Session 4: Time and Place

3rd Global Conference

Thursday 15th March – Saturday 17th March 2012
Prague, Czech Republic

Harry Potter in Hong Kong, As Western Dominance Gives Way to Eastern Powers
Christina DeCoursey
Dept. of English, Core A, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong

At this time in global history, political and economic power are shifting away from the established western players and towards Asian societies, China in particular. Western media have begun to include Asian characters, but as yet show relatively small engagement with the qualities of the Confucian heritage and identity, which is likely to reshape the creative arts and industries in coming years. Similarly, Chinese youth are often not confident or clear about placing their own cultural identity into a global context. This paper examines the perspectives of young urban Chinese students, about the fantastic qualities of a major Asian city. The Harry Potter novels and movies are popular among Hong Kong’s young people. These were used to scaffold a transposition exercise, in which 35 undergraduates were asked to plan and design a revised version of the Harry Potter stories. The exercise required attention to setting the stories into the city of Hong Kong, transforming characters and issues using specifically Chinese characteristics, and indicating how they could “make magic Chinese”. Appraisal analysis was used to evaluate lexicogrammar related to feelings, judgments and appreciations expressed in student papers, via CorpusTool computer tagging. Research on Confucian cultural values, and on Hong Kong people’s abilities to codeswitch, is used to interpret specific elements of the resettings, including choices about the built landscape, the nature of conflict between good and evil, and interpretations of plot events entailing matters of social harmony, education, and family obligations.

Download Draft Conference Paper (pdf)

The Function of Supra- Territoriality in Shahnameh
Razieh Eslamieh and Navid KomarejHajee
Islamic Azad University, UAE

In Shahnameh, deviation from normal is seen in the supernatural heroes, demonic figures and the occurrence of events. The book seeks to find a-temporal and a-spatial patterns and characters that will exist forever. The first technique used is the fusion of differences- different time periods, places and characters- which adds to the magical aura; Rostam from the 2nd c confronts Afrasiyab from the 6th c.

The second technique is ambiguous treatment of spatial and temporal axes; it is not evident where and when the events happen. Moving beyond temporal or spatial distinctions makes possible the occurrence of any event or the appearance of any character, such as supernatural heroes and demonic figures. Rostam, is an extraordinary supernatural hero and so is every aspect of his life. Zaal, with white hair and complexion, is sun-like and is aided by the god of sun symbolized in Simorgh. Supernatural heroes either live quite long or forever to impart the Zoroastrian belief that there exist superheroes that help mankind whenever physical sources are exhausted.

Demonic figures also have inexplicable characteristics. Zahaak and Esfandyar have animalistic signs; the former has two serpents on his shoulders and the latter is amphibious. Unlike supernatural heroes, who are aided by heavenly figures, demonic figures are guided by Iblis. Supernatural heroes should confront demonic figures. In fact, the monstrosity that exists in every man is projected out in the form of demons. Overcoming such demons means overcoming one’s vices which purifies the superhero. Supernatural heroes are distinguished from devilish figures in that the formers, particularly those who are brought up by natural forces- Zaal, Fereydoon and Keykhosro- have the power of prophecy (Prometheus-like) and the latters have post-act regret (Epimetheus-like).

Overall, moving beyond differences, by supra-territorial treatment of events and characters, is for releasing man from physical bondages to gain the metaphysical truth as well as perfecting him to be united with his holy origin.

Babr- Bayan: Iranian Most wanted National Magical Herois Outfit
Maryam Dara
Olumo Tahghighat Azad University of Tehran, Iran

There always is a popular and specific outfit of the greatest hero or king of a nation. Babr-i Bayan, Rostam’s battle outfit and cloths, is the most famous national one in Iran ever.

According to Shahnameh and different other texts, Rostam’s Babr-i Bayan helps him to be safe and even gain victory in the battles. There also are different versions of stories related to Babr-i Bayan.

Author tries to mention Babr-i Bayan identity, what it is made of and also its different specification in this paper in order to show it as not a usual military uniform or just a normal clothes but to underline its magical and sometimes religious specifications to illustrate how this outfit became unique among Iranians.