Civic Identity: Diversity of Meanings and Achievement of Solidarity

The concept of identity reflects the ongoing shifts in political theories when external parameters that did not previously fall into the optics of political research become a part of political reflection and political analysis. Emphasizing sociocultural issues captures not only the departure from the linear normativity of political theory and pragmatics but also the search for modern explanatory models that cannot be reduced merely to institutional determinism. The controversy and ambiguity of the civic identity concept are imposed on the need for interpreting the formation of civic communities in the newly emerged independent countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union (on the example of Russia and Armenia), including the possibilities of protest and project identity. Methodologically the article is based on the perception that the construction of civic identity cannot be reduced to the normative understanding only. The authors bring out the causal complexes that predetermine the construction of civic identity, while also highlighting the differences in how civic communities and their value focuses are perceived and constructed in Russia and Armenia. The authors also define the general features of civic identity, which can be described as a common basis of solidarity, the removal of particularity and a shared vision of the future.

Oscuras quimeras: metamorfosis e híbridos humano-animal en algunos textos de literatura hispanoamericana contemporánea

RESUMEN: Este estudio se propone investigar las distintas formas de construcción de identidades posthumanas a partir del elemento arquetípico de la metamorfosis y del híbrido humano-animal. Estas nuevas figuraciones rescatan una perspectiva acerca de lo animal procedente de un imaginario premoderno para deconstruir las categorías que han definido el sujeto humano a partir de la modernidad europea. En algunos textos publicados en los últimos veinte años, la mezcla entre especies plantea un nuevo concepto de identidad: por un lado, se examina cómo el devenir-animal se acompaña a la emancipación de la figura femenina y a la deconstrucción de la idea de familia patriarcal; por el otro, se exploran las conjunciones entre el híbrido humano-animal y el cyborg. ABSTRACT: This article aims to study the different ways of shaping posthuman identities, which originates from archetypical metamorphoses and human-animal hybrids. This new imaginary rescues a premodern perspective about the animal, in order to dismantle the boundaries that have defined the human subject since the European modern age. In some books published in the past twenty years, the interspecies encounter outlines a new identity concept. Firstly, the article examines how the becoming-animal concept merges with the feminine subject’s emancipation, as well as with the deconstruction of the patriarchal family structure; secondly, it explores the conjunctions between human-animal hybrids and cyborgs.

Perancangan Identitas Visual Berbasis Religi Dan Budaya Pesisir Di Kota Demak

ABSTRACKThe identity of the city is a form of visual that represents the mental image of the average people. Demak as a city on the north coast of Java Island has much historical value in terms of the spread of Islam. The collaboration between the two aspects is very interesting to expres in the form of a visual identity of the city. This study aims to develop a visual identity design based on the religious values and coastal culture in Demak. The research is formulating qualitatively, which is built from natural basic elements, which depart from data, utilizing existing theories as explanatory material and ending with an identity concept. The design of identity adopts Islamic architectural forms and values at the Great Mosque of Demak, which is collaborated with city characters coast, represented by the shape of sea waves, Islamic ornaments and traditional Javanese Demak Djung boats. Key word: regional image, visual identity, mass composition. ABSTRAKIdentitas visual kota merupakan wujud visual yang mewakili gambaran mental rata-rata masyarakatnya. Kota Demak sebagai kota yang berada ada di pesisir utara Pulau Jawa memiliki nilai historis yang kuat dalam hal penyebaran Agama Islam. Kolaborasi kedua aspek tersebut sangat menarik dituangkan dalam bentuk indentitas visual kota. Penelitian ini bertujuan menyusun rancangan indentitas visual yang dikembangkan berdasarkan nilai nilai religi dan budaya pesisir di Kota Demak. Penelitian dirumuskan secara kualitatif, yang dibangun dari elemen elemen dasar alamiah, yang berangkat dari data, memanfaatkan teori yang ada sebagai bahan penjelas dan berakhir dengan sebuah konsep identitas. Perancangan identitas mengadopsi bentuk dan nilai arsitektural Islam di Masjid Agung Demak, yang dikolaborasi dengan karakter kota pesisir diwakili oleh bentuk ombak air laut, ornamen Islam dan kapal tradisional Demak Djung Jawa.Kata kunci: citra kawasan, identitas visual, gubahan masa.

