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Polysemous Tradition as a Common Basis for Ideological Resistance in Windsor Forest and The Communist Manifesto
Full text linkThis paper delves into the nuanced use of tradition as a foundation for ideological resistance in Alexander Pope’s “Windsor Forest” and Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ “The Communist Manifesto.” Despite their divergent contexts—Pope’s text emerging from early 18th-century England and the Manifesto from mid-19th-century industrializing Europe—both works leverage historical and literary traditions to critique and resist dominant ideologies of their times. “Windsor Forest” subtly confronts ideologies of Protestant ascendancy and anti-Catholic sentiment prevalent in England following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, promoting peace and the unity of Great Britain under Queen Anne’s Stuart monarchy as alternatives to war and division. Through literary devices such as allegory and panegyric, Pope employs tradition not only to question the contemporary political and social landscape but to posit the Stuart dynasty as a symbol of national prosperity and harmony.
Contrastingly, “The Communist Manifesto” openly challenges the capitalist ideology that Marx and Engels argue perpetuates class struggle and exploitation of the proletariat. The Manifesto calls for a revolutionary overhaul of the social order, drawing on traditions of socialist thought and the historical precedent of class struggle to justify its radical aims. Despite its revolutionary stance, the Manifesto similarly relies on the manipulation of tradition—both embracing and rejecting it—to articulate a vision of communist society.
Both texts, therefore, are situated at the intersection of literary expression and ideological conflict, illustrating how tradition can serve as a versatile tool in the articulation of resistance. Whether through the invocation of historical continuity and national identity in “Windsor Forest” or the revolutionary call to arms in “The Communist Manifesto,” tradition is employed to critique existing social and political orders. The abstract underscores the complexity of these texts’ engagement with tradition, highlighting their shared emphasis on the transformative potential of ideological resistance. This comparison illuminates the rich dialogues between literature and politics, demonstrating how textual analysis can reveal deeper insights into the mechanisms of ideological critique and resistance
The Age Old Question: Studying as a Medical Student
No full textEntering medical school feels like a dream come true. The excitement builds until the first week arrives and reality sets in. Don’t get me wrong, it is an incredible privilege and experience but the sheer content that is thrown at you can be overwhelming at times and never seems to falter. That is why it is very important to have a strategy to keep up and study as you go. The only problem being how to study. Even after completing three years, this is something I still struggle with. Everyone seems to have a different strategy that works for them so it is important to find one that works for you and fast as last-minute cramming can only get you so far. So what is the optimum way to study? There are many resources provided by the medical school; lectures, websites, books, journals, articles, and research papers. It can be daunting having to go through these and pick one that suits your learning style the best.
If you would like some personal recommendations, the book Moore’s Clinically Oriented Anatomy is my favorite when it comes to Anatomy learning. Kumar and Clarke is also an excellent book to learn from. Some other resources I recommend include; Osmosis, KenHub, Khan Academy, and Ninja Nerd These are all great when it comes to learning all aspects of medicine however studying is a personalized experience where one size does not fit all so it is important to shop around and find the best one for you, especially in those early weeks. 
Of Monsters and Men: Dystopian Fantasy, Ideology, and Dehumanisation in Black Mirror’s “Men Against Fire”
Full text linkThere are few artistic genres more intertwined with politics than dystopia. In its very essence, dystopian fantasy is a method of criticising ideology, at the same time that it serves as a tool for the dissemination of the issuer’s own ideology. Black Mirror’s “Men Against Fire” episode provides a rich case study for considering ideology in one of its most violent formats: the creation of monsters. In the episode, deceived by a helmet that changes reality, soldiers fight and exterminate cockroaches - individuals with a genetic predisposition to diseases - while the civilian population, immersed in that bellicist ideology, dehumanises individuals even without a literal alteration of the real. This article analyses the creation of monsters, putting into dialogue theories on ideology, dystopian fantasy, and dehumanisation to construct a framework of how this dehumanisation process and its relationship with ideology works
Student Spotlight - Elective Stories
