<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The (re)connection of contemporary society with traditional knowledge and its expression, traditional crafts, is a contradictory endeavor in itself. On one hand, traditional crafts are socially perceived as a burden, as a useless part of social life, and in the best case, as an exotic remanence of the past, good only for the hobbyists. On the other hand, as UNESCO and WIPO stated, traditional knowledge, and, by extension, traditional crafts are (or should be) an essential part of humankind’s history, part of the present, and the potential keepers of answers for future challenges. The presented paper aims to point out, mainly for general public use, the characteristics of traditional crafts and their richness. Traditional crafts might possess valuable answers for the present and future, related to sustainable use of natural resources; techniques and technologies for restoration and preservation of cultural heritage; holistic approaches in education; social and economic cohesion, especially for challenged communities. One of the main challenges in the active preservation of traditional crafts is that their protection and further acceptance at a social scale are connected with communities and not with individuals. In this respect, societies must find those instruments to address the communities of knowledge bearers and not companies or individuals. This understanding of the exceptional significance of communities in the present and future of traditional crafts is part of the solution for a desired sustainable life on this planet. Modern technologies will not offer all the answers to a dramatically fast-changing environment.
</abstract>

Traditional Crafts. What About?

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
We witness a revival of the crafts due to complex changes in mentalities and society, but also related to the benefits and positive implications that traditional crafts could offer to contemporary societies and economies. Also, traditional crafts are compatible with the concept of sustainable development, which gives them another boost. The present paper represents one of the very few literature reviews in the field of traditional crafts aiming to map the knowledge we possess on traditional crafts. It documents a significant gap between professional and academic research, with the former being visible at local/national levels, but also an increased interest in the field, especially in understanding the future role that traditional crafts could play in communities and economies.
</abstract>

alexandra.zbuchea@facultateademanagement.ro

Traditional Crafts. A Literature Review Focused on Sustainable Development

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
We aim to map the divide between practice and research in the field of knowledge production and diffusion related to museum studies. In doing so, we draw on the domain literature regarding the evolution of museums as institutions and its implications for the development of a dedicated field of studies. The current research focuses on the publishing work undertaken by museum professionals and researchers, as an essential component contributing to the advancement of research as well as to the diffusion of good practices. More precisely, we scrutinized European journals from the domain available on the Web of Science (WoS) as well as journals not included in the “main” scientific flows and generally published in various languages, other than English.
</abstract>

A Theory-Practice Divide in a Museum Showcase

The Dynamics of the Museum Concept

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The study of seniors’ perception of the use of technology is the main topic of this article. This is relevant because of the topicality and the need to understand how active aging and the use of new technology are realized in a seniors’ dedicated program in Romania. In the literature review section, the following concepts are presented: the role of technology in everyday life, the types of technologies seniors use, the meaning of information and communication technology concept, and understanding the concept of loneliness and seniors’ needs. The second section of the article consists of qualitative research using based on a case study (in-depth interviews and participatory observation) on the <italic>Telefonul Vârstnicului</italic> Program (Senior People Phone Line) in Romania. The purpose of the research is to identify the seniors’ needs, faced problems, reached needs, and the qualities a social worker should have. The main findings of the research emphasize the fact that senior citizens are guided to various state institutions, providing them with useful, verified, and official information. Older people face several problems, both financial and medical, but they also need to communicate to relieve loneliness and meet new people. The digital skills of the elderly are quite limited but have been growing in recent years.
</abstract>

Seniors and the Use of New Technologies: Loneliness and Support Networks

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Romanian cartography at the Paris Peace Conference has so far received very little attention. Nevertheless, Romanian scholars produced tens of maps to support Romanian claims, most of them ethnographic ones. Seen as unscientific in 1919, they were quietly brushed aside. The present article argues that Romanian maps of 1919 displayed the same ideas found among Romanian elites. Ethnographic space was for them not just a matter of graphic representation of census results, but also the historical development of ancient and modern Dacia. Romanian cartography was congruous with Romanian culture in a wider sense. The article will review these ideas and then discuss their impact in Paris in 1919 and for Romanian culture since then.
</abstract>

