Introduction to Painful Laughter: Media and Politics in the Age of Cringe

This introduction to the Special Issue on cringe humour briefly traces the starting point of the contemporary cringe boom, and it looks into the roots of awkwardness as a cultural phenomenon in the 1960s. Moreover, the introduction argues for the cathartic potential of cringe humour in the context of sociopolitical issues, and briefly presents the subsequent articles.

Sound in the Mediated Space

With recent advances in technological media, the artistic notion of the multimedia environment has been dramatically extended. In this collection of interviews, sound will be examined in relation to various mediated spaces, from the ubiquitous urban space of telematic cities to enclosed audiovisual spaces. The sounds present in these mediated spaces act as triggers which allow the audience to transcend the sensory experiences of the mundane. They accomplish this through the visualization of invisible auditory forces, or by creating an immersive space beyond the realm of the physical ambient space. In some cases, sounds archived and shared on media platforms direct attention to larger sociopolitical issues. Such mediated environments, artistically augmented with the power of sound, become platforms wherein audiences can experience new potentials of sensory space. Furthermore, these works also introduce possibilities of new forms of sound-based connectivity and communication.

An Exploration into the Satiric Significance of Abuse in Selected Nigerian Drama

A general survey of the contemporary Nigerian theatre and drama reveals that several contemporary Nigerian dramatists have harnessed the art of abuse—invectives— as a device for conveying meanings in their works and achieving their satiric goals. These dramatists create characters that engage abuse to articulate the thematic concerns of their drama, accentuate the conflicts in them, and establish the socio-cultural and political setting of their drama. Although extant works on satiric plays have focused on the use of language, and other satiric devices such as grotesque, irony, burlesque, innuendo, sarcasm, among others (Adeoti 1994; Adenigbo & Alugbin 2020; Mireku-Gyimah 2013; Nyamekye & Debrah 2016), sufficient scholarly attention has not been given to the art of abuse as a trope in Nigerian drama. The article explores the artistic significance of abuse and its forms in selected works of two contemporary Nigerian dramatists: Femi Osofisan’s Altine’s Wrath (2002) and Ola Rotimi’s Who is a Patriot? (2006). These two plays are selected because they manifest ample deployment of the art of abuse and engage various sociopolitical issues. Hence, the article discusses how the art of abuse in these plays projects and addresses such sociopolitical realities as oppression, exploitation, resistance, self-interest versus national interest, and capitalism, among others. The article engages the principles of superiority theory of humour as espoused by Henri Bergson (2003) for textual analysis. It contends and concludes that abuse, as an inherent part of social and human interactions, has been an effective tool in satirising ills in individuals and society at large.

Focusing on sociopolitical issues in a secondary sports literature class: opportunities and experiences

Purpose Following recent scholarship promoting the study of sports-related texts as a vehicle for examining sociopolitical issues, this study aims to identify methods and materials used to facilitate the extended exploration of sociopolitical issues in a secondary sports literature class and to establish how students describe their experiences taking up such activities. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study stems from a greater investigation into the teaching of secondary sports literature classes. Data collection involved conducting interviews, observing instruction and gathering artifacts. Driven by guiding research questions, data analysis was conducted in an iterative and recursive manner and multiple validation strategies were used to enhance trustworthiness. Findings The methods and materials used to facilitate the extended exploration of sociopolitical issues included a whole-class reading of Season of Life (Marx, 2003) and small-group research into “controversial topics” in sports culture. Student-participants described engaging with those methods and materials as relevant to their personal interests and experiences and revelatory in terms of learning about sociopolitical issues in sports and society. Originality/value Scholarship promoting the potential for sports-related content to support literacy instruction has grown in recent years. This study covers new ground, for it documents classroom research to build understandings about the methods and materials used to facilitate the extended exploration of sociopolitical issues in a secondary sports literature class and the ways students describe their experiences engaging in such activities.

Sociopolitical activist brands

Purpose This paper aims to shed light on the emerging position of companies taking stances on sociopolitical issues and the impact this has on consumers. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses focus groups, interviews and consumer experiments in various countries, to provide insights as to why brands are taking sociopolitical stances. Findings Consumers expect brands to take a stance on sociopolitical issues. However, to be credible, a stance needs to be rooted in a long-term commitment that aligns with the brand’s strategy and values. Perceived authenticity is key. Research limitations/implications Future studies should aim at broader generalizability and should address various industries. Practical implications Differentiating a brand through a sociopolitical stance requires a strategic approach. Brand managers need to identify which issues they should support, how to engage with them and the risks and opportunities involved. Originality/value While the impact of brands adopting a sociopolitical stance has been discussed in the mainstream media, there has been a lack of empirical evidence to support the arguments. The results of the four studies discussed in the paper provide insights and demonstrate the brand-related opportunities and risks of taking a sociopolitical stance.

Does perceived morality of CEO activism matter? Understanding employees' responses to CEO actions on sociopolitical issues

PurposeFrom an internal perspective, the purpose of this study is to understand employees' responses to chief executive officer (CEO) activism, a phenomenon wherein a company's CEO expresses his/her own opinions and ideas on controversial sociopolitical issues. Integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR), public relations and leadership literature, this study examines the effects of employees' expectations toward CEOs and transformational CEO leadership on the perceived morality of CEO activism and its attitudinal and behavioral outcomes.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted with 417 full-time employees in the US whose CEO has been engaging in sociopolitical issues.FindingsThe results showed that employees' ethical expectations toward their CEOs and transformational CEO leadership were positively associated with perceived morality of CEO activism, whereas economic expectations toward CEOs had no significant relationship with it. In turn, perceived morality of CEO activism contributed to employees' positive attitudes and supportive behaviors for their CEOs and their companies.Originality/valueThis study is among the first attempts to examine the effectiveness of CEO activism from an internal perspective, drawing from CSR, public relations and leadership literature.

Synthisophy – Integrating the Wisdoms of History into Present Culture

The current paper discusses the concept of synthisophy. Synthisophy is defined as the scientific integration of knowledge and wisdom derived from the study of history into the present culture. The paper provides a philosophical view on contemporary sociopolitical issues in the USA and reviews Chapters 1 through Chapter 15 of the original book on synthisophy. The paper’s conclusions contribute to the current state of understanding of sociopolitical affairs exploring various theories such as human evolution, Argumentative Theory, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and brain function.

Synthisophy – Integrating the Wisdoms of History into Present Culture (Part 2 – Summary of Chapter 16 through 30)

The current paper discusses the concept of synthisophy. Synthisophy is defined as the scientific integration of knowledge and wisdom derived from the study of history into the present culture. The paper provides a philosophical view on contemporary sociopolitical issues in the USA and reviews Chapters 16 through Chapter 30 of the original book on synthisophy. The paper’s conclusions contribute to the current state of understanding of sociopolitical affairs exploring various theories such as human evolution, political polarization, neuroreality, and brain function.