A Country Big Enough to Disappear in

Essay on the work of documentary photographer Katrin Koenning and a meditation on the interplay of memory, place and self in everyday life.

Mind-body therapy use among U.S. children and adolescents

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased dramatically in the United States in the past several decades. While botanicals and dietary supplements have received the majority of attention in the popular and scholarly literature on alternative therapies, mind-body therapies, such as biofeedback, meditation, hypnosis, massage and chiropractic care presently constitute a large portion of the American public's use of CAM. The present study explores the patterns and prevalence of such therapy use among an under-studied population of CAM users: children and adolescents. Using data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, this paper describes the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of mind-body therapy use among a nationally representative sample of children (n=9,417) using a multidimensional model of health care behavior. The contribution of predisposing, enabling, and medical factors to mind-body therapy use among children will be also examined. Results provide additional evidence to a growing body of literature documenting that children and adolescents increasingly turn to mind-body therapies to alleviate symptoms, cope with chronic or life-threatening diseases, and to promote overall well-being. ^

Utopía y distopía en El oído absoluto de Marcelo Cohen

La novela de Marcelo Cohen, El oído absoluto, constituye dentro del sistema de la narrativa argentina, un ejemplo interesante y original por su relación con el género utópico. En efecto, el mundo posible creado por el texto para enmarcar la peripecia de los protagonistas: Evelino Borusso, Clarisa Wald, el padre de ésta, cuyo nombre original -León- ha devenido en Lotario, Tristán (nombres en los cuales es dable percibir un dejo de ironía que es la característica de toda la narración) se dan muchas de las características (insularidad, dirigismo, colectivismo, gobierno patriarcal regido por un grupo de filósofos o notables) y de las virtudes ensalzadas en la utopía clásica (el espíritu comunitario, la valoración del trabajo en detrimento del ocio, el desdén por el dinero). Pero al mismo tiempo se socavan, desde las dudas del narrador y de los personajes, las raíces mismas de ese mundo perfecto, y se reclama por una nueva utopía -a música, el lenguaje, la creación novelesca...- que cale más hondo en la intimidad, para clausurar, de una vez para siempre, la soledad y la incomunicación erigidos en puntos centrales de la meditación que la novela propone.

Rodolfo Mondolfo : humanista de izquierda

El pensamiento de Rodolfo Mondolfo une la investigación historiográfico-filológica y la meditación práctica sobre la moral y la justicia, resuelta en términos socialistas. Esta unión entre planos distintos de su obra no ha sido suficientemente destacada. Su recepción argentina reporta esta dificultad en la comprensión de su legado, dada por la doble contrariedad que esa herencia representa: por un lado fue un filósofo italiano que vivió y enseñó en la Argentina, antes que un filósofo argentino. Por otro lado, Mondolfo no fue sólo un profesor investigador, sino un intelectual marxista obsesionado por la relación entre la teoría y una práctica revolucionaria de intención demorradical y nacionalista. Se esboza una semblanza de conjunto para mostrar su preocupación por elaborar una antropología filosófica voluntarista, tanto a la hora de configurar su imagen del mundo antiguo, como al momento de trazar las categorías atinentes a una ética socialista de la emancipación nacional.

