The Representation of Motherhood in Polish Cinema

The project aimed to analyse representations of motherhood in Polish cinema as a special case of a more general system within the representation of women. It concentrated on the image of the Polish Mother created during the 19th century in Polish culture under the influence of specific political, social and religious factors. Ms. Ostrowska's initial hypothesis was that this symbolic image became one of the most stable elements in Polish cinema and as her research revealed, it was valuable for the preservation of national identity but nevertheless a fiercely constraining model for Polish femininity. In order to fully understand the nature of this persistent image it was initially necessary to related it to broader contexts and issues in representation. These included the image of the Polish Mother within general mythological structures (using the notion of myth in the Barthesian sense). Following her initial research Ms. Ostrowska felt that it was most appropriate to view the myth of the Polish Mother as a dominant ideological structure in the discourse of motherhood within Polish culture. An analysis of the myth of the Polish Mother can provide an insight into how Polish society sees itself at different periods in time and how a national identity was constructed in relation to particular ideological demands stemming from concrete historical and political situations. The analysis of the film version of this myth also revealed some aspects of the national character of Polish cinema. There the image of woman has become enshrined as the "eternal feminine", with virtues which are inevitably derived directly from Catholicism, particularly in relation to the networks of meanings around the central figure of Mary, Mother of God. In 19th century Poland these were linked with patriotic values and images of woman became part of the defence of the very idea of Poland and Polishness. After World War Two, this religious-political image system was adapted to the demands of the new communist ideology. The possibility of manipulating the ideological dimensions of the myth of the Polish Mother is due to the very nature of the image, which as a symbol of civil religion had been able to function independently of any particular state or church institution. Although in communist ideology the stress was on the patriotic aspect of the myth, its pronounced religious aspect was also transmitted, consciously or not, in the denotation process, this being of great significance in the viewer's response to the female character. This appropriation of elements derived from the national patriotic tradition into the discourse of communist ideology was a very efficient strategy to establish the illusion of continuity in national existence, which was supposed to convince society of the rightness of the new political situation. The analysis of films made in the post-war period showed the persistence of this discourse on motherhood in a range of cinematic texts regardless of the changing political situation. Ms. Ostrowska claims that the stability of this discursive formation is to a certain extent the result of the mythological aspect of the mother figure. This mythological structure also belongs to the ideology of Romanticism which in general continues to prevail in Polish cultural discourse as a meta-language of national community. The analysis of the films confirmed the hypothesis of the Polish Mother as a myth-sign whose signifier is stable whereas the signified depends on the specific historical conditions in which it is set. Therefore in the famous propaganda documentary Kobiety naszych dni (Women of Our Days, 1951) by Jan Zelnik, and in other films made after the October 1956 "thaw" it functions as an "empty sign. She concludes that it would be difficult to deny that the myth of the Polish Mother has offered Polish women a special role in national life, granting them a high moral position in the social, hierarchy. However the processes of idealisation involved have resulted in a deprivation of her subjectivity and the right to decide about her own life. This idealisation also served to strengthen traditional patriarchal structures through this set of female obligations to the mother land. In Polish ideology it is not a man who demands sacrifice from a woman but the motherland, which, deprived of the institutions of male power for nearly 150 years, had functioned as a feminine structure. That is why oppressive aspects of the myth have been obscured for so long. While Polish women were doubtless able to accept the constrictions because of their sense of national duty and any misgivings were overridden by the argument of the cause, it is important to recognise that the strength of these constructions, compounded by the ways in which they spoke of and continue to speak of a certain perfection, make them persist into contemporary Poland. Poland is however no longer embattled and the signs that made these meanings are potentially empty. This space for meaning will be and is already being contested and increasingly colonised by current western models of femininity. Ms. Ostrowska's final question is whether this will help to prevent a possible resentful victimisation of the silent and noble Polish Mother.

(Supplement) Regeneration of Pinus sylvestris, disturbance residuals and soil properties 5 years after a mixed-severity wildfire in the inner Italian Alps

We analyzed the abundance of Scots pine regeneration in a 257 ha wildfire in an inner-alpine forest. We sampled regeneration, percent soil cover by classes, physical and chemical properties of topsoils (A horizon, 0-5 cm) under four fire severity levels (unburned, moderate, moderate/high, high severity). 5 plots per severity level, circular (R= 3m). Analysis methods for soil properties as described in the paper.

