scholarly journals Exhibiting the Return to terroir

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Machotka
Keyword(s):  
Art Museum ◽  
Ecological Resilience ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Art Exhibition ◽  
Collective Identification ◽  
Cultural Construct ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
Politics Of Nature ◽  
Point Of Departure

In his seminal work on landscape David Cosgrove observed that ‘nature’ as a socio-cultural construct has always functioned as one of the favorite focuses of cultures when humanity is in crisis. Taking this thesis as a theoretical point of departure, this study explores a contemporary art exhibition Sensing Nature: Yoshioka Tokujin, Shinoda Tarō, Kuribayashi Takashi. Rethinking the Japanese Perception of Nature, staged in 2010 at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. The study investigates the strategies used in contemporary exhibiting practices to establish alternative sources of collective identification, and the role of the notion of ‘nature’ in these processes. It explores the recent shift from the perception of the world as the globe into the national terroir as discussed by Bruno Latour and exposed in the conceptual design of Sensing Nature, which returns to the nation-specific notion of “the Japanese perception of nature”. This maneuver demonstrates both the role of art in building social and ecological resilience; and the ambivalent potential of culture in the politics of nature.

scholarly journals Børnepenge: Om handel som netværksskabende aktivitet, særlige pengesedler og børn som forbrugere i Forschungstheaters Børnebanken

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (124) ◽  
pp. 289-310
Author(s):  
Kamma Overgaard Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Bertolt Brecht ◽  
Art Museum ◽  
Relational Aesthetics ◽  
Interactive Art ◽  
Complex Concept ◽  
Critical Experiment ◽  
Practical Reality ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Point Of Departure

This contribution analyzes the interactive art project Die Kinderbank as it was displayed by the German Forschungstheater at Horsens Art Museum under the Danish title Børnebanken in February 2017. Børnebanken is analyzed as aesthetical art work as well as norm-critical experiment. The first, because the concept and scenography of Børnebanken can be seen as illustrative for idealistic conceptions of children, money, and trade. And the second, because Børnebanken with its interactive format is a potentially ‘uncontrollable’ work, which might lead to interesting clashes between the ideological point of departure and the practical reality. Clashes, which can be used to discuss, how we – in a relatively wealthy Western context – see ourselves as participants in a society of trading and comsuming, and not least how we imagine the role of our children in this society. My analysis addresses, how Forschungstheater in their set-up points towards a Marxist-socialist critique of capitalism as illustrated by Bertolt Brecht as well as a more complex concept of money as a concrete, society-constituting and -consolidating symbol as described by Viviana A. Zelizer. It also discusses how Børnebanken as an example of Nicolas Bourriaud’s concept of Relational Aesthetics is a work beyond our control. On that note, I ask the question of to what extend the discussions of money as societal phenomenon reach the primary target group: the children. My point is that the reactions of the children on the set-up of Børnebanken might point toward a critical consumer-behaviour rather than a norm-less curiousity.

scholarly journals Verbena officinalis Verbenaceae (Lamiales): a new plant model system for phyllotaxis research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Zagórska-Marek ◽  
Magdalena Turzańska ◽  
Klaudia Chmiel
Keyword(s):  
Vascular System ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Inflorescence Axis ◽  
Organ Identity ◽  
Lateral Organ ◽  
Complex Relationships ◽  
Secondary Transitions

AbstractPhyllotactic diversity and developmental transitions between phyllotactic patterns are not fully understood. The plants studied so far, such as Magnolia, Torreya or Abies, are not suitable for experimental work, and the most popular model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, does not show sufficient phyllotactic variability. It has been found that in common verbena (Verbena officinalis L.), a perennial, cosmopolitan plant, phyllotaxis differs not only between growth phases in primary transitions but also along the indeterminate inflorescence axis in a series of multiple secondary transitions. The latter are no longer associated with the change in lateral organ identity, and the sequence of phyllotactic patterns is puzzling from a theoretical point of view. Data from the experiments in silico, confronted with empirical observations, suggest that secondary transitions might be triggered by the cumulative effect of fluctuations in the continuously decreasing bract primordia size. The most important finding is that the changes in the primary vascular system, associated with phyllotactic transitions, precede those taking place at the apical meristem. This raises the question of the role of the vascular system in determining primordia initiation sites, and possibly challenges the autonomy of the apex. The results of this study highlight the complex relationships between various systems that have to coordinate their growth and differentiation in the developing plant shoot. Common verbena emerges from this research as a plant that may become a new model suitable for further studies on the causes of phyllotactic transitions.

scholarly journals Long-term changes in the plant ecology of an African savanna landscape and the implications for ecosystem theory and conservation management

