Contemporary Mythopoiesis: the role of Herodotus in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-322
Author(s):  
Vanda Zajko
Keyword(s):  
Political Power ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Cultural Relativism ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Television Series ◽  
Ancient Greek ◽  
Cultural Form ◽  
Different Cultures

Abstract This article explores Neil Gaiman’s transmedial work American Gods as an example of contemporary mythmaking. Published in novel form in 2001 and launched as a television series in 2017, American Gods provides a commentary on the connectedness between different systems of stories and on myth itself as a vital present-day cultural form. It also provides us with a model for repurposing ancient material without reproducing the traditional hierarchies associated with cultures of storytelling. Gaiman’s text is an interesting case-study from the perspective of classical reception because he sidelines the ancient Greek gods in the main body of his story, while simultaneously positioning the ancient historian Herodotus as a significant intertext. The process of evaluating different cultures often veers between analyses which focus on similarities manifested across place and time and those which espouse a form of cultural relativism, a ‘live and let live’ philosophy. Gaiman seems to be offering something else here, namely a more vital and connected model for co-existence, one which is moving towards a pluri-versal perspective that acknowledges the links between political power, knowledge, and identity.

‘The Sword of Avenging Justice’: Politics in Sutherland after the Third Reform Act

Rural History ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNIE TINDLEY
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Political Power ◽  
Political Life ◽  
National Politics ◽  
Scottish Highlands ◽  
The Third ◽  
General Decline ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThere has been much historical debate over the role of aristocratic landed families in local and national politics throughout the nineteenth century, and the impact of the First, Second and Third Reform Acts on that role. Additionally, the period from 1881 in the Scottish Highlands was one of acute political and ideological crisis, as the debate over the reform of the Land Laws took a violent turn, and Highland landowners were forced to address the demands of their small tenants. This article addresses these debates, taking as its case-study the ducal house of Sutherland. The Leveson-Gower family owned almost the whole county of Sutherland and until 1884 dominated political life in the region. This article examines the gradual breakdown of that political power, in line with a more general decline in financial and territorial influence, both in terms of the personal role of the Fourth and Fifth Dukes of Sutherland, and the broader impact of the estate management on the mechanics and expectations of politics in the county.

scholarly journals The citizen as a source of information: a case study on Jornal da Tarde, RT

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 283-296
Author(s):  
Inês Mendes ◽  
Raquel Martins
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Case Review ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
News Production ◽  
The Given ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Citizen’S Participation

Indispensable to news production, sources of information are complex and provide an interesting case review. Without them a journalist’s work would be next to impossible to perform since those sources are able to reinforce and give credibility to the news. In a time when the citizen’s participation in public service media is gaining more and more importance, this study aims to understand the kind of representation and prominence given to the citizen in the Portuguese television Public Service. In addition to understanding the presence of the citizen in Jornal da Tarde, RTP (Radio and Television of Portugal) the goal is to make a connection between the role of the Portuguese television Public Service and the need, or not, to call upon non-official voices to support the credibility and even the veracity of the topic in hand. In which topics the citizen’s voice is more present and which testimonials are more sought after by RTP are some of the topics under discussion. In order to do that – identify the news in which the citizen’s voice was used and to find answers to the given question – a content analysis of 21 broadcasts of Jornal da Tarde was performed.

scholarly journals The Role of Speech Stereotype in the Formation of Speech Behavior: a Case Study of the French Social Advertising

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-190
Author(s):  
E. G. Zheludkova
Keyword(s):  
French Language ◽  
French Society ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Models ◽  
Social Advertising ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
Cultural Linguistics ◽  
The Way

The research features the speech stereotype at the stage of its formation. The author observes the way stereotype of socially approved behavior are formed with the help of speech stereotypes united by the concept of "product waste". An analysis of "gaspillage alimentaire" social advertising revealed some speech stereotypes, stereotyping mechanisms, as well as the way they influence the recipient of the social advertising discourse. The author states the key role of the speech stereotype that address the recipient to the existing models of behavior and in the formation of new models that are in demand in the French society. The results of the research contribute to a better understanding of the speech behavior in different cultures and can be used in the courses of cultural linguistics, French language stylistics, and discourse analysis. 

