scholarly journals Editorial

Contention ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. v-vi
Author(s):  
Brian Callan ◽  
Giovanni A. Travaglino

In this first issue of 2021, we find ourselves still in this strange space of a viral pandemic that first emerged in 2019. Yet contentious politics persists in public places, and the present issue reflects Contention’s continued efforts to publish interdisciplinary research-based articles from around the world.

Somatechnics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-148
Author(s):  
Johanna Hällsten

This article aims to investigate the creation of space and sound in artistic and architectural fields, with particular emphasis on the notions of interval and duration in the production and experience of soundscapes. The discussion arises out of an ongoing research project concerning sonic structures in public places, in which Japanese uguisubari ([Formula: see text]) – ‘nightingale flooring’, an alarm system from the Edo period) plays a key role in developing new kinds of site-specific and location-responsive sonic architectural structures for urban and rural environments. This paper takes uguisubari as its frame for investigating and evaluating how sounds create a space (however temporary), and how that sound in turn is created through movement. It thus seeks to unpick aspects of the reciprocal and performative act in which participant and the space engage through movement, whilst creating a sonic environment that permeates, defines and composes the boundaries of this space. The article will develop a framework for these kinds of works through a discussion on walking, movement, soundscape and somatechnical aspects of our experience of the world, drawing upon the work of Merleau-Ponty, Bergson and the Japanese concept of Ma (space-time).


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 131-156
Author(s):  
Ömer Turan

Abstract The student movement of ’68 was both a major source of inspiration and subject of research for the social movement scholars. One persistent disagreement about studying ’68 lies between the world-system theory—Wallerstein views the movement as “a single revolution”—and the contentious politics approach—McAdam, Tarrow, and Tilly refuse to consider ’68 “one grand movement.” Expanding this theoretical debate, this article overviews Turkey’s ’68 movement and discusses its divergence from the global movement. Wallerstein summarizes “the single revolution” of ’68 with five points: challenging US hegemony, working-class solidarity, demanding education reform, counter-culture, and challenging the old left. This article revisits these points and cross-reads them with insights of the contentious politics approach to evaluate Turkey’s ’68 movement. It then focuses on mobilizing structures, framing processes, and repertoires of contention that have shaped student activism.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-91
Author(s):  
Dominic Bryan

This article examines the way in which the availability of cheaply produced polyester flags has changed the symbolic landscape in the public places of Northern Ireland. The “tradition” of flying flags to express identity is common throughout the world and an important feature of an annual marking of residential and civic spaces in Northern Ireland. Such displays have been a consistent part of the reproduction of political identities through commemoration and the marking of territory. However, the availability of cheaply produced textiles has led to a change in the way the displays take place, the development of a range of new designs and helped sustain the control of areas by particular paramilitary groups. It highlights how the “symbolic capital” of the national flags can be used by different social groups having implication on the status and value of the symbol.


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Kersten-Parrish

In academic writing about disability, the impetus is typically used to subvert society's ableist structures and challenge misconceptions and misunderstanding around disability. However, due to the world-wide spread of COVID-19 and the restrictions put in place to reduce the virus's impact, such as asking people to wear masks in public places and the closing of universities and moving to entirely online learning, the author, who is deaf, found herself vulnerable and confronting a lack of access due to these measures. This reflexive paper will investigate how the pandemic and its effects forced the author to reconsider her ownership of her deafness. It will add to a growing body of autoethnographic disability research by contributing another facet to understandings around disability and self as they are actualized in the midst of the pandemic.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tehseen Nazir ◽  
Dr. Metin Pişkin

The use of social networking sites and other mobile applications have been growing intensively. Several researches indicated that it is one of the factors that impact the relationship maintenance between one another. It is highly desirable for all citizens to have a good interpersonal communication to maintain and develop further relationships. Bad communication skills may have harmed the interpersonal relationships. With technology advancing, Smartphone’s play an important part in people’s lives. It’s easy to see people talking, slipping, or even playing on their phones in public places. Certainly, when people are concentrating on the small screens in hands, they won’t care about their plights. So the probability of an accident is higher than before. Some countries even set up the “mobile phone sidewalk” to reduce potential hazards. But that is just palliatives. People needed to find a solution that “describe the annoying situation and further remind people to put their phones down, and get talking to each other again.”In response to this request, a new word “phubbing” was created.


