– Образи на екзотичното в популярната култура

Author(s): Silvia Petrova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Issue: 4/2017

The text discusses some current uses of the concept of the exotic through the phenomenon of popular culture and the media. Nowadays, the media are a major channel for the circulation and broadcasting of exotic images. The article’s main thesis is that in the construction of the image of the exotic, the connection to the market and the ideology of consumption are brought to the extreme. Despite its apparent opposition to globalization and new technologies, the exotic is presented as a lifestyle that would be impossible outside these trends.

‘Iron Maidens’ vs. the ‘Witless Pet’: Typecasting the Woman Politician in Editorial Cartoons and Memes

Author(s): Mara Mohor-Ivan,Ioana Mohor-Ivan / Language(s): English Issue: 11/2021

Woven into the fabric of our everyday life, different forms of media insinuate messages that restore traditional hierarchies of male-female relationships and signal the incongruity between ‘woman’ and the man-dominated public sphere. Among these, editorial cartoons and internet memes (their more recent offspring) play their part in naturalising the patriarchal order when representing women politicians, reiterating thus societal norms and cultural assumptions that confine woman to the domestic space (albeit through verbal-visual forms of humour, mockery or caricature). Combining insights from semiotics with Kanter’s theory of the “role traps” (1993) devised for women in leading positions, the paper will address instances of gender stereotyping and typecasting in editorial cartoons and internet memes which mediate representations of female political leaders (from Hillary Clinton and Theresa May to Viorica Dăncilă, Romania’s first woman prime minister) both as records of public controversies that affect a community at a given time, as well as clues to the discourses which normalise a gendered-biased “homo politicus”.

‘Is This a Joke?’: The Delivery of Serious Content through Satirical Digital Games

Author(s): Sherry Yi / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

Games that utilize satire have largely been unexplored despite their potential to be used as learning supplements or tools to foster conversations around difficult large-scale topics. To what game genre do these games belong, and what are the uses and benefits for learning from such games? In this exploration study, we examine six popular and culturally relevant digital games (5 directly, 1 indirectly) utilizing satire as part of their narrative and gameplay. The range of games covers topics such as global over population, the use of artificial intelligence for surveillance, and the process of mass capitalist production and the manner of its consumption. Satirical digital games serve both the purposes of serious games and entertainment games, pointing to the problematic connotations of the term serious games. It is suggested that the name satirical games is used to describe digital games created for entertainment with underlying political messages and to make a statement and/or commentary on society. Satirical games have potential as powerful learning tools to help facilitate discussion around difficult topics about society’s functions and practices. Future studies should examine additional digital game titles that rely on satire in their narrative and gameplay and investigate the relationship between satire and its role in the learning goals of the games.

‘Model Putin Forever’. A Critical Discourse Analysis on Vladimir Putin’s Portrayal in Czech Online News Media

Author(s): Zina Šťovíčková / Language(s): English Issue: 28/2021

This paper examines the Czech online news media representation of Vladimir Putin during three presidential elections (American of 2016, Czech and Russian of 2018). The portrayal of the Russian leader is examined using the methods of the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), mainly by the approach formulated by Teun van Dijk. The results showed a negatively biased portrayal of the president, Russian policy and the country itself, which corresponds with the historical-political context of the Czech-Russian relations, and which is in accordance with the Western media discourse. Applying the methods of global coherence revealed that the overarching theme of the coverage is Putin’s efforts to re-establish Russia as the global power and to restore the binary world as it was during the Cold war, while the methods of local coherence disclosed many implications, categorizations and the ubiquitous sarcasm and negativity in most of the texts.

‘PURE EVIL!’

FRAMING BY DEVIL TERMS AND THE MAGA INSURRECTION

Author(s): David Erland Isaksen,Tamari Dolidze / Language(s): English Issue: 14/2021

The article concerns the impact framing by devil terms in social media has on democratic deliberation. Daniel Kahneman and Richard Weaver have shown how terms with powerful emotional connections, what Weaver calls god-terms and devil-terms, give the readers/audience cues as to how to react to any given situation. We have applied this theoretical framework to discourses in communities supportive of Donald Trump’s election fraud narrative. Our results show how powerful framing terms were used in order to convince supporters that they faced existential threat from a de-facto coup perpetrated by a powerful and evil elite. We also discuss how such strategies may be countered in order to preserve democracies.

