Intense Preoccupation Research Articles

“I’ve Read You Right—I’m With You Now”: Aesthetic Reading in Virginia Woolf's Metafictional Short Stories

“I’ve read you right—I’m with you now”: Aesthetic Reading in Virginia Woolf’s Metafictional Short Stories. Despite critical interest in Virginia Woolf’s intense preoccupation with the imaginative process at the root of literary creation, little attention has been paid to the manner in which, through metafiction, the writer turns her short stories into reflections upon the nature of reading. In works such as “An Unwritten Novel” (1921) and “The Lady in the Looking-Glass. A Reflection” (1926), the boundaries between literature and criticism, between fiction and reality, take center stage and it is precisely this point of convergence that metafictional works take as subject matter. Thus, Virginia Woolf’s ‘character-reading’ makes its way into her stories and the author’s critical stance upon the act of reading, revealed primarily in her essays, is now transmitted thematically through characters who appropriate the readers’ active construction of meaning while living in the same textual world inhabited by the fictitious characters they ardently wish to interpret. Through the advancement of a specific type of reading: active, emotive, empathetic, fluid, inquisitive, intimate and indeterminate, yet always close to the text it is engaged with, Virginia Woolf may be said to prefigure the type of transactional reader-response criticism underpinned by Louise Rosenblatt, whose insistence upon aesthetic reading calls for a two-way transmission of meaning that is simultaneously constitutive of the literary work and of the reader’s self. Keywords: Virginia Woolf, metafiction, aesthetic reading, short story, reader-response criticism, Louise Rosenblatt

Why Am I an Atheist?

This article sheds light on a neglected episode in the scholarship on Egypt's intellectual life in the interwar period, as well as on the Arab renaissance (Nahda) and its intensive preoccupation with the triangle of religion, science, and secularism. The discussion focuses on a provocative manifesto published in 1937 by an Egyptian writer Ismaʿil Ahmad Adham, which called for a godless universe. Adham's challenge to established religions is framed within a broader historical and intellectual context. It raises the following questions: How unique is Adham's atheism in the Egyptian and Arab writings of his time? What can we learn from the public discussions of his views about Egyptian civil culture in the 1930s and its commitment to a democratic ethos? Addressing these questions from a comparative perspective in both Islamic and European history may contribute much to the understanding of Arab debates about the existence of God.

Narratives of memory and national identity; analyzing agency in contemporary Holocaust memory initiatives

ABSTRACT Constructing narratives of memory has long been acknowledged as a major component of nationalism and nation building. In Israel the memory of the Holocaust is widely seen as constituting one of these major components and is at the core of Israeli national identity. Since the early 2000s, the imminent passing of Holocaust survivors has resulted in an intense preoccupation with the question of the future of this memory. This preoccupation has produced new commemorative initiatives engaging with interactive digital platforms. In our article we explore the role of human agency in successfully conjuring up alternative or forgotten memories that dramatically transform contemporary remembrance landscapes by analyzing two recent commemorative projects in Israel, Zikaron Besalon and Eva’s story. Informed by the understanding of the centrality of temporal orientations to the dynamics of social interaction in our analysis we adopt a temporal framework.

IUPHAR review: Recent progress in the development of Mu opioid receptor modulators to treat opioid use disorders

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) can be described as intense preoccupation with using or obtaining opioids despite the negative consequences associated with their use. As the number of OUD cases in the U.S. increase, so do the number of opioid-related overdose deaths. In 2022, opioid-related overdose became the No. 1 cause of death for individuals in the U.S. between the ages of 25 and 64 years of age. Because of the introduction of highly potent synthetic opioids (e.g. fentanyl) to the illicit drug market, there is an urgent need for therapeutics that successfully reduce the number of overdoses and can help OUD patients maintain sobriety. Most abused opioids stimulate the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) and activation of this receptor can lead to positive (e.g., euphoria) consequences. However, the negative side effects of MOR stimulation can be fatal (e.g., sedation, respiratory depression). Therefore, the MOR is an attractive target for developing medications to treat OUD. Current FDA drugs include MOR agonists that aid in detoxification and relapse prevention, and MOR antagonists that also serve as maintenance therapies or reverse overdose. These medications are limited by their abuse potential, adverse effects, or pharmacological profiles which leaves ample room for research into designing new chemical entities with optimal physiological effects. These includes, orthosteric ligands that target the primary binding site of the MOR, allosteric ligands that positively, negatively, or “silently” modulate receptor function, and lastly, bitopic ligands target both the orthosteric and allosteric sites simultaneously.

A qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterized by an intense preoccupation with one or more perceived "defects" in physical appearance. Despite the distress and impairment associated with BDD, the disorder remains understudied and poorly understood. In particular, there are limited studies available which give voice to those with firsthand experiences of the disorder. A qualitative approach was employed to study lived experience of BDD. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants with BDD, aiming to understand their subjective experiences of the disorder. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The results identified three superordinate themes; (1) consumed by the disorder, (2) the flawed self, and (3) intolerance of uncertainty about appearance. The qualitative findings of this study are discussed in relation to current conceptual understandings of BDD, including the cognitive behavioral model.

Doran H. Ross: His Fabulous Fowler Years

Doran H. Ross: His Fabulous Fowler Years

Abstract- Poster

Compulsive sexual behaviour (CSB) is characterized by repetitive and intense pre-occupation with sexual thoughts, urges, and behaviours causing clinically significant distress or impairment in occupational, interpersonal, or social domains of functioning. It has also been called by other names such as sexual addiction, sexual compulsivity, and hypersexuality. The estimated prevalence of CSB ranges from 3% to 6% in the general adult population of the United States.We present the case of a 23 year old male patient, studied b.Tech with a 3 year history of persistent pornography viewing and compulsive masturbation. He developed sexual thoughts on seeing all females, ideas of guilt, fearfulness and suicidal ideation since 3 months with failure to resist impulses and fantasies with accompanying intense distress. Because of these thoughts his socio occupational life impaired. Family history of parents being separated, Father was an alcoholic, and never took family responsibilities.Mental state examination shows sad mood, congruent with affect, preoccupation with sexual thoughts, ideas of worthlessness and helplessness, suicidal ideations and had no perceptual disturbances. A diagnosis of compulsive sexual behaviours and mild depressive episode was made because patient met criteria according to ICD 10 and proposed ICD 11. He was started on tablet fluoxetine 20mg and went up to 40mg. With this treatment there was reduction in frequency of sexual thoughts and suicidal ideations were reduced.Considering its low prevalence and no specific diagnostic criteria, careful evaluation, diagnosis and management of such clinical cases should be undertaken.

PERSPECTIVES OF THE TRANSITION TO THE DIGITAL ECONOMY IN EU

The Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 refers, in simple terms, to the way in which the technologies like artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, augmented reality and the internet of things are merging with the physical life of the people all around the globe. This new “era” is expected to transform in a revolutionary way the economies, employment and even the society in which we live today. The digital economy is very different in comparison to the traditional one and it is the result of the accelerated evolution of telecommunications, internet and electronics, and their integration in our everyday life. This arising economy is favoring the development of a new type of business, i.e. e-business. The process of the transformation of the actual economy in a digital one needs a set of favorable factors and a period of time, named period of transition. In this context, it is necessary to understand and to assess how advanced the transition process is in each EU country so that to be able to create and implement the suitable strategies who will lead to the digital economy. At EU level it was create an index - Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) – with the aim to measure the progress of EU countries towards a digital economy and society. Our paper presents this index and make a comparative analysis of its evolution during the last 5 years. The results show an intense preoccupation of all EU countries for the improvement of the sectors considered in the calculation of DESI and the progress made by some states in this field.

Praperation of magnetic Fe,N co-doped nano-sized graphitized carbon aerogel with hierarchical porous structure and its electrochemical and adsorption performance

