The social challenges of cultural communication of modern times WH-KON-TSCH

The goal of this course is to broaden understanding of the cultural interconnectedness of the contemporary world. The focus will be on the challenges associated with some of the major cultural discourses that have shaped and continue to shape the image of modernity, both affirmative and tragic, but which have influenced the image of the modern world.
The modern world is a world of interconnectedness and a series of consequences. This course will examine a number of processes that influence contemporary identification, understanding of the world, and the processes that have led to the world in which we live today. The cultural communication of these processes and their broader understanding within historical, cultural and social processes is an important element in the construction of the identity of contemporary man. This course, introduced in an accessible way in the form of a seminar, will allow for a common discussion of a number of processes influencing the image of cultural communication in our times.
From a historical and sociological perspective I want to look at the formation of the foundations of contemporary European and national identities. An important discourse in this sense is that on war and genocide, especially in the twentieth century. This is because the consequences of the Second World War were a very important factor influencing the post-war image of Europe and the beginning of integration processes. Also important in the historical context is the topic of historical memory as well as the discussion of the mechanisms of creating a cultural canon and its functions.
In the modernization discourses related to cultural communication, an important place is occupied by the transformation of the public sphere in the digital age. Therefore, I devote a separate block of classes to the issue of the virtual revolution and its social, political and cultural consequences. I also want to look at the discourses of conscious consumerism and popular culture and their complex interrelationships, trying to answer the question of what
can be done to combine the two into a coherent conglomerate.
Finally, it is also necessary to return to the criticism of the consumer society, and threats to civilization, especially the climate discourse, so these issues will be devoted to separate blocks of classes.

Author selected seven main topics for academic lecturing and following discussions.
Those are:
1. Europe and the future of the Nation State. - 2 classes
In particular:
-Cultural unity versus integration of EU
- Populism and the public sphere.
-Theoretical discourse based on further reading
2. Challenges of Migrations -2 classes
-Migration and future of Multiculturalism
-Future of Right wing movements in Europe
- Case study: Pegida and ritualization of the protests
-Theoretical discourse based on further reading
3. Difficulties in rebuilding of neutral cultural communication after wars/dictatorships, or state systemic transformations – cultural memory wars -2 classes
In particular:
-Race, ethnicity and ethnic conflict
-Transformation and what then?
-Recognition and types of Genocide
-Discussion on atrocities and its consequences
-Oral history and its methodological importance
-Human rights and their limits?
-Theoretical discourse based on further reading
4. Cultural discourse on Climate Change - 2 classes
In particular:
-Inconvenient truth and its importance for an environmental discourse
-Theoretical discourse based on further reading

5. Public Sphere in the World of the Cyber Age - 4 classes
- Habermasian Public sphere and its importance for analysis of virtual Revolution
- Internet as a chance for more honest world
- Internet as a challenge for state based knowledge creation and dissemination
- Big brother or discourse on privacy in Cyber age
- Internet and social cohesion
- Theoretical discourse based on further reading
6. Wars of cultural diplomacy: Soft Power as a means of new cultural influence
In particular - 1 or 2 classes
-History of Soft Power as a political tool in cultural communication
-European versus other SP.
-Future of Soft Power
-Theoretical discourse based on further reading
7. Consumerism versus citizenship in modern world -1 or 2 classes
In particular:
-Conspicuous consumption as a means of power
-Conspicuous consumption as a means of social irresponsibility
-Consumption as an expression of social hierarchy
-Consumer or/end citizen in the modern word
-Theoretical discourse based on further reading