Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Rape Jokes, Sexual Violence, And Empire In Revelation And This Is The End, Meredith J.C. Warren

Journal of Religion & Film

The Book of Revelation is one of the most borrowed-from texts of the New Testament when it comes to popular culture. Although there are dozens of other ancient apocalyptic writings, it is John’s apocalyptic visions that directly inform contemporary ideas of apocalypse. The apocalyptic comedy This Is The End (Dir. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, 2013) not only invokes imagery from Revelation but also adapts portions of the text in its portrayal of the end times. However, it also reproduces and expands upon the use of sexual violence as a means of punishment found in Revelation. This paper will examine …

“Knowledge Belongs To All, But You Don’T Understand That Because You’Re Nothing But A White”: The Mystical Philosophy Of Embrace Of The Serpent, Rebecca Makas

Journal of Religion & Film

This article explores the implicit theory of mysticism in Ciro Guerra’s 2015 film Embrace of the Serpent (Sp. El abrazo de la serpiente). While many theories of mysticism argue that true mystical experience is unmediated and, therefore, universal, Guerra makes a more provocative statement in the film. He depicts two Westerners’ attempts to have an entheogenic mystical experience in journeys on the Amazon, guided by an indigenous shaman named Karamakate. While the first experience is unsuccessful, the second produces an astonishing mystical vision. The film’s apex transcends culture and suggests the power of the mystical to heal the trauma …

Baraka: A World Without Words: A Guided Meditation, Wanda E. Avila

Journal of Religion & Film

Baraka: A World Beyond Words (1992) is a guided meditation that aims to induce the transcendent experience in the viewer. Through the eyes of a Zen Buddhist monk, the viewer is invited to meditate on the various phenomena that testify to the existence of the transcendent (the first eight chapters), to experience the everyday world where the transcendent is painfully absent (the next eleven chapters), and to finally arrive at stasis (the last two chapters). This paper is a description of and commentary on each of the 21 chapters of the film.

Justice For All: Moira, Tyche And Nemesis In The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jason Osborne

Journal of Religion & Film

This article explores the ways in which the ancient concepts of moira, tyche, and nemesis permeate the films and series of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Art Cinema And India’S Forgotten Futures: Film And History In The Postcolony, Vijay Mishra

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Rochona Majumdar, Art Cinema and India’s Forgotten Futures: Film and History in the Postcolony (Columbia University Press, 2021).

The Dardenne Brothers’ Cinematic Parables: Integrating Theology, Philosophy, And Film, Matthew Kingcroft

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Joel Mayward, The Dardenne Brothers’ Cinematic Parables: Integrating Theology, Philosophy, and Film (Routledge, 2023).

Natalia, Dereck Daschke

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Natalia (2023), directed by Elizabeth Mirzaei.

Lars Von Trier’S Cinema: Excess, Evil, And The Prophetic Voice, Jeanette Solano

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparran, Lars Von Trier’s Cinema: Excess, Evil, and the Prophetic Voice (Routledge, 2021).

Nólë Hyarmenillo: An Anthology Of Iberian Scholarship On Tolkien (2022), Edited By Nuno Simões Rodrigues, Martin Simonson, And Angélica Varandas., Marjorie Burns

Journal of Tolkien Research

Book review, by Marjorie Burns, of Nólë Hyarmenillo: An Anthology of Iberian Scholarship on Tolkien (2022), edited by Nuno Simões Rodrigues, Martin Simonson, and Angélica Varandas.

Teaching Music Theory And History With Collaborative Awareness, Karin Thompson, Max Keller

Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference

The disciplines of music history and music theory are integrally linked: One cannot be studied without the other. Courses in these disciplines are at the core of many undergraduate music degree programs, and upon completing a graduate degree in music at Andrews University, students are expected to demonstrate the ability to synthesize their knowledge in both disciplines. The path towards successfully teaching these skills of synthesis involves awareness and collaboration between teachers in both disciplines, and it involves active inclusion of students’ own choices and goals in the music they study.

