Instances of impoliteness are observable across a range of discourses, including everyday face-to-face interactions, social networks, media platforms, and fictional contexts. Therefore, it cannot simply be regarded as the opposite phenomenon of politeness. Researchers claim that impoliteness should be conceptualized and studied as a distinct phenomenon in its own right. The present research focuses on investigating the linguistic and social manifestations of impoliteness and its impact on identity construction. This examination is conducted within the context of Georgian and American family discourse as a genre. The study of family discourse holds significant importance as it serves as a primary setting for the co-construction of identities and human socialization. Family discourse is characterized by close social relationships/intimacy, making it a crucial context for understanding how identities are formed and developed. The research is based on empirical evidence derived from the twenty-first century Georgian and American TV series, "My Wife's Girlfriends" and “Modern Family”. This work focuses on the analysis of interactional sequences between specific family members, with a particular emphasis on instances of impoliteness. The aim is to identify and examine cases where certain characters display repeated patterns of impolite behavior, thus highlighting the existence of impolite identities within the family dynamic. Verbal interactions have been transcribed and examined using a qualitative method, specifically employing a Genre approach to the study of (im)politeness developed by Garcés-Conejos Blitvich (2010a). This approach combines top-down and bottom-up analysis of the phenomenon, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of (im)politeness. By adopting a top-down approach, which is theory-based and predictive, analysts can evaluate specific linguistic expressions or practices as (im)polite by relying on theoretical predictions. On the other hand, a bottom-up approach, which is discursive, considers (im)politeness as being constructed within discourse and social interaction. Therefore, through observing individual interactions, analysts have the opportunity to identify specific instances of (im)politeness in practice based on the interpretations and assessments made by the participants themselves. According to Garcés-Conejos Blitvich (2010a), when analysts assess a specific behavior as (im)polite, it is important to employ both theory-based and discursive approaches to ensure that their evaluation aligns with the participants' assessments and attitudes within the given interaction. Theoretical framework for the research combines 1. the Social-constructivist approach to identity construction (“Who said what: Subject positions, rhetorical strategies and good faith”, Anton and Peterson, 2003; “Language and identity: National, ethnic, religious”, Joseph, 2004; “Identity and interaction: a socio-cultural linguistic approach”, Bucholtz and Hall, 2005; “Discourse and identity”, De Fina et al., 2006); 2. “A genre approach to the study of im-politeness” (Garcés-Conejos Blitvich, 2010a); and 3. Politeness theory (“Politeness. Some universals in language usage”, Brown and Levinson, 1978, 1987). The scientific novelty of the given thesis lies in the fact that it introduces a modification to Brown and Levinson’s (1987) model. Specifically, these authors examine face threat and its potential weight or seriousness from the perspective of speech acts, making a valuable contribution to the field. However, the modification to their model presented in this thesis serves a different purpose. It aims to study impolite behavior in a broader sense, focusing on the context of communication rather than specific speech acts. It is worth highlighting that the research topic at hand, specifically the investigation of the peculiarities of impoliteness and identity in family discourse, serves as the basis for modifying Brown and Levinson’s (1987) model.

The object of research of the dissertation is the U.S.-Georgia relations under the administration of President Donald Trump. The main task of the research is to study the aspects of the U.S.- Georgia cooperation during the Trump administration, draw conclusions and develop recommendations based on this. The significance of the research is determined by the dynamics of political cooperation with the strategic partner of Georgia, which is a guarantee of stability, security and democratic development for Georgia, and for the United States of America - protection of geopolitical interests in the South Caucasus. The relevance of the research issue is also determined by the need to pursue the right foreign policy of the country in order to achieve the national goal of Georgia. Several issues determine the importance of the dissertation: 1. The relations between the U.S. and Georgia are based on common interests and values, and these relationships are constantly developing and becoming more fruitful; 2. In the region, Georgia is one of the most reliable partners of America, the majority of whose population chooses the Western course; 3. Increasing the American influence in the region is favorable for the development of Georgia; 4. Georgia, with the support of the USA, should strengthen the country's defense capability and improve compatibility with NATO forces. The research aims to identify and study the foreign policy of the Trump administration in the South Caucasus and relations with Georgia - including the study of what role the States played in the political events in the region, the direction in which relations with Georgia were deepened, the results of numerous official visits and Bilateral meetings. In addition, the political crisis in Georgia and assessments of the United States during the pandemic and geopolitical changes - including the role of American officials during the political crisis in Georgia. The research is based on various methods used in the humanities, social and political sciences, such as critical analysis, comparative analysis, primary source analysis, content analysis, induction, deduction, as well as case study method and others. It is based on interdisciplinary research that combines different fields and directions. The research data is mainly drawn from primary sources such as authors’ books, scientific literature, official documents, letters, commentaries, reports and others. Hence the research includes the study of the events of recent history, therefore, information and materials are almost not available in the Georgian language, we believe that revealing and studying the development of political events within the framework of the partnership between the two countries during the Trump administration will make a modest contribution to the study and development of American studies, history and international relations. The dissertation can be used as teaching material in the university space, for example, in the Institute of American Studies. The materials processed during the mentioned research provide the opportunity to use them in further scientific research. In addition, the results of the mentioned scientific research will be interesting for specialists in international relations, especially the part of the paper where the continuation of relations between the two countries in the first year of Trump's presidency and important steps taken in defense, security, and other directions are discussed in details. The dissertation consists of abstracts in Georgian and English languages, an introduction, 3 chapters, 9 subchapters, a conclusion and a bibliography which includes 211 sources.