Análisis de parámetros de fendas para la estimación de las propiedades mecánicas de vigas de madera de Pinus sylvestris L. Analysis of parameters for assessing drying fissures to estimate their influence on the mechanical properties of Pinus sylvestris L. wooden beams

El principal objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la influencia de las fendas de secado en las propiedades mecánicas de vigas de madera. Para esto, se utilizan 40 vigas de Pino silvestre (Pinus sylvestris L) de 4200 mm de longitud y 150x200 mm de sección que fueron ensayadas según norma EN 408. Las fendas se registran detalladamente atendiendo a su longitud y posición en cada cara de la viga, y midiendo el espesor y la profundidad cada 100mm a lo largo de la viga. Solo el 10% de la muestra es rechazada por las fendas, según los criterios establecidos por la norma española de clasificación visual UNE 56544. Para evaluar la influencia de las fendas en las propiedades mecánicas, se usan tres parámetros globales basados en el área, el volumen o la profundad de la fenda, y dos locales basados en la profundidad máxima y la profundidad en la zona de rotura. Además se determina la densidad de las piezas. Estos parámetros se comparan con las propiedades mecánicas (tensión de rotura, módulo de elasticidad y energía de rotura) y se encuentra escasa relación entre ellos. Las mejores correlaciones se encuentran entre los parámetros relacionados con la profundidad de las fendas, tanto con el módulo de elasticidad como con la tensión de rotura. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the influence of drying fissures on the mechanical properties of timber beams. For that purpose, 40 sawn timber pieces of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) with 150x200 mm in cross-section and 4200 mm in length have been tested according to EN 408, obtaining MOR and MOE. The fissures were registered in detail measuring their length and position in each face of the beam, and the thickness and depth every 100 mm in length. Only 10 % of the pieces were rejected because fissures, according to UNE 56544 Spanish visual grading standard. To evaluate the influence of fissures in mechanical properties three global parameters: Fissures Area Ratio or ratio between the area occupied by fissures and the total area in the neutral axis plane of the beam; Fissures Volume Ratio or ratio between volume of fissures and the total volume of the beam; Fissures Average Depth and two local parameters were used: Fissures Maximum Depth in the beam, and Fissures Depth in the broken zone of the beam. Also the density of the beams was registered. These parameters were compared with mechanical properties (tensile strength, elasticity modulus, and rupture energy) and the relationship between them had not been founded. The best relationship was founded between the elasticity modulus y the tensile strength with the parameters which included the depth of the fissures.

Análisis de música grabada : baladas y scherzos de Chopin

Análisis de múltiples grabaciones de las cuatro baladas y los cuatro scherzos de Chopin realizadas por diversos intérpretes. El objetivo del proyecto será determinar las diferencias objetivas existentes entre las diferentes ejecuciones y respecto a una partitura de referencia. OBJETIVOS: Analizar las grabaciones realizadas de obras de Chopin atendiendo a criterios objetivos como el tempo y la dinámica. MÉTODO Y FASES DEL TRABAJO: Se realizará un estudio diferencial para determinar las variaciones de parámetros objetivos existentes en las diferentes grabaciones respecto a una, que será tomada como referencia, mediante herramientas informáticas. MEDIOS: Se utilizarán versiones digitalizadas de las grabaciones y la edición crítica de Jan Ekier (National Edition) de las partituras. Para la realización del análisis se recurrirá al software SonicVisualiser desarrollado por el Centre for Digital Music (Queen Mary, University of London) en conjunto con los plugins destinados al análisis temporal y espectral disponibles. Así mismo, serán utilizadas otras herramientas desarrolladas durante el Mazurka's Project realizado por el Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music para facilitar la visualización de datos en el presente documento. OBJETIVE: To analyze several records from Chopin’s repertoire, according to objective criteria like tempi and dynamics evolution. METHODOLOGY: A differential analysis is going to be made to determine how this criterion differs from every digitalized record to another one stabilized in advance as model. In order to do so, we’ll use software tools as well as auditions to get the best detail. MEDIA: Digital editions of the recordings and the critical edition by Prof. Jan Ekier music scores have been used. We’ve chosen the software tool SonicVisualiser developed by Centre for Digital Music (Queen Mary, University of London) in conjunction with some of the temporal and spectral plugins available for this platform as our main analysis tool. We’ve also used some other tools developed by the Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music to appropriately display some important information in the present document.

