Atlas Journal

A Modern Lazarus Tale: A Cinematic Allegory of Science, Faith, and Ontological Rupture

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serap Sarıbaş — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The Lazarus Effect (2015), directed by David Gelb, defies the conventional parameters of horror cinema by engaging with multidimensional concerns that intersect biomedicine, theology, philosophy, psychology, and visual narrative. While its premise revolves around the scientific reanimation of a deceased individual, the film ventures far beyond the spectacle of resurrection and instead unfolds as an existential inquiry into the fragile boundaries between life and death, self and other, science and the sacred. At the narrative core lies the resurrection of Zoe, a scientist brought back to life through an experimental serum. However, her return is not marked by spiritual renewal but by ontological disarray, manifested through psychological detachment, heightened aggression, and inexplicable supernatural phenomena. The film reconfigures the archetype of resurrection not as a redemptive miracle, but as a catastrophic transgression, wherein the sacred is replaced by technoscientific ambition and the divine is displaced by procedural control. In this light, The Lazarus Effect may be read not only as a story of corporeal revival, but also as a cautionary tale about epistemological overreach and ethical erosion in the pursuit of mastery over death. Employing a transdisciplinary lens, this paper considers the film as a post-secular allegory that draws upon and destabilizes foundational narratives surrounding resurrection and consciousness. Its intertextual architecture echoes the philosophical horror of Shelley’s Frankenstein, the illusion-reality dialectic of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, and the disciplinary strategies implied by biopolitical governance. Cinematically, the film fuses tropes of supernatural horror with documentary-style realism, enhancing the illusion of authenticity while subtly critiquing the scientific impulse to quantify the unquantifiable. Ultimately, The Lazarus Effect operates as a philosophical provocation. It confronts the modern condition wherein technological advancement outpaces ethical reflection, and where the resuscitation of the body does not entail the restoration of the soul. It raises the unsettling possibility that what lies beyond death may not be salvation, but a deeper, more terrifying fragmentation of the self.

Rousseau and the Critique against Enlightenment: Reflections on Civilization, Human Nature, Reason, and Freedom

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yılmaz — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Rousseau opposes Enlightenment thought's absolutisation of reason and its disregard for nature. According to him, reason alone is not a sufficient criterion for organising human life; emotions, instincts and harmony with nature should also be among the basic components of human life. According to Rousseau, the rationalist approach of the Enlightenment alienates the individual from his inner nature. The development of civilisation, far from increasing the freedom of individuals, has made them selfish and deepened class inequalities.

This article examines Jean-Jacques Rousseau's criticisms of Enlightenment thought in the context of society, civilisation, freedom and education. Rousseau opposed the Enlightenment's ideals of reason and progress, arguing that civilisation corrupted human nature and fostered inequality. This study evaluates Rousseau's political philosophy, understanding of freedom and educational approaches based on his works such as The Social Contract and Emile.

The Human Beyond Repetition: Cloning, Identity, and the Limits of Techno-Humanist Optimism in Caryl Churchill’s A Number

Assist. Prof. Dr. Kadriye Çiğdem Yılmaz, Lect. Hüseyin Erdin — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Caryl Churchill’s play A Number explores the emotionally charged relationship between Salter and his cloned sons—Bernard (B1), Bernard (B2), and Michael Black—against the disquieting backdrop of human cloning. While previous scholarship has focused on themes of identity, familial rupture, and ethical accountability, this article offers a distinct perspective by situating the play within the framework of techno-humanism—the belief in using technology to enhance or redefine human nature. Rather than endorsing this vision, Churchill maintains a critical distance, exposing the psychological and ethical dislocations that cloning entails. Through close textual analysis of key scenes and supported by bioethical and philosophical reflections, this study argues that A Number presents cloning not as a scientific triumph but as a site of existential destabilisation. By foregrounding the tensions between technological possibility and human meaning, the play offers a powerful and unresolved interrogation of what it means to be human in the age of biotechnology.

