Monstrøsitet som kulturel og religiøs diskurs

The present contribution attempts to understand and interpret the significance of monstrosity, a well-attested phenomenon in the history of religions. First, monstrosity is interpreted as a mode of cultural discourse pertaining to boundaries and the construction of cultural categories. Its social function is understood along the theories of Girard. The presented view, however, suffers from a lack of adequacy. It neither explains the use of monsters in religious discourses, nor does it indicate why they are often used to bring about transformation and change. In addition to this, it does not offer an explanation for why monsters may be seen as positive and benevolent creatures.Second, the use of monsters in religious discourses is examined and monstrosity is interpreted in relation to Turner’s concept of  liminality. The concept, however, is extended to include not only ritual sequences but also spatial and conceptual structures. In religious discourses, monsters can be seen as stigmatized pendlers between this world and ‘the other world’. It is claimed that monsters embody access to the transformative powers of transcendence and may thus be used both to ward off evil and to gain access to benevolence.In the last part of the contribution, these views are illustrated by an analysis of selected narrative and ritual monster traditions from the religions of ancient Mesopotamia. The examples document that monsters are not inherently evil creatures and that it makes sense to understand monsters in relation to boundaries and liminality. In religious discourses, monsters are used to focus on the relationship of humans to transcendence: preserving or obtaining blessing and life and warding off curse and death. Monsters are instruments for gaining access to transcendence, they are embodiments of liminality, and they are used to transform the existing order of things. Monsters dissolve differences and thereby thematize the possibility of change. In this manner, the use of monsters contributes to a questioning of fixed classifications and identities

Exodus, ritual, cognition - and memory

Introduktion til teorier om kulturel hukommelse og om det fantastiske i litteratur samt en analyse af de fantastiske elementer i Ex 1-1

Religion, fantasyfilm og fantastiske væsener:: Mediering af religion i Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This article discusses the nexus of religion and media on the basis of an analysis of one example of religion in popular culture: the expansion of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series in the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001) and the subsequent film by the same title connected to the book (directed by David Yates, screenplay by J.K. Rowling 2016). I present a study of religion-based, media-focused approach to film analysis that distinguishes between verbal and non-verbal aspects of mediation. The analysis treats the mediation of religion – traditional religion, magic and monstrous beings – in the film, as well as the mediality of the film. The analysis shows that the film forms part of a broader trend that portrays traditional religion as ossified and authoritative, while magic, monsters and green religion are represented as fascinating and attractive. Moreover, I argue that the mediality of the film sustains a blurring of boundaries between worlds in terms of the film-internal world structure, in terms of the diegetic vs. the afilmic world, and in terms of the hu-man vs. the nonhuman world. The key argument of the article is that pop-cultural me-dia constitute an important arena for religion, as media such as fantasy films both re-flect and form religious transformations today. This arena needs more attention in the study of religion. DANSK RESUME: Denne artikel diskuterer religion og medier ud fra en analyse af et eksempel på religion i populærkultur, nemlig en videreudvikling relateret til J.K. Row-lings Harry Potter univers: udgivelsen af bogen Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001), en bog der er fiktivt indlejret som undervisningsbog på Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, og den senere filmatisering der knytter sig til bo-gen, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (instrueret af David Yates, screenplay af J.K. Rowling 2016). Artiklen præsenterer en religionsvidenskabelig, mediefokuseret tilgang til filmanalyse, der inkluderer både verbale og non-verbale medierings-aspekter. Analysen behandler fremstillingen af religion – hhv. traditionel religion, magi og det monstrøse – i det filmiske univers, samt filmens medialitet. Analysen viser, at filmen indlejrer sig i en bredere trend, hvor traditionel religion fremstilles som forstenet og autoritær, mens magi, monstre og grøn religion fremstilles positivt og tiltrækkende, samt endvidere at filmens medialitet understøtter en udviskning af grænserne mellem verdener både i den tekst-interne verdensstruktur, mellem den diegetiske og den afilmi-ske verden, samt mellem den humane og den non-humane verden. Artiklen argumente-rer grundlæggende for at populærkulturelle medier såsom fantasyfilm udgør en vigtig arena for religion, og at denne arena bør behandles religionsvidenskabeligt, da den både afspejler og former religiøse forandringer i samtiden

