Existential Dilemmas Research Articles

Anton Vavrinec Ottmayer – administrácia, advokácia, správa a vzdelávanie

The study deals with an important Slovak lawyer, university lecturer and writer Anton Vavrinec Ottmayer who lived and worked in the capital of the Hungarian Kingdom for the first two thirds of the 19th century. The paper deals mainly with the lesser-known aspects of his career, in particular his scientific career within the Faculty of Law, where he was Dean for two years (1832–1834). He lectured on statistics, mining law and also published on the law of substitution. His literary works were written in Slovak, his professional legal works in Latin and German. In addition, he worked as an attorney and agent (lawyer) at the military court. In 1849 he was accused of insulting the majesty by the Austrian authorities, he was convicted and spent one year in prison. This put an end to his previous university career and he therefore started his own business. His aim was to build a waterworks in Pest. His activities were not always successful, he lost his house at auction and tax lawsuits were also brought against him. To this day, it is not entirely clear exactly when he died. Ottmayer’s life well documents the developments of Hungarian capital, the existential dilemmas, professional and political challenges for lawyers at the time. It also documents the university world and the professional issues that resonated in the professional press of the first half of the 19th century.

Body-Related Existential Dilemmas During Gender Transition: Research in the Italian Context

ABSTRACT The scientific literature shows that gender transition is effective in improving the general well-being of transgender people. However, so far, little attention has been paid to the actual role of the body concerning the existential dilemma that holds the person hostage during transition. This study investigates the relationship between the body—here considered in its concrete, experienced, imagined, and intersubjective dimensions—and gender identity. Twenty-five transgender people who live in Italy were interviewed to identify interpretive repertoires and identity positionings. Four main repertoires and positionings emerged: 1) Interpretative repertoires on the body in transition, where an enduring influence of gender binarism and biological determinants were observed; 2) Expectations regarding medically induced modifications of the body ranging from self-confidence to uncertainty; 3) Positionings toward medically induced bodily modifications, ranging from enthusiasm to resignation; and 4) Inter- and Intrapersonal positionings, where the other than self was found to act as a self-confirming resource or as a constant unpredictable and potentially threatening source of disconfirmation. Practitioners need to develop a stronger awareness of the different dimensions, meanings, and discourses surrounding bodily experience to more effectively intervene in their clinical practice with transgender people.

The “I” as Implicated Subject: Performative Confession in Rian Malan’s My Traitor’s Heart

Confessional forms of autobiographical writing have predominated in post-apartheid South African literary studies. This paper discusses Rian Malan’s My Traitor’s Heart, published in 1990 during drastic social and political changes in South Africa’s transition to democracy. It was one of the first and most prominent examples of this genre. Focusing on Malan’s perspective as a white Afrikaner and an “implicated subject”, this study explored how his confessional account grappled with the existential dilemma of post-apartheid Afrikaner identity. Malan simultaneously affirmed his Afrikaner identity to confront his implication in apartheid and sought to establish a legitimate place for this identity within the new multicultural society. Through a close reading of Malan’s strategic performance, this paper argues that his work offers a means of reimagining the collective self in a new community and understanding historical injustices from a multidimensional perspective. Ultimately, My Traitor’s Heart contributes to the post-apartheid project of envisioning a more inclusive psychological and topographical construction of individual and collective identity, with the implicated subject as its centre.

