Social Criticism Research Articles

Introduction: The legacy of Bhekizizwe Peterson for Psychology in Society

This special issue of PINS commemorates and celebrates the work and thought of the late renowned Professor of African literature and award-winning film-maker, Bhekizizwe Peterson. From different angles, the authors in this volume place psychology in dialogue with Peterson’s work, continuing a transdisciplinary conversation in which he was a consistently generous and enlivening interlocutor. Contemporary imperatives to decolonise intellectual traditions and reconceptualise personhood and psychic life in historical, social and political terms, are articulated in a societal context (South Africa and beyond, across the continent and the globe) that is repeatedly described as ‘in crisis’. In the here-and-now, the explicit agenda of PINS to explore psychology in society, entails theorising human life in pervasively dehumanising conditions of inequality, intergenerational trauma, and the precarity of planetary life. Peterson has much to say to these critical questions, and this special issue provides a unique opportunity for the readers of PINS to engage with his remarkable oeuvre of scholarly, artistic and activist work across the fields and modalities of lliterature, film, and literary and social criticism, opening up invigorating lines for re-thinking the disciplinary praxis of psychology.

De la consommation à la consomption. Ignis (1883) de Didier de Chousy ou quand la maison Terre brûle

This article deals with an underrated novelby Didier de Chousy, Ignis (1883), published during the craze forscientism and positivism. This anticipation novel, fraught with grating irony, went against the optimism thatdefined the craze, as the author used the boundless technical possibilities flaunted by the industrial age toimagine a robot-assisted “augmented humanity”. Utopia was thus turned into scathing social dystopia and, a few years before Jules Verne’s novel, a “topsy-turvy” world on the brink of self-destruction was depicted.This ground-breaking work, which tackled both social criticism and the need for environmental awareness, heralded many of the themes that inspired H. G. Wellsand the“brave new world” Chousy imagined was just as relevant as the ones of our modern dystopias: the model of development that largely remains ours found itself relentlessly questioned, as a call for immediate change was issued.

A Cultural Critical Theory Study on the Interweaving of Invisible Geometric Structures and Contemporary Social Values in Oil Painting Art

Abstract The use of the invisible geometric structure of oil painting art in the creation of contemporary oil paintings is a kind of painting expression that is more in line with the needs of contemporary people’s social values and promotes the diversified development of contemporary social values. Based on the invisible geometric structure of oil painting art, this paper explores its spiritual connotations and introduces the relationship framework of contemporary social values. Relying on the function of social values for cultural criticism, oil painting art is integrated with values to realize social value criticism of oil painting art. Taking oil painting artworks as an example, the method of aesthetic calculation is used to obtain the visual characteristics of oil painting art, and the questionnaire is used to understand the effectiveness of the integration of social values. The clarity of the oil painting artworks fluctuates between [100,135], and the color hue of most of the artworks mainly lies in the interval of 0.60~0.65. 92.99% of the audiences show a more agreeable attitude toward the interweaving of oil painting artworks and contemporary social values, and the score of the difference in social values between males and females is only 1.24 points. The invisible geometric structure of oil painting art shows diverse aesthetic characteristics, which contribute to the renewal of contemporary social values and aesthetics and assist in the innovative generation of cultural critical theories of social values.

От языка города до интернет-социолекта: мультивселенная современной социолингвистики

The paper reviews the monograph on sociolinguistics “Grundlagen und Aspekte der Soziolinguistik” (Hannover, 2022) by the leading contemporary Germanist Peter Schlobinski. This unique work is equally useful both for the initial acquaintance with sociolinguistics and its quintessential foundations, and for improving the practical experience already available in this area and searching for new research impulses. The review covers in detail all the structural components of the book: the theoretical part with its chapters on the conceptual and methodological foundations of sociolinguistics, as well as the practical part, which is a collection of diverse sociolinguistic studies conducted by P. Schlobinski in different years. The monograph focuses on issues of social dialectology, urbanolects, linguistic relativism and criticism, the problem of taboo and sociolinguistic processes in Internet communication.

