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Spotlight on China – An Analysis of L’Empire Chinois Illustrated by Thomas Allom and Described by Clément Pellé
Get PDFIn the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the Western world living in (the aftermath of) the age of Enlightenment, was highly intrigued by China. Although it had already been discovered in the past, its image was still unclear in the West. Not only did the latter develop interest for this new country but it was also fascinated by the Chinese culture; a true admiration for Chinese notions became the vogue at that time (Yetts, 1926). This is illustrated by Pellé’s first sentence of the preface in L’Empire Chinois: “Si les regards se tournent vers la Chine maintenant, c’est parce qu’elle n’a pas été bien explorée auparavant… Son refus pour tout changement a donné un aspect original à la population Chinoise qui la rendu unique”. Consequently, this book is contextualized against the background of the rising interest in ‘other’ countries and ‘other’ cultures. In this line, it is interesting to have a look at the cultural process explaining how Western identities were formed in opposition to an image of the East, a process that Edward Said - professor of English literature and literary theorist - called ‘orientalism’. The second part of the chapter is devoted to the analysis of the depiction of the Chinese. In L’ Empire Chinois, the illustrations of Thomas Allom are sumptuously drawn and they present an undeniable romantic image of China. So, I will try to answer the research question: how to interpret this romanticized perspective on China evoked by Allom and Pellé? Therefore, the historical context, with the specific factors which influenced the authors, isnof the utmost importance. It will be clear that the idyllic image of China in L’ Empire Chinois and the representation of the other are inextricably bound to Pellé and Allom themselves
Involvement of the FKBP5 gene in the pathogenesis of stress-related disorders and antidepressant response: An update
Get PDFThe FKBP5 gene has been shown to modulate stress responses by regulating glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. Because stressful events are increasingly recognized as important environmental risk factors of psychiatric disorders, FKBP5 has recently become a candidate gene in research on stress-related conditions. This review aims to provide a concise overview of current knowledge about the FKBP5 gene and its clinical implications and suggest directions for future research. Firstly, the functional role of the gene will be described. Associations with affective and post-traumatic stress disorders will then be discussed in the context of gene-by-environment interactions. Finally, the usefulness of FKBP5 genotype as predictor of antidepressant drug response will be outlined
In how far are neurological rehabilitation methods for criminal offenders compatible with the concept of human dignity?
Get PDFIn recent years neuroscience has experienced a drastic increase in popularity, driven by leaps of progress made in the field (Giordano, 2011, p. 412). By now, many interdisciplinary fields have emerged from it, two prominent examples being neurolaw and neuroethics (Shen, 2010, p. 352; Levy, 2008, p. 1). Neuroscience is nowadays also discussed in the context of the criminal justice system and may soon be used in the field of trial evidence, detecting biases in juries and judges, to make defendants competent for trial, and many other areas of the criminal law (Neurolaw: A video introduction). A very interesting field is rehabilitation of criminal offenders. The more neuroscience discovers about what is commonly termed the ‘criminal mind’, the more science attempts to find treatments that could help to correct deviant behaviour and reintegrate offenders into society (Greely, 2008, p. 1104). A number of direct as well as indirect methods of brain intervention are currently discussed in respect to their usefulness for this purpose. However, there are many caveats to such uses of brain intervention. This paper will deal with one of those caveats: the principle of human dignity. In this work, I wish to investigate in how far brain intervention for the purpose of rehabilitation of convicted criminal offenders is compatible with the notion of human dignity
Louis Hennepin on the Native Americans
Get PDFWhen the Europeans set out to travel to America, the mysterious new continent discovered by Christopher Columbus in the 15th century, their reasons for doing so differed greatly. Whereas some went for the sheer aim to explore, others tried to set up trade relations, while again others tried to spread their beliefs to the unknown people they wished to encounter. One of the individuals who tried to spread believes was the Missionary Father Louis Hennepin, who was sent on a mission in 1675 by the French King Louis XIV. His goal was not only to explore new land, but also to convert the so-called “savages” to the one true faith, which according to him was Christendom. During his travels that he conducted with Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, he did not only happen to become the first eye witness to write about the Niagara Falls, but also the first European to explore the St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi river. The contact to the Native Americans he needed in order to achieve his mission was not difficult to acquire. He was even captured and taken hostage by the Sioux at one point during his journey. However, he soon realized that the conversion itself was a much more difficult task. Due to his frequent contact with the natives, they are very present in his writings. In most of his elaborations he writes in a neutral way, but he also describes the American tribes being “The Other,” which shows his negative sentiments about them. Therefore, this paper is analyzing Hennepin’s writings about the Native Americans, and explores the different factors that influenced his writings. In order to explain these factors, this paper uses references of literature on different possible influences, such as literature on the code of conduct in Europe during the 17th century, secondary literature on Missionary and travel writings in the 17th century, as well as Norbert Elias book The Civilizing Process
The Japanese Character and its Peculiarity – A Study of Carl Peter Thunberg’s Travel Account
Get PDFJapan, with its increasing isolation in the 1630s – cumulating in the ban of all foreigners apart from Chinese and Dutch traders and restricting Dutch traders to the small artificial island Deshima in 1641 – only few foreigners received permission to enter the country (Rietbergen, 2003, p. 170). Since their travels were based on monetary and rarely on scientific interests, only a small number of travel accounts about Japan were published in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries (Rietbergen, 2004, p. 56). When the Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828) published his Resa uti Europa, Africa, Asia, förrättad åren 1770 – 1779 from 1788 onwards, it were around fifty years that no new narratives on Japan had been published in Europe.Thus, it is of no surprise that his travel account was widely read in Europe. Thunberg’s work was translated once into English and Japanese, twice into French and twice into German (Screech, 2005, pp. 61-62). Despite aiming for a neutral report about the Japanese society, Thunberg provides a personal account about the Japanese that is remarkably positive and entails only few negative comments (e.g. too strict obedience to rules). This paper answers the question in how far and in what way Thunberg sets the Japanese culture and society apart from the European one. Moreover, possible reasons for this positive account are given. This chapter works with the English translation by Charles Hopton of 1793-95, which was reedited in 2005 by Timon Screech. The page numbers that are given in this chapter are derived from the 2005 edition. The German original translation by Kurt Sprengel from 1792 can be found in Maastricht Jesuit collection and is also referred to in this chapter
