Anthropology Of Space Research Articles

Wilno i wątki urbanistyczne w przedwojennych tekstach Józefa Mackiewicza

The article points out the dominant themes of Józef Mackiewicz's pre-war work, indicates Vilnius as one of the main goals of Mackiewicz's writing, and analyses selected pre-war columns and reportages, primarily the diptych Z wileńskiego bruku (From the Vilnius Pavement) and a series of reportages under the common title Poszukiwania tajemniczego portcygaru w Wilnie (Search for the Mysterious Portcygar in Vilnius). In the diptych, Mackiewicz studies the city as a strictly urban space without reference to tradition or cultural and symbolic imagery. Observations and descriptions of the everyday life of pre-war Vilnius gave rise to texts in which motifs specific to urban literature appear, such as the movement and rhythm of urban life, the organisation of time, or the peculiarities of the audiosphere. The protagonist-narrator of these texts also resides in the city in a modern way: he focuses on empiricism and the sensory-bodily perception of the city. On the other hand, the reportage series belongs to the non-fiction literature of the 1930s. Some of Mackiewicz's pre-war works, including the analysed series, belong to the period of literature’s turn towards social issues, when the life of the lower classes, especially in the metropolis’s suburbs, gained its literary and journalistic representations. The analysed series about suburbs discovered new anthropological spaces, alternative to the time’s literary representations, and modified existing ideas about Vilnius.

Waiting as institution. Notes for an Institutional Analysis of Human Waiting Processes from a Discontinuous Materialism Perspective

This essay proposes an alternative theory for analysing social and human waiting that breaks with the prevailing temporal approach. I suggest relocating waiting as a subject of study from the area of temporalities to that of social institutions. My approach draws on the theory of institutions offered by Discontinuous Materialism (DM) to analyse waiting processes. I argue that this perspective overcomes the gnoseological problems that current temporal theories of waiting have in the material field of these phenomena. The essay analyses the categories and concepts related to DM, such as ϕ-components and π-totalities, anthropological space, and ceremony. It shows how they can be applied to waiting processes. This work also critiques two theoretical pillars on which current research is based: the idea that waiting is a fundamentally experiential and subjective phenomenon and the view that waiting constitutes ontologically negative (temporal) phenomena. The proposed institutional theory transforms waiting from a nebulous, liminal, and temporal phenomenon to one with materially visible and determinable contours. The essay concludes by demonstrating how the institutional character of waiting can further refine and delimit their specific field while also situating social and human waiting within a broad and diverse gnoseological field.

Flame thrower

SummaryThis poem is part of a special section in honor of Kathleen Stewart. Imagined as a staccato spoken word piece, the short lines with visual semantic and sonic parallelisms flow like an urgent, nonstop process of throwing flames, barbs, disruptions, and unexpected care into anthropological spaces. As such, the poetic layout pays tribute with an itemized list of Katie's interventions: surgical strikes, sharp, powerful presences, and gentle lyric clarity.

Rerooted and Reimagined: Dance, Palestinian Women, and the Reclamation of Urban Spaces

Manar Hasan employs the term “memoricide” to describe the systematic eradication of Palestinian society from modern memory, a process, she points out, that occurred not only through the destruction of its major cities, but also through the erasure from public consciousness the inhabitants of those cities, and specifically the Palestinian women who once played highly visible, integral roles within them. This paper enters into conversation with Hasan’s argument in its exploration of the work of Palestinian choreographer Shaden Abu Elasal, focusing on dances performed in urban spaces—locations from which she draws historical and creative inspiration to imbue her choreography with layers of meaning. I show how through her choreography, Abu Elasal reroots and uproots herself from the place in the very same acts of dance. She resurrects both the city and the women, revealing the obscured and retrieving the forgotten. I argue, then, that in staging dances in what Marc Augé terms “anthropological places” in Israel/Palestine, locations saturated with historical and conceptual significance, Abu Elasal both deepens her roots to the land, her land, and rises anew from it, freeing herself of its heavy shackles. Moreover, by reintroducing specifically Palestinian women dancers as elements of the “flesh and stone” of Israel/Palestine, spaces rife with histories of trauma, dominated by patriarchy and a Zionist ideology that privileges Jewishness and whiteness, Abu Elasal excavates a forgotten past, negotiates a restrictive present, and shapes a future for herself and her community. The paper brings together the ideas of anthropological space, which recognizes the identity of place as not merely physical but comprised of the breadth of human activity (symbolism, history, imagination, vision) that has taken and is taking place in it; and dance’s power to inspire a sense of losing oneself or transcending the existing, tangible world. In both ideas, consciousness and the material, stone and body, entwine and shape one another in the ongoing process of (re)forming identity and reclaiming history.

