From the Editors

Abstract

The French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard, although he was a pro­fessed postmodernist, did not hesitate to call the “Mediterranean myth” a great meta-narrative of European culture. For centuries, the legacy of Greco-Roman antiquity built a coherent axiological and esthetic system, elaborated with new content—especially Christian ethics—but also, for example, with the influences of the multicultural Levantine orient. The coherent, though non-uniform “myth” returned under many guises, with the rhythms of subsequent historical epochs. Is it relevant today and if so how? In the rapidly globalizing contemporary world, is the symbolically understood Mediterranean Sea still a point of reference? Finally—recall­ing the title of this issue—should we perceive it as a cultural “center of the world” or only as a periphery?

Author Biography

Leszek Zinkow, Jesuit University Ignatianum in Krakow

His research interests include comparative culture stud­ies, especially the reception of the heritage of the ancient Middle East (mainly Egypt and its historical, mythological narratives and symbolism). Also deals with travel accounts to oriental destinations (editions of texts), the history of museums and collecting, in addition to the history of con­temporary culture, the history and practice of the media, the social history of science, transfers, and cultural innovation. He also works at the Ponti­ficial University of John Paul II in Krakow. Member of the International Association of Egyptologists (Mainz), Polish Society of Cultural Stud­ies and the Commission of Classical Philology at the Polish Academy of Sciences (Krakow). Deputy editor-in-chief of the “Perspektywy Kultury” magazine (editor-in-chief in the years 2013–2016).

Published
2020-12-20
How to Cite
[1]
Zinkow, L. 2020. From the Editors. Perspectives on Culture. 30, 3 (Dec. 2020), 5-6. DOI:https://doi.org/10.35765/pk.2020.3003.01.