Interdisciplinary Studies

Private domestic gardens have been the site of diverse inquiry in both the social and natural sciences. Intersected by these inquiries this paper focuses on how ‘weeds’ are (re)constituted through gardening practices in domestic gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand. The paper arises out of an interdisciplinary ecological and social scientific study of the factors influencing the distribution and regeneration of 12 bird-dispersed native woody species from Riccarton Bush, an urban forest remnant of significant ecological rarity, into surrounding residential properties. As part of this study we were especially interested in how people’s everyday experiences and encounters in their gardens guide their gardening practices and what possibilities, if any, these create for self-introduced native seedlings to establish, and mature into adults. Drawing inspiration from literatures on human–plant relations we use the concepts of performance, non-human and ‘planty’ agencies to argue that weeds are performed by people and plants rather than having a pre-determined or pre-figured meaning. Empirically the paper seeks to highlight the diverse, unique and disruptive agencies of plants. Methodologically it reflects on ways of engaging with and researching human–plant relations. In concluding, the paper examines how concepts of performance, non-human and planty agencies can provide insights for weed management and urban plant conservation.

RETHINKING ALLEGORY WITH ANGUS FLETCHER
A Symposium in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Allegory: The Theory of a Symbolic Mode

Warburg Institute
23 October 2014

Published in 1964, Angus Fletcher's Allegory: The Theory of a Symbolic Mode is the first major theoretical account of a subject which has in the meantime grown to considerable prominance across a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. Daringly original and truly prescient in its interdisciplinary purview, Fletcher's Allegory has remained a classic, lastingly influential study, anticipating and advancing some of the most compelling work in contemporary allegory studies. On the occasion of the book's fiftieth anniversary and its recent reissue by Harvard University Press, this symposium seeks not only to celebrate Professor Fletcher's seminal work, but also to offer a timely opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of allegory scholarship.

The symposium will feature a lecture by Professor Fletcher (City University of New York), followed by response papers and discussion sessions. Confirmed speakers include Brenda Machosky (University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu), Christiania Whitehead (University of Warwick), and Anthony Ossa-Richardson (Queen Mary, University of London).

Organisers: Karen Lang and Vladimir Brljak (Warwick) and Peter Mack (Warburg Institute)

Further info and registration: http://warburg.sas.ac.uk/events/colloquia-2014-15/rethinking-allegory-with-angus-fletcher

Watersheds are settings for health and well-being that have a great deal to offer the public health community due to the correspondence between the spatial form of the watershed unit and the importance to health and well-being of water. However, managing watersheds for human health and well-being requires the ability to move beyond typical reductionist approaches toward more holistic methods. Health and well-being are emergent properties of inter-related social and biophysical processes. This paper characterizes points of connection and integration between watershed management and public health and tests a new conceptual model, the Watershed Governance Prism, to determine the prevalence in peer-reviewed literature of different perspectives relating to watersheds and public health. We conducted an initial search of academic databases for papers that addressed the interface between watershed management (or governance) and public health themes. We then generated a sample of these papers and undertook a collaborative analysis informed by the Watershed Governance Prism. Our analysis found that although these manuscripts dealt with a range of biophysical and social determinants of health, there was a tendency for social factors and health outcomes to be framed as context only for these studies, rather than form the core of the relationships being investigated. At least one cluster of papers emerged from this analysis that represented a cohesive perspective on watershed governance and health; “Perspective B” on the Watershed Governance Prism, “water governance for ecosystems and well-being,” was dominant. Overall, the integration of watershed management/governance and public health is in its infancy.

The extent of exposure to which a societal group is possible to fall into a critical condition or crisis is defined as the vulnerabilities embedded in the group. Vulnerability eradication is then characterized as having particularities in each circumstance. The eradication effort addressed to a vulnerable community with situational limitations is becoming interesting to study. Technology, as an interdisciplinary solution, is potential to be a powerful solution for the eradication. Although vulnerability eradication has been widely discussed, the discussion is rather fragmented that compiled in historical way. This study aims to analyze the quest of community survivability through technological appropriateness and design. Information are gathered from literatures to be properly ordered based on the position of each phenomenon in history. Facts are compared and contrasted to deliver clear understandings on the chronologies. The historical explanations indicate that the pursuit of technological appropriateness was tightly related to the rising of technological independence in Southern hemisphere. Also, design methodologies were developed to address challenges in each own timeframe, yet each one has its own benefits and disadvantages; hence engineers need to carefully choose appropriate methodology to produce an “appropriate” technology. Then, this study gives a notion that the quest is still waiting to have further development of design methodologies for AT.

The most significant philosopher of Being, Martin Heidegger has nevertheless largely been ignored within communications studies. This book sets the record straight by demonstrating the profound implications of his unique philosophical project for our understanding of today’s mediascape. The full range of Heidegger’s writing from "Being and Time" to his later essays is drawn upon.

Topics covered include:
- an analysis of Heidegger's theory of language and its relevance to communications studies
- a critical interpretation of mass media and digital culture that draws upon Heidegger's key concept of Dasein
- a discussion of mediated being and its objectifying tendencies
- an assessment of Heidegger's legacy for future developments in media theory

Clear explanations and accessible commentary are used to guide the reader through the work of a thinker whose notorious reputation belies the highly topical nature of his key insights.
In a world full of digital networks and new social media, but little critical insight, Heidegger and the Media shows how a true understanding of the media requires familiarity with Heidegger’s unique brand of thinking.

Beauty in itself is a combination of reality and personal
perception. As the mouth is the centre of communication in the
face, the smile plays an important role in facial expression and
appearance. Facial and smile attractiveness appear strongly
connected to  each other. Attractiveness is suggested to influence
personality development and social interaction. Our ultimate goal,
as clinicians is to achieve a pleasing composition in the smile-to
create an arrangement of the various esthetic elements to proper
proportion or relation according to known principles.

"This indispensable anthology gathers texts and translations that cover major aspects of the Virgilian tradition from the Roman poet's own lifetime to the year 1500. Unprecedented in scope, the book presents a vast compendium of materials that illuminate how poets, teachers, students, and common folk responded to Virgil and his poetry. The volume offers a brief commentary on each text, many of which are translated into English for the first time."