From book to stage to screen: semiotic transformations of Gothic horror genre conventions

ABSTRACT

This paper adopts a multimodal social semiotic approach for exploring the semiotic changes involved in the transformation of a novel into stage and screen productions. It examines how semiotic resources are deployed in each medium through elements of mise-en-scène, such as speech, music, sound, lighting, props, staging, and cinematographic techniques, and the viewing perspectives that are thus established for audiences. The genre of Gothic horror is selected for this purpose, given how this form of performance has transfixed audiences for centuries and has been adapted for both the stage and the screen. In order to demonstrate how each performance medium has produced its own unique set of foregrounding devices to enthral and captivate audiences, a comparative analysis of excerpts from the novel The Woman in Black by Susan Hill, a videotaped theatrical performance, and the 1989 British television film of the same name is undertaken. The paper discusses the implications of the multimodal semiotic approach for developing a better understanding of the semiotic transformations that horror genre conventions undergo in different media and the viewership positions that are thus re-drawn for audiences. The paper concludes with a view of multimodal recontextualisation processes which form the underlying basis of human sociocultural life.     

Intellectual iconoclasm as modernizing foreign policy: the cases of Mahathir bin Mohamad and Lee Kuan Yew

This article attempts to engage in a preliminary twinned study of the foreign policy styles of Mahathir bin Mohamad and Lee Kuan Yew within the framework of ‘modernizing Southeast Asian foreign policies’. Modernization is a process of immense multidimensional displacement in economy, society, political system, attitudes towards politicians, identities, work, and consumption. As such the onus falls upon their leaders to either mitigate change or productively awaken their followers to embrace a new mode of thought. Both Lee and Mahathir have however chosen to engage in the foreign policy of intellectual iconoclasm featuring the narrative of ‘productive shock’, manufactured nationalist logics, elitist policy-making and elaborate self-propaganda.     

Management and safety of a medical mission: occupational hazards of volunteering

Medical aid missions involve travel to conflict or danger zones, posing safety risks in addition to the usual occupational risks arising from daily medical work. The note reports on a volunteer mission, using personal reports, anecdotal experiences, and the formal annual report to undertake an assessment similar to worksite assessments for hazards and control measures. Hazards were found to be prevalent, including physical noise and heat, infectious exposure from patients and local vectors, poor water sanitation, and psychosocial stress from unfamiliar environments and large patient numbers with limited means. Implementable preventative measures include increasing awareness with appropriate protective equipment usage and safety guidelines. Mission planning and management should also involve occupational health input.     

南海问题风波再起的背景

今年初,中国的周边安全形势似乎进入了一个多事之春,中国东南方向的领土领海争端呈现出一种集中爆发之势:3月5日,马来西亚总理巴达维登陆南沙群岛的弹丸礁,宣示马国对该礁及其附近海域的主权。3月9日,美国白宫发言人指责中方     

“无痛伦理观”的困惑及其化解——“后道德社会”大学生道德责任问题探析

随着经济的发展,人类社会经历了从现代性到后现代性的转变,进入了"后道德社会",其伦理观表现为道德约束力减弱、权利无限扩大和自我奉献精神失去的"无痛伦理观"。当今大学生受社会的影响,道德责任感开始缺失。我们应当从道德责任回归的应然性与必然性出发,采取必要措施,不断强化大学生的道德责任意识。     

集体行动、利益博弈与村庄公共物品供给——岳村公共物品供给困境及其实践逻辑

公共物品供给匮乏是当前村庄发展中所直面的现实问题,成为阻碍新农村建设的基础性因素。但传统政府供给职能的萎缩和市场供给有限形态的存在,使得以“一事一议”为代表的村庄集体供给成为重要补充,然而实践表明村庄公共物品供给依然存在困境。村民个体理性逐渐觉醒,成为村庄公共事务管理主体,开始寻求资源有限背景下的自我利益最大化。通过岳村调查发现,村民理性表现为集体成本分担意愿,并呈现从弱到强的变化态势,集体行动的奥尔森困境则表现为投机行为泛滥、精英剥夺严重、公共选择趋于瘫痪等。重构乡村社会资本、实施“有偿”供给、政府财政介入、构建小集团供给模式成为走出村庄公共物品供给的奥尔森困境的可能选择。     