How To Incorporate Reading Strategies In Music And Why That Is Crucial To Student Learning, Daniel Victor Soochkoff-Cerna

Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference

This poster takes a look at reading strategies in the area of music. It will also describe what music literacy is and why good reading strategies are an important component in creating competent musicians.

Strategies For Teaching Reading In High School Music Classes, Megan Case

Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference

When you think of subjects that benefit from literacy, music may not be the first one that comes to mind. While "reading" music usually refers to interpreting the notes and symbols on the page being able to read texts about music can give students context and background they wouldn't otherwise have. This enables them to connect to the music on a deeper and more meaningful level. This project describes just a few of the ways increasing literacy in the field of music enhances the quality of education students receive

The Value Of Arts In Education, Jordan Anderson

Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference

This presentation focuses on the pros and cons of arts education programs. It also dives into why art programs are being cut. It defines arts education as more than just art classes but visual arts, music, dance, and theatre. The presentation provides statistical data for state Common Core Standard participation, as well as the benefits of arts education. The purpose of this presentation is to bring light and possibly funding to arts education programs. Once people understand that the benefits outweigh the costs, they may reconsider funding.

Embedding Virtual Reality In Architectural Pedagogy: Instructionism Versus Constructionism Approach, Marwa Charkas, Kareem S. Galal

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

As more related to the typology of architectural pedagogy, Instructionism and Constructionism theories are used to make more advancement in this domain. They are concerned with the role of both instructor and learner within the outline of a well structured pedagogical framework (education system). However, the developments in information technology and its imprints on all life aspects have profoundly influenced this system. Architecture pedagogy -as in many other domains- is now radically affected by information technology (IT) developments. Virtual reality is one of the leading applications of IT in architecture.

This paper is concerned with embedding virtual reality in architectural …

Determinants And Outcomes Of Urban Land Use Succession - Case Study Of Upper Hill, Nairobi, Elizabeth M.K. Nguah, Owiti A. K'Akumu, Mary Kimani

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

This paper is based on a PHD research carried out to explore Urban Land Use Succession (ULUS) that is driven by private actors financed by local or global capital, referred to as property-led urban redevelopment. ULUS is manifested in indicators like land values, height of buildings, and migration. Its motive is profit taking contrasting it from ULUS that is driven by public and public-private partnerships (PPPs). ULUS has helped reimage cities, but in some cases, it has resulted in negative consequences such as pressure on existing infrastructure and patchwork land use patterns. A case study of Upper Hill is used …

Augmenting Landmarks: Extending “Places” In The Hybrid City, Mohab N. Moustafa, Shaimaa S. Ashour, Ramy A. Bakir

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Several recent technological advancements are substantially altering how we interact with urban spaces. The existing physical space as we know it now encompasses a plethora of emerging realities into which we shift in and out, resulting in what is called Hybrid Spaces. Augmented Reality (AR) today gives way to forms of hybrid realities that are accessible through our handheld devices, and which allow us to engage with our physical reality in a new way. These devices allow us to access and view digital information that is saturating our urban spaces, and yet appear invisible to the naked eye. When this …

The Virtuality Of Intelligent Cities - The Road To Hybridizing Our New Cities, Fatma A. Farrag, Heba Allah E. Khalil

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

The incorporation IoT into our social systems and the digitization of our everyday life has become the new norm for societies worldwide. This study posits that digitization should apply to our cities as well. The digital aspect of technology is not always tangible – even in the figurative sense of grasping a concept – and its allure lies in this virtual aspect. That is the starting point of discussion in this paper – the virtuality of intelligent cities, the intangible forces that make these new cities smart, and how said forces can be incorporated to create new smart hybrid cities …

Gamification In Urban Planning - Experiencing The Future City, Suedanur Özden, Esra Arslantürk, Mehmet Senem, İmdat As

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Virtual Reality (VR) systems have been commonly used in the game and entertainment industries and are also increasingly explored in architecture and urban planning. They assist designers to communicate design ideas to a wider public and can engage them in the design processes. In this paper, we explore gaming environments to allow users to learn about smart city applications, such as innovative mobility approaches, urban farming, drone delivery, etc. The project is part of a real-world project for a future city for 50,000 inhabitants in the European side of Istanbul, Turkey. VR technologies can offer a testing ground for testing …