EC COMICS — PUBLISHING HOUSE THAT ALMOST CONQUERED AMERICA

Until recently, comics was virtually absent in Russia, but now it is becoming one of The most dynamically developing forms of art. Such processes have taken place in one way or another in all countries with a developed comics industry, and how medium passes through such periods depends on its social status, genre and presumed reader age etc. Therefore, The study of these crisis periods allows us to explain many features of different comic traditions. At The same time, comics, like many mass culture forms, cannot be analyzed in a vacuum. It is first of all a commercial product that exists and develops thanks to The public’s requests, hopes and fears, even where it is not spoken aloud. The subject of The study is American publisher EC Comics in The early 1950s, when it was at The center of The process of renewal and transformation of The local industry. The object of The study is The unique combination of narratives oriented towards social and political criticism of The existing systems with narratives based on rather superficial emotional and shock factors. Only by looking at them as a whole can we fully appreciate The defining role of EC Comics in shaping The American comics system as a whole. Also, EC Comics is virtually unrepresented in contemporary Russian historiography, although in The United States over The past twenty years several important works devoted its history.

A memória das coisas na expressão da dança: Ismael Ivo e o café

The paper analyses the performance of I had too much coffee, by Ismael Ivo, directed by the German Ralf Schmerberg in 2002. From the audiovisual document, the human values expressed through the dancer’s body language bring forth the concepts of «colonial» and «decolonial». The audiovisual is rich in references to body language and can be interpreted through the concept of intrigue within Paul Ricœur’s narrative framework. The research examines and identifies the social meanings of coffee cultural memory by understanding virtual narratives in times of dystopia and the meanings that emerge from the concept of colonialism. The study utilises the selection of audiovi-sual material and describes the elements of document analysis based on social theory criticism, enabling us to confront contemporary impressions and the chosen memories of the past. The analy-sis yields an understanding that goes beyond the immediate perceptions enabled by entertainment, thus integrating the operative arguments of social reality.

From Edmund Husserl to Audre Lorde: The Path to a Critical Phenomenology of Oppression

What corresponds, in contemporary feminist and decolonial usage, to the demand to “return to experience,” or rather “to the lived experiences” of oppression - a distant echo of Husserl’s call to return to the things themselves? Beauvoir and Fanon appear to have laid the first foundations of a critical phenomenology of oppression - or of a phenomenologization of social critique. Later, Young and Ahmed took up a similar approach, reading history and politics in bodies, and habitus and structures in intimate experience - an approach that is now discussed in the United States under the label of “Critical Phenomenology.” But is this still, really, phenomenology in the strong sense? This article contributes to an understanding of the path taken by the field of Critical Phenomenology from Husserl to Lorde, and of the shifts that can be observed both in the field and in the method that it presupposes. Finally it undertakes to clarify the horizon of this field, which is essentially concerned with the defence of a life that is both deeply corporeal and open to a total meaning.

The Poetics of Space in Enchi Fumiko’s The Waiting Years / 円地文子『女坂』における空間の詩学

Abstract: This article examines how Enchi Fumiko, in her novel The Waiting Years ( Onnazaka 1957), uses verbs of motion, such as kuru (to come) and iku (to go), to carefully shift the novel’s focalization, allowing readers to grasp the subtle nuances of relationships within the Shirakawa household as characters move through the Shirakawa residence. This construction of the physical and social space of the home allows Enchi to explore the constraints women faced within the patriarchal ie seido (family system) that largely governed gender roles in prewar Japanese society. It argues that while Japanese third-person fiction (with its flexible use of tense, deixis, and person) tends to be told from the here and now of a story, English third-person fiction (told in the past tense) has greater difficulty entering a story’s here and now. As a result of these linguistic constraints, this layer of social critique is not always replicated in John Bester’s English translation (1971).

