Series:Nauki społeczne

Theoretical frameworks in the study of press advertisements: Polish, English and Chinese perspective

Theoretical frameworks in the study of press advertisements: Polish, English and Chinese perspective

Author(s): Adam Wojtaszek / Language(s): English

Keywords: Code-mixing; gender stereotyping in advertisement; Graded Salience Hypothesis;Pictorial metonymy; idiomatic meanings;Penelope Brown;Stephen C. Levinson;Erving Goffmann;positive face;

There are several aspects in which the present book is unique. First of all, it tests the analytic potential of theoretical concepts and constructs which have not yet been applied to the analysis of the advertising discourse, although such a possibility was envisaged by some of the authors (e.g. Giora, 2003). Secondly, it offers a comparative elaboration of advertising corpora from three different cultural backgrounds: Polish, British and Chinese; a combination which has not yet been, to the best of my knowledge, covered in literature. Finally, it is also heavily biased towards critical methodological reflection, exposing many aspects of making certain choices vis-à-vis the analytic perspective and material. It was possible, thanks to the application of such a viewpoint, to unmask and appreciate the contribution of the observer effect in the study of the advertising discourse. Especially in the context of application of the Politeness framework to the analysis of commercials the book has managed to demonstrate how big may be the impact of the way of viewing. The evaluation of the practicality, usefulness and common sense of such applications is left to the readers, who may disagree with the author in this respect. The book unfolds in three stages. In the first chapter the contributions of particular types of selective focus applied in the study of advertisements are presented and critically evaluated. In particular, the impacts of choices pertaining to the object of the study, the preference for the approach (bottom-up versus top-down) and the alternatives implicit in opting for the content analysis or the investigation of responses were examined. The second chapter elaborates on an attempt to look at the advertising discourse from the perspective of Politeness Theory, as a peculiar forms of communication between the advertiser and the recipients. Following an extensive discussion of the applicability of the framework and the necessary methodological modifications, a two-step study is presented in which Polish, British and Chinese participants were reflectively commenting on a selection of press advertisements from three corresponding corpora. The subsequent comparative investigation of their responses allowed for identification of language- and culturerelated idiosyncrasies. The third chapter, which is the most extensive, is divided into two major parts. The first one draws upon Giora’s (2003) Graded Salience Hypothesis in proposing the constructs of static and dynamic salience which are subsequently used in the analysis of the corpora, followed by the investigation of Optimal Innovation Hypothesis applied to selected advertisements. In the second part of the third chapter, Kecskes’s (2008) model is applied to the description of advertisements from Polish, British and Chinese newspapers and magazines. In particular, the notion of context is decomposed into several distinct sub-categories, conveniently summarising and explicating the contributions offered by each of them.

The Social Importance of Urban Public Spaces

Społeczne znaczenie miejskich przestrzeni publicznych

Author(s): Krzysztof Bierwiaczonek / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: public space; city; place; spatial identity; spatial value

The starting point for the observations made in the monograph The Social Importance of Urban Public Spaces is the claim that if one wants to speak of the city these days as something more than just an administrative, demographic and economic structure, it is necessary to provide public spaces in which the denizens of the city could experience interaction both with other people as well as with the urban space itself. The way in which the inhabitants of the city interact with and confront the urban public spaces becomes, therefore, a singularly interesting research topic. It is, in fact, a multifaceted process, closely connected with both the everyday functioning in those spaces as well as the reflection upon their significance for the city or their role in creating the urban and subjective identity. The aforementioned phenomena are, in turn, connected with the varying manners of experiencing and defining the public space. The experience of the urban public space constitutes the primary research topic. In order to conduct the analysis of that experience, the author assumed the culturalist perspective, traditional for social sciences, which assumes the analysis of the social reality from the perspective of an individual. In light of that, the urban public space has been defined as an area in the city which is accessible, appealing, facilitating contact with other users of the city, aesthetic, and one which invites the people to meet, act and feel safe.The research findings analysed in this monograph come from 2012, when the preliminary research was conducted in three cities in the Upper Silesia: Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Tychy, and Żory. In each of those cities, the research sample averaged over 300 respondents. Overall, 982 people were asked to take part in the research conducted with the help of a questionnaire. In the monograph, the author compares those results with earlier results of research conducted in Katowice and Gliwice by the author himself, or with cooperation with other researchers. The use of that data, alongside the most recent research findings, allows to come to more general conclusions which go beyond the scope of case studies. The collected data allowed to formulate several conclusions regarding the social experience of urban public spaces. It is possible to enumerate in each city a number of spaces which are considered by the inhabitants to be good public spaces. Those usually entail marketplaces or other squares located in the city centre, as well as attractive recreational spaces and parks.From the perspective of the inhabitants of the cities and the users of public spaces, the mostimportant feature of such spaces is their multifunctionality, which allows their users to conduct various activities. This, in turn, epitomises the importance of marketplaces, squares and parks. The latter are, in turn, particularly important for the recreational activities conducted within the urban public spaces, as they constitute important locations in which people decide to spend their leisure time. Thus, both parks and other urban public spaces remain in direct competition with people’s homes as well as other places located outside of the city boundaries.Even though the research did not point to any elements which could be classified as “thefear of the urban space,” the inhabitants of the cities in question are charaterised by significantsocial passivity. Over 30% of respondents do not participate in freely available events which take place in urban public spaces. The only events which manage to attract larger percentages of the city inhabitants are fairs, free concerts and religious events. Social, political or civil activities do not constitute an important way of interacting with the urban space.On the basis of the theory of spatial value, a claim has been made that city centres, even inthose cities in which those centres are either lacking or difficult to establish, evoke for the most part more positive associations than shopping malls, which, for the majority of respondents, are bland and described usually in terms of shopping arrangements. Therefore, echoing the concept of spatial value, coined by Florian Znaniecki, and the division of values, coined by Aleksander Wallis, it would be possible to consider city centres to possess existential spatial values, while shopping malls posses only functional spatial values.Such spaces influence the identity of the subjects, to a certain degree, particularly that structure of it which could be called after Peter Weichhart individual spatial identity. Despite a high level of identification with the city and its inhabitants, there exists only a minority of the city inhabitants which declare that they do posses a space which would strengthen their relationship with the city, i.e. facilitate the creation of individual spatial identity.On the basis of the research findings presented in this monograph, it would be possible todifferentiate between six social roles of urban public spaces: functional, interactive, symbolic,axiological, identical and civic. Their significance in contemporary cities varies on a case by case basis. From the perspective of the city inhabitants, the functional role remains the most important, while the civic role is considered the least important.

