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.

Illness Narratives in Edgar Allan Poe’s Short Stories

Edgar Allan Poe occupies a unique position in the history of American literature.His gothic horror novels prove astounding on account of extraordinary rendering the atmosphere and in-depth psychological description.In his gothic novels,pestilence,tuberculosis and madness are common and the protagonists always suffer from foregoing diseases.Based on the investigation of the relation between Poe’s life and illness and the social and cultural background of Poe’s time,the thesis aims to discuss the emergence and embodiment of illness narratives in Poe’s tales in order to explore the aesthetic values and cultural connotations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

First-Person Retrospective Narrative in The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones written by Alice Sebold is about a 14-year-old girl Susie who,as a ghost,tells her story as well as her family's after her death.Tiffs paper focuses on the characteristics of the first-person retrospective narrative in The Lovely Bones.Firstly,this paper introduces the story,the double focalizations of the first--person retrospective narrative and the purpose of the paper.It then discusses the three functions of the first-person retrospective narrative:enhancing authenticity,intensifying intimacy and contributing to the love theme of the story.Besides,the thesis points out the limitation of the first-person retrospective narrative:monotonous.Therefore,a shift of the narrative perspective is put forwards as the solution to the problem.

Nursing Activities at Health Surveys and Health Checkups during the Early Period of Operation of the Hiroshima ABCC—Oral History Study Based on Narratives of Three Japanese Nurses

Using an oral history approach, this study analyzed the narratives obtained from semi-structured interviews administered to three Japanese women who worked as nurses for the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC). The analysis of the data in the narratives showed details of the health surveys and health checkups conducted during the early period of operation of ABCC. During the early period of operation of ABCC some survivors showed negative behaviors toward the health surveys and health checkups at the ABCC. However, it can be inferred that dedicated nursing played an important role in alleviating the stress and emotional issues of survivors at the health surveys and health checkups. The findings of the study could be beneficial to research into nursing activities for patients exposed to radiation at the present day.

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.

On English Communications by Narratives and Computer Games

Computer video games,which are based on personal computers,game consoles,and portable devices,can be played solo or multiplayer,and over networks. Interaction,which is the basic characteristic of games,provides rich communication opportunities for audiences. Meanwhile,narrative is a far more diverse concept to be considered as a distinctly important way of communication. This essay will compare and contrast the communication opportunities provided by narratives and computer games.

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.

Cultural Influence on Text Structures──A Comparative Study of Chinese and German Routine Narratives

Culturalexchangesenablepeopletorecognizedifferencesbetweentextstructuresindifferentlanguages.Asearlyasthe60's,Kaplanalreadypointedouttheinfluencethatculturehadupontextstructures,butculturalfactorshavenotyetreceiveddueattentioninmanylinguisticwritings...

Viewpoint Arrangement and Mental Space Configuration: A Cognitive Analysis on Objectivity Construction in Journalistic Narratives

This paper presents an analysis on how objectivity is discursively constructed in journalistic narratives by drawing on the theories of viewpoint and mental space in Cognitive Linguistics. It is posited that at least three mental spaces are projected by a narrative discourse, i.e., a narrated event space, a narrating space, and a basic space, and the distance between the first two spaces determines the degree of objectivity in the narrative discourse. A schema which represents the configuration of the different spaces is proposed and applied in the analysis of journalistic narratives to explore the strategies of objectivity construction. The analysis reveals that what the different journalistic narratives have in common in the construction of objectivity is to distance the narrated event space and the narrating space with the former being foregrounded in the viewpoint arrangement.

Loving her into well-being one day at a time: Narratives of caring for daughters with eating disorders

When a child is diagnosed with an eating disorder, parents are expected to help the child recover. Yet, parents often feel under-prepared and alone, their experiences inadequately known to healthcare professionals. The research aim was to examine the meaning to parents of caring for a child with an eating disorder. Qualitative interviews with 29 parents were analyzed and the parents’ experiences were represented by a collective story of loving her into well-being one day at a time which consisted of two themes: Running on nerves and caring through transformational activism. Running on nerves included threads of feeling lost, traumatized, scarred, and disengaged that mitigated as parents engaged in transformational activism processes directed toward helping themselves, their child, and other parents and children. The findings illustrate the importance of hearing parents’ stories in order to create supportive healing environments and to build capacity within families and health care systems.

Beyond Individualism Perspective of Trauma: Evidence for Adopting Collective Narratives for Empowering Long-Term Rehabilitation for Children of the Ethnic Qiang People Who Have Been Affected by Disaster

Objective: Exploring how an ethnic culture-focused collective narrative strategy can be effectively used to promote resilience among the affected Qiang children for post-disaster psychological trauma at scale. Design: The study was conducted with a cohort of ethnic Qiang children through a pretest(n=1100) and post-three years test(n=957) to evaluate the effect of the intervention program from myth story-based collective narrative cultural practices. Results: Data from the study clearly indicate that children's resilience behaviour had been greatly improved by the myth story-based collective narrative activities with average scores on 11 items showing a significant increase from 2.08 at baseline to 4.12 at 3 years follow-up posttest(mean=2.04, 95% CI=0.97, 3.11, p <0.0001). No similar change occurred in the control groups(mean=0.74, 95% CI=-0.75, 2.23, n.s). Conclusion: The adoption of an ethnic culture-focused collectivism narrative approach for reduction of vulnerability was able to greatly promote the cultural variable to enhance coping for Qiang children affected by trauma at scale, which informed the urgency for developing an indigenous psych-cultural agenda for collectively responding to disaster trauma in ethnic minority contexts.

Using narratives to express bereavement: An interview study on professional female writers experiences that in their middle age have lost their mothers

Objectives of the study were to increase the knowledge about women who in their middle age have lost their mothers and to investigate the therapeutic value of expressive writing in the grief process according to the women. Method: An interview was carried out with 18 professional female authors about their writings about death of a close relative, their mothers. They were asked to tell about the grief and what the writing meant to them. Results: All authors described in narratives. Some results were evident such as;feelings of relief by writing and their reflections and memories became clear. As authors of imaginative literature they were use to the process of writing. Conclusions: The evidence from this study offers useful information for nurses to plan and design programmes based on narrative structures in nursing care.