scholarly journals Raising the bar

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 8-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ozarow ◽  
Trevor Gibson ◽  
Arun Batra ◽  
Sam Mercer
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sexual Orientations ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Argues that merely complying with legislation is not sufficient to accomplish genuine diversity and that, rather than assuming its benefits will naturally be derived and accepted, diversity must be approached strategically and its advantages communicated effectively to stakeholders to ensure desired outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – Considers the business case for diversity, presents a case study of barristers and examines the role of the national equality standard. Findings – Advances the view that multi-layered approaches to diversity are essential for its successful implementation. Practical implications – Highlights the strong business case for diversity in the workforce, as well as possible social repercussions from failing to ensure that workforces are diverse. Social implications – Underlines how young people in European and Anglo-Saxon countries are increasingly demanding to work with colleagues from varied ethnicities, nationalities and sexual orientations who are similar to the peers they socialize with. Diverse workforces have thus become central to talent attraction. Originality/value – Presents an interesting case study of barristers and diversity.

scholarly journals LUCHA CAMPESINA, AUTONOMÍA E INSTITUCIONALIZACIÓN: EL CASO DE LA CIOAC EN ACALA, CHIAPAS

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (16) ◽  
pp. 282
Author(s):  
Antonia Berenice Villafuerte Torrez
Keyword(s):  
Political Power ◽  
The State ◽  
Agricultural Workers ◽  
Crisis Of Representation

En este artículo se analiza la participación de la Central Independiente de Obreros Agrícolas y Campesinos (CIOAC) en Chiapas, en el marco de la lucha campesina nacional. Resalto su trabajo organizativo y sindical en la entidad. Detallo el papel de la organización en el contexto de la estrategia salinista y reflexiono sobre la pérdida de la capacidad autonómica y de independencia de la CIOAC frente al poder estatal y político. Posteriormente, y tomando como caso de estudio la CIOAC en Acala, Chiapas, describo las estrategias de institucionalización de la organización y planteo la presencia de una crisis de representación de dicha central.   PEASANT STRUGGLE, AUTONOMY AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION: THE CASE OF CIOAC IN ACALA, CHIAPASABSTRACTThis article analyzes the participation of the Independent Central of Agricultural Workers and Peasants (CIOAC) in Chiapas, in the framework of the national peasant struggle. Highlight their organizing and union in the state. Detail the role of the organization in the context of the strategy Salinas and reflect on the loss of regional capacity and independence of the CIOAC against the state and political power. Then, taking as a case study CIOAC in Acala, Chiapas, I describe the strategies of institutionalization of the organization and raised the presence of a crisis of representation of the central.

Motherhood(s) and Polytheisms: Epistemological and Methodological Reflections on the Study of Religions, Gender, and Women

Numen ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Pasche Guignard ◽  
Giulia Pedrucci
Keyword(s):  
Ancient Greek ◽  
Greek Religion ◽  
Concrete Case ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mother Daughter Relationship ◽  
Greek World ◽  
Academic Study

AbstractThrough an approach that combines the academic study of religions with motherhood studies, this article examines rarely considered maternal aspects of Demeter, a goddess of the pantheon of ancient Greek religion. We first discuss theoretical input and concepts drawn from maternal theory that are relevant to uncover innovative lines of research on religious representations and practices in polytheistic systems of the past. In this way we also contribute to broader epistemological reflections in the history and study of religions. Then, considering theHomeric Hymnas well as key ritual elements of theThesmophoriafestival through the lenses of maternal theory, we examine the mother-daughter relationship and the role of the mother as maternal trainer. This concrete case study from the ancient Greek world demonstrates the relevance for historians of religions of considering past polytheistic systems while harnessing the fruitful interdisciplinary potential of maternal theory.

scholarly journals Visual Persuasion: Issues in the Translation of the Visual in Advertising

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Smith
Keyword(s):  
World Wide ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Main Design ◽  
Visual Elements ◽  
Visual Persuasion ◽  
Design Options ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
Made In