Morphological transformations of the urban space of Katowice

Morfologiczne przekształcenia przestrzeni miejskiej Katowic

Author(s): Marta Chmielewska / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Katowice; Urban Space; City morphology

The monograph is situated within the scope of the Conzenian urban morphology and concerns the transformation of urban space in terms of morphology, in conjunction withchanges within its functional structure. The considerations are based on the example of Katowice—a city of a short but turbulent history, the space of which was influenced by numerous variable and diverse factors, and which has been recently transforming into a modern city—post-industrial and post-socialist. The main objective of the study is to demonstrate the evolution of the urban space of Katowice, and in particular, to answer the questions: how has the today’s morphological character of Katowice been formed, and in which direction will it be transforming? To accomplish the objective, a multi-step morphological analysis of the space of the city has been carried out, in accordance with the guidelines of Conzen’s methods with the employment of GIS tools. Firstly, the reconstruction of the formation of the space of Katowice, which was indispensable for further research, was undertaken. Genetic factors conditioning the course of the evolution of the city, as well as the stages of its morphological and spatial development were determined, and settlement units located within its boundaries were identified and arranged stratigraphically. 70 historical settlements were identified—diverse in terms of the time of their formation, their origin and incorporation in the borders of Katowice. Subsequently, the morphological structure of Katowice was characterised. The city was described in terms of its morphogenesis, physiognomy and layout. These three elements were employed as criteria to determine 48 classes of structural units of the study area and 178 units representing 19 of these classes. These units are arranged in a mosaic and non-uniformly fill the space of individual districts. Therefore, Katowice has a highly complex morphological structure.In the following stage of the work, the evolution of the urban space of Katowice, which has been occurring through the morphological and functional transformation, was examined. These transformations were analysed both in time and in space, with attention focused on their causes, directions and intensity. As a result, the phenomenon of morphological and functional succession was observed in the space of Katowice. Further research led to identification of the stages and types of this phenomenon. The morphological and functional evolution of Katowice, over its entire area, was characterised by isomorphism. The most important reason for the occurrence of the evolution was industrialisation, while the other reasons were complementary or secondary, or referred only to a small part of the city. The main directions of the transformations consisted in locating and developing industrial plants, and spreading of the residential area. Currently, emphasis on the elimination of the industrial plants and the development of services has been placed, however many new residential projects have been carried out.The morphological and functional transformations in the urban space have been resulting in replacing the existing morphological forms with new ones, and in changes of the functions performed by this space. Taking into consideration the number of transformations of the space in Katowice, three types of morphological and functional succession were distinguished, and subsequently these types were divided in view of the direction of the transformations into subtypes (32). The surface of the areas that corresponds to the individual types is inversely proportional to the complexity of the transformations characteristic of these types—the areas in which the succession has not yet been revealed are predominant, whereas the smallest surface is occupied by the areas that have undergone a three-phase succession. In addition, it may be observed that the succession took place predominantly in the areas in the northern part of the city, in the latitudinal belt.In the last part of the monograph, the trends in the transformations emerging currently in the morphology of Katowice (after 1989) were focused on. They are the result of the interaction of two groups of factors—the consequences of the political transformation, and the activities and plans of municipal authorities and social initiatives. The greatest impact has been exerted by the revitalization of both degraded post-industrial areas and urban areas, however the intensity and direction of the transformations of these two types of areas are different. The revitalisation projects additionally vary in terms of the impact on the morphology and function of the space. The most intensive changes occur in the central part of Katowice and are related to the aspirations towards transforming the centre of Katowice into a modern service and culture centre, the origin of the metropolis of Upper Silesia. These transformations are accompanied by the development of other parts of the city, oriented towards increasing its importance as a regional and national centre.

Birth rituals in Upper Silesia (seclusion of the woman in labour). Polski atlas etnograficzny [Polish ethnographic atlas] and Atlas der deutschen Volkskunde in a comparative perspective

Obrzędowość narodzinowa na Górnym Śląsku (izolacja położnicy). "Polski atlas etnograficzny" i "Atlas der deutschen Volkskunde" w perspektywie porównawczej

Author(s): Agnieszka Pieńczak / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Upper Silesia; Birth rituals; Polish ethnographic atlas; Atlas der deutschen Volkskunde; seclusion of the woman in labour; Ethnographic method; Silesian cultural heritage

