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In this thesis, I analyse four novels by Cormac McCarthy through the lens of Apocalypse theory. Looking at his later, south-western, novels Blood Meridian, All the Pretty Horses, No Country for Old Men and The Road, I examine to what extent they respond to biblical and secular apocalyptic ideologies and narrative tropes. Particular attention is paid to the distinction between biblical apocalypse and secular, or nihilistic, apocalypse. The former draws its framework from the Book of Revelation, and entails a war between Heaven and Hell, the rule of the Anti-Christ and God’s final judgement. Although cataclysmic, a biblical apocalypse also promises worldly renewal through the descent of New Jerusalem. Thus, the end of the world was a desirable, rather than dreaded, event. However, as the world moved into the twentieth century, and we saw modernity give birth to weapons of global destruction, apocalyptic attitudes became pessimistic. The belief that God would save the world from corruption quickly gave way to an entropic end, in which human civilisation will simply collapse into nothingness. I consider McCarthy’s south-west fiction within these opposing apocalyptic ideas, and demonstrate how the four novels build a line of history that begins with Blood Meridian’s Manifest Destiny and ends with The Road’s nuclear bomb. I argue that McCarthy explores both biblical and nihilistic apocalyptic modes before combining them in The Road, which I argue offers a new apocalyptic mode: renewal and salvation without God. Within this context, I argue against common interpretations of McCarthy as a completely nihilistic writer with no vested anthropological concerns. Through these four novels, I instead suggest he negotiates between biblical and nihilistic apocalyptic modes before coming to the conclusion, in The Road, that hope exists.

A mechanism for alkene metathesis has been proposed by Chauvin, wherein metal carbenes act as catalysts for the reaction. The use and discovery of Fischer-, Tebbe-, Grubbs- and Schrock-type metal carbenes have to a certain extent proven the general mechanism. These metal carbenes showed different activity for alkene metathesis. Only Grubbs- and Schrock-type carbenes proved to be highly active for metathesis. A lot of studies have been done on the reasons for the activity, but still the main factors are unknown. In this study a molecular modelling investigation into the mechanism of the alkene metathesis reaction is done in an attempt to identify a factor(s) that can predict activity. By defining and knowing factors that contribute to activity, new catalysts can be designed that are truly active and selective. Fischer-, Tebbe-, Grubbs- and Schrocktype metal carbenes are investigated in this regard. The results of the investigation indicate that the frontier molecular orbital theory shows a possibility for prediction of alkene metathesis activity. By observing the size and location of the atomic orbital coefficients of the molecular orbital, the site of primary overlap for formation of metathesis products could be identified. The largest atomic orbital coefficient of the LUMO should be located on the metal atom. An atomic orbital coefficient should also be present on the carbene carbon for secondary overlap for formation of the metallacyclobutane intermediate. By exchanging the ruthenium in the second generation Grubbs catalyst framework the effect of the metal could be elucidated. The results clearly showed the important influence the metal atom has on the electronic properties of the catalyst complex. The results of frontier molecular orbital calculations supported the general activity trend of the four main types of metal carbenes for the metathesis of linear alkenes. By changing the metal in known catalyst frameworks a deeper understanding can be gained for the design of new alkene metathesis catalysts. / Thesis (PhD (Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