‘She is like a Yakshini':

character construction via aggressive humour in Chinese sitcom discourse

Author(s): Ying Cao,Chong Han,Xiangdong Liu,Adrian Hale / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

This paper looks at the importance of aggressive humour in the discursive construction of a ‘Yakshini’ character in a popular Chinese sitcom, Ipartment. The exaggerated, aggressive nature of such a stereotypical character undermines traditional cultural norms of Chinese femininity. Such characterisation of a heroine through aggressive humour in a popular sitcom reflects the fact that empowering women has become (or is becoming) more acceptable in contemporary China.

‘The new but lonely voice against the authoritarianism’:

humor and irony in Turkish political discourse after the Taksim Gezi Park Protests

Author(s): Gunes Aksan / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2017

This study investigates the diffusion of a new political language based on humour and irony into Turkish politics. The Taksim Gezi Park Protests, in addition to introducing a new subject to Turkish politics, led to a new language that places humour at the centre. The Government’s neoliberal and authoritarian policies and tight control over traditional media shaped the resistance to be humoristic and indirect. People used alternative media to voice their dissent, mainly in the form of social media messages in addition to street performances, graffiti, videos and murals. This new wave of humour, which I prefer to call the “public square humour” emphasised creativity, improvisation and pluralism via the usage of traditional conversational humour mechanisms of the Turkish folk narratives. I investigate the effect of this new wave of humour on the professional politicians over the course of following years after the protests in an increasingly authoritarian political climate. I analyse the Twitter messages of four major party leaders and politicians who are active in Twitter, both qualitatively and quantitatively. With the methods of the discourse analysis I identify the political parties that embrace the new language of the political opposition. Finally, I conclude that Demirtas embraces the public square humour better and makes use of it to underline the transformation of HDP (People’s Democratic Party) from a defendant of ethnic politics to the representative of the new voice of Turkish political opposition.

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНА БЕЗПЕКА ОСОБИСТОСТІ: ФАКТОРИ ГОМЕОСТАЗИСУ

Author(s): Petro Vasilovich Kvitkin,Iryna Volodymyrivna Diatlova,Lyudmila Petrova / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 1/2022

The problem of homeostasis of personal information security in modern society is considered. The factors influencing the state and trends of personal information security have been investigated. Factors for homeostasis of personal information security have been determined. The directions of activities to ensure homeostasis of information security of an individual in the modern conditions of the Ukrainian society are substantiated.

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНІ ЗАСОБИ ВІДОБРАЖЕННЯ ПОВСЯКДЕННОСТІ В ІНДИВІДУАЛЬНІЙ СВІДОМОСТІ НА ТЛІ ПОСТМОДЕРНОЇ РЕАЛЬНОСТІ

Author(s): Viktoriia Voshchenko,Iryna Denysovets,Olena Vdovina / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 4/2021

The purpose of the article is a detailed analysis of information means of reflecting objective reality, in an individual consciousness in a postmodern society. The methodology is based on the use of activity, systemic, socio-cultural approaches, as well as methods of comparative and terminological analysis. The scientific novelty of work is that the means of reflecting everyday reality in the individual consciousness are investigated. Mechanisms of influence of information technologies of mass communication on social identity, lifestyle, and culture, in general, are analyzed. It has been proved that social and cultural phenomena such as post-folklore, ritualization, mythology, enigmatic narratives play an important role in the process of awareness of objective reality. It is justified that the consciousness of the individual is in a total space created by mass communication, and therefore the perception of everyday reality occurs under the influence of information technologies. A significant role in modern society is played by the processes of demassification of everyday life, which generate pluralism and a variety of thoughts; entertainment and humor are the main factors in the manipulation of individual and social consciousness. Conclusions. Postmodern reality determines the emergence and development of such phenomena of everyday life, which turn into an important means of influencing the social, and especially the individual consciousness. Everyday life through means of mass communication is reflected as an image of reality in the individual’s brain, is realized and reproduced as a subjective reality. Scientific exploration in this area will always be relevant since everyday life in modern postmodern society is an important specific source of society development, the meeting space of philosophy, psychology, social communications, and culture. In our further research, we plan to study in more detail the impact of post-folklore on the consciousness of the individual in postmodern reality.