Because this volume is not a monograph of selected Upper Silesian rural communities, it does not present the whole spectrum of cultural phenomena known in this area. Rather, it brings a comparative analysis demonstrating what can be deduced about the factors influencing cultural diversity on the basis of two national atlases: Polski atlas etnograficzny (PAE) and Atlas der deutschen Volkskunde (ADV). Both show geographically close cultural phenomena, which makes a comparative analysis possible. Because of the vast area they cover (from the Rhine in the west to the Bug River in the east and from the Alps and the Northern Carpathians in the south to the Baltic Sea and the North Sea in the north), they demonstrate the ranges of the analysed cultural phenomena in a broad context, thus allowing for various conclusions based on the ethnogeographic method. Still, as the comparative potential of both atlases is limited, it is here presented on the basis of selected examples drawn from birth rituals. They all concern enforced seclusion of the woman in labour observed in rural communities, an issue that has so far remained understudied in ethnological research. The volume is concerned not only with Upper Silesia but also with other areas. The analysis embraces the territory of Poland in its present borders and, additionally, regions explored for the purpose of ADV (at present Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria). Special attention is given to Silesia, with cultural artifacts and phenomena it shared with the neighbouring areas and those most characteristic of this particular region.Chapter 1 outlines the ethnogeographic method, especially in the context of its two importantinterpretive perspectives: geographic and abstract—spatial. It also demonstrates theusefulness of some ethnographic and dialectological atlases as sources for the study of theorigins and evolution of traditional culture. Referring to the experience of scholars whoapplied the ethnogeographic method in their interpretations, Chapter 2 highlights the specificcharacter of Silesia as an ethnic and cultural borderland. Chapter 3 presents most importantliterature on birth rituals and seclusion of the woman in labour in rural communities(beginning with the second half on the 19th century till the beginning of the 21st century). The next chapter discusses specific problems involved in the study of birth rituals conducted for the purpose of PAE and ADV. The final chapter focuses on the interpretation possibilitiesthat emerge when PAE and ADV are compared in terms of selected aspects of birth rituals.The analysis is limited to proscriptions enforcing isolation of the woman in labour which appear in source materials of both atlases. The following proscriptions are discussed: crossingthe threshold of the room or house, leaving the homestead, going to the cellar or to the attic,drawing water from the well, visiting neighbours and taking part in rural festivities. Theseissues are presented on fifteen innovative synthetic maps, fourteen of which demonstratethree different chronological cross-sections: one covering the beginning of the 1930s (theADV research), the next one ranging from 1969 to 1976 (the PAE research into birth rituals),and the last one concerning the years 2008–2011 (the PAE research conducted in several villages in Upper Silesia). The book contains a large number of detailed registers, includingtwo extensive annexes, a bibliography and a list of maps, figures, tables and charts. One ofthe annexes comprises a catalogued, numbered list of towns and villages referred to in PAE,where birth rituals were studied (1969–1976); the other presents the description of informantsfrom incoming groups which then inhabited Silesian villages. The type of analysis proposed in this volume concerns only selected aspects of birth rituals. Still, it clearly demonstrates that comparative studies based on Polski atlas etnograficzny and Atlas der deutschen Volkskunde are possible provided that two important conditions are met: thematic unity and typological similarity of the sources. Each of the atlases requires a special approach—a thorough study of its content in terms of the quantity and the themes, with a particular focus on the similarity of material classifications. The ranges of the majority of phenomena drawn from ADV, demonstrating the condition of rural culture in the first half on the 1930s and presented on contemporary maps, are usually vast and fall not only on the core of the former Reich but also on its peripheries, including a considerable portion of the western and northern territory of today’s Poland. These phenomena can therefore be considered as older, demonstrating a unique cultural communion of the area of Central Europe. They are typical not only of Silesia, as they have also been recorded in neighbouring regions. Differences appear with regard to the participation of women in labour in rural festivities—this specific prohibition seems to have been characteristic primarily of Upper Silesia; moreover, it tends to appear in reports of the inhabitants of this region even in present times, which is a signal of a certain cultural continuity. The ethnographic maps published in PAE and ADV allow for the conclusion that Silesia has always been a permanent borderland, an intermediate area, where the analysed phenomena could permeate from Western Europe directly or through Czechia and Moravia.It would be difficult to identify clear borders here or even peripheries. Numerous settlementprocesses tended to introduce not new forms but variations of older rituals, customs andbeliefs.

The migration of old age pensioners in Poland – factors, directions, consequences

Migracje emerytów w Polsce – czynniki, kierunki, konsekwencje

Author(s): Sławomir Pytel / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: migration; old age pensioners; migration of old age pensioners; Poland

