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Emotion matters: Different psychophysiological responses to expressive and non-expressive full-body movements
Full text linkWe explore dance video clip stimuli as a means to test human observers' accuracy in detecting genuine emotional expressivity in full-body movements. Stimuli of every-day-type full-body expressions of emotions usually use culturally very recognizable actions (e.g. fist shaking for anger, etc). However, expressive dance movement stimuli can be created to contain fully abstract movements. The expressivity results from subtle variations in the body movements of the expressor, and emotions cannot be recognised by observers via particular actions (e.g. fist shaking, etc).
Forty-one participants watched and rated 24 pairs of short dance videos –from a published normalised dance stimuli library– in randomised order (N = 48). Of each carefully matched pair, one version of the full-body movement sequence had been danced to be emotionally genuinely expressive (clip a), while the other version of the same sequence (clip b) had been danced –while technically correct– without any emotional expressivity. Participants rated (i) expressivity (to test their accuracy; block 1), and (ii) how much they liked each movement (an implicit measure to test their emotional response (“liking”); block 2).
Participants rated clips that were intended to be expressive as more expressive (part 1: expressivity ratings), and liked those expressive clips more than the non-expressive clips (part 2: liking ratings). Besides, their galvanic skin response differed, depending on the category of clips they were watching (expressive vs. non-expressive), and this relationship was modulated by interceptive accuracy and arts experience. Results are discussed in relation to the Body Precision Hypothesis and the Hypothesis of Constructed Emotion
Beyond the Pathogen: Cultural Influences on the Impact of Epidemics Viewed from History
Full text linkThe paper reflects on the current Covid-19 pandemic from the perspective of the cultural history of epidemics, primarily in Latin America and the Philippines
Extremism, Contested Territory and Diversity: An Opportunity for Development of Iraq’s National Policy on Displacement in 2020?
Full text linkAfter decades of brutal dictatorship under Saddam Hussein and years of sectarian civil war, followed by the 2014 ISIS take over, and subsequent loss, of territory in the north and west of the country, Iraq’s institutions and people are still reeling. Though post-war reconstruction is now underway and the numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq are gradually decreasing, there remain almost two million displaced people scattered throughout the country.
Over half of these IDPs have been displaced for more than three years.
The contemporary displacement landscape in Iraq is both problematic and unique. Protracted displacement has become entrenched as a norm, with state response to date emphasising return as the only desirable solution. Complicating the search for durable solutions is the
ongoing conflict between the government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government, over the resource-rich Disputed Territories, which are historically the most ethno-religiously diverse region of Iraq. Additionally, the presence of perceived ISIS-affiliates among the IDP population renders implementation of durable solutions extremely challenging, whilst simultaneously raising unique protection concerns as these perceived affiliates remain extremely vulnerable to
abuse and discrimination by state and security forces, as well as civilians.
In 2008 the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration published a national policy on displacement, which was never implemented. At the time, on paper, it represented a relatively
robust mechanism for protection. It is, however, inadequate to respond to the current displacement context within Iraq, particularly the protection needs of minorities within the Disputed Territories and perceived-ISIS affiliates. This research examines the contents of the policy against the current protection needs of IDPs, before exploring how it can be updated, and made relevant, by drawing upon the effective, holistic provisions contained within the African Union Kampala Convention
(Un)holy alliances: The UK’s hostile environment in faith-based spaces, and its implications for refugee protection
Full text linkThis paper aims to interrogate the United Kingdom (UK)’s so-called ‘hostile environment’ and its implications for refugee protection. The work looks in particular at the mixed-status setting of faith-based spaces, which with the advent of the ‘hostile environment’ have gone from being one of few places where people with a range of statuses could access support to becoming a locus of immigration control. It is argued that the reimagining of faith-based spaces as an arena for immigration enforcement is key to the functioning of the ‘hostile environment,’ a policy package ostensibly targeting undocumented people which in fact impacts on people with a range of statuses, with worrying consequences for refugee protection.