No full textOrganising your junior or senior elective is no mean feat. There are plenty of factorsthat come in to play; choosing a medical specialty, deciding whether to stay at home orgo abroad, finances, learning objectives and safety regulations. We have compiled acollection of short elective summaries completed by Glasgow university students insummer 2023. We hope this provides you with some inspiration for organising yourelective in summer 2024. Dr. Craig Napier and Nicola Cumming are extremely helpfulwhen it comes to answering elective related questions. You can email them at:[email protected] Amazon, Peru, Laura ScobieI step outside to witness the golden sunrisereflecting on the muddy amazon water. It isanother morning in the rainforest and thereis another community to provide ahealthcare service to. We run through thevillage taking care with our steps as there isalways the risk of snakes being on the path; itis starting to get warm and in the humidityyou quickly get sweaty. We stop and buycoconuts from a local family; the refreshingwater cools us down. Village life is basic andvaries from village to village with somehaving water running to their self-builtwooden homes and others having to collectwater from the river. Again, some homeshave access to electricity from a centralgenerator or solar panels but many peopledo not. Most families live off the land and allthe money that they have is in their backpocket. Morning clinic begins and a mum arriveswith her four children. Common complaintsare headaches, fatigue or joint pain. Whenexploring the life style of patients it is easyto see why many people suffer from thesecomplaints; working in the heat of the daydoing manual labour and drinking littlewater. Iron deficiency is also common as ironrich food is not often in their diet. We screened all children for anaemia bylooking for conjunctival pallor and testedtheir haemoglobin if we felt it was necessary.We had to presume anaemia was due to irondeficiency as there were no other testsavailable to us. All patients received amultivitamin and for those children underfive who could not swallow a tablet, we wouldprescribe syrup as per their weightaccording to the BNF and boat guidelines. Although practicing medicine waschallenging at times due to limited testingand ability to follow up, one big success is thedental service. There is an excellent dentalsuite on board with room for two patients toreceive treatment. Without this the patientpopulation would have no access to dentalcare; being a population with poor generaldental hygiene, this is vital to overall patienthealth. It was a privilege to work alongsidePeruvian employees and volunteers and tobe embraced by their families and to exploretheir culture.Bristol, Heather Hamilton I did my senior Elective in Bristol in CriticalCare and Anaesthetics. I decided to stay inthe UK for a number of reasons and stillmanaged to get away before and after myelective for a break before starting back for5th year!The hospital I was at was the major traumaand neurosurgery centre for South-WestEngland which meant I got to be involvedwith the care of many complex patients. Theteaching was excellent and very hands on,especially in theatre where I was encouragedto get IV access, draw up drugs, intubate, andget involved in more complex procedures. I got to see some operations that, within theUK, are only performed at the hospital I wasbased at. In the ICU I examined patientsduring rounds, practiced US-guidedcannulas, and got involved with theemergency crash team for the whole site.The timetable was extremely flexible, and Igot to choose which theatre sessions I wasinterested in, what days I wanted off, andwhen I wanted to be in ICU.The anaesthetics department also had threecoffee machines and (a very nice – I’mtalking Sourdough and smoked salmon)lunch was bought by the consultants once aweek so that was a bonus!Staying in the UK certainly had its benefitsfor me. I was able to spend time with familyand friends that I hadn’t seen properly for afew years, and the experience helped me tosolidify my Foundation Year rankings. I spentmy weekends in London, with family in thelocal area, and Cornwall which was only acouple of hours away from Bristol.Uganda, Anna KyleFor my senior elective, I travelled to KiwokoHospital, in a rural town in Uganda for a fiveweek programme of paediatrics and generalmedicine. This was a community-basedhospital with an emphasis on spiritual as wellas physical health. Placement would beginwith 8am chapel, featuring specials run byvarious departments who took joy in dancingor dressing the medical director up as Jesus.After this, we would attend the doctor’smeeting to handover patients over localchapatis and samosas and we receivedteaching on professionalism. Following this, we headed to the wards,divided into male and female rather thanspecialities. Patients were only paediatric ifunder five years of age, and on the ‘wardround’, children were brought to the doctor’sdesk. Besides regular placement, oneweekend there was a ‘medical mission’, in aneighbouring village to run a mass screeningprogramme. This was run under the trees,until nightfall when we had to use phonetorches to see the paperwork. At this, I ran apaediatric clinic with a translator, and