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On the Exportation of Soft Power in Globalization with the Exemplification of the Film Wolf warrior (II)
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
100-107
Received:
27 February 2020
Accepted:
12 March 2020
Published:
8 April 2020
Abstract: In globalization culture is capitalized and invested as a commodity. But the commodified culture not only makes money for an exporter but also disseminates its cultural values with another culture. Both the success of the film Wolf Warrior (II) at home and its failure to be a hit abroad lend weight to the argument. The pros and cons about it evidence the on-going status quo of cultural exchange in One Way One Belt (“The Belt and Road Initiative”) the Chinese global project. Therefore this research makes endeavors to prove the power that story telling particularly the narrative trinity: event, plot and story make money on the one hand and on the other works as site of pedagogy where people learn and experience. This way people find the power as such congenial and innocuous. Thereupon the film director Jing Wu chooses the events as can be seen in the film and “strings” them in such a way that the Chinese viewers are mad about it whereas the viewers abroad especially those in the West sort of turn it down. The striking contrast in box office suggests the fact that cinematic experience is a process of negotiation between director and film goer, which Director Wu has to take into good consideration if he expects to make a hit with his film next time abroad.
Abstract: In globalization culture is capitalized and invested as a commodity. But the commodified culture not only makes money for an exporter but also disseminates its cultural values with another culture. Both the success of the film Wolf Warrior (II) at home and its failure to be a hit abroad lend weight to the argument. The pros and cons about it eviden...
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A Comparative Study of the Interpretations of Emojis in Between U.S. and Chinese Users
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
108-118
Received:
27 February 2020
Accepted:
12 March 2020
Published:
8 April 2020
Abstract: In recent years, Emojis have permeated online communications. They constantly show up in text messages, chats and emails, playing a significant role in business and daily interaction. Although designed to replace language text and to convert some universal emotions through icons, there are no rules governing people how to correctly define the sentiments behind them. Therefore, users with different cultural background may interpret emojis differently. This have often led to misinterpretation and miscommunication from different user groups. This study examines the correlation of the sentiments felt from a group of U.S. users versus a group of Chinese users by having them rate their sentiments from positive to negative for the top 15 most popularly used emojis. The survey was circulated in U.S. and China respectively and received 402 responses. The study weighted the scores of both user groups and analyzed the reasons behind the misalignment, including the structure of the icon, the local culture background etc. It founded that of the 15 emojis tested, over 60% of them had major or minor interpretation differences between the U.S. users and the Chinese users, and only 40% were aligned. The final conclusion was that the sentiment that the user intended to send with an emoji may not be received to the degree that it was intended among U.S. and Chinese users.
Abstract: In recent years, Emojis have permeated online communications. They constantly show up in text messages, chats and emails, playing a significant role in business and daily interaction. Although designed to replace language text and to convert some universal emotions through icons, there are no rules governing people how to correctly define the senti...
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The Digitalization of Lifestyle in a Digital Era: A Case Study of WeChat in China
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
119-126
Received:
27 February 2020
Accepted:
10 March 2020
Published:
8 April 2020
Abstract: Digitalization has been identified as one of the most significant trends that change society, business, and people’s lives and has attracted academic attention from different fields. This study aims to investigate how digitalization, with the adoption of far-ranging digital technologies, has changed individuals’ lifestyles in China. WeChat was taken as an example to illustrate how digital social media, a typical digital technology, penetrates every aspect of individuals’ life and thus changes people’s lifestyles. To obtain in-depth insights about individuals’ perceptions and views towards the influence of WeChat, a semi-structured interview was conducted. Thirty respondents were interviewed, and three functionalities, namely Chats, Official Accounts and WeChat Pay, emerged as the most influential and were selected for detailed discussion. With cultural studies theories and through detailed analysis, the paper found that empowered by digital technologies, Chats has transformed individuals’ communicative practices to be hyper-texted and highly interactive; Official Accounts has created a platform for individuals to follow news and express ideas, a practice that was confined to professionals only; thus, a publishing public has emerged; and WeChat Pay has revolutionized how people shop and consume and access civil service. That is, the lifestyle of individuals is digitalized in China.