De la psicodelia a las cortinas del siglo XXI

Para aquellos arquitectos que trabajan hoy con nuevas variables espaciales asociadas a la era de los Media, esta tesis se establece como un tipo de guía. Se trata de una mirada organizada que nos propone dos compañeros indispensables para facilitar el viaje. El primero, ha sido siempre ocultado o marginado por la academia. Hablamos de la psicodelia con sus prácticas llamadas radicales, formando un cuerpo deliberadamente inestable que nos permite entender que un espacio sobrecargado de efectos y de límites borrosos, resultaría imposible de acotar hoy mediante las certezas de la idea de "los volúmenes bajo la luz". En este contexto nos encontramos con el concepto de expansión de conciencia, que a partir del consumo de alucinógenos o la meditación, nos permite construir un catálogo de siete "comportamientos espaciales" que a su vez, expanden nuestros los límites para enriquecer la percepción espacial. El segundo viajero, es Toyo Ito que se convierte en un exégeta involuntario del programa psicodélico. A partir de su capacidad de comprensión del intercambio de los fenómenos artificial y eléctrico con la naturaleza; Toyo Ito nos ofrece, gracias a la naturaleza de su pensamiento oriental, un entrelazado espontáneo entre la espacialidad contemporánea y esas dimensiones expansivas y ondulantes del ideario contracultural. Mediante estos dos compañeros de viaje, situamos y comprendemos mejor aquellas prácticas proyectuales que se relacionan hoy con nuevas propiedades espaciales de la materia y que trabajan con sus magnitudes imperceptibles; dando lugar a espacios que se esconden bajo etiquetas como, atmosféricos, virtuales, o enjambre entre otros. For those architects who are nowadays working with new spatial conditions associated with the era of Media, this thesis aims to establish a kirjd of guide. We propose two indispensable companions to commence the trip and to organize our perception. The first companion has always been concealed or marginalized by the academy. We are talking about of psychedelia and its radical practices, creating a deliberately unstable body that allows us to understand a space overloaded by effects, with blurry boundaries. A kind of space that refuses to be described trough the simplicity of "the volumes under the light".^ In this context, the use of hallucinogens or meditation, are behind the concept of expanded consciousness and they are assisting us, creating a catalog of seven spatial behaviors that simultaneously allows us to expand our understanding of space limits. The second passenger is Toyo Ito who becomes an involuntary exegete of the psychedelic program. Through his ability to understand the exchange between phenomena as artificiality and electricity with nature, Toyo Ito offers a spontaneous interlaced between contemporary spatiality and all these expansive and undulating magnitudes from countercultural ideology, also thanks to his Eastern mind. Through these companions for our trip, we are able to recognize and understand more deeply those architectural practices that are dealing today with new dimensions of matter today, working with its imperceptible magnitudes; magnitudes creating spaces that are concealed under labels such as, atmospheric, virtual, or "swarm" among others.

Jacques Tati : vivienda experimental y espacio de trabajo a mediados del siglo XX

