ISSN 2960-1304(Online) Editor: Todd Ayoung (Pratt People), Alexei (Columbia University), Aytek Erdil (University of Cambridge), Cosimo Arnesano (University of Southern California), Freya Baetens (Cambridge University), Osman (Carnegie Mellon University) Arts, Culture, and Language is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge research and scholarship at the intersection of these dynamic fields. With a strong interdisciplinary focus, the journal provides a platform for scholars from diverse disciplines to engage with each other’s work, fostering new ideas and perspectives that drive the field forward. The editorial board, composed of leading experts, ensures that each submission meets the highest academic standards through a rigorous evaluation process. Recognizing the deep connections between arts, culture, and language, the journal serves as an essential resource for those seeking to explore their interplay and impact in contemporary society.
Authorship construction and identity negotiation: A case study of Chinese Hiphop singer GAI
Hip-hop culture, as one of the most popular youth cultures around the world, has followed a distinct developmental trajectory within China. Due to the conditioned incorporation, authorship construction and identity negotiation of hip-hop singers became a serious topic among scholars. As a highly representative hip-hop singer in China, GAI has gone through a complex career development. When he was underground, his revolt style was controversial amoung the public; after winning the championship of The Rap of China, his transition to China Chic and Jianghu Flow gains even more controversies about the “keep it real” hip-hop tradition; when he was further incorporated by mainstream, not only his authorship but also his construction of identity became more obscure. This article conducted a case study of GAI by searching comments of his fans and audiences and the interview of himself. Using textual analysis and critical discourse analysis, this article analyzed GAI’s famous works and the key comments and interviews. This study argues that the authorship of Chinese hip-hop singers is the outcome of the continuous construction and encoding by multiple power structures. The identity of Chinese hip-hop singers is being constantly constructed through media platforms, cultural governance, and audiences.
Copyright (c) 2026 Arts, Culture and Language
Pragmatic Function Analysis of the Negative Construction "You Bu Shi" (Again Not)
In modern Chinese, the collocation of the adverb "you( 又)" (again) and the negative phrase "bu shi( 不 是)" (not) forms the construction "you bu shi( 又不 是)", which retains the basic meaning of negative structures and develops rich pragmatic expressions in oral communication. It serves as a typical example for studying the interaction between semantics and pragmatics. By reviewing existing research, scholars have mainly focused on the intensifying effect of "you" on negative mood, while lacking a systematic and in depth analysis of special pragmatic functions such as defense and irony of "you bu shi", leaving a research gap. Therefore, this paper investigates and analyzes the pragmatic functions of the negative construction "you bu shi".
What is Wrong with Conforming to Social Norms? A Sartrean perspective
This paper examines Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist critique of social conformity, Sartre’s critique reveals the cost of societal conformity: it exchanges our most precious freedom and the possibility of authentic selfcreation for fleeting comfort and a sense of belonging. This philosophical analysis invites us to examine moments of “self-deception” in our daily lives and encourages us to courageously exercise our freedom, shaping a unique life through sincere choices.The paper engages with recent scholarship, including Anderson’s work on Sartre’s two ethics and contemporary applications to digital identity performance. Through examination of Sartre’s waiter example and the concept of “the look,” the analysis reveals how social conformity operates through both external enforcement and internalized objectification. The paper addresses key objections, distinguishing between necessary social coordination and rigid conformity, while clarifying how Sartre’s later ethics incorporates collective responsibility alongside individual authenticity. Ultimately, the paper argues that authentic existence requires critical reflection on inherited social patterns and the courage to resist norms that limit human flourishing, demonstrating increasing relevance for contemporary challenges including digital alienation and systemic inequality.
