Why a magic monkey's story still captivates | Top 10

+ reality TV's unpaid interns US Edition - Today's top story: 'Journey to the West': Why the classic Chinese novel's mischievous monkey – and his very human quest – has inspired centuries of adaptations [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 September 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Happy Sunday − and welcome to the best of The Conversation. Here are a few of our recently published stories: - [Union and execs need to shift gears fast once UAW strike is over – transition to EV manufacturing requires their teamwork]( - [War in Ukraine is contributing to the erosion of global consensus over the spread of dangerous weapons]( I’ve always been fascinated by other cultures and, like my younger sister, longed to travel the world. Perhaps it’s due to the wanderlust created by having grown up in North Dakota. In any case, we both escaped small-town life and were fortunate enough to live and work in many global cities, including London, Paris, Beirut and NYC. Now that my wandering days are (mostly) over, I can still satisfy my cultural curiosity by reading about the people and places I may never get a chance to visit firsthand. An example of this came last week when I read a [piece we published]( on the 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West” and its “magic Monkey King” protagonist. The article, written by College of the Holy Cross Chinese studies scholar Ji Hao, and edited by Religion and Ethics Editor Molly Jackson, explores why the classic tale continues to inspire adaptations to this day. Jackson, a fellow travel-lover who spent three years teaching literature and writing in Hong Kong, said she had heard about the book from her students at the time and was gratified to finally learn the deeper story behind it while editing the article. The superhero monkey’s story of travel and personal growth struck a particular chord with me, as I’m sure it has with many over the centuries, by connecting with my own youthful search for adventure. Fortunately, the homebound like me can still inhabit new worlds and cultures – and learn from them – by picking up a book or article, before hopefully one day making the magical journey in person. Bryan Keogh Managing Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( Readers' picks ‘Monkey: Journey To The West,’ a nine-act opera adaptation performed at the Chatelet Theater in France. Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/French Select via Getty Image [‘Journey to the West’: Why the classic Chinese novel’s mischievous monkey – and his very human quest – has inspired centuries of adaptations]( Ji Hao, College of the Holy Cross There is a long tradition in China of associating monkeys with the mind – symbolism that has helped the novel’s most memorable character, the Monkey King, find universal resonance. - [Americans do talk about peace − just not the same way people do in other countries]( Peter Dixon, Columbia University; Amy E Lerman, University of California, Berkeley; Fiorella Vera-Adrianzén, Santa Clara University; Naomi Levy, Santa Clara University While Americans tend not to use the word 'peace,' and instead opt for terms like 'safety and security,' their desires and fears are not so different from what people in war-torn places express. - [Paying for hostages’ release involves moral risks − a political philosopher explains]( Michael Blake, University of Washington States sometimes choose to pay for the release of their citizens held hostage abroad – but there could be profound, long-term costs involved. - [How local police could help prevent another January 6th-style insurrection]( Matthew Valasik, University of Alabama; Shannon Reid, University of North Carolina – Charlotte The Proud Boys are more of a loosely affiliated street gang than they are a unified right-wing militia, researchers say. But police ignore the threats from these groups, and their threats grow. - [Why India fears the Khalistan movement and how Canada became embroiled in diplomatic spat over killing of Sikh separatist]( Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California, Santa Barbara Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke of ‘credible allegations’ of Indian involvement in a Sikh leader’s death. Editors' picks Country singer Adley Stump, a former contestant on NBC’s hit reality show ‘The Voice,’ performs at an Air Force base in Washington state. Joint Base Lewis McChord/flickr [Reality TV show contestants are more like unpaid interns than Hollywood stars]( David Arditi, University of Texas at Arlington With the TV writers and actors strikes leaving networks with little scripted content, the fall 2023 lineup will be saturated with low-cost reality TV shows like ‘The Voice.’ - [Your unique body odor could identify who you are and provide insights into your health – all from the touch of a hand]( Chantrell Frazier, Framingham State University; Kenneth G. Furton, Florida International University; Vidia A. Gokool, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Human scent could one day be used as evidence in forensics and as diagnostic information in medicine. - [Spending time in space can harm the human body − but scientists are working to mitigate these risks before sending people to Mars]( Rachael Seidler, University of Florida Space can damage everything from your cardiovascular and nervous systems to your mental health – long voyages can feel isolating for many. - [Genocide fears in Darfur are attracting little attention − have nations abandoned their responsibility to protect civilians?]( Mike Brand, University of Connecticut The international community has also failed to protect civilians in Syria, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Myanmar and Ethiopia, a genocide expert writes. - [Media mogul Rupert Murdoch resigns − extending Joe Biden’s ongoing good luck streak with the media]( Michael J. Socolow, University of Maine While President Joe Biden has low approval ratings, few other American presidents − with the exception of FDR and Warren Harding − have experienced such a run of good media luck. News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation The CDC and the GOP, earthquakes and handshakes, lionfish and suncreen and bourbon, oh my. Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](