PRESENTATION

The dossier number 81 of the journal Universitas Humanística aimed at collecting critical theoretical reflections and case studies that inquire into the role of communication processes in the generation of social changes. These transformations were understood in a broad sense, including all the possible nuances between mobilizations and interventions tending towards problematizing and destabilizing status-quo, as well as initiatives that transgress the social order with both reactionary and oppresive objectives.

Along with Claudia Magallanes-Blanco and Juan Carlos Valencia as guest editors, we seek to contribute with this number to thinking the ways in which various communication practices (media or otherwise) are managed, the platforms that streamline them and their assembly technology, as well as the power relations that anchor them and that, likewise, are fostered by them. We found interesting that this call brought together, on the one hand, theoretical approaches from social and cultural studies that problematize the ideas of dialogue, participation and social transformation that are the basis of communication processes in a variety of scenarios and quandaries; on the other hand, it also includes case studies that could document and critically analyze specific initiatives in which communication was designed and creatively woven by different actors located in rural or urban areas, who use digital or analog technologies to reconfigure their social capital, generate links with other actors and rethink or reaffirm their corporalities, everyday environments and expressive territory. This special issue is opened with an article written by our guest editors, who reflected on the articles that make up our sections Horizons (Horizontes), Controversy (Controversia), Other voices (Otras voces) and Young research (Investigación Joven).

In addition to this monographic space entitled Communicative Practices, Creativity and New Challenges, our number 81 includes four articles in its Open space (Espacio abierto). First, the work of Andres Felipe Valderrama Pineda, which is a contribution that addresses an interesting topic for the reflections that were opened in our number 76 on the social studies of science and technology: the inclusion and exclusion of actors in technology development. The text focuses specifically on this topic referring to the junction of two arenas: urban transport and accessibility for people with disabilities. The case is addressed from an interesting point of view and it shows how a technological system can be set not only by a collective, but by individuals who can articulate properly certain conditions without being organized.

The second article in this Open space was written by Amurabi Oliveira, who continues with some of the arguments raised in our number 77 on race issues and nation-building. In this contribution, Oliveira focuses on Freyre, a well known author who is discussed in the field of Brazilian social sciences. The article brings an argument that runs counter to the usual readings of Freyre's work: the alleged creation of an imaginary of racial democracy. The contribution of this text is the joint that Oliveira finds between Freyre's reflections on racial inequality in Brazil and the education scenario.

The third article in our Open space is a contribution of Maria Jose Magliano, who extends some of the approaches of our numbers 78 and 79 on dissident feminisms. In her text, she discusses the relationship between work experience and masculine identity of young Peruvian migrants in the context of feminization of their profession in the garment industry in the destination city (Buenos Aires). This article is innovative insofar as it brings to the analysis core, in the debate on the garment industry, the question on masculine identities, and it nuances that question referring to intersectionality from a literary point of view.

This number 81 closes with an article by Nadia Margarita Rodriguez, J. in which an important topic on the Social Sciences research is addressed: the tension between academic and social research. Rodriguez J. raises the need to expand the critical debate on the role of female and male professionals and social scientists in different disciplines and reflection contexts within and outside the country.

As always, this editorial effort is now in your hands and we hope you to enjoy it, make the most it, discuss it and put it into circulation.

Tania Pérez-Bustos
Publisher / Editor