Research on Packaging Design and Brand Visual Strategy of Cultural and Creative Products: A Case Study of the Palace Museum’s Cultural and Creative Products
Against the backdrop of the rapid development of the cultural and creative industry, this study focuses on the interactive relationship between the packaging design of cultural and creative products and brand strategies. Taking the Palace Museum’s cultural and creative products as a case study, it analyzes the connection between packaging design and brand visual strategy, revealing their mutual influence. Besides, this study mainly relies on the official website of the Palace Museum and relevant literature to analyze the specific manifestations of its design practices and brand development. The results demonstrate that, in order to further enhance the artistic expression and cultural content of packaging design for cultural and creative products, and to establish a personalized brand visual identity, accurate brand positioning must be carried out first. Based on this, relevant design elements should be gathered, with a focus on visual value, to endow the brand with artistic independence, achieving effective brand communication and independent visual extension. Moreover, continuous management and innovation of design imagery should be fully implemented to ensure sustained, theme-based output.
Corpus-based Translation of Cao Wenxuan’s Children’s Literature Works and Chinese Image Transmission.
Cao Wenxuan, as the first Chinese writer to win the International Hans Christian Andersen Award, has become an important case of Chinese literature “going out” through translation to the international stage. This study takes Cao Wenxuan’s children’s literature works as the research, and selects three works of Cao Wenxuan, namely “The Straw House”, “Bronze Sunflower” and “Dragonfly Eyes”, for corpus collection and selection. The expressions about Chinese images in the corpus are searched. We systematically analyse the Chinese image construction and communication strategies in the translation of Cao Wenxuan’s works, aiming to provide theoretical support and practical reference for the translation of Chinese literature and the international dissemination of culture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Arts, Culture and Language
A Comparative Study of Brushwork: Emperor Huizong’s Slender Gold Style in the ‘Thousand Character Classic’ versus Chu Suiliang’s ‘Large Character Yin Fu Jing’
lthough Emperor Huizong’s Slender Gold Style and Chu Suiliang’s ‘Yin Fu Jing’ share a same aesthetics of forceful and leanness, they exhibit significant differences in brushwork expression. This study, through comparative analysis and the methods of formal analysis, focuses on the three core stages of stroke execution - stroke onset, mid-stroke movement, and closure - to explore differences in brushwork expression and their underlying aesthetic orientations. In the onset stage, the Slender Gold Style is characterized by a formulaic slanted-tip cutting entry, emphasizing uniformity. In contrast, Chu’s script employs a diverse repertoire of techniques, including exposedtip, hidden-tip, and connecting-tip onsets, displaying rich variation. During the mid-stroke stage, the square, sharp turns of the Slender Gold Style contrast greatly to the rounded, lively turns of Chu’s script. In the closure stage, the Slender Gold Style’s ‘willow-leaf press’ and sharp hooks are highly decorative, whereas Chu’s script shows an organic, natural closure. Ultimately, these distinct brushwork techniques reflect profund differences in artistic pursuits: the Slender Gold Style, with its formulation and visual impact, epitomizes the Song Dynasty’s ideal of ‘prioritizing personal expression’ (Shangyi); Chu’s script, through its emphasis on spontaneous generation and coherent vitality (Qiyun), embodies a perfect fusion of disciplined structure and dynamic spirit of Tang Dynasty regular script.
Historical Connections with Literature in Improving Flawed Literature Curriculums
This paper will analyze historical patterns among literary eras and their respective societal contexts to provide insights to educators and students when creating or picking high school literature curriculums, ensuring they are the most optimal for the modern and future world. By examining the relationship between literature and society, this research aims to offer a framework for developing literature curriculums that address key flaws in current educational practices.
From Oracle Bone Inscriptions to the Discourse Power Shift in “Records of the Grand Historian”: Examining Early Intellectual Liberation in Ancient China
When it comes to the historical evolution of thought, the West has the foundational studies of homo sapiens humanism during ancient Greece, while China is marked by the contention of a hundred schools of thought during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. However, in reality, from the oracular monologues of Shang and Zhou dynasty oracle bone inscriptions to the biographies of kings and nobles in the Records of the Grand Historian, the intellectual liberation from divine authority to homo sapiens authority has never ceased. To better study the ideological emancipation in early ancient China, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the shift in discursive power—namely, the rise and fall of divine authority and the awakening of Homo sapiens’ inherent rationality alongside the development of Homo sapiens (kingly) authority—by comparing the stylistic structures and recorded content of oracle bone inscriptions with those of the Records of the Grand Historian and Broussonetia papyrifera. Through comparative research, it aims to reveal the developmental process of the gradual transition from divine authority to Homo sapiens authority from the Shang-Zhou period to the Qin-Han era, and on this basis, explores its underlying causes and subsequent historical impacts.