The Dystopian and Anarchistic Carnivals in Postmodern Turkish Literature: The Sea of Black Memories and Carnival in The Land of Blood

Prof. Dr. Bülent Cercis Tanrıtanır, İrem Şevin Korkmaz — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This article explores the intricate relationship between dystopia and anarchy through the works of two prominent figures in Turkish postmodern literature: Mehmet Açar and Süreyyya Evren. Açar’s multi-layered narrative techniques, intertextual strategies, and engagement with dystopian themes rarely encountered in Turkish literature intersect with Evren’s anarchist literary approach to produce distinctly anti-authoritarian discourses. While their texts bring together seemingly contradictory elements, they also pose incisive questions about social norms, offering readers novel interpretive perspectives. Through their fictional worlds, the interplay between dystopia and anarchy raises critical questions not only within Turkish literature but also across global literary and philosophical discourses. Simultaneously, the works of Açar and Evren invite readers to interrogate contemporary societal issues and reflect on the intricate relationships between authority, freedom, and social structures within literary frameworks. The article further examines how radical possibilities within anarchist ideology complicate and destabilize the dark futurities envisioned in dystopian narratives In this context, Açar’s layered storytelling and Evren’s experimental use of language sharpen readers’ sensitivity to intertextuality and multiply the interpretive possibilities embedded within the texts. Ultimately, this study investigates how the quest for freedom both individual and collective is constructed within literary narratives, and how dystopian and anarchic elements interact in shaping that construction.

The Effects of Regional Development Instruments on Development and Competitiveness

Dr. Serkan Timur — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The aim of this study is to analyse the effects of regional development instruments on development and competitiveness. Regional development covers the activities related to the economic and social development of different regions in countries, the effective distribution of resources, the efficient use of human resources and the transformation of budget resources into economic investments. In this context, economic development and competitive advantage require the efficiency of investments, utilisation of qualified human resources, quality of services and economic use of budget resources. In other words, the transformation of regional development instruments into efficient investments leads to an increase in living standards, quality of goods and services, superiority in competition in the markets, growth of the economy and increase in employment in the relevant countries. In this context, under the heading of public revenues, taxes, fees, stamp taxes and under the heading of public expenditures, real public expenditures and transfer expenditures are included. In the last part of the study, the effects of public instruments on documentary development and competitiveness are discussed. In this study, qualitative deductive method has been followed as a method, in this context, books, which are secondary sources, have been utilised in the writing of the study, and comparisons have been made by making use of the research results of articles and theses. As a result, it is thought that the results of scientific studies conducted at regional, national and international level can provide significant contributions to researchers, businesses, institutions and all related parties.

The Effects of Staff Empowerment on Job Satisfaction and Business Performance

Dr. Adem Yazır — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of employee empowerment on job satisfaction and business performance. Employee empowerment practices play an important role in the profitability and competitive success of businesses. In other words, in markets where new developments are constantly emerging, technologies are being updated, digitalisation is being applied to all sectors, and competition is increasing, employee empowerment has become even more important. In this context, the study was written using a semi-systematic inductive method, drawing on 42 articles, 8 books, 6 theses, and 2 internet sources, particularly from secondary sources after 2002. To ensure the criteria compliance of the study, the findings of previously published studies were compared using a semi-structured qualitative inductive method and a content similarity system, and the writing process was completed in 4 months. The subject of the study is limited to employee empowerment, job satisfaction, and business performance. As a result of this study, it was understood that employee empowerment practices increase employee job satisfaction and business performance, based on an examination of the results of the studies included in the scope. It is believed that the findings and recommendations developed in this regard will be useful to researchers, businesses, institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.