The Magnificence of the Qing – European Art on the Jesuit Mission in China
Get PDFCross-cultural encounters between China and the West date back to the first centuries A.D., when merchants, missionaries and travelers from numerous nations undertook the journey via the Eurasian land route known as the Silk Road. However, the most productive interaction that would profoundly and permanently affect both China and Europe was stimulated by the members of a religious order founded in 1534, namely the Society of Jesus. In the following years the highly intellectual Jesuits would slowly but steadily work their way into the vast realm of Chinese life with the help of an insistent albeit accommodative propagation introducing first and foremost Catholicism, Western sciences like mathematics, astronomy and medicine, philosophy, culture as well as the arts. This policy of accommodation was introduced by the Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano (1539- 1606) - responsible father in command of the China mission - and cunningly implemented by celebrated Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci (1552-1610). Rather little attention has been paid to the subject of the arts, regarding their development and changes throughout the time of the Jesuit China missions. Remarkably, even Jean-Baptiste Du Halde (1674-1743), French Jesuit, geologist and sinologist, who is nowadays seen as the greatest author of the age on China and composer of Description de la Chine et de la Tartarie chinoise – which includes detailed information on the geography, culture, history, and politics of China, Chinese Central Asia, Tibet and Korea - did only briefly mention the arts in this context (Volume III, p. 1510). Even though his work is the largest and most comprehensive work on China produced by a Jesuit, he was among the Sinologists who never visited China himself. Interestingly, well-known figures such as Rousseau, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Hume and Goldsmith relied on and referred to Du Halde as their principle source of knowledge (Mackerras, 1989). We can therefore view his work as a fundamental element of how China was represented in the West – very positive, charming and slightly propagandistic
Recovery from Work-Related Stress: A literature review
Get PDFOccupational stress adversely affects both the individual and the organization. Because of its economical and health relevance, much research has been devoted to employee recovery from work stress. Defined as a process of replenishing resources, recovery has been suggested to be important in reducing work-related fatigue, thereby making individuals feeling ready again to meet the demands at work. This literature review systematically summarizes findings from research on recovery. The literature search was conducted based on the PsychInfo database. Forty-eight journal articles were included in the review. Overall, studies consistently implicate that daily recovery is especially important to avoid long-term strain reactions. Moreover, research has found specific off-job activities as well as experiences attached to these activities to promote recovery, thereby improving performance, health, and well-being. Taken together, results imply that both individuals and organizations should be concerned about employee recovery and possibilities to support it during work and non-work time
Steps towards sustainable student support: Stressors among international high school students living in a boarding house
No full textHigh school is a stressful time for any adolescent. But what about teenagers who recently moved across the world to live in a boarding house and start at a competitive international school? This study aimed to discover what stressors boarding students at an international school experience through a literature research and 15 semi-structured interviews with current students and recent graduates. The findings indicate that the boarders experience a wide variety of boarding-, peer-, and school-related stressors. Interventions are suggested to address the mentioned stressors and to help the school design effective programs to promote student wellbeing
Measuring Transparency Towards a new Model of Corruption Research
Get PDFDespite the implementation of numerous anti-corruption strategies, fighting corruption is far from over. This chapter researches what elements are missing in the systematic study of corruption, and aims to improve existing corruption research strategies. It argues that (somewhat surprisingly) the current state of corruption research does not take social and cultural components sufficiently into consideration. Building upon existing research (i.e. Corruption Perception Index, World Bank’s Guide) I have developed a new model that could help identify corruption. To do this, I propose a social constructivist approach, enabling me to highlight the social and cultural aspects of corruption. This study is designed for researchers on transparency and corruption and functions as a discussion tool in how to explore the concept in a new and innovative fashion. Finally, it also serves as a thought-provoking impulse for organisations and agencies committed to measuring and combating corruption
Histoire de la Conquête de la Floride in Time – Legitimizing and Framing the Spanish Conquest of Florida
Get PDFTravel books have been around for ages and fascinated those who stayed at home with magnificent reports from abroad. The same goes for historic accounts on the conquest of the ‘New World’. This chapter deals with Histoire de la Conquête de la Floride which is a 1731 travel account on the Spanish conquest of Florida in the 16th century that is quite unique in its publication history and content. It is this study’s interest to read between the lines and find out which motivations really lie behind the publication of the book. What can a book actually reveal that was originally written 65 years after De Soto’s conquest by an outsider with a personal interest in the matter; a book that was then translated by a Frenchman after another half century had passed and was finally published by a third man in the Netherlands forty years after the translation, more than hundred years consequent to the original book and almost two hundred years after the actual conquest took place!? This already indicates that Histoire de la conquête de la Floride possibly is not ‘just’ another travel book