Migrations of senior citizens are an important aspect of the social and economic development of local communities. Especially in the era of ageing populations and increasing life span, they are a challenge for local governments. The social capital constituted by senior citizens is very valuable and should be supported and strengthened. In the places where the pensioners migrate to, new types of services offered specifically to the elderly may be developed. The main aim of the study was to identify the patterns of the migration of the old age pensioners in Poland with regard to the stage of life they are in. It has been assumed that there are certain differences in this respect between old age pensioners within different age ranges. It has been found that they issue from different health status of the senior citizens and the benefits the destination offers. The research findings allowed showing the real scale of the retirees migration at the municipal level, which is around 30,000 annually as to internal migration, and about 2 thousand (migration turnover) as to international migration. The migrations are dominated by females, who migrate about three times more often than males, whereas the main directions of the migrations are municipalities, and they are twice more numerous than to rural communities.Since the phenomenon is a multidimensional process, the paper looks at migration concepts with regard to spatial, motivational, cost and benefit approach, and discusses the dynamic model of the senior citizens migration consisting of three cycles: industrial, post-industrial and informational. In each of the cycles the factors that have influenced migration were indicated, as well as the directions in which migration occurred, and the benefits and costs borne by the migrating pensioners.What should be indicated among the migration factors in the industrial period, are health and familial and financial factors. They played a major role in making a decision about migration by the pensioner. The dominant destination was the city or town, because it is associated with easier life. Unfortunately, during the industrial period, the migrating pensioners lost more than they gained, in terms of housing, economic and social aspects. The most frequently, the migrants were elderly, poorly educated pensioners, who moved within short distances.In the post-industrial period, familial and financial factors were the dominant aspects, whereas health was ofthe secondary (far lesser) importance. The main destination of the migration was the city or town. The costs were outweighed by the benefits, and the most important of the latter were housing and social benefits. The most frequently migrating pensioners were younger, well-educated senior citizens, who moved within short distances.In the information period, health and environmental factors play the most important role among the migrationfactors, while the main directions are: to the city or town and abroad. The benefits (the most important of whichare housing and social benefits) outweigh the costs. The most frequently, the migrants are younger, very well-educated pensioners, who migrate at long distances. In the case of industrial society, pushing out forces play a pivotal role, whereas in the case of post-industrial and informational societies, the forces of attraction are crucial.The conducted survey of migration studies in chronological terms, subdivided into study periods, indicates that the monograph is innovative, and that there is no similar study of such a research scope in the literature on thesubject. The paper shows the regional background of the migration of old age pensioners in other countries. The migration of elderly people in the Mediterranean, North America and selected Asian countries was discussed in detail, therefore it was possible to determine prospects of the migration of old age pensioners in Poland. It has been found that there is a significant impact of tourism on the migration of senior citizens.In the monograph, on the basis of questionnaire surveys, the factors that influenced the pensioner’s decision about migration have been determined. The causes of migration have been further distinguished due to gender, education, age and family status.The main reasons for the migration of the old age pensioners comprise:• building or purchasing a house or a flat,• improving the standard and quality of life,• stopping work and going into retirement,• deterioration of health, the need for treatment and care,• desire to improve the climatic and environmental conditions,• accompanying the family when they move to a different place of living,• intention to reduce the living area and decrease relevant fees,• high tourist and social attractiveness of the destination,• need to take care of grandchildren,• loneliness and longing for the family.The phenomenon of the migration of Polish senior citizens was characterized in terms of their material situation, housing situation and family situation. The study comprises the description of the direction and volume of the migration of the old age pensioners. The scale of the phenomenon occurring between 1990 and 2013 was determined with regard to both national and international migration. The occurrence of migration cycles in five-year periods was shown and a summative analysis of the cycles was carried out. In three time periods (2000, 2006, 2013), a meticulous analysis was performed individually for gender, within five-year intervals, as to influx to and outflow from municipalities of up to 5, 10, 20, 20–100 thousand inhabitants and more than 100 and 200 thousand inhabitants. In the aforesaid time periods, the municipalities where the highest number of pensioners migrated into were indicated, both in absolute values and per 1000 inhabitants. A spatial distribution of the influx of the pensioners was presented. In addition, the influx of the retired people with regard to different age groups was presented cartographically: up to 70 years of age, 70–79, and 80 years of age and above.The volume of the migration influx of the retired people to municipalities in Poland was determined, and thus itproved to be systematically increasing from 1990 until 1998 when it reached the highest level (1025 pensioners). After 1998, it dropped to about 800 immigrants in 2001, and has remained at this level until today. The typology of the migration of the pensioners was developed in three aspects:• spatial classification of the migrants’ age (k-means clustering),• typology of the causes of the migration (cluster analysis method),• typology of the migration directions (character table method).Distinguished types have been presented graphically. On the basis of the proposals of actions of numerous local authorities, recommendations have been made for the other ones. They were presented in 10 groups concerning the following issues: social activity, volunteering, actions preventing loneliness, health promotion, the Silver Economy, transport and infrastructure, meals, housing, senior citizens-friendly places, information for senior citizens. The study of the senior citizens migration counters the myth persisting in Polish society that “you cannot shift an old tree without it dying” – the monograph unequivocally confirms that the migration of Polish pensioners amounts to several tens of thousands each year during the period considered. Such a scale of migration may indeed cause the emergence of retirement towns in the nearest future (so far, senior citizens settlements are growing up in our cities or towns).The migration of old age pensioners plays an important role in the social and economic development of cities and villages. It brings about transfer of income to these places, development of the infrastructure necessary for the retirees, and creation of new jobs associated with the assistance to the elderly people. On the other hand, it may become a burden on municipal social services because of an increasing demand for care services, and it also may reduce the investment of enterprises looking for new employees. Whether the migration of the retirees will facilitate the development or will become a hindrance to our cities and villages, will depend on social policy, especially in terms of developing the social potential of active, creative, experienced and professional senior citizens.

Different facets of the family – reflection on the contemporary family

Rodzina niejedno ma oblicze – refleksja o współczesnej rodzinie

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Polish,Slovenian

Keywords: family; problems; prospects; Poland; Europe

The family is one of the basic institutions in every society. It is the social groupthat constitutes a transmission belt integrating individuals into broader social systems.Its efficient functioning brings about both the well-being of individuals and the effectivefunctioning of complex macro-social systems. Systematically conducted scientificresearch indicates the dynamic changes that take place within this basic microsocialsystem. The observed changes occur primarily within an extend of the structure – inthe positions and roles of the marriage and family. They also relate to the functionsthat are currently carried out by families and their functional equivalents. The changesin the connections between partners, directed towards the personal dimension, resultprimarily from the progressive process of the individualization of life. Family life isconditioned by many factors of a socio-economic, cultural, and demographic nature.The texts comprised in this monograph present interdisciplinary views of the authorson various aspects of family life in the changing social reality. This book seemsto be an important contribution to the discussion about the contemporary family andthe challenges it is to face.

Basics of drug chemoinformatics. Extended second edition

Podstawy chemoinformatyki leków. Wydanie drugie rozszerzone

Author(s): Jarosław Polański,Andrzej Bąk / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: molecular design; drug design; chemoinformatics

A number of textbooks on medicinal chemistry and drug design are available on the Polish bookshop market, but there is no textbook on chemoinformatics. The authors of this script intend to fill this gap. Since from its very beginning chemoinformatics is linked to molecular design, we have highlighted the problems of chemoinformatics of drugs in particular. This corresponds to the profile of new specialties, medicinal chemistry and chemoinformatics, launched at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Silesia. The handbook is intended for students of chemistry and pharmacy who are interested in using computers as a tool supporting research and teaching of these subjects.

