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Female Consciousness and Stereotypes in Chinese Female-Directed Cinema: Insights from the film Send Me to the Clouds

Film & Media Studies/Gender Studies/V16N32024

335 views

Mao Wenyu¹ & Roslina Ismail^2*
¹ Ph.D. Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
² Associate Prof, Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. *Corresponding author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.07g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This paper analyzes Chinese female director Teng Congcong’s film Send Me to the Clouds to reveal the relationship between female consciousness and ideologies of power in the context of the current Chinese era. We examine the narrative strategies, imagery symbols and power ideologies in the film through Foucault’s body theory and feminist film theory. Send Me to the Clouds takes the redemption of life as its narrative strategy and incorporates elements of humor and absurdity. The film changes the initiator of sexual pleasure to the female protagonist, and the male becomes a passive character who is a cheater, a coward which is an attempt to break the “stereotype” of female passivity in the traditional Chinese cultural settings, to create an important role for female consciousness and ideology of power in this life-saving film. However, it is important to critically examine the limitations and subjectivity of the film, especially whether it subverts the traditional mainstream ideology in its artistic expression of “female consciousness”. This study provides insights into Chinese feminist film narratives and further discusses the significance and role of Chinese female consciousness in the global feminist film discourse.

Keywords: Female Directors, Stereotypes, Female consciousness, Feminism.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 26 August 2024. Revised: 25 October 2024. Accepted: 27 October 2024. First published: 29 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Wenyu, M. & Ismail, R. (2024). Female Consciousness and Stereotypes in Chinese Female-Directed Cinema: Insights from the film Send Me to the Clouds. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.07g

The Translator’s Cognitive Construction in the Perspective of Cognitive Narratology

Translation

234 views

Feng Lu
Master, Donghua University.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.06g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

Current research on combining cognitive narratology and translation studies focuses on defining the role of translation within cognitive narratology, challenging the assumption that original and target texts are undifferentiated in narratological studies. However, this research rarely refers to the translator’s cognitive mechanism in the narrative process. Drawing on the Psycho-spatial theory, the space network of the whole translation activity includes the author’s cognitive space of original narrative text, the translator’s cognitive spaces of narrative construction and re-narrative reconstruction, and the reader’s cognitive space of re-narrative acceptance, meaning that the translator should participate in the cognitive process of narrative construction and re-narrative reconstruction by moving in these different spaces. In addition, this research looks into the translator’s specific identity information and cognitive operations to detect its cognitive basis and explain the cognitive activity.

Keywords: Cognitive narratology; psycho-spatial theory; translator research.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 03 August 2024. Revised: 25 October 2024. Accepted: 27 October 2024. First published: 28 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Lu, F. (2024). The Translator’s Cognitive Construction in the Perspective of Cognitive Narratology. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.06g

Bridging the Technological Gap in English Language Teaching Classrooms of India with Comic Books

EFL Studies/V16N32024

256 views

Jubi Das^1* & Debasish Mohapatra²
¹Research Scholar, Department of English, Tezpur University, Assam, India. *Corresponding author.
²Associate Professor, Head, Department of English, Tezpur University, Assam, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.05g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

With the turn of the century, as new forms of media emerged along with technological innovations, it transformed how students perceive information, making them mostly audio-visual learners. However, despite various educational benefits, there is a gap in the accessibility of these technological innovations across schools in India, depriving students of an engaging way of language learning. This study examines the potential of an easily available and appealing multimodal resource, the comic book, for English language learning. It delves into the potential of physical comic books as an innovative tool to bridge the gap between traditional approaches and technology-assisted approaches in schools of marginalized areas of India. As it is crucial to understand students’ interests and perspectives for the successful implementation of an innovative tool, this study was conducted among 369 students of private and government schools in Assam, India and observed a positive response. It also highlighted the potential for improvement in certain language skills using comic books under proper guidance.

