For the Armenian-Russian mathematician, theologian and art-theoretician Pavel Florensky (1882–1937), the so-called reverse perspective of the Byzantine cult-image (in Greek: eikon) functioned not only as a phenomenon within painting, but also as an expression of a world-view that should ultimately define a cultural distinction between Russia and Europe. Florensky argued in various ways that the Russian-Orthodox reverse perspective represents ethical and aesthetical values that are superior to the Western linear perspective. He saw the lack of an exact definition of depth in the icon as an expression of true religious orientation towards a spiritual realm, which cannot be described within frames of our earthly – or Euclidean – categories of space and time. In other words, the reverse perspective became regarded as a real reversal of Western painting, requesting a different space, a different observer, and a different concept of reality. This dissertation is an “archeological excavation” in the 20th century Russian-Orthodox icon theology. By analyzing theories of Florensky in the first line, and also a number of his contemporaries and predecessors, I identify a complex of different layers similar to a palimpsest. In this palimpsest, archaism, paganism, patristic theology, and romanticism interact with a modern re-conceptualization of the medieval Orthodox icon. However, in a usual palimpsest the old letters shine through the new ones; Florensky, on the contrary, seems to project paradigms of his contemporary culture and science into his description of the medieval icon. In this case, would the reverse perspective not instead be a reverse palimpsest, where new texts become visible in the old texts? With this question, my dissertation introduces an approach to Florensky and the icon that is more complex than what has been the case in earlier research. A usual explanation of the formal aesthetics of the icon is that the icon painter directs his/her spirit towards Heaven and, consequently – and in contrast to the Renaissance painter – does not try to make a mimesis of the earthly things. However, I argue that this dichotomy between a profane and spiritual mentality should be regarded both as a condition for Florensky’s world view and, at the same time, as a construction produced by his thinking.

In my thesis, Performing a Political Shift: Avant-Garde Music in Cold War Spain, I argue that towards the end of the 1950s the Spanish ultra-conservative regime of Francisco Franco started to promote avant-garde music. This music contrasted with the aesthetically conservative one that had been promoted since the end of the Civil War (1936-1939). I examine the causes of this shift and reveal for the first time that they are connected to specific trends in Spanish politics and policies. In terms of national politics, the second phase of the Spanish dictatorship, from the late 1950s until Franco’s death in 1975, was dominated by young ministers who wanted to distance themselves from previous cabinets, mostly controlled by ultra-nationalist fascist politicians. These younger politicians styled themselves as part of a ‘technocratic’ regime. Thanks to its supposed ‘objectivity’ and ‘purely musical’ ideology-free concerns, avant-garde music sat well with these technocrats’ views of modern Spain, that is, a country benefitting from ‘objective’, ideology-free progress. On an international level, the defeat in the 1940s of Mussolini and Hitler, Franco’s main allies, had resulted in isolation for Spain. In order to break this isolation, the Spanish regime started to make a sustained effort at the end of the 1950s to establish diplomatic relations with other Western countries. These relations resulted in cultural, economic and military agreements with European democracies and the US. I also consider why recent Spanish musicology has failed to confront the political implications of the promotion of avant-garde music under Franco. I connect this void with the Spanish transition to democracy (1975-1978), which recent historians have called an exercise in amnesia, a discourse of forgiveness meant to promote reconciliation between Spaniards. As a result of this transition, the political implications of the activities of the composers and musicologists during the Franco years have been ignored or forgotten. The results of my thesis challenge the widely accepted view of the European avant-garde as a left-leaning movement. The main contribution of my thesis is precisely its substantial consideration of the cultural and political meanings of the avant garde and its context, using Franco’s Spain as a case in point.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Ces dernières années, la production littéraire et artistique de Carlo Levi a fait l’objet d’études approfondies et de nombreuses publications. Cependant, une partie de son œuvre a été négligée par la critique et notamment son activité de scénographe, de scénariste et de cinéaste. La collaboration de Carlo Levi avec l’industrie cinématographique commence au début des années trente et se poursuit jusqu’au début des années cinquante. Pendant ces années, Levi a l’occasion de collaborer non seulement avec des artistes comme Enrico Paulucci, Italo Cremona et Carlo Mollino, avec qui il réalise les scénographies de Patatrac et de Pietro Micca, mais aussi avec des hommes de lettres tels que Mario Soldati, Rocco Scotellaro et Alberto Moravia. Cette étude vise à reconstruire le parcours cinématographique de Carlo Levi en s’appuyant sur des documents d’archives de nature et de provenance différente : des scénarios, des synopsis, des story-boards mais aussi des contrats commerciaux, pour la plupart inédits. Sa production filmique couvre tous les genres : du comique au dramatique, du documentaire à la comédie musicale. Notre travail rend accessible une partie méconnue de l’œuvre de Carlo Levi en contribuant ainsi à la redécouverte de l’un des auteurs majeurs du XXe siècle. / In recent years there have been many in depth studies and publications on Carlo Levi's literary and artistic works. However, a section of his work, in particular his work in set design, script writing and film making in general, has been largely neglected by critics. Carlo Levi's association with the film industry started at the beginning of the nineteen thirties and extended to the beginning of the nineteen fifties. During these years, Carlo Levi had the opportunity to work not only with famous artists like Enrico Paulucci, Italo Cremona and Carlo Mollino, with whom he designed the film sets of Patatrac and Pietro Micca, but also with men of letters of the stature of Mario Soldati, Rocco Scotellaro and Alberto Moravia. The aim of this study is to trace Carlo Levi's career in cinema using information found in archived documentation of various types and from various sources: from sets, synopses and story-boards but also in previously unpublished commercial contracts. The films that he produced cover all genres: from comedy to drama and from documentaries to musicals. Our work makes a hereto unknown section of Carlo Levi's work accessible, thereby contributing to the rediscovery of a major 20th century author.

