Taif Abdulridha Raheemah AlKweshee

ABSTRACT: Through the clash of civilizations, this study represents the ongoing negotiation and redefinition of personalities of their identities. This conflict between traditional values and personal ambitions highlights cultural tensions between ethnic and cultural identity. The study illustrates Skinner's behavioral theory, pointing out how external reinforcements and punishments affect characters' actions and decisions. In addition, the novel provides a commentary on social norms and the relentless pursuit of identity and belonging in a divided world, reflecting the ongoing struggles that individuals face with societal expectations and personal ambitions. The clash of civilizations shows the importance of cultural diversity and complexities in shaping identities in a multicultural society. Identity’s responses to reinforcement and punishment reveal the complex relationship between behavior, societal expectations, and individual choices in shaping a person's sense of self. After the study, it was discovered that Skinner's theory of reinforcement and punishment can be seen in the behavior of the two main characters in Larsen's novel. The novel reflects cultural and social tensions in early twentieth-century America and illustrates how the clash of ethnic and cultural identities can shape an individual's behavior and life decisions. KEYWORDS: Behaviorism, Operant conditioning, identity, reinforcement and punishment, clash of civilization, passing

ABSTRACT The movie Maleficent by director Robert Stromberg in 2014 is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story with a strong ecological message. The storyline and the visual components of the movie are allegorical to the environment and tell of the concerns of the Anthropocene that resulted from human-induced destruction of ecosystems through industrialization deforestation and species extinction. Maleficent, as she transforms from a protector of nature into a vengeful and, later, reconciliatory being personifies the results brought about by the exploitation of the natural world. When analyzed through ecocritical views, nature stars in the film act as a stimulus to criticize the patriarchal dominance exercised on women and their world. The maternity that links Maleficent to Aurora is a message not only about the role of nature in nurturing but the way humanity should act as the guardian of the Earth for future generations. Maleficent represents the politics of much newer environmental movements concerned with conserving and sustaining the ecologies through the prisms of eco-feminism and the Anthropocene, that is, considering the complex interactions of power, nature, and humanity. The film, in sum, offers a vision of reconciliation as a balance between mankind and nature as a condition for re-establishing an ecologically wholesome relationship in times of environmental crises. Keywords: Anthropocene, Ecocriticism, Ecofeminism, Environmental Allegory, Nature-human Reconciliation.

AbstractThis research investigates Ann Petry's The Street through Kimberlé Crenshaw's intersectional theoretical framework. The study shall try to see how Petry paints a picture of the intertwined forms of oppression—race, gender, class—that build the lives of black women in 1940s Harlem through her work. Specifically looking at the protagonist Lutie Johnson, it will be shown how Petry uses naturalistic and gothic elements to reveal the constraints of intersectionality under which Lutie strives as she fights against societal repression. It scrutinizes how black women are silenced and marginalized within discourses that are purportedly designed for their upliftment, along dimensions of feminism, anti-racism, and socio-political speeches. The methodology involves textual analysis concerning some major recurring themes like structural and political intersectionality, sexual violence as well as domestic abuse interconnected with broader issues concerning the American Dream, urban life, and systemic inequality. The findings reveal that Petry's work underscores compound and multidimensional oppression, bringing to light the need for such extensive and specific scholarship on identity and discrimination. The research concludes that Petry’s narrative remains: a powerful critique of racial and gendered social structures with glimpses into the lived complexities of black womanhood.Keywords:Structural intersectionality, political intersectionality, domestic violence, slavery, racial discrimination.1. IntroductionThe Street, authored by Ann Petry, stands as a profoundly significant piece of literature from the twentieth century. In her work, Petry delves into the life of a protagonist constrained by the intersecting limitations present in society. The narrative centers around the experiences of black women confronting the devastating reality of a world stacked against them. According to McBride (2003), Petry utilizes naturalistic techniques and themes to investigate the limitations imposed by social class in Harlem during the 1940s. The realism that defines the world within The Street serves as the foundation for its narrative. As noted by Jackson and Moody Freeman,

The English Department organized a charity bazaar, which included students from all academic levels, both morning and evening classes. I was part of the preparatory committee for the fourth stage of the evening program.

I participated in the 7th Al-Ameed Scientific Conference which was held at Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine in Karbala. The title of the conference was Family and Community Security: Identity and Technical Challenges. I participated in joint scientific research with Dr. Ahmed Rahi. The title of the research is Digital Identities in Contemporary Literature: Virtual Reality, Self-Perception, and the Role of Family in Ernest Cline's Ready Player One.

I participated as a member of the scientific committee for a scientific conference titled "With Scientific Research and Education, Nations Rise." This conference was held in partnership between Sheikh Al-Tusi University and the Teachers Syndicate / Branch of the Open Educational College in the center of Najaf Al-Ashraf, on October 30, 2024.

Attended the activities of the international scientific workshop held online from Malaysia, titled "Scientific Research Skills and International Publishing." The workshop was conducted over eight hours via Zoom, from June 24, 2024, to June 26, 2024.