Abstract: Digitalization has been identified as one of the most significant trends that change society, business, and people’s lives and has attracted academic attention from different fields. This study aims to investigate how digitalization, with the adoption of far-ranging digital technologies, has changed individuals’ lifestyles in China. WeChat was take...
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The Subversion of Identity from Princesses to Queens - A Cultural Study on Feminism in Maleficent
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
127-133
Received:
27 February 2020
Accepted:
10 March 2020
Published:
8 April 2020
Abstract: Disney films have long been known as adapting classic fairy tales or legends from all over the world and creating distinctive princess images, among which, the development of different princess images manifests relative values in corresponding periods. Maleficent is adapted from the animated film Sleeping Beauty with similar story arrangements on the continuation of Sleeping Beauty as the main line. With the witch Maleficent as the narrative subject, the film subverts the traditional image of the witch under the patriarchal discourse, especially with respect to the subversion of the characters and themes. The deconstruction and reconstruction of the characters of different genders based on feminism shows the marginalization of male characters and the centralization of the female characters. The film is also characterized by postmodernism, reflecting the clinginess of the theme to the feminist values the US intends to convey. The subversion of characters and themes in the film is the product of the current social environment, which not only captures the spirit of the age, but also conforms to the psychological expectations of the audience in the new era. The paper first gives a general introduction and then provides a relevant literature review on feminism as well as postmodernism, and the development of feminism displayed in Disney princess films in different periods. Next, the paper analyzes the film Maleficent based on its progress from previous films, the centralization and marginalization of characters and the subversion of the theme, describing women's resistance to patriarchy and the subversion of identity. Last, the paper draws a conclusion and comments on the values of feminism delivered from Disney films.
Abstract: Disney films have long been known as adapting classic fairy tales or legends from all over the world and creating distinctive princess images, among which, the development of different princess images manifests relative values in corresponding periods. Maleficent is adapted from the animated film Sleeping Beauty with similar story arrangements on t...
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Exploration of Application of Confucian Conception of Critical Thinking in the Teaching English as a Foreign Language in China
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
134-141
Received:
27 February 2020
Accepted:
11 March 2020
Published:
14 April 2020
Abstract: Over the past years, fostering critical thinking abilities has become one of the priorities in education in China. So far, much research has been conducted to explore how to resort to Western critical thinking methods to cultivate critical thinking abilities among Chinese students. Meanwhile, among much research in incorporating Confucian educational thought into current English teaching in China, little research has been done to explore the possibility of rendering Confucian conception of critical thinking to this endeavor. This paper argues that Confucian conception of critical thinking possesses similar complementary components to those of the Western conception of critical thinking. Through literature review and text analysis, this paper reviews the Confucian conception of critical thinking and the socio-cultural background that impact its development. Reflection on a case study and field observation shows that Confucian “enlightening approach” works effectively in today’s effort in critical thinking cultivation in English teaching; Confucius’ description of five-phase comprehensive learning process could be materialized in English teaching to progress from lower level learning (knowledge, comprehension, application) towards higher level learning (analysis, synthesis, and evaluation); Confucian conception of critical thinking, described as “contextual critique’ by some Western scholar, could complement Western critical thinking in a positive way. The paper suggests in-depth research in constructing the theoretical framework for the Confucian conception of critical thinking, investigation of other approaches to foster critical thinking abilities besides the “enlightening approach,” and thorough studies of current empirical research on critical thinking in TEFL in China so as to see how they can be applied in materializing Confucian conception of critical thinking.
Abstract: Over the past years, fostering critical thinking abilities has become one of the priorities in education in China. So far, much research has been conducted to explore how to resort to Western critical thinking methods to cultivate critical thinking abilities among Chinese students. Meanwhile, among much research in incorporating Confucian education...
