gatekeeping and state oversight; (3) involuntarily being enlisted as propaganda artisans. Creators, especially those affiliated with MCNs, are increasingly positioned as state labor with governed creativity: cultural workers whose output is shaped, constrained, and redirected by the layered imperatives of state mandates, platform governance, and …

History Of Art, Architecture And Design Subject Benchmarking Statements: Draft Version For Consultation, Péter Bokody, Paul Alexander Stewart, Nadira Begum, Christina Bradstreet, Derrik Ferney, Ferren Gipson, Kate Grandjouan, Alison Hamilton-Pryde, Sophie Hatchwell, Christie Johnson, Lenia Kouneni, Joseph Mcbrinn, Lynda Nead, Samuel Raybone, Jennifer Walden

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Contributors

Jewish Folklore and Ethnology

Contributors to Volume 3.

Editorial: Jewish Cultural Scholarship And Scholars—And Their Institutions—Under Duress, Simon J. Bronner, Amy K. Milligan, Tsafi Sebba-Elran

Jewish Folklore and Ethnology

The editors of Jewish Folklore and Ethnology (JFE) express concern about intimidation and estrangement of Israeli and Jewish professors in the international academic community after the surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The editors point out that these types of hurtful antisemitic incidents against Israeli and Jewish academics preceded the attack, and they call on their colleagues and administrators to voice their outrage at the harassment, boycotts, and violence against Israeli and Jewish academics in addition to the suppression of Jewish studies, and their adverse effects on scholarship as well as Jewish students and their …

What Do Students Read? Let’S Talk About Data-Informed Library Collections Planning For Student Success, Nat Gustafson-Sundell, Heidi J. Southworth, Evan Rusch

Library Services Publications

Do students read? What do they read? What kinds of information resources are most used by students? What subject areas are most used by students? What do they need from their library if they are going to complete assignments? How can the library plan ahead to meet student needs? The modern academic library is mostly online and highly data driven. The MSU Library Services Collection Management Technology team briefly demonstrated some of the tools they’ve developed to understand student needs. They showcased some of the instruments they’ve used to communicate collections plans to administration, as they’ve strategized to conform to …

The Reciprocity Of Misfortune: The Little Tradition Of Disasters In The Philippines, Greg Bankoff, Bianca Angelien Aban Claveria, David Lozada Iii, Camille L. Silva

History Department Faculty Publications

Just as there is a great and little tradition in religion and civilization, there is a great and little tradition in disaster. This article explores the origins of community resilience in rural areas of the Philippines based on local reciprocity and cooperation and how ­ these customary practices form the basis of national disaster risk-­reduction policies. The endless strug­gle to feed and shelter a family and contend with repeated hazards, whether natu­ral or human-­induced, promotes collective action. There is a need to cooperate with neighbors, a web of dyadic and community relationships born out of necessity that constitutes a “reciprocity …

Housing In Contemporary Intentional Communities, Lucy Sargisson

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

(Ba)Ding, Ang Bato!: Queering Duterte's Drug War In Jun Lana's Big Night! (2021), Jenno Roquero

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

Though there are studies around Duterte’s war on drugs and human rights violations, scholarship focusing on the relationship between Duterte’s politics and gender, particularly queerness and kabaklaan, is limited despite his frequent derogatory use of bakla, gay, or homosexual to demean rivals and critics. This article analyzes Jun Lana’s Big Night! (2021) through the Filipino concept of batak—intoxication, being forcibly dragged, and musculature—to examine the intersections of queerness, state violence, and survival in Rodrigo Duterte’s “War on Drugs.” Through close readings of key scenes, the article maps how batak operates as a framework for understanding the bakla’s shifting position: …

Preliminaries And Editor's Introduction, Dinah Tapia Roma

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

No abstract provided.

