Les « Annecdotes littéraires » : lecteurs anonymes, de 1760 à aujourd’hui

Collection : Cahiers d’histoire culturelle ; vol. 12

Akrasia and the Aesthetic: Human Agency and the Site of Literature, 1760-1820

This study focuses on a series of foundational stylistic and formal innovations in eighteenth-century and Romantic literature, and argues that they can be cumulatively attributed to the distinct challenges authors faced in representing human action and the will. The study focuses in particular on cases of “acting against better judgment” or “failing to do what one knows one ought to do” – concepts originally theorized as “akrasia” and “weakness of the will” in ancient Greek and Scholastic thought. During the Enlightenment, philosophy increasingly conceives of human minds and bodies like systems and machines, and consequently fails to address such cases except as intractable or incoherent. Yet eighteenth-century and Romantic narratives and poetry consistently engage the paradoxes and ambiguities of action and volition in representations of akrasia. As a result, literature develops representational strategies that distinguish the epistemic capacities of literature as privileged over those of philosophy.

The study begins by centering on narratives of distempered selves from the 1760s. Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions and Laurence Sterne’s A Sentimental Journey narrate cases of knowingly and weakly acting against better judgment, and in so doing, reveal the limitations of the “philosophy of the passions” that famously informed sentimental literature at the time. These texts find that the interpretive difficulties of action demand a non-systematic and hermeneutic approach to interpreting a self through the genre of narrative. Rousseau’s narrative in particular informs William Godwin’s realist novels of distempered subjects. Departing from his mechanistic philosophy of mind and action, Godwin develops the technique of free indirect discourse in his third novel Fleetwood (1805) as a means of evoking the ironies and self-deceptions in how we talk about willing.

Romantic poetry employs the literary trope of weakness of will primarily through the problem of regretted inaction – a problem which I argue motivates the major poetic innovations of William Wordsworth and John Keats. While Samuel Taylor Coleridge sought to characterize his weakness of will in philosophical writing, Wordsworth turns to poetry with The Prelude (1805), revealing poetry itself to be a self-deceiving and disappointing form of procrastination. More explicitly than Wordsworth, John Keats identifies indolence as the prime symbol and basis of what he calls “negative capability.” In his letters and poems such as “On Seeing the Elgin Marbles” (1817) and “Ode on Indolence” (1819), Keats reveals how the irreducibly contradictory qualities of human agency speak to the particular privilege of “disinterested aesthetics” – a genre fitted for the modern era for its ability to disclose contradictions without seeking to resolve or explain them in terms of component parts.

Mariage et altérité : les alliances mixtes chez la noblesse canadienne après la Conquête (1760-1800)

Le 8 septembre 1760, la Nouvelle-France s’incline devant son opposant, la Grande-Bretagne, après six années de conflits armés. La fin des hostilités en Europe, concrétisée par la signature du traité de Paris le 10 février 1763, marque un tournant pour les habitants de la vallée du Saint-Laurent qui ont désormais un nouveau souverain. Le changement de régime est lourd de répercussions, particulièrement pour la noblesse canadienne. Étant donné qu’ils sont dépendants des dirigeants afin d’obtenir des postes de choix, les membres de ce groupe privilégié ayant décidé de rester dans la colonie doivent s’adapter s’ils désirent maintenir leur statut social. L’arrivée des nouvelles élites militaires, administratives et commerciales britanniques oblige la noblesse à se renouveler. Les familles nobles ont-elles usé de stratégies matrimoniales en mariant leurs enfants à des individus non francophones dans le but de se rapprocher des autorités? En contrepartie, ces alliances interethniques ont-elles permis aux conjoints « étrangers » de s’insérer dans les réseaux seigneuriaux? Les unions mixtes impliquant un membre de la noblesse sont peu nombreuses (38) et concernent surtout les filles nobles. La présence de fils nobles n’est pas pour autant inexistante, bien que les comportements de ceux-ci se distinguent de leurs compatriotes féminines. Ayant des caractéristiques hétérogènes, les mariages mixtes perpétuent tout de même les pratiques en place sous le régime français, notamment sur le plan sociodémographique. Les parcours religieux variés sont toutefois le reflet de la période de transition que constitue la deuxième moitié du XVIIIe siècle. Sur le plan socioprofessionnel, les conjoints non francophones ont relativement bien tiré profit de leur alliance avec une noble canadienne, contrairement aux pères nobles. Malgré leur nombre restreint, l’étude des mariages mixtes permet de documenter un phénomène jusque là méconnu, en plus d’approfondir les connaissances en histoire de la famille et du genre pour les quarante années qui suivent la Conquête.