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-АНАЛІТИЧНИЙ ЦЕНТР У КОНТЕКСТІ РОЗВИТКУ СУЧАСНОЇ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ НАУКОВОЇ КОМУНІКАЦІЇ

Author(s): Serhii Paliy / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 4/2021

The purpose of the article is to identify the specifics of the information and analytical center of a higher educational institution in the context of the development of modern technology of scientific communication in Ukraine. Methodology. The article uses a cognitive approach to the concept of “information and analytical center”, which allowed us to identify its basic essential characteristics and determine the principles of functioning and development of the information and analytical center as a project group, the activity of which is aimed at the evolution of information support of domestic science and education, as well as the formation Information culture skills of employees, students and faculty of universities. In the context of the specifics of the study, general scientific methods were applied, in particular, analogies, abstractions, system analysis, as well as an informational, descriptive method and a theoretical generalization method. Scientific novelty. The specifics of the activities of the information-analytical center as a structural unit of the university; traced the transformation of the library of a higher educational institution into an intellectual center; traditional and innovative functions, directions, as well as methods of this project group, were identified and analyzed; The perspective of the functioning of the university’s information and analytical center in the domestic sociocultural space is described. Conclusions. A study of the specifics of the information and analytical center of a domestic higher educational institution of the XXI century revealed that the implementation of organizational and methodological support and the use of innovative technologies in the process of managing the scientific and educational activities of a university, in particular, the introduction of innovative methods and information technologies, the formation of a register of structural units, scientific groups and individual scientists, as well as calculating their ranking, cataloging journals, identifying groups of scientists with excellent potential and competencies, etc., in order to optimize the management of the scientific potential of the university and increase its rating and publication activity - a priority result for these project groups. The development of modern technologies of scientific communication on the basis of the information and analytical center of a higher educational institution is positioned as a promising trend - libraries of domestic universities are constantly improving their own services in order to develop information infrastructure, positive changes, and adequately provide research results.

Членството на България в ЕС и свързаните с него предизвикателства пред професионалните стандарти и етиката в медийната среда

Author(s): Ena Lozanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

This paper reviews fundamental for the contemporary journalism documents – ethical and professional standards such as Munich Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists, code of conduct, responsibilities and rights of the press representatives. It reviews the media regulatory mechanisms, broadcasting regulations on a local level as well as the European institutional and legal framework in this regard. The author highlights regulatory mechanisms and establishments in Bulgaria and outlines their role in the effective control and governance of the ethical standards in the content provided by the media.

Човек a.k.a. ПР или... Превъзходният нов свят на ПР-а

Author(s): Desislava Monova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2011

Човекът - изваден наново

Author(s): Enyo Stoyanov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 12/2022

The text offers a review of Prof. Miglena Nikolchina's monumental study "God with Machine: Subtracting the Human", dedicated to fundamental theoretical conceptualizations around anthropological issues. The review dwells in particular on the central conceptual paradox outlined in Prof. Nikolchina's book, namely the double determination of man as "a being who wants to be human" and “being who does not want to be human”

Човекът в сивата икономика

Author(s): Maya Ivanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Човекът във виртуалната общност

Author(s): Gergana Georgieva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2018

The introduction of the term “virtual community” is accredited to the American writer, critic, teacher and freelance journalist Howard Rheingold and his seminal book from 1993 The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier. He theorizes the virtual communities as “social aggregations that emerge from the Net when enough people carry on those public discussions long enough, with sufficient human feeling,to form webs of personal relationships in cyberspace.” In his book Rheingold reflects on computer-mediated communication based on his own experience with one of the oldest and still functioning virtual communities The WELL (from Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link), created in 1985. What are the types of the virtual communities and their characteristics and attributes? What is the life cycle of a virtual community and what are the different levels of interaction of its members? What are the main elements of the digital citizenship? Ever since the 90s of the 20th century the definition of the virtual community has been evolving and upgraded by a number of researchers in the field of the new technology-mediated communications. The rapid development of technology and their growing presence in everyday life pose more and more questions in front of theorists and practitioners.