<p indent=0mm>Nano-sized carbon materials have received intensive preoccupation owing to their extraordinary properties such as high specific surface area, abundant porous structure, and excellent electronic properties. Doping non-metallic element N can effectively modulate the electronic properties of graphene, and doping metallic element Fe can further improve their catalytic activity. To date, applications of Fe-N/C materials are mostly concentrated in supercapacitors, electrochemical double layer electrode materials or adsorption. In this communication, we present a novel route for fabricating Fe,N co-doped nano-sized graphitized carbon materials (FeNC aerogels) by a chelate-carbonization-activation process using chitosan-Fe³⁺ chelate and KOH as precursor and activator respectively. Chitosan-Fe³⁺ chelate aerogel was first formed via sol-gel process, and Fe³⁺ was chelated by chitosan and evenly distributed in 3D networks of aerogel. Then in a nitrogen atmosphere, Chitosan-Fe³⁺ chelate aerogel was pyrolyzed at elevated temperature, and Fe³⁺ was reduced to Fe nanoparticles under the control of chitosan molecular in this carbonization process. At the last stage of KOH activation process, most of the amorphous carbon was etched, and abundant nanoscale pores appeared. Upon mild heating at 70°C in air, core@shell Fe@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were formed due to the reaction of Fe nanoparticles inside the Fe-N/C aerogels with oxygen in air. The morphology, structure, and properties of the obtained FeNC aerogels were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), element mapping, Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and vibrating-sample-magnetometer (VSM). FeNC aerogels were confirmed to be Fe,N-contained carbon aerogels with 3D hierarchical porous scaffold including macropores, micropores and mesopores, displayed low density and good magnetic response. The as-prepared FeNC(1-100)-K800 showed extremely large specific surface area <sc>(3103 m²/g),</sc> low density <sc>(27 mg/cm³),</sc> and high nitrogen content (4%). The magnetic response ability of FeNC aerogels increased with the increase of Fe content, and Fe was doped as Fe@Fe₃O₄ and Fe-N. FeNC aerogels exhibited good electrocatalytic oxidation-reduction activity, which increased with the increase of Fe doping amount, graphitization degree, and specific surface area. The obtained FeNC(1-20)-K800 with the highest Fe doping amount showed the highest initial potential of <sc>0.98 V,</sc> half-wave potential of <sc>0.82 V</sc> in<sc>0.1 mol/L</sc> KOH electrolyte saturated with O₂, and the highest initial potential of <sc>0.92 V,</sc> half-wave potential of <sc>0.62 V</sc> in<sc>0.05 mol/L</sc> H₂SO₄ electrolyte, respectively. Meanwhile, FeNC aerogels showed good performance of the electric double layer capacity and good cycling stability, and the specific capacitance enhanced with the increase of specific surface area. The specific capacitance, energy density, and power density of FeNC(1-40)-K800 was <sc>253 F/g,</sc> 35.1 W h/kg, and <sc>249.7 W/kg</sc> respectively. And its specific capacitance retention rates were 92.9% and 88.6% respectively after 6000 times and 10000 times continuous charge-discharge cycles at a current density of <sc>10 A/g.</sc> Furthermore, The saturated adsorption capacities of four kinds of dyes: Methyl orange (anionic dye), Rhodamine B (neutral dye), crystal violet and malachite green (cationic dyes), on FeNC(1-20)-K800 all exceeded <sc>400 mg/g,</sc> and the saturated adsorption capacity of malachite green reached up to <sc>816 mg/g.</sc> FeNC aerogel prepared here is a new type of carbon materials with application potential in the field of new energy and environmental remediation. The novel aerogel preparation process we preposed is suitable for large-scale industrial preparation without environmental risks because complex nitrogen and iron treatment steps and expensive equipments are not needed.

Prior reproductive experience modulates neural responses to infant faces across the postpartum period

ABSTRACT Infant-cue processing facilitates sensitive maternal care, which is necessary in the formation of healthy mother-infant attachment. Mothers may be particularly focused on cue processing early postpartum, contributing to intense preoccupation with their infant’s well-being. Prior reproductive experience, or parity, may also impact the intensity of infant-cue processing and has been found to influence P300 neural responses to infant faces during pregnancy and at 2 months postpartum. However, we do not know whether this parity effect persists. Thus, we examined the P300 to infant faces in 59 mothers at 2 and 7 months postpartum. Our main finding was that primiparous, as compared to multiparous, women showed a significantly higher P300 to infant faces across the postpartum period. Findings further emphasize the importance of studying parity and its impact on the neural processing of infant faces.

Fixated Threat Assessment Centers: preventing harm and facilitating care in public figure threat cases and those thought to be at risk of lone-actor grievance-fueled violence.

The rediscovery of the importance of mental illness in the risk assessment and management of those who threaten, approach, and harm public figures has led to a new way of dealing with those that threaten public figures. This approach emphasises the role of "fixation" which may be defined as an intense preoccupation pursued to an abnormally intense degree. It integrates a threat assessment paradigm with the literature on stalking. The need for such an approach was highlighted in research on the prevalence of harassment of public figures. Psychiatry has a key role in this approach which sees mental health clinicians and Police work together in Fixated Threat Assessment Centres (FTACs). An FTAC functions by assessing the level of concern and sharing information to facilitate interventions that are often mental health based. The purpose is not the hopeless task of identifying those who will go on to perpetrate serious violence, rather to intervene in the group they emerge from, to prevent harm. As well as decreasing risk to the persons fixated upon, this approach improves care to the mentally disordered people who harass and threaten them and, in doing so, decreases the likelihood of their criminalization while enhancing their quality of life. As expertise in the area has grown, policing and security agencies in several countries have expanded the FTAC model to cover individuals thought at risk of lone-actor grievance-fueled violence, a term that captures both different forms of mass killing and lone actor terrorism.