Graffiti, Neoliberalismo, At Tunggalian Para Sa Espasyo Sa Lungsod Quezon (Graffiti, Neoliberalism, And Contestations For Space In Quezon City), Harvey James G. Castillo

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

Magmula nang umigting ang neoliberalismo bilang ekonomikong kaayusan noong dekada 1970, daan-daang bansa na ang maaapektuhan nito at libo-libong espasyo ang mahuhubog ng masidhing neoliberal na lohika. Tatawagin ng mga paham bilang neoliberal na urbanismo—ang ganitong diwa ng pagsasaayos sa mga lungsod, na nasa anyo ng pribatisasyon at hentripikasyon ng mga espasyo, ay magdudulot ng pag-unlad at lubos-at-labis na yaman para sa iilan, at kaaba-abang karalitaan at guho para sa nakararami. Sa ganitong konteksto ng neoliberal na urbanismo, isinusulong ng artikulo na ang mga graffiti ay umiiral bilang tekstong panlipunan na instrumental sa agawan ng espasyo sa pagitan ng …

Contributors

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

No abstract provided.

Animation Film Industry Of India And Service Design: A Systematic Review Of Literature, Abhishek Kumar, Dr. Shikha Rai, Dr. Sonali Srivastav

ServDes Conference Series

The medium of animation transcends the physical limitations posed by other visual media, combining elements of fantasy with realism. By 2030, the animation business in India is expected to grow from ₹215.8 billion to ₹1.21 trillion. The major companies that dominate this segment in India are Disney and Pixar. The fact that the top 10 highest-grossing animation films in India are all produced by international companies, with ‘Kung Fu Panda 4(2024)’ at the top further demonstrating this foreign domination. Compared to its global counterparts, the Indian animation industry is yet to see the boom, despite the market accepting the medium. …

Bridging Service And Seva For Living Built Heritage: Systems Thinking For Human Centered Design (Hcd) And Community Co Management Of Temple Festivals., Nitin R. Sinha, Shiva Ji

ServDes Conference Series

This paper examines the synthesis of Human-Centered Design (HCD), service design principles, community co-management, Seva (selfless service), and living built heritage, considering the significant role of temple festivals within a systems thinking framework. Hyderabad's Brahmotsavams, Bonalu, Rathotsavams, and Hanuman Jayanti are the life and vitals of this culture. As these significant events become increasingly complex, we are challenged to rethink how they are organized in a way that effectively combines classical seva with modern principles of service design and systems thinking. Through systems mapping, the research suggests a framework to organize better festivals, foster delight for attendees, and ultimately sustain …

Ai Enabled Service Design Approach - Demystifying The Myths, Shivani Ganwani, Karthik Konar, Simran Patankar, Sylvan Lobo, Ravi Mahamuni

ServDes Conference Series

There has been a recent surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption globally across industries. This has triggered widespread discussions about role of AI, particularly in design and creative fields. There are numerous opinions, findings and myths surrounding AI's role, capabilities, and limitations in general and in design too. This paper explores these prevalent myths and demystifies those by conducting a comprehensive literature review and offering insights from practical experiences. From our experience of using AI in different ways in varied service design projects, we argue about certain common myths about AI’s potential. We highlight where AI excels, where it falls …

From Meditation To Magic: The Spectrum Of Buddhist Tourism In Thailand, Brooke Schedneck

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Buddhism can conjure distinctive ideas and images for different groups of people, especially travelers to a Buddhist majority country like Thailand. Discussing three different modes of Buddhist tourism— meditation, magic, and mega statues— this article illuminates the varieties of Buddhist tourism in contemporary Thailand. While foreign visitors from Western countries are assumed by Thai Buddhist practitioners to favor engagement with Buddhism related to meditation, Chinese and Thai Buddhists are seen to appreciate Buddhism for its magical protective powers. Chinese tourists in particular are now being targeted to purchase products and experiences related to mutelu, which is a term for objects …

Iranian Culture In Bahram Beyzaie’S Cinema And Theatre: Paradigms Of Being And Belonging (1959-79), Hessam Abedini

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Saeed Talajooy, Iranian Culture in Bahram Beyzaie’s Cinema and Theatre: Paradigms of Being and Belonging (1959-79) (London: I.B. Tauris, 2023)

Lived Islam In Films: Faith-Based Resilient Responses Of Syrian Refugees, Jumana S. Al-Ahmad

Journal of Religion & Film

This article provides educators in fields such as Middle Eastern studies, refugee studies, cultural and Islamic studies with a framework from documentaries to challenge stereotypes about Muslim refugees and migrants. Using the framework of lived Islam, the article explores how Syrian Muslim migrants, as seen in documentaries, draw on their faith to build resilience that enables them to continue striving for better lives. Resilience is defined as the ability to overcome challenges and catastrophes, envision solutions, and lead a purposeful life. This article conceptualizes resilience not only as a personal trait but also as a collective tool for survival and …

