MITOLOGÍA Y CIENCIA FICCIÓN: EL CASO DE MYTHS OF THE NEAR FUTURE DE JAMES G. BALLARD

La relación entre mitología y ciencia ficción es paradójica: si, teóricamente, la ciencia ficción se presenta como opuesta del mito; en su producción narrativa recurre frecuentemente a personajes y esquemas míticos, materializando su dimensión prospectiva a través de la actualización evemerista o alegórica de mitos. Este trabajo revisa críticamente los presupuestos teóricos que escinden la literatura de ciencia ficción de los relatos míticos y la literatura fantástica. A continuación, analizaremos el modo en que James G. Ballard afronta esta cuestión en su narrativa breve, particularmente en Myths of the Near Future, que sobrepasa estas diferencias y plantea un nuevo marco teórico común entre literatura fantástica y mítica y la ciencia ficción. Abstract: The relationship between mythology and science fiction is paradoxical: if, theoretically, science fiction is presented as the opposite of myth; in its narrative production, science fiction frequently resorts to mythical characters and schemes, materializing their prospective dimension through the evemerist or allegorical updating of myths. This work critically reviews the theoretical assumptions that divide science fiction literature from mythical stories and fantasy fiction. Next, it analyzes the way in which James G. Ballard addresses this question in his short narrative, particularly in Myths of the Near Future, which goes beyond these differences and raises a new common theoretical framework between fantasy and mythical literature and science fiction.

Electronically Adjustable Grounded Memcapacitor Emulator Based on Single Active Component with Variable Switching Mechanism

New current mode grounded memcapacitor emulator circuits are reported in this paper, based on a single voltage differencing transconductance amplifier-VDTA and two grounded capacitors. The proposed circuits possess a single active component matching constraint, while the MOS-capacitance can be used instead of classical capacitance in a situation involving the simulator working within a high frequency range of up to 50 MHz, thereby offering obvious benefits in terms of realization utilising an IC-integrated circuit. The proposed emulator offers a variable switching mechanism—soft and hard—as well as the possibility of generating a negative memcapacitance characteristic, depending on the value of the frequency of the input current signal and the applied capacitance. The influence of possible non-ideality and parasitic effects was analysed, in order to reduce their side effects and bring the outcome to acceptable limits through the selection of passive elements. For the verification purposes, a PSPICE simulation environment with CMOS 0.18 μm TSMC technology parameters was selected. An experimental check was performed with off-the-shelf components-IC MAX435, showing satisfactory agreement with theoretical assumptions and conclusions.

Colour and Light in Berlin and Wrocław (Breslau) Department Stores Built between 1927 and 1930

This paper presents the theoretical assumptions and design praxis concerning colour schemes used in the multi-threaded Moderne, Streamline Moderne and Art Deco styles, which were used in Germany during the interwar period to design commercial facilities. We based our analysis on selected cases of department stores built in the years 1927–1930 in Berlin and Wrocław (Breslau at the time). Streamline Moderne and Art Deco, which was present in Germany alongside Expressionism, operated using a simple spatial structure that followed the precepts formulated by the Bauhaus: it featured rhythmically divided, disciplined facades clad in ceramics, sandstone or travertine, as well as large storefront windows with brass frames. These Modernist compositions were enriched with ceramic or brass cornices and friezes, overhangs and full-figure sculptures that were often gilded. The buildings’ interiors, designed following the principles of efficiency and functionality, had spatially accentuated and colour-marked entrance zones and grand, glazed courtyards that were given an expressive décor via ceramics, stone or exotic wood. The expression of these compositions was underscored by linear illumination and cascade-like chandeliers that formed light sculptures. In our paper, we also presented problems associated with the contemporary revitalisation and reconstruction of such buildings. We specifically focused on research findings that identified original ceramics production technologies and methods that allowed the recreation of the texture and colour of the facade of the A. Wertheim department store in Wrocław.

Expectation violations, expectation change, and expectation persistence: The scientific landscape as revealed by bibliometric network analyses

Expectation violations occur when there is a discrepancy between expected and perceived events or experiences. However, expectations often persist despite disconfirming evidence. Therefore, research on expectation violations, expectation change, and expectation persistence has been conducted in several fields of psychology with wide-ranging theoretical assumptions and empirical considerations. In the present review, we analyzed how these research fields relate to each other via bibliometric network analyses. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic literature search to identify scientific publications on expectation violations, expectation change, and expectation persistence. The literature corpus was then quantitatively analyzed using similarity measures that allow a data-driven classification of publications into groups, revealing their conceptual, theoretical, and empirical commonalities. Our results indicate that many influential publications have focused on finding reactivity measures (e.g., brain activation) to the discrepancy experienced between expectations and outcomes. Furthermore, these measures have been used to assess when and to which degree learning and behavioral adaptation (i.e., expectation change) takes place. We discuss the potential application of these measures for understanding expectation violations in more complex settings (e.g., social interaction) as well as phenomena such as expectation persistence. The goal of this review was to foster interdisciplinarity in psychology, enabling scientists and practitioners to identify new topics, promising empirical approaches and previously neglected variables.