Classification of Theories about the Origin of Religions

In this article, I will classify theories about the origin of religions, distinguishing two groups of theories: those upholding the revealed origin of religion and those denying it. The former can be split into two: theories assuming that revelation is an encounter between humans and certain finite extraterrestrial intelligences (an encounter taking place in the past or being expected for the future) and those defining revelation as the presence before humans of either a transcendent, immaterial God or certain mythological or historical beings sent by him. As for the latter, two varieties exist as well: theories holding that non-human animals also have religion, and those restricting religion to humans and explaining their origin through the relationships of human groups with their environment. To classify the latter, I will make use of Gustavo Bueno’s theory of anthropological space. Finally, I will touch on the necessarily partisan components of my classification.

Differences in the Anthropological Status of Young Football Players in Relation to the Chronological age within one Calendar Year

The aim of this research is to determine whether there are statistically significant differences in the anthropological status of young football players in relation to chronological age within one calendar year. The sample consisted of a total of 50 male respondents, Technical School “Mihajlo Pupin” students from the municipality of Indjija. The sample was divided into two subsamples according to chronological age (born by June 30, 2005; born July 1, 2005 and later). The students are also members of the football club in which they train. By examining the morphological characteristics, data were obtained in the following variables: body height, body mass and body mass index. Static and explosive power testing data were obtained in the following variables: standing long jump, bent arm hang and running 30 meters. It was concluded that there are no statistically significant differences between young football players of different chronological ages in anthropological status. No differences were found in the total space of tested and measured variables (MANOVA) nor in the individual space (ANOVA). The research included two anthropological spaces, morphological and motor, and none of them showed differences between young football players of different chronological ages. Out of a total of six measured and tested variables, the only variable that was on the border of the difference between the groups was running 30 meters, which may indicate that different explosive power of the lower extremities between the two tested groups, in this case, in favor of the younger group.

POPULAR CULTURE AS A SOURCE OF IDEAS IN THE URBAN SPACES OF WESTERN UKRAINE DURING THE PANDEMIC

The purpose of the article is to investigate the current issue of changes in activities in the urban spaces of Western Ukraine during lockdown (March–June 2020) and adaptive quarantine (2020–2021) and show the importance of popular culture as a constant that reflects the collective notion of space, updates the imaginary topography, affects the performatisation of the cities and formats of artistic practices. Research methodology. R. Barthes’ methods of semiotic analysis are used, combining structuralism with semiotics, according to which urban spaces are considered as a discourse. The method of site research was applied, which allowed collecting relevant texts concentrated in the spaces of cities where a specific cultural image of the coronavirus time has been recorded. The scientific novelty consists in the determination of the role of popular culture as a vital factor of new sociocultural contents in a crunch period. Conclusions. The article emphasises that the rationalism of anthropological space has been transformed fundamentally during the pandemic and changed the vector of interdependence between the subject, space and place, where the “I” is localised in a new space with the content of the last place, having suffered the destruction of connections due to the absence of “presence”. It is proved that the lack of direct communication with the audience contributed to the spread and use of synthetic art practices that combine postmodern practices with global digitalisation, but this does not mean their novelty. Based on the analysed practices, it is proved that the differences lie in sociocultural characteristics, and popular culture was the first to make alternative adjustments to the changing spaces. Art circles and official bodies oriented on the mass audience have used popular symbols of quarantine realities. Therefore, popular culture in the crunch becomes a source of ideas in the promotion of sociocultural meanings.