wasable to amuse the children by creatingballoons out of gloves!The elective provided a fascinating glimpseat healthcare in a resource-poor country.Healthcare was only partially subsidised withpatients charged for even the gloves used bystaff, so often patients would only be able toafford a consultation without investigationsor treatment. On days, the hospital ran outof essentials such as oxygen, imposingethical dilemmas. Cultural beliefsencountered could be difficult. For instance,epilepsy is stigmatized as a mental healthcondition, or attributed to demonpossession, and was at times ‘treated’ withboiling water to terminate a seizure. Womenwere often treated as property whosehusbands could dictate when and to whatextent they received medical treatment. Itwas an eye-opening elective, but thoroughlyenjoyable
War of Narratives: A Concentric Dissection of China’s Taiwan Policy
Full text linkThis paper explores the intricate strategic narratives that China employs in its policy towards Taiwan. Through concentric analyses, it dissects China’s narratives towards Taiwan at three levels: system-level narratives, identity narratives and issue narratives. At the systemic level, China’s narrative aims to position Taiwan’s status under the broader goal of national unity and territorial integrity, emphasising the one-China policy and opposing external intervention. Identity narratives delve into shared history, culture, and nationalism to reinforce claims to Taiwan as part of China’s inherent identity and destiny. Issue narratives, on the other hand, focus on interpreting specific events, portraying reunification with Taiwan as legitimate, inevitable and a matter of national pride. This paper also mentions counter-narratives in Taiwan that emphasise Taiwan’s democratic values, unique identity and the challenges posed by China’s hard-line policies. The analysis reveals how these narratives contribute to increasing China’s international influence, undermining Taiwan’s legitimacy, and fuelling domestic nationalism, while also potentially influencing strategic responses across the region and around the world
Monstrous Races in the Medieval English Psalter World Map
Full text linkThis article examines medieval Monstrous Races in the Psalter World Map from the thirteenth-century English Map Psalter (British Library, Add. MS 28681). It suggests the map’s reading as a pictorial expression of liminality situated in a to- and fro-ing between conceptions of Us/the Self and Them/the Other. I consider how the map exiles the Monstrous Races through spatially articulated geographical distance; inserts Them into notions of Us via inclusion in God’s salvation plan; and gestures towards a category crisis in the Us-Them divide by celebrating England’s own peripheral placement on the mappa mundi’s border. The border-space which constitutes the nexus of my investigation extends to encompass the Psalter World Map’s materiality and the self-definition by means of difference enacted by the reader-viewer in corporeal terms
Moving Through Ruins and Encountering Entropy in the Horizon Video Games
Full text linkoai:ojs2.gla-test.journals.ed.ac.uk:article/2Ruins are increasingly sites of interest in popular culture and scholarly settings, with recent academic thought surrounding ruination frequently crossing disciplinary lines. This includes work by human geographers reflecting on their experiences of walking through ruinous landscapes. By turning attention to the work of Tim Edensor and Jonathan Brettell, this article considers their ideas in the context of contemporary video games, using textual analysis to unpack the fantastical futures of Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn (2017) and its recent sequel Horizon Forbidden West (2022). Horizon Zero Dawn has been described as a ‘techno-fantasy’ (Maher n.p.), blending elements from classic fantasy novels and post-apocalypse film (Hudgins n.p.). These open-world role playing games are set in a post-apocalyptic United States, amidst landscapes strewn with debris left behind by the Old Ones. The player takes control of an outcast named Aloy, who sets out to solve the mysteries of the Old Ones and their technology, all while directing her on quests through a world overrun by strange animal-like machines. In considering the ruins of the Horizon games, this article develops the ideas of others: “that ruins might be one avenue through which to detect critical potential in games” (Fraser 178). On the whole, this article examines how Edensor’s and Brettell’s experiences of ruins compare to those in computer-generated settings, while thinking more broadly about the differences and similarities between physical and virtual ruins. In doing so, specific attention is given to how players traverse Horizon’s ruins, how game design curates the players’ experiences of ruination, and how encountering entropy provides an opportunity to reflect upon the future. Beyond these discussions, this article works to demonstrate the utility of fantasy media in interdisciplinary work, arguing that Horizon offers players an opportunity to engage with distinct entropic landscapes and to reflect on Earth’s ecological well-being. 