Identity Narratives. Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Identity Narratives. Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Author(s): / Language(s): English

Keywords: (social, political) identity; multiculturalism; collective memory; the city; design sociology

Who am I? Who are we? And why? These are a few of many questions that the authors of the book entitled ‘Identity narratives. Interdisciplinary perspectives’ attempt to address. They speak out of various perspectives, take up a multitude of diverse threads. Only such an multidimensional picture creates a window of opportunity to face the questions (tasks) that concern the following matters: multiculturalism, identity (social, political), collective memory, the city and its entanglements, sociology as a discipline, ethical awareness. In the authors' opinion, the book may be of interest of students of the humanities and social sciences, as well as of readers who even though do not deal with these fields professionally but are interested in the issues of identity and difference.

Image cultures - taboo - education

Kultury obrazu – tabu – edukacja

Author(s): / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: taboo; anthropology; traditional culture; the media; technology; communication

The texts comprised in the collection have been focused not so much […] on the taboo as on the complex reflection on the evolution of this concept. The authors refer to the understanding of the tabooization compliant with the traditional anthropology dictionary, wherein the meaning of what is forbidden is referenced to the very source of traditional culture (the activity that strengthens social bonds, performs functions integrating the collectivity) and the transformation of taboos that takes place in contemporary mediated cultures under the influence of high technology, the spread of modern communication techniques and related socio-cultural phenomena (liquefaction of identity, unification, secularization). In these texts one may find reflections referring to the phenomenon of the existence of the areas of the commonality of the experience of primitive and contemporary cultures (myths, rituals, social norms - foundations of the symbolic order), however there are more examples pointing to fundamental differences that confirm the thesis that the taboo as an anthropological category functions today in a little different way than it used to do previously, and above all it is subject to inevitable dynamization. a fragment of the "Introduction"

Wandering, travelling, migration in language and culture

Wędrówka, podróż, migracja w języku i kulturze

Author(s): / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: wandering; travelling; migration; language; culture

The nomadic character of contemporary culture (and not exclusively of it) is a fact that cannot be denied. People are wandering through life, but they are also moving in various other forms. Travelling in the geographical, mental and metaphorical sense ... determines the shape of our existence, invariably connected with different forms of movement. The complexity of this problem, its multifold nature and non-obviousness are confirmed by the authors of this monograph, who have chosen different versions of wandering, travelling and migration as the subject of description and interpretation. Not infrequently, which is worth emphasizing - the views are insightful, innovative and original. This approach to the topic of this volume should certainly be considered as its value. The collected texts have been grouped in seven thematic clusters. The first one (“Maps and boundaries”) comprises studies that address, from different perspectives, the issue of mapping of the world, as well as establishing boundaries, which are understood here in very different ways. The second part (“Facets of Wandering”) includes texts relating to wandering, both in a literal, as well as metaphorical or conventional sense. What is an important issue from the point of view of the problems of contemporary times is the issue of (e)migration, which the authors have also explored. This subject is dealt with in the third part named “(E)migrant and (e)migration”. The title concepts of the volume have become the object of scientific reflection as conceptualized in the system of Polish language and its textual realizations - this is reflected in the studies comprised in the fourth part (“Conceptualization of wandering, travelling, migration in a language and text”). The most comprehensive are studies dealing with travelling treated as a topic considered in various epochs, discourses and areas of communication. They have been placed in the fifth element (“Writing (about) travelling”). The presentation of other cultures, lands and languages, as well as emotional states of the authors is an important issue and thus frequently addressed in this volume, as evidenced by the sixth part entitled Conversation of „Absentees - travelling in a dialogue ». The volume has been ended with the element that comprises studies dealing with an issue that is important from the point of view of contemporary humanities, i.e. the wanderings of generic forms as well as the wandering that is taking place within them (“Wandering of species, wandering within the genre”). The book is addressed to Polish philologists, Slavists and humanists in general and to all those who are interested in travelling, wandering and migration.

Best practices in social rehabilitation pedagogy in juvenile detention centres and juvenile shelters in Poland

Dobre praktyki resocjalizacyjne w zakładach poprawczych i schroniskach dla nieletnich w Polsce

Author(s): / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: social rehabilitation for juvenile offenders; juvenile detention centre; juvenile shelter

A juvenile detention centre is commonly associated with a prison for under-age offenders, a place of detention for dangerous juvenile delinquents. This volume abolishes this stereotype. It shows juvenile delinquents through the prism of their tragic family histories and psychological and social deficits they manifest; most importantly, however, it demonstrates the wide range and comprehensiveness of social rehabilitation programmes offered by juvenile detention centres and shelters. It provides a description of thematically arranged programmes applied by social rehabilitation staff, including those connected with leisure time (e.g., canoeing, windsurfing, and biking camps), animal care (animal-assisted therapy), theatre, music, arts, sociotherapy, promotion of family life (e.g., baby manikin care training), voluntary social work (e.g., with juvenile offenders taking care of disabled children), and many others. The volume is addressed both to practitioners (as a resource book with detailed activities plans) and to scholars/theoreticians (psychologists, social rehabilitation academic teachers, and students who take psychology and/or social rehabilitation pedagogy as their majors).