An Examination of the Factors Contributing to Li Guang’s Challenges in Securing a Marquisate as Depicted in the ‘Biography of General Li’ from the Records of the Grand Historian
At the conclusion of the Biography of General Li, Li Guang expressed self-pity: ‘Ultimately, I could not stand before the clerks and scribes.’ This seasoned general, who devoted his life to the conflict against the Xiongnu from his youth, never achieved his lifelong aspiration of being granted the title of marquis. It is very regrettable. The academic community has extensively debated the issue of ‚Li Guang‘s challenges in obtaining a title‘, resulting in several viewpoints, including the ‚theory of fate‘, ‚theory of character determinism‘, and ‚theory of institutional environment‘. These studies have enhanced our comprehension of this subject from multiple viewpoints. Nonetheless, the majority of studies see the biographies of General Li only as historical evidence to support their claims, rather than as fundamental analytical texts. As a result, they have not thoroughly analysed how Sima Qian utilised literary characterisation to express his deep understanding of this tragedy. This study utilises close reading and character analysis as primary research methods, complemented by descriptive statistical analysis, to examine the core text of General Li‘s biography. This analysis commences with the authentic historical biography, examining Sima Qian‘s multifaceted depiction and development of Li Guang‘s character. It analyses the systemic relationship between Li Guang‘s complex character and his continual inability to achieve a high military rank, uncovering the many conflicts between his personal attributes and the political-military framework of the Han dynasty. Ultimately, these circumstances ultimately led to his failure to obtain a prominent position.
Li Guang‘s challenges in obtaining a title
An Analysis of the Argumentative Thinking in The Works of Mencius
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the philosophers of the Hundred Schools of Thought frequently travelled to persuade rulers and engaged in debates with other schools of thought in order to propagate their doctrines. Among them, Mencius was renowned for his mastery of eloquent discourse. This study focuses on the argumentative thinking manifested in The Works of Mencius, employing methods of documentary analysis and close textual reading to explore three specific dimensions: theoretical framework, methodological techniques, and logical reasoning. Research indicates that the argumentative thinking within Mencius’ prose manifests specifically through a coherent theoretical framework grounded in the principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom; through argumentative techniques such as analogy, patient and gradual persuasion, and ‘holding it with room for the exigency of circumstances’; and through a logical approach characterized by interlocking reasoning, pinpointing vulnerabilities, and delivering precise rebuttals. It is evident that The Works of Mencius indeed possesses a systematic and sophisticated argumentative structure. Although certain flaws exist, it nonetheless demonstrates Mencius’s exceptional debating skills and the outstanding value of The Works of Mencius.
Mandarin Transfer and Chinese Primary Pupils’ Learning of English Connected Speech: From Evidence to Classroom Moves
In the context of globalization, English proficiency constitutes a crucial component of intercultural communication and educational competitiveness. However, Chinese primary English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) classrooms have long disproportionately focused on segmental features at the expense of suprasegmentals such as rhythm, reduction, and connected speech(liaison). This study employs literature analysis and case analysis to explore how Mandarin transfer both facilitates and hinders children’s acquisition of English inter-word transitions. Furthermore, it investigates the localization of these theoretical insights into practical pedagogical designs. Findings from previous research indicate that connected speech can be explicitly taught through perception-to-production tasks, and that first language (L1)-based pre-task planning enables learners in allocating cognitive resources to pronunciation and prosody, thereby improving accuracy and fluency. Under the lens of superdiversity, this paper also emphasizes the pedagogical value of translanguaging, which legitimizes the strategic use of Mandarin as a pedagogical scaffold to enhance intelligibility and reduce learner anxiety. Synthesizing the reviewed evidence and case interpretation, a five-step pedagogical framework—contrast, annotate, L1 outline, shadow, and bilingual reflection—is proposed to integrate positive transfer and mitigate negative transfer in primary EFL contexts. The study aims to provide a theoretically grounded yet contextually adaptable framework for teachers seeking to enhance pupils’ connected-speech competence, particularly within the constraints of exam-oriented classrooms.
