Author: bforum1992@gmail.com

Kristina Popova Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences [kristina.popova@iefem.bas.bg] ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2825-7938

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BOOK REVIEW

A METAPHOR FOR TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS OR INHUMANE SLAUGHTER? CHICAGO SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN CULTURE

Abstract: The book Slaughterhouse and Cultural Poetics: The Union Stockyards of Chicago in American and European Literature, Science, and Popular Culture by Katerina Krusheva sets out to reveal the dynamics and contradictions of the cultural meanings associated with the Chicago Stockyards. It analyzes an extensive corpus of travel accounts, memoirs, novels, and other literary works, as well as a wide range of visual sources – including photographs, advertisements, postcards, guidebooks, and comics – produced over a period of more than 150 years. This is a monumental scholarly achievement that traces the cultural representations of the Chicago Stockyards across different historical periods and through diverse literary and cultural discourses. Integrating literary texts, visual culture, and scholarly writing into a coherent analytical framework, Krusheva situates these representations within their broader social, political, and national contexts, while also exploring their gendered dimensions. Throughout the study, she illuminates both the shared patterns and the distinctive features that characterize European and American perspectives on the Chicago Stockyards.

Keywords: Slaughterhouse, Chicago, literature, popular culture.

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
• Source of Funding: ERC Project “Taming the European Leviathan: The Legacy of Post-War Medicine and the Common Good”. The project has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 854503).

Rayna Gavrilova Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (Bulgaria) [rayna.gavrilova@gmail.com]

Download https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20964815

BOOK REVIEW

REFLECTIONS ON A NEW ANTHROPOLOGICAL STUDY OF BULGARIAN KINSHIP

Abstract: This review presents a two-volume study devoted to kinship and its institutions in Bulgarian pre-industrial culture. Bringing together extensive ethnographic, historical, and ethnological material, the work offers a comprehensive analysis of one of the central themes of anthropology – kinship and its social organization. The authors examine the structures of blood and marital kinship (Vol. 1), as well as fictive and ritual kinship, including adoption, ritual brotherhood, and godparenthood (Vol. 2). Covering the period from the late eighteenth century to the early decades of the twentieth century, the study synthesizes decades of research on Bulgarian kinship and provides a valuable contribution to the anthropology and ethnology of Southeast Europe. Particular attention is paid to the typology, functions, and sociocultural significance of kinship relations, revealing both their historical continuity and their role in structuring community life.

Keywords: kinship; Bulgarian kinship; blood kinship; ritual kinship; fictive kinship; family structure; social organization.

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ina Dimitrova Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski” (Bulgaria) [ina.d.dimitrova@gmail.com] ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5227-915X

Download https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20964751

BOOK REVIEW

OUTSIDE, INSIDE, IN BETWEEN: RETHINKING THE SOCIALIST SUBJECT

Abstract: This review reads the special issue through the problem of the relationship between human beings and their environments. It proposes a three-part typology distinguishing between environments that shape behaviour from the outside, environments that become internalised through habit and discipline, and environments that are constitutive of cognition itself. By tracing these overlapping modes of subject formation, the essay highlights the broader conceptual contribution of the special issue to debates on socialist modernity, subjectivity, and the making of persons.

Keywords: socialist modernity; environment; subject formation; governmentality; 4E cognition.

Review of the special issue, Bulgarian Historical Review, (Vol. 53, Issue 3, 2025).

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Milena Angelova New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria) [mangelova74@yahoo.com] ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0208-1989

Download https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20964689

BOOK REVIEW

RITUALS OF MENTORSHIP: POWER AND CONSECRATION IN THE LITERARY FIELD OF COMMUNIST BULGARIA

Abstract: This review examines Plamen Doynov’s “Mentors and Geniuses: Three Rituals in the Literary Field of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria: Meetings with the Leader – Self-Criticism – Conversations with the Young” (2025) as a significant contribution to the study of the literary field in communist Bulgaria. It explores how, through three key rituals ‒ meetings with the Leader, self-criticism sessions, and conversations with young writers and poets ‒ the book reconstructs the mechanisms of legitimation, discipline, and reproduction that structured the cultural life of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria. The review interprets mentorship not merely as a literary or pedagogical practice, but as a specific technology of cultural power through which authority, literary careers, and forms of belonging were shaped and sustained. Particular attention is devoted to Doynov’s ability to combine archival precision with sensitivity to human experience, reconstructing not only the institutional mechanisms of socialist culture but also the world in which they were lived and inhabited. In this sense, Mentors and Geniuses moves beyond the boundaries of literary history and emerges as an important study of ritual, authority, memory, and the lived experience of the literary field under the communist regime.

Keywords: Plamen Doynov; literary field; People’s Republic of Bulgaria; mentorship; literary generations; self-criticism; cultural power; patronage; memory; rituals.

