416 research outputs found
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Sustainable tourism and cultural heritage: a quantitative interdisciplinary approach based on visitor profiles
Full text linkThis interdisciplinary quantitative study offers a comprehensive assessment of how visits to the Civil War shelters in Alicante, which have been rehabilitated and opened to the public, influence awareness of cultural memory heritage in an urban context. The framework of the FEDER Operational Program "Sustainable Growth 2014-2020", delves into how these spaces contribute both to sustainable urban de-velopment and to historical understanding in society. Through a retrospective longitudinal design, data from 407 visitors were collected and analyzed between August 2023 and January 2024, aiming to profile the visitors, their motivations, and their visitation patterns. Preliminary findings reveal a positive reception and an increase in awareness of the historical significance of the shelters, suggesting a substantial impact on the appreciation of memory heritage. The analysis provides key insights for managing cultural heritage by proposing enhanced strategies for the communication and promotion of historical legacy. This article is positioned at the intersection of tourism research and cultural heritage studies, exploring the links between culture, sustainable development and tourism through an inter- and transdisciplinary approach that encompasses both social sciences and administrative and business practices
Retention and exam performance based on print book and e-Book study at universities in Sri Lanka
Full text linkThe mode of reading plays a vital role in signifying the relationship between reading (getting the information) and remembering, which, in the end, transforms into professional skills formation. We looked at the assessment of the study's success in using different sources of the specialty study information (print and e-Books). The research was based on the analysis of students’ exam success in their bachelor's degree. The sampling frame was defined within the undergraduate student population with a simple random sampling method. An online-based survey questionnaire was performed and the data collected and examined. The findings showed a significantly higher level of success in exam performance and retention among students who utilized print books instead of e-Books as a primary mode of reading. It was noted that eye strain becomes a negative factor in using e-Books and adversely affects the reading time of the students. The usage of e-Books should not be promoted without a further conscious understanding of their pros and cons. We present a local assessment of the efficacy of using e-books in the higher education process by analysing student exam performance in Sri Lanka when using print books and e-books. It was concluded that prioritizing and promoting print book usage among universities and libraries improved academic results among under-graduates and that print book usage shows students are better able to comprehend data when compared to e-book usage
A tool to access unreachable sites inside the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica in Rome
Full text linkDigital technologies are today used in many museums and archaeological sites. With the passing years, the diffusion of virtual tours, interactive projections and information totems has increased in all cultural places. Nowadays, new digital materials to be included in visits are very often developed during periods of renovation or the creation of new exhibitions. However, the addition of new material rarely includes what is unreachable and it is usually limited to the main content of the site. The present work aims to overcome this limit, making sites that are difficult to access or that are unreachable, virtually accessible. The creation of high quality and culturally accurate virtual tours can make sites that are usually closed to the public, enriching and enjoyable for visitors. To develop such tours, it is necessary to create 3D models, informative layers and to use appropriate communication devices. Photogrammetry can be used to create 3D models which can be evaluated using structural and geometrical analyses. Appropriately chosen video, textual and image material can be used to create the informative layers, considering tourists’ needs and the specificity of the site. 5G networks and cloud computing can widen the possibility of implementation enabling a mobile application to bring the best quality to the tour. The case-study presented within the paper is the Casa di Diana inside the archaeological park of Ostia Antica
Cultural heritage preservation through ontology-based semantic search systems
Full text linkThe aim of this study was to develop a semantic search system for Khmer stone castles in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), in alignment with UNESCO's cultural heritage preservation guidelines. The proposed database, curated with verified, high quality data, serves as a comprehensive knowledge base for educational and research purposes. The semantic search system demonstrated high effective-ness, showcasing its potential as a benchmark for cultural information retrieval. The study contributes to establishing similar systems in diverse domains, paving the way for ontology-driven approaches to support cultural heritage preservation and sus tainable web-based information search systems. The far-reaching implications offer valuable insights for the conservation and accessibility of cultural heritage
Tracing “Orientalism” through architecture and art during the french colonisation of Algeria
Full text linkThe reinterpretation of the architectural language of previous periods is commonplace in architecture and art history. Over the centuries, architectural thinking has consistently oscillated between two distinct trends: consciously revisiting architectural styles or deliberately deviating from them to endorse innovative design forms. In this particular context, the present article delves into the manifestation of the concept of "Orientalism" in both architecture and art during the French colonisation of Algeria, specifically spanning the late 19th century to the early 20th century. This historical period was characterised by a historicist approach, giving rise to what is commonly referred to as the neo-Moorish style. The city hall in Biskra (southeast of Algeria) was selected as a case study for an in-depth exploration of the subject of this article. Through a historical approach, this study has a twofold purpose. Firstly, it aims to highlight Algeria's significant contribution to the history of architecture by revealing one of its most important periods, that of French colonisation. Secondly, it seeks to establish a connection between Islamic aesthetics and French colonial architecture, shedding light on the multiple references to colonial architecture in Algeria