The Pathways for “Cross-Cultural Initiation” in Primary School English Teaching: Designing Cultural Perception Activities Based on Picture Books and Nursery Rhymes
Against the backdrop of educational globalization, crosscultural initiation in primary school English teaching has emerged as a crucial component for cultivating students’ intercultural communicative competence. It facilitates learners’ exposure to and understanding of diverse cultures from an early age, laying a foundation for cross-cultural communication and interaction. Picture books and nursery rhymes, characterized by simple language, rich illustrations and profound cultural connotations, have become unique teaching tools for cross-cultural initiation, rendering abstract cultural knowledge more accessible to primary school students. This study employs literature analysis and case analysis methods to explore the application pathways of picture books and nursery rhymes in cross-cultural initiation. The research findings indicate that picture books can facilitate cross-cultural initiation through pre-class cultural exploration, in-class cultural interpretation and post-class cultural extension. The cross-cultural initiation of nursery rhymes is primarily facilitated through three stages: pre-class cultural interpretation, in-class cultural immersion and post-class application. Both picture books and nursery rhymes have been shown to enhance the effectiveness of cross-cultural initiation in primary school English education.
The Conversational Art of Talk Show Hosts Under the Constraint of Politeness Principles - A Case Study of High-End Interviews
In the current media communication landscape, highend interview programs are key platforms for delivering in-depth information and promoting cultural exchange, while the host’s conversational art directly affects program flow, audience experience, and information dissemination effectiveness. Therefore, studying the conversational art of talk show hosts under the constraint of politeness principles is of great significance for maintaining a harmonious communication atmosphere, respecting interviewees, and gaining the trust of the audience. This paper examines the high-end interview programs broadcast on CCTV and hosted by Zou Yun and Wang Guan, focusing on exploring the hosts’ conversational art under the constraint of politeness principles. The study adopts literature analysis method and case analysis method. Through literature analysis, it systematically reviews theories related to politeness principles and conversational art. With case analysis, it analyzes specific clips of the programs. The study finds that the two hosts flexibly use conversational skills in three aspects: appropriateness of language expression, listening and responding, and balance of conversation. These skills align with the requirements of politeness principles and effectively improve the program quality. This study enriches the research on the conversational art of talk show hosts and provides practical insights for the development of the profession.
The Role of Classroom Interaction in Second Language Oral Acquisition: A Case Study of Primary English Education
With the new standards of the English curriculum, primary school English teaching places greater emphasis on developing students’ oral expression and communicative competence. According to the Input-Interaction-Output Hypothesis in classroom contexts, it is the interaction in the classroom that is essential in driving the language input, the meaning negotiation and the language output, which is the output of the students. This study focuses on primary school English classrooms and examines how classroom interaction influences students’ oral English development within the framework of second language acquisition (SLA) theory. The study conducts a systematic literature review and synthesis of research on classroom interaction in primary school English within domains of domestic and international studies based on the literature analysis and case study of the past decade summarising the principal characteristics of interactions, as well as the factors that influence these interactions. This study explores the theoretical and practical roles and significance of classroom interaction in second language acquisition. The results show that the effective use of high-quality teacher-students interaction and peer-student collaboration can improve oral proficiency and motivation towards learning among students; this provides valuable insights for optimizing primary school English teaching models.
Applying Functional Equivalence Theory to the Subtitle Translation of “NeZha 2”
Based on Eugene Nida’s functional equivalence theory and taking into account the temporal-spatial limitations and multimodal features inherent in film and television subtitling, this study methodically investigates the translation strategies of the English subtitles for “NeZha 2.” According to studies, the film effectively handles culturally diverse components and emotionally charged speech by employing approaches such as creative translation, cultural adaptation, and re-creation to achieve functional equivalency. This film stresses audience reception in the target language while keeping cultural authenticity over its predecessor, “Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Boy.” It optimizes translation expression through techniques like rhythmic restructuring, imagery conversion, and emotional resonance. Overseas audience feedback indicates that the subtitles effectively conveyed core emotions and spiritual essence, though barriers remained in understanding certain culturally loaded terms. Based on this, this paper proposes that Chinese film subtitle translation should establish a strategy system oriented toward cultural communication and centered on emotional resonance, seeking a balance between cultural fidelity and audience reception to enhance the global dissemination effectiveness of Chinese stories.