Din nou, ACUM, Brașov, 17-19 octombrie 2019

The International Colloquium of Social Sciences and Communication ACUM (NOW) took place in Brasov in between 17th and 19th of October 2019, over three sunny autumn days. The event was organized by the Faculty of Sociology and Communication of the University Transylvania and by the Society of Sociologists of Romania. The keynote speakers were: Bogdan Voicu (R.I.Q.L.) with a communication about migration as a double osmosis, Robbie Gilligan (University of Dublin), with a paper about working with vulnerable young people, Sylvie Huet, (University of Clermond), who investigated the “glass ceilings”, and Mihai Burlacu, from the Bucharest Polytechnic, with a reconsideration of the anthropological space as heterotopia. The colloquium organized by SSR is already part of a local university tradition of national and international openness. Slowly but steadily, a real international character of scientific manifestations in Romania is formed, much less cosmopolitan than similar conferences in the global West, but with a constant presence of foreign guests and participants who bring a much needed diversity of perspectives and research themes. During the works, we received a very careful reception from colleagues in sessions that put together various contributions, from long-term individual research topics to recent exploratory research.The event was one that confirmed its success over the years, thus strengthening Brasov's place on the map of social sciences in Romania.

Afterword

Afterword

The boxing gym as masculine space

ABSTRACT This paper is divided into five parts. Parts I and II place the discussion in the context of anthropological spaces and more specifically sports spaces, including discussion of the extent to which these may be gendered. Part III focuses on the question of the nature of masculinity, while Part IV investigates the status of boxing as expression of masculine identity. Part V looks further into boxing and the spaces of boxing as an expression of modern masculinity, with part VI considering women’s recent appropriation of pugilism. The paper finishes with a brief reflection leading to the conclusion that although the boxing gym remains a masculine space it is no longer an exclusively male preserve.

Differences between morphological characteristics and motoric capabilities of physically active and inactive female students

Background: This research was done as continuation of research made previously on male population. The goal of this research is to determine „differences between morphological characteristics and motoric capabilities of physically active and inactive female students “. Methods: Sample of physically inactive female students was made of 54 examinees and sample for active students was made of 52 girls. Average age was 12. All girls were primary school students. Physically inactive students regularly attended PE lessons and active students were involved in training process of basketball, volleyball, football and handball teams. Additional practice was done two times a week for 90 minutes. Morphological space is set by 15 variables and motoric space is set with 24 variables. Results: Statistical difference was determined by T-test on level (p<0.05). Significance given by T-test was checked by calculating Eta coefficient. Such data has differences in Chest Width (.00/.00 and η2=0,33), Weight (.00/.00 and η2=0,34), Stomach Skin Curves (.00/.00 and η2=0,37) and Back Skin Curves (.05/.05 and η2=0,16). Motoric space has differences in: Slalom with Three Medicine Balls (.00/.00 and η2=0.01), Throwing medicine ball from the chest (.00/.00 and η2=0,10), Long Jump (.00/.00 and η2=0,17), Push-ups (.02/.02 and η2=0.05), Sit-and-Reach (.04/.04 and η2=0.00) and 20m low start run (.00/.00 and. η2=0,14). Conclusions: After analysis it can be stated the aim of the research was completed and differences of anthropological status of physically active and inactive female students were determined. Students of age 12 can be recommended additional training activity to positively transform anthropological spaces with no transformation. Research with same or similar variables should be done on different age categories when compared to this one or to analyze quality of influence that specific sports have on transformation in this age category.

Differences between morphological characteristics and motoric capabilities of physically active and inactive female students

Background: This research was done as continuation of research made previously on male population. The goal of this research is to determine „differences between morphological characteristics and motoric capabilities of physically active and inactive female students “. Methods: Sample of physically inactive female students was made of 54 examinees and sample for active students was made of 52 girls. Average age was 12. All girls were primary school students. Physically inactive students regularly attended PE lessons and active students were involved in training process of basketball, volleyball, football and handball teams. Additional practice was done two times a week for 90 minutes. Morphological space is set by 15 variables and motoric space is set with 24 variables. Results: Statistical difference was determined by T-test on level (p<0.05). Significance given by T-test was checked by calculating Eta coefficient. Such data has differences in Chest Width (.00/.00 and η2=0,33), Weight (.00/.00 and η2=0,34), Stomach Skin Curves (.00/.00 and η2=0,37) and Back Skin Curves (.05/.05 and η2=0,16). Motoric space has differences in: Slalom with Three Medicine Balls (.00/.00 and η2=0.01), Throwing medicine ball from the chest (.00/.00 and η2=0,10), Long Jump (.00/.00 and η2=0,17), Push-ups (.02/.02 and η2=0.05), Sit-and-Reach (.04/.04 and η2=0.00) and 20m low start run (.00/.00 and. η2=0,14). Conclusions: After analysis it can be stated the aim of the research was completed and differences of anthropological status of physically active and inactive female students were determined. Students of age 12 can be recommended additional training activity to positively transform anthropological spaces with no transformation. Research with same or similar variables should be done on different age categories when compared to this one or to analyze quality of influence that specific sports have on transformation in this age category.

