Rayna E Slobodian | York University (original) (raw)
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Papers by Rayna E Slobodian
York University Thesis, 2019
Discourses about people who are rich and those who are poor are pervasive in our society. Online ... more Discourses about people who are rich and those who are poor are pervasive in our society. Online news media is one of the ways in which these power dominated messages are disseminated. Forty online news articles from four major news outlets in Canada were examined using Critical Discourse Analysis. Questions about how the language used in these news articles perpetuates stigma for people who are poor were explored. The findings show that most news articles use some form of stigmatizing language that has a detrimental impact on how people living in poverty are perceived. Negative stereotypes were pervasive, especially in the more conservative leaning news organizations. Ways of changing this language, and methods for reducing stigma are investigated.
Death is a multifaceted event. When someone we love dies, the majority of us grieve. Some are aff... more Death is a multifaceted event. When someone we love dies, the majority of us grieve. Some are affected when they hear about people dying in the news, while others feel nothing. Humans are diverse, and there is no one way to respond to death. Emmanuel Levinas suggests that, “[o]ne has to respond to one’s right to be…because of one’s fear for the Other” (1989:82). Judith Butler states, “despite one’s best efforts, one is undone, in the face of the other…” (2003:13). For most of us, death is an example of the Other and it is feared, yet other people welcome death with open arms. Death shows itself in several different forms: from the micro level - the death of a cell, to the macro level - the death of a star. We can also view death from a local or global perspective. How are we affected by numbers, one death versus thousands? Proximity to the dead can also impact us. Sometimes, the dead have faces; of someone we knew well in life, someone familiar. Alternatively, the dead can be faceless; of people we do not know, the unfamiliar. When we are faced with death, some of us are called to respond. In this paper, I will explore what happens when the dead face us, for those that are both familiar and unfamiliar. How are we interrupted, if at all? And finally, what are the ethics of our actions and inactions? How are we implicated in our responses?
Acta Astronautica
Extensive media coverage regarding the proposal to send four people to Mars by 2025 has exploded ... more Extensive media coverage regarding the proposal to send four people to Mars by 2025 has exploded recently. Private enterprise has taken the reins to venture into space, which has typically only been reserved for government agencies. I argue, that with this new direction comes less regulation, raising questions regarding the ethics of sending people into outer space to colonize Mars within a decade. Marketers selling colonization to the public include perspectives such as biological drives, species survival, inclusiveness and utopian ideals. I challenge these narratives by suggesting that much of our desire to colonize space within the next decade is motivated by ego, money and romanticism. More specifically, I will examine the roles that fear and stories of immortality play within selling space and how those stories are marketed. I am passionate about space and hope that one day humanity will colonize other worlds, but the rush to settle is dangerous and careless. I assert that humanity should first gain more experience and knowledge before colonizing outer space, using this research to mitigate the risk to astronauts and proceed with careful consideration for the lives of potential astronauts.
Psychologists have been called upon in recent years to look into the psychological effects on hum... more Psychologists have been called upon in recent years to look into the psychological effects on humans, after being in space for prolonged periods, as both government and private corporations work towards making the idea of living in space for long periods of time a reality. Over the course of a few decades, psychological research into “analogue sites” here on earth, simulations, and astronauts living and working in orbit has started to show how humans are affected by such environments. In general, findings show the potential for conflict or emotional deterioration during long-term isolated periods, but it may have more to do with people’s perceptions of their environment more so than the environment itself. Even still, living in isolated and confined areas can cause stress and problematic behaviours that may interfere with productivity and relationships. Communication, homesickness, and habitat design also become important factors in the success of long-term missions in space. Several factors pertaining to culture such as nationality, gender roles and sexual orientation become important aspects to learn about in order to work harmoniously with others in a long-term space environment and to avoid any misunderstandings. The broad definition of culture also becomes an important aspect of living and working off world. Most researchers are aware of the problems when studying culture such as pinpointing the parts of culture that are causing such issues. Therefore, it is suggested that future research defines culture more clearly while learning more in depth information regarding participants’ ideas of their own identities. This independent study will explore the psycho-social issues of living in isolated and confined spaces, culture and gender for long-term missions off world.
I explore the challenges and potentials for collaboration between science and humanities research
Contingent Horizons, Apr 30, 2014
The subculture of star party attendees has rarely been addressed within anthropology. Through an ... more The subculture of star party attendees has rarely been addressed within anthropology. Through an ethnographic approach, this paper explores the customs and motivations of those who sky-watch at star party gatherings. Some factors that motivate people to attend these gatherings include the sharing of technology, camaraderie, scientific learning, environmental advocacy and emotional connections with the universe itself. Additionally, digital versus physical spaces are explored and contrasted. More broadly, this paper looks at possible reasons for the popularity of astronomy within our culture today.