Living in “Overstimulated Times”: Revisiting the Social Criticism of Videodrome in the Internet Era

David Cronenberg’s Videodrome (1983) is one of the earliest cyberpunk films, and one of the few cinematic works in the genre that diverge from the futuristic neon-noir aesthetic pioneered by Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982). Also with respect to its subject matter, it represents an outlier in first-wave cyberpunk as it focusses on the familiar medium of TV instead of the new frontiers of cyberspace. Made during the advent of cable TV, it reflects contemporaneous anxieties over the impact of capitalist market mechanisms on the information landscape. Although TV has now lost its monolithic status to the internet, the social critique of Videodrome is arguably more topical than ever. By addressing the friction between objectivity and subjectivity, fact and fiction, biology and technology, it poses questions that are at the very heart of present-day collective challenges. This article explores the relevance of Videodrome’s criticism of a TV-centered culture to contemporary discussions regarding the effects of digital interactive media on human psychology and the social fabric

Trends in Intellectual Life in Central Asia in the 19th Century (Based on the Works of Nadira, Dilshod Barno and Ahmad Donish)

This article will analyse trends in the development of intellectual life in Central Asia in the 19th century, based on the legacy of three writers. It will provide an overview of the state of the Central Asian khanates in the 19th century, as well as certain historico-political factors, which led to the emergence of the so-called Central Asian intellectual renaissance. Elements of social criticism are already present in Nadira’s (1792–1842) and Dilshod Barno’s (1800–1905) works. Furthermore, in the case of the latter, she produced not only poetry, but also prose, including her famous “Ta’rikhi muhojiron”, where she discussed the period of feudal wars between the Central Asian khanates. The second part of the article is dedicated to the legacy of Ahmad Donish (1827–1897), an intellectual who took part in three Bukharan embassies sent to Saint Petersburg. Special attention is paid to Donish’s most famous work – “Navodir ul-vaqoe’”, as well as to one of its chapters – “Risola dar nazmi tamaddun va taovun”, written in the ‘Mirrors for Princes’ genre. Donish’s “Risola yo mukhtasare az ta’rikhi saltanati khonadoni manghitiya” is also considered in this article. Both works demonstrate that Donish’s criticism of the political and social state of the Emirate of Bukhara was significant. His concept of progress was based on the correct interpretation of Sharia and on the observance of main Islamic traditions. Overall, this article will demonstrate the development of social criticism in the works of certain Central Asian writers who lived in the 19th century.

The Small Boy Was “Other”: Disability in James’s Fourth Phase

Abstract: Henry James’s fourth phase memoirs A Small Boy and Others and Notes of a Son and Brother benefit from a disability studies perspective. Furthering the social criticism of The American Scene , James’s life-writing disclosed his alterity—queer, neuro-divergent, and chronically ill—to resist regimes of normalcy and hegemonic masculinity, epitomized by Theodore Roosevelt. His intent to adopt Hendrik Andersen demonstrated this shift in his gay identity. Disability connects James’s life-writing to his fictional protagonists whose impairments include chronic illness and the non-normative cognitive and sexual difference of Jamesian artist figures.

Austen’s Double-Edged Sword: Unveiling Irony and Interiority in Her Narratives

Jane Austen, often regarded as a “literary rebel” within the landscape of English literature, challenges conventions while embracing them in her novels. This paper delves into Austen's role as both a conformist and a revolutionary figure in the realm of literature. Beginning with an exploration of Austen's place within the English novel tradition, the paper examines her unique approach to storytelling, characterized by a focus on domestic satire and heroine-oriented narratives. Austen's commitment to social criticism, achieved through a realistic portrayal of everyday life, distinguishes her from her contemporaries. The analysis extends to Austen's distinctive style, marked by a Johnsonian influence and an innovative use of irony and comedy to expose societal shortcomings. Austen's mastery of dialogue further accentuates her ability to capture social nuances and class distinctions. Despite her self-proclaimed "ignorance," Austen's works resonate with a profound understanding of human nature and societal dynamics. Through meticulous characterization and narrative technique, Austen achieves a timeless quality in her prose that continues to captivate readers.