Keywords: English Language Teaching, Government and private schools, Comic books.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 31 August 2024. Revised: 25 October 2024. Accepted: 27 October 2024. First published: 28 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Das, J. & Mohapatra, D. (2024). Bridging the Technological Gap in English Language Teaching Classrooms of India with Comic Books. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.05g

The Use of Technology in Developing HSC Level Students’ English Language Proficiency: A Perception Study

EFL Studies/V16N32024

293 views

Marium Jamila¹, Md. Munibur Rahman^2* & Zahid Hasan^{3 ,}
^1,2,3Department of English, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.04g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

In today’s competitive world, the use of technology across diverse sectors is on the rise, and language learning is no exception. As higher secondary level (HSC) students badly need to be proficient in English to pursue higher education and build up their future careers, young learners profusely use various technologies as learning tools to make the process of language learning easy and affordable. So, this study investigated the varied impacts and implications of using technology on the development of the HSC level students’ English language proficiency in Bangladesh. To explore the students’ perceptions of technology usage in developing their English language proficiency, this research collected data from 235 learners from two districts in Bangladesh, employing a questionnaire consisting of both closed-ended and open-ended items. The findings revealed that most students use different technological tools for learning English. They have very positive perceptions of the utility and effectiveness of technologies in language learning, though difficulties like the high cost of tools, unavailability of free programs and software, over-reliance on technology tools, etc., were also reported. To overcome the obstacles associated with this issue, necessary support and measures were also suggested. The findings are expected to provide valuable insights into adopting policies and using technology to develop student’s English language proficiency.

Keywords: English Language Classrooms, HSC Level, Language Learning, Language Proficiency, Technology.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 27 August 2024. Revised: 25 October 2024. Accepted: 27 October 2024. First published: 28 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Jamila, M., Rahman, M.M. & Hasan, Z. (2024). The Use of Technology in Developing HSC Level Students’ English Language Proficiency: A Perception Study. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.04g

“I am that woman Gayatri-Lover of Brahma”: Resistance and Resurrection of the Mythical Divine Feminine in Usha Kishore’s Night Sky Between the Stars

Gender Studies

344 views

Beauty Das
^{Research Scholar, Department of English, Banaras Hindu University.}

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.03g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This article intends to explore the convergence of feminism and mythology within Indian culture, with a particular emphasis on Usha Kishore’s poetry collection, Night Sky Between the Stars (2015). Employing a feminist literary lens, the paper examines Kishore’s engagement with significant mythological figures—goddesses such as Durga and Kali, alongside mortal women like Sita and Draupadi—to challenge patriarchal conventions. These characters represent various dimensions of womanhood, including strength and resilience, frequently contesting established gender roles. Through her reinterpretation of these myths, Kishore transforms feminist discourse and creates a new identity that elevates the voices of female mythological figures. This analysis highlights how her work contributes to an alternative narrative of Indian womanhood, promoting female agency and redefining the cultural portrayals of women in mythology.

Keywords: Feminism, Patriarchy, Mythology, Gendered Identity, Resistance, Resurrection.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 24 August 2024. Revised: 24 October 2024. Accepted: 25 October 2024. First published: 26 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Das, B. (2024). “I am that woman Gayatri-Lover of Brahma”: Resistance and Resurrection of the Mythical Divine Feminine in Usha Kishore’s Night Sky Between the Stars. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.03g

Kothanodi: Visual Storytelling through World-building in Regional Literature

Film & Media Studies/Vol16N32024

300 views

Anannya Nath
^{Assistant Professor, Department of English, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Adarsha Mahavidyalaya- Behali, India.}

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.02g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

Visual storytelling is an ancient art. Television, radio, movies, and books fulfill a basic need of the human psyche- to make sense of the world around them. The sensorial experience of sight, which is also epistemologically significant to meaning-making finds newer modes of presentation with the turn of the twentieth century with the availability of newer technological modes of consumption. The pronounced shift within Media Studies towards a “world,” rather than the concerns of plot or character, reflects the increasing rise of trans-medial narratives as a norm. The upshot of an unprecedented rise of trans medial narrative has also made its presence felt in the Third World and within smaller regional cultures. These cultures, which have a rich panache of stories, mostly in their folktales, have exponential potential to utilise the same in creating successful trans-medial- narratives. One such significant production is the 2015 award-winning Assamese film, Kothanodi, which has, as its backdrop, four intertwining stories selected meticulously from the pantheon of Lakshminath Bezbaruah’s stock literature of folk tales retold. This paper studies the aspects of worldbuilding in the film vis-à-vis the literature that makes it. It entails that the movie is seen in juxtaposition to the stories. To this end, the paper demonstrates how the classic worldbuilding elements of setting, fantasy, visuals, and sounds are explored in both film and literature. In accessing the nuances, the study tries to see how regional languages can also produce successful story worlds from regional literature.

