Literature, Cultural and Media Studies

This book successfully represents the indispensable interdisciplinarity of viewpoints by its authors combining legal perspectives with architectural and anthropological approaches. With the observation and analysis presented here, this book is the first to demonstrate research-based governance solutions for cultural heritage within the process of recovering from traumatic events. Its opening statement is that universal international standards are not effective enough for the specific situations of disaster-struck places.

A major objective of this monograph is to allow its readers to go through a learning experience, from plural cases where reconstruction of cultural heritage became central to rebuilding a post-disaster society. This book introduces Japan as the most disaster-prone country, with a long history of confronting and overcoming the power of nature, resulting in its unique solutions for cultural heritage resilience and sustainability. But how do leadership and decision making become efficient in times of recovery? Bearing in mind what may be lacking in Japanese practices, this work also presents comparable governance models from other countries which indicate alternative solutions.

While a traumatic event may occur within one night, the process of recovery could last for decades. Such disasters also tend to recur. In order that directly affected communities can sustain resilience throughout the long recovery period, and that equally severe social trauma will not be repeated, a continuous, well-maintained governance response is required, whether grounded in local knowledge or national policy frameworks. At the heart of this book is the matter of the reconstruction process involving networks of small and large communities. Each of those has a role that becomes operational through linkages of contacts, the interchange of knowledge and skills, and above all through the sharing of common goals.

This book summarizes and classifies 100 wonderful Chinese industrial heritage cases, starting from the path of cultural tourism industry's involvement in the transformation and renewal of industrial heritage. With the development of industrialization for more than 100 years, China, which has been a major industrial heritage country, is often ignored in the field of industrial heritage research. This is the first book in the world to systematically explore the cultural and tourism industry's involvement in the transformation and renewal of Chinese industrial heritage. It fully contributed the wisdom and experience of the transformation of China's industrial heritage to the world, and provided important experience for the transformation of industrial heritage in other parts of the world. This book is not only a reference book for scholars, planners, and decision makers, but it will also inspire other readers who are concerned about China's urbanization and industrial heritage.

This collection of original chapters reflects the increasing interest over the past few decades in the relationship between political humor (as a distinct form of political discourse) and a country’s culture: Beliefs, values, norms, institutions, and processes that are affected, shaped by, and related to historical experiences, socialization processes, social structure, religion, the economic system, and majority/minority relations. Written by contributors from various fields of study – political science, communication, linguistics, sociology, culture studies, and political psychology – the book looks at the central role played by “culture” in shaping and affecting the sundry aspects of political humor, including satire and parody. The chapters, focusing on diverse countries such as the USA, UK, Greece, Philippines, Israel, Poland, Italy, and Spain, as well as ethnic groups, offer a comprehensive overview of political humor as used by public figures, including politicians, artists, performers, as well as comedians, talk shows hosts and the general public. By presenting fresh perspectives on the relationship between culture and political humor as employed during political debates in parliament, in media interviews and shows, on the internet and in art, the book opens up new avenues for discussion regarding the factors that shape political humor across the globe in a variety of political and media systems.

This book describes the disability rights movement that started in the USA and its influence on the disability rights movement in Lebanon, which has led to the endorsement of the Lebanese Disability Act 220/2000. The book introduces the reader to the Lebanese Disability Act 220/ 2000, its definition of disability, and its relation to the medical and social models of disabilities and then articulate the Act articles. Then, it defines the inclusive design paradigm that acknowledges the needs of all people at each stage of their life cycle and presents the difference between inclusive design and accessibility and disability notions. 

What makes the book unique is its combination of empirical and theoretical application of inclusive design. The last section, reflects the author’s inclusive design teaching pedagogy. In this section, the author shares samples of students’ class design project and provides recommendations and guidelines for teaching inclusive design so it becomes mainstream.