A mechanism for alkene metathesis has been proposed by Chauvin, wherein metal carbenes act as catalysts for the reaction. The use and discovery of Fischer-, Tebbe-, Grubbs- and Schrock-type metal carbenes have to a certain extent proven the general mechanism. These metal carbenes showed different activity for alkene metathesis. Only Grubbs- and Schrock-type carbenes proved to be highly active for metathesis. A lot of studies have been done on the reasons for the activity, but still the main factors are unknown. In this study a molecular modelling investigation into the mechanism of the alkene metathesis reaction is done in an attempt to identify a factor(s) that can predict activity. By defining and knowing factors that contribute to activity, new catalysts can be designed that are truly active and selective. Fischer-, Tebbe-, Grubbs- and Schrocktype metal carbenes are investigated in this regard. The results of the investigation indicate that the frontier molecular orbital theory shows a possibility for prediction of alkene metathesis activity. By observing the size and location of the atomic orbital coefficients of the molecular orbital, the site of primary overlap for formation of metathesis products could be identified. The largest atomic orbital coefficient of the LUMO should be located on the metal atom. An atomic orbital coefficient should also be present on the carbene carbon for secondary overlap for formation of the metallacyclobutane intermediate. By exchanging the ruthenium in the second generation Grubbs catalyst framework the effect of the metal could be elucidated. The results clearly showed the important influence the metal atom has on the electronic properties of the catalyst complex. The results of frontier molecular orbital calculations supported the general activity trend of the four main types of metal carbenes for the metathesis of linear alkenes. By changing the metal in known catalyst frameworks a deeper understanding can be gained for the design of new alkene metathesis catalysts. / Thesis (PhD (Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Western mining towns and mining districts during the frontier period were rarely stable. This unstable nature was the result of unreplenishable natural resources being removed. Thus, mining districts constantly worked toward the exhaustion of mineral deposits that formed their economic foundation. This nature of mining led to a cycle consisting of six different stages that western mining communities passed through during the frontier era. The main purpose of this study was to examine the Grand Encampment Mining District and contrast its development with the life cycle of typical frontier western mining districts.The parameters of this case study are bound by the following assumptions:Since mining districts played a key role in the settlement of the far west, individual case studies are significant and worthwhile.The Grand Encampment Region was a retarded subregion of the Rocky Mountain West and still in its frontier days at the turn of the twentieth century.The Grand Encampment copper development passed through all stages and experienced the same problems of other developing copper fields during the same period.The life cycle of the Grand Encampment Mining District passed through identifiable stages: the discovery stage, the boom stage, the transition stage, the mature stage, the decline stage, and the ghost town stage.The nature of mining resulted in most western mining districts historically passing through this life cycle. However, districts coming into existence under false pretenses or changing their situation from mineral recourses are exceptions.The Grand Encampment Mining District entered the discovery stage advertised as a gold region by Willis George Emerson and Grant Jones. However, the Ferris-Haggarty copper mine, discovered in 1898 by Edward Haggarty, soon became 'the mineral property that carried the district into the boom stage. During this stage, mines sprang up everywhere and mining property rapidly changed hands. The region was flooded with miners and prospectors. Merchants, teamsters, gamblers, promoters, prostitutes and saloon keepers moved into the district to service the miners. The developing mining camps became lawless and chaotic places.Slowly the mining camps evolved from the riotous boom stage to maturity. During this transition, Encampment became the financial, cultural, and commercial center for the district. The people of the emerging town organized governments and began offering a variety of services. This transition brought about an increasingly effective system of law and order as the population became less transitory.Throughout the maturity stage, the backbone of the Grand Encampment Mining District's economic structure was the Ferris-Haggarty Mine and the modern, efficient smelter at Encampment. This stage was characterized by permanent settlers, a stable government, and a steady economy with city services and cultural events similar to non-mining cities of comparable size.The decline stage formally began when the Ferris Haggarty mine and smelter failed to open for the 1909 mining season. By the end of the year, a large number of merchants and miners had drifted away. The main reasons for sudden collapse were over-capitalization, the lack of a railroad system into the district, and questionable financial practices. Two destructive fires added to the company's financial problems. Finally, the stockholders sued the company which resulted in drawn-out litigation and bankruptcy proceedings. After these legal proceedings were over, copper prices were low and the district's financial reputation was irreparable. As a result, developmental capital could not be raised to open the mine and smelter.The towns of Pearl, Elwood, Battle, Copperton, Carbondale, Rambler, Dillon, and Rudefeha all became ghost towns. Encampment and Riverside survived by changing their economic focus from mining to recreation and cattle service centers. Thus, the Grand Encampment Mining District completed the "life cycle of western frontier mining districts."

This thesis has two main objectives: to first discuss the defining characteristics of Chinese frontier poetry (biansaishi 边塞诗) while showing how this subgenre of poetry blossomed during the Tang 唐period prior to the An Lushan rebellion (anshizhiluan安史之乱), and then to focus on one Tang frontier poet in particular, Cen Shen 岑参 (715-770), for a sustained critical investigation into how the poet-narrators of his texts focalize three types of frontier settings, namely landscapes of intense heat, cold and vast distances. These two objectives necessitate dividing the thesis into a bipartite structure, which is further subdivided into six chapters. Chapters one through three address the first objective of the thesis, that of surveying frontier poetry as it pertains to the subgenre's flourishing during Tang period. Chapters four through six endeavour to traverse Cen Shen's frontier settings with a critical eye on uncovering patterns behind the manner in which the poet-narrators perceive China's borderland regions, and to show how these patterns are repeated across disparate poems where the frontier setting itself features prominently. The result of such an analysis is the realization of an underlying foundation of focalization connecting the poet-narrators in each of Cen Shen's three major frontier environements. / Graduate / 0305 / 0332 / 0289 / 0294 / 0401 / daymon@uvic.ca