The Past as Science: Romanian Cartography at the Paris Peace Congress of 1919

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
In recent years, customer experience and satisfaction have become more critical than ever before. Companies focus on these two elements to retain and acquire customers in a highly competitive environment. The relationship between authors and publishers has always been complex, with dynamics deeply rooted in the social and cultural environment. At the same time, the success of their collaboration significantly impacts the local creative and sociocultural landscape. It is essential to understand the factors that determine author satisfaction and ease of collaboration, both generally and industry-specific, to support the growth and development of the book sector. This paper analyzes the collaborative dynamics between authors and publishers using the Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) and Customer Effort Score (CES) metrics based on a survey of 133 authors from various literary fields and geographic areas in Romania. The research findings provide insight into the key drivers behind authors' satisfaction and ease of collaboration with publishers. Moreover, we suggest practical recommendations from authors to publishers that can improve their collaborative processes, enhancing positive experiences for authors and potentially improving the overall quality of published works. This study's insights shall benefit authors, publishing houses, various organizations operating in the publishing field, policymakers, and regulatory bodies.
</abstract>

osadci.ana-maria@student.facultateademanagement.ro

Beyond the Manuscript: Unraveling Author-Publisher Dynamics

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Photojournalism as an industry has experienced a highly dynamic development in recent years. The present study aims to provide an encompassing image of this industry and its emergence, as well as its challenges in the current context. The cultural dimension of this sector, as well as its prevalent connection to the book industry, constitute two of the main perspectives elaborated in this study. Lastly, an entrepreneurial perspective on photojournalism as a profession is adopted, while a detailed DESTEP analysis is provided further to illustrate the practical implications of this field of work.
</abstract>

Photojournalism. Between Industry and Culture

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The following article explores a proposed educational programme premised on writing for utopias. Specifically, through facilitated dialogue, participants would collectively engage in creative writing as a mechanism for envisioning alternative futures grown out of divergent political ideologies or social norms to those they experience today. Participants are encouraged to question their current mentality, reflect on why society operates as it does today, and consider what changes they would want to bear witness to. The contribution outlines core concepts for the programme, whilst offering a sample twelve-session guide with suggestions on how to adapt it based on previous knowledge or the participants' ambitions. The ambition of such an undertaking is that students are supported - and support each other - to break with traditional formulaic tasks and, instead, develop their creativity and vision. Their works then serve as a starting point for further tasks predicated on critical dialogue over why they hold particular beliefs, rely on their stated visions to be utopian, and, ultimately, what steps are required to build towards the society they wish to see. The premise is non-prescriptive to enable writers to take their narratives in whichever directions they see fit - for example, whilst science fiction permits us to consider far flung futures, and fantasy enables perspectives to emerge from any source (flora, fauna, or otherwise), historical fiction enables us to revisit significant moments in time to ask what could have been had different choices been made. Throughout the submission, several literary and cinematic fiction examples are drawn upon to help demonstrate the relevant points.
</abstract>

Write Like You’re Living in a Better World: Creative Writing as a Means for Building the Societies We Wish to See

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Society has always relied on education for the building of progress ever since the dawn of history, and books have always been strong agents of change no matter the shape they came in (papyrus, codex, handwritten manuscripts, printed books, digital books, etc.). For this reason, analyzing the interplay between education and books is valuable and necessary if we wish to get a better sense of society at any moment. This paper explores how education and the book industry intersect in today's Romanian society. However, it also proposes a possible solution for strengthening their relationship and opening new horizons for culture and research. More specifically, my analysis focuses on children's literature since children's education is considered an investment into the future of society in modern democratic states. In the case of Romania, it is unfortunate that this type of literature is somewhat neglected compared to other countries, but this should never be a good enough reason for not trying to create more creative contexts to improve the situation. Drawing inspiration from what other countries are doing to develop bridges between education and the children's book market, but at the same time highlighting essential initiatives in Romania that can become reliable engines of change, I strongly advocate for the necessity and possibility of creating a Romanian House of Children's Literature, open to supporting researchers, professionals, and families in their shared mission to ensure quality development of children.
</abstract>

Education and the Children's Book Market at the Crossroads: the Foundations for Creating a Romanian House of Children's Literature

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Book publishing companies navigate the interplay between localization and globalization seamlessly, yet the cadence at which global dynamics infiltrate local markets unfolds at different rhythms. Using publicly available data about the performance of Romanian book publishers, this paper explores the local market and its dynamics from 2018 to 2021. The results indicate "an inactivity trend" among enterprises: more than 40% of companies could not generate a net profit, and more than 50% had no employees. The prevalence of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) over big companies is an intrinsic characteristic of the Romanian market. Although compared to bigger companies, SMEs manage to translate sales into profitability, over 70% of small and medium-sized companies have a turnover below 60,000 Euros. The paper concludes by highlighting growth opportunities, such as tapping into the Romanian diaspora and exploring the correlation between book sales, university locations, and the role of academic institutions in shaping reading habits.
</abstract>

cecilia.ciocirlan@facultateademanagement.ro

Turning Pages, Facing Challenges: Unveiling Business Inactivity and SMEs' Challenges in Romania's Book Publishing Market

Editorial: Post-Pandemic-Era: Another Crossroad for the Book Industry?

