{"title":"Postmodernism and Neurotheology. Some Current Issues Around the Phenomenon of Religious Experience","authors":"Ivo A. Dochkov","doi":"10.46324/pmp2401037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46324/pmp2401037","url":null,"abstract":"The human experience of consciousness and the divine has long been a source of fascination and curiosity. In recent decades, two seemingly disparate fields have emerged one after the other to rethink our experiences in new contexts: postmodernism and neurotheology. It was already obvious to Aristotle that logic is a reflection of language. This immanent coherence and the status of \"truth\" have been well-rethought by the neurosciences. Neurotheology offers a new field of research on key problems related to paralogisms, the aetiology of belief, and social beliefs in the direction of generating a new field of solutions. It attempts a kind of technical revision of why thinking suffers from deficiencies with a rather Cartesian approach. The other line of reasoning also provides interesting perspectives - the consideration of consciousness as a function of the universe. If successfully tested - this thesis would fundamentally change the perspective of psychology in the direction of a complete transformation and fusion with neuroscience. The big winner in the duel of positions is ethics - it would have to rethink its basic definitions, with all the social implications that entails. The advent of brain implants and large language models (which, driven by intellectual inertia, we call \"artificial intelligence\"), and advances in medicine and pharmacology certainly contribute to the possible realization of some, if not all, of these scenarios.","PeriodicalId":509911,"journal":{"name":"Postmodernism Problems","volume":"85 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140736227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Image of the Artist in the Media Space. The Relationship Between Media and Art During COVID-19","authors":"Prolet Trifonova Petkova","doi":"10.46324/pmp2401074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46324/pmp2401074","url":null,"abstract":"In line with the trends in communication in social networks, cultural institutes, and organizations follow the basic rules of digital PR and break them through the specifics of the products offered. In its future activity, the theater faces several challenges to increase its competitiveness. In addition to the high artistic value of the texts, the excellent acting and directing team, and the innovation and attractiveness of the performances, the theater should expand its channels of communication with the audience in social networks, develop more flexible campaigns with unconventional and provocative events, create a recognizable brand and facilitate audience access to its product, for example through online ticketing, interactive floor plan, etc. (Nedekov, 2014). Dangerous pandemics are an age-old enemy of the theater, and their appearance always means suspension of performances and bankruptcy for troupes, as it happened, for example, in London at the end of the 16th century, when William Shakespeare's star was rising. Today, however, the development of new technologies and media allows the theater to discover for itself an airless, and in this sense, safe space, which it can temporarily use as a refuge - the virtual. There, the screen can become a stage, but this has both positive and negative aspects for theatrical performance and these must be taken into account. The epidemic affects everyone and many economic sectors are in dire straits, but the cultural sector is among the hardest hit. The COVID-19 pandemic is defining the way of life and delineating the economic chasm that has opened up for small and large businesses and industries. Since the beginning of the crisis, culture has been one of the most affected sectors. The arts and culture sector has always been unstable, unsustainable, and volatile, but the COVID-19 pandemic has frozen the sector (2020), with many organizations facing bankruptcy and many people at risk of losing their income.","PeriodicalId":509911,"journal":{"name":"Postmodernism Problems","volume":"184 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140740507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Policy Measures as a Pathway to Improve the Quality of Life of the Elderly Population","authors":"V. Milenkova, A. Nakova, Karamfil Manolov","doi":"10.46324/pmp2401001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46324/pmp2401001","url":null,"abstract":"The article is focused on mapping different policies and programs aimed at the elderly population, as well as the incentive for inclusion in these programs. The review of different policies aimed to achieve harmonization and complement the opportunities for the conducting of personal careers, and better quality of life. The consequences of population aging in Bulgarian conditions lead to various changes in the labor market. In this context the policies themselves aim not only to include elderly people in the labor market but also to ensure economic growth, thereby creating the prerequisites for social support and assistance. The overall vision of the article is to provide an overview of the political map in which the various institutional practices stimulate the elderly population to increase their education and qualification as one of the ways of active living. The article uses the results of a representative survey of the 55+ population regarding its participation in various forms of continuing education and qualification. Our understanding is that labor market participation has two important consequences for older people. On the one hand, it is related to the provision of material income and good living conditions, and on the other hand, it has positive consequences affecting the psychological confidence and self-confidence of the elderly that they are useful to society. All this in its entirety shows various aspects related to the quality of life of people in the third age.","PeriodicalId":509911,"journal":{"name":"Postmodernism Problems","volume":"22 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140737795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sebastian Fitzek, Kyung-Eun (Anna) Choi, Corina Drăgan
