15792 research outputs found
Sort by
Special Issue on Decolonising Japanese Studies – Introduction
No full textJapanese Studies, like all academic disciplines, can and must exist in a state of flux, the pace of which can flow at times slowly, at other times rapidly. 2025 is perhaps one of those times for a quickening of the pace of change, spurred on by various factors: broader changes in the higher education environment in the UK; the domestic economy of Japan; and, as ever, the interests and motivations of those academics focusing on Japan as a site of study (be they students, early career researchers, or those in tenured positions). What fascinates and energises us about Japan morphs and takes on new directions and avenues of pursuit, a pursuit shaped by the world around us, but also, increasingly, by a better comprehension of our own positionalities
Retail as Community: How London's Luxury Department Stores Foster Cultural Connections for Chinese Gen Z Sojourners
No full textThis research examines how Chinese Generation Z sojourners (aged 21-26) experience London's luxury servicescapes during their temporary residence (1-8 years). Through qualitative analysis of nine participants' narratives, the study reveals three key dimensions of loyalty formation: cultural resonance through integrated storytelling and ethical practices, non-intrusive yet personalised service interactions, and the evolution from transactional to experiential consumption patterns. The study uses narrative inquiry to demonstrate how culturally adaptive spaces foster emotional connections and loyalty through bilingual service, sustainability practices, and immersive retail experiences. Findings show that sojourners shift from online to offline shopping, developing deeper brand relationships through quality-focused purchasing and meaningful in-store engagement. By linking cultural narratives to luxury consumption, the research illuminates how thoughtfully designed retail environments can nurture community connections, transforming how Chinese sojourners engage with and remain loyal to luxury brands in the UK context. Keywords: Servicescapes, luxury retail, Chinese Generation Z, sojourner experience, cultural identit
82°06'00.0"N 9°43'13.0"E
No full textIn the video work 82°06'00.0"N 9°43'13.0"E we sail through the Arctic pack ice as the sea ice swells taking us on a journey along the edge of the horizon
Temporal Resonance: Vanishing Voices, Enduring Song
No full textTemporal Resonance examines art, time, and sustainability through an exhibition at Trinity Buoy Wharf's lighthouse, home to Longplayer—Jem Finer's 1000-year musical composition. Set within East London's transforming docklands, the exhibition features an ethnographic audio piece of voices of those looking after Longplayer, recorded on an acetate disc that physically degrades with each play—embodying the transience of human presence against Longplayer's millennium-spanning continuity. Complementing this, an experimental animation uses acetate prints capturing natural elements—light, weather, water—that exist through deep temporal flows, asking the viewer to think about what will endure beyond us. Together, these works invite reflection on cyclical time, impermanence, and our place within broader temporal frameworks. By offering tangible, sensory explorations of time and change, the project fosters dialogue about sustainable futures and long-term thinking in our short-termist age
El Meta-espectador: Ontologia, Protesis y Cuerpo en el Usuario de XR
Get PDFThis paper was presented in 6th version of CINCOMA, Congreso Internacional de Innovación en Comunicación y Medios Audiovisuales (International Congress on Innovation in Communication and Audiovisual Media), which took place between the 24th and 26th of September 2025, in Alicante, Spain. It has been published with the conference proceedings by Dykinson Libros, edited by Tatiana Hidalgo-Marí and Javier Herrero-Gutiérrez.
This paper hypothesises on the notion of notion of meta-spectatorship and the figure of the meta-spectator, and ontological category proposed to refer to users of digital arts and narratives – specifically of XR media – through digital devices. The meta-spectator would be separated from the spectator in several ways: They don’t spectate, but adopts a participate agency, that is conditioned by the technology itself; they are defined based on their dependency of digital devices to access and participate of narrative media, to the extent that this relation becomes prosthetic, affecting the meta-spectator’s perception of their own body and driving cognitive adaptations to the conditions proposed by the prostheses and the media. This affectation also has effects on the relation with space and, by extension, with otherness. Finally, while this paper focuses on the ontological analysis of this proposed category, it also opens the door to further study of how the meta-spectator forms part of system of relations, operating as a Foucauldian dispositif, in which their own identity is constantly redefined in a series of power relations with the other components of the system: the technology and the content
Letters as organizational rhetoric on environmental social and governance (ESG): the case of Larry Fink and BlackRock from 2018 to 2023
Get PDFPurpose
This paper is intended as an original contribution to researching ESG from a PR perspective, as well as offering a case study of the use of letters as a mode of corporate communication.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology is interdisciplinary but is centred on a critical discourse analysis of the organizational rhetoric on ESG in the annual letters of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink from 2018 to 2023. The article also considers the content of the BlackRock letters alongside the campaign rhetoric deployed by opponents to ESG over the same period.
Findings
The analysis of the letters showed up a difference in tempo and tone between the courteous, collaborative and somewhat “corporate” style of text in the Fink letters and the more urgent and confrontational tone of opponents that adopted a populist line of argumentation against ESG in general and Larry Fink and BlackRock in particular.
