scholarly journals Cornel West and Marxist Humanism

2021 ◽  
pp. 089692052098831
Author(s):  
Christian Fuchs
Keyword(s):  
Marxist Theory ◽  
Black Liberation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Black Liberation Theology ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
Filter Bubbles ◽  
Marxist Humanism ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Cornel West

Humanity has experienced an explosion of anti-humanism in the form of authoritarian capitalism, postmodern filter bubbles, and global problems. Marxist/Socialist Humanism is the proper answer to the deep crisis of humanity. In this context, this article asks ‘How can Cornel West’s works inform a contemporary Marxist humanist theory of society?’ Taking West’s works as a starting point, what are the key elements of a Marxist humanist theory of society? Cornel West is one of the leading critical intellectuals today. His work has fused anti-racist theory, Black Liberation Theology, Marxist theory, pragmatism, and existentialism. This article especially focuses on West’s understanding of humanism and culture. It shows how his works and praxis can inform the reinvigoration of Marxist Humanism in the age of authoritarian capitalism as a socialist response. West’s thought can and should also inform the analysis of alienation, exploitation, domination, culture, the public sphere, the critique of ideology, and popular culture.

Wankelende wetenschap. De studie van de journalistiek & de revolutie in de media

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank van Vree
Keyword(s):  
Professional Practice ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Traditional Media ◽  
The Public ◽  
Journalism Studies ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
New Research ◽  
The Revolution

An Unstable Discipline. Journalism Studies & the Revolution in the Media An Unstable Discipline. Journalism Studies & the Revolution in the Media During the last decade media and journalism have got into turmoil; landslides have changed the traditional media landscape, overturning familiar marking points, institutions and patterns. To understand these radical changes journalism studies should not only develop a new research agenda, but also review its approach and perspective.This article looks back on recent development in the field and argues for a more cohesive perspective, taking journalism as a professional practice as its starting point. Furthermore a plea is made for a thorough research into the structural changes of the public sphere and the role and position of journalism.

scholarly journals A National Public Sphere? Analyzing the Language, Location, and Form of Newspapers in Finland, 1771–1917

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-77
Author(s):  
Jani Marjanen ◽  
Ville Vaara ◽  
Antti Kanner ◽  
Hege Roivainen ◽  
Eetu Mäkelä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Cultural History ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Mass Medium ◽  
Historical Knowledge ◽  
The Public ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Press ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Newspaper History

This article uses metadata from serial publications as a means of modelling the historical development of the public sphere. Given that a great deal of historical knowledge is generated through narratives relying on anecdotal evidence, any attempt to rely on newspapers for modeling the past challenges customary approaches in political and cultural history. The focus in this article is on Finland, but our approach is also scalable to other regions. During the period 1771–1917 newspapers developed as a mass medium in the Grand Duchy of Finland within two imperial configurations (Sweden until 1809 and Russia in 1809–1917), and in the two main languages – Swedish and Finnish. Finland is an ideal starting point for conducting comparative studies in that its bilingual profile already includes two linguistically separated public spheres that nonetheless were heavily connected. Our particular interest here is in newspaper metadata, which we use to trace the expansion of public discourse in Finland by statistical means. We coordinate information on publication places, language, number of issues, number of words, newspaper size, and publishers, which we compare with existing scholarship on newspaper history and censorship, and thereby offer a more robust statistical analysis of newspaper publishing in Finland than has previously been possible. We specifically examine the interplay between the Swedish- and Finnish-language newspapers and show that, whereas the public discussions were inherently bilingual, the technological and journalistic developments advanced at different pace in the two language forums. This analysis challenges the perception of a uniform public sphere in the country. In addition, we assess the development of the press in comparison with the production of books and periodicals, which points toward the specialization of newspapers as a medium in the period after 1860. This confirms some earlier findings about Finnish print production. We then show how this specialization came about through the establishment of forums for local debates that other less localized print media such as magazines and books could not provide.