Napred, u prošlost. Studije o politici istorije u Poljskoj, Ukrajini i Rusiji by Milan Subotić

Reviewed by: Napred, u prošlost. Studije o politici istorije u Poljskoj, Ukrajini i Rusiji by Milan Subotić Jade McGlynn (bio) Milan Subotić, Napred, u prošlost. Studije o politici istorije u Poljskoj, Ukrajini i Rusiji (Beograd: Edicija REČ, 2019). 306 s. Bibliografija. ISBN: 978-86-7718-191-8. Forward, into the Past (Napred, u prošlost) is the ninth book from Milan Subotić, a senior researcher at the Institute of European Studies in Belgrade. A prolific writer and researcher, Subotić has published extensively on the politics of history and memory in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In this book, he combines previously published work with new research material to provide three national case studies (Poland, Ukraine, Russia) on the instrumentalization of history in Eastern Europe. Surveying significant historical debates and topics in each country, Subotić focuses on identity narratives and political uses of the past, arguing that the preoccupation with history and historiography is a particularly (though not exclusively) postcommunist phenomenon (P. 10). In terms of structure, the book is divided into three parts, or national case studies. Part 1 (Poland) is the shortest, with only one chapter "Jan Gross's Interpretation of Polish-Jewish Relations." By contrast, parts 2 and 3, which focus on Ukraine and Russia, respectively, have three full [End Page 394] chapters apiece. Despite some variation in length and scope, Subotić employs a similar approach in each part, setting out what he perceives to be the key historical topics and debates in the given country, before examining the legacy of these events and debates. Consequently, each study provides detailed insight into how various political, media, and cultural actors have used history to create national identity narratives. While this book is partly a "history of the politics of history," Subotić also introduces his own analysis toward the end of each study, often with an impressive level of detail. Throughout the work, he makes extensive use of footnotes to elaborate on certain points or quote at length from sources without distracting from the main narrative. Before immersing the reader in the country case studies, Subotić offers a concise introduction to the topic: indeed, at just nine pages, this introduction is perhaps too concise, especially as it is the only time that Subotić considers the case studies collectively. In this "Introductory Note," the author explains that the studies exemplify the preoccupation with history that is a feature of postcommunist societies. To contextualize his argument, Subotić takes the reader back to 1989 but argues that understanding today's wave of populism in Eastern Europe requires placing less emphasis on the optimistic assessments of the fall of the Berlin Wall and paying more attention to events in Yugoslavia, where Slobodan Milošević was recalling the medieval battle of Kosovo to rally Serb nationalism. Subotić interprets the latter as belonging to a pattern of intense politicization and exploitation of history in postsocialist states in Europe. Although the author notes that the West is far from immune to political uses of history, he does consider the intense preoccupation with the past to be a specifically postsocialist phenomenon because, after the fall of communism, these nations had to write a new past for a new future. Subotić clarifies that he intends the following studies on Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian politics of history to illuminate this process. Part 1 (Poland) details Poland's attempts and failures to confront its past through an examination of Polish antisemitism and narratives of national victimhood. Subotić centers his discussions on reactions to Jan Gross's works, especially his 2001 book Neighbors and its description of a massacre of Jews perpetrated by non-Jewish citizens of Jedwabne in Poland during World War II.1 The first twenty-five pages are largely [End Page 395] a summary and commentary on Gross's work, using the latter to explore pertinent topics, such as a tendency in Polish society to separate Jewish and Polish historiography. However, by placing Gross's work at the center of the chapter, there is less flexibility to investigate a wider range of subjects. For example, it would have been interesting in this respect to learn more about how various mnemonic actors have selectively applied history...