Practical implications
While advantages can accrue to CEOs and corporations for speaking out on issues, there are also perils awaiting in the contemporary environment for opinion. The findings suggest it is also important to gauge the intensity of cultural and political division in society when speaking out on contentious issues and make a judgement on whether to proceed based on that analysis. Moreover, in countries where the middle ground of public opinion has eroded, ideology and cultural affiliations can prevail instead of openness to argument and counter-argument on topics such as climate change.
Originality/value
The paper presents a fresh case study of a CEO who has been prominent in shaping the discourse on ESG, which has itself become is a matter of contemporary relevance to public relations. The findings offer original insights that are additive to existing guidance and criteria for CEOs deciding to speak out on issues on behalf of their organizations
Activating History through Praxis: The Role of Practitioner-Historians in Mediating Past and Present Concerns within Design
Get PDFDesign history has struggled with its disciplinary positioning. Grace Lees-Maffei and Danniel Huppatz critique its legacy as a service subject supporting design education, while Kjetil Fallan has argued for its recognition as a legitimate sub-field within history. By contrast, Guy Julier and Viviana Narotzky describe it as increasingly redundant, an autonomous academic discipline severed from design practice. For them, design historians became ‘dangerously out of touch’ with the profession they aimed to analyse.
These contrasting perspectives reflect tensions within the discipline, often unacknowledged yet influential in shaping how scholars engage with the field. Some academics have responded by shifting their work into adjacent domains, such as design studies or design methods, where history plays only a peripheral role. But what is lost when historically engaged design research is relocated outside the domain of design history, and is there still space for practitioner-historians to contribute meaningfully to the field?
Dedicated design historians have typically been against attempts to prove the relevance of history, with efforts to link the past and present understood as instrumentalisation. Meanwhile, from within design, scholars like Andrew Blauvelt have argued for the need to develop more reciprocity between past and present to enable historical enquiry to inform practice. This paper explores how such reciprocity might be enacted meaningfully, without distorting history for presentist ends.
I examine strategies for activating history through practice, drawing on Maria Göransdotter’s concept of ‘Present-ing history’, Durepos and Mills’ ‘ANTi-History’, and Davide Nicolini’s ‘strong approach to practice’. These frameworks highlight how design practice can not only serve as a lens through which to study the past, but also generate new forms of situated, embodied historical knowledge. I argue that practitioner-historians are uniquely positioned to construct alternate, invested histories written from within design, offering valuable contributions to both historical scholarship and contemporary practice
Meeting Tomorrow: Student Imagination and Extreme Collaboration for an EverChanging World
No full textPeople from the global south are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change and lives and cultures are under threat. The future is likley to see increased mass migration and movement of people through climate disaster and conflict. Two new research led units have been pioneered that will develop the thinking and skills of the next generation of creatives to adapt to the challenges of this global future.
These units designed by Prof Helen Storey(Pockets of Love) and Dr Francesco Mazzarella (Fashion practices for social change) give students the opportunity to respond to the real life challenges of the displaced.
Shortlisted for a Green Gowns Award 2025 for the 'Next generation of learning and skills', this film showcases the roots of the these research based projects and the student responses to the co written briefs since
Revolutionising Luxury Fashion in the Metaverse: A Strategic Alliance Approach to Targeting Gen-Z Consumers from Singapore
Get PDFThis study explores the intersection of the Metaverse and luxury fashion and IME strategies for Singaporean Gen-Z consumers. Despite the increased use of digital channels for brand-consumer interactions, further studies are necessary to understand the impact of Metaverse-based strategic alliances on luxury fashion. The research fills the academic gap between strategic partnerships, the Technology Acceptance Model 3, and the Social Influence Theory. Hence, this study aims to develop a strategic alliance approach that caters to the behaviours of Singaporean Gen-Z consumers on the Metaverse retail platform. The study utilises interpretivism and qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews and a type 2 case study. It is crucial to tailor strategies to the specific needs of the intended audience. As emphasised in the study, self-worth, ease of use, and multi-touchpoint interaction are the three priorities for Gen Z consumers in Singapore's Metaverse retail. Singapore's work culture, herd mentality, and influence of opinion leaders are highlighted. The study's managerial recommendations include improving brand visibility, addressing financial and workforce constraints, and navigating regulatory issues. This research provides valuable insights into the Singapore market, where the Gen-Z demographic has significant purchasing power
Images, Digital Materiality and Wabi-Sabi: Making Visible the Environmental Impact of Digital Technology within Limits
No full textFor the occasion of 15th International Illustration Research Symposium - The Apparatus: The Role of Technology in Illustration, Shinji Toya provided a 20-minute presentation for the submitted abstract entitled "Images, Digital Materiality and Wabi-Sabi: Making Visible the Environmental Impact of Digital Technology within Limits". The presentation took place remotely.
The presentation was given as part of the panel: "Theme 9 - Invisible Terrains of Technology", chaired by Elif Songür Dağ on 22nd November 2025