Current Situation and Solutions to Increase Social Criticism Participation of Science and Technology Organizations<br>—Case Study of Affiliated Science and Technology Organizations of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations

Current Situation and Solutions to Increase Social Criticism Participation of Science and Technology Organizations<br>—Case Study of Affiliated Science and Technology Organizations of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations

Representasi Kritik Sosial dalam Animasi Tekotok Edisi Maret-Agustus 2021

This research focuses on the social criticism contained in the March-August 2021 Edition of Tekotok Animation by taking five episodes in it. The formulation of the problem in this study is how to represent social criticism contained in the March-August 2021 Edition of the Tekotok animation with the aim of identifying and knowing the full meaning that shows social criticism in predetermined episodes. Using a qualitative method with Ferdinand De Saussure’s semiotic analysis as the analytical knife. The results of this study provide a conclusion that animation is also able to represent something around it. The social criticism resulting from this animation refers to several cases of legal inequality and violations of norms in society. This broadcast serves as a reminder in the form of criticism and satire which is neatly packaged so that people are able to accept it well, not forced and as it is.

Social Criticism in Wayang Kulit Purwa Performance by Purbo Asmoro, Study of Interpretation (Sanggit) and Treatment (Garap)

This study intends to examine wayang kulit purwa performances [from Central Java] of the plays Réyog Ponorogo and Sang Batara Sambo “Prahara Suralaya,” created by Purbo Asmoro (2022). Both of these works are fascinating to study because in addition to the fact that they are allusions to topical conflicts [in Indonesia] presented in the form of social commentary, the structure and texture of these performances differ from the treatment of wayang purwa performances in general. This problem is studied based on the ethnoart paradigm, using the Interpretation (Sanggit) and Treatment (Garap) Theories and critical analysis. Research data was collected through literature studies, documentation studies, and interviews. The results of the study show that the social criticism revealed in lakon Réyog Ponorogo is blatant, while the social criticism in lakon Sang Batara Sambo “Prahara Suralaya” as a whole is equivocal, but in the closing scene it is blatant. In creating a ‘new’ lakon, the dalang must master various references—both written and spoken—which will later be used as hipogram texts, interpret various hypogram texts into a story, and translate them into lakon wayang. The artistic ability of the dalang greatly influences the quality of wayang performances, the ability of the dalang to choose the elements of pakeliran treatment to be highlighted in each scene, the dalang’s ability to organize the performance supporting team, and the ability of the dalang to read the situation of the audience.

멕시코 국토 발전과 공간적 조정에 관한 시론적 연구

Mexico has been noted as a somewhat exceptional case in the 2000s, when the Pink Tide wave was exerting a powerful influence in South America. Thus after losing to Mexico’s two conservative parties, PAN and PRI, in 2006 and 2012, expectations for AMLO and his regime, which was elected as the candidate of the MORENA party in 2018, were higher than ever. In particular, it can be said that the regime succeeded in coming to power by emphasising the disconnection from the neoliberal policies implemented by the previous regimes, but in the economic growth policy, it still showed a basis for adjusting and maintaining the existing policy stance rather than an exclusive break with neoliberalism. Against this backdrop, this study aims to examine the reasons why the infrastructure construction project promoted by the AMLO regime has caused social criticism and backlash in the actual process, despite the fact that it specifies the goal of overcoming spatial and social imbalances. This study argues that the emphasis on procedural legitimacy to blunt the backlash against the infrastructure projects actively promoted by the AMLO regime can be understood in the context of the re-establishment or readjustment of the state-market-society relationship, rather than an exclusive break with the previous neoliberal regime. In other words, it is understood as part of a 'spatial fix' to deepen capitalist accumulation as advocated by critical spatial geographers. This study is a preliminary study that aims to overcome the limitations of domestic research on Mexico that has been mainly dealt with in the political, economic, and cultural contexts, and to contribute to the spatial and social discussions. Therefore, it is of academic significance in that it introduces the theoretical discussions of critical geographers who can understand capitalist accumulation and unbalanced land development and applies them to the case of Mexico.