Човекът, виртуалната среда и свободата на словото

Author(s): Nadezhda Stalyanova,Elena Kreychova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2017

The paper deals with the problem of freedom of speech in internet. It focuses on the possibilities for posting comments in internet platforms of media – online papers, online news platforms etc. Different types of restrictions are described considering limitations of hate speech and some international or Bulgarian law restrictions.

Човешката мярка като академичен етос

Отзив за юбилейния сборник „Социологията като граждански ангажимент“, посветен на 65-ата годишнина на професор Петя Кабакчиева, София: Универс

Author(s): Snezhana Popova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 11/2022

A collection of works ‘Sociology as a civic commitment’ dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Professor Petya Kabakchieva, (Sofia, St. Kliment Ohridski University Press, 2022) contains articles and studies written by established Bulgarian sociologists and social scientists and their younger followers. Compilers of the collection are Maya Grekova, Mila Mineva, Lea Vaysova and Dimitar Blagoev.

ШЕРЛОК ХОЛМС ОТ БАДЕН-БАДЕН, ИЛИ НЕАНГЛОЕЗИЧНИТЕ ДЕТЕКТИВИ С АНГЛОСАКСОНСКИ ИМЕНА В КРИМИНАЛНАТА ЛИТЕРАТУРА ПРЕЗ ПЪРВАТА ПОЛОВИНА НА ХХ ВЕК

Author(s): Vanya Yakova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2021

The article is an attempt to identify the nationalities of authors of detective stories published in Bulgaria during the first half of the 20th century. The protagonists of the novels were established as a trade mark in Bulgarian private book publishing while even the names of their authors remain in the background. Due to this reason nowadays they have not been studied thoroughly by the Bulgarian retrospective bibliography. The lack of relevant information about the protagonists and the establishment of the culture of English-speaking countries in Bulgarian publishing has resulted in categorizing these novels mainly as ones written by American authors.

Широколентовият достъп и значението на последната миля в условията на глобалната криза от COVID 19

Author(s): Alena Dobreva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2022

The economic and social changes that have taken place as a result of the global crisis caused by COVID-19 have transformed the way people communicate, work and study. The new ways of communicating have increased the need for sustainable connectivity and have strengthened the importance of the “Last Mile” connectivity. The challenges that societies and governments have faced are a direct result of the lack of a well-developed infrastructure, the high cost of using certain services and the increase in the population’s digital literacy. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated to the largest extend how connectivity increases the teleworking, healthcare, educational, business and development opportunities, all while creating new forms of digital division amongst the society.

Ще отнеме ли изкуственият интелект работата на преводачите?

Author(s): Vassil Kirov,Bagryan Malamin / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a leading technology of digital transformation. AI is expected to cause jobs loss in general – initially in professions associated with routine activities and subsequently in the field of creative professions as well. Present article analyzes the results of own empirical sociological survey of Bulgarian translators’ attitude towards AI and the ways it’s going to change their profession. Most of them perceive artificial intelligence and automatization as threats to the profession. According to them digital technologies and AI will modify the profession releaving the routine technical part of the job. Hence translators will predominantly edit machine-translated texts and teach artificial intelligence to do machine translation. Analysis’ conclusion demonstrates that in the case of Bulgarian translators the pessimistic scenarios (Frey and Osborne, 2017) about mass jobs destruction are not justified. Expectations of labor quality deterioration as a result of digitalization (Holtgrewe, 2014) are not justified as well. Present survey results can serve as a basis for further research of artificial intelligence impact on other creative professions.