Echoes of the gothic: transmedia reinterpretations of Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy in independent films and video games

This study critically examines the development of audiovisual and interactive content that draws on Edgar Allan Poe’s oeuvre, with a particular focus on the interplay of transmedia storytelling and gothic elements within these narratives. Utilizing summative content analysis and non-participant observation, this research investigates five films and five independent video games that reinterpret Poe’s literary themes. The results underscore the necessity of incorporating Mythos, Topos, and Ethos in adaptations to faithfully evoke the profound emotional resonance and explore the psychological and existential dilemmas inherent in Poe’s works. Our analysis reveals distinct narrative strategies in cinema and video games: while horror predominates in film, integrating supernatural elements to evoke fear, video games predominantly leverage noir, crafting complex crime narratives infused with cynicism and dark ambiance. Additionally, the study highlights how gothic elements of abjection and sublimity are leveraged to navigate themes of mortality, morality, and the uncanny, thereby ensuring the continued relevance of Poe’s legacy in contemporary media landscapes. This adaptation process not only preserves the essence of Poe’s narrative but also dynamically engages a modern audience through innovative transmedia platforms, illustrating the enduring impact of his work on popular culture.

A Comparative Study of the Existential Resistance Consciousness of Camus and Shi Tiesheng

Albert Camus, the founder of "Absurdist Philosophy," portrays the absurdity and alienation of individuals in a strange world in his works. He opposes the ideology of submission, celebrates the spirit of resistance in adversity, and explores the true meaning of life. Shi Tiesheng, a renowned contemporary Chinese writer, questions the meaning of existence in the face of illness and hardship, reaching remarkable heights through imagination and speculation. Although there is ample research on both writers individually, there is a lack of comparative studies in literature and philosophy. This paper integrates relevant theories and recent research findings to conduct an in-depth study of the works and philosophical outlooks of Camus and Shi Tiesheng regarding existential dilemmas, religious choices, and collective resistance consciousness, exploring their explorations in resistance consciousness and existential challenges. Additionally, this paper explores the perspectives of Camus and Shi Tiesheng on the collective fate of humanity, discussing the insights brought about by people's reflections on modes of existence due to the global pandemic in 2019. This study broadens the research scope, deepening the understanding of these two writers, particularly regarding their existential resistance consciousness, which is inspiring for individuals to find meaning in adversity.

The hero's existential dilemma in the story "First Love": the Hamletian question

The article is devoted to the existential dilemma of the hero in I. S. Turgenev's story "First Love", which goes back to the eternal Hamletian question. The traumatic experience of the hero of the story is analyzed, in the image of which it is possible to find moral and psychological traits peculiar to Hamlet, transferred in the context of Russian cultural tradition. The object of the study is the political and ethical dilemma of the hero in the story "First Love". The subject of the study is the unusual love experience of the protagonist of the story and the social and family relations connected with it. The main purpose of the work is to analyze Shakespearean reminiscences in the story, to identify the Hamletian question behind the hero's tragic love. The following research methods were applied in the work: the method of holistic analysis of the artwork, descriptive, comparative, as well as the method of linguocultural interpretation. The research shows that I. S. Turgenev presents the story of the young hero's first love as a socio-political allegory, an allusion to the existential dilemma of the young generation at a critical period. It is the inability to resolve this dilemma that leads the hero of the story to a tragic finale, which should be seen as a warning from the writer. The results described in this article will contribute to a deeper understanding of the late work of I. S. Turgenev, as well as can be introduced as a scientific material in the educational process at the Faculty of Philology. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the fact that the paper is the first to study in detail the Hamlet question in Turgenev's story, which is usually paid little attention to, and to discover the reason for the formation of the Russian Hamlet from the double dilemma (political and ethical) of the protagonist.

Beyond the veil: Popular culture, morality and the afterlife in contemporary society

Ongoing interest in the afterlife serves to navigate existential crises by offering solace or amplifying anxieties about death. Popular cultural narratives, deeply intertwined with religious doctrines, serve as interpretative frameworks for understanding human experiences, ethical conduct and the mysteries of death. This Special Issue, then, explores how, in an increasingly secular world, the afterlife is portrayed in media narratives, which, while primarily aimed at entertainment, also respond to deep-seated existential and moral questions. It discusses how these portrayals offer a mix of hope, happiness and moral guidance, reflecting broader societal values and beliefs about life, death and what lies beyond. This collection of scholarly contributions aims to dissect the portrayal of morality and religion in media representations of the afterlife, examining how these portrayals reflect, critique or reinforce societal norms and values. By focusing on themes such as digital immortality and the supernatural, the Special Issue not only highlights the evolving nature of afterlife narratives but also underscores the role of popular culture in navigating and negotiating the existential dilemmas of the twenty-first century.

