When cultural modifications are taken into account: Ibsen's a doll's house on Iranian screen

How cross-cultural communications terminate in imperfect understanding can arguably be rendered by critical awareness about culturally differentiating conceptions in the interacting communities. This study aims to shed light on how an awakening message of a Western literary work can achieve a functional realization in an Eastern society via domestication of the cultural mnemonics. To this end, the present paper explored how Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House was introduced to Persian culture as a movie entitled Sara by Dariush Mehrjui mediated by apprehending the intended function of the original work and cultural capital of the target community. Meticulous comparative analysis of A Doll's House and Sara yielded that the given successful 'transmission' was materialized through two levels of macro contextual and micro cultural domestications. Generic and thematic transformations at the former level and various strata of cultural turns at the latter have conceivably lent verisimilitude to Sara and its proximity to the cultural schema of Iranian audience, through which Nora in Norway could be 'translated' to Sara in Iran to enlighten both audience. It is hoped the arguments of this research can offer some critical points for both proponents and opponents of the debates on cultural turn in generic translation. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s2p21

Study on the constraints to expansion of world markets for desiccated coconut. Final report

In early 1988 the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) requested participation by NRI (known at that time as ODNRI), in an International Trade Centre project concerning new product development in the desiccated coconut industry. In response the Institute advocated a phased appraisal, with an initial market review to provide guidelines for subsequent research and development work. The Institute prepared draft terms of reference for the market study, which, with minor amendments, were accepted by the APCC in March 1989 and approved in principle by SEADD in May 1989. With SEADD approval the study was commenced in September 1989, however unforeseen staffing difficulties led the Institute to propose a revised programme of work. This revised programme, discussed and agreed with Mr P G Punchihewa, Executive Director of the APCC and approved by SEADD, required the completion of market studies in Europe and North America by the end of March 1990. This target has been achieved and an Interim Report was published. Visits to producing countries and to Australia are now also complete and this final report incorporates findings from both producing and consuming countries. The report first provides a summary of findings from the producing countries, concentrating on aspects of production that affect subsequent marketing activity. A series of Chapters then provide coverage both of the first phase of market studies in North America and Europe, plus the Australian market which was completed in phase two. Separate sections analyze each of the major country markets, grouping countries together where this assists in clarity of presentation. Detailed analysis is provided for major countries and for completeness an attempt has been made to cover minor associated markets as far as possible. Conclusions and recommendations relating to marketing initiatives that could be taken are provided in the final Chapter, drawing upon information and views expressed by both producers and consumers of DC. Information of a confidential nature has been excluded from the report. It has been agreed with the APCC that where producers wish to obtain more information relating to their own activities they should contact the authors at NRI

Le Nouveau Jardin Pittoresque: ethics, aesthetics and garden design in Belgium (1913-1940)

Le Nouveau Jardin Pittoresque (The New Picturesque Garden) association was founded in 1913 to ‘renew and popularize garden art’ in Belgium. Originally, the emancipation of the lower classes was put forward as an important task; the association acted as a platform for those who were interested in the ethical role of garden design. Taking its journal Le Nouveau Jardin Pittoresque as the main source, this article investigates what was understood by the ‘new picturesque’ garden, why this type of garden was considered a suitable instrument for popularization and how the addressed audience evolved. The main argument is that the focus of Le Nouveau Jardin Pittoresque shifted from ethics to aesthetics during the interwar period. Under the impulse of landscape architect Jules Buyssens the emphasis moved towards the design of private gardens for the emerging middle class and away from the social role of the garden in the city

Egg essentials

Eggs are symbol of fertility. For generations eggs have been used as protein that is required by our bodily functions. Not only fresh eggs are used, many preserved eggs are also popular in many countries. For the Malays, hard boiled eggs are used as gifts in many events, especially in wedding reception and thanksgiving ceremonies. Telur pindang, which is popular in the state of Johor, is a hard boiled herbal egg that is served at weddings. It has been adopted from the Chinese culture. However, in the Chinese culture, century eggs and salted duck eggs have been passed down for many generations