The City That Is Not: Apophasis and Anglo-Saxon Urbanism

Author(s): Rafał Borysławski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The article discusses two Old English cases of walking through cities that no longer exist and the implications that such visions entail for early medieval philosophical perspectives. The first part proposes a conjectural vision of the city of Rome from around the time of the visits of young Prince Alfred of Wessex, future King Alfred the Great, in 853 and in 855 A.D. The second part is constructed upon an understanding of one of the Exeter Book elegies, “The Ruin”, presenting musings on whatever remained from another Roman city, conceivably identifiable with Aqua Sulis, that is, Bath. The reflections of the former encounter with the city may be, perhaps, found in the Meters that accompany Alfred-inspired translation of Boethius’s “De consolatione philosophiae”, and the city present in “The Ruin” is another example of the excidio urbis theme. Together, the two visions confirm the Old English metaphysical value of the city that becomes its negative, that is, the city that is formed by absences, lacunae, and vestiges of its past. Seen in this light, the “cities that are not” are presented here as instances of apophatic thinking, akin to that of Pseudo-Dionysius, whereby more can be expressed by questions and negative statements than by factual testimonials. The proposed Anglo-Saxon walks through ruined cities paradoxically offer an augmentation of reality and an existential practice in the elusiveness of signification extending beyond urban boundaries.

The Maze, the Fog, the Mass, the Dog: Sherlock Holmes in London

Author(s): Justyna Jajszczok / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The article revolves around the concept of the late-Victorian London as an accomplice in crime. Employing a number of literary examples but mostly concentrating on Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, the text investigates specific techniques the metropolis uses in order to aid criminals and hinder the work of law-enforcement officers. The labyrinthine structure of the city, its ability to envelop itself in impenetrable yellow fog, and its vast population make the late nineteenth-century London a haven for wrongdoers. The final part of the article presents arguments in favour of the claim that only Sherlock Holmes is capable of leading a successful career of a private investigator in such a crime-aiding city. This is made possible not just because of his extraordinary observational skills, but also due to the fact that the detective, as presented in the stories, possesses a number of unique canine features which make him immune to London’s tricks.

Anorexia and the City: Special Significance of the Urban Environment in Eating Disorder Memoirs

Author(s): Nina Augustynowicz / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The article examines a book of memoirs belonging to a larger group of textual representations of individual struggle with anorexia in order to shed light on the city as a crucial character in the account of the disease. “Kid Rex: The Inspiring True Account of a Life Salvaged from Anorexia, Despair and Dark Days in New York City” (2008) by Laura Moisin is one of many recent publications touching upon the subject of eating disorders penned by and depicting the life of young upper middle class big city women. First notable books of this kind appeared around 1980, while since the beginning of this century we have been observing a steady increase in this respect, resulting in the proliferation of these personal narratives in popular culture. In accordance with the research suggesting that the incidence of eating disorders is higher in urban areas, publications of this kind all seem to refer to such environments; however, the aforementioned book could be considered special here as it portrays the deep-reaching relations between witnessing the events of September 11 attacks and the development of the disease. Even though it remains unclear which elements of cityscapes are responsible for the higher incidence of the anorexia, the acute experiences offered by NYC around the time of the attack highlight the probable causes. Employing the interdisciplinary perspectives offered by psychogeography, food studies and sociology of medicine, the article analyses how the influence of the city on female victims of anorexia is presented in the memoir to show that urban spaces may function both as a symptom of and as a factor contributing to the disease.

Ръкопис за петте стъпала. Горин Но Шьо

Author(s): Miyamoto Musashi / Language(s): Japanese,Bulgarian

When the undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi retreated to a cave in 1643 and wrote The Book of Five Rings, a manifesto on swordsmanship, strategy, and winning for his students and generations of samurai to come, he created one of the most perceptive and incisive texts on strategic thinking ever to come from Asia. Musashi gives timeless advice on defeating an adversary, throwing an opponent off-guard, creating confusion, and other techniques for overpowering an assailant that will resonate with both martial artists and everyone else interested in skillfully dealing with conflict. For Musashi, the way of the martial arts was a mastery of the mind rather than simply technical prowess—and it is this path to mastery that is the core teaching in The Book of Five Rings. Written not only for martial artists but for anyone who wants to apply the timeless principles of this text to their life, the book analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction.

