Suchergebnisse

THE WORLD IS ERECTED BY STORIES. THEY WEAVE THE SEAMLESS WEB OF THE CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT. THE STORIES USED TO BE HAND CRAFTED, HOME MADE, COMMUNITY INSPIRED. NOW THEY ARE MOSTLY MASS PRODUCED AND POLICY DRIVEN, THE RESULT OF A COMPLEX MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING PROCESS KNOWN AS THE MASS MEDIA. THIS SITUATION CALLS FOR A NEW DIAGNOSIS AND A NEW PRESCRIPTION.

Discusses interpersonal violence against transsexual, transgendered, and cross-dressing persons as a form of "gender terrorism" motivated by perceived need to maintain a system in which males dominate females and in which the lines between genders must be rigidly maintained; US.

THE AUTHOR ACCEPTS STEPHEN WALT'S CALL FOR INTELLECTUAL TOLERANCE. NONETHELESS, HE REJECTS HIS POINT OF VIEW THAT LOGICAL INCONSISTENCY IS A PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID FOR SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT. WITHOUT A LOGICALLY CONSISTENT THEORETICAL STRUCTURE TO EXPLAIN THEM, EMPIRICAL OBSERVATIONS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO EVALUATE; WITHOUT A LOGICALLY CONSISTENT THEORETICAL STRUCTURE TO CONSTRAIN THEM, ORIGINAL AND CREATIVE THEORIES ARE OF LIMITED UTILITY; AND WITHOUT A LOGICALLY CONSISTENT ARGUMENT TO SUPPORT THEM, EVEN ENTIRELY LAUDABLE CONCLUSIONS, SUCH AS WALT'S LOSE MUCH OF THEIR INTELLECTUAL FORCE.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE HAS BEEN PART OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL EXPERIENCE SINCE THE COUNTRY BEGAN. TODAY, PEOPLE ARE FACED WITH THE POSSIBILITY AND REALITY OF A NEW, HYBRID FORM OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE KNOWN AS ELECTRONIC CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE (ECD). A FUSION OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY WITH THE MORE TRADITIONAL FORMS OF AMERICAN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE HAS CREATED NEW ELECTRONIC AND DIGITAL VARIETIES OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE THAT TAKE PLACE ON THE NET OR IN THE MATRIX. IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPLORE THESE NEW FORMS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF MORE TRADITIONAL ACTIONS. PEOPLE HAVE ONLY BEGUN TO REALIZE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF HOW COMPUTERS WILL CHANGE POLITICAL ACTIVISM.

WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER IN LATE MAY 1999, TWO EVENTS OCCURRED IN ASIA THAT MARKED THE CLOSING OF THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY KNOWN AS THE "POST-COLD-WAR ERA:" THE JAPANESE DIET'S FINAL PASSAGE OF NEW DEFENSE GUIDELINES WITH WASHINGTON AND THE PHILIPPINE SENATE'S APPROVAL OF A "VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT" WITH THE UNITED STATES. THESE TWO DEVELOPMENTS ARE CHARGED WITH SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE THEY REAFFIRM THE STATUS OF OFFSHORE EAST ASIA AS A U.S. MILITARY PROTECTORATE. IN FACT, CHINA'S AMBIVALENCE ABOUT THE U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE HAS RESULTED IN A RESURGENCE IN U.S. UNILATERALISM. IT SEEMS THAT AMERICAN UNILATERALISM, UNDER THE GUISE OF A "MULTILATERAL" ARRANGEMENT OR PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY.

An examination of the impact of sports on the rise & fall of political/social systems focuses on the role of sports in the former German Democratic Republic's (GDR's) construction of a national identity. It is shown that the GDR's inclusion of sports history in national events resulted in the cultural production of a mass historical consciousness. Linking the past & present with a socialist history legitimated the government; however, past events were chosen selectively so as not to connect the era with disgraced regimes. The process of Traditionspflege is described as the selection, production, maintenance, & promotion of historical "traditions" for the purpose of making history more widely available to the public. Sports history was considered an important part of the process because sport clubs/groups were ideal environments for political education, & sporting events provided an excellent setting for emphasizing GDR revolutionary traditions. Ceremonies surrounding wrestler Werner Seelenbinder, who was executed in a WWII concentration camp, are explored as an important element of the ideological education of East German citizens. J. Lindroth

Examines the Olympic Games of ancient Greece in terms of the ideals of "international understanding, brotherhood, & peace" expressed by the founder of the modern Olympic movement. It is maintained that the ancient games, which were a sports & religious festival as well as a trade fair, generated a sense of unity among independent city states. However, the national games totally excluded foreigners until after the Roman conquest, emphasizing the suspicious & closed nature of Greek society. An examination of the extent to which the ancient games promoted peace indicates that they were merely a temporary truce that allowed people to travel to & from the site safely. Wars were continued immediately following the armistice period surrounding the games. The Greek association between the ideals of sport & war is discussed, suggesting that the games were considered both a preparation for war & part of military training, in addition to being an integral part of Greek life that was deeply embedded in their culture. J. Lindroth

VARIOUS STUDIES HAVE CONCLUDED THAT NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMING IN THE U.S. EXHIBIT BIASES THAT DERIVE FROM THE MASS MEDIA'S INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES. MEDIA CONTENT IS INFLUENCED BY INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS SUCH AS THE MEDIA'S PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, ITS DEPENDENCY ON ADVERTISERS, AND THE INDUSTRY'S CONCENTRATION. LOCAL AND NONPROFIT RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECT MEDIA ACCESS THAT HAS BEEN UNDERUTILIZED IN THE UNITED STATES. BY REDUCING UNDERUTILIZATION, THAT IS, BY MAKING MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF EXISTING ALTERNATIVE MEDIA INSTITUTIONS, GREATER PROGRAMMING DIVERSITY IS POSSIBLE.