Immigration has been a prominent aspect of Canada’s make-up, and the effects of immigration on the nation’s economy and society continue to be debated. Largely ignored in the grand narrative of Canada’s multicultural history is the recognition of a first wave of immigrants of Lebanese descent who settled in Canada at the turn of the twentieth century. Little is known about the adaptation process that these immigrants were compelled to navigate during their settlement experience on the newly developed northern frontier of Ontario. These pioneer immigrants were instrumental in building and supporting the northern Ontario communities that would become the foundation for Canada’s mining industry. This thesis argues that the domains of family, work, and community engagement were significant factors in facilitating the process of adaptation and acculturation of early Lebanese immigrants to Canada. Using a narrative phenomenological approach to research, the emphasis was on understanding the roles that family, work, and community played in facilitating acculturation and adaptation of early immigrants. These roles were evident in the life story testimonies of ten descendants of the pioneer immigrants who immigrated to northern Ontario circa 1900. The last surviving elders, children of the pioneer immigrants, ranged in age between 79 and 93 and were born and raised in the northern Ontario mining communities of Cobalt, New Liskeard, Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Cochrane, and North Bay. Findings were organized under three analytic categories: a) the role of the traditional family b) early immigrants’ role in peddling and entrepreneurship c) community engagement. A documentary film entitled Finding a Silver Lining is included in Chapter Five of the thesis and serves as an annex to the written text. A form of digital storytelling, the film interweaves historical events from the time period between 1900 and 1930 with video clips from participant interviews, archival images, and recorded audio narration.

Immigration has been a prominent aspect of Canada’s make-up, and the effects of immigration on the nation’s economy and society continue to be debated. Largely ignored in the grand narrative of Canada’s multicultural history is the recognition of a first wave of immigrants of Lebanese descent who settled in Canada at the turn of the twentieth century. Little is known about the adaptation process that these immigrants were compelled to navigate during their settlement experience on the newly developed northern frontier of Ontario. These pioneer immigrants were instrumental in building and supporting the northern Ontario communities that would become the foundation for Canada’s mining industry. This thesis argues that the domains of family, work, and community engagement were significant factors in facilitating the process of adaptation and acculturation of early Lebanese immigrants to Canada. Using a narrative phenomenological approach to research, the emphasis was on understanding the roles that family, work, and community played in facilitating acculturation and adaptation of early immigrants. These roles were evident in the life story testimonies of ten descendants of the pioneer immigrants who immigrated to northern Ontario circa 1900. The last surviving elders, children of the pioneer immigrants, ranged in age between 79 and 93 and were born and raised in the northern Ontario mining communities of Cobalt, New Liskeard, Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Cochrane, and North Bay. Findings were organized under three analytic categories: a) the role of the traditional family b) early immigrants’ role in peddling and entrepreneurship c) community engagement. A documentary film entitled Finding a Silver Lining is included in Chapter Five of the thesis and serves as an annex to the written text. A form of digital storytelling, the film interweaves historical events from the time period between 1900 and 1930 with video clips from participant interviews, archival images, and recorded audio narration.

Rapid resource development in northern and rural Canada is leading to unprecedented social, political, economic and environmental changes in a number of communities. In particular, gendered identities and divisions of labour in northern Canadian communities are poised to be dramatically altered by increasing labour demands, shifting time-use patterns, and intensifying income inequalities. Through a feminist poststructuralist discourse analysis of print media coverage of gendered issues in Fort McMurray, and semi-structured interviews with thirty-two women working in either the male-dominated oil sector or the female-dominated social services sector, this dissertation examines how women in Fort McMurray, Alberta—the host community for the Athabasca oil sands—negotiate their identities and make sense of the opportunities and challenges associated with the recent oil boom. Drawing on materialist feminist and feminist poststructuralist theory, this dissertation first elaborates a comprehensive analytical framework for investigating gender in the context of natural resource extraction. This framework contends that gendered identities are inherently multiple, and divisions of labour are embedded in particular temporal and spatial contexts. Furthermore, this framework examines discursive and material contradictions in diverse gendered experiences of resource extraction in order to move beyond universalizing gendered interests and identities. Second, this dissertation examines how discursively constructed female subject positions in local and global print media over the past decade adopt a frame of frontier masculinity. I demonstrate that these subject positions become resources upon which women in Fort McMurray draw on to negotiate their identities in ways that perpetuate a sense of dependency and anomalousness. Finally, I explore how neoliberal discourses of individualism and meritocracy provide a potential site of resistance to hegemonic frontier masculinity in women’s narratives of their opportunities and challenges. However, I ultimately argue that neoliberal discourses and practices do not prove transformative of gendered identities and divisions of labour because women are only able to partially engage with neoliberal subjectivity, which neglects collective interests and wellbeing.

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1975. / Bibliography: leaves 145-149. / xiii, 149 leaves