Разплата. История на Отон. Пратеничество в Константинопол. Разплата. История на Отон. Пратеничество в Константинопол

Author(s): Liudprand Liudprand of Cremona / Language(s): Bulgarian

This modern translation of all the surviving literary compositions ascribed to Liudprand, the bishop of Cremona from 962 to 972, offers unrivaled insight into society and culture in western Europe during the "iron century". Since Liudprand enjoyed the favor of the Saxon Roman emperor Otto the Great, and traveled to Constantinople more than once on official business, his narratives also reveal European attitudes toward the Byzantine Empire and the culture of its refined capital city. No other tenth-century writer had such privileged access to the high spheres of power, or such acerbic wit and willingness to articulate critiques of the doings of powerful people. Liudprand's historical texts (the Antapodosis on European events in the first half of the 900s, and his Historia Ottonison the rise to power of Otto the Great) provide a unique view of the recent past against a genuinely European backdrop, unusual in a time of localized cultural horizons. Liudprand's famous satirical description of his misadventures as Ottonian legate at the Byzantine court in 968 is a vital source of information on Byzantine ritual and diplomatic process, as well as a classic of medieval intercultural encounter. Readers interested in medieval European culture, the history of diplomacy, Italian and German medieval history, and the history of Byzantium will find this collection of translated texts rewarding. A full introduction and extensive notes help readers to place Liudprand's writings in context.

Пътепис

Author(s): Evliya Çelebi / Language(s): Bulgarian

Evliya Celebi was an enlightened man in a variety of ways who believed in equality, freedom of thought and intellectual debate, and found all of these things present in Islamic societies. Over the course of his travels, he wrote ten volumes detailing his adventures. ‘Seyahatname’ – Book of Travels – is a unique and important text, representing one of the few accounts of the 17th century and the Ottoman world from the perspective of a Muslim. These are not just factual accounts, Evliya had a great imagination and just as important as his journal entries were the imaginative storytelling that ran alongside, elaborating, exaggerating, and fantasizing. Through his stories, we are prompted to think more imaginatively about our own travels and journeys to other cities. This 17th-century Muslim traveler can sometimes seem narrow-minded and yet this same man can stand in St Stephens Cathedral in Vienna and be moved by the music he hears. Sometimes these encounters lead to nothing but sometimes they lead to stories which are so deeply felt, and so universally melodic that they leave echoes which can still be heard and felt today. In 2011, the year which would have been his 400th birthday, Evliya is being paid homage as UNESCO’s Man of the Year.

Cechy archaiczne i regionalne w odnalezionym fragmencie rękopisu filomackiego przekładu Koranu na język polski

Author(s): Joanna Kulwicka-Kamińska / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

So far, research into the literary achievements of Vilnius-based Philomaths and Filarets has been conducted on the basis of various philological sources (particularly correspondence and individual authors’ works); however, it has not taken into account the translation of the Quran into Polish rendered by Fr Dionizy Chlewiński and Ignacy Domeyko. This resulted from the lack of awareness of the existence of such translation and the lack of sources to conduct studies in this respect. The subject of analysis in this paper is a recently found copy of the lost manuscript of the said two Philomaths from Vilnius. The paper attempts at a reconstruction of the unknown history of the translation and contains a preliminary historical and linguistic description of the newly found source text which is invaluable for contemporary Humanities.

Turkish Migration Conference 2015 Selected Proceedings

Author(s): / Language(s): English

This volume brings together a selection of papers presented at the 3rd Turkish Migration Conference held at Charles University Prague, 25-27 June 2015. This selection of papers presented at the conference are only a small portion of contributions. Many other papers are included in edited books and submitted to refereed journals in due course. There were a total of about 146 papers by over 200 authors presented in 40 parallel sessions and three plenary sessions at Jinonice Campus of Charles University Prague. About a fifth of the sessions at the conference were in Turkish language although the main language was English. Therefore some of the proceedings are in Turkish too.