Semi-structured interviews with faith-based community volunteers who engaged with the Home Office are analysed alongside data disclosed by the Home Office under the Freedom of Information Act. Combined with analysis of the
legal barriers to accessing protection, this work questions how voluntary the ‘voluntary’ returns being promoted in faith-based spaces really are, given the lack of options available to those unable to regularise their status
Television Drama in Spain and Latin America: Genre and Format Translation
Full text linkTelevision Drama in Spain and Latin America addresses two major topics within current cultural, media, and television studies: the question of fictional genres and that of transnational circulation. While much research has been carried out on both TV formats and remakes in the English-speaking world, almost nothing has been published on the huge and dynamic Spanish-speaking sector. This book discusses and analyses series since 2000 from Spain (in both Spanish and Catalan), Mexico, Venezuela, and (to a lesser extent) the US, employing both empirical research on production and distribution and textual analysis of content. The three genres examined are horror, biographical series, and sports-themed dramas; the three examples of format remakes are of a period mystery (Spain, Mexico), a romantic comedy (Venezuela, US), and a historical epic (Catalonia, Spain).
Paul Julian Smith is Distinguished Professor at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. He was previously Professor of Spanish at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of twenty books and one hundred academic articles
Thermonociceptive interaction: interchannel pain modulation occurs before intrachannel convergence of warmth
Full text linkNon-noxious warmth reduces both perceived pain intensity, and the amplitude of EEG markers of pain. However, the spatial properties of thermo-nociceptive interaction, and the level of sensory processing at which it occurs remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether inter-channel warmth-pain interactions occur before or after intra-channel spatial summation of warmth. Warm stimuli were applied to the fingers of the right hand. Their number and location were manipulated in different conditions. A concomitant noxious test pulse was delivered to the middle finger using a CO2 laser. We replicated the classical suppressive effect of warmth on both pain perceived intensity and EEG markers. Importantly, inhibition of pain was not affected by the location and the number of thermal stimuli, even though they increased the perceived intensity of warmth. Our results therefore suggest that the inhibitory effect of warmth on pain is not somatotopically organized. They also rule out the possibility that warmth affects nociceptive processing after intra-channel warmth summation
Ethnography and Modern Languages
Full text linkWhile rarely explicitly recognized in our disciplinary frameworks, the openness and curiosity on which Modern Languages in the UK is founded are, in many ways, ethnographic impulses. Ethnographic theories and practices can be transformative in relation to the undergraduate curriculum, providing an unparalleled model for experiential and holistic approaches to language and cultural learning. As a form of emplaced and embodied knowledge production, ethnography promotes greater reflexivity on our geographical and historical locations as researchers, and on the languages and cultures through which we engage. An ethnographic sensitivity encourages an openness to less hierarchical and hegemonic forms of knowledge, particularly when consciously seeking to invert the traditional colonial ethnographic project and envision instead more participatory and collaborative models of engagement. Modern Languages scholars are at the same time ideally placed to challenge a monolingual mindset and an insensitivity to language-related questions in existing ethnographic research located in cognate disciplines. For Modern Languages to embrace ethnography with credibility, we propose a series of recommendations to mobilize these new research and professional agendas
Cultures of Anti-Racism in Latin America and the Caribbean
Full text linkLatin America’s long history of showing how racism can co-exist with racial mixture and conviviality offers useful ammunition for strengthening anti-racist stances. This volume asks whether cultural production has a particular role to play within discourses and practices of anti-racism in Latin America and the Caribbean. The contributors analyse music, performance, education, language, film and art in diverse national contexts across the region.
The book also places Latin American and Caribbean racial formations within a broader global context. It shows that the region provides valuable opportunities for thinking about anti-racism, not least when recent political events worldwide have shown that, far from a 'post-racial' age, we are living in an era of intensified racist expression and racial injustice
Medieval Londoners: essays to mark the eightieth birthday of Caroline M. Barron
Full text linkMedieval Londoners were a diverse group, some born in the city, others drawn to the capital from across the realm and from overseas. For some, London became the sole focus of their lives, while others retained or developed networks and loyalties that spread far and wide. The rich evidence for the medieval city, including archaeological and documentary sources, means that the study of London and its inhabitants remains a vibrant field. This volume brings together archaeologists, historians, art historians and literary scholars whose essays provide glimpses of medieval Londoners in all their variety.
'Medieval Londoners' is offered to Caroline M. Barron, Emeritus Professor of the History of London at Royal Holloway, University of London, on the occasion of her eightieth birthday. Her remarkable career – over some fifty years – has revitalized the way in which we consider London and its people. This volume is a tribute to her scholarship and her friendship and encouragement to others. It is thanks to Caroline M. Barron that the study of medieval London remains as vibrant today as it has ever been