This PhD thesis examines the evolution of gender dynamics in Western theatre history up to the year 2000 through the lens of gender and feminist studies. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing historical inquiry, literary analysis, feminist theory, and cultural studies, this research aims to enrich scientific discourse and promote gender equality within the theatre arts. Despite recent progress, gender inequality persists in the performing arts, reflecting broader societal disparities. This study delves into the perceptions of gender roles within Western professional theatre and its preceding forms, shedding light on historical and ongoing challenges faced by women, including gender bias. The findings of this research not only provide valuable insights into the intricate gender dynamics in theatre but also offer recommendations for advancing inclusion, diversity, and gender equality within the industry. These recommendations target theatre practitioners, educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, aiming to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and just environment in the theatre arts. By critically examining the historical context and contemporary challenges, this study contributes to the scholarly exploration of gender dynamics in theatre and lays the groundwork for the development of models of gender equality.

Ethnicity is a universal phenomenon although ethnic characteristics change over time. Not only the intensity of manifestation of ethnic markers are variable but frequency. The objective of the dissertation is to observe the development process of ethnic perception in Georgian reality during the pre-modern era. The Georgian original hagiography is used as the main source of the research, as well as in certain cases for the completeness of the context, some examples are taken from the Georgian medieval historical writings. The chronology of the research covers the XI-XVIII centuries. In the history of Georgia this period is related to substantial cultural and social changes. The formation of ethnicity is observed by means of pre-selected indicators. The identification of the indicators is based on phenomenon of ethnicity proposed by modern theories of prominent Western scholars. Both, the problem set forth this way and the research methodology are novelty in Georgian historiography: hagiographic monuments as a whole (except few successful studies) have neither been the object in terms of research historical representation of social phenomenon nor the problem of a multifaceted study of the ethnic perception of the premodern era. As a result of this study, it is possible to restore a detailed picture of the perception of ethnicity in pre-modern Georgian reality. In particular, the understanding of Eri and Natesavi was investigated, whose variable content expresses the depths of internal coherence, the research shows the dynamics of the development of Georgians self-name; It has become evident how we/others group is identified in the mentioned sources and by which criteria determined a membership in the Georgian unity. The study reflects on language and religious markers, the frequency and the emphases of which were associated with a number of political and social changes. The conceptualization of the past, borders and sacred objects is underlined, and, as the research shows, this process is especially active in the texts of the mentioned period. Through observing these ethnic features in the Georgian hagiographic monuments consecutively reveals the development process of self-awareness of the Georgian unity. Besides basic research findings, the dissertation laid the foundation for other conclusions as well, namely, the importance of Georgian hagiography as a historical source, an idea already existing in Georgian historiography has been strengthened with new evidence. It has been proven that the source-study value of Georgian hagiographic monuments is significant it terms of acquiring not only direct information but also indirect information.

The dissertation study studies examines of epistolary communication of the Nikoloz Baratashvili era. The study is based on the personal and official letters of Nikoloz Baratashvili himself and the epistles of Grigol Orbeliani related to various peculiarities associated wih these letters. The paper pays special attention to the letters about Baratashvili's personal life and the worldview of the era. Separately, we will separate the official letters of Nikoloz Baratashvili. They are divided by purpose, noted, and identifed by signs characteristic of the epistolary heredity of the era. This material complemented the study of the writer's epistolary heritage and gave us a relatively complete picture of Nikoloz Baratashvili's work activities, the political and historical landscape of the 19th century, and the specifics of epistolary communication of this era. Therefore, the sight and examination of each letter from a different angle is never complete. Each era is characterized by different peculiarities of epistolary communication. The specifics of the epistolary patterns of the Baratashvili era reveal versatile and interesting materials for examining historical, political, cultural, and worldview aspects of this era. The personal letters of Nikoloz Baratashvili have reached us in small quantities. Nevertheless, they still retain great importance in the study of the poet's personality, his life, and especially creation. These writings were a way for a romantic poet to share relationships and problems. In the letters, Nikoloz Baratashvili is especially open and outright. It is not limited to any framework and frankly conveys its attitudes about loved ones, events in the country, and his own creations. The purpose of the study was to identify the specifics of the epistolary heritage of the Nikoloz Baratashvili era. Our goal was to mention what is found in Nikoloz Baratashvili's epistolary heritage as characteristic of epistolary communication of the era and what are the specifics of the poet's epistolary speech. The methodology of the study was developed as a link of similarities and differences between Nikoloz Baratashvili's epistles and the specifics identified in other epistles of this era. When processing of the topic, the methods of hermeneutics, comparatives, and phenomenological study were used. As a result of the study, the following has been established: that Nikoloz Baratashvili's epistolary dialogue is fed by the general characteristics of the Georgian epistolary dialogue of the 19th century, although it also reveals the specific poetic peculiarities. Based on the comparison of Nikoloz Baratashvili's epistles and Grigol Orbeliani's personal letters, we can conclude that in this era there were open, extensive letters to convey greetings to loved ones. The authors of the letter often joke, send greetings to loved ones, and communication topics continue from letter to letter. Nikoloz Baratashvili's official-business letters give us an idea of his work activities. We learn what Nikoloz Baratashvili was responsible for at work and why this work was so boring and undesirable for him. However, although this work isHowever, although this work is completely unintercompletely uninteresting and esting and unbearableunbearable for him as for him as for for a Creator, he is still constantly trying to get promoted to work given a Creator, he is still constantly trying to get promoted to work given the current situation. the current situation. Baratashvili's epistolary legacy largely prevails in the patterns of humor and light satire. When describing and characterizing the object, he is especially level-headed and imperturbable. There is no feeling of the disgust and indignation characteristic of satire. The poet does not aim at expressing aggression and negatively discouraging the reader with his objects of satire. The epistolary genre is very close to everyday life, therefore, naturally, it clearly reflects the customs that are common among the people. Nikoloz Baratashvili's letters give us very interesting information about the rituals of ancient Georgian traditional weddings, hospitality, and pilgrimage to sacred places. Such are the specifics of the epistolary dialogue of the 19th century and the main theme that manifests itself in human communication of this era.

