Between Reality and Myths: Discourse to Occidentalism. Cross-Cultural Reflections and Contiguity Experience.

The issue of national identity study is considered through the lens of such concepts as globalism and Europeanness. Now this aspect of self-conscience is being articulated and discussed especially actively in Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and other scientific reflections. In this regard, the theme of the image of Europe and its derivative concept of Europeanness as a kind of code which is present in these national literatures is actualized. Outlined by the author the receptive image of intuitive Europe which is modified by different models of national mentality is of general importance. For an insight on clearer formation of the image of Europe the author gives examples of its presence in national literatures. Addressing Ukrainian, Polish, Russian scientific reflections the author transforms the issue of intercultural dialogue in the context of national-European into the issue of polylogue of receptive models of identity in a West-East paradigm.

Jedną z ważnych kategorii pedagogicznych jest kategoria Innego. Może ona być rozpatrywana jako doświadczanie Inności oraz jako relacja z Innym. W artykule podejmuję refleksję nad doświadczeniem inności przez rodziców dzieci z niepełnosprawnością. Zastanawiam się nad źródłem tego doświadczenia. Przedstawiam także teoretyczne wzorce adaptacji inności przez rodziców – procesu przyjęcia niepełnosprawności.

W ostatnich dekadach termin „dialog”, jako kategoria komunikacyjna, jest używany bardzo często; rzec można, że nadużywany. Wraz z intensyfikacją procesów migracji i upowszechnianiem się zjawiska wielokulturowości ugruntowuje się przekonanie o jego ważności i niezbędności. Owo powszechne użycie dialogu sprawia, że zatraca on swoją pojęciową ostrość i znaczeniową precyzję. Używany przez wszystkich, wszędzie i na każdą okoliczność coraz częściej staje się synonimem zwykłej rozmowy, a nawet kłótni. Uznano zatem za właściwe poszukiwanie na gruncie filozofii spotkania ram organizujących strukturę dialogu i warunków, które winny być spełnione, by zgodnie z wolą Martina Bubera mówić o dialogu autentycznym. W tekście starano się wykazać, jak istotna w dialogicznym kontakcie z Innym jest postawa etyczna, rozumiana jako źródłowy fundament porozumienia z drugim człowiekiem. Dialog jest ukazany jako forma trudna i wymagająca, a jednocześnie możliwa i konieczna.

The presented paper is based on extensive multivariate studies conducted in some academic centres of Poland which differ in location (the centre - the borderland) and socio-economic potential. What prevails in the theoretical sphere are references to studies in the area of social psychology of development and to the idea of constructivism. The research results provide a lot of information on teacher education. On the basis of the conducted diagnoses, four dimensions of learning are indicated by the author (identity of the professional role, experiences in relations with the Other, practice, social participation) as well as the process of cogeneration. This constitutes a thought provoking material, which encourages changes in contents and methods (in the current model) of training teachers. Such an approach to teacher education seems appropriate and needed, in compliance with the critical-creative view on educational reality and striving for positive solutions to social (thus also educational) problems. The study enriches knowledge in the field of pedeutology, intercultural education, and some other areas of pedagogy (as a scientific discipline) and education (as a space of social life).

Dehumanization of the Other. The role of popular art in raising awareness of the problem. The case of Men Against Fire (2016)

Dehumanization is – in the broadest sense – the process of depriving a person of positive human qualities. This problem, considered mainly in the field of social psychology, has strong pedagogical significance. The article is aimed to show the potential importance of popular art for intercultural education, precisely: to show the role that popular art can play in raising the awareness of the problem posed by dehumanization of the Other. To achieve the intended goal, the author indicates the justified presence of popular art in education, introduces the concept of the Other, i.e. a person who is beyond the horizon of a given person’s experience, who is outside a given community or is cognitively dangerous, and outlines the issue of dehumanization. The exemplification was conducted on the example of the episode of the British science fiction series Black Mirror – Men Against Fire (2016). The considerations are carried out from the perspective of contemporary aesthetic education, which refers conceptually to the Polish theory of aesthetic education. Humanistically oriented, contemporary aesthetic education must be conducted in the vein of pluralism and interculturalism; it should also contribute to the development of a person’s holistic personality: from their aesthetic sensitivity and moral orientation, to their ability of critical thinking and creativity. In the article, the possibilities are indicated of using popular art in education by building theoretical interpretive contexts.

Taming the Other by theatre – the case of the project “NIEW(INNY)”

The aim of the article is to show the potential of theatrical art in intercultural education, and more specifically in the process of taming the broadly understood Otherness. The first part of the study presents the conceptual categories: the Other and the Stranger in the perspective of intercultural education. The intercultural intentions of art are also characterized, with particular focus on theatre and emphasizing the role of theatre activities in developing attitudes of tolerance towards cultural diversity. The most important features of theatre allowing for the recognition of theatre as an effective and attractive tool for intercultural education were indicated. The second part of the study is related to educational practice, as it is a record of an original theatre project addressed to primary school students, aimed at sensitizing to cultural differences. As part of the project, a spectacle dealing with the issues of various dimensions of Strangeness / Otherness (biological, economic, cultural, geophysical, mental) was realized, emphasizing their relativity and contextuality. There were also theatrical and intercultural workshops referring to the performance and to developing the attitude of tolerance with the use of such theatrical techniques as: movement games, drama, theatre improvisation, voice games with theatrical intention.

Spirit of hikesia and education. A contribution to the pedagogical concept of asylum

In our cultural circle, the right to asylum derives its traditions from both legislation and religion, leads one’s attention to ancient times and the institutions of the Egyptians, Hebrews and Greeks. Moreover, it combines the issues of otherness, inclusion, persecution, suffering, fragility, duty, responsibility for the Other, as well as justice, hospitality, shelter and holiness. The importance of asylum, the growth of which in the 20th century was related to the European crimes of colonialism, the terror of totalitarianisms, the Holocaust, ethnic cleansing, the fate of refugees and stateless people, does not diminish in the face of the wars and disasters of the 21st century. In this context, the question of how one can link the issue of asylum to education seems legitimate. In relation to this question, the essay focuses attention on the concepts of Emmanuel Levinas, Jacques Derrida and Patrick Declerck, drawing on various traditions of asylum and thinking about hospitality that have contributed to shaping the foundations of European educational and aid institutions. Using the achievements of these important traditions for the Western humanities and the concepts of the above-mentioned philosophers, I would like to point out the need to think about educational spaces in the perspective of asylum pedagogy.