“Who sharpens the knives in my house?”

Author(s): Anastasiya Fiadotava / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

This paper is a tribute to Belarusian folklorist and ethnographer Uladzimir Sysou (1951- 1997) whose extensive legacy includes collecting 139 jokes during his field research in southern Belarus in 1995. Due to his untimely death, these jokes and other folklore items remain unpublished and have, to my knowledge, not been noticed by folklorists. Half of the collected jokes focus on family relations, mostly the relationship between husband and wife. One of the most popular topics of these jokes is adultery. The joke texts show an ambiguous attitude of people towards it. While committing adultery is considered improper, not a lot of effort is made to conceal it. If (or rather, when) a case of adultery comes to light, it does not lead to any serious problems for either spouse in jokes. When studying these jokes, it is curious to place them in historical context and compare them to earlier, Soviet-era jokes about adultery. This study discusses why jokes about adultery in Sysou’s collection differed both quantitatively and qualitatively from adultery jokes found in Soviet collections. The study shows that the high prevalence of jokes on the subject in Sysou’s collection and the liberal attitude towards adultery manifested in them result largely from the decrease in selfand state censorship in Belarus in the early 1990s, set against a backdrop of value pluralisation triggered by the collapse of the USSR.

Election campaign tools in Hungarian humour magazines in the second half of the 19th century

Author(s): Ágnes Tamás / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

In my research paper I examine the first two election campaigns in Hungary following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise (1867). In particular, I analyse the ways the campaigns employed tools of humour in popular press products of the time, such as caricatures and texts in humour magazines (Ludas Matyi [‘Mattie the Goose-Boy’], Az Üstökös [‘The Comet’], Borsszem Jankó [‘Johnny Peppercorn’]), which were considered effective political weapons by contemporaries. After a history-oriented introduction devoted to illustrating the muchdebated content of the Compromise, the election system and the historical significance of the analysed papers, I categorize caricatures and the humorous or satirical texts related to the election of parliamentarians along the lines of the following aspects: (1) attacks against specific people, (2) standing up against the principles and political symbols of the opponent, (3) listing well-known, everyday anti-theses, (4) standing up against the press of the opponent, (5) judgment of the role of the Jewish, (6) war metaphors, (7) critique of the campaign methods of the opponent. My goal is to reveal what tools were used to ridicule political opponents, how parties were described to (potential) voters, how the parties tried to promote voting and convince people of their points of view. The analysed texts clearly depict the division of the Hungarian society (either supporting or rejecting the Compromise), and also document that the political tones became coarser and coarser, even in this humorous genre. During campaigns, the topic of elections took over the humour magazines, which serves as evidence for the intensity of public interest.

Extending ethnic humour theory:

Author(s): Aleksandar Takovski / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

Most ethnic humour that has been studied so far consists of jokes which use ethnically nonspecific qualities such as stupidity or canniness in order to ridicule an ethnic group and thus to preserve and perpetuate ethnically based social hierarchies in western industrial societies. In light of this dominant logic in ethnic humour theory, the objective of this study is to problematize the relation of such non-ethnic qualities and the notion of ethnic identity, as well as their relation to a specific type of society, in an attempt to convincingly argue in favour of the need to differentiate between ‘ethnically-empty’ functional joke scripts and genuine ethnic joke scripts that are related to the ethnic identity of the target. In so doing, I extend ethnic humour theory by introducing and testing the notion of genuine ethnic joke scripts in order to motivate future research that will tackle other potential ethnic humour idiosyncrasies. Toward this end, I have collected and analysed joke material (N=369) coming from Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Albania, societies with histories and relations very different that those in the western industrial societies. Additionally, the study incorporates two questionnaires with members of the two largest ethnicities in the Republic of Macedonia, Macedonians and Albanians, to ascertain the relation between the genuine ethnic humour and ethnic identity.