La obra fílmica del director francés Jacques Tati podría considerarse como el perfecto reflejo del paradigma edificatorio de mediados del siglo XX en plena posguerra europea, una época ávida de transformaciones de las que el cine supo hacerse eco. Particularmente, el cine de Tati refleja las preocupaciones del ciudadano europeo de posguerra sobre las consecuencias de las masivas construcciones erigidas en sus devastados núcleos urbanos y la puesta en práctica de la ciudad funcional propuesta por la Carta de Atenas (1931). Pero, además, el análisis del cine de Jacques Tati permite un acercamiento a la modernidad desde diversos puntos de vista como la movilidad, el diseño urbano, las nuevas construcciones, los espacios de trabajo en los nuevos distritos terciarios, la vivienda -tradicional, moderna y experimental- o el diseño mobiliario en la posguerra. A través de su alter ego -Monsieur Hulot- Tati interacciona curioso con las nuevas construcciones geométricas de paños neutros y cuestiona su ruptura con la tradición edificatoria francesa, enfatizando la oposición entre el pasado nostálgico y la modernidad de las décadas de los 50 y 60, salpicadas por el consumismo feroz del recién estrenado estado de bienestar. La confrontación funcional, volumétrica, estética e incluso cromática entre ambos mundos construidos –el tradicional y el moderno- invita al espectador a un ejercicio de reflexión y crítica sobre la arquitectura moderna de este período en Europa. En particular, la mirada cinematográfica de Tati se centra en dos conceptos fundamentales. Por una parte, su atención se dirige a la famosa casa mecanicista Le Corbuseriana materializada en la ultra-moderna casa Arpel (Mon Oncle, 1958) y proyectada en la misma época en la que se desarrollaban importantes prototipos de vivienda experimental como la Casa de Futuro de Alison y Peter Smithson o las viviendas de Jean Prouvé. Debe ponerse de manifiesto que la crítica de Jacques Tati no se centraba en la arquitectura moderna en sí misma sino en el empleo erróneo que los usuarios pudieran hacer de ella. Por otro lado, Tati centra su atención en el prisma miesiano a través de los bloques de oficinas que conforman la ciudad de Tativille en Playtime (1967). Se trataba de una gran ciudad moderna construida explícitamente para el rodaje de la película y basada en los casi idénticos tejidos urbanos residenciales y terciarios ya en funcionamiento en las principales capitales europeas y norteamericanas en aquellos años. Tativille funcionaría como una ciudad autónoma disponiendo de diversas instalaciones y con el objetivo de integrarse y consolidarse en la trama urbana parisina. Lamentablemente, su destino al final del rodaje fue bien distinto. En definitiva, el análisis de la producción fílmica de Jacques Tati permite un acercamiento a la arquitectura y al urbanismo modernos de posguerra y al contexto socio-económico que favoreció su crecimiento y expansión. Por ello, su obra constituye una herramienta visual muy útil que aún hoy es consultada y mostrada por su claridad y humor y que invita a los ciudadanos –telespectadores- a participar en un ejercicio crítico arquitectónico hasta entonces reservado a los arquitectos. ABSTRACT The film work of French director Jacques Tati could be considered as the perfect reflection of the mid-20th century European post-war building paradigm, a period of time plenty of transformations perfectly echoed by cinema. In particular, Tati’s film work reflects the European post-war citizen’s concerns about the consequences of massive constructions built in their desvastated urban centres, as well as the development of functional cities proposed by the Athens Charter (1931). But, on top of that, an analysis of Jacques Tati’s cinematography allows for an approach to modernity from different perspectives, such as mobility, urban design, new buildings, working spaces in the new tertiary districts, housing -traditional, modern, and experimental-, or furniture design during the post-war period. Embodied by his alter-ego –Monsieur Hulot,- Tati curiously interacts with the new geometric constructions of neutral facades and questions the break with the French building tradition, highlighting the opposition between the nostalgic past and modernity of the 50s and 60s, affected by the fierce consumerism of the new welfare state. The functional, volumetric, aesthetic and even chromatic confrontation between both built worlds –traditional vs modern- invites the viewer to an exercise of meditation and criticism on the European modern architecture of that period. Tati’s film look is particularly focused on two basic concepts: on the one hand, his attention addresses Le Corbusier’s famous mechanistic house which is materialized in the ultra-modern Arpel house (Mon Oncle, 1958) and designed, in turn, when the development of other important experimental dwelling prototypes like Alison and Peter Smithson’s House of the Future or Jean Prouvé´s houses was taking place. It must be highlighted that Jacques Tati’s criticism was not addressed to modern architecture itself but to the wrong use that citizens could make of it. On the other hand, Tati focuses on the Miesian prism through the office buildings that shape the city of Tativille in Playtime (1967). It was a big, modern city built specifically for the film shooting, and based on the almost identical residential and tertiary urban fabrics already active in the main European and American capitals those years. Tativille would work as an autonomous city, having several facilities at its disposal and with the goal of getting integrated and consolidated into the Parisian urban weave. However, its final use was, unfortunately, quite different. In conclusion, an analysis of Jacques Tati’s film production allows for an approach to modern post-war architecture and urbanism, as well as to the socio-economic context that favoured its growth and expansion. As a result of this, Jacques Tati’s film production constitutes a suitable visual tool which, even nowadays, is consulted and shown due to its clarity and humour, and at the same time invites citizens –viewers- to participate in an architectural criticism exercise that, so far, had been reserved to architects.