A discourse delivered before the Rhode-Island Historical Society, on the evening of Thursday February 1, 1849. Published at the request of the Society.

"Sketch of the progress of historical science."

L’épave du Machault, 1760 : entre tradition et innovation.

Cette étude s’intéresse à l’industrie de la construction navale pour le milieu du XVIIIe siècle en France dans la région de Bayonne. L’objectif est de documenter la relation qu’entretiennent les pratiques de construction traditionnelles et innovatrices à cette période. L’architecture de la frégate le Machault est au cœur de cette analyse. Construit en 1757 à Bayonne et perdu en 1760, le Machault a été fouillé, documenté et parallèlement récupéré par les archéologues de Parcs Canada entre 1969 et 1972 à Ristigouche dans la baie des Chaleurs, Québec. Cette étude constitue la première analyse architecturale approfondie menée sur ces vestiges. L’analyse est réalisée en trois temps qui correspondent aux trois grandes étapes de la chaine opératoire de la construction du navire. Tout d’abord, il est question d’aborder l’aspect de la foresterie afin de saisir la nature de la ressource forestière mobilisée pour la construction de la frégate. Ensuite, ce mémoire se penche sur la conception architecturale des navires qui renvoie à un aspect plus théorique, car il relève de la façon dont les formes du navire ont été « pensées ». Enfin, la charpenterie est abordée afin de saisir la séquence d’assemblage du navire. Ensemble, ces trois grands aspects dressent un portrait général de la construction navale pour la région de Bayonne au milieu du XVIIIe siècle.

L’épave du Machault, 1760 : entre tradition et innovation

Cette étude s’intéresse à l’industrie de la construction navale pour le milieu du XVIIIe siècle en France dans la région de Bayonne. L’objectif est de documenter la relation qu’entretiennent les pratiques de construction traditionnelles et innovatrices à cette période. L’architecture de la frégate le Machault est au cœur de cette analyse. Construit en 1757 à Bayonne et perdu en 1760, le Machault a été fouillé, documenté et parallèlement récupéré par les archéologues de Parcs Canada entre 1969 et 1972 à Ristigouche dans la baie des Chaleurs, Québec. Cette étude constitue la première analyse architecturale approfondie menée sur ces vestiges. L’analyse est réalisée en trois temps qui correspondent aux trois grandes étapes de la chaine opératoire de la construction du navire. Tout d’abord, il est question d’aborder l’aspect de la foresterie afin de saisir la nature de la ressource forestière mobilisée pour la construction de la frégate. Ensuite, ce mémoire se penche sur la conception architecturale des navires qui renvoie à un aspect plus théorique, car il relève de la façon dont les formes du navire ont été « pensées ». Enfin, la charpenterie est abordée afin de saisir la séquence d’assemblage du navire. Ensemble, ces trois grands aspects dressent un portrait général de la construction navale pour la région de Bayonne au milieu du XVIIIe siècle.

A importância e a influência do génio de Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) na vida e obra do pianista e compositor Milosz Magin (1929-1999)

