The Unemployment Volatility Puzzle: A Note on the Role of Reference Points

Abstract Bourdieu’s concepts of cultural capital and field, developed in the 1970s and 1980s, still provide systematic reference points for studies interested in literary cultures under market conditions. These concepts have found resonance in studies observing the changing organisation, structure, and social positions involved in the writing, reading, and circulation of literature. While both the conceptual clarity and the historical results Bourdieu achieved (in particular in his study The Rules of Art, originally published in 1992) have come under attack, both his key concepts and his multi-method approach function as a theoretical toolbox for present studies. The article discusses three studies (Childress 2017; English 2005; Guillory 1993) which make use of Bourdieu’s concept of capital in order to describe contemporary US publishing, the role of literary canons in higher education, and the status of literary awards. I argue that Bourdieu’s framework is productive in these cases when it is used in a heuristic way, when the idea of cultural and social capital is considered as processes and practices of valuation, and when it points to the political aspects of economies.

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Structured Perceptual Input Imposes an Egocentric Frame of Reference—Pointing, Imagery, and Spatial Self-Consciousness

Perception ◽

10.1068/p5183 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 429-451 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anthony Marcel ◽

Christian Dobel

Keyword(s):

Sensory Deprivation ◽

Frame Of Reference ◽

Reference Points ◽

Logical Necessity ◽

Structural Description ◽

Relative Location ◽

Egocentric Frame ◽

The World ◽

Axes Of Symmetry

Perceptual input imposes and maintains an egocentric frame of reference, which enables orientation. When blindfolded, people tended to mistake the assumed intrinsic axes of symmetry of their immediate environment (a room) for their own egocentric relation to features of the room. When asked to point to the door and window, known to be at mid-points of facing (or adjacent) walls, they pointed with their arms at 180° (or 90°) angles, irrespective of where they thought they were in the room. People did the same when requested to imagine the situation. They justified their responses (inappropriately) by logical necessity or a structural description of the room rather than (appropriately) by relative location of themselves and the reference points. In eight experiments, we explored the effect on this in perception and imagery of: perceptual input (without perceptibility of the target reference points); imaging oneself versus another person; aids to explicit spatial self-consciousness; order of questions about self-location; and the relation of targets to the axes of symmetry of the room. The results indicate that, if one is deprived of structured perceptual input, as well as losing one's bearings, (a) one is likely to lose one's egocentric frame of reference itself, and (b) instead of pointing to reference points, one demonstrates their structural relation by adopting the intrinsic axes of the environment as one's own. This is prevented by providing noninformative perceptual input or by inducing subjects to imagine themselves from the outside, which makes explicit the fact of their being located relative to the world. The role of perceptual contact with a structured world is discussed in relation to sensory deprivation and imagery, appeal is made to Gibson's theory of joint egoreception and exteroception, and the data are related to recent theories of spatial memory and navigation.

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Fear and Loathing in the Anthropocene: Grief, Compassion and the Benefits of Literature

Emotions History Culture Society ◽

10.1163/2208522x-02010091 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 167-182

Author(s):

Stephen Harris

Keyword(s):

Reference Points ◽

Environmental Crisis ◽

Collective Trauma ◽

Collective Emotions ◽

Global Environmental ◽

Semantic Reference

Abstract This essay considers the nexus between literature and compassion in relation to the well-reported global environmental crisis and the attendant range of emotions, as signalled by the terms ‘ecocide’, ‘extinction crisis’ and ‘eco-anxiety’. While the words ‘grief’ and ‘hope’ have come to represent a range of associated emotions and feelings, there are important affective inflections occurring between these two semantic reference points, which are in themselves significant, if less amenable to debate and conversion to meaningful action. The following essay considers the nuances of these same affective extremities and emotional complexities, with particular reference to collective emotions such as anger and fear, and the implications of sustained feelings of dread, despair and collective trauma. The essay concludes by arguing for the constructive role of literature in mediating collective feeling and redirecting negative public emotions.

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Illness Experiences and Attitudes towards Medication in Online Communities for People with Fibromyalgia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17228683 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (22) ◽

pp. 8683

Author(s):

Sabrina Cipolletta ◽

Silvia Caterina Maria Tomaino ◽

Eliana Lo Magno ◽

Elena Faccio

Keyword(s):

Online Communities ◽

Fibromyalgia Syndrome ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Reference Points ◽

Theory Approach ◽

The Core ◽

Illness Experiences ◽

Core Category ◽

Grounded Theory Approach

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disabling syndrome, and the legitimacy of its diagnosis is still debated. Internet and online communities may become a relevant resource for affected people. This present study aims to understand the role of online communities relating to fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients’ illness experiences and their attitudes towards medication. A qualitative content analysis based on the grounded theory approach was conducted on 19 conversations from an online forum, and 14 online interviews. Illness experience, lack of reference points, online communities, personal role and attitude towards medication were the five categories identified, with the search for recognition as the core category. The study highlighted that online communities represent a resource that allows users to express and share their needs, especially in terms of legitimacy and recognition.

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Transition into Motherhood: Pregnant Daughters’ Responses to Their Mothers

Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services ◽

10.1177/104438949507601002 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 76 (10) ◽

pp. 596-603 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Susan Walzer

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Interview ◽

Reference Points ◽

Interview Data ◽

Clinical Implications ◽

Mixed Feelings

The author presents pregnant daughters’ reports about how their mothers influenced their own identities as mothers. Analysis of qualitative interview data suggested that mother–daughter relationships served as reference points for daughters’ ideologies about motherhood and were more varied than is often assumed. Daughters’ mixed feelings about their mothers and the role of this ambivalence in their own conceptions of motherhood may reflect the difficulties that mothers have in conforming to idealized images and expectations of motherhood. Clinical implications are discussed.

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