Between Michelangelo and the Holy Shroud: artificial intelligence and its miracles
Full text linkThis study examines the implications of a discrete presence of the Shroud of Turin in the work of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). With the use of a new artificial intelligence model, it was possible to construct evidence that points to a probable link between the greatest sacred artist in history and the greatest of sacred relics. One such piece of evidence reveals a striking similarity (and combination of details) between the face of Christ in a painting made to a design by Michelangelo and the face of the Shroud. The painting examined is by one of his illustrious disciples, Marcello Venusti, while the original drawing is the "Christ at Prayer in the Garden of Olives", preserved in the Uffizi in Florence. The very high correspondence is also confirmed by other versions by Venusti
Equestrian games and competitions in the ethno-culture of Turkic peoples
Full text linkThe article is devoted to the games and competitions of Turkic peoples, which have developed historically over many centuries. Games are activities inherent in the world of nature and man. For man, a game is an expression of his spiritual activity, his intellectual potential, emotional and psychological state and physical and biological capabilities. Human freedom and its ethnic-cultural features are revealed in the equestrian games and competitions of Turkic peoples, considered through the prism of horsemanship culture, when, starting from the Saks, Scythians, Huns, ancient Turks and subsequent eras, a warrior on a warhorse was a symbol of mobility, masculinity, military might, freedom of spirit of the peoples of the Eurasian Steppe. The article analyses equestrian games such as kokpar (“goat-dressing”), shogen (polo), zhamby atu (archery), and bayge (horse racing), the latter found to be the most widespread and fixed in the genetic memory of Turkic peoples, the origins of which go back to deep antiquity and are recorded in Turkic written documents and in the ethnic culture of Turkic peoples. Using the texts “Divani Lugat-it Turk” by M. Kashgari, “Graceful Knowledge” by J. Balasuguni, the epics “Manas”, “Alpamys” and other materials from ethnic culture, the authors have tried to deter-mine the origins of horse games, and consider their main content, the behavioural roles of game participants, and reveal the semantic meanings of game lexemes. Equestrian games have a continuity in the culture of modern Turkic peoples and have preserved the basic historical rules through the years. Today they are still played and are spectacular events performed during the ethnic festivals of the Turkic world
The colors of Mzab cities: heritage, culture and symbolism
Full text linkIn Algeria, the habitat of the Mzab, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered a remarkable model for the use of color in its architecture. Its chromatic physiognomy is a unique example of visual harmony, quality and simplicity, where color contributes to the identity and image of the place. In the past, Ibadite buildings were either whitewashed or their color was expressed through the original material: sand. This allowed them to blend in perfectly with their surroundings. However, technological progress and the development of industrialization have provided residents with an unlimited number of colors and the market today offers a wide variety of paint colors. As a result, they have greater freedom of chromatic choice when renovating their homes. So, in the face of globalization, how have building colors evolved in the Mzab? How do residents use this variety of colors to maintain the facades of their homes? Do they always preserve the original hue of the building material? The on-site research is based on interviews with local residents, observations over time, and photographic images of the buildings. It shows that today's increasingly diverse building colors are appropriate to the climate and the cultural, symbolic, and economic circumstances of the inhabitants. They carefully preserve the identity of the place and express the austerity of the buildings, as well as traditional Mozabite values
Artificial intelligence and digital reproduction in art
Full text linkThe growing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the management of civil and social life as well as in economic and political organization has led to a debate on AI involved in various scientific, philosophical, legal and moral questions, including cultural ones. In this paper, after a brief presentation of the application of AI in art and culture, we focus on art production using AI and the digital reproduction of art which temporally precedes that of AI-generated art. The very idea of artistic beauty emanating from works of art produced with AI is consequently questioned, giving rise to a new creativity that is to be added to the human creativity of an artist's products. Lastly, the possibility is raised that specific generative algorithms may contribute to the resolution of the topical debate on the issue of attribution and authentication of works of art
Notre-Dame Cathedral in cinematic interpretations
Full text linkNotre Dame de Paris is a building with a huge architectural and artistic wealth, but at the same time, it is very mixed in its influence on the surrounding world, since the structure performs historical and cultural as well as political and national functions. The purpose of this study is to study the role of Notre Dame in cinema and analyze its representation on the big screen. We have chosen the following theoretical research methods: analysis and synthesis, descriptive analysis, comparative analysis, historical analysis, systematization, generalization. In the course of the study, the appearance, architectural composition, cultural and historical significance of the Cathedral was analyzed. A comparative analysis of various cinematic interpretations was also carried out, where the image of Notre Dame Cathedral was used. The study, moreover, created a chronology of the main events that have taken place there, from its foundation to today. It was found that Notre Dame Cathedral is a source of inspiration for artists, as it is one of the greatest buildings not only in France, but also in the whole world, the cultural and historical heritage leading to the creation of art works expressed in different forms dedicated to Notre Dame or indirectly using its image. The research materials may be useful for specialists in the field of cinematographic art or historians whose subject of research is Notre Dame Cathedral