Vildmænd fra Gilgameš til Galliens skovhelte

Artiklen gennemgår aspekter af Hans Jørgen Lundager Jensens analyser af Gilgameš-eposets morale og analyserer aspekter af eposets introduktion, der peger i en anden retning. På den baggrund argumenterer jeg for at Gilgameš-eposets og Hans Jørgen Lundager Jensens formative kraft ligger i deres stadig afsøgen af nye horisonter.This article discusses Hans Jørgen Lundager Jensen’s analysis of the key message of the Epic of Gilgameš. It analyses aspects of the epic’s introduction that point in a different direction. On this basis, I argue that the formative power of both the epic of Gilgameš and Professor Hans Jørgen Lundager Jensen lies in their continual search for new horizons

Religion og medier i et religionsvidenskabeligt perspektiv

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The religion and media field has grown strongly as an academic subject in recent years, especially regarding studies of religion in contemporary mass media, TV, film, internet, social media etc., and in relation to popular culture. Scholars of religion have also begun to pay attention to the important role that media, mediation, and mediatization have played in the history of religions. It is this growing awareness that we wish to examine here. Our focus is not intended to signal the abandonment of interest in contemporary religion, media and popular culture; rather we wish to place this development in the deep and broad perspective of the study of religion. Media, mediation, and the more recent phenomenon of mediatization, are processes that are inseparable from the ways in which religion functions and is passed on from generation to generation. Thus, from a general study of religion perspective, we promote the argument that media and mediation processes are central aspects of how all religions function because all communication, including religious communication, can be seen as mediated. In this article, we reflect on and discuss the roles that media have played in the deep history of religions and continue to play in the present by bringing religion and media studies in conversation with cultural evolution and cognitive perspectives. DANSK RESUMÉ: Religion og medier er blomstret stærkt op som emnefelt i de seneste år, særligt med fokus på religion i samtidens massemedier, tv, film, internet, sociale medier m.m. og i relation til populærkultur. Samtidigt er religionsforskere blevet opmærksomme på at medier og mediering har spillet vigtige roller for religionshistorien og det er dén udvikling vi her vil gribe fat i. Dermed ønsker vi ikke på nogen måde at signalere en opgiven af interessen for religion, medier og populærkultur i samtiden, men snarere at vi ønsker at indsætte denne udvikling i et langt og bredt religionsvidenskabeligt perspektiv. Medier og mediering er uadskilleligt fra hvordan religion fungerer og videreføres fra generation til generation. Derfor anlægger vi det overordnede perspektiv her, at medier og mediering udgør centrale aspekter af hvordan alle religioner fungerer, da al kommunikation, inklusiv religiøs kommunikation, kan anskues som medieret. I denne artikel reflekterer vi over og diskuterer den rolle medier, mediering og medialisering har spillet i religionshistorien og i samtiden bl.a. med inddragelse af kulturevolutionære og kognitive perspektiver

Forord

Foror

Exploring the potential of ChatGPT as a supplementary tool for providing orthopaedic information