An Analysis of the the Mutual Construction of Individual Memory and Collective Memory in Atonement

Atonement is one of the masterpieces of British author Ian McEwan, which has attracted a lot of attention since its publication, and this novel won him the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. The novel’s protagonist, Briony, makes a big mistake as an adolescent by indulging her imagination, breaking up her sister Cecilia and Robbie, and sending Robbie to prison. Robbie goes from being an Oxford student to a prisoner, and then he goes to the front line in the midst of World War II to get out of prison early. Cecilia, on the other hand, after known this terrible news, breaks with her family to become a nurse. Cecilia and Robbie are finally reunited at last. Briony finds them and repents deeply, telling the truth and apologizes to her sister and Robbie. It seems like an old fashioned happy-ending novel, except none of this reunion is reality. Just as the readers are immersed in the sense of redemption and happiness, the author ends the book with a meta-fictional message telling the readers that the previous happy ending is just a made-up one by Briony in her head, and she writes it down as if it is truly happened , in order to atone for her own sins. She changes the fate of two people and spends fifty-nine years in penance. Previous research angles of scholars at home and abroad mainly focus on narrative art, metafictional ending, war and trauma, the theme of atonement, etc., and what exactly makes Briony made a big mistake, and how she carries out self-salvation, this will take Briony, the main character of the novel, as the object of study, and use Halbwachs’ theory of individual and collective memory to explore her existential dilemma and her self-salvation through the freedom of choice to her self-rescue from her predicament, aiming to reveal McEwan’s use of memory theory and his thoughts on human nature.

Преодоление поэтического концептуализма («Солнечное утро» Тимура Кибирова)

The article is devoted to the analysis of images and motifs, as well as the structural-compositional features of Timur Kibirov’s latest poetry collection “Sunny Morning” (2020). The research aims to comprehend not only the formal features of the poems included in the book, but also the content and semantic layer of Kibirov’s later texts. The structural-compositional features of the collection are considered, the series of motifs are traced in the lyrical texts. The author of the article identifies the main ideological and image dominants of Kibirov’s later texts, outlines the existential space of the persona (the poet’s alter ego), traces the reflection of the hero’s personal ideas about the world and about himself. In particular, the researcher examines the system of “eternal” and “damned” questions that give an idea of the existential dilemmas of the persona in the book “Sunny Morning”. The study is novel in that it is the first to consider the poetical features of Kibirov’s late collection, to identify the axiological perspectives of the persona’s worldview, to reveal his reflections on the Soviet past of the country and himself. As a result, it is proved that Kibirov’s texts, typified by critics as conceptualist, are quite far from the strategies and practices of conceptual experiments. Personal friendship with conceptualist poets did not affect Kibirov’s personal identity, the originality of his poetry, or the recognizability of his individual style.

Symbolism and Psychological Depth in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and Its Influence on Modern Literature

This paper delves into the intricate layers of symbolism and psychological depth in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s seminal work, Crime and Punishment. By unraveling the complex psyche of the protagonist, Raskolnikov, the study explores the novel’s exploration of existential dilemmas, moral ambiguity, and the quest for redemption. The analysis further extends to the symbolic elements embedded within the narrative, such as the pervasive use of crosses, blood imagery, and the urban landscape of St. Petersburg, which collectively enhance the novel’s exploration of human suffering and alienation. Additionally, the paper examines the profound influence of Dostoevsky’s themes and narrative techniques on modern literature, tracing echoes of Raskolnikov’s psychological turmoil in characters and narratives of subsequent literary movements, including existentialism and modernism. Through a detailed investigation of these elements, the study aims to underscore the enduring relevance of Crime and Punishment in the contemporary literary landscape and its pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of modern literature.