Title: Development of Czech and Dutch architectures in the first half of the 20th century and their liaison Author: Miroslav Pavel Department: Department of Cultural Studies Supervisor: PhDr. Petra Hoftichová Abstract: This master thesis deals with comparison between the development of Czech and Dutch architectures and with a search for their liaison in the first half of the 20th century. The research is primarily focused on particular representatives of architecture, on their work and subsequently on responses to them abroad. The development of architecture is seen in the context of a historical framework which consists of the critical milestones of our history. Social, ecological, political and cultural determinants, which are presented on the basis of the historical framework, affect architecture as a material expression and a tangible artefact of a particular society. The research is represented by two seemingly self-contained evolutionary lines of Czechoslovak and Dutch achitectures. The evolutionary lines are connected by the personages of Czech or Dutch architecture or by the leaders of European avant-garde. Description of the avant-garde art associations and societies, which are the prime movers and innovators, constitute a significant part of this work. A notional shared peak of Czechoslovak and...

This thesis is intended to disrupt society's social cruise control. The goal is to make people stop and think, even if only for a brief moment, about the social conventions that guide and control their daily lives. People become disconnected from one another and their environments through repetition, apathy, and a general obliviousness toward shared moments. Making people more attuned to these moments - essentially creating an opportunity to take a brief pause - as a step toward reconnection. Social conventions are unique in that they can exist without the consent of the involved parties; the existence of the convention is enough to demand conformity. While it is possible to find graphic design projects that offer some degree of interactivity to draw people into a relationship with a space, projects that encourage social relationships through acknowledgment between people are rare. This thesis will explore ways in which design acts as a catalyst for disruption, while also encouraging interaction and dialogue. / by Adriana Joyce de Alejo. / Thesis (M.F.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Esta dissertação de mestrado é o produto de uma reflexão sobre o construtivismo russo e sobre as inovações estéticas introduzidas por esse movimento artístico de vanguarda, aplicadas especificamente à cenografia no teatro. O trabalho é composto por três capítulos. O primeiro reúne o material teórico compilado referente às características desse movimento artístico que surgiu na Rússia no início do século XX, denominado construtivismo. O segundo capítulo trata da época construtivista do encenador Vsévolod Meyerhold. O trabalho desenvolvido por Meyerhold na década de 1920 foi pioneiro na utilização da estética construtivista em suas montagens. Por essa razão, foi escolhido para análise o espetáculo O cornudo magnífico, escrita por Fernand Crommelynck, encenada por Meyerhold em 1922. O terceiro capítulo apresenta análise desse espetáculo. O processo de análise permitiu a identificação de diversas das teorias expostas no primeiro capítulo. A partir da introdução da estética construtivista no teatro, uma significante mudança ocorreu em relação à questão da concepção do espaço cênico. As criações cenográficas de Meyerhold foram consideradas as primeiras manifestações do construtivismo no teatro. Para o entendimento dessa nova forma teatral, também foram utilizadas as pesquisas de Meyerhold relativas à biomecânica e ao grotesco. Esses estudos são essenciais para a compreensão das inovações estéticas presentes na montagem de O cornudo magnífico. À luz da teoria de Viktor Chklóvlski e das características da estética construtivista observadas no espetáculo analisado, este estudo procurou explicar de maneira didática como se estruturavam essas revolucionárias montagens construtivistas. Na análise do espetáculo escolhido, as dimensões estruturais e funcionais do cenário, figurino e movimentação dos atores foram também observadas. Desse modo, pudemos destacar características do construtivismo na encenação de O cornudo magnífico. / This dissertation consists of a reflection about Russian constructivism and the aesthetic innovations it brought to the art world, especially in regards to the theatre. It is made up of three chapters, the first one takes a closer look at the general characteristics of the movement, which emerged in early twentieth century Russia. The second chapter discusses Vsevolod Meyerhold`s constructivist period as a theatre director. He was a pioneer of the constructivist aesthetic in theatre productions and, therefore, it is one of his spectacles which shall be analyzed in the third chapter: his 1922 production of Magnificent Cuckold, written by Fernand Crommelynck. With the introduction of the constructivist aesthetic in theatre, the conception of the scenic space suffered a significant change. To better understand the characteristics of this new theatrical style, our analysis will also focus on Meyerhold`s biomechanics and his research on the grotesque, two elements which were essential for the success of the chosen play. Through the use of Viktor Shklovsky`s theories and the analysis of the afore mentioned play, this study sought to explain in a didactic manner how these revolutionary spectacles were structured and staged. The analysis of Magnificent Cuckold took into account both the structural and functional dimensions of the scenery, costume design and the actors` movements.