Imus Longganisa: A Cultural Heritage Food In Cavite, Marie A. Aquino, Dyan Loreine V. Lopez, Colleen Daphne U. Villanueva, Jimford U. Tabuyo

ICHRIE Research Reports

This study assessed the cultural heritage significance of Imus Longganisa, a traditional delicacy from Cavite, Philippines. Grounded in the cultural heritage preservation framework, the research examined the aesthetic, social, and historical dimensions of Imus Longganisa as perceived by the Imuseños. Utilized a quantitative evaluative design, the study employed purposive sampling of 291 respondents from Imus City, gathering data through validated online survey questionnaires using a 4-point likert scale. Analytical methods, including descriptive statistics and ANOVA, identified significant variations in perceptions based on demographics such as age, frequency of consumption, and budget. Findings revealed that respondents appreciated the aesthetic appeal of …

Law School Announcements 2025-2026, Law School Announcements Editors

Announcements

• Officers and Faculty
• The Law School - History
• Programs of Instruction
• Curriculum
• Student Activities and Organizations
• Funds and Endowments

Clark Magazine, Fall/Winter 2025, Clark University

Clark Magazine

The Fall/Winter 2025 edition of Clark Magazine. Clark Magazine is a twice-yearly publication primarily geared towards Clark University Alumni.

The cover story is 'Our Planet. Our Clark. A Special Issue', celebrating the new School of Climate, Environment, and Society.

Fall 2025, Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois

Tackle Box

No abstract provided.

First-Year University Students’ Mathematics Capital And Identities, Paola Valero, Lisa Österling, Nhu Truong, Anna Danielsson, Bruna Nunes, Maria Berge

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Based on a survey of 150 respondents and 16 timeline interviews with first-year university mathematics students in Sweden, we explore how the material resources and conditions available to them —mathematics capital— connect to their mathematical identities. We found that mathematics capital has bearing on how early in life students start to consider doing mathematics. We also found individually different trajectories among students with low mathematics capital into university mathematics. The study expands both existing theoretical and methodological ways of researching the material bearings of identity and opens up for new ways of understanding and exploring the conditions that may facilitate …

Research Guide To Womanist Literature: Historical, Anticolonial, And Fictional Perspectives, Apoliana Da Conceicao Dos Santos

FIRE Fund Bibliographies

This bibliography was compiled for both research and teaching purposes, organized into three thematic categories reflecting a hemispheric, anticolonial, and womanist approach to knowledge production. The collection centers Black, Afro-Latin American, and feminist voices, offering alternative epistemologies that challenge Eurocentric, patriarchal, and colonial frameworks commonly reproduced in academic syllabi. It invites professors and students across disciplines to engage with scholarship and storytelling that foreground women's histories, theories, and creative expressions.

The first category, Historical Womanist Literature, examines testimonies, resistance, kinship, and survival of Black women under slavery and colonial rule across the Atlantic world, drawing extensively from histories of gendered …

“That’S Not My Name”: The Linguistic Violence Of Misnaming Parties In Court Proceedings, Robert S. Chang, Cecily C. Hazelrigg, Linda Cj Lee

Washington Law Review

This Article calls attention to the harms done when parties are misnamed in legal proceedings. Misnaming, which many might initially consider trivial, is properly understood as a form of linguistic violence that can inflict dignitary harms as well as have material consequences. Misnaming takes on a different valence when it is done by the state. This Article focuses on the misnaming of Indigenous, Asian, and Latine people, beginning first with the way misnaming is done by the administrative state. The authors then discuss misnaming as it has operated in legal proceedings, providing both historical and contemporary examples from federal and …

Language, Literature, And Culture Newsletter, Tenth Edition (October 2025), Language, Literature, And Culture Department, Clark University

Language, Literature, and Culture

The tenth issue of the Language, Literature, and Culture department newsletter, which went out in October 2025. The Language, Literature, and Culture department newsletter aims to "share stories, news, ideas, achievements, and important information about and within our academic department that can be helpful to the campus community at large".

Ua 64/2 The Challenge: Magazine For The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 59 Fall 2025), Elizabeth Joyce Editor

Gifted Studies Publications

Magazine created by and about the WKU Center for Gifted Studies.