Shame, Gaze and Voice: A Lacanian Perspective

AbstractThis paper proposes a Lacanian theory of shame linked to the era of Lacan's work starting with Seminar X and the invention of the object a. From a Lacanian perspective, shame is not evoked by the exposure of a deficit, but rather by the exposure and witnessing of the divided subject's constitutive lack. This paper proposes that the affect of shame is an index pointing to the divided subject's structural lack when it is exposed and witnessed by object a instantiated as the gaze of the scopic drive and the voice of the invocatory drive. Since shame can freeze speech as well as provoke flight from the analytic work, we suggest that it is helpful for the clinician to understand how the structure of shame manifests in the patient's speech and in the transference. Clinical examples are given throughout. The paper concludes with a case discussion of Lacanian analytic work with a female patient confronted with multiple existential dilemmas that evoked shame in relationship to her body, sexuality and death.

A sociology of existence for a late modern world. Basic assumptions and conceptual tools

AbstractIn the present article, we outline basic assumptions and conceptual tools for a sociology of existence. First, we address man's fundamental conditions of existence: that life's finitude and encounters with the uncertainty of existence are fundamental experiences that construct social relations. Second, we outline how existential meaning‐making and the ability to cope with the unpredictability of life are dependent on power resources, where especially the resource poor may experience ‘existential nausea’. Third, we discuss how existential dilemmas may intensify under certain historical eras. Therefore, studying individuals' existential dilemmas is a tool to examine the dominant social issues at a particular time and place. Fourth, we elaborate on the importance of studying turning points during individuals' life courses, as existential meaning – or lack thereof – becomes particularly salient at these times. This includes an understanding that death and rebirth are experienced in the form of various endings and beginnings in everyday life. Fifth, and finally, we emphasize an analysis in which the direction of people's lives is conceptualized in a broad time perspective, where past, present, and future interact and influence life choices and social relations constructed during a lifetime.

An Interdisciplinary interpretation of literature through the lens of Quantum Theory

This paper explores the interdisciplinary intersection between Quantum Theory and literary analysis, particularly focusing on William Shakespeare’s "Hamlet." By examining the character of Hamlet through the principles of quantum mechanics, specifically Schrödinger's wave function and the concept of superposition, we aim to demonstrate how scientific metaphors can provide novel insights into literary texts. This approach not only deepens our understanding of characters and narratives but also bridges the gap between the sciences and the humanities, highlighting their interconnectedness and mutual relevance. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of this interdisciplinary methodology, its limitations, and future directions for research. By employing quantum theory and the Schrödinger equation as metaphors, we gain deeper insights into the intricate layers of Hamlet’s character and the overarching themes of the play. This interdisciplinary approach enriches our understanding of Shakespeare’s work, highlighting the profound connections between the uncertainties and probabilities in quantum mechanics and the existential dilemmas faced by Hamlet. This perspective not only offers a unique lens for literary analysis but also demonstrates the potential for cross-disciplinary interpretations to enhance our appreciation of classic literature.

Unraveling the Human Struggle: Eveline and Hamlet through Sartre's Existentialist Lens

This research article delves into the profound existential dilemmas encountered by Eveline in James Joyc’s “Eveline” and Prince Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Hamlet through the application of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist framework. Eveline, the protagonist faces the haunting choice between her familiar life and a new and uncertain future with her lover, while Hamlet tackles with the moral complexities of seeking revenge for his father’s murder. By drawing upon Sartre’s concept of existential choice and the notion of authentic existence, this study aims to analyze the inner conflicts and quest for meaning experienced by these complex literary characters. Thus, this study digs into the intricate themes of personal freedom, responsibility, authenticity, and the quest for meaning. By unraveling the universal human struggle depicted in these characters’ decisions, this article offers an evocative exploration of self discovery and the profound impact of existential choices on the path to an authentic existence. Through a comparative analysis, this article examines the ways in which Eveline and Hamlet struggle with their existential dilemmas and navigate the intricate web of personal freedom and responsibility.