Book review

Author(s): Peter Zolczer / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

Commentary piece

Author(s): Jennifer Marra / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

Many of Ernst Cassirer’s later works are concerned with the dangers of political myth. His analysis speaks at length about the role of philosophy during the rise of the Third Reich, and Cassirer argues that philosophers failed to combat the dominant ideology. Today, philosophers struggle to explain their relevance to greater public and governmental powers that see no intrinsic value. Given the current political situation in the US, we find ourselves at a crossroads as philosophers. We can either retreat and remain within the comforts of academia, or we can take up arms against dangerous and divisive political forces. If we take Cassirer’s prescriptions seriously, we must choose the latter. Fortunately, philosophy has not disappeared from public consciousness completely. An emerging theme in contemporary cultural studies is the exploration of connections between humour and philosophy. I argue we ought to take advantage of the status of the comedian as public philosopher, and for philosophers to take seriously the political power of comedians. To do this responsibly, I analyse a portion of Cassirer’s work that has been widely ignored in scholarship – his understanding of the politics and morality of humour. By analysing these passages in relation to Cassirer’s later works, we are given the tools to understand the power of humour in political discourse, as well as the responsibility of that power. I argue that “joking responsibly”, for Cassirer, means to reveal the motives and values which underlie sophistry, particularly the sort which lends itself to political manipulation.

Book review

Author(s): Berenice Pahl / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

Тенденции в изменението на състоянието на атмосферния въздух на територията на гр. София за 12-годишен период

Author(s): Bilyana Kostova,Iva Borisova,Vilma Petkova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

The official data of the Executive Environment Agency (ExEA) for the contents of SO2, NO2, fine air particles, O3, CO and C6H6 in the atmospheric air on the territory of Sofia for a 12-year period (2007 – 2018) are analyzed. The trends in their seasonal and annual changes defining the air quality in the urban environment are outlined.

Геоархеологически теренни издирвания за древен рудодобив и металообработка в Западната част на Златишко-Пирдопската котловина

Author(s): Boyan Dumanov,Zhivko Uzunov,Irena Dimitrova,Bilyana Kostova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

Geo-archaeological field surveys have been carried out in the Western part of the Zlatitsa-Pirdop valley. Archaeological sites and surface collections, traces of metalworking of iron were registered to restore the economic models in ancient times.

Дигиталната компетентност – потребност и основа на съвременната функционална грамотност

Author(s): Mariyana Nikolova,Reneta Savova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2021

The article analyses the key competencies in accordance with the European Reference framework and the documents and standards in Bulgaria for improving the quality of education. Special attention is dedicated to the core competencies developed through the potential of digital skills and a matrix for categorization of their proficiency levels. Different areas of the digital сompetences are reviews by presenting a model for the process of their development in different grades and stages in the Bulgarian school. A further review is done on modern methods and techniques for acquiring digital competencies, as well as the risk in digital and virtual communication

Opportunities to Participate in Making Decisions for Migrant Children

Author(s): Ophelia Kaneva / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

In the intense pursuit of the states and the international organizations to address the challenges of migrant processes, the focus on child security neglects the value of the migrant child's personality. Often, a migrant child is given the status of a caretaker by being “attached” to an adult – a situation that guarantees the child's limited ability to participate in decision-making processes that directly affect him/her. Insisting of the young people to participate in decision-making processes goes beyond creating rules in the “adult world” and raises previously unknown political and administrative challenges, as well as professional and public debates to ensure that all children have access to their rights. Opportunities for the participation of migrant children in the decision-making process cause a synchronization globally of understanding and implementation of the child's right to participate and to express own views. These opportunities should be applied interregional and transnationally and, together with that, developed and supported at political and practical levels. It is therefore important to review the current policy framework, to highlight good practice examples and to mark some opportunities for further social and organizational development.

Ниво на формираност на социолингвистични и социокултурни компетентности в начална училищна възраст според родителите

Author(s): Irena Raykova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2021

This article presents the results of a survey, examining the level of formation of the sociolinguistic and sociocultural competences of the students in primary school according to their parents. The summary of the results gives information about the students’ reading interests and how parents encourage their children to read. A variety of forms of collaboration among parents, students and teachers are pointed out, as well as teachers’ preferred methods, forms and means of work used in their pedagogical practice. Possible solutions for increasing the level of formation of the sociolinguistic and sociocultural competences of the students in 1. - 4.class are proposed, highlighting the benefits of the group and team work, and the opportunity for parents to be involved in initiatives organized by the teachers.

