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Rafał Szczerbakiewicz’s chapter looks at the intriguing aspects of the subtle utopianism of the main trends in classic Hollywood cinema. During the thirties, forties and fifties of the twentieth-century and at the peak of liberal modernity there was an omnipresent yet transparent capitalist paradigm. This was a time in cinema where the theme of utopia was obscure. Utopia, in cinema, was more a symptom of a frame of mind and the background to a social state of awarenesss. Within the supportive or critical portrayals of capitalism, the utopian/dystopian elements were notable signs as to the filmmaker’s attitude. Amongst films, the utopian impulse is merely an understatement. However, there is one film with an overt utopian stance. This film is based on the novel, "Fountainhead" (1949) by King Vidor. It was tranformed into a memorable screen adaptation by the enthusiast and theorist, Ayn Rand. In this surprising constructionist vision, the socio-architectural utopia is explicitly portrayed giving the utopian impulse the direction towards what would, years later, come to be known as individualistic neoliberalism.
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Monika Rawska’s chapter focuses on two modern movies "Equilibrium" (dir. Kurt Wimmer, USA 2002) and "Inception" (dir. Christopher Nolan, USA—Great Britain 2010) with an analysis of the city spaces depicted in these films. Progress is the basis of the analysis. Progress is the impulse pervasive in utopias and it is an important motivator for human actions presently perceived as negative—imperialism, colonialism, racism. Margaret Mead’s notion that Utopia should be seen as a historical category while revealing an essential ambivalence is well summarized in her work, “One man’s dream is another man’s nightmare”. This is also represented in select films depicting a new society with a visual representation of order. For example, in Libria and architect’s city both of which were created with a positive and beneficial premise, though over time they became a burden for the characters. Change in perception of reality is one of the significant elements in dystopian narratives, that are also present in film adaptations, in what Ludmiła Gruszewska-Blaim calls a „utopiacrime”. Libria is depicted as the only city in the world in the film, "Equilibrium". Libria is a dystopian cityfortress contrasted with the surrounding Nether and an appropriated enclave space of Offenders. It functions as a simulacrum of the past at a time before the war. The film vision of the future is an intertextual collage of conventional representations of the totalitarian organization of both space and society. Dream city is the creation of an architect couple in the film, "Inception". It is a very different space, imagined and fictional and it perfectly captures the impossibility of utopia as revealed by its very name that means non-space. Reality, which the couple created for themselves, demonstrates an interesting tension between the architectural utopia and the solitary eutopia as well as a conflict of planner vs. wanderer (as described by Michel de Certeau). In both movies the city space becomes a threat in spite of its projected function as a safe and/or familiar space. In "Equilibrium", it imposes on and disciplines its inhabitants as tools of the state. In Inception, the city is the accumulation of the protagonists’ entire world and it turns unto its own ruin, a memory maze swallowed by the sea.
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Periods of brinkmanship and crisis encourage the rise of apocalyptical thinking in modern society.The second half of the twentieth century witnessed the rapid development of post-apocalyptic fiction, whose authors examined the human condition in the face of extinction. The development of nuclear weapons and the subsequent dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima became of the inspiration of numerous comic book writers to exploit nuclear war anxieties of societies still reeling from the carnage of World War II. Furthermore, comic books became a forum for the presentation of social, political and philosophical discourses. The aim of Wojciech Lewandowski’s chapter is to present, accordingly, an exposition on comics, as media, are capable visionaries of complex philosophical discourses. Another vector is the graphic novel that presents a forum to communicate political ideas without being perceived as a propaganda tool. The presentation of political ideas occurs explicitly in the textual sphere. Furthermore, they can be presented in more sublte ways by the use of symbols that are presented in the visual layer. It is therefore, the capabilities of political discourse that have led me to research the graphic novel, "V for Vendetta". In "V for Vendetta", author’s Alan Moore and David Lloyd, write of a dystopian post-apocalyptic Great Britain. Through the fictional dystopian narrative of the plot one can discern its great potential as a forum of social and political discussion on the contemporary problems of the real-world.
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The study “StratCom laughs. In search of an analytical framework“ is a multidisciplinary effort to design an analytical framework for analysing humour in scenarios where researchers and practitioners find themselves working through large data collections where humour has been used as a potent tool in the construction of messages designed for strategic communication. The research was conducted in four stages.
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Trend of fiscal decentralization, present in the member States of the European Union and countries in transition current in the Republic of Serbia.The first major step in this direction was done by passing a law regulating the financing of local government. The line with the commitment of the Republic of Serbia for EU membership, the question is to what extent is executed harmonization with the EU in this field.Comparing the current legal solutions, it can be concluded that in principle achieved harmonization with the principles contained in the European Charter of Local Self-Government. However, only the alignment with the principles of European law does not automatically providing the goals to be achieved by fiscal decentralization.