Exploring the Depths of Modern Life as Reflected in Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

This paper explores the philosophical themes present in Franz Kafka's seminal work, The Metamorphosis (1915). Through an analysis of the novella, the paper delves into how Kafka grapples with profound issues such as alienation, existential crisis, and the human condition. The paper examines the transformative journey of the protagonist, GregorSamsa, who undergoes a physical and psychological metamorphosis into a bug, serving as a metaphor for the human experience of feeling disconnected from oneself and others. By immersing readers in Gregor's surreal and isolating world, Kafka prompts introspection into the inherent struggles of human existence. Moreover, the paper explores Kafka's masterful use of absurdity and dark humor throughout the narrative, shedding light on the futility of human existence and the inevitability of death. By interweaving absurd and grimly humorous elements, Kafka offers a critique of societal norms and underscores the existential anxieties that arise when confronted with the absurdity of life. The pervasive sense of irony and bleakness in the novella serves to highlight the absurd and inherently flawed nature of the human condition. Furthermore, the research paper delves into the influences that shaped Kafka's philosophy, particularly his Jewish identity and experiences living in a rapidly changing, industrializing society. Kafka's writing reflects the anxieties and struggles of individuals in a modernized world, highlighting the existential dilemmas faced by those grappling with societal expectations and personal identity. By examining the philosophical dimensions of "The Metamorphosis," this paper offers a nuanced and in-depth analysis of Kafka's views on the human experience and the search for meaning in modern life. It invites readers to engage with the profound questions raised by Kafka's work and provides valuable insights into his philosophical stance. IUBAT Review, 6(2): 131-157

R.K. Narayan’s The Guide: Representation of The Dichotomies of Life

This research delves into the profound narrative craftsmanship of R.K. Narayan focusing on his novel ‘The Guide’. Examining the interplay of dualities, beliefs, and betrayals, the study explores how Narayan seamlessly weaves together traditional values, existential dilemmas, and human relationships in his literary canvas. The analysis delves into the moral and ethical dimensions shedding light on Narayan’s subtle critique of societal norms through his humorous narration. Additionally, the research dissects the transformation of the protagonist- Raju, in ‘The Guide’ emphasizing themes of self-realization and spiritual enlightenment. By drawing on Indian classical literature and philosophy, Narayan creates a rich tapestry that portrays the complexities of human nature and the delicate balance between appearance and reality. The study particularly aims at focusing on the dichotomies of life providing valuable insights into Narayan’s unique narrative style.

OPŠTE DETERMINANTE BOSANSKO-BOŠNJAČKE INTERFERENCIJE / GENERAL DETERMINANTS OF BOSNIAN-BOSNIAK INTERFERENCES

The paper presents a sociological research of key characteristics, theoretical assumptions and strategic interests of Bosniak politics, which, in a diachronically very limited time, faced complex challenges of preserving its own ethnic identity and simultaneous efforts to strengthen the state role and its political prerogatives. Such challenges generate existential dilemmas about the possible loss of one's own ethnic substance through a process of interference with the identity of the state and its interests. The research is largely focused on the contingent issue of the nation, which is very sensitive in the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina and has the potential to ideologically divide the political spectrum into two completely different concepts (civic and ethnic). The Bosniak connection with Bosnia and the tendency towards a modern Bosnian nation-state that will overcome ethnic differences, divisions and conflicts is becoming a vital political context in which Bosniaks fill the empty space between the state and the nation. Sociological analysis critically investigates the whole process, objectively pointing out some of the mistakes that Bosniak politics has made or can make. The research showed that the Bosnian nation as a political fact does not exist in full capacity because it is burdened by the conflict of Bosniak insistence and, consequently, Serbo-Croat rejection. This fact has its functional repercussions on political perceptions of the status and future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which for Bosniaks is not just an administrative space or a political agreement of ethnic groups, but above all a homeland. With the intention of more precise analytical research, the paper is based on a qualitative methodological approach and in addition to the usual research methods such as content analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, generalization and comparison, the research-based interview method was also employed.