Cultural trauma: Ron Eyerman and the founding of a new research paradigm

The field of cultural trauma has reached the status of a research paradigm. Ron Eyerman has played a central role in this development. Since he first embarked on research into cultural trauma with several colleagues in 1999, Eyerman has maintained an intensive preoccupation with the topic, resulting in the publication of numerous books and essays. In this article, I review the development of Eyerman’s approach to cultural trauma, with the broader aim of shedding light on this new research paradigm. I focus on several key themes in Eyerman’s work, including the relationship between event and representation; the significance of affect and emotion; the role of collective memory; the adoption of a dramaturgical perspective; and a multidimensional research methodology. To conclude, I discuss potential new directions in the study of cultural trauma.

Vertiente antropológica de la Teología

Modern culture, marked as it is by an intense preoccupation with man, is criss-crossed in addition by filaments of thought which tend to reduce all knowledge to knowledge about man, to anthropology. Do these two ways of looking at things really go logically together? From the theological standpoint, what is the nature of the science which we call theology, and what is the place in of the reference to man? What are the relations between anthropology and theology? These are the questions which Prof. Illanes puts to himself. He begins by examining the nature of anthropological knowledge, its genesis and characteristics. The anthropological problem is a sapiential problem, which aspires to ultimate solutions. In this self-interrogation of man about himself, a central place is occupied, on the scientific level, by the phenomenological point of view, by means of which the existential dimensions of human experience are grasped. This point of view, though, is not complete, and it is impossible to evade the necessity of advancing to the metaphysical level, where the direction taken by every anthropological system is determined. It is precisely to the metaphysical level that the problem raised by the questions initially propounded belongs. The reduction of all knowledge to knowledge about man depends, in the resort, on metaphysical principles of the idealist type. At this point, the author proceeds to examine the so-called anthropological inversion of theology, within which he distinguishes two divisions: a) the reduction of theology to anthropology, as postulated particularly by Feuerbach; and b) the anthropological twist in theology, as advocated in somewhat different tones by Bultmann, Tillich or Rahner. After having criticized these types of approach, and shown the substantive nature of theology, Prof. Illanes analyses the relations between theology, as thus established, and anthropology. One datum provides his point of departure: revelation is a word addressed by God to man, who, as recipient of the message, is involved in it. There is therefore an anthropological element in every theological statement, since man, in theology, is presented as a being with the capacity to receive this message and to be affected by it. This anthropological element, though, does not imply the reduction of theology to anthropology or an anthropological twist in theologizing, since man is an open being who precisely fulfils himself in his openness to what is distinct from him. The truth of creation and the gratuitousness of the call to communication with God constitute the axis of this section of the argument, until he final conclusion is reached: anthropology is neither the only nor the supreme type of knowledge, since it is not self-sufficient and needs, if it is to enlighten man about himself, to be attentive to knowledge of other kinds, and especially to knowledge about God and from God, that is to say, to theology; theology, in a word, transcends anthropology, and provides its basis.

Artificial resuscitation: Beijing’s manipulation to pan-Turkism

ABSTRACTPan-Turkism emerged in the middle of the 19th century as an attempt to uniting all Turkic people along the Silk Road from the Mediterranean to China. After the ascent of modern Turkey under Mustafa Kemal as well as the Soviet incorporation of Central Asia, pan-Turkism had practically withered – although apparently not as an ideology. Indeed, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent independence of the Central Asia republics have provided for the revival of the pan-Turkism vision, perceived by Beijing as a threat not only to its interests in Central Asia but, moreover, to Xinjiang’s internal stability and China’s sovereignty. While this vision could hardly be accomplished, China’s intensive preoccupation with pan-Turkism has facilitated its artificial resuscitation, though it appears already deceased. Xi Jinping’s One Belt One Road initiative aims, among other things, at blocking pan-Turkism.

Using the Waste of Polyester and Glass Fiber in Cold Recycling Highways Superstructure

This paper wish to make a presentation of the possibility to use glass and polyester fiber waste in making highway cold recycling better, easier and cheaper. For this purpose we have studied the influence of the fibers (glass and polyester) on some experimental sectors, from our country, Sălaj district, Transylvania. Glass and polyester fiber waste can be used like disperse reinforcing materials in highway superstructures in so called cold recycling technology. The fibers are throughput in the matrix for better physical and mechanical properties of the final product. This technique will give better highway surface, cheaper costs per rehabilitated kilometer and diminution of the waste that some industries are making.Most studies from this scientific sector are gravening above the realization of brand new superstructures ignoring the possibility to recycling the existing layers with or without other materials in addition. The period that we are passing is one characterized by intense preoccupations oriented on the economically aspect, much more over the big investments like are highways and bridges - were the cheaper solution is the winner.There are some problems in spreading and dosage of the fibers in the system to ensure the reinforcing function. For the recycled complex (aggregates, bitumen, cement, water and fibers) we will use the generically denomination of matrix. The improvement of physical, mechanical and chemical properties of the matrix constitutes problems that are hard to solve in a very short time. Regarding the fibers the biggest problem is the dosage and homogenization in the structure. To attend this purpose fiber need to have the correct length ant the correct spread in the matrix.We had make a bibliography documentation, that encourage us to believe that using some alternative solutions will obtain very good results also in our country, that have the well-known problems regarding its highway infrastructure.