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Western ◽  
Victor N. Mose ◽  
David Maitumo ◽  
Caroline Mburu
Keyword(s):  
Human Impact ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Plant Ecology ◽  
Ecological Resilience ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Ecosystem Theory ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Studies of the African savannas have used national parks to test ecological theories of natural ecosystems, including equilibrium, non-equilibrium, complex adaptive systems, and the role of top-down and bottom-up physical and biotic forces. Most such studies have excluded the impact of pastoralists in shaping grassland ecosystems and, over the last half century, the growing human impact on the world’s rangelands. The mounting human impact calls for selecting indicators and integrated monitoring methods able to track ecosystem changes and the role of natural and human agencies. Our study draws on five decades of monitoring the Amboseli landscape in southern Kenya to document the declining role of natural agencies in shaping plant ecology with rising human impact. Results We show that plant diversity and productivity have declined, biomass turnover has increased in response to a downsizing of mean plant size, and that ecological resilience has declined with the rising probability of extreme shortfalls in pasture production. The signature of rainfall and physical agencies in driving ecosystem properties has decreased sharply with growing human impact. We compare the Amboseli findings to the long-term studies of Kruger and Serengeti national parks to show that the human influence, whether by design or default, is increasingly shaping the ecology of savanna ecosystems. We look at the findings in the larger perspective of human impact on African grasslands and the world rangelands, in general, and discuss the implications for ecosystem theory and conservation policy and management. Conclusions The Amboseli study shows the value of using long-term integrated ecological monitoring to track the spatial and temporal changes in the species composition, structure, and function of rangeland ecosystems and the role of natural and human agencies in the process of change. The study echoes the widespread changes underway across African savannas and world’s rangelands, concluding that some level of ecosystem management is needed to prevent land degradation and the erosion of ecological function, services, and resilience. Despite the weak application of ecological theory to conservation management, a plant trait-based approach is shown to be useful in explaining the macroecological changes underway.

scholarly journals ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ in Drylands: Late Knowledge Penetration or a Deliberate Ignorance for Megaprojects?

World ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-378
Author(s):  
Farshad Amiraslani
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessment ◽  
Ecological Resilience ◽  
Delayed Action ◽  
The Way

Despite the paramount role of drylands in supporting people’s livelihoods and rendering ecosystem services, legislation on Environmental Impact Assessment has been introduced belatedly after several decades. By exemplifying Iran, the author proposes two main reasons for such a delayed action. First, drylands are misleadingly considered as barren lands where biodiversity is relatively low. In one classification, deserts are even categorized along with rocks. Second, the author emphasizes that drylands have been subjected to unprecedented changes due to the expansion of infrastructure and urbanization that started in the 1970s. These growing pressures have been beyond the ecological resilience of drylands and have not been monitored, assessed, and modified correctly. Further scrutiny regarding EIA undertakings in drylands and the way they can be improved is now needed.

Pearls From Bones: Relics, Chortens, Tertons and the Signs of Saintly Death in Tibet

Numen ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Martin
Keyword(s):  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
Religious Culture ◽  
Tibetan Buddhist ◽  
Devotional Practice ◽  
Cultural Pattern ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
Critical Links ◽  
Point Of Departure

AbstractAlthough there has been much work, in recent years, on the sacrum of Christianity, and some important studies have appeared on Buddhist relic cults and related facets of Buddhism, so far very little has been written on Tibetan Buddhist relics. This paper, while offering some material for a historical perspective, mainly seeks to find a larger cultural pattern for understanding the interrelationships of a complex of factors active in Tibetan religious culture. Beginning with problems of relic-related terms and classifications, we then suggest a new assessment of the role of the Terton ('treasure revealer'). Then we discuss 'miracles' in Tibet, and the intersection of categories of 'signs of saintly death' and relics. Much of the remaining pages are devoted to those items that fall within both categories, specifically the 'pearls' that emerge miraculously from saintly remains and images that appear in bodily or other substances connected with cremations. After looking at a number of testimonials on these miraculous relics, we examine the possibility that these items might be 'deceitfully manufactured', looking at a few Tibetan polemical writings which raise this possibility. In the conclusion, we suggest that there are some critical links between three spheres of Tibetan religiosity: 1. sacrum which are not relics, 2. relics, and 3. signs of sainthood. Finally, we recommend an approach to religious studies that takes its point of departure in actual practices, and particularly the objects associated with popular devotional practice.

scholarly journals Collection and marketing of non-timber forest products by Chepang community in Nepal

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 10-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luni Piya ◽  
KL Maharjan ◽  
NP Joshi ◽  
DR Dangol
Keyword(s):  
Forest Products ◽  
Marketing Channel ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Institutional Management ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products ◽  
Agriculture And Environment ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
Current Price