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The expansion of reflection on the position of people with disabilities outside of Western culture is of particular importance today. As a result of processes taking place in today’s world, our society is changing ethnically and begins to diversify in terms of culture and religion (migration processes, refugees, etc.). In this sense, it is important to recreate ways of defining disabilities shaped under separate civilizational and cultural conditions so that people with disabilities can receive effective help. The main purpose of this chapter will be to show the perception of disability shaped under the influence of the Muslim religion. Islam regulates all spheres of life of its followers, thus reconstructing the ways of perceiving disability in the Koran and sunnah will allow to show ways in which the followers of this religion define this phenomenon and explain cultural patterns of social reactions to disability.
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In the chapter “Queering Frankenstein: the motifs of otherness and non-normativity in »Penny Dreadful«”, Barbara Braid offers an interpretation of Frankenstein’s creatures presented in the series from the perspective of queer theory. The queer is understood here as a wide range of non-normativity and difference, including subjectivities and actions which subvert stabilities and norms. The author identifies the links between queer theory and the gothic, which allow to see the characters which are monstrous, undead, abject—or simply Other—as representations of difference. In this light, the presented analysis shows the three creatures made by Frankenstein and Victor Frankenstein himself as characters related to each other in non-normative ways, creating a queer quasi-family. This discussion is also contextualized by references to Mary Shelley’s original novel and some of its classic film adaptations and their comparison with Penny Dreadful. Frankenstein’s creature is, due to its nature as the undead made of fragments of corpses, an abject thing, an embodiment of Otherness. In the series, Victor creates three beings, which are in a constant tension with each other. The firstborn John Clare murders the second creature, Proteus, out of hatred for their “father” Victor; the third being is Lily, another embodiment of the Bride of Frankenstein, destined to be with the creature, but desired by Victor. She becomes a dangerous fiend, femme castratrice, who desires a new world order and subordination of human beings. These two surviving Others—John and Lily—represent two different attitudes to their otherness. John Clare yearns normality and tries to achieve it by establishing a family with a human woman; Lily, a demonic man-eater, terrifies him. On the other hand, Lily strikes a relationship with Dorian Gray, equally non-normative, in order to achieve a queer monstrous supremacy over the world. However, both Frankenstein’s creatures fail and become alone. Therefore, the chapter is concluded with suppositions that question whether the motifs of otherness play an unequivocally subversive role in Penny Dreadful.
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This paper examines the notion of identity from the perspective of the Future Studies. It is exposing certain theories of the future, as well as the history of research of this phenomenon in light of the recent rise of the study of the future, which, as a systematic planning and forecasting, takes a crucial place in the management of risks in present uncertain, complex and often contradictory times. The Future Studies examine global trends, challenges and opportunities faced by the modern world. It is assumed that the 21st century will be marked by identity, as opposed to the 20th century that was marked by ideology. In the globalized world comes to dissolution traditional core of identity which allowed the unity of one person. Without this core, an identity becomes pure contingency. What will become of the man of the future will depend on how the future world looks. But, what will be the world in the future?
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The article presents the technology for integration of refugees through projects run by unemployed Bulgarians with appropriate education, further education and the provision of employment. Shared significant European experience in organizing training and job placements for refugees, enabling to use any level of qualification of foreigners, and to ensure the security of the population.
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Perpetrators of extreme crime often suffer from brain diseases which do not exclude legal sanity – schizophrenia and alcoholic disease. Traditional judicial practice regards them as mitigating circumstances which prevent the imposition of the gravest penalty prescribed. However, after the introduction of life imprisonment (1996) and life imprisonment without commutation (1998) judicial approaches deviate from that concept thus establishing conflicting solutions. The article argues that traditional concepts should be restored. The article is based on a case-law study and an in-depth analysis of a selection of cases.
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Under the Bulgarian Criminal law the court may impose probation as punishment or impose a probation measure during the testing period in the case of suspended sentence and early release. Once imposed they become part of the probation regime during test period and any failure to observe them triggers consequences unfavorable for the sentenced person. The adhesion of our country to the European Union in 2007 and the free movement of persons and services faced criminal justice science with new challenges. In 2012 Bulgaria transposed Council Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA dealing with the transfer of probation measures and the application of the principle of mutual recognition of probation decisions and alternative sanctions. The basic principles and aims of the Decision are implemented in the national legislation through the Act on the recognition, execution and forwarding of judgments and probation decisions for the purposes of supervision of the probation measures and alternative sanctions.
