USB Journals (Univ. Köln)
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AI survival stories, types of risk, and the precautionary principle
No full textCappelen, Goldstein, and Hawthorne’s article offers a refreshing new perspective on questions of AI safety. Debates over AI and existential risk standardly start from a background assumption of humanity’s continued survival, and then reason about the probability of catastrophic outcomes. This paper, by contrast, flips that mode of reasoning on its head: a decision-maker should start from the assumption that powerful AI systems will destroy humanity, and then reason about the different outcomes in which humanity is saved from such an existential threat. Doing so enables us to better partition the space of possible events in which saving occurs, and so to come to more justified probabilities of humanity being saved. The article also illustrates the value of this approach by defending particular claims about promising paths to avert existential risk. To do so, it puts forth a model that different parties to the debate can use to calculate the probability that humanity is destroyed. The authors also defend a number of claims about the most likely mechanisms for realizing each of the four survival stories.
Gender and language use in Macau, 16th – 19th century
No full textThis contribution traces the impact of gender (roles) in the dynamics of language genesis and shift in Macau, focusing on the city’s creole community. The hypothesis on which I elaborate is that most Asian, African, and Eurasian women living in the Portuguese-ruled part of Macau from the 16th to the 19th century found themselves in a social position that was out of the norm – a fact reflected in their language use. During this period, these women’s access to normative language use was systematically impeded by factors such as gender and ethnic origin. Considering these factors, I reconstruct the interrelatedness of speakers’ social position and communicative behaviour. To this end, I analyse metalinguistic data, such as glottonyms, metalinguistic statements, and descriptions of diverse types of speakers. I mostly rely on Portuguese and Macau Creole texts (henceforth: Maquista), which I approach within a framework informed by linguistic anthropology and historical sociolinguistics, with special regard to gender
...celles qui ne rêvent que d’une chose: être libérées et s’affranchir du voile...: Unravelling the discursive dynamics of sign making in the French Senate’s debates on the hijab and the burkini
No full textThis contribution is concerned with the discourse on the hijab and the burkini within the French Senate. It explores the processes leading to the construction of these garments as socially meaningful signs and their implications for the discursive construction of “the Muslim woman.” For this purpose, a corpus containing 18 debates regarding legislation on wearing a hijab or a burkini, held in the French Sen- ate between 2018 and 2023, was compiled and analyzed, drawing from an intersectional approach that takes into consideration both gender and religious adherence. The analysis reveals that the hijab and the burkini are constructed as indexical signs of an affiliation to Islam in general, but also to a specific politico-religious ideology and as an instrument to impose this ideology. The depiction of alleged “Islamic” values – most notably gender inequality – standing in sharp contrast with “French” values suggests a need for France to defend “its” values against the perceived threat posed by Islam and/or Islamism (with the distinction between the two often being blurred), for which restrictions on wearing a hijab and a burkini seem to be the solution. From this, two images of hijab/burkini-wearing women are constructed: the oppressed woman suffering from (Muslim) patriarchy and unable to protect herself, and the militant woman refusing to take off the hijab or the burkini, thereby imposing her ideology on others. In the debates about the hijab, another image of the Muslim woman is drawn as a positive counterexample to and as a model for hijab-wearing women: the emancipated woman who has “freed” herself from the hijab. Both images of hijab/burkini-wearing women are depicted as deviating from Western norms or conventions of female behavior, either for not being emancipated or for not acting in a moderate way. Hence, Muslim women are othered, due to being both Muslim and female. In this reasoning, the only way to be accepted as French appears to be to remove the hijab/the burkini, that is, to fully assimilate and thus conform to Western conventions
Socialization from a degrowth perspective: Social-ecological crises in the housing sector and their potential resolution through socialization and degrowth approaches
No full textDiese Arbeit untersucht die sozial-ökologischen Krisen im deutschen Wohnsektor und analysiert deren mögliche Bearbeitung durch eine Verbindung von Vergesellschaftungsstrategien und Postwachstumsansätzen. Ausgangspunkt ist die Analyse, dass aktuelle politische Maßnahmen, wie beispielsweise der Neubau, die Mietpreisbremse und energetische Modernisierungen, weder die soziale Wohnraumkrise effektiv entschärfen noch ökologische Zielsetzungen ausreichend voranbringen. Vielmehr verschärfen sie institutionalisierte Zielkonflikte, indem sie soziale und ökologische Probleme auf Kosten der jeweils anderen zu lösen versuchen. Hierzu werden zunächst die sozialen und ökologischen Dynamiken des Wohnsektors sowie deren wechselseitige Verstärkungen herausgearbeitet.