The Influence of the Environment on the World of the Learning Disabled Student

Author(s): Dana Harel / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

This article focuses on the influence of the environment on the functioning of the students with learning disabilities, with reference to applied aspects related to the interaction of the individuals with their environment. The article presents the challenges with which learning disabled students cope in the education system and proposes ways of coping that will allow these students to feel that they are an inseparable part of the community to which they belong and to muster the motivation for the developmental tasks required of them.

Perspektywy rozwoju ekosystemu start-upowego w województwie zachodniopomorskim w świetle europejskich trendów

Author(s): Robert Michalski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 37/2018

Westpomeranian Region is not a leader when it comes to level of innovation of the economy in Poland. It causes an effect in the condition of the local start-up scene, which neither is mentioned among the leading Polish ecosystems (Warsaw, Wroclaw and Krakow are the leaders) nor comparable with located nearby global start-up hubs (Berlin, Copenhagen, Gothenburg). Likewise significant funds are alocated in the region through financial instruments as well as many efforts are put in development of the start-up ecosystem.

Propozycja przestrzennej metodyki oceny obciążenia przestrzeni miejskiej reklamą zewnętrzną na przykładzie miasta Polic

Author(s): Michał Kupiec,Sara Bręcz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 37/2018

Outdoor advertisements dominated the centers of modern cities, influencing the recipient through the form, size and manner of communication. Advertisements generate visual impact and affect spatial order, thus causing the need to develop tools that allow cities to assess their impact. An important role in this matter is played by visual analyzes, the vast majority of which are based on qualitative methods and have a linear character. The paper presents a variant of the visual assessment method of urban area, based not only on subjective impressions, but also on the quantitative data obtained as a result of measurements of the number of carriers. The analysis of the load was carried out on the basis of a set of research points arranged in 200-meter intervals on the street network of the city of Police, which is characterized by the dominance of multi-family buildings with an open character. The proposed research method enabled the assessment of the impact of advertising media on the composition and the reception of urban space, and the collected results enabled visualization of the spatial distribution of load by outdoor advertising, creating a comprehensive picture of the city’s aesthetics.

Podniesienie poziomu standardów bezpieczeństwa z wykorzystaniem zunifikowanych norm certyfikacji na przykładzie zachodniopomorskich marin żeglarskich

Author(s): Tomasz Zalewski,Magdalena Bulikowska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 37/2018

The article is an attempt to answer the question whether the quality marks, generally perceived as very important for a given product, have an impact on safety issues in the water industry. It has been verified whether known and applied certification systems for harbors and marinas contain safety elements of the marina and its visitors, and if so, what is their level. T he article compares the most known certification systems for marinas around the world, paying special attention to safety issues – diagnosing their level from the point of view of those visiting in a given facility. Both the procedure of obtaining the certificate and the inclusion of the safety issue and the manner of displaying the certificate were analyzed. I n the course of the analysis of the data obtained and the presentation of applications, it has been proved that modern marina certification systems treat security issues seriously and at a high level, and the mere possession of a certificate positively affects the awareness of persons staying at a given facility.

Smart redevelopment of slums prevent epidemics

Author(s): Amitava Basu / Language(s): English Issue: 02/2021

Novel corona virus pandemic has placed the slum dwellers at high risk. This necessitates re-development of slums. This paper discusses the priority for slum re-development under Smart City Program, and the way forward in India. Prior Work: A study was carried out on early lessons from public administration measures to address the corona pandemic in India. This paper is based on a research following the earlier study. Approach: The process involved – (a) Study and analyze health survey reports of various municipalities; (b) Sample field surveys; (c) Discussions with limited number of municipal officials; and (d) Comparative analysis of other similar studies. Results: Slums are characterized by congested space, lack of adequate water supply, unhygienic sanitation conditions. Almost 8 to 10 persons live in a cramped space. Majority of the slum dwellers are daily wage earners and poor. Congested space and insufficient water do not allow social distancing and hand wash, which are essential to fight novel corona virus infection. Further, exposure outside home for daily earning makes the slum dwellers vulnerable to corona infection. Dharavi slum of Mumbai metropolitan in India, and some of the informal settlements of New York are unique examples. To address the present pandemic and improve the quality of life of the slum residents, re-development of slums and local economic development assume significance. It calls for re-oriented approach in urban planning, infrastructure development and creation of local employment opportunities under Smart City program. Implications: (a) Urban planners need to research for effective redevelopment of slums, and (b) Practitioners require to be familiarized with the urgent need to improve slums and are provided with options to re-orient area-based development as part of Smart City. Value: The study findings are relevant for most developing countries. It provides a way forward in redefine the priorities of “Smart Cities”.

