Contested Narratives:The Poetics of Home in Susan Muaddi Darraj's The Inheritance of Exile and Angela Tehaan Leon's Swimming Towardthe Light

Home and its meanings and significance have received extensive examination within the disciplines of anthropology,psychology,sociology,philosophy,human geogra-phy,and history.Home,which contains various references to houses,countries,and states,can no longer be considered a homogenized experience for migrants,as it takes shapes as a result of interaction between the past and present,the local and global,and the diaspora and country of origin.Drawing on diaspora studies and its theorizations of home,this article examines the heterogeneous and pluralistic nego-tiations of home in Susan Muaddi Darraj's The Inheritance of Exile and Angela Tehaan Leon's Swimming Toward the Light,and argues that the conventional under-standing of home as a fixed location tied solely to one's country of origin is chal-lenged.The first generation of Arab migrant women,as depicted in the novels,finds a sense of belonging in the familiar spaces and customs of their native countries,hence viewing them as their true home.In contrast,the second generation views home in a more multifaceted way.They see it not only as a physical space but also as a source of spiritual comfort.The analysis confirms that home can no longer be said to apply simply to a geographic place,site,or even to a certain culture or set of practices as it is interpreted differently and incarnated in multitudinous forms.The diversified meanings of home render it pliable and confirm its controversial and debatable nature,especially for subjects in transit.

A Study on the Symbol-Based Narrative in the International Communication of Cities

Cultural symbols,a manifestation of cities’cultural resources,are not only signs that frame concepts but also forms that express meanings.Exploring the international communication of cities from the perspective of symbols,this paper analyzes in depth how cities create their cultural symbols in the dynamic process of international communication in an era of symbol-based digital media,and how they develop their narratives and explain meanings through the dissemination of symbols when telling their stories to international audiences,thus enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of their international communication efforts.

Nursing effect of narrative nursing intervention on postoperative patients with severe lung cancer

BACKGROUND Lung cancer is a common disease with high mortality,and psychological support is very important in the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative patients with cancer pain.AIM To explore the application effect of the narrative nursing method in postoperative lung cancer patients in the intensive care unit.METHODS A total of 120 patients diagnosed with lung cancer and experiencing cancer-related pain were randomly allocated into two groups:an observation group and a control group,each consisting of 60 cases.The control group was given routine analgesic and psychological care,while the research group applied the five-step narrative nursing method based on routine care,comparing the visual analogue scale scores,sleep status,anxiety and depression status,and quality of life of the two groups of patients before and after the intervention.RESULTS The pain scores,anxiety scores,and depression scores of the study group were lower than those of the control group after the intervention using the narrative nursing method,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Using narrative nursing methods to intervene in patients with lung cancer combined with cancerous pain can help patients to correctly recognize their disease,adjust their mentality,establish confidence,alleviate patients'subjective pain feelings,and improve their adverse emotions.

An Exploration of Traditional Chinese Cultural Programs:The Construction of Rituals,Narrative Strategies,and Experiential Insights

In the context of the cultural development of the new era and the burgeoning spiritual demands of the people,there has been a remarkable surge in the proliferation of traditional Chinese cultural programs.The“Chinese Festivals”series,produced by Henan TV,standing out as an engaging TV program that showcases traditional Chinese culture,has rapidly captivated a diverse audience across different age groups,creating a rich,multi-dimensional,and cross-media cultural communication ecosystem.The program strategically selects symbolic elements by systematically categorizing and organizing traditional Chinese cultural symbols to create a rich cultural space.It employs cutting-edge scientific and technological methods to enrich viewer immersion,crafting media rituals with both temporal significance and a profound sense of media ritual.This approach boosts the program’s popularity and sets a benchmark for industry innovation.By fostering an interactive narrative between mainstream media and the public,the program continuously broadens the scope of the“story world,”fostering a harmonious and structured national cultural community through the creative interpretation of traditional Chinese culture and the evocative crafting of the aesthetic sensibilities inherent in Chinese art.It is worth noting that the phenomenon of aesthetic fatigue besets the development of this serial program.To address this issue and further improve the appeal of the program,a comprehensive approach is required to develop a cohesive narrative mode for the“story world.”This involves harmonizing the interplay between artistic endeavors and technological advancements,synchronizing sensory experiences with the foundational ritualistic elements,and enhancing the effectiveness of the media communication matrix to construct a brand of media culture that has social significance,aesthetic value,and economic profits in the new era.

