Social inclusivity,cultural diversity and online film consumption

It has been argued that the circulation of film online is a “democratising process”, evident in the breadth and depth of international film now available online, and in the greater ease of access to this content for audiences across the world. This is seen by some to present greater commercial opportunities for film-making from countries marginalised by previous distribution networks, and to foster a more globally diverse and inclusive film-viewing culture, with particular benefits for diasporic populations. Others, however, have pointed to the way in which audiences’ engagement with film online may be constrained by the economics and technology of online distribution and cultural competencies rooted in social stratification. These factors may limit how and what audiences watch, extending beyond issues of physical access to those of cultural access. As such, they raise questions regarding the demographic composition of the audience for online methods of film distribution and different types of international film. We lack sufficient understanding of these issues, however, due to the limited emphasis upon socio-demographic variables in existing academic research into online film consumption, and the limited consideration of particular film content in relevant market research. This article uses original audience research to interrogate the extent to which online distribution is able to connect audiences to a diversity of international film in comparison to other methods of distribution. It also considers some of the socio-demographic characteristics of the audiences for different methods of distribution and types of international film. In doing so, the article grants us a clearer understanding of the degree to which online film distribution fosters diversity and inclusivity through the connections it facilitates between audiences and content.     

Learning the American Way: Sports International and American Soft Power

Abstract

From 1962 to 1968, the United States Government along with private entities funded the training of athletes from developing nations through a non-profit organization named Sports International. Led by former Peace Corps member David Dichter, Sports International sought to enhance America’s image in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The initial aim of the programme was to train athletes to compete at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The theory behind Sports International centred on the notion that helping developing nations achieves athletic success would influence them to view the United States more favourably. The idea to form Sports International came in the midst of the Cold War as the United States and the Soviet Union battled on a multitude of fronts. This article argues that American leaders worried about the presence of the Soviet Union in developing countries and sought ways to maximize American influence in those areas. The theory of soft power, a concept most prominently explicated by American international relations theorist Joseph Nye, forms the framework for this study. By analysing Sports International through this lens, this article demonstrates several problems which might ensure should one overemphasize the effect of sport on a nation’s soft power.     

The experience of watching baseball games in Korea: an analysis of user-generated content on social media using Leximancer

The current study explores international tourists’ experiences of watching professional baseball games in Korea. Total 152 reviews posted by tourists on TripAdvisor were analyzed through Leximancer, a computer program used in the qualitative content analysis. The software identified three dominant themes of tourist experiences: the distinctive atmosphere of Korean professional baseball games, the diverse services in the stadium, and fanatical cheering behavior for the team. Moreover, it revealed that international tourists were generally positive toward the culturally distinctive style of Korean professional baseball games. This study suggests that the professional sports of a travel destination can be a form of providing international tourists with pleasurable experiences and a way to learn about the distinctive Korean baseball culture.     

The current trends of leisure sports in France

Sport participation in France is characterized by deep trends that make more and more French people taking part in sport activities,and broaden the types of sports and physical activity they take part in. However,sport remains differentiated in the sense that strong differences can be observed between sports,and between individuals. Along these deep trends more micro-trends can be observed involving ei-ther the purpose of sport participation (e. g. search for adventure and fun)or the forms and modalities of this participation (e. g. individualisation and technologisation). Furthermore,sport participants are in-creasingly difficult to satisfy as they can mix several of these micro-trends,sometimes in a contradictory fashion,demonstrate multiple interests for various leisure sports and activities,which constitutes a signifi-cant challenge for leisure sport organisations.     

浅议基于电子商务的信息化比较优势

在网络经济时代,信息资源已成为国家经济实力的核心战略资源。培育我国基于信息化的比较优势,是提高我国对外贸易综合实力的重要手段,具有时代迫切性和积极意义。电子商务的迅速发展,使得通过电子商务来开展国际贸易的比例越来越大,也给国际贸易和世界经济带来更大影响。面对变革的机遇,应发挥信息化比较优势,摆脱目前我国在国际贸易中单纯依靠廉价劳动力而获利较少的不利地位,从而获得跳跃式发展。     

具有难民身份的儿童的收养问题探析

随着收养的逐渐增多,国际社会开始给予其越来越多的重视.收养既可使丧失父母或父母无力抚养的孤儿享有与其他儿童一样的权利,也可以满足一些不愿自己生育或无法生育的夫妻的要求,是解决社会冲突的重要途径,更是一个关系各国安定团结,社会稳定的重要问题,因而努力解决具有难民身份的儿童的收养问题其意义显而易见.     

我国纺织技术标准与国外的差距分析及接轨思路

采用比较研究方法,试图通过我国纺织技术标准与国外的差距分析,探讨与国际接轨的思路。结论是：我国纺织技术标准与国外比较存在标准体系上、职能上、考核项目和性能指标上、生态环保和社会责任上、标准更新速度上以及利用技术标准构建技术壁垒上的差距,应通过加强对国外纺织技术标准的动态研究,积极推进纺织技术标准由生产型标准向贸易型标准转变,把纺织技术标准制定的重点转向生态化与环保化,高度重视社会责任标准的制定,加快强制性技术标准向技术法规的转化,积极推广和认证国际标准和国外先进标准,加强纺织技术标准服务的信息化等途径加快与国际接轨的步伐。     

No public value without a valued public

This study aims to enlighten the controversial discussion about the term public value in an innovative way. Instead of normative pronouncements and paternalistic posits, this study combines a theoretical, literature-based conception with an empirical quantitative approach. For this, the key term, public value, is split into its constituent parts of customer value and citizen value and is transformed into measurable attributes. By means of a choice-based conjoint analysis on panel data for Germany and the United Kingdom, we explore which performance attributes of public service broadcasters are the most important. Based on the results, we create a conception of public value from the perspective of the license fee payers as the main stakeholder of public service broadcasters. Our findings may unlock existing potential to increase our understanding of what is meant by the term public value.     

普通高校体育教学评价多元化模式分析

体育教学评价本身是体育教学中不可或缺的部分,同时也有利于对体育教学的质量进行相对科学、合理的评估。对于体育教学改革而言,完善教学理论研究,采取多元化评价模式已成为未来改革的重要方向,同时制订专业的教学评价指标体系,从模型构建的过程中探究其具体应用方法。