Language and Public Sphere

Editorial

2025-11-07T13:30:20+00:00

Perception of the Russo-Ukrainian war and the images of Russia and Ukraine in the protest movement ‘Frankfurter Freigeister’ in Frankfurt (Oder)

2025-11-07T14:07:18+00:00

The German government's reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and in particular the policy of sanctions against Russia and the supply of arms to Ukraine, led to a wave of discontent in parts of German society. The issue of the Russo-Ukrainian war was taken up by protest movements in various cities that had already formed at that time (including during the COVID-19 pandemic). The most regular and numerous were the demonstrations in East Germany, where thousands of people protested every Monday in the so-called ‘Montagsdemonstration’. The ‘Frankfurter Freigeister’, a protest movement in Frankfurt on the Oder in Brandenburg, were no exception. The multitude of Russian flags, the contradictory demands and the aggressive actions of the protesters raise a number of questions about their perception of the Russo-Ukrainian war itself and of Russia and Ukraine in general. This article looks at the issues raised by the ‘Frankfurter Freigeister’ in relation to the war and the factors that may be driving them. But first of all, how does this protest movement perceive the Russo-Ukrainian war and the role of Russia and Ukraine in it?

The Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity: decolonization and artistic practices

2025-11-07T14:14:02+00:00

The Revolution of Dignity that was situated at Independence Square in Kyiv from November 2013 to February 2014 constituted a significant milestone in the process of decolonization in Ukraine, with artists assuming a pivotal role in this endeavor. This paper will analyze the actions of a group of artists, writers and cultural agents who organized a 'Mystetskyi Barbakan' in the heart of the protests in Kyiv through the lens of decolonization. Mystetskyi Barbakan' functioned as a meeting place for cultural agents during the demonstrations, as well as a stage for emerging artists and writers to present their work, a place where numerous lectures and performances took place. Although the milieu of 'Mystetskyi Barbakan' acted as citizens of their country who wanted to explicitly show their disagreement with the development of Ukraine, they made themselves visible with artistic and discursive interventions aimed at decolonization and emancipation of Ukrainian culture.

Activism in Museums and the Ethical Turn of ICOM

2025-11-07T14:23:59+00:00

This study explores the challenges and inherent contradictions within the new definition of the museum proposed by ICOM (International Council of Museums) in 2022, in light of the actions undertaken by climate activists within museum institutions. Following ICOM’s declaration of an "ethical turning point," movements such as Just Stop Oil and Last Generation initiated a series of protests that, while promoting an ecological message, raised important questions about the neutrality and impartiality of museums. These events have highlighted the tensions embedded in ICOM’s definition of the museum, which, despite its emphasis on inclusivity and universal ethics, clashes with the realities of museums operating within different national and cultural contexts. The article analyzes ICOM’s and museum institutions' responses, with a particular focus on Italy, to demonstrate how reactions to activists vary across countries, undermining the effectiveness of ICOM’s proposed universal museum model. Furthermore, the study examines how the concept of "neutrality" is problematic in the museum context, where curatorial choices and the display of artworks are inevitably influenced by political and social dynamics. Through critical and comparative analysis, the paper suggests that ICOM’s definition of the museum is insufficient and ambiguous, failing to adequately address the challenges raised by activist movements, and reveals the contradictions of a model that claims universality yet fails to integrate local realities and the complex ethical issues tied to its implementation.

Based on real event theatre. In a search of artistic way to stage documental facts

2025-11-07T14:32:24+00:00

How can theatre make sense of and articulate personal, political and social crises? What are the professional approaches, and the creative and aesthetic ways of making an ethical and contemporary performance, without speculation or disruption of the facts from real events. The main topic of this report – how to built theatrical reality from documents – is based on examples of the performance “Nordost. Fairytale about Destruction” based on Torsten Buchsteiner’s play “Nordost”.

Aki Kaurismaki: Characteristics of His Cinema Language

2025-11-07T14:37:46+00:00

This text analyses the typical distinctive features in the work of the Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki. It traces the creative path of the director by presenting the following components of his cinematic language: plot, visual language, acting, music, while also seeking a connection to the socio-political and cultural landscape of Finland since the beginning of his career to the present day.

Walt Whitman and the Image of the Poet-Bard after the Publication of His Novel Life and Adventures of Jack Engle

2025-11-07T14:45:19+00:00

The image of Walt Whitman is presented as a synthesis of a number of ideas of the world's philosophers, cultural studies scholars, literary scholars and critics writing about him. Ralph Waldo Emerson's idea of the Poet-Priest becomes the intellectual form to be fulfilled through his forthcoming physical and mental-emotional performance. Whitman applies it to his attempt to live as a poet and turn his life into a poem. Behind it all lies a plan connected to the poet's self-creation as the bard of the nation, whose autobiography fits into his chosen mission. This plan, however, does not include his prose publications. As a result, Walt Whitman's creative path is explored in a broader context that has a significant impact on the poet's image. Thus, the discovery of the novel written in 1852 entitled Life and Adventures of Jack Engle and rediscovered in 2017 (Stefan Radev, 2018), reveals valuable facts that not only shift certain paradigms but definitively reinforce the iconic image formed. Spirituality itself, so highly valued and omnipresent in his writing, charges him with constant positivity. Thus he too, as a poet, becomes an eternal optimist, devoid of guilt, which had its beginnings in the rediscovered novel.