On ownership and its contemporary functions

O prawie własności i jego współczesnych funkcjach

Author(s): Pańko Walerian / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: ownership

Prace polskiego agrarysty i cywilisty Profesora Waleriana Pańki zachowują do dziś swoją aktualność i cieszą się nieustanym zainteresowaniem doktryny prawa rolnego i prawa cywilnego. Do fundamentalnych dzieł naukowych należą monografie: "Własność gruntowa w planowej gospodarce przestrzennej. Studium prawne" (1974) oraz "O prawie własności i jego współczesnych funkcjach" (1984). W prezentowanej publikacji przedrukowano tę ostatnią pozycję, którą wzbogacono o wstęp, wykaz publikacji Profesora oraz jego tekst: "Ład przestrzenny i ekologiczny wsi i rolnictwa (tezy)" (1993), a także komentarz tego tekstu autorstwa Teresy Kurowskiej.„Monografia "O prawie własności i jego współczesnych funkcjach" jest owocem badań prawno-porównawczych, które umożliwił pobyt stypendialny w Instituto di Diritto Agrario we Florencji oraz pobyty w charakterze visiting profesor na uniwersytetach w Rzymie, Padwie, Mediolanie, Ferrarze. […] Profesor przedstawił w niej syntetyczne opracowanie teorii własności nawiązującej do realiów współczesności, co doprowadziło do przewartościowania wielu obiegowych pojęć w nauce prawa. […] Profesor Walerian Pańko podkreślał, że w prawie właściciela tkwi niezwykle ważny element, jakim jest monopol w zakresie władztwa nad konkretną rzeczą (konkretnym mieniem) zapewniający możliwość efektywnego gospodarowania, ale widział jednocześnie wiele ograniczeń wynikających z obowiązków właściciela wobec społeczeństwa. Wyrazem jego przemyśleń jest oryginalna koncepcja »domniemania generalnej kompetencji« (właściciela) jako istoty prawa własności”.

Power and society

Władza a społeczeństwo

Author(s): / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Central Industrial District; society; economy; industry; propaganda; political parties; democracy within the party; watchdog organisation; social safety; states of crisis; axiology in politics;public relations (PR);

„It is with utter pleasure that we present the Reader with a volume created in effect of a multifaceted approach and insight into the issues of the mutual relationship between power and society. The articles collected are the result of the experiences of young researchers working within broadly defined social sciences and humanities representing academic centers across the country. The relationship between power and society as sketched in the monograph is represented by Leviathan, depicted on the cover. The very image comes from the title page of one of the first philosophical treatises tackling the mentioned topic, namely the work by Thomas Hobbes titled Leviathan: Or, The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil first published in 1651.The title’s creature – Leviathan - is an embodiment of the state created by way of establishing sovreign power. Power, both secular (civil) and religious (ecclesiasticall), is based on the common social contract and is of an absolute character. This is expressed by the inscription visible above the creature’s head: Non est potestas super terram, quae comparateur ei (there is no power on earth which can be compared to him). This leads us towards reflections on the essence of power, its sources, the kinds and structures of the power apparatuses, both in the contemporary and in past times. The issue that needs addressing as well is the one regarding legitimization and opposition towards the subject exercising power, as well as the form of the social conflict and its regulation – subjects or citizens. Legitimization and oppossition, which are considered collective reactions to the exercise of power acknowledged by social norms of justice, can be treated as antithetic phenomena. An important aspect here is of the register of power ideology, which has always served to legitimize it and build its image in the eyes of the society. Opposition towards existing centers of power can be perceived as a result of actions undertaken by the community of the oppressed, wherein a vast communication structure exists, along with the awareness of unjust treatment and the desire to retaliate for exploitation.” (Introduction fragm.)

Oblicza męskości / Faces of Masculinity

Oblicza męskości / Faces of Masculinity

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Polish

Keywords: Faces of masculinity; masculinity; transformation of masculinity

Masculinity, like femininity, has always fascinated laymen as well as scholars. The multi‑dimensional character of the concept makes us willing to investigate its nature. The fact that masculinity, like femininity, has a great impact on the individual’s life, psyche, social relations and even language, makes it a focus of interest for scholars representing many academic disciplines. The book is a good illustration of the above. It is a collection of papers that have a common topic – masculinity, dealt with in various ways and looked at from different perspectives. In the first paper, Jolanta Klimczak and Kazimiera Wódz analyse changes of masculinity observed in working‑class communities in selected cultures (Polish culture included). The study represents a sociological perspective. Next two papers, written from a psychological perspective, deal with genderrelated problems. Tomasz Jakubowski presents a case study of de‑transition (a return to one’s gender assigned at birth). Maja Gwóźdź writes about the so‑called thwarted masculinity, analysing how intersexuality is represented in literary discourse (Jeffrey Eugenides’s novel Middlesex). To draw a linguistic picture of men and masculinity is the aim of the following two papers. Marcin Kuczok carries out a contrastive study of linguistic representations of men and masculinity in Polish and English proverbs. My paper is a critical analysis of Polish political discourse (produced by male politicians). Next, in the text by Wojciech Wachowski and Alicja Szmaus‑Jackowska, differences in expressing taboo content between men and women are investigated within the framework of the cognitive theory of metaphor. The subsequent two papers try to present a picture of masculinity existing in Polish writing. Analysing press, ethnographic, historical and literary sources, Anna Hanusiak draws a picture of the Karpatian highlander robber. Jan Musiał presents a literary study of masculinity according to the historian and literary critic – Stefan Kołaczkowski. The discussion on masculinity is concluded by Patrycja Kowalik and Adrian Witkowski who write about masculinity crisis in modern society. The papers presented below do not provide a complete picture of masculinity; they only form a fragmentary description of the complex and multi‑dimensional concept constantly undergoing changes which are socially and culturally conditioned. The papers, however, can be considered a valuable contribution to an analysis of masculinity in modern society, and its representations in language and culture.