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Perpetrators of extreme crime usually suffer from mental health damages which do not qualify as legal insanity. The most common among them is the mental/personality disorder. Judicial approaches towards it differ from concept that it is a sufficient condition to deny the imposition of the gravest penalty to a belief that it is a sufficient ground for imposing it as it is directly related to the perpetrator’s dangerousness. The article argues that personality disorder is a mitigating circumstance which prevents courts from choosing the gravest penalty. The article is based on a case-law study and analyses in depth a selection of cases.
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Some of the elements of a sustainable restorative justice politics will be presented – at the intersection of jurisdiction, law, education, social work, local governance, etc. An analysis of these will be suggested with the aim of a realistic planning of the change and of preserving its core values.
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Modern information technologies are found in all areas of the national economy, the tourism sector being one of the main beneficiaries. With the emergence of IT in the travel sector, the tourist has a lot of choices, the Internet being one of the most popular search and information tools. Undoubtedly, these tools are advantageous for companies and for users. Tehnologiile informaţionale moderne se regăsesc în toate domeniile economiei naţionale, sectorul turismului fiind unul dintre beneficiarii principali. Odată cu apariţia IT în sectorul călătoriilor, turistul are o mulţime de opţiuni de alegere, Internet-ul fiind unul dintre cele mai populare instrumente de căutare şi informare. Indiscutabil, aceste instrumente sunt benefice atât pentru companii, cât şi pentru utilizatori.
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The study addresses the problem of the medieval seasonal settlements from today’s South-Eastern Bulgaria. Three of them are located on the territory of the mining and electricity complex of “Maritsa-Iztok”. Two of them are entirely excavated and are situated on the land of Gledachevo village, the third one is partially studied and is located nearby Polski Gradets village, and the last one — in the area of “Shihanov bryag” nearby the city of Harmanly.Archaeological data undoubtedly points to the fact that there is no cultural layer in any of the seasonal settlements. There are neither archaeological materials nor artefacts excluding some pottery pieces. There are no graveyards, which once again is a proof of the brief habitation in these areas. According to the ethnographical data, there are four basic types of stock-breeding. The first is the so-called Alpine or mountain stockbreeding, the second one — transhumance, the third one — nomadism, and the fourth one — stationary livestock farming.The analysis of the archaeological and ethnographical data allows us to infer that, for the time being, there is no connection between seasonal settlements and transhumance or nomadism. Anyway, there is no doubt that they are related to the mobile stock-breeding.
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Eksperci zajmujący się teoretycznymi i praktycznymi aspektami public relations zwracają uwagę na specyfikę relacji między przedsiębiorstwami a organami decyzyjnymi w państwie. Obecność państwa w gospodarce wynika nie tylko z faktu, że skarb państwa jest właścicielem lub współwłaścicielem wielu firm, ale przede wszystkim z tego, iż organy państwowe lub samorządowe określają – poprzez akty prawne – zasady funkcjonowania gospodarki. Państwo jest nie tylko regulatorem, ale także aktywnym podmiotem gospodarczym (np. inwestorem). Dlatego też wyodrębnienie w ramach public relations specyficznych cech komunikowania przedsiębiorstwa z decydentami wydaje się w pełni uzasadnione. Komunikowanie między tymi podmiotami określa się mianem public affairs, a w literaturze bardzo często wskazuje się na ekonomiczne podstawy takiej działalności. Wyodrębnienie public affairs związane jest z jeszcze jednym aspektem. W publicystyce określa się go mianem „negatywnego public relations branży public relations”. Teoretycy i praktycy zwracają uwagę na negatywne konsekwencje nadmiernego odwoływania się do public relations przez polityków i partie polityczne, dla których wszelkie działania są albo „jedynie działaniami z zakresu public relations”, albo „czarnym public relations”. W rezultacie w opinii publicznej kształtuje się negatywny obraz takiej działalności, często identyfikowany z propagandą. Wprowadzenie pojęcia public affairs ma zapobiegać negatywnym tendencjom w interpretowaniu roli public relations we współczesnym społeczeństwie. Autor porządkuje ten złożony obszar. Wyjaśnia pojęcie public affairs i pokrewne, analizuje kwestie tożsamości, wizerunku i reputacji firmy. Wreszcie poświęca podrozdział społecznej odpowiedzialności biznesu.
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The communication presents a training technology, which allows the transformation of the teacher-student relationship from a vertical one into a horizontal one, defined as – the technology of the developmental dialogue. The advantages of using this technology in continuous training are discussed.
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