title: Visualising state biographical narratives: A rhetorical analysis of Chinese and North Korean propaganda photographs

authors: Hellmann, Olli

abstract: Biographical narratives generate a continuous sense of political community across the state’s past, present and future, and provide the state with ontological security. Building on growing International Relations scholarship that highlights the power of visuals in shaping global politics, our article proposes visual rhetorical analysis as a tool to interrogate how governments employ images to tell their biographical narratives. The rhetorical approach transcends the methodological divide in the current ‘visual turn’ literature between the cognitive psychological and poststructuralist perspectives. We illustrate the analytical value of the rhetorical approach through an empirical study of how the totalitarian regimes of China and North Korea communicate their biographical narratives – the ‘rightful great power’ narrative and the ‘family state’ narrative, respectively – through propaganda imagery of their leaders. To this end, we develop a close semiotic reading of selected photographs of Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un in different narrative settings.

text: Visualising state biographical narratives: A rhetorical analysis of Chinese and North Korean propaganda photographs Biographical narratives generate a continuous sense of political community across the state’s past, present and future, and provide the state with ontological security. Building on growing International Relations scholarship that highlights the power of visuals in shaping global politics, our article proposes visual rhetorical analysis as a tool to interrogate how governments employ images to tell their biographical narratives. The rhetorical approach transcends the methodological divide in the current ‘visual turn’ literature between the cognitive psychological and poststructuralist perspectives. We illustrate the analytical value of the rhetorical approach through an empirical study of how the totalitarian regimes of China and North Korea communicate their biographical narratives – the ‘rightful great power’ narrative and the ‘family state’ narrative, respectively – through propaganda imagery of their leaders. To this end, we develop a close semiotic reading of selected photographs of Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un in different narrative settings.

year: 2023-10-28

title: The Indigeneity of Archaeological Research in Fiji: Issues and Opportunities

authors: Vunidilo, Tarisi Sorovi

subjects: Fiji

abstract: A literature review showed that there are substantial materials written on Fiji with regards to the search to identify the origin of Fijians. Archaeologists, in particular, began their work in the early 1900s (see Chapter 5). They use cultural material, either from the earth surface or excavated from below, as evidence to reconstruct ancient societies. They also use materials written by early explorers to attempt to map out the pre-contact period. Parry (1981), used air photography to assess landscapes in his work in the Navua delta. Through this form of assessment, he was able to identify hill-forts, ring-ditches and old village settlements. He was also able to utilise oral history, collected from local residents, to identify stories of war, which were then substantiated by archaeological sites and place names (Parry, 1981:30). This thesis aims to build further on the work of Parry (1981) in terms of his work with both archaeology and oral history. The aim is to discuss this relationship between the two research methods and identify factors that can clearly state what indigenous Fijians know and believe as their place of origin. Nabobo-Baba (2006) has highlighted the importance of an indigenous perspective approach to research. This is an area that I have personally experienced in my work in the field of archaeology at the Fiji Museum. This collaboration included the proactive involvement and recognition of local staff in the research, in most cases through co-authorship, and in other cases they were acknowledged in academic reports and relevant writings. I believe that traditional knowledge should be just as highly regarded as western and scientific knowledge.

text: The Indigeneity of Archaeological Research in Fiji: Issues and Opportunities A literature review showed that there are substantial materials written on Fiji with regards to the search to identify the origin of Fijians. Archaeologists, in particular, began their work in the early 1900s (see Chapter 5). They use cultural material, either from the earth surface or excavated from below, as evidence to reconstruct ancient societies. They also use materials written by early explorers to attempt to map out the pre-contact period. Parry (1981), used air photography to assess landscapes in his work in the Navua delta. Through this form of assessment, he was able to identify hill-forts, ring-ditches and old village settlements. He was also able to utilise oral history, collected from local residents, to identify stories of war, which were then substantiated by archaeological sites and place names (Parry, 1981:30). This thesis aims to build further on the work of Parry (1981) in terms of his work with both archaeology and oral history. The aim is to discuss this relationship between the two research methods and identify factors that can clearly state what indigenous Fijians know and believe as their place of origin. Nabobo-Baba (2006) has highlighted the importance of an indigenous perspective approach to research. This is an area that I have personally experienced in my work in the field of archaeology at the Fiji Museum. This collaboration included the proactive involvement and recognition of local staff in the research, in most cases through co-authorship, and in other cases they were acknowledged in academic reports and relevant writings. I believe that traditional knowledge should be just as highly regarded as western and scientific knowledge.

year: 2010

title: A Maori language and literacy institute: looking to cyberspace

authors: Roberts, Ngaere

subjects: te reo Māori

abstract: In this paper, it is argued that many of the problems associated with the lack of coordinated research and development activities relating to the revitalisation of Māori language could be resolved by establishing a Māori Language and Literacy Institute. The possibility of establishing such an Institute in cyberspace is an attractive one in that it reduces overheads, allows for an immediate link between researchers, educational providers and iwi, and provides opportunities for wide dissemination of findings and for ongoing discussion.

text: A Maori language and literacy institute: looking to cyberspace In this paper, it is argued that many of the problems associated with the lack of coordinated research and development activities relating to the revitalisation of Māori language could be resolved by establishing a Māori Language and Literacy Institute. The possibility of establishing such an Institute in cyberspace is an attractive one in that it reduces overheads, allows for an immediate link between researchers, educational providers and iwi, and provides opportunities for wide dissemination of findings and for ongoing discussion.

year: 2000-10