Symbolic Transformation

Brings together scholars in the social sciences from around the world, to address the question of how mind and culture are related through symbols

This volume is the product of two decades of field research by one of Sri Lanka's distinguished anthropological interpreters.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Graph Transformation, ICGT 2020, in Bergen, Norway, in June 2020.* The 16 research papers and 4 tool paper presented in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 40 submissions. One invited paper is also included. The papers deal with the following topics: theoretical advances; application domains; and tool presentations. *The conference was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graphs are among the simplest and most universal models for a variety of s- tems, not just in computer science, but throughout engineering and the life sciences. When systems evolve we are interested in the way they change, to p- dict, support, or react to their evolution. Graph transformation combines the idea of graphs as a universal modelling paradigm with a rule-based approach to specify their evolution. The area is concerned with both the theory of graph transformation and their application to a variety of domains. The biannual International Conferences on Graph Transformation aim at bringingtogetherresearchersandpractitionersinterestedin the foundations and applicationsof graphtransformation.The ?fth conference,ICGT 2010,was held at the University of Twente (The Netherlands) in September/October 2010, alongwith severalsatellite events.It continuedthe line ofconferences previously held in Barcelona (Spain) in 2002, Rome (Italy) 2004, Natal (Brazil) in 2006 and Leicester (UK) in 2008, as well as a series of six International Workshops on Graph Transformation with Applications in Computer Science from 1978 to 1998. Also, ICGT alternates with the workshop series on Application of Graph Transformation with Industrial Relevance (AGTIVE). The conference was held under the auspices of EATCS and EASST.

The symbolic value of targets is what differentiates terrorism from other forms of extreme violence. Terrorism is designed to inflict deep psychological wounds on an enemy rather than demolish its material ability to fight. The September 11, 2001 attacks, for example, demonstrated the power of symbolism. The World Trade Center was targeted by Al Qaeda because the Twin Towers epitomized Western civilization, U.S. imperialism, financial success, modernity, and freedom. The symbolic character of terrorism is the focus of this textbook. A comprehensive analysis, it incorporates descriptions, definitions, case studies, and theories. Each chapter focuses on a specific dimension of symbolism in terrorism and explains the contexts and processes that involve the main actors as well as the symbolism of both the purposes and targets of terrorism. Also discussed are new religious movements, which represent another important aspect of terrorism, such as Aum Shinrikyo, the Japanese cult that used sarin gas in the Tokyo subway in 1995. Over forty areas of symbolism are covered throughout the chapters, including physical and non-physical symbolism, linguistic symbolism, the social construction of reality, rituals, myths, performative violence, iconoclasm, brand management, logos, semiotics, new media, and the global village. This allows for an in-depth examination of many issues, such as anti-globalization, honor killing, religious terrorism, suicide terrorism, martyrdom, weapons, female terrorism, public communication, visual motifs, and cyberspace. Main concepts are clearly defined, and followed by theory illustrated by international case studies. Chapter summaries, key points, review questions, research and practice suggestions are recurring components as well. This groundbreaking text encompasses all major aspects of symbolism in terrorism and will be an essential resource for anyone studying terrorism.

Many varying factors contribute to the dynamics of Chinese communication, which both resembles and differs from its Western counterparts. In this provocative new collection of essays, an international group of scholars challenges the conventional notion of Chinese culture as static, recognizing the causes of cultural change and strategies of resistance. Examining communication contexts in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Chinese Communication Studies: Context and Comparisons considers the relationship between culture and communication in Chinese political, gender, family, and media contexts, providing the reader with insight both into how enduring Chinese cultural values are, and how they are being appropriated to meet political and economic goals. Moreover, comparisons and distinctions are made between Chinese and Western communication concepts and practices on the issues of human rights, world opinions, pedagogical approaches, and instruction of rhetoric. In a work sure to be of value to many disciplines, the authors trace the historical development of ideas and value systems of both cultures, rendering an understanding of similarities and differences in both communication and cultural mindsets.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Graph Transformations, ICGT 2012, held in Bremen, Germany, in September 2012. The 30 papers and 3 invited papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on behavioural analysis, high-level graph transformation, revisited approaches, general transformation models, structuring and verification, graph transformations in use, (meta-)model evolution and incremental approaches.

Far from spinning a fantasy of what will never be, the book of Revelation depicts an alternate social world in order to shape the community and individual identity of an audience living under imperial rule. To highlight the Apocalypse’s meaning for its original audience, this volume focuses on two interrelated themes pulsing throughout Revelation: rhetoric and politics. It considers rhetorical strategies and tactics in Revelation and demonstrates how its rhetoric fits the situation in Roman Asia Minor and the struggle within the Apocalypse community. It also examines community and cultural conflicts, showing how myth, symbol, and liturgy function as means of resistance in an imperial setting. By offering a fresh window on the lively interplay between imagination and history, between words and worlds, this volume will be indispensable for anyone seeking to understand current scholarly analysis of the book of Revelation.