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Miguel Ángel Gómez Mendoza Pereira Technological University (Colombia) [mgomez@utp.edu.co] ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6152-3759

Download https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20964556

BOOK REVIEW

BETWEEN MEMORY, HISTORY, AND NOSTALGIA: LIFE STORIES FROM COMMUNISM

Abstract: This review examines Claudia-Florentina Dobre’s book „Life Stories from Communism: Repression and Everyday Life“ (2025), a collection of twenty-one oral history testimonies reflecting on life under Romanian communism. The review situates the volume within contemporary debates on memory, nostalgia, and the communist past in post-socialist Eastern Europe. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between repression and everyday life, the diversity of personal experiences, and the role of life stories in shaping individual and collective memories. The book is discussed as an important contribution to oral history, memory studies, and the social history of communism, offering nuanced perspectives on the ways people remember, interpret, and narrate their lives under a dictatorial regime.

Keywords:  communism; oral history; memory; nostalgia; everyday life; repression; Romania; life stories; collective memory; post-communism.

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Kakha Tavdgiridze Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Batumi (Georgia) [kakha.tavdgiridze@bsu.edu.ge] ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2648-9794

Download https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20964485

THE “LOST GENERATION” AS A DISCURSIVE OUTCOME OF VERBAL AGGRESSION

Abstract:The article examines the phenomenon of verbal aggression in contemporary public and youth communication and its role in shaping the notion of the so-called “lost generation.” The theoretical framework of the study is grounded in Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of speech genres, according to which language is realized through historically formed and socially conditioned communicative forms. The analysis demonstrates that aggressive discursive practices, widely disseminated in media, political discourse, and digital communication, are gradually normalized within primary, everyday speech genres and significantly influence the linguistic socialization of younger generations.

The study draws on key theoretical classifications of verbal aggression proposed by Arnold Buss and Yulia Shcherbinina, enabling the identification and functional interpretation of various forms of aggression, including active and passive, direct and indirect, as well as explicit and implicit manifestations. It is argued that verbal aggression can no longer be viewed as an individual or incidental deviation from communicative norms but rather as a socially legitimized communicative strategy employed for self-assertion, dominance, and emotional release.The findings suggest that the normalization of aggressive speech leads to the erosion of dialogic communication, a decline in empathy and communicative responsibility, and the strengthening of conflict-oriented interactional models. Within this framework, the concept of the “lost generation” is interpreted not as a deterministic label but as a discursive warning that points to the potential erosion of linguistic culture and dialogic sensitivity. The article concludes that understanding verbal aggression as a social and pragmatic phenomenon is essential for critically assessing contemporary communicative practices and for developing alternative, ethically grounded, and dialogically oriented models of interaction.

Keywords:  verbal aggression; youth communication; aggressive discourse; “lost generation”.

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Asmat Ardzenadze Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (Georgia) [asmat.ardzenadze@bsu.edu.ge], ORCID ID: 0009-0009-5905-2298 Nana Kajaia Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (Georgia) [nana.kajaia@bsu.edu.ge], ORCID ID: 0009-0002-1102-9039

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VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN’S SOCIAL AND CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN 20^TH-CENTURY ADJARA: PHOTOGRAPHY AS A SOCIOCULTURAL TEXT

Abstract:This article examines the social and cultural transformation of Muslim women in twentieth-century Adjara through the analysis of family and archival photographs. Drawing on approaches from visual anthropology, cultural memory studies, and the sociology of photography, the study treats photographs not merely as illustrations of the past but as historical sources that reveal changing forms of female identity, social roles, and visual representation. The analysis focuses on three chronological periods: the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the era of Soviet modernization, and the late Soviet period. Particular attention is paid to clothing, bodily posture, visual self-presentation, and the relationship between women and public space. The photographic material reflects a gradual transformation from traditionally regulated forms of female visibility toward new modes of social participation and self-representation. At the same time, the images reveal the coexistence of continuity and change, showing how religious and cultural traditions persisted alongside processes of modernization. The article argues that photography provides valuable evidence for reconstructing women’s everyday experiences and for understanding the broader social and cultural transformations that shaped twentieth-century Adjara.

Keywords: photography; Muslim women of Adjara; cultural memory; visual studies.