The Hidden Epidemic: Burnout and Mental Health Amongst Medical Students
No full textIn the noble pursuit of healing others,medical students often find themselvesgrappling with their own silent battles:burnout and mental health issues. Despitethe aura of prestige surrounding themedical profession, the harsh reality is thatthose training to become doctors facetremendous pressure, leading to alarmingrates of burnout and mental healthchallenges. In the UK, this issue has beengaining significant attention, shedding lighton the need for systemic changes to supportthe well-being of future physicians.The Burnout Epidemic:According to a recent study published in theBritish Medical Journal (BMJ), burnoutamongst medical students in the UK isalarmingly high; with nearly two-thirdsexperiencing symptoms at some pointduring their training. Burnout,characterised by emotional exhaustion,depersonalisation, and reduced personalaccomplishment, not only affects themental health of medical students but alsocompromises patient care and contributesto high dropout rates within the professionThe Perils of Perfectionism:One contributing factor to the prevalence ofburnout among medical students is theculture of perfectionism ingrained inmedical education. From the rigorousacademic demands to the relentless pursuitof clinical excellence, students often findthemselves striving for unattainablestandards, leading to chronic stress andpsychological strain.Research conducted by the Royal Collegeof Psychiatrists indicates that the fear offailure and the pressure to excelacademically contribute significantly to themental health challenges faced by medicalstudents. The stigma surrounding mentalhealth within the medical communityfurther exacerbates the problem, leadingmany students to suffer in silence ratherthan seeking the support they desperatelyneed.The Impact on Mental Health:Beyond burnout, mental health issues suchas anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideationare prevalent among medical students. Asurvey conducted by the Medical SchoolsCouncil revealed that nearly one in fivemedical students in the UK experiencedepression or anxiety severe enough torequire treatment.The demanding nature of medical training,coupled with long hours, sleep deprivation,and exposure to distressing clinicalscenarios, takes a toll on the psychologicalwell-being of students. Without adequatesupport systems in place, many studentsfind themselves overwhelmed, strugglingto cope with the demands of their studieswhile battling their inner demons
Addressing the Crisis:Recognising the urgent need to addressburnout and mental health issues amongmedical students, universities andhealthcare institutions are beginning toimplement proactive measures to supportstudent well-being. From mental healthcounseling services to peer supportnetworks and wellness initiatives, effortsare underway to create a more nurturingand supportive learning environment forfuture physicians.Additionally, initiatives such as the#MentalMovement within the medicalcommunity are working to reduce thestigma surrounding mental health andencourage open conversations about thechallenges faced by medical students andprofessionals alike. By fostering a culture ofcompassion and understanding, theseinitiatives aim to break down barriers toseeking help and promote a healthierapproach to medical education and practice.The prevalence of burnout and mentalhealth issues among medical students in theUK is a pressing concern that demandsimmediate attention. As future guardians ofpublic health, it is imperative that weprioritize the well-being of those entrustedwith the responsibility of caring for others.By addressing the root causes of burnout,challenging the culture of perfectionism,and fostering a supportive learningenvironment, we can create a brighter andhealthier future for medical students andthe patients they serve.Now we want YOUR opinions on this.burnout and mental health are subjectswhich are hard to talk about as medicalstudent so we would love to hear about yourthoughts and opinions. If you have 5 minutesto fill in the google form below it would begreatly appreciated
Curling Your Way Through Medical School
No full textMedicine has long been fashioned as adegree with poor work-life balance; withlong hours and a breadth of content to coveracross the scientific knowledge spectrum.Finding time to relax and unwind can bechallenging, especially at Medical School. In this article, medical student Denver sitsdown with Kevin Feng (intercalating medicalstudent) who is the Chair of ScottishStudent Sport Curling and the President ofGlasgow University Curling.Denver: Can you introduce yourself & tell usa bit about your journey into Medicine? Kevin: Indeed. While I’ve always wanted tobe a criminal psychologist, my passion forSTEM sparked my interest to pursueMedicine. I’m the current Scottish StudentSport President for Curling, representingstudents who curl all across Scotland. Denver: That’s interesting Kevin, so whatinspired you to take this sport up? Kevin: It all started at Fresher’s Fayre in 2ndyear (the first one after COVID-19lockdown) and I really enjoyed the floorcurling set they had. Shoving a few curlingstones down the cloisters was really themoment I knew this was my sport. That’s allhistory now because I’ve been in curling forthe past three years which still makes mequite new to the sport (since most curlershave done it since school).Denver: That’s an interesting history.Balancing medical school alongside beingthe Chair of Scottish Student Curling &the President of Glasgow UniversityCurling must be challenging! What do youdo in these roles?Kevin: I now largely