Sartre and Marxism: An Ontological Analysis
This paper analyzes why Jean-Paul Sartre’s ontology in Being and Nothingness necessitates its historical realization in a political and philosophical engagement with Marxism. After briefing the historical context of Sartre’s Marxist stance in the first part, the paper begins the second part by demonstrating the core of Sartrean ontology: the being-for-itself as a negation condemned to radical freedom. It then, in the third part, presents how this negative freedom becomes systematically alienated in capitalism. The alienation, under Sartre’s analysis, dialectically generates a pressure towards its own overcoming realized in Marxist praxis. The fourth part of the paper addresses possible objections from Alfred Betschart and Althusserian structuralism. In conclusion, the paper argues that Marxist revolutionary praxis represents the only coherent historical vehicle for the Sartrean realization of authenticity, for it fulfills the ontological imperative of negation by the collective destruction of the structures that alienate human freedom in capitalism. To be an authentic person in the modern epoch is, therefore, to adopt a Marxist stance.
A Study on Subtitle Translation Strategies in the Film Chang’an’s Lychee Based on the Functional Equivalence Theory
With Chinese films increasingly entering the global market, subtitle translation has become an important bridge for cross-linguistic and cross-cultural communication. It plays a vital role in helping overseas audiences understand the content and emotions of the films. Based on Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory, this paper explores the subtitle translation strategies adopted in the film Chang’an’s Lychee, focusing on the practice of formal, semantic, and cultural equivalence. Through an analysis of representative subtitle examples, it finds that the translator, while preserving the original information, employs flexible translation strategies to ensure both semantic accuracy and natural expression in the target language, effectively conveying the cultural connotations. The study demonstrates that Functional Equivalence Theory provides theoretical guidance for subtitle translation, emphasizing that the translated text should consider the target audience’s cultural background and linguistic habits while ensuring accurate information transfer, thereby realizing effective cross-cultural communication. This study offers theoretical and practical insights for optimizing subtitle translation strategies and improving the international dissemination of Chinese films.
A Feminist Comparison of Li Qingzhao’s Poetry in Song Dynasty China and Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the City of Ladies in Medieval France
Intellectual women in pre-modern societies often ran up against tough barriers. Patriarchal norms and political unrest stifled their agency, making it hard to speak out. This study steps into that space by comparing Li Qingzhao’s ci poetry from Song Dynasty China with Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the City of Ladies from medieval France. We look closely at how these works capture women’s quiet acts of resistance, filling a real gap in cross-cultural feminist literary analysis. Our approach centers on comparative textual analysis. Feminist theories steer the way—think Judith Butler’s ideas on performativity or Kimberlé Crenshaw’s take on intersectionality. Primary texts come straight from digital archives. We round it out with 10 to 15 secondary sources for solid historical grounding. The results paint a clear picture. Li Qingzhao turned to veiled metaphors. She critiqued war and exile while navigating Confucian constraints. This subtle style let her carve out an intellectual identity and a form of resistance that felt personal yet powerful. Pizan flipped the script entirely. She dreamed up an allegorical utopia. It stood as a bold stand against feudal misogyny, pushing forward a fierce feminist agenda. These contrasting moves reveal something deeper about early feminism. Eastern subtlety clashed with Western explicitness, each shaped by its cultural soil. The study shows how women bent literature to their will. In the end, literature emerged as a key force for female empowerment. This comparison offers fresh angles on gender today and enriches comparative literature studies.