Keywords: Visual Storytelling, World-building, Folktales, Film.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 31 August 2024. Revised: 24 October 2024. Accepted: 25 October 2024. First published: 27 October 2024..
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Nath, A. (2024). Kothanodi: Visual Storytelling through World-building in Regional Literature. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.02g

Intertextuality in the Body Designs of AI-Based Virtual Influencers

Aesthetic Studies/Artificial Intelligence (AI)

275 views

Ahmet Oktan^1* & Bilge Yavas²
¹Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Communication, Samsun, Turkey. *Corresponding Author.
²Master of Communication Sciences, Turkey.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.02}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This study approaches virtual humans by foregrounding their material dimensions and exploring how virtual stars present visual images and the mythical connections that influence the images they create. We analyze characters named Lu do Magalu, Lil Miquela, Barbie, Thalasya, Noonoouri, Imma, Bermuda, Rozy, Ay Pera, Alara X, Hatsune Miku, and Shudu, selected through purposive sampling, considering their posts on Instagram. We employ intertextuality and its variant, mythological intertextuality, to identify how the creators of these avatars draw on myths, archetypes, and modern cultural contexts in the physical design and construction of their bodies. We discuss our findings by engaging with the views of scholars such as Carl Jung and Jean Baudrillard. In summary, we conclude that virtual influencers are visually created and embodied through inspiration from both archaic and modern myths and archetypes; their flawless and sterile bodies are transcended and idealized like mythological heroes, their eroticized and exposed bodies are presented as objects of desire, and the gender roles they adopt reproduce patriarchal myths. Additionally, it has been observed that through their fluid bodily images and design, they become mythologized and function as a type of simulacrum.

Keywords: Virtual influencer, Body, Mythology, Intertextuality, Embodiment.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 31 August 2024. Revised: 25 October 2024. Accepted: 25 October 2024. First published: 27 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Oktan, A. & Yava?, B. (2024). Intertextuality in the Body Designs of AI-Based Virtual Influencers. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.02

Human Creativity Vs. Artificial Intelligence: A Comparison of Horror Fiction Crafting from ‘Bookish Minds Club’ at Souk Ahras University and Claude AI

Aesthetic Studies/Artificial Intelligence (AI)/V16N32024

384 views

Moufida Boumous
^{Senior Lecturer, Department of English, Souk Ahras University, Algeria.}

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.01}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

The dynamic between human writers and artificial intelligence in crafting fiction, particularly in the horror genre, provides an intriguing context for examining the unique strengths and limitations of each. This research investigates the creative outputs of two groups: members of Souk Ahras University’s ‘Bookish Minds Club,’ who have discussed numerous horror books and have been introduced to various techniques and tropes of the genre, and those who employ Claude AI to aid in their writing process. Sixty club members were divided evenly, with each group receiving identical horror fiction prompts to craft their stories. These stories were subsequently evaluated based on originality, coherence, the effectiveness of horror elements, character development, and overall impact. The results highlighted a slight but notable superiority of human creativity over AI-assisted writing, particularly in terms of emotional depth and psychological complexity. The findings suggest that while Claude AI can provide structural support and enhance certain narrative elements, it often falls short in capturing the knotty emotional and psychological distinctions that human writers, especially those well-versed in genre techniques, naturally infuse in their work.