Improving Crisis Communication Efficiency Through Nudging

Human action is not rational, and this irrationality manifests itself especially in decisions under uncertainty – the COVID-19 pandemic is one example of many in this respect. At the same time, various branches of research have been able to identify systematic patterns in irrational human behavior, and these have been attempted to be subsumed under the umbrella term of 'nudging'. Nudging describes the intentional change of decision architectures with the purpose of transforming irrationalities and/or distortions of human perception into predictable action. Thus, nudging represents a potent communication tool, especially in crisis communication scenarios. After presenting the basic theoretical assumptions of nudging, two examples of highly effective crisis communication strategies employed during the COVID-19 pandemic will be used to illustrate, contextualize, and reflect on central mechanisms and workings of nudging. This chapter ends with a summary of the most central findings as well as a critical reflection on potential future fields of action.

Organizational Resilience Capability and Capacity Building

The objective of this chapter is to analyze the implications of organizational resilience capability and capacity building and development processes and the posed challenges to its design and implementation. It is based on the conceptual and theoretical assumptions underpinning the capabilities of resilience that can be learned and designed by organizations to be implemented and applied to adverse conditions. These underlying assumptions affect the organizational resilience capabilities building. It is concluded that building and developing organizational resilience capabilities has increased the research agenda on the theoretical and conceptual literature and the notions, factors, elements, and challenges.

Marxism and the Concept of a Social Formation: An Immanent Critique of the Views of Jairus Banaji

Jairus Banaji associates the concept of a social formation (involving modal combination, or the articulation of modes of production) with “vulgar Marxism.” This includes both the Marxism of the Second International and the structuralist Marxism of Louis Althusser. Banaji is critical of those Marxists who employ the concept because in his view they are insufficiently sensitive to the complexities of history. His reasons for thinking this may be subjected to an immanent critique. Such a critique attempts to show that, given an argument's starting assumptions, a different (perhaps even the opposite) conclusion from that which is drawn by its author is possible. Applying this idea to the work of Banaji, it can be demonstrated that his rejection of the concept of a social formation is not required by his own theoretical assumptions and that endorsement of the concept is consistent with them.

EXPERIENCE OF GROWING UP IN INSTITUTIONAL FOSTER CARE – RESEARCH REPORT

The article is devoted to the functioning of adolescent pupils of the “House of Return” in Białystok. Its aim is to show the experience of growing up in an orphanage from the pupils’ perspective. The first part of the text presents theoretical assumptions regarding the experience of growing up, organization of foster care in Poland, growing up in its institutional form and the process of deinstitutionalization. The second part of the article presents methodological assumptions of the research and the results regarding growing up in institutional foster care. Qualitative research using the method of individual cases was carried out in May 2021 with the charges of the “House of Return” in Białystok. The concept of qualitative data analysis by Matthew B. Miles and A. Michael Huberman was used to analyze the empirical material. In the light of the research, the charges function properly in the care and education centre for children and young people, the experience of growing up in an orphanage is not a trauma for them, but they have difficulties with establishing close relationships, they lack a significant adult, and are also not very self-reliant.

Social Entrepreneurship: rethinking theoretical assumptions

Most of the Social Entrepreneurship (SE) literature derives its theoretical assumptions from the field of entrepreneurship in general, and more broadly, from modern economic theory. However, some thinkers notice significant gaps in existing theory and try to conceptualise SE incorporating some missing elements. In this theoretical paper, we explain the origins of contemporary SE concepts, analyse the significant contemporary SE works of leading thinkers and their theoretical assumptions. We also specify major shortcomings in existing concepts and demonstrate the possibility of filling gaps by realism, especially Aristotle’s philosophy. His distinctive realist view of human beings, including entrepreneurs, and his broader view on economics allows us to understand the essential nature of entrepreneurship, providing unique insights regarding the intellectual-volitional faculties of the social entrepreneur.

Grounded Normative Theory and Intersectional Differences

This article focuses on the promise of grounded normative theory in Luis Cabrera’s The Humble Cosmopolitan. The article celebrates Cabrera’s use of grounded normative theory as a way to center the lived experience of politically marginalized groups while also being attentive to the politics of knowledge production. My concern is not with the methodology itself; rather, it is with Cabrera’s partial use of it. I ask, how might the analysis of the book change if the author considered different intellectual histories of citizenship rooted in feminist and critical approaches? How might the theoretical assumptions and justifications of the book change if the author challenged his own assumptions, especially as they relate to the epistemic authority of Dalit women?