Analysis of Speech among Some Ethnic Groups in West Africa

This research discusses the analysis of the concept of speech among some ethnic groups in West Africa. In fact, in West Africa, the art of speaking is brought to a high degree of perfection. According to those ethnic groups discussed in this paper, the speech possesses a mystical, talismanic power, which means that it has the power to protect and change the course of events. The Nommo's conception of life can illustrate this idea in that they consider that life itself lies on speech without which it can never exist. Also, they consider that there is a close relationship between speech and the speaker. However, speaking is more than just lining up words to be understood by the interlocutor, the audience. It is considered an art that must respect certain rules relating to the place, the time and the person speaking. In this sense, the researcher, in this paper, tries to analyze the concept of speech in these ethnic groups of West Africa. The research uses secondary data as the method, otherwise called “literature review”. In other words, the researcher proceeded to collect the data related to the paper's topic by downloading them and then proceeded to the analyzes and comments.

Carrier Concept in Hindu Religious Scriptures and Sculpture: A Conspectus

The relationship between man and bioresources (plants and animals) based on faith, belief, and tradition concerning gods and goddesses and other such powers are very intense, vast, and multifarious. The paper has a brief account of faith related to carrier or vahana in Hindu religious scriptures and sculpture. A total of 32 animals, ten different categories of birds, and only one plant (flower) are identified, playing the role of carriers of gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. It is discussed that such faith, belief, and practice have a scientific basis and are helpful for the management and preservation of biodiversity.

The Meaning of Nyangahatn Ritual of Dayak Kanayatn Community for Disaster Mitigation

This research focused on the Nyangahatn ritual in Dayak Kanayatn indigenous people in West Kalimantan. This study uses a descriptive qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach with an emphasis on literature study. This paper uses the cultural theory, human ecology, and Disaster Mitigation and shows that there is a connection between those theories in Nyangahatn people’s rituals. Nyangahatn ritual related to the cultivation practices carried out based on the rice planting cycle. The results showed that the Nyangahatn ritual is a pearl of local wisdom, which is an effort in mitigating and adapting to disasters, especially regarding the planting and harvesting seasons. Forests or land cleared for cultivation are very calculated to avoid degradation and air sources. The Kanayatn Dayak indigenous people are very understanding about natural signs. In the process of land clearing for agriculture, it is essential to consider the ​​​​land area is to be planted so that it does not disturb the forest ecosystem. Meanwhile, the culture of balale' or gotong royong as a form of solidarity and harmony between community members is still maintained.

Different Understanding about the Other Shore: the Introspection Study on Chinese and Western Art under the Natural Disaster

No matter what the different cultural backgrounds are, they will always collide and generate divergence on the same point of intersection and then continue moving forward in the direction of collective cognition. At present, the global world is facing severe pestilence disasters; China Art Circle made many responses immediately at the beginning of the epidemic situation and tried to fight the epidemic situation, encourage the front-line medical staff and provide energy for them. However, when the epidemic situation in China trends to calm, the art theme about the epidemic situation also suddenly keeps silent. It looks like calm without great waves; however, through investigating Western art, it is found that the Western Art Circle has different orientations on the attitude to disasters; considering its inner core, it maps the further understanding of groups with different cultural backgrounds on the cognition of other shores of life- different life and death idea influence the social outlook, view of life and expectation of life fate of different groups. Meanwhile, they also promote the society to show different introspection paths while facing disasters. The study uses empirical analysis to identify and collect the image information from classical paintings of the East and the West. The results show that compared with Western art, Chinese art conveys a message that focuses more on maintaining the country's stability.

The Comparative Study of Form and the Structure of Sri Lankan Gaṭaberā and Pahatharaṭa Berā with the Indian Mridanga Drum

The Gaṭaberā and Pahataraṭa berā are the main drums in two regions in Sri Lanka; also the Mridanga is one of all South Indian main drums. This research is a comparative analysis of the similarities and differences of form and structure between those Indians and Sri Lankans drums. That is conducted in the qualitative method. Several similarities and differences are discovered from the form and structure between those drums under the organization, order of the elements, construct process, and shape. The final conclusions are, 1) the form of all drum heads of Gatabera, Pahatharata bera, and Mridanga is similar, and also that form represents an Indian subcontinent drum head variety, but their structure is different according to the culture of both countries. 2) The form and structure of Gatabera and Mridanga drum bodies are slightly similar.