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Criticizing School-related Gender-based Violence: A Cultural Analysis on the Music Video Womxnly
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
142-147
Received:
27 February 2020
Accepted:
18 March 2020
Published:
14 April 2020
Abstract: Gender-based violence, a deeply-rooted violence directed against a person because of their gender, remains one of the most notable human rights violations in all societies. Both women and men experience gender-based violence. It is school-related in many cases and often occurs in and around schools, so it is sometimes referred to as “school-related gender-based violence” (shortened as SRGBV). As one of the manifestations of gender-based violence, SRGBV is complex and multifaceted and attracts great attention from the international community. Applying such cultural theories as carnival theory, the other image, gender performativity, the functions of arts and popular culture, the present essay concentrates on the practitioners of diverse gender temperament like “sissy”, “tomboy” or “gender fluid” in SRGBV and analyzes how the composers of the music video Womxnly achieve their goal to draw the public attention to the MV and to arouse social respect of gender diversity in schools. The essay is divided into four sections with the first giving the social background and purpose of the MV, the second introducing the cultural theories used in the production of the MV, the third analyzing the MV in details respectively from the perspective of music, video and cultural studies, and the last concluding the research in this paper.
Abstract: Gender-based violence, a deeply-rooted violence directed against a person because of their gender, remains one of the most notable human rights violations in all societies. Both women and men experience gender-based violence. It is school-related in many cases and often occurs in and around schools, so it is sometimes referred to as “school-related...
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An Interpretation of To the lighthouse from the Perspective of Ecofeminism
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
148-152
Received:
9 February 2020
Published:
17 April 2020
Abstract: Virginia Woolf’s masterpiece, To the Lighthouse, fully presents readers with her ecofeministic consciousness although ecofeminism did not come into existence in the era when she created this work. By analyzing the main characters the Ramsay couple and Lily Briscoe, this paper aims to interpret the ecofeminism reflected in this novel. Mr. Ramsay always ignores natural law, making no further progress in his career; Mrs. Ramsay enjoys the beauty of nature, making people around her happy and pleased; Lily alienates herself from nature, feeling puzzled about her painting. In terms of ecofeministic relationship between men and women, the differences in the values of the Ramsay couple result in the breaking up of their emotion, which stimulates Mr. Ramsay to accept some of the views of females; the reconciliation of Lily and Mr. Ramsay leads to their increasingly harmonious relation, which helps Lily achieve an ultimate completion of her painting. With her unique writing style, Virginia Woolf conveys to her readers the importance of achieving harmony between humans and nature and equality between men and women.
Abstract: Virginia Woolf’s masterpiece, To the Lighthouse, fully presents readers with her ecofeministic consciousness although ecofeminism did not come into existence in the era when she created this work. By analyzing the main characters the Ramsay couple and Lily Briscoe, this paper aims to interpret the ecofeminism reflected in this novel. Mr. Ramsay alw...
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A Cross-cultural Study of Pragmatic Identities Constructed in Chinese and American Marketing Discourse on Social Media
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
153-161
Received:
27 February 2020
Accepted:
10 March 2020
Published:
23 April 2020
Abstract: Based on a mini-corpus of Chinese and American marketing discourse on social media (150 discourses each), this study conducts a cross-cultural investigation of pragmatic identity construction in marketing discourse on social media. The results show that in the context of social media, a larger variety of individual pragmatic identities rather than organizational pragmatic identities is employed in both American and Chinese marketing discourses. Chinese and American enterprises both construct six different types of individual pragmatic identities (Experiencer, Sales Representative, Friend, Adviser, Expert and Official Introducer) in marketing discourse. Both Chinese and American marketing discourses tend to build official introducer and sales representative identity more than other identities. Adviser identity is not regularly constructed in both Chinese and American discourses. American marketing discourse on social media adopts the identity of experiencer and adviser more whereas Chinese discourse adopts expert and official introducer identity more than its counterpart. American discourse adopts more subjective identities than objective identities whereas Chinese discourse evenly employs both subjective and objective identities. Three cultural value dimensions (collectivism vs. individualism, high power distance vs. low power distance, relation-driven vs. task-driven) attribute to the different use of the pragmatic identities.