Keywords: human creativity, artificial intelligence, horror fiction, creative writing, Claude AI, comparative study.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 26 August 2024. Revised: 24 October 2024. Accepted: 25 October 2024. First published: 27 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Boumous, M. (2024). Human Creativity Vs. Artificial Intelligence: A Comparison of Horror Fiction Crafting from ‘Bookish Minds Club’ at Souk Ahras University and Claude AI. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.01

“I Wish to Sing One Last Song for My Land”: Anuj Lugun’s Poetics of Resistance and Reclamation

Indigenous Studies/Vol16N32024

293 views

T. T. Mukherjee¹ & S. P. Satpathy²
¹Associate Professor, Dept of English, Bhatter College, Dantan, India.
²Associate Professor, Dept of Humanities and Social Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan, Bhubaneswar, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.01g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This paper critically engages with Anuj Lugun’s poetics of resistance and reclamation by focusing on his representation of the civilization of water, forest, and land. Lugun, an emerging voice in contemporary indigenous literature in India, uses poetry to articulate the struggles and resilience of tribal communities in India to resist the forces of displacement and environmental degradation and reclaim cultural identity. Through a close reading of selected poems translated by Pragya Shukla, this study analyzes the way Lugun weaves a narrative that challenges dominant historical and cultural discourses. The analysis also explores how Lugun represents the ongoing fight for Indigenous rights and environmental and social justice through a unique blend of traditional oral storytelling with modern poetic forms. This paper links Lugun’s poetics with global Indigenous artistic practices by showing how Lugun’s poetry addresses the same concerns. It also reflects the spirit of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on Gender Equality, Life on Land, Climate Action, and Reduced Inequalities.

Keywords: Indigenous poetry, Anuj Lugun, tribal philosophy, resistance, reclamation, SDGs.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 01 August, 2024. Revised: 20 September 2024. Accepted: 22 September, 2024. First published: 25 September 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Mukherjee, T. T. & Satpathy, S. P. (2024). “I Wish to Sing One Last Song for My Land”: Anuj Lugun’s Poetics of Resistance and Reclamation. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.01g

Argument Composition in N+LV Complex Predicates of Kannada

Linguistics/V16N22024

718 views

Satish Kumar Nadimpalli^1* & Bh V N Lakshmi²
^1,2Dept. of English, SRKR Engineering College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. *Corresponding author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.34g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

Complex Predicates (CPs hereafter) are abundant in Dravidian Languages spoken in the Southern part of India. A CP is a multi-word expression that acts as one verbal unit where a Light Verb (LV hereafter) plays a vital role (Amberber et al., 2010). LVs, with their syntactic and semantic features and preverbs, determine the argument structure of the whole CP construction. LVs have a distinctive feature of acquiring contextual meanings in combination with the preverbal elements, and this phenomenon is common across language families. (Hook 1991, 1993, Butt 1995). N+LV CPs and Noun Incorporation (NI) structures, which appear to be the same phenomenon, are two different structures altogether, though both have N+V composition. Baker (1988) proposes some defining characteristics for NI structures, which are indeed short for Dravidian languages like Kannada and Telugu, which are highly rich in morpho-syntactic features. According to SK Nadimpalli et al. (2022), additional characteristics exist that can effectively distinguish CPs from NIs. These were demonstrated using Telugu data. The present research concentrates on the difference between NIs and CPs with regard to the argument composition of the whole predicate. The study will also investigate how preverbal nouns in CPs, with specific semantic features, combine with different LVs and how the whole argument structure is composed, with the help of Kannada data as a case in point. The LVs exhibit a wide range of syntactic and semantic properties in consonance with the preverbal noun it combines with to constitute a CP construction. The selection of LVs is inherently language-specific, with LVs in Kannada potentially exhibiting different syntactic and semantic behaviors compared to their counterparts in Telugu. This study, with data from Kannada, would add to the syntactic and semantic repertoire of LVs and N+ LV CPs in Dravidian languages in particular and to the Universal Grammar at large.

Keywords: Complex Predicate, Noun Incorporation, Light Verbs, Argument Structure, Kannada.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 29 February 2024. Revised: 25 June 2024. Accepted: 28 June 2024. First published: 30 June 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Nadimpalli, S. K. & Lakshmi, Bh. V. N. (2024). Argument Composition in N+LV Complex Predicates of Kannada. Rupkatha Journal 16:2. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.34g

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