SPHAIROS: Cultural and Media Studies founded in 2011 (until 2019 “Lithuanian Cultural Studies”). An international interdisciplinary scientific journal for the publication of research, review, discussion articles, reviews, and scientific essays on culture and media.
The editors were unanimous in their opinion that this scholarly periodical was in need of renewal and updating in terms of design and overall conception. Acknowledging that it was necessary to think out afresh and define its cultural and academic mission, the editors agreed that this change should also be reflected in its title. Therefore, seeking to find for this periodical a new title that would be both expressive and conceptually evocative, and having discussed a number of possible alternatives, they converged in their choices on the variant Sphairos. The meaning of this Classical Greek word, which is here presented in transliterated form, is sphere. The first Western thinkers – the Presocratics – viewed the sphere as a symbol of perfection, totality, plenitude, being, sacredness, and divinity. For example, Xenophanes, though denying the existence of the gods of traditional Greek myths, acknowledged as really existing the only god whose shape he envisaged – literally or figuratively – as spherical: the very spherical form of this god was viewed by the philosopher as an evidently – geometrically – expressive testimony to his perfection. Another Presocratic philosopher, Parmenides, who without doubt was inspired by Xenophanes, in his poem spoke of the Being – the ultimate reality – as “well-rounded”, that is, as sphere-shaped. Yet another Presocratic thinker, Empedocles of Acragas in Sicily, wrote about the mysterious sphairos, thinking of it as sacred, divine, and perfect.
But the editors would like to stress that the new title of this periodical not only reminds us of the roots and origins of Western culture in the ancient Greek thought, but is also very fitting to indicate what is relevant in contemporary culture: when we speak about the geosphere, the biosphere, the anthroposphere, the noosphere, and the other “spheres”, we conceive of a certain sphere both as a particular domain of reality and as a medium that unites various phenomena of that domain by way of mediating between any two of them. As a certain medium, any of such spheres enables and facilitates not only the emergence of new important things, but also the communication of message about them. The mediating power characteristic of any concrete sphere – the power that helps to bring forth and firmly establish what is new – also reveals itself as the power of communication of the message about those new things.
The editors are of the opinion that the title Sphairos better than any other is fitting the periodical dedicated to the discussion of not only the foundations and origins of culture, but also the issues of communication and media – the issues that are highly relevant and extremely important to contemporary culture. That is because the sphere is unique in that it appears always the same when viewed from various sides as you turn it in your hands. In a similar way, the medium – the mediating “sphere” – that helps to establish new cultural phenomena, also enables to effectively convey the message about them to those participating in the process of communication. Thus, the new cultural phenomena, despite their radical specificity and extreme diversity – and despite the differences in thought and world-outlook of those who experience and contemplate those phenomena, are capable – due to the mediating power of the “spherical” medium – of speaking to us in an appealing, understandable, contemporary, forward-looking manner – that is, in a way that unites us instead of dividing us.
Focus and scope. The peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal is an intellectual endeavor to create a new, vibrant cultural research space where the latest creative ideas are disseminated, the perspectives of Lithuanian culture are drawn, the most acute issues of Lithuanian cultural theory, methodology and history are addressed. The journal also fosters the debate genre, presents the most important cultural events, expands the field of critical and analytical reviews, provides an overview of the topical issues of international culture.
Languages. The journal accepts articles in Lithuanian and English.
Open Access Policy. The journal is an open access journal.
Charges. The journal has no article submission or processing charges.
ISSN 2029-8560 | eISSN