{"title":"Understanding Digital Violence and Sexual Abuse in Adolescents and Minors: A Literature Review","authors":"Sebastian Fitzek, Kyung-Eun (Anna) Choi, Corina Drăgan","doi":"10.46324/pmp2401017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46324/pmp2401017","url":null,"abstract":"This review provides a literature examination of the effects of digital violence perception and sexual abuse on adolescents and minors. Using a literature review method, we explore how factors such as age, gender, and familial and educational environments shape young people's understanding of and reactions to violence, particularly in digital settings. The study also delves into the enduring impact of sexual abuse on the mental, physical, and sexual health of youth. Through a careful selection of 15 recent studies from academic databases that focused on the nexus between media violence and sexual abuse, we revealed the need for holistic educational and preventive approaches. These approaches should simultaneously address the complexities of digital violence and sexual abuse while emphasizing the importance of social support systems. Our findings advocate for further research in varied cultural settings to reinforce mental health safeguards and promote balanced development in young individuals.","PeriodicalId":509911,"journal":{"name":"Postmodernism Problems","volume":"29 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140737994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Attitudes of Graphic Designers and Copywriters in Bulgaria Towards Artificial Intelligence","authors":"Bagryan Malamin","doi":"10.46324/pmp2401055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46324/pmp2401055","url":null,"abstract":"Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the core technologies of the digital transformation. It is expected to lead to job losses, initially in occupations characterised by routine activities, but increasingly in creative professions. This chapter analyses the results of an empirical survey of graphic designers and copywriters in Bulgaria on their attitudes towards AI as well as their views on its future influence on their professions. The majority do not perceive AI and automation as a threat. In their view, digital technologies and artificial intelligence are a favourable opportunity for professionals that will change their work by taking away routine tasks and leaving creative activities to humans alone. Graphic designers and copywriters will engage in creative work, and their work will become more in demand because it is human. The analysis of the study shows that pessimistic scenarios of massive job destruction may not hold true. Expectations of deterioration in the quality of work (Holtgrewe, 2014) as a result of digitalization are also not borne out. This study is the first of its kind in this country to explore creative professions and their attitudes towards AI.","PeriodicalId":509911,"journal":{"name":"Postmodernism Problems","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140739548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Women’s Participation in Digital Platforms: The Etsy Case in Bulgaria","authors":"Mira Dobreva","doi":"10.46324/pmp2401100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46324/pmp2401100","url":null,"abstract":"Many studies have examined the growth and impact of the platform economy, but none have investigated Bulgarian users’ involvement in Etsy, the largest online marketplace for the sale of unique handcrafted goods. Given the growing popularity of platforms as alternatives for labor and creative self-expression, as well as the high level of women's presence on the Etsy platform, this paper examines the particularities of women's participation on the digital platform and addresses characteristics of female labor, placing them in the context of Bulgarian female sellers. The results are based on responses from an online survey of female Etsy sellers in Bulgaria and describe the demographic profile of respondents, present their degree of financial dependence on the activity, and outline users’ estimation of the essential competencies required for successful performance on the platform. The findings of the study suggest that the platform is popular among women with certain financial comfort and that the respondents view their work on Etsy as a creative and recreational outlet rather than a dependable source of income.","PeriodicalId":509911,"journal":{"name":"Postmodernism Problems","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140737966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Masculinity and femininity","authors":"Gergana Nikolova Hristova","doi":"10.46324/pmp2401116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46324/pmp2401116","url":null,"abstract":"The article examines the different interpretations of masculinity and femininity within the contexts of sociology, cultural studies, and psychology. In sociology, gender roles are considered to be socially constructed and variable, with feminist studies emphasizing the social construction of femininity in the context of gender inequality. In cultural studies, Hofstede views masculinity and femininity as cultural dimensions that influence societal attitudes and behavior. Overall, gender is interpreted as a complex of biological, social, and psychological aspects, which are expressed on a continuum and are often subject to social and cultural reconstruction. In psychology, these characteristics are associated with social and behavioral aspects, rather than with biological sex alone. Gender schema theory highlights that individuals can exhibit both masculine and feminine traits. Psychoanalysis introduces concepts of gender identity and the role of parents in the gender socialization of children.","PeriodicalId":509911,"journal":{"name":"Postmodernism Problems","volume":"220 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140740143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Postmodern Challenges in Chuck Palahniuk’s Prose","authors":"Jekaterina Korjuhina","doi":"10.46324/pmp2401135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46324/pmp2401135","url":null,"abstract":"Today, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Chuck Palahniuk is recognized as a literary genius, a hero for the generation of nihilists. Among the epithets used are: \"king of countercultural prose\", author of fascinating anti-social novels, cult author and a number of others. In this article, I comment on the profound connection between his philosophically insightful and abstract prose and the postmodern challenges that together lead him to reveal the deepest vices of the crisis-ridden contemporary American society. Palahniuk's postmodernism presents a generalized expression of modern man's disgust with the consumer society of crimes and injustices. He sees a way out only in individual anarchist rebellion, which rests on the denial of all false values.","PeriodicalId":509911,"journal":{"name":"Postmodernism Problems","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140739838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}