O EFEITO DO CONTROLE RESPIRATÓRIO EM VARIÁVEIS ELETROFISIOLÓGICAS DA ATENÇÃO

A prática do ioga tem se tornado cada vez mais popular, não apenas pelos benefícios físicos, mas principalmente pelo bem-estar psicológico trazido pela sua prática. Um dos componentes do ioga é o Prãnãyama, ou controle da respiração. A atenção e a respiração são dois mecanismos fisiológicos e involuntários requeridos para a execução do Prãnãyama. O principal objetivo desse estudo foi verificar se variáveis contínuas do EEG (potência de diferentes faixas que o compõem) seriam moduladas pelo controle respiratório, comparando-se separadamente as duas fases do ciclo respiratório (inspiração e expiração), na situação de respiração espontânea e controlada. Fizeram parte do estudo 19 sujeitos (7 homens/12 mulheres, idade média de 36,89 e DP = ± 14,46) que foram convidados a participar da pesquisa nas dependências da Faculdade de Saúde da Universidade Metodista de São Paulo. Para o registro do eletroencefalograma foi utilizado um sistema de posicionamento de cinco eletrodos Ag AgCl (FPz, Fz, Cz, Pz e Oz) fixados a uma touca de posicionamento rápido (Quick-Cap, Neuromedical Supplies®), em sistema 10-20. Foram obtidos valores de máxima amplitude de potência (espectro de potência no domínio da frequência) nas frequências teta, alfa e beta e delta e calculada a razão teta/beta nas diferentes fases do ciclo respiratório (inspiração e expiração), separadamente, nas condições de respiração espontânea e de controle respiratório. Para o registro do ciclo respiratório, foi utilizada uma cinta de esforço respiratório M01 (Pletismógrafo). Os resultados mostram diferenças significativas entre as condições de respiração espontânea e de controle com valores das médias da razão teta/beta menores na respiração controlada do que na respiração espontânea e valores de média da potência alfa sempre maiores no controle respiratório. Diferenças significativas foram encontradas na comparação entre inspiração e expiração da respiração controlada com diminuição dos valores das médias da razão teta/beta na inspiração e aumento nos valores das médias da potência alfa, sobretudo na expiração. Os achados deste estudo trazem evidências de que o controle respiratório modula variáveis eletrofisiológicas relativas à atenção refletindo um estado de alerta, porém mais relaxado do que na situação de respiração espontânea.

Contemplative Education CenterStage: Training the Mindful Performer

In the late 20th century and early 21st century, contemplative education/studies courses, concentrations, and initiatives have emerged in the academy. Although there has been significant discussion of postsecondary courses and programs that have integrated contemplative views and practices in the literature, there have been few studies of contemplative curricula and pedagogy in higher education. Additionally, there have been even fewer inquiries of the influence of contemplative education on performing arts training within conservatories and college and university departments. The aim of this qualitative study was two-fold: (1) to describe, interpret, and appraise the impact of contemplative education on the curricula of an interdisciplinary conservatory level performing arts program, MFA Contemporary Performance, at Naropa University; and (2) to disclose, compare, and analyze MFA student perceptions of the influence of contemplative education on their professional and personal development. The following questions guided this study: (1) How do faculty and students characterize contemplative education within the MFA in Theater: Contemporary Performance Program? (2) How does contemplative education impact the intended and operational curricula of courses within the MFA Contemporary Performance Program? (3) How do graduate students perceive the effects of contemplative education, offered by the MFA Contemporary Performance Program, on the development of their communication abilities, presence-in-performance, sociolinguistic perspectives, and aesthetic perspectives? Based on the research methodology of educational criticism and connoisseurship, this investigation provides a vivid description and interpretation of the intended and operational curricula of three core courses within the MFA program. These curricula were examined through five dimensions: intentional, curricular, pedagogical, structural, and evaluative. In order to shape our understanding of the contemplative and performative nature of the curricula, the significant and subtle qualities of the courses were further captured by preparation, context-building, reflective, showing, and closing conventions. Since the courses were grounded in postmodern view, they were evaluated according to Doll's criteria of richness, recursion, relations, and rigor for the evaluation of postmodern curricula. MFA first- and second-year students primarily characterized contemplative education as body/mind training for performance and personal development, sitting meditation, and cultivation of mindfulness and awareness. Student perceptions of the impact of contemplative education on the development of their communication abilities, presence-in-performance, sociolinguistic perspectives, and aesthetic perspectives, throughout the course of their two-year training, are presented in a dimensional analysis. The research reveals eight different themes that intersect the three core curricula and interviews with MFA students and faculty. These thematics include inclusivity, nowness, silence, improvisation, goodness, heart, training, and space. The beginning letter of each theme combines to form the acronym, insights. The framework of insights connects and illuminates the most potent aspects of MFA Contemporary Performance values and training.