Many factors influence the perception and interpretation of a literary text. The values, aesthetic ideals, and aspirations of a specific era lead to differing understandings of the artistic text. In this regard, it is fascinating to observe a text that has been participating in the literary process for centuries. In the history of Georgian culture, the quintessential example of such a work is Rustaveli's "The Man in the Panther's Skin." The thesis explores the reception of "The Man in the Panther's Skin" in the poetry of Georgian modernists. From this perspective, I will analyze the works of Galaktion Tabidze, Grigol Robakidze, Paolo Iashvili, Titsian Tabidze, Valerian Gaprindashvili, Giorgi Leonidze, Nikolo Mitsishvili, and Kolau Nadiradze. This research, aside from revealing the quality and character of the influence of "The M in the Panther's Skin" on Georgian literature, allows for a reevaluation of established views in literary history. It sheds light on Rustaveli's role in the works of individual authors, making visible the creative impulse behind many works and passages.

This paper discusses the plays written in the 1950s and 1960s (Waiting for Godot, Endgame, All That Fall, Look Back in Anger, Under Plain Cover, The Zoo Story, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? A Delicate Balance, The Birthday Party, The Collection, The Lover) by four playwrights in English-language drama: Samuel Beckett, John Osborne, Edward Albee and Harold Pinter. The purpose of the research is to analyze the text of these plays, outline the types of games and determine their function. Through parallels with the theoretical works of specialists in the field, the paper analyzes the types of games such as a game of roles, language games, author games and so on, which have different functions in the plays. The first chapter combines two authors - Beckett and Osborne. In this part of the work, attention is mainly focused on several games: waiting, author's game against Godot, playing with texts, a game of roles. The waiting game, which begins with Waiting for Godot, combines several other games, including Bible games. This game ends with Endgame, in which the game against Godot seems to be lost. The second chapter of the work discusses Edward Albee's plays. In the plays discussed, a large place is given to "childish games," playing with texts by the author, and "adult games." In Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? the characters are childish, although this situation seems to turn into "adult games" in a Delicate Balance. Pinter's plays are discussed in chapter three. Blind man’s buff is one of the main games along with a game of roles in Pinter’s plays. The game of roles gives meaning to the characters' otherwise boring lives. As a conclusion, the paper shows the similarities and differences between the plays of these authors and the main types of games.