This book charts the development of creative writing, bringing it from China to the world. As the second volume of Chinese Creative Writing Studies, the first of which introduces Chinese creative writing to English-speaking readers, this book expands on the first in further developing theories and research on creative writing pedagogy in the Chinese context, and in Hong Kong particular, looking at creative writing within cross-media practices, and the implications for creative writing in global contexts. The volume does so by presenting both local and international voices to expand the horizon of Chinese creative writing development. Structured in four parts, the book begins with leading Chinese scholars' reflections on research and field. The second part focuses on the interlinkages between creative writing and pedagogy in Hong Kong. The third section discusses poetic thinking and therapeutic writing to highlight their relationship with the personal and community. Lastly,the book takes a global perspective to examine the pedagogy and practice of creative writing through interviews with leaders in the field. It is relevant to researchers, teachers, and students interested in creative writing, particularly Chinese creative writing, but also those working in comparative contexts, both culturally, and in terms of cross-media perspectives.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of influential and popular Chinese drama actors and actresses, innovative directors, and emerging playwrights. It also offers insights into the features of Chinese stage design and the most prominent theatres in China, highlighting their role in the development of Chinese drama. Additionally, it provides a detailed description of Chinese audiences and their interactions with theatres. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive overview of the major debates and discussions within the critical community surrounding Chinese drama.

This book unveils the latest trends and developments in Asian creative writing, serving as a vital resource for understanding this dynamic field. It features a compelling collection of interdisciplinary essays by esteemed scholars and experts, illuminating the intricate relationships between creative writing and various art forms across the region. It not only showcases innovative pedagogy and practices but also fosters dialogue on the cultural contexts that shape creative expression in Asia. Divided into three comprehensive parts, The first section offers a comprehensive examination of creative writing in Asia, emphasising the intersections of theory, history, and methodology. It highlights localised approaches that foster innovation and cultural expression, showcasing the unique voices that define this dynamic field. The second section investigates the interplay between creative writing and transmedia practices in Asia, exploring integrated media narratives, visual arts, and digital platforms and the impact of literary tourism in Hong Kong. This highlights how diverse artistic forms converge to enrich cultural storytelling and engagement. The third section focuses on the theoretical foundations and pedagogical practices that shape Asian creative writing, with contributors examining innovative curriculum designs and offering critical insights into the evolving landscape of literary analysis and teaching across diverse cultural contexts. Relevant to creative writing, new media, translation and literary theorists in Asia and beyond, this is a timely contribution to a rapidly growing field in the creative arts.

This book studies China’s Internet in the 2000s, with a focus on the challenges and dilemmas of the authorities and the battles between the authorities and the newly networked society in the cyber space, which has been a critical centerpiece in the Chinese authorities' struggle for political stability. The book also examines the distinct technological means and political/legal regulations/restrictions used for Internet control, unique characteristics, and the implications of their influences on the political change and social transformation of the world’s most populous country. It illuminates the fierce competition between the authorities and the newly networked Chinese society by looking at how Chinese netizens make every possible effort to gain access to the Internet for truth and make their voices and views heard, while how the authorities use whatever possible means to prevent that from happening. The in-depth analyses of how these challenges, dilemmas and battles have been affecting and changing China’s political system, the ruling communist ideology, the public’s access to information as well as the expression of the public’s discourse are relevant to policymakers and analysts in both business and government sectors, as well as scholars and researchers with an interest in Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, communication, new media, political science, and sociology.

This open access book examines Malaysian politics using a linguistic perspective. It explores how language serves to (de)legitimise governance, and its subsequent policies and activities in Malaysia. Grounded in discourse studies, this edited volume presents research on the discourses produced by and on Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional from 2008 to 2020, studying how political actors (de)legitimise their governance through discursive means. The thirteen original chapters select spoken, print and digital texts in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil, and deploy varied theoretical and methodological approaches. Their linguistic analysis unearths the language features and strategies that facilitate (de)legitimation. It shows how political actors shape the discursive representation and evaluation of multiple concerns in Malaysia. Consequently, Discursive Approaches to Politics in Malaysia: Legitimising Governance improves our understanding of contemporary Malaysian political discourse. It is of interest to graduates and researchers in the field of discourse studies, seeking to understand the discursive contours of politics in this developing Asian country.