BETON - Kulturno propagandni komplet br. 187, god. XII, Beograd, utorak, 19. septembar 2017.

Author(s): Aleksandar Pavlović,Đorđe Krajišnik,Muanis Sinanović,Jack Kerouac / Language(s): Serbian

MIXER, Aleksandar Pavlović: Albanska golgota i albanska rivijera; CEMENT, Đorđe Krajišnik: Bosanska generacija X; ARMATURA, Muanis Sinanović: Ogled o kranjskom autizmu; VREME SMRTI I RAZONODE, Jack Kerouac: Osnove spontane proze

BETON - Kulturno propagandni komplet br. 152, god. IX, Beograd, utorak, 21. oktobar 2014.

Author(s): Bei Dao / Language(s): Bosnian

UVODNA BILJEŠKA; Bei Dao: Ruža vremena - IZBOR IZ POEZIJE I PREVOD VOJO ŠINDOLIĆ: ODGOVOR; MIRISI; DIJAPOZITIV; STARA MJESTA; NE; ULIČNI PRODAVAČ NOVINA; BALKON; BEZ NASLOVA; VAPAJI; SVEČANOST MJESECA; VOŽNJA; PJESMA JUTRA; ŠKOLSKI UDŽBENIK; TROŠEĆI NOĆ; ZADATAK; OTKLJUČAVANJE; TIŠINA I DRHTANJE; SAPUN; PETA ULICA; BUKET; DEFORMACIJA; ODREDIŠTA

BETON - Kulturno propagandni komplet br. 140, god. VIII, Beograd, utorak, 15. oktobar 2013.

Author(s): Gary Snyder,Gregory Corso,Allen Ginsberg,Jack Kerouac,Charles Bukowski,Lawrence Ferlinghetti / Language(s): Serbian

Пророкът на Джубран Халил Джубран и американската контракултура на 20 в.

Author(s): Vesela Todorova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

This paper discusses the reasons why Gibran Khalil Gibran’s book “The Prophet” has become a world literary phenomenon with more than 9,000,000 copies sold in America, as well as the influence of Al Mustafa’s messages on counterculture formation and New-Age movements in America in the 1960s. Although the work has not been well received by the academic community in America and was not highly rated by literary critics, because of its simple style, the short form of poetic essays and the symbolism used make the Prophet’s messages easily reach the heart of the American youth seeking the way to the spiritual without being obliged to obey the dogmas of organized religions.This paper discusses the reasons why Gibran Khalil Gibran’s book “The Prophet” has become a world literary phenomenon with more than 9,000,000 copies sold in America, as well as the influence of Al Mustafa’s messages on counterculture formation and New-Age movements in America in the 1960s. Although the work has not been well received by the academic community in America and was not highly rated by literary critics, because of its simple style, the short form of poetic essays and the symbolism used make the Prophet’s messages easily reach the heart of the American youth seeking the way to the spiritual without being obliged to obey the dogmas of organized religions.

Societas Classica. Култури и религии на Балканите, в Средиземноморието и Изтока. Том 9

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Bulgarian,Russian,Greek, Modern (1453-)

𝑆𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑠 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑎 is a multilingual collection of papers presented at the international scientific conference that has been organized by the Department of Classical and Eastern Languages ​​and Cultures of St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria) since 2002. Until 2015, the conference was held annually. Since 2018, it is held once every two years. St Cyril and St Methodius University Press issues the collection within the Dr. Nicola Piccolo series. The wide range of topics and the opportunity for authors to submit their academic publications in the original language attracts researchers from all over the world.

Литература и богословие в „COMMONITORIUM“ на Св. Винценций Лерински

Author(s): Rosen Milanov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

One of the saints of the Lérins islands (modern day France) is St. Vincent of Lérins († after 434). He is the author of the very significant work Commonitorium (in two books). Commonitorium is esteemed from Antiquity till today in the West as well as in the East. The reason for this is its theological value and the important thoughts therein concerning authority in the Church and the principles of development of the Christian doctrine. However, Commonitorium possesses other qualities as well – literary and especially spiritual. The language of Vincent of Lérins is not artificial; at the same time, there are many beautiful similes and antitheses in his essay. Furthermore, the subject-matter of Commonitorium is topical even now and it has special meaning for the life of each Christian today. Commonitorium is a testament to the possibility that the Christian church can express its truths in an exceptionally fascinating way.