Against the “Meme Machine”: Normativity, Qualia and “Self”
This paper critiques the strong “meme theory” advanced by Susan Blackmore, which claims that all mental phenomena like consciousness, agency, and selfhood can be reduced to the replication and competition of memes. While memetics offers valuable insights into cultural evolution, its explanatory power becomes limited when extended to the philosophy of mind. Two main challenges have developed. First, the problem of normativity: humans evaluate ideas by standards of truth, rationality, and ethics, capacities that cannot be fully explained by replication success alone. Drawing on the notion of innate cognitive structures, the paper argues that evaluative reasoning reveals a layer of mental autonomy beyond memetic causation. Second, the problem of consciousness: eliminative interpretations within strong memetics fail to account for the irreducible reality of subjective experience (qualia). Even if memes construct a “selfplex” that produces an illusory sense of self, the persistence of phenomenological experience resists full reduction. The paper concludes that memetics remains insufficient as a complete theory of mind, despite its insights on cultural theory.
Faith and Identity in Migration: A Comparative Study of Religious Practices among Filipino and Indonesian Migrants in Singapore
As a highly diverse immigrant society, Singapore has long attracted substantial numbers of labor migrants and settlers from the Philippines and Indonesia. These migrants constitute not only a vital segment of Singapore’s labor force but also play a significant role in shaping its cultural and religious landscape. In the context of transnational migration, religion functions as more than a source of spiritual solace—it also serves as a key mechanism for sustaining cultural identity and maintaining social networks through rituals, religious organizations, and everyday practices. This study conducts a comparative analysis of Filipino and Indonesian migrants in Singapore, focusing on the intersection between religion and cultural identity. It explores how religious practice becomes a central means through which migrants negotiate belonging, preserve cultural continuity, and forge social connections in a foreign environment. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of transnationalism and cultural identity, this study synthesizes insights from academic literature, data from governmental and international organizations, and existing ethnographic sources. Using comparative and qualitative methods, it examines the everyday religious practices of these groups within churches, mosques, and faith-based communities, identifying both divergences and convergences in organizational participation, ritual engagement, and communal interaction. By illuminating the ways in which migrants confront cultural difference and seek belonging, this paper highlights the crucial role of religion in shaping migrant identity and social cohesion in the host society.
Warm Snow and Setting Sun A Comparison of Male Images in Chinese and British Working-class Images
This paper explores the similar predicaments and spiritual qualities of working-class men in China and England during periods of economic transition and social transformation by comparing their representations in cinema from Northeast China and Northern England. Despite the distinct geographical and cultural backgrounds of the Chinese and English working classes, their cinematic male images both emerge as “stragglers” of epochal upheaval: experiencing the collapse of their economic foundation, the dissolution of traditional masculinity, and the erosion of familial authority. The difference lies in the emphasis: British films focus more on individual resistance and conflicts over gender roles, while Chinese films highlight self-discipline under collective memory and national narratives. Beneath these differences, both employ the form of “tragicomedy,” using humor to counterpoint underlying tragedy, thereby revealing the universal plight of the working class amidst the tides of globalization and marketization. This prompts reflection on human resilience in turbulent times.
The “Other” in Comparative Historiography: Female Disempowerment in Multitextual Analysis
In recent years, as women’s voices have become increasingly prominent in contemporary society, feminist research has gained prominence. This study primarily employs Simone de Beauvoir’s concept of the “Other” as its core framework. Through a comparative reading of multiple texts, including Records of the Grand Historian, Book of Han, and Commentary of Zuo, this analysis delves into how the Han dynasty’s establishment of “Exclusive Reverence for Confucianism” and the “Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues” theory imposed subordinate value norms upon women. Current scholarly research on female figures in the Records of the Grand Historian largely remains confined to traditional literary and historical analysis, lacking deep integration with modern gender theory. This study aims to fill this gap. The findings demonstrate that although Sima Qian adhered to the principle of factual recording, his narrative strategies, material selection, and value judgments were profoundly influenced by orthodox Confucian values. By framing women’s deeds within patriarchal evaluative frameworks such as chastity, righteousness, and “femme fatale” tropes, he systematically undermined women’s historical agency, constructing them as “Other” objects meant to highlight male virtue. This study concludes that Records of the Grand Historian’s narrative model is a paradigmatic official history. It not only reflects the transformation of gender concepts during the Han dynasty but also participated in and reinforced the institutionalization of women’s status as the “Other” in subsequent eras, providing a model for understanding the relationship between historical writing and power construction.