Psycho-pedagogical conditions for postponing divorce decision – a comparison between spouses who get divorced and those who suspend divorce proceedings

Psychopedagogiczne uwarunkowania odroczenia decyzji o rozwodzie. Porównanie małżonków rozwodzących się i zawieszających postępowanie rozwodowe

Author(s): Weronika Juroszek / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: marriage maturity; liability in marriage; divorce; marital conflict; postponement of divorce decision

The issues of the research carried out fall within the scope of the determinants of divorce conflict and coping with it. The subject of the research are factors that condition the postponing of divorce decision (manifesting itself in the form of the suspension of divorce proceedings). It has been assumed that the durability of marriage is a value which needs to be protected, hence the importance of such actions of the spouses which aim at reconstructing the bonds of marriage. These actions include the suspension of divorce proceedings. The factors that determine the decision concerning the suspension have been analysed. In order to do so, the spouses who decide on the suspension of divorce proceedings and those who take the final decision to get divorced have been compared. In the research carried out, it has been assumed that there are specific conditions for the suspension of divorce proceedings. They are as follows: maturity for marriage, conjugal family of origin, marriage duration, income, duration of mediation sessions, engagement of an attorney in the proceedings, participation in a therapy. In view of the above, the following hypotheses have been drawn: spouses who suspend divorce proceedings, compared to those getting divorced, are characterized by greater maturity (manifested by empathy, caring for the well-being of the children, caring for financial security of the family, fidelity, the will to forgive, help in difficult situations and responsibility), more frequently come from conjugal families, more seldom declare premarital pregnancy, are characterized by a longer duration of marriage, have higher incomes, spend less time at mediation sessions, more often decide to participate in a therapy. A research question regarding the reasons for the deterioration of marital relations has also been posed. The aforementioned hypotheses have made it possible to determine research variables – dependent and independent. The dependent variable is the type of a settlement reached, i.e. a written contract between the disputing parties, the aim of which is to reach an agreement. The settlement takes one of the two forms: a suspension of divorce proceedings (spouses decide to postpone the divorce decision) or a divorce (spouses sign a divorce agreement, in which they state that economic, physical, psychical and spiritual bonds between them have extinguished). Independent variables, in turn, refer to other conditions for postponing the divorce decision, which have been listed earlier. The data for the research have been gathered from interviews. Two interviews have been made with spouses who have filled divorce petitions and agreed to be interviewed and for the data obtained from these interviews to be used anonymously. The data gathered from interview 1 contained the following information regarding the characteristics of the group studied: the age of the spouse, the age of entering into marriage, the level of education, living together or apart, the plaintiff’s sex, the number of children, the number of siblings, the type of marriage entered into, the marital status at the moment of entering into marriage. The interviews have also made it possible to gather data concerning the family of origin (conjugal/broken), premarital pregnancy, the duration of marriage, spouses’ income, the duration of mediation sessions, hiring an attorney, the declaration to take part in a therapy. During interview no. 1 the researcher also posed a question regarding the reasons for the deterioration of marital relations: ‘What caused the deterioration of marital relations?’ The researcher noted down literal responses of the persons being questioned. Interview 2 was constructed on the basis of pilot studies and subject literature. It concerned spouse perception of their maturity for marriage (app. 2). The interview was of a structured character. It consisted of 10 closed questions to which the persons responded ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The questions concerned the following aspects of maturity: caring for children’s well-being, caring for financial security of the family, help in difficult situations, the willingness to forgive, empathy, fidelity and responsibility (accepting the consequences of one’s own actions, keeping commitments, the feeling of guilt in the case of hurting family members, striving toward redressing the wrong). It must be emphasised that (app. 1) all married couples (i.e. 333), including 46 couples suspending divorce proceedings and 287 couples getting divorced participated in the first interview (nevertheless, full data were not gathered from all spouses, hence different number of persons questioned are presented in particular tables). In the second interview concerning maturity (app. 2), 82 married couples participated, including 46 couples getting divorced, selected in such a way that both groups (spouses getting divorced and those suspending the divorce proceedings) were as similar to each other as possible in terms of age, duration of marriage, the number of children, the level of education, age when entering into marriage, marital status at the moment of entering into marriage. Quantity strategy has been used in the research paper. Regularities achieved by means of the statistic analysis method have provided a general picture of the situation of spouses getting divorced and facilitated a confrontation of the results with statistic model assumptions. These regularities have been completed with spouses’ statements, which have given a new significance to the results obtained within the statistic analysis and have provided interesting possibilities to interpret them. Additionally, the aforementioned statements have enriched the contents of this thesis, as individual’s opinions often appeal more to the reader than „dry” statistical data. The thesis consists of three parts: theoretical, methodological and empirical. In the theoretical part (consisting of three chapters) the following issues have been analysed: spouses’ psychological maturity, values and their significance in spouses’ lives (with specific consideration given to the values of education), divorce as a social problem (statistical data illustrating the situation of divorces in Poland), the reasons for a divorce conflict, the state of research regarding psychosocial consequences of divorce for parents and children. Taking into consideration the fact that the research describes married couples participating in mediation, the theoretical part includes basic information about it and the procedure of suspending divorce proceedings. The methodological part includes research questions and hypotheses, the method of gathering data, variables and research procedure. The research group has been described, taking into account its characteristic features, such as the age of spouses, the age at the moment of getting married, level of education, type of living (together/apart), the number of children, the number of siblings, the marital status of the spouses at the moment of getting married. The next five chapters – empirical – refer directly to the hypotheses tested and to the responses to research questions concerning the causes of the deterioration of marriage relations. It has been assumed in this thesis that marriage is a value, hence factors considered to be especially important are those underlying the decision to suspend the divorce proceedings for some time in order to fix the damaged relations. The results of the research carried out have confirmed all the verified hypotheses, so it turned out that both spouses’ maturity (including responsibility), conjugal family of origin, longer duration of marriage, higher income, shorter mediation sessions as well as declaration to participate in a therapy favour the suspension of divorce proceedings. In turn, the decision to get divorced coexists with declaring premarital pregnancy and hiring an attorney in mediation. In response to the research questions posed, such causes have also been named which in the opinion of the spouses researched have had a decisive influence on the deterioration of marital relations, and as such favoured divorce and not the suspension of divorce proceedings. They are as follows (listed from the most frequently to the most infrequently declared): adultery, mother-in-law’s interference, addiction, problems with work, child’s birth, a child from previous relationship, illness and disability in the family, father-in-law’s interference, miscarriage, departure abroad, others. The results of statistical analysis have shown the following reasons for the deterioration of marital relations, which significantly differentiate the group getting divorced from the one suspending divorce proceedings: adultery, addiction, problems with work, child’s birth. It must be emphasised that while both verifying the hypotheses tested and discussing the reasons for the deterioration of marital relations, statements regarding maturity with special concern given to the value of responsibility have been searched for in the spouses’ statements. It has been assumed that maturity and pursuing values in life have key significance for postponing the decision about divorce. Numerous detailed issues experienced by spouses in the divorce crisis have been listed in the thesis. Knowing these problems and the attempts to solve them may be used during various meetings and workshops, which aim at shaping correct attitudes towards marriage and family. Using some problem illustrations in writing educational programs for schools, preparing young people for married life is also worth considering.

