Ukraine’s International Obligations in the Field of Mother-Tongue-Medium Education of Minorities

Author(s): István Csernicskó / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

On September 5, 2017, the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine voted for the Ukrainian Law “On Education”. Around Article 7 of the Law, discussions broke out, which gradually turned into one of the most acute conflicts in both internal political life and the external relations of Ukraine. The conflict rose from an internal to an international level when Hungary blocked the organization of high-level political meetings between Ukraine and NATO. The present paper examines Ukraine’s obligations in the field of mother-tongue-medium education of minorities. Kyiv had assumed such obligations with the ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Based on the official reports of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of Council of Europe bodies from 2017, the paper also examines how Ukraine fulfils its international obligations in this area.

Cityscapes in Zadie Smith’s NW

Author(s): Andreia Irina Suciu,Mihaela Culea / Language(s): English Issue: 25/2020

The article focuses on the manner in which the space of the city is employed in Zadie Smith’s NW so as to reveal not only a cosmopolitan map of contemporary London, but also to draw a map of the journey of the contemporary individual in finding himself/herself. Smith adopts in NW an experimental manner of introducing the contemporary individual in a strongly cartographied space both at the level of the city and at the level of the body of the text. Thus, through the space of North West London, the author speaks about family, social class, (inter-racial, marital) relationships, (complying or not with) gender roles (and dealing with the defiance against such roles), mobility (at the level of the cityscapes and at the level of the mindscapes), community and possibilities (and impossibilities) of belonging.

Отвъд Хайдегеровата критика на метафизиката в изкуството

Author(s): Nikifor Avramov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2020

The text presents critically situations, which are fundamental for Heidegger’s critic of aesthetics. We comment not necessarily and solely on claims explicitly related to the aesthetical but also at general claims in implicit relation to art. The analysis implies that the regions lacking coverage regarding art by Heidegger’s thought can be uncovered through the restoration of metaphysical analysis. Respectively our conclusion has to do with the relationship between the definition of objectivity a perspective provides and the object it claims, the discrepancy of which Heidegger’s thought exemplifies problematically.

Discourses’ Transformation of World Religions and Gender Inequality at the End of the XX – Beginning of the XXI Centuries

Author(s): Roman Oleksenko,Karina Oleksenko / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

Purpose. Explore the sociocultural reasons for the transformation of discourses of religion and gender in modern political systems. Theoretical basis. In philosophy, as in other sciences, the feminist direction emerged and took shape within the framework of liberalism as an emancipation project with the main goal of political equality. Although this path - unlike the radically separatist - is modernist, it, like a thousand years ago, forms a stable opposition with the essentialist attitudes of world religions. Within the framework of the social constructivist methodology, gender is defined as the cause and result of the interactions of power and inequality of women. As gender discourses change, systems change, but world religions today reproduce inequality, supporting traditional gender systems. Scientific novelty. At the beginning of the XXI century. Gender is less and less a component of unchanging identity and more and more a product of interactions with other people, social institutions and social structures. Thus, gender is a constantly created property of situational interaction, and not a role or a sign. The concept of gender in theology opens up a huge field for interpretation, showing a slight tendency to change, and is still identified with the transcendental and supernatural as masculine and natural and physical as feminine. Findings. The causes of gender inequality are difficult to comprehend for a strictly rational reflection environment. Women's inequality cannot be fully reduced to a system of norms and laws. Theology associated with early Christian teachings shows particular stability in the interpretation of women as “invisible” and apolitical, taking advantage of the Old Testament ideas about the nature of women, while also offering no explanation for the “invisibility” of women in their purely private sphere.

Actualization of Axiology Development: Problems, Searches, Solutions

Author(s): Lyubov’ Shabatura,Anton Yazovskikh / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

The article examines the concept of “value” in the context of the general planetary process of anomie at the level of local cultures and subcultures, when the possibilities of value-normative regulation of social processes are reduced to a minimum. Under these conditions, the predictive function of axiology has become particularly relevant, and the authors raise the question of the basis for the values evolution reproduction. The search to this answer involves the application of system analysis and retrospection. The study of the main axiological concepts based on the connection between objective and subjective in this perspective allows to identify the main contours of value consciousness that coincide with the dominant concepts: biological (objective-naturalistic concept), social (dialectical-materialistic concept), individual (subjective-psychological concepts) and existential (objective-transcendental and ontological ideal realistic concepts). The material summarizes the main methodological and cognitive limitations of these concepts, which are in fact natural, since they belong to specific contours of value consciousness. At the same time, a number of provisions can be considered as general ones. As a result, the authors hypothesize the possibility to develop a synthetic concept of axiology allowing predicting the development of cultural value core as an imperative of socio-cultural processes.