The Exploration of Teaching Historical Narratives Through Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence

Wharton’s novels serve as compelling cases for understanding the complexities of late 19th-century American society.The paper uses The Age of Innocence as an example to examine detailed depiction of the era’s social hierarchy,fashion,architecture,and the intricate social rituals that defined New York’s upper class.It explores the constraints and dilemmas women faced within a patriarchal society,highlighting Wharton’s personal experiences and her critical stance on the social norms of her time.The characters of Newland Archer,May Welland,and Ellen Olenska are analyzed to reveal the pressures of societal expectations and the struggles for individual desires within a rigid social structure.Additionally,the paper proposes various teaching methods,including contextual understanding,literary analysis with a historical focus,and historical research projects,to enhance students’comprehension of the cultural and historical context of the novel.These methods aim to immerse students in the narrative and promote their understanding of the Gilded Age’s social dynamics.

Analysis of the Characterization of the Old Man in“The Law of Life”from the Narrative Perspective

“The Law of Life”is one of Jack London’s representative works,depicting the story of an elderly Native American abandoned by his family,alone and waiting for life to fade away.This paper,based on narrative theory,aims to explore how the author employs narrative techniques to present the image of the old man in the short story.The narrative techniques of dual focalization and dual narrative timelines in the text demonstrate the abandonment of the old man’s homeland and his inescapable death under a naturalistic view of life and reflect a desolate life picture of resignation towards death under naturalistic determinism,depicting a grim elderly world under the naturalistic concept of“survival of the fittest.”Studying this short story helps us reflect on the living conditions of the elderly and provides insights into how to better care for the elderly population amid the global trend of aging.

Narrative Empathy and Patriotism--An Analysis of the Chinese“Main-Melody”Film My People,My Country

Narrative empathy is a relatively new theory and it can guide researchers in the studies of main-melody films so as to promote the communication of the core values of the society.The rhetorical mechanism of narrative empathy can be illustrated from five rhetorical elements,including rhetor,rhetorical goal,rhetorical situation,rhetorical strategy and audience.The theory of narrative empathy can be applied to the case study of the film My People,My Country.In the production of this film,the directors are the rhetors.The rhetors uphold the tenet of closeness,choose the right rhetorical situation as the 70th birthday of the People’s Republic of China,and use appropriate rhetorical strategies in order to realize the rhetorical goals of evoking empathy and inspiring patriotic feelings in the audience’s minds.An exploration and application of narrative empathy can be conducive to the empathic communication of Chinese main-melody films in order to achieve better communication effect.

Writing the Silenced Female Body, Scrutinizing the Grand Narrative of Colonization and Decolonization: The Body in Zoë Wicomb’s David’s Story

David’s Story by Zoë Wicomb addresses the complexities of representing female suffering and the limitations of traditional historical narratives in capturing the experiences of marginalized bodies.It challenges the grand narratives of national history by emphasizing the indispensable role of women’s experiences.Through characters like Dulcie and Rachael,Wicomb portrays the female body as a site of resistance and resilience,highlighting the need for more nuanced and inclusive ways of documenting history.Underscoring the inexpressibility of trauma and the limitations of language and representation,the novel self-reflexively acknowledges its own aporia of completing the narrative,embodying the ongoing struggle to capture the full breadth of human experience.

The “Panchatantra” Narrative Structure and the Writing of Indian Women’s Dilemma in Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda

Dharamvir Bharati’s Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda connects the text with the social reality,through the multiple narrative perspectives of the“Panchatantra”Narrative Structure and the love stories,and narrates the survival and spiritual dilemma of Indian women in the transformation of India’s modernization.The novel depicts in both content and form the plight of Indian women’s physical and spiritual dependence under the traditional concepts of arranged marriages,caste marriages,dowry system and patriarchal will,and shows the process of women’s body and self-consciousness gradually moving from vitality to extinction.

Experiencing the Abject Female Body and Writing the Female Self:Body Narrative of In the Heart of the Country

In the Heart of the Country,the second novel by J.M.Coetzee,has been traditionally read as a disembodied writing that focuses on the problem of writing per se instead of the reality.This paper contends that the work is actually a body narrative that explores the visceral pain suffered by Magda whose infertile body impedes her being a qualified subject.As the heroine in a postcolonial novel,Magda is not just a body that is restricted and constructed by the politics of the body,but also a thinking and writing body that consciously questions and resists the gendered bodily norms under whose yardstick her subjecthood is barred.Written in the metafictional manner,Magda’s narrative of the body is not just a record of her corporeal experience,but also a self-conscious negotiation with,and challenge of,the bodily norms under whose yardstick her body has been debased or,in terms of Judith Butler,abjected.Taking her female bodily experience as the starting point,Magda writes a feminine text that values passion,fluidity and non-linearity to disrupt the patriarchal discourse underpinned with logical reasoning.The feminine body narrative endeavors to achieve a new way of communication through which a reciprocal cross race/gender relationship might be established.