Experiencing Panismo in Sorrentino's The Great Beauty, Youth and Loro

Abstract This paper aims to disavow the widespread argument that many of Sorrentino's films are set in what Marc Augé would call non-spaces. Non-place or nonplace is a neologism coined by this French anthropologist to refer to anthropological spaces of transience, where human beings remain anonymous and do not hold enough significance to be regarded as places. However, through an approach inspired by psychogeography and ecocriticism, I will argue that in Sorrentino's films The Great Beauty (2013), Youth (2015), and the diptych Loro 1 and Loro 2 (2018), these non-places undergo a profound ontological transformation. They become significant because their powerful energy becomes a synergy that enters the characters, helping them to overcome their meaningless existence, to transform their lives, and find their lost inspiration. Sorrentino's characters use cityscapes (in The Great Beauty), landscapes (in Youth), and domestic spaces (in Loro 1 and Loro 2) as tools to heal their malaise, artistic aridity, and psychological discontent. They achieve this through a sort of Dannunzian Panismo, which entails an intense fusion between humans and the environment. What is atypical from a Dannunzian perspective is the hypothesis of possibly attaining a panic fusion in a natural and in an urban context, cityscape or domestic space.

PHILOSOPHICAL AND LEGAL PROBLEMS OF PHENOMENON «SOUL»

In the article deals with philosophical and legal ideas about the Soul in anthropological space and reveals important methodological dominants of the anthropology of law, the substantial properties of the «Soul» can be traced. Human is seen as a cosmoplanetary phenomenon.

Darkness as an Anthropological Space: Perspectives Induced by Psalms 88 and 139 on the Themes of Death, Life and the Presence of YHWH

In this article an intertextual comparison is made between Pss 88 and 139 on the theme and use of the concept of “darkness.” In the meta-narrative of the shape and shaping of the Psalter, these two psalms are counterpointed to each other. Psalm 88 is traditionally viewed as an individual lament of a person who is sick, dying or facing death. Darkness is a prominent theme in this psalm, with a situation of hopelessness in the exilic period. In contrast, darkness is portrayed differently in Psalm 139, where a different message for the post-exilic period is presented in the meta-narrative. Psalm 139, from the perspective of YHWH as creator, can be interpreted as a ritual or individual meditative confession after some sort of possible trial period. To gain a better understanding on the use of darkness in these two psalms, the theme is analysed from the perspective of anthropological space. https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2019/v32n2a16

Speech and temporality in the anthropology of dialogue: speaking in time

The article concerns the explication of anthropological concept of the philosophy of dialogue. Concepts of philosophers of dialogue are explored: Martin Buber's "sphere of between", Ferdinand Ebner's "pneumatology", Franz Rosenzweig's "linguistic thinking" and Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy "grammatical method". Changes in the perception of language under the influence of a new concept of communication are shown. Language acquires an existential dimension, becomes a way of overcoming the loneliness of consciousness, the space of the emergence, existence and manifestation of new philosophical meanings. Search for ways of communication with others and the world in general leads to the construction of a new concept of man with a renewed concept of freedom and the meaning of life. The philosophy of dialogue opposes the model of monological thinking, which changes the perception of the anthropological foundations. The true depth of consciousness opens only in communication (according to Ebner), therefore, it is the language which determines the existence; Rosenzweig’s "new thinking" begins with the recognition of the primacy of communication between people, God and the world; Rosenstock-Huessy’s "grammatical method" provides an opportunity to analyze various conditions and problems of society on the basis of analysis of types of speech; Buber’s «dialogic communication» goes beyond the boundaries of language and becomes a definite state of consciousness. Thus, freedom and identity formation of an individual are related to the individual’s communication with Others. It is also shown that anthropological space transformation is also influenced by the perception of subjective time. The article features temporal accentuation of philosophy of dialogue and states that the theory of language is associated with the category of time, while they both influence the anthropological concept of dialogical philosophy. The philosophy of dialogue emphasizes present time, which is connected with communication held "here and now". The article shows that the past and future in the philosophy of dialogue are connected with different forms of language, different types of communication. The word and language in the philosophy of dialogue become not just categories of poetics, but anthropological categories which influence changes of ideas about freedom, personality formation, communication and sense of subjective time.

