Journals @ The Mount
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Sudharshan Seneviratne: Scholar, Activist, and Humanitarian
Full text linkAmong the eminent scholars that Sri Lanka has produced in the last century, Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne’s name stands out, particularly in the context of history and archaeology. Having trained at two notable institutions in India, and under the mentorship of some of South Asia’s most renowned historians, Sudharshan Seneviratne’s career as an archaeologist began with a thorough study of the early socioeconomic history of South Asia, later intertwining archaeology with heritage management for conflict resolution and sustainable tourism. Professor Seneviratne represented Sri Lanka in many capacities throughout his long and distinguished career, the most prominent of which were the two diplomatic positions he held in India and Bangladesh. He was a dedicated teacher and mentor, deeply committed to interdisciplinary work, improving curricula and career opportunities for his students, and instilling in his lessons philosophies of multiple histories and ideas that challenged historical biases
Contributions of Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne to the Department of Archaeology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Full text linkAn overview of the contributions of Sudharshan Seneviratne to the Department of Archaeology at the University of Peradeniya. (PDF TBC
Esthétique du sujet des marges dans le roman francophone
Full text linkCet article examine l’esthétique du sujet marginal dans le roman francophone africain contemporain, en s’intéressant à la manière dont la fiction réfracte les réalités politiques et sociales à travers des prismes esthétiques et subjectifs. À partir de la réflexion d’Edgar Morin sur la relation entre affect et connaissance, l’article analyse comment la littérature transforme l’expérience migratoire en un espace de recomposition identitaire et de critique sociale. S’appuyant sur Le silence des esprits (N’Sondé), Alpha. Abidjan Gare du Nord (Bessora) et Un balcon sur l’Algérois (Nimrod), l’étude met en lumière l’ambivalence du sujet migrant, oscillant entre angoisse existentielle et quête d’ancrage. La littérature francophone contemporaine adopte une approche introspective où la migration devient un vecteur d’interrogation de l’intériorité et de l’extériorité du sujet. En mobilisant les concepts d’Alexis Nouss sur le migrant comme acteur politique, ainsi que les théories d’Emmanuel Lévinas sur l’altérité, l’analyse dévoile comment l’expérience esthétique permet de déconstruire les représentations figées de la marginalité. Elle interroge également l’(in)hospitalité européenne à travers le prisme de Jacques Derrida, révélant une tension entre l’accueil et l’exclusion.
Social Identity and Nature of Science Knowledge at the Undergraduate Level
Full text linkScience literacy is essential for informed participation in modern society, and undergraduate education plays a critical role in fostering science literacy among science and non-science students. One important component of science literacy is understanding the nature of science (NOS), yet traditional NOS frameworks have been critiqued for oversimplifying scientific practice and neglecting its social and cultural dimensions. While social identity is known to influence student academic engagement and performance, little is known about how identity factors such as gender, age, program and level of study, being a visible minority, or parental education influences NOS beliefs. In this study, 272 undergraduate students from a Canadian liberal arts university completed an online questionnaire assessing NOS knowledge. Students generally demonstrated a solid understanding of NOS, though their comprehension of scientific methods is limited. No significant differences in NOS beliefs were found across social identity groups, but non-science majors were more likely to report uncertainty in their responses compared to science majors. These findings suggest that traditional NOS measures may fail to capture the nuanced ways that social identity shapes science understanding, emphasizing the need for justice-oriented approaches to NOS education
Stone, Symbol, and Leisure: A Reassessment of Geometric Symbols on the Stone-Paved Terrace of Jetavana Stupa, Sri Lanka
Full text linkThis paper examines the presence and potential function of geometric symbols engraved on the stone-paved terrace of the Jetavana stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Despite their frequent appearance in sacred architecture, the purpose of these symbols remains illusive. Scholars have speculated symbolic associations with fertility, menstruation, phallic and yonic symbols, birth, and yantra. Yet such interpretations lack robust archaeological or textual support. Through a comparative archaeological field study of geometric symbols located in the South Indian Hindu shrine of Mahabalipuram and the Jain monastic complex of Shravanabelagola, this research offers an alternative understanding of the engravings at Jetevana. The analysis suggests that these symbols are not ritualistic or religious, rather representing traditional board games, many of which are still played in South Asia today. This interpretation is supported by the spatial placement of the engravings. They are often located in peripheral areas of monastic architecture, where craftspeople may have gathered during breaks. Examples from religious sites of Mahabalipuram and Shravanabelagola in South India have comparable symbols to those at the stone-paved terrace of Jetavana, lending strong support to this interpretation. Ultimately, this study argues that these engravings reflect the social and occupational dimensions of ancient stone artisans\u27 lives, rather than serving any overt religious or symbolic function. This research, with a focus on a specific region, contributes towards an appreciation of the labour of the creators of monumental architecture and the social elements of play embedded within the architectural landscapes of ancient complex societies
The Statue of Tara: A Glimpse into Spiritual Serenity at the British Museum
Full text linkThis research article explores the statue of the Goddess Tara, a significant artifact acquired during the colonial era and housed in the British Museum. Dated to the 8th-9th century CE and unearthed between Trincomalee and Batticaloa, this remarkable statue represents the intersection of spirituality and art in Buddhist culture from ancient Sri Lanka. More than just an artistic achievement; the statue of Tara encapsulates centuries of religious significance and cultural exchange. Positioned at the heart of the South Asian section of the British Museum, the statue allows visitors to engage with the enduring legacy of Buddhist artistry and the tranquillity associated with worship. The study delves into the historical context of Tara\u27s veneration within Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, tracing her cult\u27s evolution from Northern India and its potential diffusion into Sri Lanka through trade networks between India, Tibet, and Sri Lanka. Despite the lack of direct evidence of Tara worship in Sri Lanka according to previous scholarly work, I argue that the dynamic exchange of cultural practices between regions could have facilitated her introduction to Sri Lanka. Ultimately, this exploration of the Goddess Tara serves to enrich our understanding of Buddhist heritage and the spiritual serenity it offers to diverse audiences around the world
Zeus\u27s Beloved: Ganymede, Homoeroticism, and Florentine Pederasty in Renaissance Art
No full textAlthough it is generally acknowledged that homosexuality experienced renewed popularity as a topic of artistic investigation during the Italian Renaissance, the prevalence and purport of homoeroticism in the works of the era’s male artists have been subjects of greater speculation. This paper focuses specifically on representations of the Greek mythological figure Ganymede, whose tradition as an icon for homosexual desire can be traced back to antiquity. In my analysis of the Ganymedean iconography used by artists like Donatello and Michelangelo, I exemplify how homoerotic subtext reveals itself in Renaissance art through mythological imagery. To ground my visual analyses within the artworks’ historical context, I also refer to classical and Renaissance literature to identify contemporary ideas about love between men, which were shaped by the rise of Neoplatonism and its glorification of Greek pederasty. Identifying the homoeroticism in Renaissance illustrations of the Zeus and Ganymede myth thus upholds the latter’s status as an iconic figure in the history of queer art. More importantly, however, this paper’s analysis demonstrates that Ganymede’s iconographic function was ultimately to visually reinforce the resurrected Florentine version of pederasty and the troubling power imbalance of its lover-beloved relationship model
Forensic Nursing: Changing Our Future, Keeping Our Past
Full text linkIn this editorial, Dr. Carter-Snell reviews changes that have been occurring in forensic nursing and what remains at our core