The rise of the new information technologies, and corresponding proliferation of signs, images, and information, has contributed to a growing sense of alienation and dislocation. For many, the contemporary moment is an unending and disorienting sea of sensory-symbolic excesses. "Lost in Translation" is a film addressed to these anxieties. Engaging…

The focus of this essay is on what the author refers to as "bystander apathy." "Bystanderism" is the response of people who observe something that demands intervention on their part, but they choose not to get involved. The author writes this piece to shed light on this issue for others, as well as for her own self-reflection--to understand more…

Discusses the phenomenon of burnout among human service professionals in general, and librarians specifically, and argues that lack of professional autonomy is the true underlying cause. Suggested measures for eliminating or coping with burnout include activities at the individual, professional, and societal levels. (10 references) (CLB)

Provides a psychotheological interpretation of rap music by African-American male artists and of its audience, examining the music and its social context. Common themes include despair over acute psychosocial and physical needs, intensity and violence as a means of personal integration, ontological insecurity, and desire for transformation and…