Hepatic IGF1 DNA methylation is influenced by gender but not by intrauterine growth restriction in the young lamb

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Chaz Mein and Eva Wozniak at the Genome Centre, Queen Mary University of London, who were integral to the development of the DNA methylation assays and processing of samples. Financial Support: This work was supported by Wellbeing of Women (D.J.C., grant number RTF318) and the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division including the Strategic Partnership for Animal Science Excellence (J.M.W., R.P.A., J.S.M. and C.L.A.).

Paintings of the petroleum industry in Lea County, New Mexico

"The pr1.mary purpose of this thea1a waa to learn about and t .o produce a aeries of pa1nt1n~.a that aymbolized. tbe oil induatry 1n Lea. Count,-, New ltexic.o. The secondary purpose waa to learn more about tho oil industry, which is the big business in Le.a Countj, :New Mexico"

[Letter from Thankful Smith to Mary Dunster, ca. 1767]

Handwritten one-page undated letter from Thankful Smith to Mary Dunster of Harwick, Mass. The letter is witnessed by Judith Smith, Elisha Parker, and Caleb Gannett. The short letter is playful and provides cryptic details about Smith's life. Though the letter is closed, "I remain your dutiful Parent," the author appears to be Thankful Smith writing to her sister Mary Dunster.

Affidavit of the administrators of the estate of Hannah Lee, 17 January 1788

Handwritten affidavit declaring Isaac Story of Marblehead, Mass. the executor of the estate of Hannah Lee, with the estate's proceeds to be distributed to Thomas and Sarah Fayerweather, Thomas Hubbard Townsend of Needham, and Andrew and Mary Bordman of Tewksbury. The affidavit also appoints London merchants to recover lands in England.

Lord Burghley and Queen Elizabeth

Sequel to Mr. Secretary Cecil and Queen Elizabeth

The historical romances of Louisa Mühlbach.

v. 1. Napoleon and the queen of Prussia. -- v. 2. The empress Josephine. -- v. 3. Napoleon and Blücher. -- v. 4. Queen Hortense. -- v. 5. Marie Antoinette and her son. -- v. 6. Prince Eugene and his times. -- v. 7. The daughter of an empress. -- v. 8. Joseph the Second and his court. -- v. 9. Frederick the Great and his court. -- v. 10. Frederick the Great and his family. -- v. 11. Berlin & Sans Souci. -- v. 12. Goethe and Schiller. -- v. 13. The merchant of Berlin. -- v. 14. Louisa of Prussia and her times. -- v. 15. Old Fritz and the new era. -- v. 16. Andreas Hofer. -- v. 17. Mohammed Ali and his house. -- v. 18. Henry the Eighth and his court. -- v. 19. The youth of the Great Elector. -- v. 20. The reign of the Great Elector.

Victoria, Queen and Empress : a jubilee memoir /

Mode of access: Internet.

Romantic biography of the age of Elizabeth; or, Sketches of life from the bye-ways of history.

v. 1. Introduction. Margaret of Valois, Queen of Henry IV. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Castelnau, Ambassador from France. La Mothe Fenelon. La Mothe Fenelon and Castelnau. Thomas Howard, fourth duke of Norfolk. Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, and notices of Walter, 1st Earl of Essex. Dr. Dee.--v. 2. Calvin and the church of Geneva. William Whittingham and the Puritans. Archbishop Whitgift and Dr. Cartwright. John Darrel, the exorcist. Loyola and the order of the Jesuits. Robert Parsons, Edmund Campian, and the Jesuits in England. Pope Sixtus V. Charles de Valois, Duc d'Angoulême. Henry de la Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount Turenne and Duke de Bouillon.

Queen Anne,

Politics I.--Politics II.--Literature.--Society and manners.