Abstract This contribution is concerned with the decoding of advertising messages and the question of whether and how such messages are received by members of other cultures. The answers to these questions are important when considering the role of the translator in adapting global campaigns. Most advertisers concentrate on avoiding linguistic pitfalls when adapting advertisements for new markets, but in any advertisement, consumers are primarily attracted by visual elements. It can be said that an advertisement’s potential for triggering a train of connotations in the consumers’ minds is the most important aspect of advertisement design. According to Barthes, images are polysemous, but it is not clear whether all connotations are accessible to viewers in different cultures. The visual in advertising exploits the original and the stereotypical – novelty attracts attention, while the stereotypical serves as a reference to established knowledge. The main design options discussed are layout and directionality, as well as the choice of subject, which also allows a range of visual rhetorical options to be encoded. Decoding depends on practical, cultural and aesthetic knowledge. The challenge to the translator lies in assessing whether the choices made in the original advertisement and its connotation potential can be transferred to a new language market with different cultural practices. The analysis draws on the semiotics of Barthes, and presents more recent approaches from cultural studies. It is illustrated by examples of the strategies adopted for global advertising campaigns by companies operating world-wide and includes a case study on advertising in China.

Megaprojects as Political Symbols

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janis van der Westhuizen
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
Special Interest Groups ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Fifa World Cup ◽  
Railway System

Africa’s first high-speed transit railway system, the Gautrain, provides an interesting case study of a megaproject that was initially closely identified with the country’s bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Completed in June 2012, the Gautrain experiences many of the problems typical of megaprojects elsewhere in the world. This chapter focuses on the three dimensions: public consultation and the role of special interest groups, the issue of costs and passenger forecasts, and the intangible mythical discourses that often surround megaprojects.

The Engagement of Community and Volunteers in a Small-Scale Sport Event and the Impact on Sustainable Tourism

2020 ◽  
pp. 45-70
Author(s):  
Valentina Della Corte ◽  
Giovanna Del Gaudio ◽  
Giuliana Nevola
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Sustainable Tourism ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Strategic Role ◽  
Sport Events ◽  
The Impact

This work aims to investigate the key role of local community through volunteerism experience in small-scale sport events and the impact that the community engagement in small sport events can have on the local destination in terms of sustainable tourism. To do this analysis, the authors take into consideration the triple bottom line approach. Given the interdisciplinary character of sustainability, the chapter investigates the relation between small sport events and community, underlining two main aspects: the strategic role of volunteers in terms of community capabilities and the impact that small sport events have on local community in terms of social cohesion and local identity. Small-scale sport events, indeed, strengthen the sense of community and tradition, thus attracting visitors. In the last section of the chapter, an interesting case study and a series of sustainable tourism indicators are illustrated.

scholarly journals Modelling the impacts of challenging 2030 DPRK’s GHGs mitigation targets on DPRK’s energy system

2020 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 02079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongjae An ◽  
Haijun Cao ◽  
Cholu Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Energy Technology ◽  
Systems Modelling ◽  
Business As Usual

The DPRK ratified the Paris Agreement on 1st August 2016 and fully committed to achieving goals for reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) in its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) which was submitted on 3rd October 2016. The DPRK’s INDC includes a mitigation and an adaptation component. In the mitigation component, as unconditional contribution, DPRK intends to achieve with domestic resources the reduction of GHG emissions by 8% by 2030 as compared to Business as Usual (BAU) scenario. Moreover, the conditional contributions are measures that could be implemented if additional international financial support, technology transfer and capacity building are received. The national contribution could be increased up to 40% with international support. This paper focuses on these mitigation targets for DPRK by an interesting case study of GHG emissions for a 12 year period from 1990 to 2002. We proposed the DPRK’s GHGs mitigation model by analyzing the Irish TIMES (The Integrated MARKAL–EFOM System) energy systems modelling tool, and proved the technical availability of CO2-8 scenario delivering an 8% emissions reduction target by 2030. We then compared the scenario results in terms of changes in energy technology, the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

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