Paper short abstract:

This study reveals how the authenticity of handicraft is affected by globalization. Examining the market of Turkmen bags, it shows that the trajectories through which handicraft used to be circulated has been developed into multiple ways and that it has been led to a concept of multiple-authenticities.

Paper long abstract:

The concept of authenticity as a key value for the trade of handicraft sheds light on the developing formation of the trajectories through which it has been circulated. While the Turkmen handicraft was evaluated by the value the West placed on untouched authenticity since 19th-century industrialisation, now at the age of globalisation, the market for Turkmen handicraft is generated by the constant demand for new commodities. The concept of authentic handicraft in the global market has been challenged within the process of development. Therefore, it is vital to question the impact of globalisation on the authenticity of handicraft. Historical records illuminate that the handicraft of the Turkmen ethnic groups inhabiting the north-east of Iran, used to be famous for the stability of their style and design over centuries. However, this ethnographical study discloses various styles of Turkmen bags being distributed along multiple trajectories, including carpet, tourism and fashion marketplaces in Iran. Following the journey of Turkmen bags from production to distribution and consumption, this research uses applied multisided ethnography. In fact, in the shadows of evaluating the authenticity of handicraft, the Turkmen tribe art is circulated through multiple-trajectories. Each trajectory imposes a new system of value with which to evaluate the authenticity of handicraft. Hence, rather than considering a handicraft as either an authentic or inauthentic commodity in the handicraft market, a concept of multiple authenticates could reveal the dynamic change that the handicraft has undergone in the age of globalisation.

Paper short abstract:

Culinary arts have awarded Macao with the UNESCO title of Creative City of Gastronomy through the process of politicization, commoditization and tourism promotion. In postcolonial Macao, food symbolises identity and heritage, and also the city's resistance and differentiation from mainland China.

Paper long abstract:

The Macao Special Administrative Region, China, was one of the latest members to join UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the gastronomy field. The application led by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture and the tourism stakeholders of the Macao SAR, with the support of China central government, was officially assumed as a powerful international branding which will bring new opportunities for Macao to develop as a diversified and sustainable city. Consistent with a world heritage site - image that the political authorities have been fabricate since Macao's handover to China - aspirations lie in the city's representation as a cultural and heritage destination, offering multiple tourist attractions suitable for differentiated tourism segments and beyond the richest gambling market of the world that made famous the Asian enclave. Ethnographic fieldwork concentrated on festivals within the Year of Gastronomy initiative, the kick off of the four-year action plan for forging Macao into a Creative City of Gastronomy, revealed the spectacular political performances of displaying and reaffirming traditional practices and knowledges in the public urban space.

This paper focusses on governments uses of culture for identity construction and heritage projects at the internal level and for tourism destination image imaginaries at the external level. I am particularly interested in exploring how secular culinary art traditions are commodified as touristic products in Macao postcolonial context and turn out to be the result of wider economic and political interests while, at the same time, make communities' aspirations - specially the Eurasian Macanese - more apparent.

Paper short abstract:

The paper documents how Han Chinese folk art has adapted and survived through the tempestuous political and economic upheavals of the 20th and 21st centuries, based on fieldwork with Chinese colleagues at Shandong University of Art and Design between 2005 and 2016.

Paper long abstract:

Rural arts play a central role in Han Chinese village life. They mediate relationships with the gods and express traditional values such as the hope for a happy marriage, successful harvests and the birth of many children.

For many centuries, China's arts belonged to the culture of the educated middle classes, the 'wen ren' or literati. Folk traditions such as woodblock printing, weaving and paper cutting were dismissed as craft (shou gong, hand work). At the start of the 20th century the New Culture Movement argued that, if it were to shake off Western domination, China must adopt Western culture. From the 1930s, however, some urban artists recognised that traditional woodblock printing could be harnessed for political propaganda. Folk art was recognized as 'min jian yi shu' (art among the people). Under early Communism folk arts associated with traditional religion were suppressed while others were encouraged to promote government policies.

After the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) traditional themes quickly reappeared as people sought to re-establish harmony with the gods, but folk arts soon suffered competition from mass produced copies. Recently, successful folk artists have moved toward creating fine art (mei shu), drawing on Taoist philosophy and historical novels. This has been encouraged by government recognition of skilled artists as 'Masters of hand-made art', where 'hand-made' is now celebrated in opposition to mass-production.

The paper will draw on fieldwork carried out in Shandong Province between 2005-2016 with colleagues from Shandon University of Art and Design.

Paper short abstract:

The paper deals with the role of traditional healers in addressing primary health and nutrition care through communication strategies piloted by UNICEF and taken to scale by government as central approach to alter help-seeking behaviour.

Paper long abstract:

This paper bases itself on the premise that systematic engagement and mobilising traditional healers as key community influencers will lead to improved health and nutrition outcomes for children while also fostering positive change in social norms and cultural practices.

Development has not been unfolding equally across India and Odisha is no exception. Having the third highest tribal population in India; tribal and marginalised communities especially in remote areas remain partially insulated from processes of social development. Multiple deprivations such as low levels of education, poverty and poor access to services make tribal communities even more vulnerable.

With social development indicators focusing on an underlying need of changing behaviours, social norms and cultural practices for improved health, nutrition and child survival indicators; development strategies need to be inclusive and understand the prevalent social practices that impact demand and utilisation of health and nutrition services.

Strategic interventions to improve access and demand for services also require an enabling environment that would foster positive actions; both individual and community for social change, and demand and utilisation of services. This kind of sustained change involves a kind of 'social movement' at community level driven by influencers. In remote, insulated and vulnerable tribal communities; these influencers are 'traditional/faith healers' who enjoy immense acceptability and trust amongst community members. Perceived as 'god-men' in communities; the traditional and faith healers in these communities are informal-service providers by government institutions.