Качествено изследване на конферентно онлайн обучение при студенти по уеб дизайн

Author(s): Hristo Hristov,Nikolay Chochev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2021

The topic of the present research is analysis of conference online learning using qualitative methods. The following methods are used: participating monitoring, questionnaire cards, interviewing and comparative analysis. The learning is carried out in the subject of „Web Design“. Teaching includes an online conference platform, web sources, digital cloud services, etc. Several key differences between the distant learning and conference online learning, used in regular education are pointed out. In the paper are discussed some basic characteristics of qualitative methods and conference online learning.

Evolution of the Content and Quality of Standardized Tests in Mathematics in Ukraine

Author(s): Vasyl Shvets,Oleksandr Shkolnyi,Iryna Dremova / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2021

The evolution of the content and quality of written state standardized final and entrance testing in mathematics in Ukraine, from the first attempt to implement in 1994 until now, is considered in the article. We describe the features and stages of development of Ukrainian standardized tests in mathematics (external independent assessment and state final attestation), analyze the causes of successes and failures and also prospects for their further improvement. Based on our own statistical experiment, we compare the quality of mathematical preparation of Ukrainian graduates who entered the pedagogical universities of Ukraine in 1994, 2005 and 2020. According to this experiment, we draw conclusions about the existing problems of ensuring the proper quality of mathematics education in Ukraine and give recommendations on possible solutions to these problems.

A pedagógia elnyomottja

Author(s): Tamás Tóth / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 28/2021

The most common way of articulating educational problems and questions is by speaking the language of social sciences, and using the grammar of political logics. What is the proportion of disadvantaged students? Does this and that project for inclusion appear to be effective? Since when has the school been reproducing inequalities? And so on. What I would like to discuss here is that it is possible to talk about education educationally and along educational logics. While the logic of the political refers to the way the social is born, the logic of the educational signifies the way birth becomes social – namely, our collective and political attitude toward the fact that newcomers are constantly coming into our common and old world. I will present four educational logics characteristic of our epoch, which are discussed in depth by the proponents of an experimentative critical pedagogy. They do understand these logics of the educational in a radically different, twisted way if compared to the mainstream educational discourse, thus laying the groundwork for a new kind of radical left-wing pedagogy. In agreement with them, I want to argue here that pedagogy is not the praxis of the future, but of the present, in which it is more important not to know certain things than to want to know everything, because this is how we can break the chains of the prevailing order here and now: by putting gods and masters into brackets, and ignoring the expectations of the society, as well as the hopes of yesterday which constantly defer revolution.

Deviszont Közösségi Tér. Kritikai pedagógia Kispesten

Author(s): Alexandra Szarka,Kinga Tóth / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 28/2021

The following article is an introduction of Deviszont Community Space, which is a critical pedagogy project aimed at working-class youth attending vocational schools. Our aim is to learn critical thinking, community-based thinking and social action together, from each other – we believe that to reach systemic change in society, you need education; and the aim of education is to foster social change. The article illustrates the Hungarian educational system via quotes from the youths of Deviszont; demonstrates the methodology of critical pedagogy, using examples from our activities to show how to use them in practice; and presents an actual activity plan. Also, we describe in a step-by-step methodological guide what we have needed to do in order to create our community space. In our opinion, there is nothing to wait for: institutions need to be established, places where people who are able to question the existing social system and power structures can grow up. It is time for education to be as important a topic in social discourse, as it is in the shaping of society.