Conference Presentations by Rayna E Slobodian
York University Thesis, 2019
Discourses about people who are rich and those who are poor are pervasive in our society. Online ... more Discourses about people who are rich and those who are poor are pervasive in our society. Online news media is one of the ways in which these power dominated messages are disseminated. Forty online news articles from four major news outlets in Canada were examined using Critical Discourse Analysis. Questions about how the language used in these news articles perpetuates stigma for people who are poor were explored. The findings show that most news articles use some form of stigmatizing language that has a detrimental impact on how people living in poverty are perceived. Negative stereotypes were pervasive, especially in the more conservative leaning news organizations. Ways of changing this language, and methods for reducing stigma are investigated.
Death is a multifaceted event. When someone we love dies, the majority of us grieve. Some are aff... more Death is a multifaceted event. When someone we love dies, the majority of us grieve. Some are affected when they hear about people dying in the news, while others feel nothing. Humans are diverse, and there is no one way to respond to death. Emmanuel Levinas suggests that, “[o]ne has to respond to one’s right to be…because of one’s fear for the Other” (1989:82). Judith Butler states, “despite one’s best efforts, one is undone, in the face of the other…” (2003:13). For most of us, death is an example of the Other and it is feared, yet other people welcome death with open arms. Death shows itself in several different forms: from the micro level - the death of a cell, to the macro level - the death of a star. We can also view death from a local or global perspective. How are we affected by numbers, one death versus thousands? Proximity to the dead can also impact us. Sometimes, the dead have faces; of someone we knew well in life, someone familiar. Alternatively, the dead can be faceless; of people we do not know, the unfamiliar. When we are faced with death, some of us are called to respond. In this paper, I will explore what happens when the dead face us, for those that are both familiar and unfamiliar. How are we interrupted, if at all? And finally, what are the ethics of our actions and inactions? How are we implicated in our responses?
Acta Astronautica
Extensive media coverage regarding the proposal to send four people to Mars by 2025 has exploded ... more Extensive media coverage regarding the proposal to send four people to Mars by 2025 has exploded recently. Private enterprise has taken the reins to venture into space, which has typically only been reserved for government agencies. I argue, that with this new direction comes less regulation, raising questions regarding the ethics of sending people into outer space to colonize Mars within a decade. Marketers selling colonization to the public include perspectives such as biological drives, species survival, inclusiveness and utopian ideals. I challenge these narratives by suggesting that much of our desire to colonize space within the next decade is motivated by ego, money and romanticism. More specifically, I will examine the roles that fear and stories of immortality play within selling space and how those stories are marketed. I am passionate about space and hope that one day humanity will colonize other worlds, but the rush to settle is dangerous and careless. I assert that humanity should first gain more experience and knowledge before colonizing outer space, using this research to mitigate the risk to astronauts and proceed with careful consideration for the lives of potential astronauts.
Psychologists have been called upon in recent years to look into the psychological effects on hum... more Psychologists have been called upon in recent years to look into the psychological effects on humans, after being in space for prolonged periods, as both government and private corporations work towards making the idea of living in space for long periods of time a reality. Over the course of a few decades, psychological research into “analogue sites” here on earth, simulations, and astronauts living and working in orbit has started to show how humans are affected by such environments. In general, findings show the potential for conflict or emotional deterioration during long-term isolated periods, but it may have more to do with people’s perceptions of their environment more so than the environment itself. Even still, living in isolated and confined areas can cause stress and problematic behaviours that may interfere with productivity and relationships. Communication, homesickness, and habitat design also become important factors in the success of long-term missions in space. Several factors pertaining to culture such as nationality, gender roles and sexual orientation become important aspects to learn about in order to work harmoniously with others in a long-term space environment and to avoid any misunderstandings. The broad definition of culture also becomes an important aspect of living and working off world. Most researchers are aware of the problems when studying culture such as pinpointing the parts of culture that are causing such issues. Therefore, it is suggested that future research defines culture more clearly while learning more in depth information regarding participants’ ideas of their own identities. This independent study will explore the psycho-social issues of living in isolated and confined spaces, culture and gender for long-term missions off world.
I explore the challenges and potentials for collaboration between science and humanities research
Contingent Horizons, Apr 30, 2014
The subculture of star party attendees has rarely been addressed within anthropology. Through an ... more The subculture of star party attendees has rarely been addressed within anthropology. Through an ethnographic approach, this paper explores the customs and motivations of those who sky-watch at star party gatherings. Some factors that motivate people to attend these gatherings include the sharing of technology, camaraderie, scientific learning, environmental advocacy and emotional connections with the universe itself. Additionally, digital versus physical spaces are explored and contrasted. More broadly, this paper looks at possible reasons for the popularity of astronomy within our culture today.