Este Trabalho de Projecto é composto por duas partes: uma de índole teórica e outra de índole prática. No que diz respeito a parte teórica, ela compõe-se por uma exposição que se divide em quatro capítulos. O primeiro capítulo toma como ponto de partida a apresentação da vida de Milosz Magin, um pianista e compositor europeu da segunda metade do século XX. Os objectivos do segundo capítulo são os de salientar e explicar a influência que Frédéric Chopin teve na vida de Milosz Magin. Este capítulo centra-se nos paralelismos biográficos entre ambos, essencialmente, naqueles que dizem respeito às suas vidas enquanto pianistas e compositores. O terceiro capítulo inclui o estudo analítico e comparativo das semelhanças entre a Sonata em sí bemol menor op. 35 de Frédéric Chopin e a Sonata n.º 1 de Milosz Magin. O quarto capítulo analisa a Mazurka em fá menor op. póstuma de Frédéric Chopin, a qual foi, completamente, reconstruída por Milosz Magin. Ela constitui mais um exemplo paradigmático da influência e importância de Frédéric Chopin na obra do compositor. ABSTRACT: This Project consists of two parts: one of a theoretical nature and the other of a practical one. The theoretical part is in itself made up of an exposition divided into four parts. The first chapter deals with the presentation of Milosz Magin's life, European pianist and composer from the second half of the 20th Century. The objective of the second chapter is to emphasize and explain the influence that Frédéric Chopin had on the life of Milosz Magin. It will concentrate on the biographical parallelisms between Frédéric Chopin and Milosz Magin, essentially on those that concern their lives as pianists and composers. The third chapter includes an analytical and comparative study of the similarities between the Sonata in B Flat minor Op. 35 by Frédéric Chopin and the Sonata n° 1 by Milosz Magin. The fourth chapter analyzes the Mazurka in F minor op. posthume by Frédéric Chopin, completely reconstructed by Milosz Magin, which in itself establishes one more example of the influence and importance Frédéric Chopin had on the works of Milosz Magin.

Numerical methods for the variable-order fractional advection-diffusion equation with a nonlinear source term

In this paper, we consider a variable-order fractional advection-diffusion equation with a nonlinear source term on a finite domain. Explicit and implicit Euler approximations for the equation are proposed. Stability and convergence of the methods are discussed. Moreover, we also present a fractional method of lines, a matrix transfer technique, and an extrapolation method for the equation. Some numerical examples are given, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of theoretical analysis.

Victoria regia's bequest to modern architecture

This paper will explore the relationship between the giant South American waterlily, the Victoria regia (today named Victoria amazonica), and the 1914 Glashaus exposition building by the German architect, Bruno Taut. Starting with a general botanical introduction of Victoria regia, the paper exposes the first European cultivation of the lily by Joseph Paxton at Chatsworth,England, in 1849. Following this initial cultivation, Paxton subsequently develops a specialist greenhouse for the plant, that later becomes the prototype for all Victoria regia greenhouses. However, from about 1860 as Victoria regia cultivation spreads to continental Europe, a greenhouse that differs from Paxton’s prototype subsequently evolves. An investigation of these later continental European greenhouses, coupled with an exposure of Taut’s own writings concerning Victoria regia, reveals startling similarities to the Glashaus, which ultimately reveals the Glashaus as directly inspired by Victoria regia.

The effect of endotracheal suction on regional tidal ventilation and end-expiratory lung volume

Purpose: To examine the impact of different endotracheal tube (ETT) suction techniques on regional end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) and tidal volume (VT) in an animal model of surfactant-deficient lung injury. Methods: Six 2-week old piglets were intubated (4.0 mm ETT), muscle-relaxed and ventilated, and lung injury was induced with repeated saline lavage. In each animal, open suction (OS) and two methods of closed suction (CS) were performed in random order using both 5 and 8 French gauge (FG) catheters. The pre-suction volume state of the lung was standardised on the inflation limb of the pressure-volume relationship. Regional EELV and VT expressed as a proportion of the impedance change at vital capacity (%ZVCroi) within the anterior and posterior halves of the chest were measured during and for 60 s after suction using electrical impedance tomography. Results: During suction, 5 FG CS resulted in preservation of EELV in the anterior (nondependent) and posterior(dependent) lung compared to the other permutations, but these only reached significance in the anterior regions (p\0.001 repeated-measures ANOVA). VT within the anterior, but not posterior lung was significantly greater during 5FG CS compared to 8 FG CS; the mean difference was 15.1 [95% CI 5.1, 25.1]%ZVCroi. Neither catheter size nor suction technique influenced post-suction regional EELV or VT compared to pre-suction values (repeated-measures ANOVA). Conclusions: ETT suction causes transient loss of EELV and VT throughout the lung. Catheter size exerts a greater influence than suction method, with CS only protecting against derecruitment when a small catheter is used, especially in the non-dependent lung.