Research of identity politics is an important topic. Meaning of such research increases when identity politics is controlled by specific ideologies – Soviet ideology in this case. Identity politics of Soviet Union was aimed on forming and shaping a new type of person. To shape the identity of future generation(s), children were the most important group for manipulations. Literature was one of the effective ways of such influence, therefore, the information given to a child was carefully controlled, defined and manipulated by ideology. Soviet Union encompassed different cultures, as a consequence, the process of forming Soviet identity was interconnected with values of every culture it affected. Therefore, the aim of the research is to depict the process of forming and shaping the identity of a Soviet person by analyzing Soviet Georgian and Soviet Russian fiction literature for children. We used structuralism as a theoretical framework. The study uses qualitative content analysis, which allows to make systematic analysis of the narrative regarding certain topic, theme, and marker. Qualitative content analysis consists of different methods of analyses. In our study we used two of them: 1. Discourse analysis: this method allows to analyze how is social reality depicted and represented in the narrative. 2. comparative analysis: this method is used to analyze same marker in different narratives, also it let us compare and analyze Georgian and Russian sources. For better representation of the topic, in the research Soviet Russian and Georgian cultures are compared (Centre-periphery context) by analyzing children’s literature. The literature, analyzed in the research covers the time period from 1938 – 1964. It includes: Lazar Lagin “The Old Genie Hottabych” (1938), Arkady Gaidar “Chuk and Gek” (1939)Arkady Gaidar "Timur and his squad" (1940), Valentina Oseeva “Vasyok Trubachev and his Comrades” (1947-1951), Anatoly Rybakov “The Dirk” (1948), Nino Nakashidze “The Diary of a Pupil“ “Korean Heroes”, „On the Moranbong hill” (1954), Anastasia Perfilieva „The sword of D’artagnan“ (1955) Anatoly Rybakov “The Bronze Bird” (1956), Edisher Kifiani “Ten-sheet Notebooks” (1956), Lado Mrelashvili, “The Boys from Ikalto” (1957), Otia Ioseliani “The Adventure of Kakha” (1960), Alexander Chkaidze “When Childhood Ends” (1962), Yuri Tomin “Borka, I and the Invisible” ( 1963), Pavel Kataev “Five Robinsons” (1963) Yuri Tomin “A magician walked through the city” (“Wizard walked through the city”) (1963) The importance of the study is defined by the essence of identity politics – forming and shaping identity is a crucial part of any society.

Among the myriad of Greek myths, few have been preserved with such abundant and extensive evidence in literary and especially artistic forms as the myth of the Centaurs. In 1912, Paul Baur began a systematic study of the vast collection of Archaic Greek representations of the Centaurs. Since then new artworks have been discovered, which have been included in the “Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae”. In the present doctoral thesis, thirty-two such artworks are discussed, which are not referenced in the “Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae”. Some of these artworks are unpublished, while others have received less attention. The interest in this topic was demonstrated by an exhibition held at the Princeton University Art Museum in 2003, along with the accompanying catalogue titled “The Centaur's Smile: The Human Animal in Early Greek Art”, designed for both general and scholarly audiences. The dissertation focuses on three significant aspects of the Centaurs' myth: the myth regarding the origins of the Centaurs' race, for which the main source is the second Pythian ode by Pindar, the Thessalian centauromachy with the participation of the invulnerable hero Caeneus, and the Peloponnesian centauromachy. The fourth and final chapter of the dissertation is focused on examining two questions: the first question explores how and under what historical circumstances the myth of the Centaurs originated among the Greeks; the other question investigates the significance of the myth during the pre-Classical period. The doctoral thesis further develops the research initiated by Baur in his monograph. It integrates philological, literary, and artistic perspectives to explore the representation of the mythical half-horse, half-human beings in the works of various ancient Greek writers, vase-painters, engravers, and sculptors from the Geometric, Orientalizing, and Archaic periods. The dissertation holds significance for classicists as it delves into previously unpublished or lesser-known artworks as well as provides new interpretations of several familiar literary texts and artefacts.

The present study aims to investigate: 1. lecturers' and students' attitudes towards lecturers' use of the Georgian language in their general and business English courses; 2. functions and frequency of lecturers' language behaviors (code-switching (CS), code-mixing (CM), and translanguaging) in their general and business English courses. The migration process (for studying, working, and traveling purposes) has increased the number of bilingual and multilingual speakers since the XX century. Therefore, the demand for learning English as an international language, and business English has grown in Georgia. Moreover, as the study of scientific literature has shown, the mentioned issue needs to be examined using mixed research methods (quantitative and qualitative). The objectives of the research based on the general and business English teaching context are the following: 1. to identify the functions of the lecturers' language behavior; 2. to determine the role and frequency of lecturers' language behaviors; 3. to determine the structural classification of the lecturers' language behaviors; 4. to analyze examples of language behaviors, based on the theoretical frameworks discussed in the literature review section (conversation analysis approach, interactional sociolinguistics approach, contextualization cues, and markedness model); 5. To study the attitude lecturers and students have towards lecturers switching from English to Georgian; 6. To determine the correlation between the students' and lecturers' language attitude and their age and gender. We grouped the functions of lecturers' language behaviors (in both general and business English courses) according to three main categories: teaching material, classroom management, and interpersonal relationships (lecturers and students). From approximately 120 hours of general English recordings, 789 code-switching, 156 code-mixing, and 35 language-switching moments were identified. Within 80 hours of recordings (ESP), 549 cases of code-switching, 103 cases of code-mixing, and 177 cases of translanguaging were detected. In both contexts, the most common function for code-switching is organizing lectures and homework, while the least common is highlighting/showing pronunciation and the influence of another language (other than Georgian and English). In the above-given teaching contexts, code-switching is primarily expressed in narrative and translanguaging in interrogative sentences. The imperative sentence type is the fewest in number. In contrast to the studies conducted by Canagarajah (1995) and Ferguson (2003), in which the native/first language is unofficial, informal, and marked "we-code," and the foreign language is formal, unmarked, "they-code," in terms of teaching general and business English, English can be as marked or unmarked as the Georgian language. The English language, as well as Georgian, is characterized by the change of register Georgian. While the business English students' and lecturers' attitudes are negative, the General English students' attitude is more positive towards the lecturers' use of the Georgian language than the lecturers' attitude themselves. The lecturers' negative attitude is determined by the traditional view of teaching a foreign language (conventional view - which implies the use of only one language while teaching a foreign language); this opinion is strengthened by the fact that within the framework of qualitative research, 3-4 lecturers of teaching general English, and 2-3 lecturers of business English have not used any Georgian in their lectures. This issue is remarkably interesting because the contemporary view of teaching a foreign language is gradually gaining a foothold in the modern world. The relationship between students' gender, age, and attitude is as follows: the younger the student is (18-20, 21-25), the more positive their attitude toward the lecturers' use of the Georgian language. Regarding gender, students' attitude toward the English language is similar. The empirical material is obtained from the recordings of online lectures, with the help of the transcription method (within qualitative research) and responses collected through an online questionnaire (quantitative research). Statistical and meta-discursive analysis methods are used in the given study. The results obtained are significant for those students who will do linguistic or sociolinguistic research on language behaviors in the future; The research results can be used in theoretical and seminar courses in sociolinguistics and applied linguistics.