A Comparative Research of the Depiction of “Yixiang” in Shiji and Zizhi Tongjian and Reasons for the Depicting Discrepancy
Both Shiji and Zizhi Tongjian contain numerous accounts of “Yixiang”, yet their depictions exhibit significant discrepancies. This study conducts a comparative analysis of the overlapping historical periods (from the first year of Qin Shihuang’s reign to the first year of Emperor Wu of Han’s Taichu era) in the two works, focusing on representative accounts of “Yixiang”. Using literature review, comparative analysis, case study, and close reading methodologies, the research found that the differences primarily manifested in the degree of association between “Yixiang” and historical events, the level of detail in content, the presentation of dream omens, and the recording of auspicious or inauspicious outcomes. These discrepancies in historical accounts primarily stem from differences in the authors’ perspectives, variations in their sources of historical materials, and differences in the formats of historical texts. The evolution of such writings reflected the developmental trajectory of Chinese historiography, which progressed from the cognitive framework of “unity between heaven and humanity” to the rational understanding of “separation between heaven and humanity.” Though differing in nature, both texts have jointly shaped and carried forward the dual tradition of “investigating the relationship between heaven and humanity” and “emphasizing human affairs” in Chinese historiography.
Nothingness in Western Thought, Eastern Philosophy, and Abstract Expressionism
This study examines how the idea of nothingness is interpreted across Western philosophy, Eastern thought, and Abstract Expressionist art. In Western traditions, from Parmenides to Heidegger, nothingness is viewed as absence or crisis—a limit to meaning and existence. In contrast, Buddhist śūnyatā and Daoist wu describe nothingness as a generative emptiness, the source of interdependence and transformation. Abstract Expressionist artists such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko translate these concepts into visual form, turning metaphysical inquiry into direct experience. Pollock’s spontaneous motion and Rothko’s meditative stillness embody the dynamic balance between being and non-being. By bridging philosophy and art, this study argues that nothingness is not mere void but a creative field of becoming, where existence, perception, and meaning continuously unfold.
A Study on the English Translation of Museum Ceramic Exhibition Titles from the Perspective of Cultural Translation Theory: A Case Study of Jiangxi Provincial Museum and Jingdezhen Chinese Ceramic Museum
Translation is not merely the conversion of linguistic symbols; it is also an act of cultural exchange. The concept of cultural translation requires that the target language accurately reflects the meaning, manner, and style intended by the source language from a cultural perspective. This study conducts a comparative analysis of the translations of ceramic exhibition titles in two museums, exploring the selection of cultural translation strategies to effectively preserve and convey the essence of the source culture.
A Corpus-assisted Critical Discourse Analysis of Identity Construction within American Chinese Immigrants in Fresh Off the Boat from the Perspective of Acculturation
This study employs acculturative theory combined with a postcolonial perspective to examine identity construction among Chinese immigrants in America. Through a mixed-methods approach that combines corpus-based analysis and critical discourse analysis, the research examines Fresh Off the Boat to identify distinct patterns of acculturation across three generations of immigrants. Key findings show that integration (41.7%) and separation (27.9%) are the predominant acculturation strategies, while marginalization (9.6%) is the least common. The study demonstrates how different generations employ varying linguistic patterns and cultural practices to navigate their dual identities, thereby contributing to an understanding of the complex dynamics of immigrant identity formation and providing practical insights for supporting cross-cultural adaptation in Chinese American communities.
