Mount Royal University: MRU Journal System
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Public Space, Urban Identity and Conflict in Medieval Flanders
Get PDFIdeas of public space can say a lot about the societies that create them. A clear example of this was its use in Flanders during the medieval period. People within Flanders found themselves in a unique situation having one of the highest amounts of urban densities in Europe. This allowed for a distinct urban identity emerge. Within the urban centres of Flanders a distinct political culture had been fostered which caused many examples of conflict within cities themselves and against the nobility of Flanders, France and Burgundy. By looking at examples of these conflicts a distinct urban identity appears. This urban identity allowed public space to be used as a tool by the people of Flanders in order to protect their political rights and liberties. To see the use of public spaces as a tool Henri Lefebvre’s theory of the construction of public space must be understood. Once Lefebvre’s theories are understood specific spaces may be looked at in order to see what role they played in the urban identity of the Flemish cities and how these identities wrapped up in public spaces were used as tools during times of conflict, revolt and rebellion. The spaces that provided the best examples of this were the distinct borders of towns defined by walls and defences, belfries and marketplaces
Two Ideas of Human Nature: Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Thomas à Kempis
Get PDFOne of the questions that many people contemplate in their lifetime is the idea of human nature. In this essay I will seek to examine and compare the idea of human nature in the minds of Christian humanists during the Renaissance to that of late Medieval Christian mystics. The Oration on the Dignity of Man, written by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (Pico) provides an insight into the mind of a Renaissance humanist, while The Imitation of Christ, written by Thomas à Kempis illustrates the thought process that was characteristic of a late Medieval Christian mystic. Pico believed that humans are a great miracle and it is within their nature and capabilities to become something great in the world, something just below the level of God.[1] à Kempis held the belief that human nature, like the idea found in Genesis, was corrupted by the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. It can be found in his writings that he believed that human nature is something that is detrimental to the individual and should be controlled by calling on the grace of God.[2] The different points of view found in the writing of Pico and à Kempis can be traced to the sources of their inspiration. In writing The Imitation of Christ, à Kempis drew his inspiration only from the Bible. Pico, like many other Renaissance humanists, looked for truth about human nature not only in the Bible but also by studying other classical works such as the ancient Greeks and Arabs. [1] Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Oration on the Dignity of Man (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012). [2] Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (Chicago: Moody Press, 1958)
Départs volontaires, faux-départs, retours impossibles dans l’oeuvre de Louis-Philippe Dalembert
Get PDFCet article propose une analyse tripartite du thème du départ dans les romans de Dalembert. Départs volontaires, faux-départs et retours impossibles s’articulent tant dans la vie de ses personnages de fiction que dans l’Histoire avec la traversée de l’océan lors de la traite des esclaves. Nous nous intéresserons tout particulièrement à la récriture du voyage initiatique à l’œuvre dans L’Autre face de la mer, œuvre que nous pouvons définir comme « roman du départ » car il exploite le sujet sous différents aspects. Nous verrons que le voyage initiatique n’est que l’origine de tout départ et que chaque déplacement postérieur devient un écho de la traversée de l’océan des esclaves africain
Is technology more important than friendships: A look into the effects of technology on communication skills and relationship building
Get PDFMy research project is focused on how technology use can affect communication skills in children for their future. Conducting research through literature and surveys, I learned about both positive and negative uses of technology in classroom situations. I found that many people believe that the increased technology use our society is experiencing has a negative effect on children\u27s’ communicative future. However, there were also some findings that technology can have a positive impact on communication. These findings can help teachers and parents ensure their children are developing healthy communication skills
Digital technology and the arts: Investigating the integration of digital technologies in the elementary art curriculum
Get PDFArt is a wonderful way for students to express their creativity and engage in their learning in a new and interesting way. In today’s modern world, the integration of digital technologies has the capability to enhance lessons and provide unique opportunities for students to experience the curriculum. Through the surveying of my fellow teacher candidates, family, friends and an e-mail interview with a subject matter expert, I asked specific questions about the potential positive and negative effects of the integration of digital technology in the elementary art curriculum. In addition, I explored five added sources to supplement my research. As a result of this investigation, I discovered that a balance of new and old technologies is fundamental to the art experience in the elementary art curriculum. It is imperative that technology is not the sole focus and that other traditional art mediums are included in the curriculum. This research project allowed for the exploration of the positive and negative impact of integrating digital technologies in the arts for my future teaching practice. Ultimately, the potential benefits of the integration of digital technologies far outweigh any of the negatives and the opportunities they present are endless
Editorial
Get PDFAn overview to the second edition of the journal and an introduction to each of the eight research manuscripts
La Escuelita de Alicia Partnoy: una mirada al interior
Get PDFLa Escuelita. Relatos testimoniales es el título de la obra de Alicia Partnoy, víctima de la represión de la dictadura militar argentina en los años setenta. En este libro, Partnoy relata su propia experiencia, así como la de sus compañeros de prisión. Este trabajo propone que a través de recursos retóricos como el lenguaje infantil y la inclusión de símbolos como el pan y la venda sobre los ojos de los presos, Partnoy acerca al lector a las sensaciones físicas y percepciones de los cautivos y, a partir de éstas, a la experiencia y el significado del cautiverio. En este sentido, la autora consigue una identificación del lector con los prisioneros y el rechazo total hacia sus opresores. The Little School. Tales of Dissapearance and Survival is the title of the testimonial book by Alicia Partnoy, who was incarcerated by the military government in Argentina during the decade of the 70s. In this book, Partnoy tells her own experience in prison and that of other victims of the regime. This article suggests that the work of Partnoy includes rhethorical tools such as the use of childish language and the insertion of symbols like a piece of bread and a blindfold covering the prisoners’ eyes, which render the reader closer to the prisoners’ perceptions and feelings. In this way, Partnoy’s account enables the reader to explore by himself the prison experience. The author achieves an identification of the reader with the prisoners, as well as negative feelings towards the oppressors
Quakers: The Enlightenment’s Atlantic Connection
Get PDFDuring the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the Quakers campaigned vigorously for the abolition of slavery on both sides of the Atlantic. From the founding of the Society of Friends, members of this religious association were both highly mobile and at the forefront of expanding ‘moral knowledge.’ As such, this paper will argue that the Quakers were integral to the spread of Enlightenment ideals, sharing ideas about human rights and human nature throughout the British Empire. To support the claim that the Quakers were a necessary part of the exchange of ideas between Britain and the United States, the paper will draw upon a wealth of primary sources. This will include pamphlets and reports from meetings of the Quaker Society in London during the relevant historical period, as well as the writings of prominent Quakers like John Ady and Joseph Woods. This examination of trans-Atlantic activism for the abolition of slavery is intended to inform future discussions on the spread of Enlightenment ideas, shedding light on the sometimes over-looked contribution of the Quakers