Commercial websites are one of the most common types of Internet resources, tools and methods of design and analysis of which are actively developing. The analysis shows that this development takes place in two directions: 1) development of new and improvement of existing hardware and software of the commercial site; 2) development of new methods and models for the study of the functioning of the commercial site. Ensuring and maintaining high consumer traffic is the main objective of a com-mercial website. Despite the variety of software systems and platforms, their use requires significant resources of the site server and does not ensure its normal operation in conditions of high traffic. This fact makes it relevant to improve existing and develop new software systems. In this paper we developed a method of improving the software of a commercial site and the corresponding software product, which is based on the use of Python programming system. On the basis of web frameworks Django and Flask, designed hybrid CMS system for site content management, developed its file structure and user interface. A number of new and modified software modules have been built into the software to ensure its effective functioning. It is shown that the new software system provides work with the site server with different from the existing logic and allows more efficient use of its hardware resources. The developed software has been tested for the website of the online store, which is designed on the basis of the methodology proposed by the author. The results of testing show that even in the case of high user traffic significantly reduces the load on the hardware resources of the site server. The second major problem of electronic Commerce is the problem of ensuring, assessing and forecasting user traffic website and also, Issledovanie effective funct-ioning of the whole site. The analysis shows that this problem is solved in two main ways: 1) the use of web statistics tools located on the site, which make it possible to monitor the main performance indicators of the site during the operation; 2) the use of analytical methods and models that can be used to assess and predict the functioning of the site at the design stage. Website performance indicators obtained by web statistics tools are statistical estimates of random variables used by management to optimize the structure and process of site navigation. These data characterize certain aspects of the process of visiting the site by the user, but do not take into account the random nature and dynamics of the process and do not give a complete picture of the traffic and functioning of the commercial site. Studies have shown that it is equally important to evaluate user traffic and the functioning of a commercial site at the stage of its design. This will give the opportunity to choose the right hardware and software site, make a forecast for the future, to assess the feasibility of investments and investment volumes. The solution to this problem are analytical and statistical models, which are based on the application of the theory of Queuing and Markov processes and investigate the behavior of a discrete system such as “userSait”. These models, although taking into account the random nature of traffic and the functioning of the site, but require reliable estimates of a large number of probabilistic indicators and significant computational procedures, which complicates their practical application. The paper proposes two statistical models to evaluate the user traffic of a commercial site. The models allow quantitative description of traffic dynamics, are free from the shortcomings of existing methods and are convenient for practical use. Approbation of models is carried out for statistical data of the online store designed on the basis of the software developed in the dissertation. Methods of regression, statistical and variance analysis evaluated the parameters of the models, the adequacy and statistical reliability of the models. Practical application of models makes it possible to make a forecast for the future, to assess the feasibility of investing in a commercial site. Models, with a small modification, can also be used to analyzis user traffic of non-commercial saits. The paper also developed a methodology and appropriate information technology for the study of probabilistic and statistical characteristics and traffic structure of the online store in the established mode of operation. It is shown, that in this mode, user traffic is a time series of stationary random process, with normal data distribution law, which contains only a random component and its elements can be considered as random oscillations around a certain average value. The obtained results can be used in further studies to build autoregressive models for predicting the user traffic time series.