The importance of early recordings for the interpretation of late nineteenth-century French flute

2025-11-07T14:51:26+00:00

The characteristics of early recordings will be analyzed as evidence of the musical reality in which they were recorded. They will be then compared with the score and the Flute treatises of the time to understand any inconsistencies and limits.

Who are the Sarmatians, and What is Their Connection to the Medieval Bulgarians?

2025-11-07T14:56:00+00:00

The connection between Sarmatians and Bulgarians was noticed already in the 20^th century. This connection can be seen in common practices in the funeral rite, geographical continuity and is supplemented by new data from archaeogenetics. This article aims to shed some light on the problem using some of this accumulated data.

Sofia in the First Issues of the Archaeology Magazine

2025-11-07T15:01:10+00:00

The text presents a review and a comment of research texts that are connected with the archaeology of Sofia and Sofia region and published in the magazine “Archaeology” during the first 30 years of its creation. The role of archaeological publications, the contribution of the authors, the objects which are presented, the ratio between archaeology and authority, the results, to which the researches in this period lead, are explored.

Baroque and the Waning of the Renaissance

2025-11-07T15:07:18+00:00

This article is a brief overview of the emergence of the concept of "Baroque" in art , studies and the evolution of historical views of the late Renaissance.

Semiotic Analysis of Fashion as a Cultural Manifestation

2025-11-07T15:13:47+00:00

Fashion is a text, a story, a sign system, a manifestation of culture, a social formation. Its semiotic essence allows it to be analyzed through a cultural perspective. Fashion as a way of expression plays an important role in shaping and reflecting cultural identities and values. Manifesting the dynamic nature of culture, it becomes a strong communicator of meanings. Through analysis according to Lotman’s semiosphere model, fashion will be considered as a cultural phenomenon and part of the cultural process intertwined in everyday life.

Digitalisation of Business in the 21st Century: Evolution of Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

2025-11-10T09:13:20+00:00

Over the past decade, the growing emphasis on key performance indicators (KPI) and the transformative advancements in information technology have converged. This dynamic progress presents timely opportunities and compels us to explore business innovation. This article delves into the pivotal role of digital technologies in the evolution of KPIs and organizational performance.

Demonstrating the Significance of Acoustic Analysis in Speech-Language Pathology through a Case Study of Non-Normative Articulation of the Phoneme /r/

2025-11-10T09:23:01+00:00

Technological development gives speech-language pathologists an opportunity to use acoustic software for the analysis of speech and articulation. The use of acoustic analysis in speech-language pathology diagnostics and therapy allows a more in-depth analysis of different aspects of speech, as well as it underlines the objectivity of the method, compared to other more traditional ones. The study of acoustic phonetics is not widely spread in the education of Bulgarian speech-language pathology students, therefore there is no practice of implementing acoustic analysis for the diagnostics and therapy of speech disorders. The article aims to give a theoretical overview of some possible implementations of acoustic analysis of speech in the field of speech-language pathology, to present the results of a case study comparing normative and non-normative articulation of the phoneme /r/, to summarize the benefits and difficulties this implementation could lead to, and to promote the application of foreign methodologies to Bulgarian speech-language therapeutic practice.

Designing for the hands in VR. Designing and assessing haptic affordances for hand tracking interaction in VR. A case study on EMPEROR (French award-winning VR project)

2025-11-10T09:32:36+00:00

In this paper, we propose a simple but robust method to analyze hand tracking (HT) interactions, as haptic affordances, in Virtual Reality. In the logic of research creation, we have used EMPEROR, French VR artwork, as a ground for UX design research, with HT-based interaction design. EMPEROR offered an empirical field of research for haptic affordances, throughout the development. The aim of the study was to analyze if the users understood how to use their hands for two specific tasks. We proceeded to a blend of qualitative and quantitative methods and chronometry, to compare the performance of two groups of people (neophytes vs. acquainted VR users). The results show that performances are not better for skilled VR users, they depend on multiple factors such as analogy with IRL hand gestures, knowledge, and expectations inherited from video-games… This study could help game designers and researchers, both with UX and UI to enhance HT interaction design in VR.

The Repressive Policies of the Communist Regime: Bulgarian Muslims and Communal Memory

2025-11-10T09:41:07+00:00

This article examines the chronology of the assimilation policies and the attempt to erase the group religious identity of the Pomak population in the Rhodope Mountains. Also included are short excerpts from the accounts of a small number of people who recount family memories of the trauma of the largest assimilation campaign in Communist Bulgaria.

The Relation between Moral Responsibility and Moral Luck

2025-11-10T09:47:19+00:00

This article is an overview of the relationship between moral responsibility and moral luck, two concepts in moral philosophy. Moral responsibility refers to an individual’s accountability for their actions, while moral luck highlights how factors beyond one’s control can influence moral judgments. The paradox of moral luck challenges the traditional understanding of moral responsibility, leading to significant philosophical debates. By examining various perspectives, including those of Aristotle, Kant, and contemporary philosophers like Bernard Williams and Thomas Nagel, the paper analyzes how moral luck complicates notions of justice and fairness in moral evaluation. Ultimately, the article proposes a reevaluation or replacement of these concepts to better align with real-world complexities.