Sights for Sounds: The Roles of Illuminated Initials in Italian Music Manuscripts

The scholarship on illuminated initials is substantial, yet there is a significant absence of information when discussing the initials found in music manuscripts specifically. In this paper, I endeavor to supplement the current scholarship by focusing my research on music manuscripts produced in Italy between 1250 and 1500 A.D. in order to provide examples of the relationships between image, music, and text in the context of use. I use mainly iconographic research methods, though a considerable amount of background information is reliant on the research of other authors in the field of medieval philosophy and theology. Through my research I have concluded that the use of illuminated initials in medieval Italian music manuscripts enhances the function of the manuscript by providing another layer of understanding which audience members could use to aid them in their meditation, prayer, and in the performance of the music.

A relaxation technique enhances psychological well-being and immune parameters in elderly people from a nursing home: A randomized controlled study

Background: The aging process involves a decline in immune functioning that renders elderly people more vulnerable to disease. In residential programs for the aged, it is vital to diminish their risk of disease, promote their independence, and augment their psychological well-being and quality of life. Methods: We performed a randomized controlled study, evaluating the ability of a relaxation technique based on Benson’s relaxation response to enhance psychological well-being and modulate the immune parameters of elderly people living in a geriatric residence when compared to a waitlist control group. The study included a 2-week intervention period and a 3-month follow-up period. The main outcome variables were psychological well-being and quality of life, biomedical variables, immune changes from the pre-treatment to post-treatment and follow-up periods. Results: Our findings reveal significant differences between the experimental and control groups in CD19, CD71, CD97, CD134, and CD137 lymphocyte subpopulations at the end of treatment. Furthermore, there was a decrease in negative affect, psychological discomfort, and symptom perception in the treatment group, which increased participants’ quality of life scores at the three-month follow-up. Conclusions: This study represents a first approach to the application of a passive relaxation technique in residential programs for the elderly. The method appears to be effective in enhancing psychological well-being and modulating immune activity in a group of elderly people. This relaxation technique could be considered an option for achieving health benefits with a low cost for residential programs, but further studies using this technique in larger samples of older people are needed to confirm the trends observed in the present study. Trial registration: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Register ISRCTN85410212.

Lugares de la arquitectura sacra contemporánea: luz mediática versus tiempo de meditación

En el siglo XX -más de ciencias que de letras- se constata que aún no tenernos todas las respuestas y que, quizás, por ello, se sigue construyendo arquitectura religiosa, de aquí este recorrido sintético por su arquitectura sacra. Este se realiza siguiendo un triple nivel de análisis de estos lugares siempre simbólicos. Uno: relativo al espacio de la arquitectura que renueva el imaginario mediante sus elementos esenciales. Dos: relativo a la capacidad de la luz y la imagen para transformar la liturgia en espectáculo de masas. Tres: relativo a la dimensión táctil que muestra el paso del tiempo. Porque ¿cuál es la arquitectura de lo trascendente? Quizás la que vuelve a los elementos: tierra (materia), aire (espacio), agua (tiempo) y fuego (luz), permitiendo al hombre mirar a su interior.

The progress of the intellect : as exemplified in the religious development of the Greeks and Hebrews /

Includes bibliographical references.

The poems of Madison Cawein.

v.1 Lyrics and old world idlyls.--v.2. New world idylls and poems of love.--v.3. Nature poems.--v.4. Poems of mystery and of myth and romance.--v.5. Poems of meditation and of forest and field.

Vagabunduli libellus.

Sonnets.

Vedânta philosophy; three lectures on spiritual unfoldment.

Cover title: Spiritual unfoldment.