Lia Sturua's poetry is interesting in various aspects. Critical literature highlights the characteristics of her poetic expression form, vers libre, wherein the subjective "Me" of the author is discernible. Sturua's distinction as a poet transcends the mere form and expression of her poems; it extends to a unique relationship with each word, showcasing her ability to delve into the profound layers of the Georgian language. In lyrical samples, we encounter an author for whom every lexical unit holds significance. The highly artistic facets of her poetic imagination are skillfully unveiled in both vers libres and sonnets. This thesis aims to explore the key aspects of Lia Sturua's work within a contextual framework. To achieve this objective, we have identified and distinguished musical and pictorial elements, folklore or mythical variations, reminiscences, grammatical categories, and literary models related to urban space. Our investigation delves into how these themes are portrayed in lyrical samples. Additionally, to highlight the characteristics of Lia Sturua's creativity, we have discussed literary magazines and newspapers from the analysis period. We also examined the lyric collections of the poetic generation, featuring notable figures such as Besik Kharanauli, Mamuka Tsiklauri, Jarji Pkhoveli, Givi Alkhazishvili, Tedo Beki-shvili, Iza Orjonikidze, Guram Petriashvili, Rene Kalandia, Geno Kalandia, and Irakli Ba-zadze. We employed the comparison-contrast method to provide a comprehensive under-standing of the issue. In conjunction with hermeneutic analysis, we utilized intertextual and intermedial research methods, incorporating elements of "aesthetic criticism." A thor-ough examination of relevant theoretical and literary sources was undertaken. The paper's structure and analytical content allow us to contextualize Lia Sturua's work within the history of modern and centuries-old Georgian literature

In this thesis, three latest novels by the German-speaking Georgian author Givi Margvelashvili are studied. Based on their analysis, a new purpose for metafictional writing—namely, its capacity to criticize the prevailing ideology—is revealed. Related issues raised in the paper are judgment, criticism and rethinking of the ideologized and criminal regime of the Soviet Union. The thesis studies and discusses the literary techniques used by Givi Margvelashvili to criticize the dominant ideology and the Soviet Union as an ideologized state while also attempting to rethink, process and overcome the country's and personal traumatic past. The final goal of the research presented in the work is to show the connection between Givi Margvelashvili's metafictional novels and socio-political issues, and what is a special subject of our interest, the critique of ideology. The choice of the research object was determined by the fact that Givi Margvelashvili's later works have not yet become the subject of research either in Georgia or in Germany. It's also important to consider the fact that two of the chosen books haven't been translated into Georgian yet. Thus, the thematic and aesthetic value of these works of Givi Margvelashvili is unknown to the Georgian readers who do not know German, which shows the need for not only translation, but also analysis of these novels. As in metafictional texts, the subject of judgment in all three of the novels chosen for examination is fictionality and literature in general, as well as literary norms, books, actors, authors, readers, and the act of writing, narrating, and reading itself. However, metafictional narration and shattering of the reader's aesthetic illusions is not the author's own goal. In the late works of Givi Margvelashvili, metafiction is a medium of criticism of the prevalent ideology. A metafiction that breaks the boundaries of fictionality not only points to its own fictionality, is not only self-reflexive, but as Patricia Waugh argues, it also echoes the world beyond itself and is thus heteroreferential. The results of the research confirm that Givi Margvelashvili's late novels of a metafictional character are not limited to themselves, discussing the author's work, narration and the constructed nature of the fictional world in general, they critically respond to the public and political life of the twentieth century. The novels under discussion clearly display Givi Margvelashvili's critical viewpoint of the ideology of the Soviet Union and his attempt, as an intellectual immigrant, to act as a mediator between two strongly divided groups: closed, ideologically imprisoned Eastern Europe and the free Western world. The thesis is divided into four main parts, followed by a conclusion, visual material and tables included in the thesis, and a bibliography. The dissertation's first section is devoted to theory; within its framework, the foundations of ideology critique are reviewed and the essence of ideology is explained. The theories of metafictionality, autofictionality, intertextuality and intermediality are selected as the methodological-theoretical framework of the research presented in the paper, which are presented in the second part of the paper. The third part is dedicated to the review of Givi Margvelashvili's life and poetology. The fourth, final part of the dissertation is devoted to the analysis of Givi Margvelashvili's later works. The novelty of the dissertation lies in the fact that it is the first large-scale attempt to research Givi Margvelashvili's later works. After getting acquainted with the work, the reader will have a broad and orderly idea about Givi Margvelashvili's life, poetology beliefs and later works. The work will also contribute to the development of the theory of metafiction. The thesis will be of interest to researchers of Givi Margvelashvili, as well as to students and in general to anyone who wants to find out about the life, poetology and creativity of the author. It will be informative for students to get acquainted with the theoretical guidelines and theoretical-methodological framework of the thesis as well. The presented research is an attempt to make Givi Margvelashvili's later works known to a wider circle and acquire many more researchers and, most importantly, readers.