价值寻求与国际关系学科的发展

在传统国际关系的主流研究中,存在着贬低价值和内含价值追求的矛盾现象.这种现象经常被学者们所提及,但没有能够给出合理的解释.然而这一问题却与国际关系学科的生存和发展密切相关.为了确立国际关系作为一门学科存在的必要性,国际关系学者们接受了休谟问题的基本观点,并把权力置于学科研究的核心地位,从而导致了它对价值问题的逻辑性排斥.然而,随着国际关系中价值追求的拓展,国际关系作为一门学科的独立性又将面临新的严峻挑战.     

日本电视剧通过互联网在中国大陆传播现状

互联网已成为日本电视剧在中国大陆传播的新平台,但对该平台的研究却与其受关注程度不对等。日本电视剧通过互联网在中国大陆传播的主体是将日本电视剧上传至互联网的字幕组及个人,客体是通过互联网在中国大陆传播的所有日本电视剧,受众以日语学习者、偶像剧迷、年轻白领为主。日本电视剧通过互联网在中国大陆的传播具有先行快速便捷、客体数量庞大却制作不够精良、受众范围小、影响力大等特点,在中国的影响遍及语言、服饰、饮食、旅游等社会生活的方方面面,也面临着版权保护难度高、跨文化传播等问题。     

Hyperosmolarity Induces Armanni‐Ebstein‐like Renal Tubular Epithelial Swelling and Cytoplasmic Vacuolization

Armanni–Ebstein lesions have been considered pathognomonic for diabetes mellitus and appear as markedly swollen renal tubular epithelial cells with cytoplasmic clearing and glycogen accumulation. However, the extent to which hyperosmolarity contributes to the Armanni–Ebstein phenotype is unclear. Ten sheep were injected intravenously with 20% mannitol at 11 mOsm/kg, and subsequent histological evaluation of the kidneys showed variable degrees of osmotic nephrosis and cytoplasmic clearing of renal tubular epithelial cells similar to that seen with Armanni–Ebstein lesions. However, although morphological changes similar to Armanni–Ebstein lesions could be produced, no intracytoplasmic glycogen was demonstrated with periodic Acid–Schiff (PAS) stain. This suggests that while hyperosmolarity may contribute to the development of an Armanni–Ebstein phenotype, glycogen accumulation may result from the more complex metabolic effects of glucose on renal tubular epithelial cells. Thus, when Armanni/Ebstein‐like vacuolizations are seen at autopsy, a confirmatory PAS stain is recommended because of the potential effect of hyperosmolar states.     

Armanni–Ebstein Lesions in Terminal Hyperglycemia

Armanni–Ebstein lesions (AEL) occur in deaths related to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. To investigate the relationship between AEL and terminal hyperglycemia, we retrospectively reviewed 71 cases with vitreous glucose levels ≥11.1 mmol/L; 27 (38%) cases had AEL (vitreous glucose 14.0–77.3 mmol/L); and 44 cases (62%) did not (vitreous glucose 11.1–91.9 mmol/L). There was no significant difference (p = 0.271) in vitreous glucose levels between the cases with AEL (mean 39.2, SD 16.7 mmol/L) and those without (mean 34.2, SD 19.8 mmol/L). Similarly, there was no difference in the degree of dehydration, renal failure, or osmolality. However, there was a significantly higher level of β‐hydroxybutyrate among the cases with AEL compared to those without (p = 0.007), suggesting that ketoacidosis may facilitate the development of AEL. Given the possible synergistic role of β‐hydroxybutyrate, the correlation between AEL and terminal hyperglycemia in animal studies may not be applicable to humans. AEL may also possibly occur with sublethal elevations in glucose.