Mindful Space In Sentences - A Dataset Of Virtual Emotions For Natural Language Classification, Han Tu, Chunfeng Yang

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Spatial emotions have played a critical role in visual-spatial environmental assessment, which can be assessed using bio-sensors and language description. However, information on virtual spatial emotion assessment with objective emotion labels and natural language processing (NLP) is insufficient in literature. Thus, designers’ ability to assess spatial design quantitatively and cost effectively is limited before the design is finalized. This research measures the emotions expressed using electroencephalograms (EEGs) and descriptions in virtual reality (VR) spaces with different parameters. First, 26 subjects experienced 10 designed virtual spaces with a VR headset (Quest 2 device) corresponding to the different space parameters of shape, …

Simulating Human Senses To Improve Thermal Comfort, Ahmed Marey, Nihal Alsabbagh

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Between the synergies of environmental perception and technological advancement evolves the parallel world of the metaverse. Evolutionary virtuality intends to aid humanity in envisioning the threatened future of cities under environmental risks through tailored features. Traditionally, the sense of sight – which is the focus of virtual reality – has dominated the architectural practice. However, architects and urban designers have begun incorporating other senses into their work over the recent decade. The expanding understanding of the multimodal nature of the human mind that has evolved from cognitive neuroscience research has received little attention so far in the architecture field. This …

Augmented Masonry Design - A Design Method Using Augmented Reality (Ar) For Customized Bricklaying Design Algorithms, Yang Song, Asterios Agkathidis, Richard Koeck

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

The Augmented Masonry Design project presents experimental research about developing and applying Augmented Reality (AR) technology for customized design algorithms, exploring a real-time, interactive, and spatial-free design method for the early architectural design stage. We aim to resolve the current 2D-based design limitations and provide architects with a 3D-4D immersive perception in AR for a practical and easy-to-use design method. Furthermore, with reference to the Covid-19 pandemic, we propose that this method could break through site accessibility and constraints by breaking the barriers of physical space. Towards this aim, we apply the Augmented Masonry Design into two prototypes: a) user …

An Evaluation Of Augmented Reality-Based User Interfaces In The Design Process, Feyza Nur Koçer Özgün, Sema Alaçam

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

The aim of this study is to evaluate the user interfaces that reflect different interaction layers in the context of Augmented Reality technology. Depending on the physical characteristics of human interaction with the computer, these layers were examined under four sections: Graphical User Interface (GUI), Tangible User Interface (TUI), Natural User Interface (NUI) and Spatial User Interface (SUI). In this context, a proposed Augmented Reality application interface has been developed to bridge the physical and digital environment. The use of AR-based applications in the design process provided a basis for evaluating the user interface in these interaction layers. In future …

Research Data Management And A System Design To Semi-Automatically Complete Integrated Data Management Plans [Position Paper], Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah, Frank Petzold

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Data is an integral part of modern scientific work. Good research data management (RDM) and the communication of the related information is extremely an important matter. It is not only crucial for the ongoing research and its claims but also for the future uses of data. In recent years some guiding principles, e.g. FAIR principles and initiatives at the national and international level, e.g. NFDI, NFDI4Ing have also been founded to improve RDM. The data and its metadata are often handled in file system like structures which are versioned and logged. The information relating to the data handling are documented …

From Passive To Immersive: Metaverse As A Pedagogical Approach In History Class - Presenting A Constant Reminder Of Historical Remnants And A Customizable Reality For Future Preferences; Beirut As A Case Study, Hiba Mohsen, Mohamad Tohme, Rawan Nashi

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

It is widely acknowledged that passive, non-immersive strategies of teaching adopted in history classes in Lebanon do not offer the right platform for knowledge retention in students. With that said, virtual reality and the use of Metaverse as a pedagogical approach is prophesied as the most apt to invoke a positive attitude from children towards the topic being studied, and thus, in this case, it increases their awareness of the existing built heritage they live amidst. This research sets out from a recent project implemented by Beirut Arab University, together with three UN agencies. The latter aimed for “developing children …