Seuils de la connaissance ésotérique dans « Le langage des oiseaux » de Farid-ud-Din 'Attâr

Author(s): Atmane Bissani / Language(s): French Publication Year: 0

Knowledge in the mystical tradition of Islam progresses from the exoteric to the esoteric. We are referring to a progress that transforms the reality of the sensible world into a way to get access to the secrets that only the devoted sâliq – wayfarer – is able to discover. On the other hand, the way and the thresholds along the way to the esoteric require perseverance, patience and bravery from the Soufi. The reason is the fact that the progress towards the esoteric knowledge is consubstantial with the progress towards the knowledge of God, the knowledge of the Truth. This knowledge is not available to everyone, but it divulges itself in the heart of the wayfarer as being God’s secret word. Le langage des oiseaux by Faridud- Din ‘Attâr, the text we deal with in the present paper, comes in the wake of the Soufi masters’ Thresholds leading to the esoteric knowledge, in many respects. Indeed, the birds crossing the seven valleys (thresholds, stations) in order to find the Simurgh (God) end up discovering themselves as being God. The illumination, God’s light, reigns then and the esoteric knowledge takes shape and makes sense, resulting in the access to the Numinous. Our paper questions the Thresholds of this mystical progress towards the ultimate experience of the Xvarnah, God’s light and glory.

Societas Classica. Култури и религии на Балканите, в Средиземноморието и Изтока. Том 11

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Bulgarian,Macedonian,Greek, Modern (1453-)

𝑆𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑠 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑎 is a multilingual collection of papers presented at the international scientific conference that has been organized by the Department of Classical and Eastern Languages ​​and Cultures of St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria) since 2002. Until 2015, the conference was held annually. Since 2018, it is held once every two years. St Cyril and St Methodius University Press issues the collection within the Dr. Nicola Piccolo series. The wide range of topics and the opportunity for authors to submit their academic publications in the original language attracts researchers from all over the world.

Изследванията на латинската християнска литература (II – XI в.) в България

Author(s): Rosen Milanov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Latin Christian literature of the first thousand years is a wide area for scientific studies. In this article a periodization of Latin Christian literature (2nd – 11th cc.) is made. A search has been carried out for the authors, firstly, who are an object of Bulgarian scientific articles and monographs; in the second place, topics of these studies have been found. A conclusion about the contemporary state of the studies on Latin Christian literature in Bulgaria has been also taken. Finally, the perspectives for the future Bulgarian studies on Latin Christian literature in Bulgaria have been drawn.

Арабската диаспорна литература в историческия контекст на САЩ през края на 19. и началото на 20. век

Author(s): Vesela Todorova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

This article studies the reasons for the emergence and development of the Mahjar literature in the historical context of the United States from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The creation of communities to support the Arab and national spirit and culture and many other organizations, whose primary purpose is to preserve the language, religion, and culture of Arab immigrants is considered as well. The role of periodicals, which play a central role in the development of the Mahjar literature is also pointed out. The migrant writers operated in more organized way through the literary communities that they had established during that time. These literary societies established both in the USA played a significant role in the development and promotion of the Arab literature in the West.

MEDIATING CULTURES: TRANSLATING ORWELL’S ENGLAND YOUR ENGLAND INTO ROMANIAN

Author(s): Mihaela Alina Ifrim / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Human experiences have always been shaped by language and culture; thus, when it comes to translations, it is difficult to understand and transfer/transmit experiences that take place within different systems of filters than our own reference system. Cultural translation, which encompasses a multitude of meanings (as it may be seen as questioning the traditional parameters of translation, as referring to practices of literary translation that mediate cultural differences or attempting to render an extensive cultural background or to simply represent, via translation, another culture) raises complex technical issues in terms of dialect, literary allusions and/or culturally specific items. Such is the case of Orwell’s essay England Your England. This paper sets forth to investigate the mediation of the cultural elements within the translation process of the text from English into Romanian.