The Effects of Institutionalisation Processes on Internal Audit Practices of Enterprises

Assist. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şirin Yakut — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of institutionalisation processes on internal audit practices. Within this scope, the dimensions of internal auditing, namely planning, auditing, reporting and monitoring practices, were examined, and under the heading of researching the effects of institutionalisation on the effectiveness of internal auditing, the relationship between internal auditing and institutionalisation was examined in terms of effectiveness, consistency, transparency, fairness and employee participation. Considering that conducting studies within the scope of institutionalisation and internal audit could be beneficial for developing university-industry collaboration and supporting institutions and businesses, this study was planned.In preparing this study, a semi-structured inductive approach was followed, utilising articles, books, theses, reports and other relevant sources with appropriate content. Comparisons were made based on the results of previous studies, and the findings were presented to researchers, businesses, institutions and other relevant parties. Within the scope of the semi-structured inductive method, sources related to the study were identified, sections with content similarity were extracted from these sources, and comparisons were made by utilising other studies on similar topics. It is expected that the comparisons made in this study by utilising research with similar content will provide insights and guidance to researchers, businesses, public institutions, and relevant parties from different perspectives.

Determining the Effectiveness of the Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority: Analysis of Activity Reports

Lect. Dr. Ahmet Alataş — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority (KGK) was established based on the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 and the Decree Law No. 660 and operates with the aim of ensuring compliance with national and international standards in the fields of accounting, auditing, and financial reporting. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of KGK’s activities between 2012 and 2024. In the research, the institution’s annual activity reports were examined through the document analysis method, and the data were evaluated under thematic headings. The analysis results revealed that the institution’s personnel were predominantly male, the educational level of the staff has increased over the years, participation in the independent auditing exam has risen in recent years, and that “warning” has been the most frequently preferred sanction type imposed on independent auditors. It was also found that KGK effectively and efficiently utilized its communication channels with stakeholders, and that once the initial problems of organization and structuring were resolved, the quality and extent of public services provided increased. In addition, data related to authorization, age distribution, and administrative fines support the changes experienced in the institution’s areas of activity over time.

The Effect of Motivation and Socio-Demographic Structure on Secondary School Students' Awareness of Environmental Problems towards Science Learning

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faruk Kardaş, tansu Tosun Okatan — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study aims to examine whether motivation toward science learning and socio-demographic structure have a significant effect on middle school students' awareness of environmental issues. A survey model was employed in the research. The study included 1,246 students in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 from three public schools randomly selected in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı province during the 2021-2022 academic year. As data collection tools, the Environmental Awareness Scale developed by Güven and Aydoğdu (2012) and the Science Learning Motivation Scale developed by Dede and Yaman (2008) were administered after obtaining the necessary permissions. The data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS-23 statistical program. A one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) was applied to the obtained data. The analysis revealed the impact of motivation toward science learning and socio-demographic structure on middle school students' awareness of environmental issues.

Ali Shariati's Concept of Social Change: An Analysis Based on Concepts

Assist. Prof. Dr. Zefir Ademi — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Ali Shariati, an Iranian Muslim thinker and sociologist, has left a deep impact on both Iran and the Islamic world with his works on Islamic thought in the modern period. Emphasising the necessity of reinterpreting the concepts fixed by the traditional ulema for centuries, Shariati deals with the relationship between religion and social change, especially through the concepts of religion, tawhid, ijtihad, intizar, social justice and hijra. According to Shariati, Islam is not only about individual worship, but also a dynamic system that aims to transform the individual and society. In this context, he emphasises the revolutionary understanding of religion represented by Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali, and takes a critical stance against static and traditional interpretations. Ijtihad is not only a jurisprudential method in his thought, but also an expression of free thought and social responsibility. Intisar, on the other hand, is not a passive waiting, but an active struggle for the establishment of justice. Social justice is the essence of Islam's social message; it aims to eliminate inequalities between rich and poor, strong and weak. Hijra, on the other hand, is more than a spatial migration; it is a process of mental and social transformation. This article attempts to understand Ali Shariati's ideas on social change through the meanings he attributed to the aforementioned concepts, and aims to discuss his original interpretations of Islam's transformative power on a conceptual basis In this direction, inductive method, textual analysis (content analysis) and indirect observation (interpretation of past events) techniques will be used.