Ecocriticism, Cultural Ecology, and Literary Studies

Key words: German ecocriticism, cultural ecology, Peter Finke, Gregory Bateson, cultural ecosystem, cultural self-renewal, Turkish ecocriticism, discursive representation Ecocriticism is gaining increasing international recognition as a field of research that opens up new perspectives reaffirming the relevance and responsibility of the humanities, in an age of pressing social and political problems seemingly incapable of purely technological and economic solutions. Many of its most significant practitioners in Germany subscribe to the theory of Cultural Ecology. Drawing on the ideas of Gregory Bateson, Peter Finke and others, Cultural Ecology presents a new framework for understanding the particular contribution of literature and art to our general social knowledge, including knowledge about our relationship with the natural environment.  Palabras clave: ecocrítica alemana, ecología cultural, Peter Finke, Gregory Bateson, ecosistema cultural, renacimiento cultural, ecocrítica turca, representación discursiva La ecocrítica está obteniendo cada vez más reconocimiento internacional como un campo de investigación que establece nuevas perspectivas que reafirman la relevancia y la responsabilidad de las humanidades en una era de problemas políticos y sociales urgentes que, aparentemente, no encuentran solución puramente tecnológica ni económica. Muchos de sus profesionales más importantes en Alemania se adhieren a la teoría de la Ecología Cultural. Valiéndose de las ideas de Gregory Bateson, Peter Finke y otros, se ha desarrollado un nuevo marco para entender la contribución particular de la literatura y del arte a nuestro conocimiento social general, incluyendo el conocimiento sobre nuestra relación con el entorno natural

Literature as Cultural Ecology

This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. Drawing on the latest debates in ecocritical theory and sustainability studies, Literature as Cultural Ecology: Sustainable Texts outlines a new approach to the reading of literary texts. Hubert Zapf considers the ways in which literature operates as a form of cultural ecology, using language, imagination and critique to challenge and transform cultural narratives of humanity’s relationship to nature. In this way, the book demonstrates the important role that literature plays in creating a more sustainable way of life. Applying this approach to works by writers such as Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, Zakes Mda, and Amitav Ghosh, Literature as Cultural Ecology is an essential contribution to the contemporary environmental humanities

Exploring the impact of workplace cyberbullying on trainee doctors

Objectives: Workplace bullying is an occupational hazard for trainee doctors. However, little is known about their experiences of cyberbullying at work. This study examines the impact of cyberbullying among trainee doctors, and how attributions of blame for cyberbullying influence individual and work-related outcomes. Methods: Doctors at over 6 months into training were asked to complete an online survey that included measures of cyberbullying, blame attribution, negative emotion, job satisfaction, interactional justice and mental strain. A total of 158 trainee doctors (104 women, 54 men) completed the survey. Results: Overall, 73 (46.2%) respondents had experienced at least one act of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying adversely impacted on job satisfaction (β = − 0.19; p < 0.05) and mental strain (β = 0.22; p < 0.001), although attributions of blame for the cyberbullying influenced its impact and the path of mediation. Negative emotion mediated the relationship between self-blame for a cyber-bullying act and mental strain, whereas interactional injustice mediated the association between blaming the perpetrator and job dissatisfaction. Conclusions: Acts of cyberbullying had been experienced by nearly half of the sample during their training and were found to significantly relate to ill health and job dissatisfaction. The deleterious impact of cyberbullying can be addressed through both workplace policies, and training for trainee doctors and experienced medical professionals

Senior Entrepreneurship: The Unrevealed Driver for Social Innovation

From a political and economic perspective, senior entrepreneurship seems to be the response to the demographic consequences of the aging workforce in Europe. Several policies and strategies by the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) promote senior entrepreneurship by creating a favorable environment and frameworks. This article examines the role of senior entrepreneurship as a social innovation understood as a response to unmet needs of population aging in the area of economic activity. In this paper draws on qualitative interviews with 6 experts and 4 senior entrepreneurs (as part of a larger research project) in Poland in addition to the analysis of reports and evaluations of incubator projects. Findings highlight the importance of other factors than financial sustainability of senior entrepreneurship: (1) social connectedness as a means against social isolation, (2) personal self-confidence leading to social and psychological empowerment of the entrepreneurs, and (3) skills, knowledge, and experience that are also strengthening their human capital in the job market. Economic sustainability of the businesses established is not the primary goal in these undertakings. The article suggests that due to the three factors before mentioned that the notion of social innovation in senior entrepreneurship might best be understood as improving the well-being and quality of life of the entrepreneurs themselves. Senior entrepreneurship can be an adequate response to the challenges of the aging population. However, due to the low rates of unemployment, the idea of becoming a senior entrepreneur appears a little tempting

Vorbild Amerika? Anmerkungen zum Vergleich des deutschen und des amerikanischen Hochschulsystems ; Vortrag von Prof. Dr. Hubert Zapf bei der Promotionsfeier der Universität Augsburg am 16. November 2007

Vortrag von Prof. Dr. Hubert Zapf bei der Promotionsfeier der Universität Augsburg am 16. November 2007