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This paper explores the role of knowledge visualization in facilitating decision-making in cultural heritage management. The paper addresses the issue in the specific context of stećci - the tombstones from medieval Bosnia inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list. Grounded in the distant reading paradigm, the paper introduces a series of visualizations of spatial, temporal, architectural, iconographical, epigraphical, and impact analyses of stećci data. Together, these visualizations should enable decision-makers to gain an enhanced understanding and knowledge of this important cultural heritage. In turn, this should help them make better decisions regarding their protection and promotion.
</abstract>

Visualizations Supporting Knowledge-Based Decision Making in Cultural Heritage Management

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Can intellectual property and marketing strategies help bearer communities to make a sustainable living from their intangible heritage? This is the question that underpinned a British Academy-funded interdisciplinary research project that comprised researchers from the UK, France, and Italy, and an NGO from Kolkata. This contribution describes the development and implementation of heritage-sensitive intellectual property and marketing strategies (HIPAMS) with two communities in West Bengal – Chau dancers and Chau mask-makers who were at the heart of the project. Using methods including forum theatre and walking stories, the research team and the communities’ highlighted challenges faced by the communities in making a sustainable living from their heritage skills and developed ways in which HIPAMS could be used by the communities to their advantage while retaining a focus on the importance of the heritage. The initial evaluation shows how significant these strategies can be for heritage communities, however small and incremental the advances made.
</abstract>

Designing Heritage-Sensitive IP and Marketing Strategies for ICH-Based Creative Economy

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
As audience-oriented and information-driven organisations, museums are embracing the Internet and interactive technology for developing virtual museums by encouraging the participation of the users in cultural activities. Technology does not exist <italic>per se</italic> being socially shaped. Museums have the opportunity to promote social innovation by developing technology and opening up to the audience as an active participant in the definition of cultural contents emphasising the interaction and communication between museums and their users. The Internet and interactive technology help museums to drive service innovation by opening up to the participation of the audience in defining cultural heritage contents. As virtual-oriented and technology-driven organisations, museums are becoming <italic>social</italic>, developing social spaces for innovation, selecting different pathways by managing information and knowledge sharing, developing interactive and virtual technology, building a shared authority on cultural heritage, involving the user as an active participant in co-production of cultural heritage knowledge.
</abstract>

Becoming <italic>Social</italic> Museums by Being Virtual-Oriented and Technology-Driven Organisations

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Although there is a renewed interest in contemporary society in the simple and natural life in rural areas, the rural intangible heritage, including the traditional crafts, is slowly disappearing. Craftsmen get old and the younger generations seem not to be too open to continuing the craftsmanship. Therefore, stimuli of various types are necessary to action for the revival of traditional crafts. The present contribution presents the strategy of ASTRA Museum, one of the most important open-air museums in Romania, regarding the sustainable development of traditional crafts. It argues how a museum could educate and stimulate cultural tourism through crafts, but also determine and support entrepreneurship in the domain of traditional crafts.
</abstract>

Traditional Crafts: Incentive of Sustainable Rural Development. The Contribution of the ASTRA Museum

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The present research paper explores the contribution of the Inquiry Drama Method to meaning-making in a museum environment. It presents and assesses an educational program realized in the Historical Museum of Alexandroupolis. The article comprises a theoretical and an empirical section. The first part refers to the museum as a context of development and learning, in Inquiry Drama Method, and the functional connection between them. In the second part, a theatre-pedagogy intervention is presented through Inquiry Drama Method and Action Research methodology in a museum environment. The participants are university students in the ‘Drama and Group Empowerment and Resilience’ course of the Department of Primary Education at the Democritus University of Thrace. This educational research intervention was completed in three circles of four main stages each (plan, action, observe, reflect), drawing on museum exhibits regarding photos of refugees in Thrace as well as theatrical texts, storytelling, and personal testimonies from Armenian refugees. Results show that the participants constructed personal and social meaning through Inquiry Drama Method and drama techniques on sociopolitical issues, regarding what it means to be a refugee in the old and contemporary times.
</abstract>

Inquiry Drama as a Method to Explore the Museum Environment. An Action Research Example at the Historical Museum of Alexandroupolis (Greece)

Culture. Society. Economy. Politics

Call for papers December 2023 Deadline extension to...

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Volume 3 (2023): Issue 2 (December 2023) The Dynamics of Books - Writing, Publishing, Reading

Volume 3 (2023): Issue 1 (June 2023)

Volume 2 (2022): Issue 2 (December 2022) Museums. Communities, and Society

Volume 2 (2022): Issue 1 (June 2022) Traditional Crafts and Sustainable Development

Volume 1 (2021): Issue 2 (December 2021) Special issue affiliated to the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, 2021 | UNCTAD