Nature Imagery in T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land: An Ecocritical Approach

The twentieth century is a modern era of drastic changes, a culmination of industrialization and commercialization leading to the birth of many sciences, neglecting spirituality and Faith and threatening and pushing humanity to the marginalized status. T.S. Eliot’s poetry bears a true reflection of the existential dilemma in which modern man has most paradoxically got trapped. It reveals the deterioration and decadence of human civilization; religion and spirituality that shaped the unstructured and brute primitive men appear frail today because we have learnt how to wear a fair mask and hide the dilapidated face behind it. The Waste Land (1922), no doubt a classic of the modern era, has garnered admiration and appreciation internationally for locating the cracks and fissures on the glossy surface of civilization and urban culture. Apart from criticizing the crude cityscape, growing materialism, and spiritual aridity, the poem is replete with natural imagery in all five parts supposedly hinting at the impending ecological crisis we are facing in the twenty-first century. The imagery like the river sweating oil and tar used in ‘The Waste Land’ suggests severe environmental crisis, pollution, and urban sprawl threatening the ecology of the earth. Beginning with spring and April and ending with water and thunder, The Waste Land uses natural imagery to portray the existential crisis and degeneration in the cityscape and can be interpreted from an eco-critical standpoint. Industrialization and materialism have not only brought disaster to human civilization but have also affected the ecosystem and climate. This paper aims to explore the natural imagery in ‘The Waste Land’, especially in Part 1 and Part 5, exposing the reality amidst the gloom and disaster and evaluating its relevance today from the eco-critical and environmental angle.

‘The existential tendency’ in climate change education: an empirically informed typology

Climate change education (CCE) brings about existential concerns of students. Teachers in turn are confronted with didactic demands to take into account the existential challenge climate change elicits. However, conceptual haziness about how to understand ‘the existential’ in CCE complicates didactic research on the topic, impedes researchers to get a nuanced understanding of ‘the existential’ in CCE, and, thus, hinders the development of empirically grounded knowledge that can offer guidance for teachers. Therefore, this article presents an empirically informed typology that categorises and illustrates diverse expressions of the existential dimension of CC in concrete educational practice. It employs a methodology inspired by Wittgenstein’s user perspective on language, focusing on ordinary and basic traits in our use of language to identify and classify diverse recognisable ways in which the existential is expressed in educational practices. The empirical material comes from case studies of 15 CCE courses in higher education in Belgium. The results distinguish Existential moment, Life quake, Existential dilemma, Existential deliberation, Existential reflection on existential questions, Existential reflection on existential experiences and Existential norm. This typology can be seen as an analytical tool for didactic research on how to recognise and handle expressions of the existential tendency in practice.

When confessing sin feels good

AbstractThis paper draws on a qualitative study of how young people engaged in two youth ministries in the Church of Norway reflect on sin and shame in relation to their existential dilemmas . The authors analyze this practice through the lens of Hartmut Rosa's concept of resonance, arguing that there is consonance between how young people in the study express shame and the Lutheran understanding of sin as being curved in on oneself. Both sin and shame prevent the subject from being open to the world, thus constituting resistance to resonance. Yet, the practice of confessing sin may be a remedy to this closing in on oneself, as confession affords a resonant space, countering feelings of existential inadequacy caused by both sin and shame.Bringing the concept of vulnerability into the discussion, the paper further argues that confessing sin may prove healing and liberating also for experiences of shame as long as it does not violate the subject's ability to speak with her own voice or involve harmful god‐images or harmful power dynamics.