The concept of professional identity: Kindergarten teachers’ professionalism requirement in Malaysian preschool curriculum

<span>This study aimed to determine the professional identity concept based on professionalism requirement in Malaysia’s new preschool curriculum. Three professional identities identified through works of literature such as professional qualifications, experience and professional development were verified based on the constructed hypothesis to validate the concept of professional identity. The analysis findings showed a significant difference between professional qualifications. The same analysis, however, demonstrated that there was no significant difference on the preschool curriculum knowledge with regards to experience, but there was a significant indication of interaction between professional qualifications and experience on preschool curriculum knowledge. Meanwhile, for the one-way ANOVA test, there was a significant difference in the preschool curriculum knowledge based on professional development. The findings of this study confirmed that professional knowledge and professional development respectively hold a direct impact on the preschool curriculum, while experience acts as a support for professional qualifications.</span>

An Analysis of the Communication of Provincial Identities in Mascots to Promote Tourism in Thailand

This research analyzed the communication of provincial identities in mascots to promote tourism in Thailand through the conceptual frameworks of semiotic theory and identity concept. It is a qualitative research using an analysis of mascot components, an analysis of provincial identities that appear in the mascots, and in-depth interviews. The tools used consisted of a symbolic component analysis table with provincial identities and in-depth interviews.The sample group consisted of 23 mascots and 5 policymakers and mascot designers.Results of the study revealed that senders use mascots that are cute, friendly, and straightforward. Most of the senders use the encoding of sign in the icon level that looks like or resembles real objects to make them interesting and easy to understand. In addition, there is the encoding of sign in the index level that is reduced from real objects into patterns of costumes and accessories that make the mascots stand out. In terms of provincial identities, it was found that the meanings of the various symbols are transmitted in the dimensions of bringing up the distinctive identities of the province in seven aspects: 1) traditions and beliefs, 2) archaeological sites and antiques, 3) food and products, 4) famous tourist attractions, 5) costumes, 6) art and culture, and 7) other identities.

Citra Hotel Tugu Malang Di Mata Netizen (Resepsi Terhadap Vlog “Experience Menginap Di Hotel Ter-antik Di Malang”)

The image of a hotel in the eye of the society can sometimes not be in line with the identity concept that is trying to be communicated by the company. Hotel Tugu Malang is one of the hotel in Indonesia which has a strong heritage concept, but the image that is developing in the society has much distorted into an ancient and spooky direction. This study on the vlog entitled “Experience Menginap di Hotel Ter-antik di Malang” by YouTuber Anak Kuliner is aiming to become a form of evaluation to the public relation strategy by analysing the audience reception to the message in the vlog. The research was conducted with a qualitative-descriptive method by using the theory of reception. The results show that despite the informative, cheerful, bright, positive, friendly, and enthusiastic contents nuance, the audience receptions still largely stand in the opposition position, with some started to move to the negotiation position and dominant hegemonic position. Therefore, it is suggested that the management continues to do positive publicity efforts which are integrating different media types and maximizing the use of storytelling. Keywords: Image, Heritage, Tugu Malang Hotel, Netizen

Membaca Fenomena Menguatnya Perayaan “Islamisasi” di Indonesia Pasca Reformasi

The strengthening of Islamization (Islamisasi) or the revival of religious awakening in the post-reform Indonesia has become an appealing topic to be studied by social scientists. Islamization, in this study, is not defined in terms of the discourse of religious political relations (such as relations of state and religion), but refers to the existence of social religious expressions which are marked by considerable exploration to form a new meaning of Islam (Islamization) which involves various elements, especially capitalism and modernity. This paper provides an overview of how social scientists see the phenomenon of Islamization in the post-reform Indonesia. This overview is important in order to discuss the viewpoints or better known as "standing positions" of scientists in seeing the phenomenon of Islamization in Indonesia. This paper uses a literature study in the form of collecting various relevant studies related to the analysis of Islamization in the post-reform Indonesia. It then simplifies a number of selected studies from various scientific writings and finds various perspectives, including ones which see this phenomenon as a symptom of radicalism, a form of the success of commodification of Islam. Another perspective makes use of the concept of Post-Islamism and links it with the hybrid identity concept. In the end, this paper concludes that there are two big perspectives, besides the mainstream perspective of radicalism and terrorism, namely the commodification of Islam and Post-Islamism. This research argues that these two perspectives can be used as a basis for thinking in reading the dynamics of increasing social-religious expression in Indonesia with different analytical levels.