The ‘Selfie’ Phenomenon as a Basis for Self-identity Search. Preamble to a Philosophy of the Selfie Photography

Author(s): Sylvia Borissova,Liliana Yakovleva / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

The topicality of the problem is connected with the fact that nowadays photography has an important role in shaping the perception of ourselves. The state-of-the-arts analysis of the work related to the study of the ‘selfie’ phenomenon has shown the necessity for a deeper philosophical understanding of this issue. Thus, the article is meant by its authors as a pilot research to a larger and long-term humanitarian plunge in the philosophy of selfie photography, directly addressing the research fields of personality philosophy and psychology, visual anthropology, culture studies, self-presentation theory, behaviorist paradigm, semiotics of photography, and aesthetics of body. The study prospects shall provide an opportunity to develop and consider important discussions concerning contrasting philosophical aspects of selfie as social and culture phenomenon.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Questions about Education and its Prospects

Author(s): Veska Gyuviyska,Nikolay Tsankov / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

The text offers an education-related reading of the state of emergency in the Bulgarian society in the conditions of a pandemic. It touches upon the reasons for regression, but also the opportunities for radical transformation of Bulgarian education and its optimization in the future. The article examines the ethical issues teachers face in a time of societal crisis when various moral dilemmas are to be resolved. The scientific text discusses new ideas in the Bulgarian educational space, such as those for home education and family-type schooling. The article’s set tasks include: (1) Pinpointing the problem of the pandemic as a typical educational problem; (2) Pointing out the educational resources related to limiting the social consequences of the pandemic; (3) Raising the question of teachers’ ethical codes in times of Pandemic as a moral corrective for their professional conduct. The research is mainly related to the language of "philosophy of education" and its conceptual apparatus.

Стрийминг и запознанства: любов по време на Netflix

Author(s): Aneliya Alexandrova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

In a world in which the internet not only dictates the dynamics of everyday life but also leads people into new, previously impossible experiences, we can now see a significant change in the way we consume entertainment on our screens. Streaming services are fast becoming a meaningful part of our social interactions. They can alter us, not just our consumer habits, but through popular programming, our perceptions too. As part of my broader area of study on online dating, which in itself is another phenomenon of the digital era, I was interested in examining possible connections, influences and further interpretations. What image of love do we get through media? How do dating looks like on screen nowadays? Through analyzing some dating shows on Netflix, I have attempted to contour a portrait of a modern-day search for love.

Радио и телевизия срещу социални мрежи. Кои канали за информация за музикални събития се използват по-често?

Author(s): Anna Nikolova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

A non-representative survey on the attitudes of consumers towards music events in the country and the channels through which they are informed about concerts was conducted by Anna Nikolova less than a month before the declaration of a state of emergency in Bulgaria (due to COVID-19). The analysis of the results of the online survey "How do you know about your favorite concerts?", filled in by over 300 Bulgarians between January 27, 2020, and February 21, 2020, sets an interesting temporary picture of the way consumers in the country are informed about upcoming music events.

Би Би Си и движенията 'Ме too' и 'Time’s Up': съдържателен анализ

Author(s): Tsvetelina Dzhambazova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

Using content analysis, this report researches texts about the new social movements „Me Too” and „Time’s Up”, which are published on BBC’s website, bbc.com, between October 5th 2017 and December 31st 2018 (which marks the first anniversary of both campaigns). The aim is to study the methods through which both initiatives are presented in this British medium. Important tasks of this report are to analyze whether this website’s authors express an attitude towards the movements and to check whether there is any connection between the two campaigns and the existing calls for changes in the social roles of sexes in modern society.

Дигитално присъствие на БНТ и БНР в социалните мрежи: революция или еволюция?

Author(s): Ivelina Georgieva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

The aim of this text is to encompass and analyze how the Bulgarian national television and the Bulgarian national radio use different social media platforms. The main thesis is that the two media are working hard on their active digital presence to stand out as information leaders with high public trust not only on television and radio but also online. BNT and BNR as the largest public media in our country also give a good perspective on how the Bulgarian media environment is developing online. For a long time now, this has included not only the media's websites, but also its full adaptation in the field of social networks where the user and his interests are most important.

Нова медийна икономика: стари и нови предизвикателства пред медийния бизнес

Author(s): Petranka Fileva,Biser Zlatanov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

Disruptive media environment applies the creative destruction forces creating new value networks and destroying the incumbent. To write about the new or the old media economics is a speculative idea. In this paper we stick to three key changes or tendencies that impact the behaviour of the media companies: (1) personalization and contextualization, (2) fragmentation, (3) partnership and digitalization. We recognize the need of the elaboration of new value proposition from the traditional media.