This thesis studies the genre potential of metaphor and the problems of its interpretation in dystopian narration, metamodernist text, copywriting, silent films on the example of English and Georgian literature and cinematography. The relevance of the thesis is determined by the fact that metaphor is presented not only in linguistic and stylistic terms, but also includes the tendencies, purposes and characteristics of the use of metaphor in such genres and discourses as: dystopian narrative, metamodernist text, copywriting and silent films. The aim of the thesis is as follows: determining the tendencies of expression of monomodal and multimodal metaphors in different genres; determining the functioning and meaning of conceptual metaphor in different research genres; comparing metaphor with other stylistic methods and, based on this, determining its specific characteristics; discussion of fundamental theories about metaphor and research of metaphors used in specific genres (fiction, social media, cinematography); research of specific characteristics of monomodal metaphors revealed in dystopian narration; research and analysis of monomodal metaphors identified in metamodernist text; research and analysis of monomodal and multimodal metaphors identified in copywriting; research and analysis of monomodal and multimodal metaphors in silent films; researching the characteristics and problems of interpreting monomodal and multimodal metaphors in different genres; determining the categories of monomodal and multimodal metaphors found in different genres and identifying subcategories. The research conducted in the dissertation includes the method of comparative analysis, theoretical review and empirical analysis. Literary/creative texts and cinematographic images are used as the research material of the thesis. Based on this, the research process or goal is to study, compare and analyze the given material. The theoretical and practical value of the present thesis lies in the fact that it includes the analysis of both verbal and conceptual metaphor. Specific features of metaphor interpretation in both creative work and social media discourse are discussed. The results of the research presented in the dissertation can be used both in the theoretical courses of discourse analysis and cognitive linguistics and stylistics. Analysis of empirical material can be used for didactic purposes, including theoretical lectures and practical seminar classes.

The thesis aims to discuss symbolic and associative suggestiveness of characters in the prose and drama of the American modernist writer Djuna Barnes.The four main works of Barnes: Ryder, Ladies Almanack, Nightwood, and The Antiphon embodyarchetypal/mythical and/or literary figuresfrom ancient times to the present. With the suggestiveness of characters, the language barriers, and the rejection of the temporal liminal space, the authorshapes uniquely modernistic chronotopic configurations. Djuna Barnes, in her first novel, Ryder, presents a paradoxical model of family structure. The story of the Ryder family is a kind of prequel to both the author's later works and their characters. The novel's main character offers a modernist interpretation of the New Adam.Wendell Ryder, engaged in polygamous relationships and obsessed with transcendental philosophy, is only a source of perverse relationships for his children, wife, and lover. Wendell's mother, Sophia Grieve Ryder, isjuxtaposed with Virgin Mary for contrasting/parody effect.Matthew O'Connor is an iconic character in Barnes' work. He is a modernist incarnation of hermaphrodite Tiresias, first introduced to the reader in Ryder. Dr. O'Connor who lives in America is a hero with a prehistoric memory. He helps Wendell's children to be born and relieves the pain of the women. Djuna Barnes' most experimental work, Ladies Almanack, is a parody of the traditional almanac. It provides descriptions of the meetings held in Natalie Clifford Barney's salon "Women's Academy" (L'Académie des Femmes). The text also includes poems, songs, and sketches composed by the author.Natalie Barney's fictional image is the hermaphrodite Evangeline Musset. Barnes places her next to the statue of Venus, the patroness of heterosexual love, which reveals her ironic intention. Gatherings of women with non-traditional sexual orientations give rise to a new ideology. Characters who use archaic vocabulary and focus only on the present and the past situation are fictional embodiments of the author's contemporaries. The characters of Djuna Barnes’ most famous novel, Nightwood, being in captivity oftheir unconscious,arepersonifications of archetypal metamorphoses.T.S. Eliot in his preface to the novel emphasizes the poetic nature of the text and entrusts its reading to readers better practiced in poetry. In Nightwood we meet Matthew O'Connor for the second time, this time in the role of an unlicensed doctor living in the 1920s Paris. With nocturnal conversations and a prophetic tone, the doctor reveals the essence of eternal suffering, his own and that of other characters’. All other central or secondary characters of the novel are archetypal personifications of the child, animal, and goddess, whose phantasmagoric existence serves to create the effect of timelessness. Barnes' rearmost work, the three-act tragedy The Antiphon, is a summary and final chord of her literary heritage. In the play, we meet the characters of both Ryder and Nightwood, but with different names and experiences. The tragedy shows the modernist transformation of Hamlet's image.Barnes’ Hamlet has nothing to do with Renaissance ideals; The metamorphosis of Prospero and Miranda, is the key event of the fable. The breakdown of the mother's image, can be interpreted as a variant representationof Demeter and Jocaste in one character.The sadistic brothers, with traumatic experiences,are transfigurations of characters who satisfy their desires with the lyrics of children's poems or song lyrics.

The present work, entitled "Political-theological Discourse in the Philosophy of Benedict Spinoza", is an effort at a political reading of Benedict Spinoza's texts. In Spinoza's philosophy, ideas that could not be expressed because of the ideological limitations of the time begin to gain importance in the modern era with new insights. This work aims to liberate the potential, and power of Spinoza's philosophy, which penetrates the modern political field and acquires the function of anti-ideology. The critical revision of the political theory of the modern era highlights the revolutionary nature of Spinoza's political project, which continues to have political effects not only in the Dutch province of the 17th century but also today. In the work, through Spinoza's political context, based on his biographical events, the key concepts of Spinoza's political theory are reviewed and analyzed: power and Power, body and mind, multitude and democracy.