Als zentral für diese Dynamiken wird die kapitalistisch warenförmige Organisationsform von Wohnraum mit ihrer profitorientierten Verwertungslogik und Eigentumsverhältnissen herausgearbeitet. Hierfür wird vor dem theoretischen Hintergrund der Politischen Ökonomie des Wohnens der Einfluss der Finanzialisierung im Wohnsektor auf soziale und ökologische Krisen analysiert. Dem gegenübergestellt werden Formen dekommodifizierter Wohnraumversorgung und ihre Auswirkungen auf soziale und ökologische Krisen.
Anschließend werden Analysen zu strukturellen Wachstumszwängen und Strategien aus den Postwachstumsansätzen diskutiert, um die sozial-ökologischen Krisen im Wohnsektor zu bearbeiten. Dazu gehören Umverteilung, die Reduktion der Pro-Kopf-Wohnfläche, Bauen im Bestand, Energiesuffizienz, kollektive Wohnformen und Demokratisierung.
Darauf aufbauend wird die Initiative Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignen (DWE) als Fallbeispiel untersucht. Das Konzept von DWE wird auf die Potenziale einer Kombination mit Postwachstumsansätzen hin analysiert und die möglichen Auswirkungen dieser Zusammenführung auf sozial-ökologische Krisen im Wohnsektor überprüft.
Die Arbeit kommt zu dem Schluss, dass die Ergänzung des Vergesellschaftungskonzepts von DWE durch Postwachstumsansätze ein komplementäres Transformationspotenzial entfalten könnte. Auf diese Weise könnten sowohl soziale als auch ökologische Aspekte der aktuellen Krisen vielversprechend bearbeitet werden. Gleichzeitig zeigt die Arbeit, dass dies kein Automatismus wäre, da die demokratischen Entscheidungsstrukturen im Vergesellschaftungskonzept die Ergebnisse der demokratischen Prozesse nicht voraussagen lassen und zudem im Punkt Neubau bisher unterschiedliche Positionen bei DWE und in Postwachstumsansätzen bestehen.This paper examines the socio-ecological crises in the German housing sector and analyzes their potential resolution through a combination of socialization strategies and degrowth approaches. The starting point is the observation that current political measures, such as new construction, the so called Mietpreisbremse, and energy-efficient modernization, neither effectively alleviate the housing crisis nor sufficiently advance ecological goals. Instead, they exacerbate institutionalized goal conflicts by attempting to solve social and ecological problems at the expense of one another. To address this, the paper first elaborates on the social and ecological dynamics of the housing sector and their mutual reinforcement.
Central to these dynamics is the commodified, profit-oriented organization of housing under capitalist property relations. Against the theoretical backdrop of the political economy of housing, the paper analyzes the influence of financialization in the housing sector on social and ecological crises. This is contrasted with forms of decommodified housing provision and their impacts on these crises.
The paper then discusses structural growth imperatives and strategies from degrowth approaches that aim to address socio-ecological crises in the housing sector. These include redistribution, the reduction of per-capita living space, building within existing structures, energy sufficiency, collective housing models, and democratization.
Building on this, the initiative Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignen (DWE) is examined as a case study. The DWE concept is analyzed in terms of its potential for combination with degrowth strategies and the possible effects of this synthesis on socio-ecological crises in the housing sector.
