scholarly journals Trauma in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-122
Author(s):  
Nahro O. Maulood ◽  
Sherzad SH. Barzani
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Historical Trauma ◽  
Associate Professor ◽  
Trauma Theory ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Boston University ◽  
The Social ◽  
Generational Trauma ◽  
Piano Lesson

August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson (1987) is a play which deals with the social life of a broken African American family in Pittsburg – a city in Pennsylvania – who migrated from the South. The family’s grandparents, who were slaves on a Southern plantation, were separated and exchanged with a piano. This shocking incident causes cross-generational trauma and other traumatic incidents for the family as they retrieved the piano. This study examines the play through the lens of Literary Trauma Theory. This theory appeared in the middle of 1990s, henceforth it has been developed by so many scholars, and the latest revision is made by Joshua Pederson, an Associate Professor of Humanities at Boston University, in 2014. The first wave of the theorists claim that trauma causes amnesia for the victims; they can neither remember nor describe what they have experienced, but Pederson in his revised edition of the theory proves the opposite. By applying the latest version of trauma theory this study shows how slavery, its aftermath or its legacy affected and haunted African Americans, and created trauma or historical trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for the African Americans.

scholarly journals Cognising the Picture of «Strange Social». Review of the monograph by Alexander Golikov «Fabrication of order. Knowledge in the Constitution of Social»

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Order ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Associate Professor ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Technologies ◽  
National University ◽  
Practical Factors ◽  
High Level

This paper is devoted to analysis of the monograph written by Alexander Golikov, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology of the Sociological Faculty of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. The author emphasizes the indisputable theoretical significance of reviewed work, focused on the elucidation of the role of knowledge in the constitution of the social, which in the context of globalization, virtualization and individualization of social life acquires the properties of an «unfamiliar social». The monograph pays special attention to the processes of fabrication of various types of knowledge, that is, the creation and dissemination of various knowledge as structural and practical factors in the constitution of the social. It is noted that the author's research strategy is original, constructive and productive both in theoretical and practical sense. It is emphasized that the scientific novelty of the work lies in the conceptualization of the categorical triangle «knowledge – social – order»; in the proposed concept of an internalized Second and a depersonalized Third as «generalized Others»; in clarifying the specifics of communication in the production of sign-symbolic and informational forms of knowledge; in the introduction to scientific circulation the concept of «chronotope of the order of knowledge», etc. At the same time, it is emphasized that this fundamental monograph contains certain controversial provisions. In particular, a clearer definitions are required by: the scientific problem of work, that is, the question of what kind of epistemological inconsistency the author's concept solves; meaningful content of the «fabrication» category; ideological shape of knowledge, as a result of which it becomes one of the components of manipulative social technologies. Despite the remarks, the reviewer notes the significant heuristic potential of A. Golikov's developments, which, in his opinion, is distinguished by a refined professional language, a high level of scientific reliability and innovative content.

Current Postvention Research and Priorities for the Future

Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Andriessen ◽  
Dolores Angela Castelli Dransart ◽  
Julie Cerel ◽  
Myfanwy Maple
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Intercultural Collaboration ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Future ◽  
Suicide Bereavement ◽  
Ethical Approval

Abstract. Background: Suicide can have a lasting impact on the social life as well as the physical and mental health of the bereaved. Targeted research is needed to better understand the nature of suicide bereavement and the effectiveness of support. Aims: To take stock of ongoing studies, and to inquire about future research priorities regarding suicide bereavement and postvention. Method: In March 2015, an online survey was widely disseminated in the suicidology community. Results: The questionnaire was accessed 77 times, and 22 records were included in the analysis. The respondents provided valuable information regarding current research projects and recommendations for the future. Limitations: Bearing in mind the modest number of replies, all from respondents in Westernized countries, it is not known how representative the findings are. Conclusion: The survey generated three strategies for future postvention research: increase intercultural collaboration, increase theory-driven research, and build bonds between research and practice. Future surveys should include experiences with obtaining research grants and ethical approval for postvention studies.

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