This dissertation thesis traces the manifestation of emotions evoked by the memory of political ideologies and the modern social context in the lives and perceptions of citizens of Poti and Liepāja in the cities of Georgia and Latvia. Those are emotions that determine the modern cultural and moral situation of these urban areas. The thesis discusses how the infrastructure, landscape, and architecture of the cities are discussed with social emotions, whose sensory perceptions expose the locals to pride, shame, and uncertainty, in the context of understanding spatial construction and memory, through variations in the visibility and legitimization of ideologies, their social interpretations, and urban-spatial reactions. The ethnographic research conducted in Liepāja and Poti between 2019 and 2023 demonstrates how individuals interacted with an architectural landscape that constituted zones of legitimacy for tsarist imperialism, Soviet socialism, nationalism, post-socialism, and/or neoliberalism. The ethnographic study of post-socialist and neoliberal cities is related to the Georgian and Latvian urban experience and the practice of their everyday understanding to demonstrate the moral articulation of the understanding of the architectural environment, in the simultaneously connected and different cities of Georgia and Latvia. The dissertation demonstrates how ideologies and their experiences affect human perceptions and emotions on the one hand and how everyday life is portrayed on the other through an understanding of the morality of urban infrastructure. The industrial, military, cultural, social, and port infrastructure established in the city's geographical areas is specifically depicted. Their modification and transformation give people the impression that the emotional understanding of the spaces formed under post-socialist transformational conditions and/or as a result of further developed processes are tools for discussing infrastructure depreciation, destruction, creation, industrial privatization, and transformation. The work is an anthropological study based on the analysis of the ethnographic material. It demonstrates the social and cultural instability of the symbolic representation of political power. As a result, I argue that it is possible to see the temporal nature of the practice of the visibility of ideologies through people's relationships with culturally and historically shaped infrastructure, where urban infrastructure as well as human emotional states adapt to the contemporary social and cultural order.

Various national military and patriotic organizations fought against the Soviet Union. There were both Russian and Ukrainian units among them. For decades they were usually mentioned only as the puppets and supporters of the Third Reich. This tendency continues to exist in Russia and such attitude became one of the pretexts for the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Thus, the aim of the research is to show, on the basis of documentary sources and scholarly literature, the real scope of their involvement in the war. We also attempted to show the differences between Ukrainian nationalists, Russian Liberation Army, and Cossacks, and answer the question why it was that the RLA and Cossacks stopped fighting after the capitulation of Germany in 1945 while the Ukrainian nationalists even strengthened their efforts against the Soviet regime. While working on the thesis, it also became clear that the Third Reich was just a situational ally for the Ukrainian nationalists after the Germans refused to recognize the restoration of Ukrainian independent state on 30 June 1941. Beginning from March of 1942 UNO(b) is viewing Germany as an enemy and officially declared it from summer of 1943. From this period till the second half of 1944 when the German finally left the territory of Ukraine, the Ukrainian nationalists practically fought on two fronts. They made no differences between the German and Russian imperialisms, as the usually referred to the Third Reich and the Soviet Union. Their only goal was to achieve the independence for Ukraine.

Sarah Kane emerged as a groundbreaking playwright in the 1990s, leaving a profound impact on contemporary theatre not only in Britain but worldwide. My Master’s thesis explores Kane’s works within the broader context of contemporary British women’s dramaturgy—an underrepresented subject in Georgia, aside from a few performance reviews of her plays staged in Georgian theatres. This research examines the historical challenges faced by female playwrights, the obstacles they overcame to gain recognition, and their evolving role in theatre history. Additionally, it delves into the transformations within British theatre during the 1990s, analyzing the artistic and socio-political dynamics that shaped the era. The primary focus of my thesis is on Sarah Kane’s work—its significance in the global theatre landscape—and the ways in which her life and artistic vision influenced her legacy

In May 1918, the Democratic Republic of Georgia emerged as the first European state led by a progressive leftist social-democratic political force of its time. From the late 19th century, socialdemocratic parties became the dominant political entities across European states, aiming at establishing an egalitarian society based on universal equality. Implementing the effective social policy was the essential for the Democratic Republic of Georgia since it was formed from the disintegration of the Russian Empire and have been one of the most unequal states in early 20th-century Europe. Furthermore, it required rapid transformation of a system entrenched in inequality, social oppression, and other barriers. Throughout its 1028-day existence, the Democratic Republic of Georgia was a constant arena of reform and transformation, functioning as a laboratory of the reforms. A significant portion of these reforms aimed at changing the inherited social and political systems and establishing a new social policy framework. This research represents the comprehensive analysis of the formation of social policies at the Democratic Republic of Georgia. It examines the reforms commenced in the realms of labor, social security, education, and property. The study explores the knowledge and experience that informed the three essential components for systemic reform: careful examination of the reality, planning the transformation, and defining the final objectives. A crucial aspect of this research is the discussion and comparison of the perspectives and opinions of various political actors. This approach enables a comprehensive analysis of the primary political direction taken in specific policy areas, as well as the alternative options considered. The research employs archival materials, printed media, and scholarly literature to examine these issues