Research on Narrative Design of Creative Products Based on Regional Cultural Elements

The research explored the ways and means of narrative design in which regional cultural elements are integrated into cultural and creative products.It also researched a new way of thinking and methods of creative product design based on regional cultural elements in order to satisfy consumers’emotional and cultural experiences.Narrative theory takes the perspective of narrative expression in the design of cultural and creative products.The regional cultural elements were used for better interactive communication with consumers in the form of cultural and creative products.In the narrative of cultural and creative product design,intervening in the development of regional cultural and creative design from the perspective of narratology can better exert and create the cultural value of the region itself,with cultural and creative products playing an important role in“local cultural stories.”This research adopted a qualitative approach and provided ideas and guidance for the narrative design and expression of regional cultural elements in creative products through comparative analysis of case studies.The research highlighted the role of narrative design in creating multi-layered experiences,weaving regional cultural stories into products,and the importance of deep understanding and effective use of regional cultural elements in design.

Exploring the Impact of Narrative Nursing on Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Middle-aged and Young Dialysis Patients

Objective:To explore the impact of narrative nursing on anxiety,depression,and quality of life in middle-aged and young dialysis patients.Method:Eighty-six middle-aged and young dialysis patients admitted from January 2023 to December 2023 were selected and divided into a control group and a study group,with 43 patients in each group.The control group received general nursing interventions,while the study group received narrative nursing in addition to the general interventions.The levels of anxiety and depression before and after the intervention were compared,and the quality-of-life scores of the two groups were analyzed.Results:After comprehensive intervention,the scores of both groups significantly decreased(P<0.05).After intervention,the scores of the study group were more significant compared to the control group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the quality-of-life score of the study group showed a significant upward trend,and this difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Comprehensive narrative nursing can effectively reduce anxiety in middle-aged and young dialysis patients,further enhance their quality of life,and is worth promoting in clinical practice.

An Overview of Narrative Medicine in China

This paper sketches the history and the author’s involvement in the development of narrative medicine in China.It also describes“narrative medicine with Chinese characteristics,”explaining why narrative medicine is regarded as a tool to materialize the medical humanities in clinical practice,and detailing the features of narrative medicine in China.The features include the wide acceptance of the“22334 model”of narrative medicine,and borrowing theories and practice from Traditional Chinese Medicine.Finally,the author argues that the medical humanities should be given a“Class-A discipline”status,and narrative medicine should be a class-B discipline under the medical humanities.

The Inheritance and Development of Chinese Narrative Medicine Practice to the Philosophical Wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Starting from the inheritance and promotion of Chinese life philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine wisdom by Chinese narrative medicine practice,this paper discusses the inheritance and echo relationship between the“close textual reading ability”in Chinese narrative medicine practice and the“four diagnoses”in traditional Chinese medicine wisdom,narrative mediation and the“mind-body holistic philosophy”in traditional Chinese medicine,and narrative wisdom and Dao Sheng in Chinese life philosophy.Meanwhile,by analyzing the stories of contemporary doctors’practice of narrative intelligence,this paper expounds that Chinese narrative medicine is a new model of medical education and clinical practice based on the absorption of Chinese traditional life wisdom and the essence of traditional Chinese medicine culture,and the integration of western narrative medicine concepts.It also advocates Chinese scholars to actively build the discipline of“narrative traditional Chinese medicine,”constantly translate the academic achievements to foreign countries,and create a good narrative ecology of traditional Chinese medicine.

Narrative Medicine Under the Guidance of Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory

This paper is an exploration into the practice of narrative medicine in the clinical setting guided by the theory and approaches of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).By adopting the theory of TCM,the author attempted to provide the patients with systematic treatment from the perspective of society-psychology-biology under the guidance of both the unity of Heaven and Man,and the unity of Xing(Body)and Shen(Mind/Spirit)through his clinical practice.Guided by yin-yang and Wu Xing(Five Elements)theory and focusing on the social relations of the patients for any possible relationships between patients’social,psychological and biological state,the author took the patients’emotion management as a point of departure and helped the patients recover both physically and psychologically by promoting positive transformation in patients’social,psychological,and biological state.A clinical case was provided at the end of this paper to demonstrate how the above theory was put into practice.Narrative medicine under the guidance of TCM theory can supplement modern medical humanity practices as well as extend the scope of modern medical treatment from the perspective of the unity of Heaven and Man,by enriching the content of narrative medicine,and promoting the medical model from biological medical model toward social-psychological-biological model.