Abstract: Based on a mini-corpus of Chinese and American marketing discourse on social media (150 discourses each), this study conducts a cross-cultural investigation of pragmatic identity construction in marketing discourse on social media. The results show that in the context of social media, a larger variety of individual pragmatic identities rather than ...
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The Writing of History and Return of Language: Art History as An Explanation Object-On Hubert Damsich’s “A Theory of /Cloud/”
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
162-168
Received:
27 February 2020
Accepted:
16 March 2020
Published:
23 April 2020
Abstract: Giving a methodological and ontological explanation to the art history is the core thought of “a theory of /cloud/” of Hubert Damisch. It shows that there is no uniform explanation for art history. And the explanation of art history can only be placed in the framework of history. Language is the main reason for this, because it is historical, and through it the art history can be narrated and explained. As an explanatory activity, art history needs to plan a historical horizon which is different from the present, and integrate with the current horizon to explain historical events. Therefore, all art history is bound to be a historical explanation. This is the logic of why art history needs to be constantly renovated. On the other hand, because art history is inseparable from language, it must rely on linguistic methods in the specific analysis process. Taking this as his starting point, Damisch takes semiotics as the dominant method of explaining the art history. In his eyes, semiotics, as a method of combining meaning reading and characterization analysis, can effectively reconcile the contradiction between formal analysis and iconology. Not only that, the symbol as a kind of representation of representation can also make the painting back to the field of representation. Because representation is the basic purpose of painting. As a symbol, cloud precisely emphasizes that painting should pay attention to representation. And the sensibility and materiality of cloud in painting indicates that the painterly should become the mainstream of the representation. This kind of painterly is exactly what “A Theory of /Cloud/” aims to reveal. According to this, the painterly of painting should become the main focus of the writing of art history.
Abstract: Giving a methodological and ontological explanation to the art history is the core thought of “a theory of /cloud/” of Hubert Damisch. It shows that there is no uniform explanation for art history. And the explanation of art history can only be placed in the framework of history. Language is the main reason for this, because it is historical, and t...
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Entangled with Traffic Signs: An Ethnographic Account of Internationals Driving in Mainland China
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, May 2020
Pages:
169-176
Received:
27 February 2020
Accepted:
30 March 2020
Published:
23 April 2020
Abstract: This study investigates the difficulty of internationals’ driving in non-English Chinese environment by reporting on their encounters and reflections in the traffic contexts. The study adopts a geosemiotic perspective and utilizes an ethnography to study foreigners’ usage of traffic signage in Guangzhou, a major and hub city of Mainland China. It collects the verbal and written data of non-Chinese drivers and Chinese traffic authorities as well as scrutinizing some government standards and news reports on this issue. The study finds that foreign sign users are enculturated to an indigenous Chinese driving practice by assimilating into the local “Chinese-only” driving environment. The empirical findings suggest that traffic signs as one form of discourses in place are keyed to culture contextedness for their comprehension and usage by their users as another form of discourses in action. It is therefore argued that although China with its high-end signing system has stepped into a globalized world, the signing system may be less convenient for foreign drivers to mobilize. The contribution of this research rests with two respects: first, it may appeal to more geosemiotic review of signs in the concrete world; second, this study may be helpful in its attempts to make transportation engineers, urban planners, and law enforcers recognize the importance of Romanized versions of traffic signs addressing foreign drivers in Mainland China.
Abstract: This study investigates the difficulty of internationals’ driving in non-English Chinese environment by reporting on their encounters and reflections in the traffic contexts. The study adopts a geosemiotic perspective and utilizes an ethnography to study foreigners’ usage of traffic signage in Guangzhou, a major and hub city of Mainland China. It c...
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