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Violeta Kotseva Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (Bulgaria) [vkkoceva@uni-sofia.bg], ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9573-7926 Kremena Iordanova Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (Bulgaria) [kremena.yordanova@uni-sofia.bg], ORCID ID: 0009-0003-5247-5139

Download https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20964194

BULGARIANS IN NORWAY. STORIES OF ADAPTATION AND/OR ISOLATION

Abstract:The article traces the formation and development of the Bulgarian community in Oslo, Kingdom of Norway. It explores a current issue within the broader topic of Bulgarian communities abroad. The analysis examines the specific characteristics of the Bulgarian community in Oslo in the context of the conditions in Scandinavian countries ‒ such as limited accessibility (in terms of language, culture, geographical distance, and the lack of year-round direct flights), as well as climatic and geographic challenges (cold climate, few hours of sunlight, white nights), an internationally less-known national language, specifics related to foreign students, among others. These factors shape the strategies for adaptation and integration (or isolation and encapsulation) into the host society. The timing of the study also allows for an analysis of the changes that occurred after the COVID-19 crisis and the cultural responses of the Bulgarian community in Oslo. The research was conducted using classical methods from the fields of ethnology and cultural anthropology in June 2024 ‒ such as participant observation, interviews, and autobiographical narratives. Throughout the analysis, and in relation to the specific context, the concept of “community” and the sense of belonging to one is discussed. In this regard, the various expressions of identity observed in the field are examined ‒ ncluding those based on country of origin, ethnic affiliation, level of integration into the host society, as well as supranational and transnational identities.

Keywords:  Bulgarian diaspora; migration; community; adaptation; identity; generations; Norway.

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
• Source of Funding: This research was funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, project SUMMIT BG-RRP-2.004-0008-C01

Nevena Dimitrova Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences [nevenaddimitrova@gmail.com]

Download https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20964117

AGEING AND POWER IN SPORT: INTERSECTIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON WOMEN, AGEISM, AND GENERATIONAL STEREOTYPES: WOMEN IN RUGBY

Abstract:This paper examines how ageism and sexism intersect to shape the experiences, visibility, and value of women in sport, with particular attention to women in rugby. While male athletes often benefit from narratives of longevity, leadership, and accumulated expertise, women face early devaluation, intensified scrutiny of their ageing bodies, and structural barriers that shorten their athletic and professional trajectories. These dynamics are especially evident in rugby, a sport historically associated with masculinity, physical strength, and endurance, where women athletes frequently encounter gendered expectations regarding bodily appearance, performance, and age-appropriate participation. From a cultural perspective, women’s bodies are produced, monitored, and evaluated within shifting institutional and aesthetic frameworks, revealing how ageism in sport functions as a form of embodied governance. In rugby, where athletic value is closely linked to physical capacity and resilience, ageing female athletes frequently confront assumptions about decline that are not applied with the same intensity to men. Media and cultural narratives continue to construct female athletes through stereotypes and prejudices, privileging youth, attractiveness, and narrowly defined femininity while overlooking the expertise, leadership, and sporting capital accumulated with age. This paper argues that ageism in sport is not a biological inevitability but a socially constructed process that reinforces gender inequality. Through the example of women in rugby, it demonstrates how ageing is shaped by institutional practices, cultural narratives, and gendered expectations rather than by physical change alone. Addressing ageism in sport therefore requires an intersectional understanding of how age, gender, embodiment, and cultural narratives shape womens’ opportunities, recognition, and participation across the lifespan.

Keywords: ageism; women in rugby; generational stereotypes; sexism in sport.

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
• Source of Funding: Project ‘Society, Sport and Integration’, funded by Bulgarian National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science (contract agreement No. КП-06-Н75/14 from December 15, 2023).

Imeri Basiladze Akaki Tsereteli State University, Kutaisi (Georgia) [imeri.basiladze@atsu.edu.ge], ORCID ID: 0009-0009-3728-9999 Lela Tavdgiridze Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (Georgia) [lela.tavdgiridze@bsu.edu.ge], ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8108-8718 Maia Bolkvadze Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (Georgia) [maia.bolkvadze@bsu.edu.ge], ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4041-5871

Download https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20963986

HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE POLITICIZATION OF PEDAGOGICAL EDUCATION IN SOVIET GEORGIA (1921–1932)

Abstract:This article examines the politicization of pedagogical education in Soviet Georgia between 1921 and 1932, focusing on the transformation of educational thought under Bolshevik rule. Drawing on archival materials, government decrees, pedagogical textbooks, and works by Georgian and international educators, the study explores how Soviet ideological imperatives reshaped educational policies, teaching methods, and pedagogical theory. Particular attention is paid to the adaptation and reinterpretation of American and European educational models, including the ideas of John Dewey, within the Soviet ideological framework. The article argues that the early Soviet period was characterized by intensive pedagogical experimentation; however, these innovations gradually became subordinated to Marxist-Leninist ideology and political objectives. The study demonstrates that the increasing politicization of education contributed to the centralization of educational governance, the marginalization of alternative pedagogical approaches, and the establishment of a unified Soviet educational model aimed at shaping the “new Soviet citizen”. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between education, ideology, and nation-building in Soviet Georgia during the formative decades of Soviet rule.

Keywords:   Soviet Georgia; politicization of education; Soviet pedagogy; educational reforms; ideology; pedagogical textbooks.

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• Declaration by Authors
• Ethical Approval: Approved
• Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.