AfterWards:A Narrative Medicine Program at Johns Hopkins Medicine and in China

Narrative medicine is a multidisciplinary field of inquiry and practice based on the premise that medical care takes place in the context of stories.Research on narrative medicine training suggests that it conveys benefits such as improved communication skills and personal and professional growth to physicians,medical students,and other health care providers.Narrative medicine can promote empathy and trust between patients and physicians and foster self-care.In 2014,the author and a colleague started an ongoing inter-disciplinary narrative medicine program in the Children’s Center of the Johns Hopkins Hospital called AfterWards.The program,which meets monthly,is open to all on a volunteer basis.Through literature,art,and writing,AfterWards nurtures empathy,encourages reflective practice,and builds community among a diverse group of health care providers.Through a series of lectures and workshops at Johns Hopkins Medicine,Peking Union Medical College,and Fudan Hospital in Shanghai,the author has introduced AfterWards to Chinese medical educators and clinicians.Working with Dr.Marta Hanson,she created an AfterWards Facilitator’s Guide for the use of Chinese practitioners.A recent White Paper on Chinese health care indicates that an infusion of humanities-based education,of which narrative medicine forms a part,can help rebuild patient-physician trust.Recently,there has been an increase in interest in narrative medicine in the United States and China.However,more research is needed to demonstrate the impact of programs like AfterWards.Challenges to the implementation of narrative medicine programs remain,most significantly in terms of expertise,resources,and time.

Rethinking Yi’an(Medical Cases)as a Tool for Narrative Medicine in China

When narrative medicine(NM)was introduced into China,traditional Chinese medicine scholars found that the core concepts advocated by NM are manifested in Chinese yi’an.But why NM echoes with ancient Chinese yi’an?How can we better integrate NM into Chinese medical practices?To answer those questions,this article first investigates how NM establishes itself as a remedy to biomedicine by taking traditional healing models including TCM as its ideal Other.Then,the narrative traditions of both case histories and yi’an are examined respectively.This article argues that NM is searching for a lost tradition of narrative case histories,but yi’an functions as a living tradition of TCM.The Parallel Chart in NM,designed as a complement to the dehumanized hospital chart,is still based on a dichotomy of science and art and a conflictual doctor-patient model.But yi’an exemplifies the holistic and humane healthcare that NM hopes to achieve.A comparison of both genres also inspired us to rethink the genre of yi’an in NM.Thus,it is concluded that yi’an should be viewed as an epistemic genre integrating individualization and generalization,a bridge linking medicine and literature.And narrative yi’an can well serve as a tool for NM in China.It is also proposed that a thick description of yi’an be encouraged to further promote a pluralistic NM in China.

Stories of Coping with Sickness:Illness Narratives in Early Medieval Chinese Anecdotal Literature

As basic facts of life,illness and healing occur frequently and in a variety of patterns in Chinese non-medical literature,starting from the earliest sources inscribed on oracle bones and continuing throughout literary history up to the present day.This article looks at illness narratives in early medieval anecdotal literature(3rd to 6th century CE)to understand how the experience of being sick or of attending to the sick was reflected in these socio-literary environments and what rhetorical and ideological roles these narratives played in their larger narrative contexts.By focusing on the experiences of the sick and those around them,this article aims at“Honoring the Stories of Illness,”in Rita Charon’s words,that are hiding in plain sight in much of Chinese non-medical literature.

Roles of Case Studies and Case Reports in US East Asian Medicine:A Narrative-Medicine Perspective

Recorded stories of the clinical encounter stretch back to ancient times.Throughout their history,these narratives have been called by different names,reflecting changes in format,function,and audience.This paper examines and explains the differences in two related forms of clinical writing as practiced by East Asian Medicine clinicians in the United States today-the case study and the case report.Each has its strengths and weaknesses;each is suited to different roles.The case study is ideal for education and the practice of narrative medicine,whereas the case report has played a vital role in propelling East Asian Medicine into the arena of modern scientific research.

Analysis of Narrative Strategies in Colum McCann’s Short Story“Sisters”

As the opening work of“Fishing the Sloe-Black River Stories,”Irish-American writer Colum McCann’s short story“Sisters”has attracted scholars’interest with its profuse historical background and themes of the times.From the perspective of narratology,this paper considers that the writer uses narrative techniques such as non-linear narration and embedded structure to express multi-level narrative voices through a first-person narrator,Sheona.These narrative techniques help to fully reflect the theme of the work and endow the work with great aesthetic and ideological value.