Exploring Social Representations of Mersin as a Place and Türkiye With the Cognitive Mapping Method/ Bilişsel Haritalama Yöntemiyle Bir Yer Olarak Mersin ve Türkiye'nin Sosyal Temsillerini Keşfetme

The representation of place is studied by many different disciplines, such as geography, urban planning, and sociology. Studies on the representation of place share the idea that the representation of place consists of geographical, social, and cultural elements. This study was carried out to examine the representations of Mersin University students regarding Mersin and Türkiye, and their behavioral practices in Mersin. In the study, social and cognitive representations were reached through cognitive mapping. For the purpose of the study, the sample of the study consists of 130 students studying at Mersin University. One of the main differences in these representations is that the representations of Türkiye and Mersin are independent and unrelated to each other. The most important finding is that; Mersin University, important urban spaces, and neighboring countries are almost never included in the cognitive maps of university students. Social and political criticisms against Mersin and Türkiye were frequently seen on the maps. In the maps of the participants, it was determined that the use of place practices differed according to gender. Compared to men, women's place usage practices and place usage diversity are quite limited. In the study, the perceptions of Mersin University students about Mersin were discussed from the perspective of environmental psychology in light of the findings.

A Praxis of Facticity for Critical Phenomenology

This paper critically engages the method that guides critical phenomenology’s approach to political praxis. While many in this field have emphasized the need to clarify critical phenomenology’s method of social critique, less attention has been given to how critical phenomenology establishes a distinct and rigorously phenomenological method of praxis. The aim of this paper is to enrich the calls to action in critical phenomenology by inquiring into the conditions under which transformative political praxis becomes possible. To this end, I draw on Hannah Arendt’s political appropriation of Martin Heidegger’s factical turn in phenomenology to provide a methodological framework for undertaking this inquiry. By using this framework to clarify the scope, limits, and responsibilities of action, I argue that Arendt’s analysis gives rise to what might be described as a praxis of facticity that critical phenomenology, in its concern for the situatedness and intersubjective constitution of experience, is well-positioned to adopt.

Shaping Narratives: Feminist Themes in the Evolution of Indian Literature in English

ABSTRACT: Indian literature in English has undergone a significant transformation over the years, reflecting the diverse socio-cultural landscape of the country. Within this literary realm, feminist issues have gained prominence as writers explore and challenge traditional gender norms and power dynamics. This essay delves into the feminist themes present in Indian writings in English, examining how authors address issues related to women's rights, identity, and societal expectations. The roots of feminism in Indian literature can be traced back to the pre-independence era when social reform movements sought to address issues like child marriage, widowhood, and female education. However, it was in the post-independence period that feminist voices gained momentum in literature. Writers began to articulate the struggles and aspirations of women, often using literature as a medium for social critique and change.

Pesan dalam Film “Daring” Karya Mahasiswa Prodi KPI Angkatan 2018-2020 Fakultas Ushuluddin dan Dakwah IAIN Madura

This research discusses the film entitled "Daring" which is a film created by KPI study program students that displays social realities in everyday life. The ability of a film to convey a message that aims to provide education to the audience who watch it makes this online film one of the films that attempt to provide a moral message, education, and social criticism of the surrounding situation which is then packaged into an epic show. This research uses a qualitative approach with Ferdinand De Saussure's semiotic analysis. The results obtained in this research are that there are 12 signifiers and 12 signifiers in the Daring film which consist of moral messages, social messages, and educational messages. Firstly, the moral message conveyed is to speak noble words to parents, be filial to parents, do not miss prayers, do not lie to parents, pray for children, be grateful, and surrender to Allah. Second, the social message conveyed is parental sacrifice, not avoiding responsibility, working together, and maintaining good relationships with friends. Third, the educational message conveyed is that students still want to study well no matter what the circumstances.