The paper concludes that complementing the socialization concept of DWE with degrowth approaches could unfold a complementary transformative potential. In this way, both social and ecological aspects of the current crises could be addressed more effectively. At the same time, the paper emphasizes that such outcomes are not automatic, since the democratic decision-making structures inherent in the socialization concept do not allow for results of democratic processes to be predicted, and moreover there are currently differing positions on the need for new construction between DWE and degrowth approaches
"There is no better place for friendships than Canton": Painting Canton as a Queer Space in Amitav Ghosh\u27s River of Smoke (2011)
Get PDFOur essay explores the representation of Canton as a queer space in Amitav Ghosh’s River of Smoke, primarily through the character of Anglo-Indian artist Robin Chinnery. Robin Chinnery, a gay man in his 20s and the fictional illegitimate son of famous painter George Chinnery, first appears in the second novel of Ghosh’s Ibis Trilogy as a minor character. However, through Robin’s epistolary interjections in the novel, the readers enter the city of Canton (present-day Guangzhou), an enclave of foreigners attempting to do business with the Chinese on the precipice of the First Opium War (1839 – 1842). In letters to his childhood friend Paulette, a major character in the Ibis trilogy, Robin describes the ongoings of the ‘men-only’ territory and his blooming relationship with his Chinese love interest Jacqua. Moreover, Robin’s many double entendre in the letters about his lessons in brushwork with Jacqua, and the friendship amongst men materialises as a ‘comedy of manners’ in this otherwise epic novel. Though doubly marginalised because of his Anglo-Indian heritage and closeted homosexuality, Robin finds solace within the borders of Canton and fulfils his desires. Our first reading focuses specifically on the novel’s portrayal of 19th-century Canton as a queer utopian space that invites readers to rediscover queer joy in the past, seek comfort in the present, and experience hope for the future, deriving specifically from José Esteban Muñoz’s Cruising Utopia, where the author writes that “queer relationality promises a future” (6). In our second reading, Canton emerges as a Foucauldian heterotopic world, existing as a liminal space offering avenues for Robin to explore his desire for companionship beyond conventional restrictions, which given his circumstances, otherwise seemed impossible. These readings together show how Ghosh’s novel reimagines Canton as a space of queer potentiality and transnational cooperation
Verbal violence – a first approximation based on Latin American migrants’ experiences in German institutions
Get PDFThis paper seeks to focus attention on hidden forms of violence against migrants that may affect their wellbeing and health but are particularly difficult to detect, document and study – given that they are not carried out by physical force but through language, and usually behind the walls of public institutions. As part of an interdisciplinary project, this contribution aims at (a) documenting migrants’ experiences of verbal interactions with representatives of German institutions, (b) understanding how violence emerges from overt and covert linguistic strategies, (c) determining typical settings of verbal violence and its prevalence within different kinds of institutions and migrant groups, (d) studying the biological responses of people facing acts of verbal violence, and (e) identifying possible health risks related to a constant exposure to these kinds of stressful situations. The ultimate goal is to help enhance the quality of communication in institutions by developing recommendations that are empirically grounded and practicable ac- cording to intercultural competence criteria
Artefacts, modernity and identity — global connections in the language and interactions of African youth
Get PDFLanguage practices in African cities, and particularly amongst youth, are manifesting in ways that are reflective both of local contexts and modernities, dynamics and realities, and international/global forces and modernities. This article considers some of the practices hap- pening in urban spaces in South Africa amongst youthful multilingual peer groups. It describes the ways that the global interfaces with the local and shapes the ways that youth express African modernities through group and individual identity, linguistic, para- and extra-linguistic practices. It furthermore considers some extra- linguistic aspects of peer group interaction – the use of cultural artefacts and objects, namely brands, cell phones and music — as pragmatic features in communication
Episode 10 David Aarons on ethnomusicological research in Ethiopia
No full textIn this episode, Andrea Hollington talks to ethnomusicologist David Aarons in Kingston. He gives exciting insights into his research on Ethiopian reggae and the Caribbean-Ethiopian encounter in these spheres. Listen to his take on ethnographic music research, participant observation and his experience of playing steelpan in Ethiopian reggae bands. 
Das ist unser Leben, das ist auch mein Leben. Sprachlich-literarisches Lernen mit dem digitalen Spiel "Every Day the same Dream"
Get PDFDer Artikel untersucht das Computerspiel Every day the same dream auf seine Potentiale für einen medienreflexiven Sprach- und Literaturunterricht. Das kostenloses Mini Art Game wurde 2009 von Paolo Pedercini entwickelt und handelt von einem Büroangestellten, dessen Leben sich in einer endlosen Routine aus Arbeit und Monotonie abspielt. Der Spieler oder die Spielerin versucht, aus dieser endlosen Schleife auszubrechen. Dabei kommt es zu irritierenden Unbestimmtheitserfahrungen, die zu einer Interpretation herausfordern.