Memorability Of Spatial Features In Virtual Reality - Süleymaniye Experience, Asena Kumsal Şen Bayram, Orkan Zeynel Güzelci̇, Sema Alaçam

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

The goal of this study is to uncover and understand the user's perception of spatial features as they interact with cultural heritage in a virtual environment. The virtual reality (VR) experience adopted Kaufmann's three-fold imagery conception to structure the research methodology, which suggests that linguistic representation, visual imagery representation, and exploratory activity all have a strong relationship during the problem-solving/creative process. Since it has distinctive spatial features, the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul was chosen for the VR experience as part of the scope. Following the VR experience in two sessions, it was analyzed using semi-structured interviews, sketching, and route extraction. …

Urban Design Analysis Of New York City’S Virtual Model - The Case Of Tom Clancy’S The Division, Nima Sharafi Rohani, Ikhwan Kim

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

People have started spending time with digital tools and virtual worlds to escape reality's horrors. However, designed spaces are more than the players' needs, especially those digital games that their stories involve urban environments. This inefficiency causes spending futile efforts both in time and cost for the digital games' productions; The urban environments in these digital games are replicas of real-world cities. Some companies use some techniques for downgrading replicas. Therefore, this study aims to uncover the used techniques for designing Tom Clancy's The Division (2016). By using reverse engineering methodology and qualitative comparative analysis, the in-game map compared with …

How Metaverse Evolves The Architectural Design, Sheida Shakeri, Muhammed Ali Ornek

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Architects have long relied on visualization tools to develop their concepts for specific design problems. From the early traditional drawings to the three-dimensional visualizations and virtual environments, all have enabled architects to demonstrate design outputs relatively early in the process. Real-world projects are similar to what architects imagined from the beginning. In other words, the design process has always started by creating the digital representation of a project and then attempting to replicate it in real life. Once the digital representation of design parts is complete, architects prepare their design for construction. However, the final visualization emerges from actual architectural …

Moisture-Harvesting Lizard Skins As An Inspiraton For Performative Building Envelopes In Arid Climates, Aly Ibrahim, Walid Omar, Sherif Ebrahim, Sherif Abdelmohsen

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Research on shape-shifting adaptive architectural skins has recently focused on bio-inspired programmable materials. Only a few studies however examine the microstructure of living organisms, especially in terms of morphological adaptation in harsh climatic conditions. This paper explores the microstructure of moisture-harvesting lizard skins, specifically the Trapelus species of the Agamidae family in North-East Africa, as an inspiration for programmable materials in adaptive building skins in the arid climate of Egypt. The paper investigates the ability to improve the durability and morphological capabilities of programmable materials based on surface formation, utilizing digital fabrication techniques. A series of physical experiments were conducted …

Construction Based On Man-Machine Collaboration - A Case Study Of A Bamboo Pavilion, Yuan Sun, Zhu Wang

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

With the development of advanced digital design approaches and mechanical facilities, architectural intelligence liberates conventional construction from conventional paradigms. Computational design and digital fabrication have achieved progress in space innovation, construction efficiency, and material effectiveness. However, those high-tech manufacturing techniques are not widely available in developing countries, where the locals used to carry construction experience from age to age in a nonacademic way. This study explored a collaborative workflow of complex structural design and machine-aided construction in Chinese rural areas. First, we designed a bamboo pavilion parametrically in an irregular site on a hill. Second, its primary structure was optimized …

Developing A Design Framework For The Mass Customisation Of Housing In Saudi Arabia - A Critical Review, Abdulwahab Abdulmajeed, Asterios Agkathidis, Theo Dounas, Davide Lombardi

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

This paper explores the suitability of mass customisation (MC) technologies and techniques in order to provide affordable housing solutions for Saudi Arabia. In particular, the paper analyses ten articles filtered through 1.165 publications searched by using the keywords ‘mass customisation housing or off-site construction’ in the databases Scopus, CumlnCAD, ScienceDirect, and Engineer village and categorised them based on their suitability for the Saudi Arabian context. Our findings include a comparative analysis chart evaluating workflows, tools and technologies on their suitability for the MC design and an MC workflow proposal for including parametric design and digital fabrication tools and techniques.