Chepangs are highly marginalized indigenous nationalities of Nepal, who live nearby the forests that are rich in Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) of commercial importance. These NTFPs can be a potential source of income for Chepangs. This study describes the role of Chepangs in the marketing channel of those NTFPs and analyses the household socio-economic characteristics that influence the collection and marketing of NTFPs by Chepangs in Shaktikhor VDC of Chitwan district using backward multiple regression method. Empirical evidences show that collection and marketing of NTFPs is not an attractive source of income especially for those relatively better-off Chepang households who possess higher landholdings, food self-sufficiency, and income from other alternative sources. This is because the current price offered for the NTFPs collected by the community is very nominal, that do not even cover the labour costs involved. Praja Cooperative Limited (PCL), a Chepang community based institution in Shaktikhor, is struggling to provide better prices for Chepangs. However, it is facing challenges due to limited institutional management capacity of Chepangs. Further empowerment of PCL can contribute to improve the bargaining power of Chepang community in NTFP trade. The Journal of Agriculture and Environment Vol:12, Jun.2011, Page 10-21 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/aej.v12i0.7558 

scholarly journals Temporary events and spaces in the Swedish primary art market

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Jansson
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Economic Geography ◽  
Art Market ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Art Exhibition ◽  
Art Galleries ◽  
Economic Values ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Temporal Dimensions

AbstractTraditionally, the art market is associated with specific cities or art districts; typically there are internationally renowned locations like Paris, New York and Berlin. However, taking a closer look at the art markets, it is rather the temporal dimensions that are striking. Art market actors (e. g. artists, critics, gallerists, buyers, collectors, curators) are gathering in temporary locations and at temporary events such as art exhibition openings, art fairs, auctions, performances and vernissages. Within economic geography literature, the role of temporary spaces and events has been increasingly discussed in relation to economic activities and their performance, efficiency and creativity. An important insight gained in this literature is how temporary events, despite their short-lived existence, create microcosms of an industry or sector. Some temporary events even gather enough resources, skills and power to become field-configuring. In this paper, the primary art market will be discussed from the theoretical perspectives of value-making processes, temporary spaces and events, and field-configuring events. More specifically, the study focuses on temporary spaces important to galleries involved in selling and promoting primary art and artists. It focuses on how temporary spaces constitute both a characteristic feature of the art market and important spaces for creating both cultural and economic values. Empirically, this paper is based on a study of the Swedish primary art galleries and in particular it deals with primary art galleries located in Stockholm, and studies how they use temporary spaces and events in creating both cultural and economic values to themselves, the artists and their artworks. Three empirical examples characteristic to primary art galleries are examined; the opening, the art fair and the mobile art district.

Determinants of U.S. Exports to China

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Bosworth ◽  
Susan M. Collins
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Initial Point ◽  
The United States ◽  
Market Size ◽  
Gravity Equations ◽  
Point Of Departure ◽  
The Eu

This paper examines U.S. goods trade with China, focusing on the performance of exports. Throughout the analysis, we explore whether U.S. trade is unusual by contrasting it with trade from Japan and the EU-15.1 The issue is examined from three perspectives: the commodity composition of exports, the role of multinational corporations (MNCs), and the determinants of trade as specified in a formal “gravity model.” As an initial point of departure, we show that the commodity composition of U.S. exports to China is similar to the pattern of exports to the world as a whole, and that the operations of U.S. MNCs have only minor implications for trade with China. Consequently, we emphasize the estimation of a set of “gravity equations” that explore the role of market size and distance from the United States. Distance exerts a surprisingly large effect on trade. Finally, although exports to China may be a small share of U.S. GDP, they are relatively substantial compared to U.S. exports to other countries. In other words, the measure of U.S. trade performance in China is distorted by the low level of its exports to all countries. We present evidence that the United States underperforms as an exporter relative to a peer group of high-income European countries and Japan.

scholarly journals Europa som utopi og dystopi hos Antonio Muñoz Molina

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (108) ◽  
pp. 92-111
Author(s):  
Hans Lauge Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
European Society ◽  
The Other ◽  
Illegal Immigrants ◽  
Cultural Identities ◽  
Official Discourse ◽  
Antonio Munoz Molina ◽  
Point Of Departure ◽  
The Eu

Utopian and Dystopian Representations of Europe in Antonio Muñoz Molina:How does a modern European society like the Spanish one reflect upon the experience of having dead bodies of illegal immigrants washed up on the nice clean beaches prepared for English, German and Danish tourists? How do such experiences affect the dominant national discourse, which identifies itself with the EU as a global centre of modernity? How do these experiences affect the Spanish citizen’s understanding of the character of this modernity? And what kind of narratives does it take to bridge the gap between the image of the democratic, open and human-rights oriented European Community created by official discourse and these traumatizing experiences? Taking its point of departure in two books written by one of Spain’s greatest novelists, Antonio Muñoz Molina, the article aims to investigate the role of literature as an actor in the creation and negotiation of cultural identities. The hypothesis is that literary discourse has got the unique capacity to offer the reader the image of him- or herself as another and to present the other as a self through its aesthetic strategy, thereby contributing to the reader’s appropriation of textual experiences as his or her own. In this process, the different aspects of reality, the dark and brighter sides of European history and the rise of modern, globalized society become mediated and dialogized.

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