Cuisine in language and culture in the past and today

Kuchnia w języku i kulturze dawniej i dziś

Author(s): Tomasz Gęsina,Wioletta Wilczek / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: cuisine; recipes; national and regional cuisine; culinary books; inguistics and cultural studies

Forms of persuasion

Formy perswazji

Author(s): Jacek Warchala / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: argumentation; manipulation; persuasion;information;

Persuasion is a conscious communicative action the purpose of which is to influence the recipient and thereby to change her position on the subject in question or to throw her off her previous attitude or conviction. The broadest formula of persuasive activity, suggested by Jürgen Habermas’s idealist conception of communication, assumes the type of strategic communicative behaviour which implies influence exercising instead of consent. Within the consent-versus-influence model, or the model of formal pragmatics proposed by Habermas, the agreement of speech act participants is tantamount to the comprehension of a linguistically standarized utterance, and is nothing more than the knowledge of general conditions in which the listener may accept the utterance. Important here are interpersonal relations of participants in the communication process as well as intersubjective communicative community understood as the agreement on the accepted and shared norms of co-operation within the speech act, of shared propositonal knowledge and of trust in the interlocutor’s subjective sincerity. In the influence model which includes not only persuasion but also manipulation these three conditions may not be fulfilled. For example, the sender does not need to (and usually does not) articulate in a sincere way his suppositions, intentions, feelings or wishes; the listener may not share his/her knowledge, and the speaker may not need to articulate a true judgment. Finally, the listener may not accept interpersonal reference as legitimate, that is, she needs neither to know fully nor accept the superiority/ inferiority norm imposed by the speaker.

Scientists. Personality, role, professionalism

Naukowcy. Osobowość, rola, profesjonalizm

Author(s): / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: scientist; personality; role; professionalism;science;

Despite the difficulties that researchers have struggled with for centuries, there still is a relatively large group of those willing to join the ranks of scientific workers. Cognitive abilities and strong research interests, however, are rather unique today, hence it is certainly prudent to protect individuals possessing such traits and to support their scientific development, removing obstacles or problems researchers typically encounter. This paper offers an interdisciplinary insight into science studies and as such, it is addressed to researchers representing all kinds of science and its subdisciplines. It is also recommended for students (including doctoral students) and institutions cooperating with universities and making practical use of research outcomes, breakthroughs, inventions or rationalization in a variety of spheres. It is our belief that this paper may also prove interesting for the family members of researchers; in reading it one may better understand the specific problems related to the profession of one’s father, mother, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather etc. The paper should also be read by psychologists, pedagogues, teachers, educators, guardians and animators of the youth since it is them who diagnose and shape the interests and cognitive passions of their learners and prepare them for possible future university careers. (fragment of the summary)

Slavic formulas of modernity - ideals and illusions of change. Studies dedicated to Professor Barbara Czapik-Lityńska

Słowiańskie formuły nowoczesności – ideały i iluzje przemiany. Studia dedykowane Profesor Barbarze Czapik-Lityńskiej

Author(s): / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: modernity; southern and western Slavs; traditionalism; progress; literature; culture;art;

Ethno-graphies, culture-graphies

Etno-grafie, kulturo-grafie

Author(s): / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: culture-graphies; anthropology of culture; ethnography; literary studies; linguistics;

Ethno-graphies, culture-graphies is a publication associated with a project realised by the Department of the Theory and the History of Culture of the University of Silesia in Katowice in collaboration with the Faculty of International Polish Studies of the University of Silesia, the School of the Polish Language and Culture of the University of Silesia, the Polish Cultural Studies Association – the Katowice department, the Museum of the History of Katowice, and the Polish Academy of Learning – the Katowice station. The project, which is interdisciplinary in nature, combines anthropological, ethnographic, cultural science, historical and literature-science reflection of young researchers who represent various centres of scholarship. In 2016 and in 2017 two international scholarly conferences were organised in which speakers from countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Croatia, Russia, China and Poland participated. The publication accompanies the conferences which were organised, although it is not a conference volume.The book entitled Ethno-graphies, culture-graphies contains the works of experts in the field of culture, Indologists, linguists and the experts in the field of literature. The eponymous “ethno-graphies” do not refer to various alternative models of a discipline (ethnography). For us, both “ethno-graphies” and “culture-graphies” indicate manners of writing about culture. The word “culture-graphy” was coined as a neologism to bring out the peculiar nature of writing about phenomena which are difficult to associate with ethne in the traditional acceptation of the term but which may be considered to constitute cultural phenomena. The purpose of the texts presented in the volume is to take the reader “on a journey” – a journey from the most remote places, such as ancient India, directly to Upper Silesia.