The Culture Reproduction In the Charles Dickens’ Novel “Great Expectations” (Pierre-Felix Bourdieu Theory)

This research discusses cultural reproduction in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations and aims to discover the process of cultural reproduction in the novel. The researcher used the culture reproduction (habitus and field concept) theory of Pierre-Felix Bourdieu. This research focuses on culture reproduction that occurred in Great Expectations. The data were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative method to identify, describe and analyze the data found in the novel. The researcher used a coding sheet as the instrument to find out the valid data. This research is conducted to answer the problems that concerning how cultural reproduction occurred in the novel. According to Bourdieu, the findings show that some phenomena supported the process of cultural reproduction, as following the phenomena of cultural reproduction in the old and new culture based on habitus and field concept and its dialectical relation. The researcher concludes that the dialectical relation between old and new habitus, the old and new arena (field) or between unwillingness to return to old life and unwillingness to live in new life makes Pip get into a new phase of life by bringing his old culture and current culture.

A Study on the Change of Functions of Kinari Village’s Rumah Gadang

Rumah Gadang is a traditional house for Minangkabau people, the majority of whom live in West Sumatra. In addition to being a place of residence for the matrilineal family, the traditional house and a place of family consultation, places of ceremonies, inheritance of custom values, and representations of matrilineal culture. The paper will analyze the change of the traditional house function and its factors based on 146 traditional Nagari Kinari. The study uses a qualitative approach to identifying and collecting field data through the fieldwork in Nagari Kinari, Solok. The result shows that traditional houses in Kinari have dramatically changed their functions in matrilineal families' homes and educational centres. However, they are still places for important ceremonies and the manifestation of social status. The function in essential ceremonies and social status symbols These changes occur due to social changes, including changes in family structure, economic income, the national education system and personal awareness, and differences in understanding traditional culture.

Art as Contextual Epistemology: A New Theoretical Perspective on Contemporary Avant-gardism in Africa

Art constitutes a framework for the generation of new knowledge that enables a sophisticated understanding of society. It is deconstructivist/interrogative thus leads to the creation of alternative narratives and realities derived from complex visual interpretation of the universe, societies and circumstances. In a cognitivist sense, beyond aesthetic emotions/visual appeal art constitutes an intellectual source of knowledge through in-depth analysis of form, content and context of any given artwork. The paper adopts discourse and iconographic analysis as methodologies to introduce a new uncovered phenomenon of Contemporary Avant-gardism in postcolonial African art based on knowledge generation tailored to enforce change. This is achieved by interrogating the ideologies, methodologies and visual configurations of the works of contemporary African artists such as El Anatsui, Olu Amoda, Brett Murray, Kudzanai Chiurai, Clem Akpang and others. Their works instigate new lines of inquiries/knowledge through a renewed but subtle bohemian approach to artifactuality and interpretation of contemporary Africa. The paper submits that by its evocative/expressive nature, art creates structures of knowledge through subjective and visual dialogues that foster knowing in different ways beyond language. And that in contemporary African art-space this new artistic ethos is deployed as a form of avant-gardism that underpins the rationale of African art created in the continent today.

The Identity Issue of the Colonized and the Colonizer in Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill

One of the significant points in post-colonial literature is identity issues. The analysis of these identity issues should be focused not only on the colonized character but also the colonialist. It is obvious why post-colonial scholars are concerned with the colonized as they are the victims of colonialism. However, the colonizer must also face complex issues of identity when arriving in the colonial place. The purpose of this article is to examine the identity issues undergone by Joshua, the colonial subject, and by Clive, the colonizer, with reference to Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill in the colonial period. The concept of hybridity by Homi Bhabha can explain the issue of Joshua’s identity since he has “double” portrays of the identity as legacy of colonialism. Bhabha created the terms the “third space” or the “in-between” to describe the condition of the colonized people. Clive as the colonizer used to be a person without particular authority in his own country before arriving to the colonial land. Suddenly, his identity has shifted into someone who has privileges and authority. The colonizer’s identity is not complete without the colonized. The colonized and the colonizer depend on each other. The colonized and the colonizer’s identities will be fragmented if one of them is missing.

The Role of Mandarin in Indonesia's Tourism Sector

Indonesia is well-known for its natural beauty and cultural diversity. This becomes an extraordinary attraction for Indonesian tourism sector in which the government has also put their attention to. Tourists from others counties like to visit Indonesia. They speak in many international languages, include Mandarin. However, there are still fewer human resources who respond to it. The skill that must be possessed to prepare and improve a good image for tourists is the mastery of Mandarin. Tourism agencies who should have mastered Mandarin include travel agents, hotel employees, tour guides, and tourism practitioners. The minimum target for mastering Mandarin languages covers: simple conversations related to the work done, as well as the mastery of basic grammar and conversations. The mastery of Mandarin, as well as the understanding of the culture of Chinese tourists, is expected to provide maximum service and to create a good impression or image that improves the Indonesian tourism industry.