Retórica simbólica en el espacio arquitectónico: Una mirada antropológica de la casa en la sobremodernidad

This research aims to analyze the symbolic aspects of the supermodern house, with a methodology that uses anthropic variables. It is based on the idea of the house as a cellular anthropological space, the minimum space in which human beings develop, generally determined architecturally in terms of aesthetics and function. Nevertheless, this anthropological approach has not been addressed from architecture; rather, it has been limited and infringed, causing a crisis in inhabited spaces. The methodological proposal of an ethnographic approach is based on the anthropological dimension of spaces, through the inclusion of architectural design variables that arise from the analysis of the Maslow pyramid. The paper concludes that aspects such as self-realization, security and belonging, among others, are violated under the current architectural approaches, a situation that affects the symbolic sense of the supermodern house.

Rainmaking rituals: Song and dance for climate change in the making of livelihoods in Africa

The imperative to climate change in the African continent is a matter of livelihood and survival. To secure and maintain livelihoods, historical evidence indicates that, native African communities had rich indigenous knowledge and science of responding to instances of climate change. This study interrogates extant data on the ethnoscience of rainmaking rituals, as a prototype of African indigenous knowledge on climate change, to show not only its prevalence across the African anthropological space, but also indicate its effectual outcomes in responding to manifestations of climate change. To fully tap into the potentials and strengths of this knowledge and science, the study tenders for its marriage with modern climatological science, for both to partner in providing solutions to the ever-recurring problem of climate change in contemporary Africa. Keywords: Climate Change, African Indigenous Knowledge, Rainmaking Rituals, Livelihoods.

Os valores éticos nas relações interpessoais no ciberespaço em Pierre Lévy

O presente trabalho tem como objeto de estudo refletir acerca dos valores éticos nas relações interpessoais no ciberespaço em Pierre Lévy. O ciberespaço nada mais é do que um espaço antropológico aberto pela interação entre as pessoas, entre as distâncias, por meio dos computadores e de suas memórias, cuja finalidade é a interconexão, a criação de comunidades virtuais e a inteligência coletiva. Segundo o filósofo, esta engrenagem é um meio vital que aproxima as distâncias entre as pessoas, que se habilitam manuseá-lo, uma vez que nele, as comunidades virtuais exercem uma profusão comunicacional. Contudo, no ciberespaço, a identidade não surge do nada, pois é uma extensão daquilo que o indivíduo é na realidade concreta (sólida), com novos valores, atitudes e desejos, porém, cada indivíduo incorpora e permite que sejam agregados novos valores éticos e morais mantendo na medida do possível sua integridade. Assim sendo, no ciberespaço tanto a ética como a moral são de cunho relativo, ou seja, todos podem fazer tudo, porém as consequências irão surgir de acordo com o ato cometido.

History of Philosophical and anthropological thought in Ukraine at the beginning of the XXI century

This article analyzes the features of the cul-tural and historical processes in Ukraine of the ХХІ century. Updated role in shaping historical events and philosophical traditions. Philosophy and history are closely linked to the socio-cultural environment. Forming process features of culture-historical realities of the present. Philosophical and anthropological processes play an important role in the formation of Ukrainian history. Philosophical and anthropological space in Ukraine have specific characteristics associated with the natural, social, ethnic and geopolitical aspects. The specifics of the theme predisposed application of comp-comprehensive approach to the research methodologies, among which there should be mentioned such as: philosophical, general scientific and special methods. Phenomenological method contributed to the substantiation of humanity of scientific knowledge. The dialectical approach in the study of man made it possible to reveal the bases of its positioning in the measurement of the permanent changes in historical realities. Scientific novelty. The author reveals the essence of the idea of personality and principle of anthropocentrism, shapes their actualization in classical and post-classical paradigms of knowledge and opportunities of anthropocentrism in the in the realities of the history of Ukraine. Forming epistemological and axiological factors national history. Anthropological theme provides potential efficiency in anthropological research paradigms. Conclusions. Philosophical anthropological discourse provides a comprehensive study of the history. History has real pros-pects in the philosophical and anthropological discourse. The histhistory and the history of philosophy are closely related to the philosophical and anthropological discourse. The article considers prerequisites of establishment, peculiarities of the content and methodological potential of concept of anthropocentrism in modern history of Ukraine. The author denotes the role of principle of anthropocentrism in terms of formation of modern Ukrainian national scientific world picture.