Muscle Dysmorphia: An Overview of Clinical Features and Treatment Options.

An increasing public and empirical focus on male body image indicates that muscularity is a preeminent concern among boys and men. For some, these concerns develop into a complex and disabling psychiatric disorder termed muscle dysmorphia (MD), the hallmark of which is an intense preoccupation regarding one's (subjectively) insufficient muscularity. Treatment of MD is critical; however, evidence to inform treatment approaches is sorely lacking. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, we provide an overview of the clinical features of MD, drawing particular attention to the preoccupation, functional impairment and psychiatric comorbidity associated with the disorder. Second, we discuss and recommend potential treatment directions for MD, including techniques that have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of related disorders, namely, body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders (and anorexia nervosa in particular). Psychotherapeutic techniques, including cognitive restructuring of deleterious perfectionistic and egosyntonic beliefs, and dialectical behavioral techniques to improve the repertoire of emotion regulation skills available to afflicted individuals, are discussed, in addition to psychopharmacological approaches.

Eating Disorders and Epigenetics.

Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by intense preoccupation with shape and weight and maladaptive eating practices. The complex of symptoms that characterize EDs often arise through the activation of latent genetic potentials by environmental exposures, and epigenetic mechanisms are believed to link environmental exposures to gene expression. This chapter provides an overview of genetic factors acting in the etiology of EDs. It then provides a background to the hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms link stresses such as obstetric complications and childhood abuse as well as effects of malnutrition to eating disorders (EDs). The chapter then summarizes the emerging body of literature on epigenetics and EDs-mainly studies on DNA methylation in samples of anorexia and bulimia. The available evidence base suggests that an epigenetically informed perspective contributes in valuable ways to the understanding of why people develop EDs.

Rehearsing democracy: Enhancing community through the interdisciplinary performance improvisation series ‘Shared Agendas’

This article presents the inter-disciplinary improvised performance series Shared Agendas , an annual event at the University of Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand, as a vehicle for reinforcing effective democratic community interaction. I am referring to interaction that is inclusive, open, non-hierarchical, non-judgemental and socially responsive and responsible. In couching these inclusive spontaneous events as a form of academic meeting, where members work together to solve problems and find a common ground of understanding or agreement, I contend that the artists involved are practising the kind of socially concerned democratic process that we might wish for all groups, organisations or nation states worldwide. Dance therapist Adwoa Lemieux (1988) suggests that, within a danced improvisation, any difficulties and conflicts of interest are evident, physical, real, immediate and therefore immediately resolvable. In this form of community engagement, the conversation is directed towards co-operation, mutual sharing and communication between the performers, technical personnel and the viewers as active critical witnesses. Because of the intense engagement and preoccupation with the process by all participants, including the audience, this kind of performance meeting becomes what Schechner (1988) terms, a ‘ living entity’ or microcosm of society. In describing this theatre of inter-relationship, I draw on the literatures of art and social justice theory, deep ecology, cognitive biology, somatics, perception psychology, education and dance in order to support this discussion.

Empowered to Contest the Terms of Empowerment? Empowerment and Development in a Transnational Women’s Education Project

The contemporary paradigm of international development invests in individuals and communities as the main agents of development. In this paradigm, education is presented as the central avenue for individuals and communities to generate resources and networks to empower themselves. Some development and feminist scholars have critiqued this intense preoccupation with empowerment for being a tool of neoliberal global governance, which produces self-governing actors oriented toward the market. Instead of approaching development and empowerment paradigms as solely “good” or “bad,” this ethnographic study examines how paradigms of education and empowerment are approached, translated, and contested in the day-to-day lives of the subjects of these paradigms. This analysis reveals a nonlinear and uneven impact of self-governing empowerment discourse in a women’s education project in Pakistan and highlights how the development and empowerment discourse can become a site for dissenting voices and opinions.