Университетски практики за създаване на студентски подкаст

Author(s): Stela Angova,Ivan Valchanov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

The study aims to identify university practices for creating a student podcast. The hypothesis is that there is a paradigm shift, but not a rejection, regarding the first steps of students in journalism and they rather attempt producing podcasts than creating a newspaper. The knowledge for creating print media products is upgraded through all media elements and digital communication strategies. This results in a real multimedia practice consisting of generating ideas, teamwork, script writing, editing, recording, publishing in online platforms and social media promotion. Empirical material has been collected from American, Australian, Western European, and Bulgarian universities. The case studies seek to discover the reasons for the increased interest in podcasts as a modern audio format. The study aims to outline the main characteristics of a successful student podcast and to examine the tendencies for production and listening to podcasts among the younger audience.

Дневният ред на българската телевизионна журналистика

Author(s): Ralitsa Kovacheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

The text presents the results of a case study on how the journalistic investigation, known as the 'Eight Dwarfs', is covered by the most watched and trusted Bulgarian televisions BNT, bTV and Nova. The study aims to establish whether topics that are neglected by the institutions could find a place in the Bulgarian televisions` agenda. It has been found that the three media have applied different approaches to the topic, varying from relatively good coverage, through institutionally influenced coverage, to the lack of any coverage. Based on the results, conclusions are made about the agenda of Bulgarian television journalism and the factors that influence its formation.The text presents the results of a case study on how the journalistic investigation, known as the “Eight Dwarfs”, is covered by the most watched and trusted Bulgarian televisions BNT, bTV and Nova. The study aims to establish whether topics that are neglected by the institutions could find a place in the Bulgarian televisions` agenda. It has been found that the three media have applied different approaches to the topic, varying from relatively good coverage, through institutionally influenced coverage, to the lack of any coverage. Based on the results, conclusions are made about the agenda of Bulgarian television journalism and the factors that influence its formation.

Стратегия „Хоризонт Европа“ 2021–2027 – нова възможност за развитие на научните изследвания

Author(s): Radka Petrova Ivanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2020

Creating innovations means also the pursuit of effective research and development activities which to include both research and educational institutions and business organizations, that are the main users of innovations. Bulgaria has the capacity to carry out R&D in terms of human potential, but does not have sufficient own financial resources to invest in it. In this regard, the programs developed by the EU to promote innovation activity in the Member States are useful for Bulgaria. This article examines the extent of absorption of the funds allocated under operational programs for innovation activity in Bulgaria for the period 2014 – 2020, as well as the place of Bulgaria among the other Member States in regard to the average level of the innovation index. Attention is focused on the research opportunities under the new EU Framework Program – „Horizon Europe“.

Амотивация: съвременното предизвикателство пред образователната система

Author(s): Irina Danailova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5/2020

The aim of this article is to systematize the problem areas in the behavior of young people in the labor market and to clarify the importance of amotivation on the observed processes. The behavior of young people, the decisions they make, are particularly important, as they will have a strategic effect on the economy. The behavior of young people, the decisions they make are especially important, as they will have a long-term effect on the economy and overcoming the motivational effect is with strategic importance for the future development of our country.

„Гордост и предразсъдъци“ – лицата със слухови нарушения и техните различни възможности

Author(s): Svetoslava Saeva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5/2020

This paper discusses two options for the people with hearing loss: pride of their deafness and prejudice against them on behalf of hearing people. Presented are the fears and behavior specifics of this target group. The term “audism” is also analysed. There is also information about the unique situation of people with hearing loss, living in Iceland.

Статистическа извадка от проведено изследване по научен проект за проявите на агресивност и депресия със студенти

Author(s): Anzhelina Yaneva,Elitsa Stoyanova,Mariana Albert,Boyana Mitreva,Valeria Lukanova,Tanya Gavrailova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5/2020

The article presents some of the data from a survey conducted to study the levels of aggression and depression of students practicing sports at the university. The study is a research and educational project funded by Sofia University and monitors the data on the impact or lack of impact on the mental side of students of all specialties and faculties at Sofia University and Medical College "Yordanka Filaretova", specialty "Rehabilitator". At this stage, the activity of the students and the most general statistical data of the surveyed students, practicing different sports disciplines within their studies at the university, are traced.

Нов поглед към историята на висшето икономическо образование в България

Author(s): Margarita Marinova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2020

Нагласи за четене (Проучване сред българските ученици)

Author(s): Despina Vasileva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2020

A study of the attitudes of Bulgarian high-school students regarding reading is presented in this article. Over five hundred subjects have taken part in the study, 337 girls and 180 boys of age 13 to 18, from the capital Sofia and other schools in country. The study was implemented through a five-module survey, including 74 statements distributed in groups as follows: "During reading", "Most often I read", "When (what time) do I read", "I prefer to read", "I find information in". Each statement was evaluated by the subjects according 5-level Likert scale of two types: agreement and frequency estimates. Analysis of the results is also presented. Data obtained in the study lead to outcomes as follows: Online and on-screen reading is preferred rather reading of paper; a lack of well-mastered metacognitive reading skills is observed; the basic source of information is the worldwide web (Internet).