Purpose: To investigate the potential use of large language models (LLMs) in orthopaedics by presenting queries pertinent to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery to generative pre-trained transformer (ChatGPT, specifically using its GPT-4 model of March 14th 2023). Additionally, this study aimed to evaluate the depth of the LLM’s knowledge and investigate its adaptability to different user groups. It was hypothesized that the ChatGPT would be able to adapt to different target groups due to its strong language understanding and processing capabilities. Methods: ChatGPT was presented with 20 questions and response was requested for two distinct target audiences: patients and non-orthopaedic medical doctors. Two board-certified orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons and two expert orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons independently evaluated the responses generated by ChatGPT. Mean correctness, completeness, and adaptability to the target audiences (patients and non-orthopaedic medical doctors) were determined. A three-point response scale facilitated nuanced assessment. Results: ChatGPT exhibited fair accuracy, with average correctness scores of 1.69 and 1.66 (on a scale from 0, incorrect, 1, partially correct, to 2, correct) for patients and medical doctors, respectively. Three of the 20 questions (15.0%) were deemed incorrect by any of the four orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon assessors. Moreover, overall completeness was calculated to be 1.51 and 1.64 for patients and medical doctors, respectively, while overall adaptiveness was determined to be 1.75 and 1.73 for patients and doctors, respectively. Conclusion: Overall, ChatGPT was successful in generating correct responses in approximately 65% of the cases related to ACL surgery. The findings of this study imply that LLMs offer potential as a supplementary tool for acquiring orthopaedic knowledge. However, although ChatGPT can provide guidance and effectively adapt to diverse target audiences, it cannot supplant the expertise of orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons in diagnostic and treatment planning endeavours due to its limited understanding of orthopaedic domains and its potential for erroneous responses. Level of evidence: V

The Materiality of Magic

The Materiality of Magic is an exciting new book about an aspect of magic that is usually neglected. In the last two decades we have had many books and proceedings of conferences on the concept of magic itself as well as its history, formulas and incantations in antiquity, both in East and West. Much less attention, however, has been paid to the material that was used by the magicians for their conjuring activities. This is the first book of its kind that focuses on the material aspects of magic, such as amulets, drawings, figurines, gems, grimoires, rings, and voodoo dolls. The practice of magic required a specialist expertise that knew how to handle material such as lead, gold, stones, papyrus and terra cotta – material that sometimes was used for specific genres of magic. That is why we present in this well illustrated collection of studies new insights on the materiality of magic in antiquity by studying both the materials used for magic as well as the books in which the expertise was preserved. The main focus of the book is on antiquity, but we complement and contrast our material with examples ranging from the Ancient Near East, via early modern Europe, to the present time

Coalition for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)—a protocol for a global cross-sectional survey of health and gender equity in rheumatology

Lay Summary: What does this mean for patients? The CHANGE Study, led by a team of rheumatology professionals worldwide, is working to make health care more equal for everyone. We are focusing on challenges faced by rheumatologists, such as fair pay and career opportunities. To understand these issues better, the team is gathering information through a global survey of rheumatology professionals. The goal is to find out why there are differences and come up with solutions. Ultimately, the aim is to create a fair and inclusive environment in rheumatology, ensuring that everyone has the same chances to grow in their careers, regardless of their gender. The findings of the study will help to create better guidelines, promoting fairness and equality for health-care professionals in rheumatology

Migalastat improves diarrhea in patients with Fabry disease: clinical-biomarker correlations from the phase 3 FACETS trial

Background: Fabry disease is frequently characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea. Migalastat is an orally-administered small molecule approved to treat the symptoms of Fabry disease in patients with amenable mutations. Methods: We evaluated minimal clinically important differences (MCID) in diarrhea based on the corresponding domain of the patient-reported Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) in patients with Fabry disease and amenable mutations (N = 50) treated with migalastat 150 mg every other day or placebo during the phase 3 FACETS trial (NCT00925301). Results: After 6 months, significantly more patients receiving migalastat versus placebo experienced improvement in diarrhea based on a MCID of 0.33 (43% vs 11%; p = .02), including the subset with baseline diarrhea (71% vs 20%; p = .02). A decline in kidney peritubular capillary globotriaosylceramide inclusions correlated with diarrhea improvement; patients with a reduction > 0.1 were 5.6 times more likely to have an improvement in diarrhea than those without (p = .031). Conclusions: Migalastat was associated with a clinically meaningful improvement in diarrhea in patients with Fabry disease and amenable mutations. Reductions in kidney globotriaosylceramide may be a useful surrogate endpoint to predict clinical benefit with migalastat in patients with Fabry disease. Trial registration NCT00925301; June 19, 2009