Corpus-as-sisted Critical Discourse Analysis
The Visual Politics and Aesthetic Strategies of a “Grey Publication”: A Study of the Image Narrative of Hai Kwang Literature Monthly
Hai Kwang Literature Monthly (1966–1967) was a literary periodical published amid the politically sensitive climate of Cold War Hong Kong. Taking Issues 1–13 as the primary corpus, this study employs quantitative image analysis and close reading to examine the periodical’s visual practices across its covers, art/fine-arts columns, illustrations, and advertisements. It argues that the periodical mobilized the visual symbols of world-famous paintings and the female body to strike a balance between elitist and popular appeals; simultaneously, through strategies of excision, modification, and depoliticization, it softened its leftist coloring and cultivated an ambiguous “grey” image. In the later issues, the introduction of Southeast Asian themes opened up a cross-regional “third space.” These visual strategies demonstrate how the periodical mediated competing political and market pressures, and they offer a fresh perspective for understanding publishing and visual culture in Cold War Hong Kong.
An Inquiry into the Subjective Dimension of the “Shengsheng” Thought
“Shengsheng” ( 生生,here, literally “the spontaneous unfolding of life”) stands as one of the core concepts in Chinese philosophy. It first appears in The Commentary on the Appended Phrases (Xici Zhuan) of I Ching (The Book of Changes), which states, “Shengsheng is what is called Yi (change)”. The text also puts forward, “The great virtue of Heaven and Earth lies in giving life, and the great treasure of sages lies in their position”. While offering a nuanced interpretation of the cosmos as a life-generating system and the moral order inherent in it, the concept reveals the essential nature of Shengsheng for humans—who are deemed “the most spiritual among all creatures”—to “align their virtue with that of Heaven and Earth” and participate in and facilitate the transformation and nurturing of Heaven and Earth. Based on the relationship between humans and all things in the cosmos, humans occupy three interrelated subjective roles within the Shengsheng system: the physical subject ( 身体主体, referring to humans as embodied beings and the material foundation for moral and practical activities), the moral subject ( 道德主体, denoting humans’ capacity to perceive and embody the “life-giving virtue” of Heaven and Earth), and the practical subject ( 实 践主体, representing humans’ role in acting in accordance with the laws of Shengsheng). Their uniqueness lies in their conscious participation in the transformation and nurturing of Heaven and Earth, which provides valuable guidance for humans to find their place and purpose in life.
Participate in and Facilitate the Transformation and Nurturing of Heaven and Earth
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety: Past Developments and Future Innovations in the Age of AI
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCA) has received wide attention in Second Language Acquisition (SLA), yet existing studies still show limitations in capturing its characteristics and meeting learners’ diverse needs. This article examines FLCA from multiple perspectives, including its definition, classification, manifestations, effects and causes. Analysis demonstrates that FLCA negatively influences learners’ willingness to communicate, academic achievement, self-efficacy and long-term motivation. It is shaped by personal, linguistic, classroom, and cultural factors. Based on these findings, this article provides practical suggestions to alleviate FLCA. For teachers, strategies such as cultural response, constructive feedback and personalized interaction are emphasized. For students, concrete practices such as positive self-talk, mindfulness, preparation and peer collaboration--are highlighted. Moreover, technological innovation, particularly AI-assisted learning tools, is shown to offer new possibilities for reducing speaking anxiety. Finally, this article calls for improving FLCA measurement instruments and strengthening psychological research to meet the challenges of increasingly internationalized and diverse learning contexts.
Bidirectional Disenchantment: The Deconstruction of Ideal and Reality in The Moon and Sixpence
W. Somerset Maugham’s The Moon and Sixpence centers on Charles Strickland, a painter who resolutely abandons his mundane life, endures numerous hardships, and defies social conventions—all in pursuit of his artistic ideal. By depicting the varied choices made by different characters amid the conflict between ideal and reality, as well as the distinct fates that follow, the novel subtly reveals a core issue: excessive glorification of either side will trap people in a state of cognitive confusion. This paper argues that only through the bidirectional disenchantment of both ideal and reality, and by deconstructing their seemingly contradictory opposition, can individuals break free from cognitive limitations, balance ideal and reality independently, and ultimately make more rational life choices. The concept of “bidirectional disenchantment,” as proposed in this paper, serves to highlight the inherent imperfections in both our ideals and our reality. By deconstructing the perceived conflict between them, it suggests a new perspective: when we cease to view ideals as infallible myths and reality as an unbreakable shackle, we discover that their respective flaws can be complementary. This understanding reveals that the tension between them is not only manageable but resolvable.