Author(s):  
Shirley Chan

In most parts of the world, it is generally considered impolite or even rude to pick up an incoming mobile phone call and to have a longer (and loud) conversation in public places. Yet this type of interruption is generally acceptable in Hong Kong. This inspired the authors to ask: How does Hong Kong culture impact the perception of mobile phone interruption? This research note is about an ethnographical study on the culture in Hong Kong indicating a more positive perception towards mobile phone interruption. Their research results show that the cultural characteristics of fast pace, deal-making and sense of urgency explain why Hong Kong people are receptive towards such interruption and have the habit of participating in both the physical and mobile spaces at the same time. Their findings also challenge the engaging-disengaging paradox theory - that is, mobile phone users find it difficult to simultaneously engage in parallel activities


2020 ◽  
pp. 187-224
Author(s):  
Adam Fox

Chapter 5 explores the way in which cheap print was sold on the streets in early modern Scotland, and particularly in Edinburgh. It examines the world of outdoor commerce in general, before detailing the ways in which broadsides, pamphlets, and newspapers were vended in public places. It focuses on the ‘paper criers’ and ‘running stationers’ who plied their trade in the markets and thoroughfares. The coffeehouses of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other burghs are identified and described, and the ways in which print circulated in them are recovered. The chapter illustrates the public and communal nature of much cheap print and suggests that this characteristic helps to explain why so little of it has survived.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alys Young ◽  
Lorenzo Ferrarini ◽  
Andrew Irving ◽  
Claudine Storbeck ◽  
Robyn Swannack ◽  
...  

This article concerns deaf children and young people living in South Africa who are South African Sign Language users and who participated in an interdisciplinary research project using the medium of teaching film and photography with the goal of enhancing resilience. Specifically, this paper explores three questions that emerged from the deaf young people’s experience and involvement with the project: (i) What is disclosed about deaf young people’s worldmaking through the filmic and photographic modality? (ii) What specific impacts do deaf young people’s ontologically visual habitations of the world have on the production of their film/photographic works? (iii) How does deaf young people’s visual, embodied praxis through film and photography enable resilience? The presentation of findings and related theoretical discussion is organised around three key themes: (i) ‘writing’ into reality through photographic practice, (ii) filmmaking as embodied emotional praxis and (iii) enhancing resilience through visual methodologies. The discussion is interspersed with examples of the young people’s own work.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 03009
Author(s):  
Saassylana Sivtseva ◽  
Olga Parfenova

The historical and cultural heritage, expressed in monuments, architectural structures, dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, today is significant. The purpose of the article is to determine the role of society in perpetuating the memory of the Great Patriotic War. The authors conclude that the events of World War II find a lively response from the public. At the same time, new tendencies in commemorative practices are traced - tragic pages of history that until recently were “uncomfortable” (and in Soviet times banned for research), such as human losses, extremely high mortality of the civilian population from hunger, forcibly transferred to special settlements, - began to be reflected in the construction of monuments, memorable places. The location of these monuments is specific - they were erected at a certain distance from public places, at the territories of churches (victims of famine, victims of political repressions), which is associated with the predicted ambiguity of their perception.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason S. Sexton

This article considers the nature of public theology by assessing essential features of western public space and precisely how Christian confession takes shape in those contexts. In doing so the article argues that instead of understanding theology as something done primarily from the church to the world, perhaps it is best acknowledged that theology is done within the setting of common societal structures, in particular locations and in situations where believers are enabled to confess the hope within them. An understanding of this dynamic nature of Christian confession and the variegated expositions of theological reflection corresponds to the dynamic expressions of faith, in word and deed, which correspond to the Christian missionary impulse.


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