oversee the dailyrunning of the curling club, communicatewith GUSA and support my committee withtheir responsibilities. I’ve previouslyserved as Treasurer and VP across my timein the society offering me immenseexperience. At Scottish Student Curling, Ilead and work with a team of Vice-Chairsworking through organising tournaments,bonspiels and introductory sessions. Denver: Seems like a plateful of work, howdo you manage your time between medicalschool and your commitments to thesport? Kevin: Medicine can be quite intense at thestart, however I’ve felt that as soon as youget a routine and diligently follow it, it canmake such as big difference. Curling was anew sport to me when I joined, but Ifostered strong connections all across,making it so much easier! It even perfectlyfollows University of Glasgow’s examinationcalendar since Scottish rinks are largelyonly open from September to April, eachyear. Denver: Have there been moments where itwas particularly challenging to maintain thisbalance? How did you handle them?Kevin: Certainly! Medicine and the curlingclub have quite a overlapping mismatchedschedule and this makes it a bit challenging– especially at the start of the year whenyou’ve got freshers week and lots ofplanning to do for the year ahead, whiletrying to handle the 15 weeks in the deepend! Nevertheless, I could actively rely onthe people I work with, especially whentimes got difficult. I’ve found maintaining aperfect work-life balance can be challengingbut certainly not impossible!Denver: You’ve made it seem easier than itlooks! Now for the final bits, how doessomeone join Glasgow University’s CurlingSociety? Kevin: Being a really open and inclusivesociety, our new beginners always trainalongside Scottish trophy & tournamentwinners offering a 1-1 mentorship andexcellent support. We would love to inviteanyone & everyone to come along to our training sessions on Wednesdayafternoons during term time. Denver: Lastly, what’s been your mostmemorable Curling moment? Kevin: Meeting Grant Hardie & BruceMouat – current Team GB Curling players
Tail Lights
No full textAnd so here we are : the end of anotheracademic year, summer beckons and the 4thonline edition of Surgo 2023/4. Timely thento review the last year as we look forward toa well-deserved holiday to rechargeourselves for next year. It was so joyous to see all the graduatingfinal year students at the GU to celebratetheir magnificent achievement and heartheir excitement in joining the nobleprofession of Medicine come August.Extremely proud of all of them and eager tocall them my colleagues! MedChir has organised another successfulyear packed full of social and educationalevents. It is always an honor and pleasure tobe involved. A highlight was the Revuejudging invitation – especially when my andother fabulous colleagues’ faces featured inthe winning (of course!) performance. Welldone the Glasgow Medics Netball Club!!! Surgo (born in the 1930s) is now online – aneconomic saving for MedChir and moresustainable for the environment. Everypublication here on out is “discoverable” published work is therefore legitimate CVentries.Very well done to those who submittedvisual abstracts to Surgo. I have learnt somuch from your interesting projects! FYIthe best 5 entries are published witheach issue of Surgo, with the overall endof year winner receiving a grand £100prize. (Get your skates on!)Gratitude, thankfulness, or gratefulnessis a feeling of appreciation by a recipientof another\u27s kindness. This kindness canbe gifts, help, favors, or another form ofgenerosity to another person. The wordcomes from the Latin word gratus,which means "pleasing" or "thankful"(Wikipedia). Not to be confused with“gratis” (free, without charge) fortunately for us, practicing gratitude isfree! Daily gratitude exercise canimprove our emotional wellbeing byhelping us cope with stress (1) – so here Igo: This has been a busy year – a newRadiology chapter in the latest Kumarand Clark (eek!), speaking invitations toVienna and Gothenburg, runner up forNHS Education Scotland Innovation inEducation prize and winning 2 grantsfrom the Association of Study of MedicalEducation. I organised the ScottishRadiological Society Spring Meetingwith a Well-Being and Education focus. Itwas attended by almost 100 radiologists,the first to witness a standing ovation (Ithink) and the wonderful, generousfeedback was deeply humbling. I am grateful to my family, all my clinicaland radiological colleagues, theuniversity, medical students and mypatients They allow me to improve patient caredirectly and also indirectly through myinteractions with you - tomorrow’sdoctors. Finally, I am very grateful to have got toknow and work with Anna Bradford,Surgo Editor in Chief this year. Anna is aforce of nature – publishing 4 issues ofthis year (“usual” is 2 issues/year with nopublications for a while! That is a tale foranother Tail lights…). Her energy,enthusiasm and determination has beeninstrumental in bringing Surgo into the21st Century and online. I wish her all thevery best as she hunkers down to thebusiness of getting through final yearMBChB. I am looking forward to workingwith Daanyaal Ashraf who has manyideas for Surgo 2024/5. Future I am brimming with excitement towelcoming students, international andlocal experts to the Uncertainty inMedicine / Humanities elective thissummer. The Surgo Visual AbstractCompetition will continue into 2024/25 so please send in your interestingprojects to Daanyaal (publication = CVfodder and £20 prize – don’t say I am notgenerous to you!). Finally, I am lookingforward to my new role at DundeeMedical School. Until the next Tail lights – have a greatsummer