Digitaler Strukturwandel der Öffentlichkeit

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Media Ethics ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Ethical Perspective ◽  
Protest Movements ◽  
The Public ◽  
Institutional Politics ◽  
Filter Bubbles ◽  
The Public Sphere

Widely discussed phenomena like ‘filter bubbles’ and ‘social bots’ point to the reality that the digital transformations of the present also encompass public communication. New opportunities for information and participation have arisen and opinion formation is changing. This volume explores these transformations from an ethical perspective and discusses theoretical work in theology, media ethics and political science in combination with digital practice. It evaluates the potential knowledge arising from various concepts and functions in the ‘public sphere’ under the conditions of digital societies, and discusses in a nuanced way both the dangers to democracy and the opportunities for civic participation and bottom-up processes as a result of digital transformation. Venturing beyond institutional politics, this volume explores the digital transformation of the political and its consequences for churches, protest movements and media outlets. Hence, the contributions it contains are not only relevant for academics working on digital transformation, but also journalists, politicians and employees at NGOs and in churches. With contributions by Sigrid Baringhorst, Christina Schachtner, Florian Stickel, Julian Zeyher-Quattlender, Gary Schaal, Ilona Nord, Christoph Bieber, Jonas Bedford-Strohm, Alexander Filipovic, Alexander Görlach, Torsten Meireis, Frederike van Oorschot, Thomas Renkert.

Ancient cynicism: a case for salvage

2010 ◽  
Vol 36 (S1) ◽  
pp. 201-223
Author(s):  
PIERS REVELL
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
President Obama ◽  
The Public ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Ancient Cynicism

AbstractTaking a quote from President Obama as its starting point, this article examines the usages of the word cynicism in politics, business and International Relations. It distinguishes five different forms: accusative; reflexive; projective; cathartic and ancient. When used accusatively, the cynic is an archetype we see in others whose character or actions we wish to reproach. When used reflexively, the cynic is a social archetype we identify with ourselves. Projective cynicism is the means by which an impertinent discourse may be playfully distanced. Cathartic cynicism is a means by which mental conflict is mediated. Ancient cynicism was a utopian attempt to negotiate the contradiction between cosmopolitanism and the overwhelming reality of slavery. The article concludes that it may be worthwhile comparing and contrasting all these forms of cynicism out in the public sphere.

scholarly journals Nieczyste relacje. Ambiwalencje i napięcia w dzisiejszych związkach intymnych — krytyczna analiza koncepcji Anthony’ego Giddensa

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-146
Author(s):  
Filip Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Relationship Formation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Intimate Relations ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Source Of Information

The article discusses contemporary changes in intimate relationships. A starting point for this discussion is Anthony Giddens’s theory presented in his book The Transformation of Intimacy (1992), particularly the specificity of self-help literature as a source of information for sociological reasoning. On the example of housework, the nature of the tensions between the conflict expectations of partners is presented. Today, many people are torn between several different models of intimate relations and different needs. The thesis of the article is that the ambivalence observed in the process of relationship formation is neither marginal nor only psychological but it represents tensions between different types and dimensions of knowledge which are used in this process. This ambivalence is also a perfect indicator of the discourse struggle in the public sphere and an element of changes of social bonds; its study may help answer the question about transformation of intimacy and about the commonness of “pure relations” or other models of intimate relationships.

scholarly journals Danske meningsdannere om køn og kulturel mangfoldighed

Politik ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helene Pristed Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Feminist Criticism ◽  
Think Tanks ◽  
The Public ◽  
Editorial Boards ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Empirical Material

Taking its theoretical starting point in the feminist criticism of Habermas ́ conception of the public sphere, the article illustrates on the basis of empirical material how 14 Danish opinion-makers talk about gender equality and cultural diversity. The statements by prominent members of Danish political parties, think tanks, social movements and editorial boards of national dailies are analysed in an intersectional perspective, which seeks to illuminate different conceptions of cross-cutting forms of diversity within Danish society. The conclusion is that gender equality is often voiced as both a Danish and a European value, whereas there are ambiguous statements about to what extent there is a connection between gender equality and perceptions of Islam as either a religion or a culture. 

The Dewey-Lippmann Debate Today: Communication Distortions, Reflective Agency, and Participatory Democracy

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Whipple
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Political Theory ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The Public ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Advanced Capitalism ◽  
Current Context ◽  
The Public Sphere

In this article, I introduce the Dewey-Lippmann democracy debate of the 1920s as a vehicle for considering how social theory can enhance the empirical viability of participatory democratic theory within the current context of advanced capitalism. I situate within this broad theoretical framework the theories of Habermas and Dewey. In the process, I argue (a) that while Dewey largely failed to reconcile his democratic ideal with the empirical constraint of large-scale organizations, Habermas, in particular his work on the public sphere, provides an important starting point for considering the state of public participation within the communication distortions of advanced capitalism; (b) that to fully understand the relation between communication distortions and public participation, social theorists must look beyond Habermas and return to Dewey to mobilize his bi-level view of habitual and reflective human agency; and, finally, (c) that the perspective of a Deweyan political theory of reflective agency best furthers our understanding of potential communication distortions and public participation, particularly in the empirical spaces of media centralization and intellectual property rights.

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