Every day the same dream erweist sich als ideales Beispiel für die Auseinandersetzung mit Computerspielen im Deutschunterricht. Es bietet die Möglichkeit, medien-spezifische Kompetenzen aufzubauen, paratextuelle Formate wie Let ́s Plays zu analysieren, kreative Anschlusskommunikation in Form der gamebasierten Miterzählung zu fördern und Reinszenierungen am Beispiel zweier Kurzfilme aus Österreich und Deutschland zu reflektieren. Schüler/-innen können für eine Interpretation gewinnbringend auf Brechts Theorie und Praxis des epischen Theaters zurückgreifen. Das Spiel regt zur kritischen Betrachtung von gesellschaftlichen Themen an, insbesondere im Zusammenhang mit Arbeit und Identität, und fordert dazu heraus, über Lösungen nachzudenken, die außerhalb des Spiels liegen und politische Fragen aufwerfen.
Abstract (english): This is our life, this is my life too. Linguistic-literacy learning with the digital game "Every day the same dream"
The article observes the video game Every day the same dream for its potential for media-reflective language and literature lessons. The free mini-art game was developed by Paolo Pedercini in 2009 and is about an office worker whose life takes place in an endless routine of work and monotony. The player tries to break out of this endless loop. This leads to irritating experiences of indeterminacy that challenge interpretation.
Every day the same dream proves to be an ideal example for dealing with computer games in German lessons. It offers the opportunity to build up media-specific skills, analyze paratextual formats such as Let’s Plays, promote creative follow-up communication in the form of game-based co-narration and reflect on adaptions using the example of two short films from Austria and Germany. Students can profitably draw on Brecht’s theory and practice of epic theatre for an interpretation. The game encourages critical reflection on social issues, particularly in connection with work and identity, and challenges the players to think about solutions that lie outside the play and to raise political questions
Die Miniserie als neuer Spielfilm? : Überlegungen zur Filmdidaktik ausgehend von Rezeptionswegen einer neunten Klasse zur Netflix-Serie DAS DAMENGAMBIT
Get PDFDer Beitrag geht ausgehend von einer fokussierten Ethnografie eines Literaturunterrichts in der 9. Klasse eines Gymnasiums zur Miniserie Das Damengambit (USA 2020) der Frage nach, welche Auswirkungen eine Unterrichtsplanung, die die Miniserie nicht genrespezifisch als Serie, sondern als neuen Spielfilm mit dramatischen Komponenten auffasst, auf lernseitige Rezeptionsprozesse haben kann. Strukturiert ist der Beitrag entlang von drei Forschungsfragen, die sich zum einen auf das Genre der Miniserie beziehen und diskutieren, inwiefern sich auch in der Miniserie noch das serielle Erzählprinzip aus Schema und Innovation realisiert (Forschungsfrage 1). Zum anderen setzen sie an den Praktiken an, die sich unterrichtlich am Fernsehserienunterricht bezüglich genrebedingter Rezeptionsherausforderungen (Forschungsfrage 2) und möglicher Lernchancen (Forschungsfrage 3) rekonstruieren lassen. Der Beitrag schließt damit, filmdidaktische Elemente nicht nur um dramendidaktische, sondern auch um serialitätsdidaktische Elemente zu erweitern, will der Literaturunterricht Beteiligungshürden systematisch berücksichtigen.
Abstract (English): The Miniseries as a New Feature Film? Reflections on Film Didactics Based on Reception Processes of a Ninth Grade Class for the Netflix Series THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT
Based on a focused ethnography of a literature lesson in the 9th grade of a literature lesson on the miniseries The Queen’s Gambit (USA 2020), the article examines the effects that lesson planning, which does not grasp the miniseries as a genre-specific series but as a new fiction film with dramatic components, can have on the learner’s receptive processes. The article is structured along three research issues which, on the one hand, refer to the genre of the miniseries and discuss the extent to which the serial narrative principle is still realized in the miniseries (research issue 1). On the other hand, the research issue will focus on the practices that can be reconstructed in the literature lessons about television series with regard to genre-specific reading challenges (research issue 2) potential learning opportunities (research issue 3). The article concludes with die ideal of expanding film didactic elements by including not only drama didactics but also seriality didactic elements, if literature lessons wants to consider barriers to participation.